Permanently living in a hotel.
02-01-2018, 12:20 PM
I've lived in hotels for years, often staying in the same one for many many months at a time. I used to do the apartment or condo thing, but it always turned into more of a mess than I wanted for one reason or another if I decided to leave town on a whim, and I always ended up spending time shopping for and buying a bunch of stuff I probably didn't need and then leaving it behind. Over the years, I've come to like the hotel option more and more as a long-term living solution.
I am a very spontaneous, free-wheeling type, and I love the fact that I can wake up one morning and decide I want to leave town for a couple weeks or completely relocate without wrapping up any loose ends. No matter what way you swing it, at least for me, a long-term living situation always brings in loose ends. I often do this - relocate on a moment's notice. I wake up, call downstairs to tell them I'm leaving, and I can pack my whole life up in a morning and be ready to check out and catch a cab to the airport.
It goes beyond convenience - it can actually be quite practical. This has come in handy in some oh-shit moments in my heavy drinking years. A couple times I had a reason to not want anyone to know where I was so I simply packed up and took off. It's also nice to be able to take off on a whim if someone you know runs into some trouble and you want to go lend a hand (sick family member, etc). Or if you just simply enjoy to stay mobile and avoid committing to recurring payments of any kind. The flexibility is just unparralleled and that fits my personality.
The maids come in just about every morning and clean up after me and stock me up with toiletries and water. As you mentioned, they fix any problems that need fixing - not only do they fix them, but in most cases you will not be cognizant they even exist. If need be, they will switch you over to another room so you're not inconvenienced. I can call downstairs and have a drink or a meal ordered or go lounge in the restaurant downstairs for a nice meal in a public setting without having to leave the building. Ineed, there are few things in life that I can think of that the hotel staff won't help you with or point you in the right direction if you ask - service is the whole reason the concierge is there, while an apartment staff is (usually) mainly there to manage the building.
My favorite hotel in Bangkok has and outdoor garden area where I can listen to music (sometimes mellow band) and smoke my pipe, a very nice and trendy restaurant serving Belgian ales, a huge pool and somewhat passable gym. They've also got guards at the gate and you can walk out and have them call you a quick taxi or a moto. Sounds like a small convenience, but I've never once had a driver who picked me up there try to scam me or even give me attitude, assumedly because the hotel creates a bit of accountability. These days I use uber a lot too though.
I pay about $33 a night for this place, and while it's certainly not 4-star, it's nice enough that local Thais get wedding pics done there all the time, and when I bring girls over they are instantly impressed walking into the lobby. It's just a very trendy place and a cool spot to spend your time. That's less than $1000 a month for the ultimate in flexibility and convenience - I say not too shabby. I've turned multiple friends on to the place and it's a cool enough building they splash it across their Instagram without fail.
As for the other guests, they don't really bother me and I never really notice them - they live in their reality and I live in mine. From time to time I'll strike up a conversation with one or check out some passing eye candy, but I really acknowledge them a lot less than you might think. It helps that most of the guests are Thai or from East Asia - if they were the calibre of Westerner that frequents some places in Thailand, not noticing them would be a much bigger challenge.
Condotels can be a good option. I'm staying at one in Chiang Mai at the moment, and there's a very nice pool here with pretty doable digs, even a small kitchen with a cooking surface (I love cooking but I've yet to use it, by the way, which commonly happens in Asia). I'm on a nightly rate right now, but they quoted me 8900 baht a month if I want to stay, which is a really big discount, and while I'm a bit outside the city, I can catch an Uber to downtown nimman area in about ten minutes.
I have gotten dicsounts in hotels before in Southeast Asia for monthly agreements, and the condotels are more common now, but a lot have also said no. But with prices out here, I really don't mind paying the daily rate if it means I can take off at a moment's notice, don't have to pay bills, and don't have to buy furniture.
The privacy regarding staff can be a bit of an issue. I tend to get very friendly with the people I see around me on a daily basis, constantly teasing them and playing around, so I inevitably develop over-familiar relationships with staff. This is cool because I'll show up after half a year away and everyone knows who I am and welcomes me with open arms. They do all kinds of favors for me and have even bought me gifts on holidays.
It gives you some of that social network you miss out on if you're living abroad and moving around a lot. They may even drag you to parties. But it can make it awkward when you're bringing multiple women home on a regular basis. Most staff members adapt to my habits and behave with candor even in times when I was partying my face off - but there have been comments and unmistakable expressions on the faces of others, sometimes even in ways that caused women to lose face (note: I've seen this in apartment buildings too when there was permanently staffed front desk setup).
I think the easiest way to keep the staff in line is to not get over-friendly with them, obviously. Keep your interactions with them short and just think of them as the help - not because you think you're better than them, necessarily, but just because practically it's in the better interest of your privacy. For someone with my personality, this is easier said than done, but it's definitely an approach I've considered.
Women also will prickle a bit more about coming to see you at a hotel. They get over it but it is in an issue, and they will be confused if you're telling them you live in town. On the other hand, I've lived with women in hotels too.
I have also thought about upgrading my life to the 4-star hotels. I've done this for shorter amounts of time and the added luxury (not to mention often a better gym with a steam room or sauna) really is nice. When you live in a hotel, a lot of what you're paying for is to have that entire staff at your beckoned call - you simply won't get that level of service in most apartment buildings. It can happen for the right price, but it's rare. So, by staying in a 4-star place, you are getting a much better staff working for you and an entire different level of service on top of the sheer comfort and luxury these places provide.
If you figure out a way to set this up at a steep discount, I'll definitely be tuning in to pay attention - I do have to say, though, that a 6-month commitment would probably take a lot of the appeal out of it for me. Might be worth it for the luxury in the right location and at a tempting price.
Another thing about 4-star hotels is I think that you get even more discretion with the more luxurious digs. They employ a more professional, higher caliber of help, and I've noticed the staff in such places can keep a straight face through almost anything and is generally well-trained to stay out of your business. Definitely a plus. So that might solve the privacy and candor issues already discusseed.
Hemingway lived in hotels for years at a time. I think there were some other famous male writers who were known for this. It makes sense when you consider the isolation and mental focus it takes to write a book - outsourcing so much of your life while going through it can be very valuable.
I wouldn't say it's for everyone, but I do think hotel living is underrated by a lot of single men with the means.
Beyond All Seas
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling