New guest rooms - Indian style

**Lostandfound** · 22-07-2015, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Simon43

The tent material is heavy duty, marine cotton, treated during manufacture to be waterproof, fireproof and treated against mold etc. They have a 15-year guarantee and are proven over many years in hot, humid, wet climates. Some buyers of their teepees are still living in them (as permanent homes) after 20 years.

Untreated bamboo poles attract bugs. Treated ones do not.

Walter Mitty I am not

For fun AND business ==> Yes.

Many people who laughed at me for building a B&B slap bang in the middle of a rubber tree plantation are not laughing any more when the booking revenue per month averages at around 160,000 baht, (with more than 100,000 baht clear profit per month).

I expect these teepees to be very popular with Asian tourists, and my Chinese guests never smoke inside my guest rooms.

I'll get these teepees open for bookings by high season, and then let's see how popular they are.

I hope they are a success.

Because it's a "first" for Thailand have you given much thought to getting press coverage? I'd imagine this is just the sort of thing that travel journalists would love to feature.

**palexxxx** · 22-07-2015, 11:03 PM

^ I'm afraid to tell you that it's not 'a first for Thailand'. There's a mini-resort near Chiang Mai (between San Kampaeng and Mae On) where they have about six or seven teepee's.

**Lostandfound** · 23-07-2015, 03:27 AM

Why let the truth need to get in the way of a good story in the land of similes?

**chassamui** · 23-07-2015, 04:52 AM

Can't be many like Simons around. Even if it's just Phuket media, it's worth a try.
Good call L&F

**Lostandfound** · 23-07-2015, 06:29 AM

I'd suggest a couple of press releases e mailed out with well shot both hi and lo res images of the resort and teepees etc.

Themes of the top of my head:

- Glamping on a budget
- Eco tourism and sustainability - teepees have 50% lower carbon footprint etc = your green credentials (employ local labour, training and personal develoment etc etc)
- Is this the world's funkiest airport hotel?
- Teepees prove ideal for Thai climate. Old tecnology still the best etc

Send out to all international media, travel editors, in particular.

I've invested a coupld of days of my time over past three years on a self catering/ group accomodation venue in Cheltenham and so far have got a double page in Independent nespaper, feature as one of the Top Ten UK venues for a new year house party in London Metro newpaper, a full page property feature in another Metro edition, a page feature as best places for aMothers Day surprise in the London Evening Standard, pages in countty wide glossies, double page in a London lifestyle mag and local newspaper and a national magazine award for "Best Interior Design of the Year"

Not spent a penny on run of paper advertising. Not a penny spent on PR agencies

You just need to find an angle, write accordingly and hit google to track down the copy editors. It not only helps get the phone ringing with guests but helps justify premium price.

Angles on Press releases were : All antiques and furniture for sale - stay and if you like the dining table, it's afor sale. / Eco (we put some effort into eco friendly renovation / Party like it's 1899 /

**Simon43** · 23-07-2015, 08:19 AM

Yes agreed, I could get some good and free publicity out of this..

Best steer clear of anything to do with Giks, ladyboys, sqaws though

@Palexxxx, do u know the name of that mini-resort with the teepees? Be interesting to see their room-rates, photos etc.

**crepitas** · 23-07-2015, 08:39 AM

Sorry mate..No offense eh?
FYI:
Our house is built on our rubber farm..Used bamboo cut from thereon for veranda rails. I painted on treatment and then painted them. Then came boring wasps and ants..Saving up to replace with steel or aluminum. Thought concrete not affected but I notice mould on some areas of inside painted walls.
My sail boat had an enclosed cockpit using synthetic ‘sunbrella’ type material..After rainy season lots of mold inside and on window material. (Teepee website says they use similar). Hope your teepees are NOT just treated cotton. Tropical bugs eat anything. Mould grows on dirt or whatever on surfaces.
Anyways Kudos great thread…..

**Simon43** · 23-07-2015, 09:01 AM

Well, the company has provided me with a money-back/new-replacement guarantee of 15 years..

The website mentions synthetic material that they do NOT use because of the mold problems. They use a very heavy, marine natural cotton that has been treated against UV, mold and is fire-resistant.

Time will tell, but if u take no risks, then u have a bloody boring life - IMHO

**palexxxx** · 23-07-2015, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Simon43

Yes agreed, I could get some good and free publicity out of this..

Best steer clear of anything to do with Giks, ladyboys, sqaws though

@Palexxxx, do u know the name of that mini-resort with the teepees? Be interesting to see their room-rates, photos etc.

I'll see what I can find out.

**chassamui** · 23-07-2015, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Lostandfound

Eco tourism and sustainability - teepees have 50% lower carbon footprint etc = your green credentials (employ local labour, training and personal develoment etc etc)

Just a minor point L&F. Simon had enough concrete in the base to park an Aibus A380 on it.

Best not mention that in the carbon footprint specs.

**Lostandfound** · 23-07-2015, 03:19 PM

Draft media release:

"Locally sourced teepee bases have excellent thermal properties helping to keep the interior cool at night"

Simon is passionate about supporting local jobs and local community too. "I only shag Thai giks and after ten shags I build them a hotel." He Says. This approach can cost more he admits. He also offers flexibility with a choice of long and short time working opportunities. For the younger and inexperienced Simon is very much "on top" with a rigorous induction program

It's an innovative hotel business model indeed - but it does appear to work in Thailand - staff fondly describe him as a "hansuman".

**palexxxx** · 23-07-2015, 03:24 PM

^^ Mission completed. The name of the resort is 'The Log of Paradis'. Here is a link to their website. The Log of Paradis : Experience with the notable environment.

To stay in one of the teepees the room-rate is 500 baht.

This is what you see when you are traveling on Highway 1317, approximately half a km short of reaching Highway 1006, and just approaching their entrance.

Here is a close-up of the teepees.

Basic room inside.

They have air-conditioning and a bathroom.

I think that these would be much smaller than what you are doing Simon. Here is how they achieve having a bathroom.

The teepees had the look of being made from concrete, but once I tapped on the walls I discovered that they were some sort of panel attached to a wooden frame.

**Dillinger** · 23-07-2015, 03:27 PM

There's a mini-resort near Chiang Mai (between San Kampaeng and Mae On) where they have about six or seven teepee's.

Is this the place ?

**Dillinger** · 23-07-2015, 03:29 PM

bugger

**palexxxx** · 23-07-2015, 03:42 PM

^ sorry Dill in Ger, we must have been posting around the same time.

At the risk of hijacking this thread, but with Simon's permission, I'd like to post some more info and photos about this resort. Sort of a mini-trip report.

**chassamui** · 23-07-2015, 03:51 PM

From what we have read so far, I do think Simons project sounds more realistic than those shown above. They seem to have much less in the way of competition locally?

Simon is building for a niche market in a very competitive tourist area. Hope he succeeds.

Ladyboy squaw cleaners hostesses and receptionists would add to the niche value.

**Bettyboo** · 23-07-2015, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by Lostandfound

Because it's a "first" for Thailand have you given much thought to getting press coverage? I'd imagine this is just the sort of thing that travel journalists would love to feature.

If I were a foreigner with a business in Thailand, I would not want to bring any attention from local toerags who might think I've got some money they can steal...

Originally Posted by palexxxx

sorry Dill in Ger,

How is the abode in the picture portable? What use would it be to a nomad???

You peoples, insane the lots of youse. As for Simon, he's absolutely doolally...

**Simon43** · 23-07-2015, 04:47 PM

Palexxxx, excellent reporting and photos! Thanks. I'd green you if I knew what greening actually means

Yes, my first impression was that these teepees were not made of canvas/material. I imagine they are Somchai's local version.

They are smaller than my teepees, which are 18 feet in diameter.

But they look fun for a night or two. 500 baht seems to be the going rate in north Thailand for a 'horng pak', which really doesn't allow any sort of decent profit. I should be able to charge 1,000 baht per night in low season and double or more in high season in Phuket.

Please do a trip report. I'd be interested if the resort is able to provide any extras, such as local squaws for the night...

**palexxxx** · 23-07-2015, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Simon43

Please do a trip report. I'd be interested if the resort is able to provide any extras, such as local squaws for the night...

OK, you asked for it.

The reason that the resort is called 'Log of Paradis' is because apart from the teepees they also have accommodation in log cabins (which they also built themselves). So as well as having the resort, they also have a home construction business.

The room-rate for the log cabins is 1500 baht per night.

As well as having the teepee village, they also have a log cabin village and various saloons (bar) and on-site restaurant.

Here are some more pics.

This might be the reception area.

One of their log cabin homes

One of the saloons

General store.

and restaurant area.

**baldrick** · 23-07-2015, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by palexxxx

they also have a home construction business.

note the conduit instead of thai standard exposed wiring

**Simon43** · 23-07-2015, 05:23 PM

It actually looks quite a nice, some innovative ideas there.

Is it Thai-owned or Thai-foreigner?

**chassamui** · 23-07-2015, 05:35 PM

Nice pics Palexxx. Not being funny, but was it shut when you took the pics?

**palexxxx** · 23-07-2015, 07:24 PM

^ I arrived about 2 in the afternoon. There were a couple of workers in a bar area. I don't know if they had anyone there for lunch or not, but I didn't see any customers.

They probably did have someone staying in the log cabin rooms, but I didn't see them either. It's about 25 kms from Chiang Mai city, so I imagine if there were any tourists staying there that they'd be out and about touristing.

They also have a coffee shop, I suppose I should have stayed and had a cuppa. According to the sign at the entrance, which I saw when I left, coffee is only 30 baht.

**palexxxx** · 23-07-2015, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by Simon43

It actually looks quite a nice, some innovative ideas there.

Is it Thai-owned or Thai-foreigner?

I'm sorry, that I do not know. I picked up a leaflet for the place and in the blurb about their log cabins they quote a 'New Zealand saying' so I don't know if that means anything.

Speaking of the leaflet, if you PM me with your address I can mail it to you.

**Simon43** · 23-07-2015, 07:32 PM

...they quote a 'New Zealand saying'...

Ah, that explains the crap English on their website

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