Adventures in the World of Travel and Entertainment™ / Amazing Thailand Edition
Club One Seven - The Gay Man's "Home Away From Home" in Phuket (Straight-Friendly!)
By Nicholas Snow
People from all over the world travel to Thailand for its lush beaches, edgy nightlife and great overall value, and tend to return time and time again. One of the Kingdom’s most popular destinations is the resort Island of Phuket, and a sought-after accommodation of choice for members and friends of the gay and lesbian community is Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast, a place that many guests—myself included—honestly describe as their “home away from home.”
You’ve heard the phrase “location, location, location” and Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast has it—what I personally love about my home away from home is that the B&B isn’t too far from the major gay nightlife, but also not in the middle of it! Sure, many people love to stay in the Paradise Complex—another fabulous place with great hotels—but I personally like being a bit distant from the big party—still only a 20 baht motorcycle ride away (about 60 cents).
At Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast, you are welcomed into the family of staff that really cares about each other and you as if you were their long lost relative. In many businesses there are the “owners” and the “hired help”—Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast has no such distinctions—management treats the staff with the greatest level of respect and admiration and everyone involved treats guests the same way.
“The success does not just lie on its facilities,” explained manager Daniel See during our exclusive interview about the B&B, which, by the way, is just one block from the beach. “It is the family members—all of the staff—of Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast who make this a success. First we have to build the culture within the house before we can welcome the guests ‘genuinely’ into our home.”
“Your staff is like one big family,” I said to Daniel. “How do you foster this great family environment?” Like a proud papa, Daniel explained that the Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast would not have made it this far without his staff. In fact, in reading a related story (linked below) about the Tsunami, you will become profoundly aware of what this family has been through.
“Our staff consists of multi-nationalities, such as I’m from Singapore, my assistant is from Malaysia, and we have four Burmese houseboys, and four Thai waiters and receptionists. I treat every staff equally, no matter where they come from. They are trained from day one to learn to respect and love each other, in order to work and live together like a big family. We even have family lunch and dinner together everyday, whereby everyone takes turn to cook.”
The ‘home’ currently consists of 15 rooms, all of which are different, including the Deluxe Classic, Deluxe Thai Deluxe Joyful and Superior Hip. “We plan to add more rooms, and the new rooms should be completed before end of this year,” explained Daniel. “I can guarantee you that these new rooms will be talk of the town for quite some time.”
Yes, Daniel is quite emphatic in creating the true bed & breakfast atmosphere which really separates Club One Seven from most boutique hotels.
“My concept of a Bed & Breakfast originated from my seven-year stay in Hawaii, the Land of Aloha,” revealed Daniel. “To some European countries, Bed & Breakfast can be cheap home stay or guesthouse. But in Hawaii, or even the States, Bed & Breakfast can be equivalent to the rate of Sheraton or Hilton. The inn-keepers of the Bed & Breakfast care about all little details that most hotels don’t care about or will charge you for. Little touches like they even make and serve the breakfast personally for the guests. They treat the guests like friends, and not just customers.”
“Boutique Hotel is the new thing in the hospitality industry,” continued Daniel. “Many international brand names have started going into this market. Boutique Hotels are mainly smaller properties with many facilities. And their rooms are design individually with personality and contemporary concepts. Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast combines the service concept of a true B&B home and the design concept of a boutique hotel.”
When I last stayed at Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast there was a great rooftop Jacuzzi and sundeck, but since then they have inaugurated their new Pool Garden which was unveiled to the local community on Christmas Eve 2006, only three weeks after the partners in the property acquired the land adjacent to B&B. The result is a serene garden pool. “I’m indeed very proud of the end product,” said Daniel.
Unlike many B&B’s which may have a couple of small tables off the kitchen, Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast has its own fabulous restaurant which occupies half of the ground floor of the establishment. “I love local Thai food,” expressed Daniel. “I like everything served from this kitchen because we serve real local Thai home cooked food…” About his favorite dish, Daniel explained, “If you really want me to pick, I would say Panang Curry Mixed Seafood is my favorite.”
Businesses like Club One Seven are the backbone of the local gay and lesbian community, as I have observed first hand. “You are right,” expressed Daniel. “Club One Seven is very involved with the local GLBT community. Club One Seven believes in destination marketing. We need to work with the community, and support each other, to show to the world that there is so much to offer here in Phuket. Instead of competing with one another, we choose to compliment each others’ businesses. A stronger GLBT community will create a greater destination—that’s why we call Phuket our home.”
When you’re not hanging out with “the family” at your home away from home, Daniel suggests you enjoy a snorkeling trip to Phi Phi Island, sea cave kayaking in Phang-Nga Bay (also known as James Bond Island), spa treatments, the Phuket Fantasea Show, and of course, “the Rainbow nightlife entertainment in Paradise, or even have a sip of cocktail during our Happy Hour from 4pm to 7pm daily by the pool garden at Club One Seven.”
I asked Daniel a final question but he turned the tables on me and said, “Let me ask you instead. Would you like to have a coffee or tea? Here at Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast, we provide free coffee and tea throughout the day for all of our guests. So, would you like to join me for a coffee by the pool?”
“Club One Seven is always full of surprises, concluded Daniel. “Upgrading the services and facilities are always top in our list. Just stay tuned to our website for more surprises.”
I was going to tell you what Daniel’s guests say about the place, but you can actually read their guest book for yourself (and make your reservation!) at ClubOneSeven.net! And YES, Daniel! I would LOVE to join you for a coffee by the pool. That would be FABULOUS!
Visit ClubOneSeven.net
People from all over the world travel to Thailand for its lush beaches, edgy nightlife and great overall value, and tend to return time and time again. One of the Kingdom’s most popular destinations is the resort Island of Phuket, and a sought-after accommodation of choice for members and friends of the gay and lesbian community is Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast, a place that many guests—myself included—honestly describe as their “home away from home.”
You’ve heard the phrase “location, location, location” and Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast has it—what I personally love about my home away from home is that the B&B isn’t too far from the major gay nightlife, but also not in the middle of it! Sure, many people love to stay in the Paradise Complex—another fabulous place with great hotels—but I personally like being a bit distant from the big party—still only a 20 baht motorcycle ride away (about 60 cents).
At Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast, you are welcomed into the family of staff that really cares about each other and you as if you were their long lost relative. In many businesses there are the “owners” and the “hired help”—Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast has no such distinctions—management treats the staff with the greatest level of respect and admiration and everyone involved treats guests the same way.
“The success does not just lie on its facilities,” explained manager Daniel See during our exclusive interview about the B&B, which, by the way, is just one block from the beach. “It is the family members—all of the staff—of Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast who make this a success. First we have to build the culture within the house before we can welcome the guests ‘genuinely’ into our home.”
“Your staff is like one big family,” I said to Daniel. “How do you foster this great family environment?” Like a proud papa, Daniel explained that the Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast would not have made it this far without his staff. In fact, in reading a related story (linked below) about the Tsunami, you will become profoundly aware of what this family has been through.
“Our staff consists of multi-nationalities, such as I’m from Singapore, my assistant is from Malaysia, and we have four Burmese houseboys, and four Thai waiters and receptionists. I treat every staff equally, no matter where they come from. They are trained from day one to learn to respect and love each other, in order to work and live together like a big family. We even have family lunch and dinner together everyday, whereby everyone takes turn to cook.”
The ‘home’ currently consists of 15 rooms, all of which are different, including the Deluxe Classic, Deluxe Thai Deluxe Joyful and Superior Hip. “We plan to add more rooms, and the new rooms should be completed before end of this year,” explained Daniel. “I can guarantee you that these new rooms will be talk of the town for quite some time.”
Yes, Daniel is quite emphatic in creating the true bed & breakfast atmosphere which really separates Club One Seven from most boutique hotels.
“My concept of a Bed & Breakfast originated from my seven-year stay in Hawaii, the Land of Aloha,” revealed Daniel. “To some European countries, Bed & Breakfast can be cheap home stay or guesthouse. But in Hawaii, or even the States, Bed & Breakfast can be equivalent to the rate of Sheraton or Hilton. The inn-keepers of the Bed & Breakfast care about all little details that most hotels don’t care about or will charge you for. Little touches like they even make and serve the breakfast personally for the guests. They treat the guests like friends, and not just customers.”
“Boutique Hotel is the new thing in the hospitality industry,” continued Daniel. “Many international brand names have started going into this market. Boutique Hotels are mainly smaller properties with many facilities. And their rooms are design individually with personality and contemporary concepts. Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast combines the service concept of a true B&B home and the design concept of a boutique hotel.”
When I last stayed at Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast there was a great rooftop Jacuzzi and sundeck, but since then they have inaugurated their new Pool Garden which was unveiled to the local community on Christmas Eve 2006, only three weeks after the partners in the property acquired the land adjacent to B&B. The result is a serene garden pool. “I’m indeed very proud of the end product,” said Daniel.
Unlike many B&B’s which may have a couple of small tables off the kitchen, Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast has its own fabulous restaurant which occupies half of the ground floor of the establishment. “I love local Thai food,” expressed Daniel. “I like everything served from this kitchen because we serve real local Thai home cooked food…” About his favorite dish, Daniel explained, “If you really want me to pick, I would say Panang Curry Mixed Seafood is my favorite.”
Businesses like Club One Seven are the backbone of the local gay and lesbian community, as I have observed first hand. “You are right,” expressed Daniel. “Club One Seven is very involved with the local GLBT community. Club One Seven believes in destination marketing. We need to work with the community, and support each other, to show to the world that there is so much to offer here in Phuket. Instead of competing with one another, we choose to compliment each others’ businesses. A stronger GLBT community will create a greater destination—that’s why we call Phuket our home.”
When you’re not hanging out with “the family” at your home away from home, Daniel suggests you enjoy a snorkeling trip to Phi Phi Island, sea cave kayaking in Phang-Nga Bay (also known as James Bond Island), spa treatments, the Phuket Fantasea Show, and of course, “the Rainbow nightlife entertainment in Paradise, or even have a sip of cocktail during our Happy Hour from 4pm to 7pm daily by the pool garden at Club One Seven.”
I asked Daniel a final question but he turned the tables on me and said, “Let me ask you instead. Would you like to have a coffee or tea? Here at Club One Seven Bed & Breakfast, we provide free coffee and tea throughout the day for all of our guests. So, would you like to join me for a coffee by the pool?”
“Club One Seven is always full of surprises, concluded Daniel. “Upgrading the services and facilities are always top in our list. Just stay tuned to our website for more surprises.”
I was going to tell you what Daniel’s guests say about the place, but you can actually read their guest book for yourself (and make your reservation!) at ClubOneSeven.net! And YES, Daniel! I would LOVE to join you for a coffee by the pool. That would be FABULOUS!
Visit ClubOneSeven.net
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