Is RM350 per night for a room a 'flashpackers' budget?

And judging by budgets new posters here often quote, merantau is definitely right. Even places around Khao San Rd , once backpacker Heaven, are catering more and more to them.

Really? It wasn't when I stayed there (I don't think). Though being female I wouldn't have been offered any extra services. But when I stayed it was filled with mostly backpacker couples in their 20s and 30s (male/female combos) and the like. It seemed a very ordinary old hotel that had seen more glamorous days once upon a time.

Really? It wasn't when I stayed there (I don't think).

They were very discreet ;-) There was a health club in the back with a sign that muslim men were forbidden to enter- i took a picture of it 10 years ago or so and according to various internet reports, that service has been there all those years- you wouldn't have noticed it in the hotel or the rooms- it wasn't like hookers were knocking on doors.

Oh, those dirty old men :)

i stayed several times at cathay in the last 25 years and the "health center" was sometime on, sometime off. once the rooms at ground floor were all taken by pretty chinese girls. last time i was in penang (2013) i didn't see the health center sign, but i couldn't stay there as it was fully booked.
it was a beautiful place and yes, it really needed a full renovation

What about those dirty women Julie?

"What about those dirty women Julie?"

Ah well, they probably weren't your granddad's age.

I'm talking about the old men that run the joint, rather than the customers.

I know what you are referring to, and I fully understand that the 'exploitation' goes both ways, in the case of prostitution. However, I was specifically referring to the little old wrinkled/toothless men that worked in the administration of what I thought was simply an equally old hotel.

Ok no worries Julie.

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