Executive Serviced Apartments (ESAs) have come a long way since the first building opened in Bangkok on Lang Suan Road in 1990. An early resident of that building recalls how it was seen as an incredible novelty at the time. “My friends thought I was mad. They said it would never catch on. Now look...” was how she recalled the experience.

But if daring was the defining characteristic of early residents, today’s profile is far more varied. Indeed, there’s no such thing as a typical ESA resident any more. They come from all over Europe, Asia, America, the Middle East, even Africa. They come old and young, corporate and private, executive and entrepreneurial. They may be on the technical, professional or business development side of things. Or just on an extended holiday or retirement diversion. They may be alone or accompanied by their wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend and/or children. They may come for a week once a year, or six weeks or six months. Or they may come for a few weeks here and a few weeks there, or stay for years. And just to complicate the picture even further, like fingerprints no two residents have the same set of preferences. So obviously they would have a variety of needs.

Here are some experiences and tips from current ESA residents in Bangkok that should help seekers make a good decision...

WHY AN ESA?
The primary motivation for choosing an ESA over a hotel is cost. “The value you receive no matter where you stay is far superior to a regular hotel,” says one resident.

But there are other factors. In certain locations such as Ploenchit, there are very few regular apartments anyway. An ESA can virtually be your only alternative.

Then there’s the convenience factor. “You can just walk out the door and go home without a care, come back later and resume where you left off without giving it a second thought,” related one lady resident. “No need to cancel the newspapers or worry what the maid’s going to get up to.”

Moreover, you don’t have to bother if something gets broken — just call downstairs and someone generally fixes it right away. And that doesn’t just apply to fuses and plumbing. The lady resident recalled returning from a trip with a handle hanging off her expensive luggage. “Without asking, the doorman whisked it away and had the engineer repair it. It came back good as new,” she said.

And as another perceptive resident underlined: “Convenience is worth a lot of money; it gives you more time to do what you want, when you want it.”

SEARCH RIGHT
If you’re going to spend quite some time in Bangkok, it pays to research your accommodation thoroughly. One resident physically visited 15-20 apartments before finally making up his mind. Fortunately, what with most ESAs having websites, you can start looking even before you arrive. If you’ve got local contacts, ask them for tips. And don’t forget the Bangkok Post Classifieds and its on-line database which regularly highlight many of the best offers. The newest, and most comprehensive, of course, is Bangkok Post’s Serviced Apartments Directory 2004 — the complete reference.

SPECIAL OFFERS
With ESA’s generating yields superior to even 5-star hotels, there’s no shortage of new supply. One recent arrival quipped that she could make a career out of hopping from one special launch offer to the next and never pay full rent. On the other hand, she’s still paying the launch rent in her existing building even though it is now running a high occupancy rate because, as is quite common, the management has a policy of rewarding loyalty. Whatever you decide, don’t forget that start-ups tend to come with glitches that need to be worked through in the initial weeks.