Refrain from Arnoma Hotel in BKK - Singapore's Online Community

**PinkyTan** · 01-07-2008, 01:57 AM

Please note if you are traveling to Bangkok , (DO NOT STAY IN ARNOMA HOTEL)!!!!

From: Teng Jennifer Jun 12, 2008 2:14 PM

Dear friends and clients,

I would like to discourage all from choosing Arnoma Hotel in Bangkok as your choice of accommodation when you visit Bangkok.I had an extremely bad experience a few days ago.

The housekeeping entered my room after me and my family went out for lunch and shopping around 1.30pm (9th June).We only returned around 1030pm. My husband discovered that some cash was missing.We informed the Duty Manager and requested to see the CCTV footage. The DM said he could only oblige if we can produce a police report. So, we went to the police station to lodge a report.When we returned from the police station, we demanded to see the CCTV and the log of the key card to our room. The log showed that the housekeeping entered my room at 1.41pm even though the 'DO NOT DISTURB'sign was hung on the door knob. It also showed that the floor manager, the DM and the housekeeping had tried to enter our room 13 times on 10th June, while we were out in the afternoon!!!( Hey, we are paying for security and privacy and these people from the hotel actually entered your room without your presence and permission??? )Next we demanded to see the CCTV but the DM and the security officer on duty said that the GM took the remote control for the CCTV with him??? He could only show us the footage the next morning when the GM reports for work. We relented and waited till the next day.

The next morning......We saw the footage on the CCTV. It was clearly stated that we left the room at 1.30pm. After that, the timing on the footage actually skipped to 1.44pm!!!Nothing was recorded between the time after we left the room(1..30pm) to the time that showed the housekeeper entering my room(1.41pm). The footage bewteen this time has been deleted!! We pressed for an explanation and loads of lies were given by the DM, security officer and chief security officer. 1) DM told us the the CCTV was on motion sensor, so could not capture anything as there was no one along the corridor during that period of time (1.30pm to 1.41pm). 2) Chief security officer said the CCTV was faulty during 1..30pm to 1.41pm.3) Security officer said he saw the footage and was certain no one entered our room. So, who shall I believe?

ANYWAY, they insisted that no one entered our room but could not explain the missing footage and the log report. What crap is this??
We wanted to see the GM and was told that he was not around, in an urgent meeting , in the toilet....etc etc... No apologies, no solutions and no compensation was offered by the hotel as well. We had to go to the police station 4 times before we could leave the hotel safely (the chief security officer threatened us earlier on) as we refused to pay the room charges unless a satisfactory explanation was given.

I believe the hotel staff, from the housekeeping to the DM were in cahoots. If not, why did they tamper with the security tape just to protect the housekeeper who stole from my room?? I just want my stolen money back and an apology and the hotel staff have to go such great length to cover up for the housekeeper. When things like this happen, the story-telling competition starts. Each has their own incredible story and boy, they can really lie, even in front of the police!! The GM is even worse. He must be a disciple of David Copperfield or Pink Panther. No sight of him from 9th june to 11th June.

I have seen the ugliest side of these people from Arnoma Hotel, Bangkok. Can you imagine how many times these people enter your room and rummaged through your luggage while you were out? And how much these people have stolen from us? Why must we give this hotel business when they cannot even protect our property and our interests?

Thanks for reading and this is a true story.

regards,
Jennifer Teng
DTZ

stormcontrol · 01-07-2008, 07:40 AM

moral of story. never leave cash or valuables in the hotel room no matter where you go.

**Voodoo Vince** · 01-07-2008, 02:30 PM

All hotel rooms are quite unsafe. Trust yourself with your valuables. If need to, keep them in the hotel safe.

**wildswans** · 02-07-2008, 01:43 AM

That's quite scary

**Bunneh** · 02-07-2008, 12:10 PM

yeah.. when i was in BKK. i left my cash either in my luaggage and then i locked it.. or with me.. that was a scary experience TS went thru ..

**golf29** · 02-07-2008, 12:43 PM

how much u lost?

**stargazer** · 02-07-2008, 01:26 PM

Thanks for the alert. Usually I don't leave any cash nor things openly in the room. I will always keep them in my locked luggage before I go out.

water-sprite · 02-07-2008, 01:42 PM

I never leave cash or valuables in the hotel room....

**Christabel** · 02-07-2008, 07:47 PM

I used Arnoma in April 2007, nothing seemed wrong though. Kept most important things in the safe but no sign of entry. Left the "Do Not Enter" sign at the door 24/7, same for Baiyoke Suite this month

But this story is really shocking. Arnoma is supposed to be quite a good and reputable hotel !

**nimbus** · 02-07-2008, 07:50 PM

thanks for the warning.

**sihwee** · 02-07-2008, 07:56 PM

i always lock everything in my luaggage b4 leaving hotel room! but i was in beijing and the housekeeping service was really gud. My clothes and towels were all always nicely folded and placed on the table. =D

**wildswans** · 02-07-2008, 08:38 PM

I always use the hotel safe, either in-room or in the lobby

**bunnygirl** · 04-07-2008, 01:41 AM

haha i used to hide my money somewhere in the room but apparently that doesnt seem safe enough. my friend got her camera stolen at bangkok city suite.. we still use that hotel though. i guess something like this can happen anywhere, maybe, and hopefully,not the 5* hotels.

**wildswans** · 04-07-2008, 04:00 PM

Which hotels have safe in the room or in the lobby?

**Shi Yuen** · 04-07-2008, 04:03 PM

thanks for the warning

**Bunneh** · 04-07-2008, 05:06 PM

all hotels have safe in the room

**kirafreedom** · 04-07-2008, 05:07 PM

good advice. thks.

**Mahamiru** · 05-07-2008, 12:21 AM

arnoma not bad 1 leh..... common sense to leave exp stuff in safe just inside cupboard nia....

**sgelite** · 07-07-2008, 05:04 PM

I find the account questionable on all counts. I just feel that this is another spam cum chain mail and TS should be careful on what you are posting.

What did the guest lost? If it was a significant amount then I think the ruckus would have been more catastrophic. There would be no hesitation to call in the police, local newspapers and tourist authorities namely TAT. Besides, I think we need to understand that asking for the CCTV footage without proper authorization and permission is simply unbelievable and impossible. Furthermore, they are foreigners here. I do not think that any insignificant DM character could be the authoritative figure to speak out in such a case. In all, I just find that the handling is unbecoming of a hotel where their guest is accusing them of theft especially when the incident is related to an inside job.

Also, in the first place if a theft had taken place at the premises, you do not need to go to the police station to report. Just dial for the police and they will come. So, I hope that we could be more objective and discerning here.

**tearsofsky** · 14-07-2008, 01:24 PM

^For that, if I ever faced such a situation, I would proceed to police station personally instead of calling for the police. It's just different ways of handling such situations I believe so I don't think that can be used as a point to doubt the account posted.

In any case, if the account is true, it makes me wonder if such things happen in other hotels in BKK as well. I stayed in Ecotel and I thought it's quite a gd hotel.
Usually for me, I'll put some money in the safe and some money locked up in my luggage. And of course the remaining amount I bring it around with me. (:

**wing88** · 14-07-2008, 02:02 PM

hmmm, so scary ... mus be really be carefully ... i did hear some ppl will purposely put $ on the desk to let the ppl tidy their room de take ... so tat they would be content wit wat we give them , and not search for more ....