Gadget hounds out there probably chalked up alarming credit card bills this year—and we don’t blame you. It has been a hell of a year: Mobile phones and portable media devices really upped the ante on each other, high-definition entertainment rose to the fore, and cool digital cameras have turned scores of ordinary people into enthusiastic shutterbugs. And then there was this little thing called the Xbox 360.

Taking a look back on the year’s best, we ploughed down the onslaught of drool-worthy gear, narrowed it down, and now present you with our definitive round up of the hottest tech trends and products of 2006.

Portable Music Players

While portable music players have been sitting pretty as one of the most popular gadgets for a couple of years now, this was the year when the portable music player reached an entirely new height.

Doubled Up

MP3 players have been going strong and practically every music fan sports one these days. While the “big two” of Apple and Creative Technologies dominate this market, this year saw the advent of other worthwhile contenders muscling in on their territory, most notably Samsung.

While Samsung has been steadily producing MP3 players for quite some time now, they really came into their own with the Samsung K5 (2GB, $338; 4GB, $438). The player’s snazzy looks alone made users sit up and pay attention because, finally, here was a player that didn’t try to be a Creative or an Apple, but had a distinct look all of its own. The fact that it has in-built speakers that allow it to double up as a social music player made it stand out even more. You can pick one up at Aik Leong Electrical Enterprise.

More than the Music

With the competition getting hotter, it only made sense for big players Creative and Apple to step up. Creative came out with Zen Vision W (30GB, $649; 60GB, $749) and Apple held its own with the latest mighty iPod (30GB for $428; 80GB for $598)—multimedia players that allow users to watch videos or check out pictures as well as listen to music. High-resolution displays for both make for unrivaled portable viewing, and each brand learnt not to repeat the mistakes of their earlier players. Take our word for it—walking down the street with your eyes glued to one of these bad boys is the new mark of coolness. Head down to the iShop for the iPod and to The Creative Store Plaza Singapura for the Zen Vision W.

Keep Walkin’ (I-S PICK!)

But if we’re talking about music players that can do more than just turn on the tunes, screen pictures and video footage (as if that wasn’t enough), we have to mention the Sony Ericsson 850i Walkman Phone ($698). Probably the most popular of its line, the sound quality of this phone is impressive by any portable player’s standards, let alone a mobile phone. Space-wise, the 850i can expand its capacity up to 4GB, so it’s not like it’s lagging behind standard players. The 850i even outshone the much hyped about repositioning of Sony’s own Walkman as an MP3 player. The buzz says it all—while the interest in the Walkman cooled off fairly quickly after its launch, the 850i is, till today, a much talked about asset among music fans. Because the 850i was the most popular player among Singaporeans, it is our MP3 player of choice. You can pick it up at the M1 Shop Paragon.

Mobile Phones

While the competition between mobile handset providers is intense, there are still obvious leaders in the market—Nokia, Motorola and, recently, Samsung.

Think Thin

Design did not lose out to functionality this year.
If you wanted proof of this, look no further
than Motorola’s RAZR V3x ($598) and Samsung’s Ultra SGH-X820 ($498)—two of the year’s most popular phones. Proving that size does count, these bad boys made it big...for being thin. When the RAZR V3x appeared on the market early this year, it was the phone to have. Measuring in at only 19.6mm in depth, it caught on quickly and before you knew it, it seemed like everyone had one. But as petit as the V3x was, it looked fat next to the even slimmer SGH-X820. At a mere 6.9mm and part of Samsung’s much-loved Ultra line, the SGH-X820 was the world’s slimmest phone when it was released and had the killer looks to get users talking.
The Ultra SGH-X820 can be picked up at CitiLink and the V3x at Hello! @ Orchard.

I’m Ready for My Close-Up (I-S PICK!)

Mobile phones’ video functions have generally played second fiddle to their still cameras. Nokia changed all that with the Nokia N93 ($1,388) from their popular Nseries. One of the most talked about phones of the year, the N93 featured Nokia’s usual plus points—like user-friendliness and trendy design—but also paved an entirely new path for mobile movie-making with an impressive 3.2 megapixel lens and DVD-quality video capture. Throw in the fact that the phone can easily hook up with a TV, and you have the hottest phone on the market. And, as cool as the slim trend was, nothing blew us away this year quite like the N93’s video capabilities. Pick it up at the Nokia Nseries Experience Studio.

Notebooks

You’re still using a desktop? How passé! Having a notebook is definitely the way to go—just look at how many people are using them in coffee houses and fast food joints everywhere.

Style Council

Of course, the fact that notebooks are now incredibly stylish definitely played a huge part in their increased popularity. The VAIO VGN-TX37GP ($3,599) from Sony has been seen everywhere, from offices to restaurants, with users showing it off like the latest designer wear—and with a slim 19.51mm shell and gorgeous colors (sapphire, black, platinum white, and the ever popular metallic copper), it’s easy to see why. The Fujitsu Lifebook P7120 ($3,988) and the Lenovo V1000 ($1,999) also deserve a mention for featuring fashionable designs. The Lifebook series, one of Fujitsu’s most popular lines of notebooks, prides itself on vibrant colors and slim looks, and the P7120 is no exception. The V1000, on the other hand is simple and says “stylish, but not overly flashy.”
Get the VAIO VGN-TX37GP at the Sony Gallery at Bugis, the Lifebook P7120 at Fenridge, and the V1000 at AddOn Systems.

Apple of Our Eye (I-S PICK!)

Take a look at Apple’s MacBook Pro (2.16Ghz, $3,488; 2.33Ghz, $4,288; 2.33Ghz, $4,788), easily one of the most popular notebooks out there right now. Its simple, yet chic, look has been such a hit that you’ll even find former PC advocates sporting one. And it’s a serious computer too—all the MacBook Pros come with an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor. Definitely our favorite notebook of the year. You can pick one up at the iShop.

Home Entertainment

After a few quiet years, the home entertainment market suddenly found its second wind in 2006, with the advent of the high definition (hi-def) lifestyle.

The Very Definition

LG has had prominent success in the hi-def TV market with the LG 42LB1R (42-inch LCD) ($3,999). With a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, the picture quality is to die for. Samsung, however, swiftly responded with the Samsung Sonoma S7 LCD TV (the 32-inch, $2,199; 40-inch, $3,999). Sporting the Digital Natural Image engine, the Sonoma wowed consumers with picture quality that accentuated even the most minor of details and has since become one of the hottest TV sets on the market. Get the Sonoma S7 at Best Denki, Plaza Singapura and the 42LB1R at Courts, Centrepoint.

Not Done Yet

There was talk that DVD was headed the way of the dinosaur, and that Blu-ray was primed to supersede. But, for now, that has turned out to be just talk. Sony cemented the reign of DVD when they released the Sony DAV-DZ720 ($749), probably one of the most popular hi-def DVD home theater systems of the year. Sporting a killer look, the system gives consumers an all-round cinematic experience and has multiple format playback options. Get the DAV-DZ720 at the Sony Gallery at Isetan, Wisma Atria.

Becoming X (I-S PICK!)

With all this talk about hi-def, it is inevitable that we talk about one of the biggest highlights of 2006—the Microsoft Xbox 360 ($660). Boasting the latest and coolest games like The Godfather, Project Gotham Racing 3 and the insanely popular Halo 2, the 360 was unrivaled this year. Things, however, will be getting interesting next year, with the release (hopefully!) of the Playstation 3. Pick the Xbox 360 up at Challenger Superstore Funan.

Cameras

2006 saw even more cams become user-friendly so anyone who wants to snap a few pics can.

To the Max

Samsung’s Digimax S1000 ($499) is another worthwhile investment. And although its features aren’t totally drool-worthy, it’s easy to use and its design is attractive. The same can be said for the Canon 850 IS ($629). It’s stylish, reduces picture graininess at high-speed settings, and will fit in your pocket. You can get the Canon 850 IS at Alan Photo Trading, and the Digimax S1000 at Denstrade Co.

With The Greatest of Ease

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FX01 (I-S PICK!) ($549) and Casio’s Exilim EX-S600 ($749) are the two cameras that have caught the most attention from users. Their simplicity and ease of use are hard to beat, and the sleek compact design adds to their appeal. The fact that their features aren’t lightweight—the DMC-FX01 boasts incredible image management and the EX-S600 has an impressive shutter speed—also lends them some credibility. This was a tough one, but in the end, we picked the Panasonic Lumix as our top camera, which is designed with the casual user in mind, right down to its looks. You can pick up the Lumix DMC-FX01 at Aik Seng Photo, and the Exilim EX-S600.

2006 has been a whopper of a year for tech lovers. While we were treated to lots of great stuff from the usual suspects like Nokia, Apple, Sony and Motorola, Samsung pleasantly surprised us by coming into its own and releasing a slew of various cool products.

But don’t think you (or your wallets) can take a breather just yet—this year may be winding down, but we’re already eagerly scoping out what’s to come in 2007.

Where to Get ‘Em

AddOn Systems, #04-33 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6338-3779.

Aik Leong Electrical Enterprise, #01-16 Blk 121, Bukit Merah Lane 1, 6271-9365.

Aik Seng Photo, #01-29 Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Rd., 6235-2686.

Alan Photo Trading, #05-20 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6883-0922.

Best Denki, #04-09/12 Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd., 6333-0110.

Challenger Superstore, #06-00 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd.,
6336-7747.

CitiLink, #B1-38 United Square, 101 Thompson Rd., 6253-0618.

Courts, #03-03 Centrepoint Shopping Centre, 176 Orchard Rd., 6733-2131.

The Creative Store, #04-06 Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd., Customer Service Hotline 6895-4100.

Denstrade Co, #01-K1 High Street Centre, No.1 North Bridge Rd., 6334-3218.

Fenridge (Singapore), #16-313 The Plaza, 7500A Beach Rd., 6298-1043.

iShop, #03-04/05/06 Cathay Orchard Cineleisure, 8 Grange Rd., 6622-8988.

Hello! @ Orchard, #01-01 Crown Prince Shopping Centre, 270 Orchard Rd., Hotline 1610.

The M1 Shop, #B1-28/29 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd., Hotline 1800-843-8383.

The Nokia Nseries Experience Studio, #01-10/11 Scotts Shopping Centre, 6 Scotts Rd., Customer Service Line 6822-8888.

The Sony Gallery, #01-58/59 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St., 6837-0646; #04-01 Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd., 6733-1876.

47 Haji Lane, 6396-5543.

With an opaque black sliding door at the entrance, this store looks like a club at first glance. But walk inside, and you will find a choice array of bags, trainers, funky hats, limited edition Puma shoes, T-shirts and much, much more. With dim lighting and low ceilings, this cave of an interior is shadowy, stylish and a world away from the funky street outside. Ask the friendly guys who run the store, CK and Sean, to assist you anytime.

20 Haji Lane, 9747-2251.

In this sparsely decorated, earth-tone coloured store are T-shirts, vintage jeans, second hand designer one-off pieces and handcrafted jewellery. Treasures include a $600 Levi’s 503 redtab, a Vivienne Westwood vintage bag and quality secondhand clothing from Japan.

2 Haji Lane, 6297-7470.

Trendy girls will love this one. Besides playful dresses by local label Fantastik Antik, handmade bags and accessories by co-owner Cindi are the mainstays here too, alongside stylish travel guides, Misery Girl bags from New Zealand, Junk Food tees from the US, coffee table books, baby tees and other fun stuff. Prices range from $79 to $269 for Fantastic Antik, while bags and accessories are priced from $49.

34 Haji Lane, 9225-4131.

One of the latest indie street boutiques to set up shop at Haji Lane, Niche is a cool little enterprise run by six students. Come here for Stussy Custom Made, XLarge, Zoo York and other US and Japanese street designer labels. This is no ordinary business—the students behind this venture are using it to gain credits for their business diplomas at the local poly. Get cool clothes and help these guys make it in the real world too.

Basement, Wisma Atria, Isetan Orchard, 435 Orchard Rd., 6235-2103.

The popular Agnès b. opens its latest outlet at Wisma Atria. The Agnès b. Voyage store specializes in the brand’s complete range of Voyage and a strong accessories collection. Look out for the chic messenger bags, sporty backpacks and other trinkets like bracelets and earrings when you’re here. The store boasts white walls, warm lights, clean-lined fixtures and showcases—creating a clean, comforting store atmosphere that blends easily with the merchandises.

#02-05 Stamford House, 39 Stamford Rd., 6338-5020

Fans of all things vintage will fall head over heels with Swirl. Just one month old, this delightful boutique carries an assortment of one-off dresses, bags, cushions, lamps, brooches and accessories. Some of our favourites include the quirky bags with offbeat handles from the ’60s and ’70s, and the cocktail dresses. Owners Evelyn Foo and Suzanne Sng provide personal and friendly shopping tips and consultation when you visit their store, so what are you waiting for?

Fashion illustration sees a decline as fashion photography gained the hearts of those in the publishing industry in the ’50s and ’60s. And it wasn’t until late ’90s that it reemerged in the pages of magazines. Banking on this newfound interest in fashion illustration, traveling exhibition Traits Très Mode arrives for a stint at Alliance Française de Singapour.

Fifteen leading illustrators are being featured in this trendy exhibition. Some of the bigger names to take note of include Florence Deygas, Monsieur Z and Jean-Philippe Delhomme. Florence Deygas has bagged the D&AD award for his title sequence and print ads for the movie Catch Me If You Can, while Monsieur Z has produced cartoons and videos that have been screened in cinemas and TV programs. Jean-Philippe Delhomme fuses wit and sociological viewpoints to produce riveting works.

Despite the different artistic styles prevalent in Traits Très Mode, one commonality between the works is the merging of different genres with the aesthetic rules of traditional French fashion illustration. Executive Director of Alliance Française de Singapour Pierre-Emmanuel Jacob quips, “Commercially, the illustrators have forged a visual language of their own. Incorporating the principles of graphic arts, it sipped into the world of contemporary arts, street art, ever-present photography and new technologies, and still keeping to the principle of its aesthetic heritage—a development that is shaping the unique artistic world of contemporary French fashion illustration.”

Considering the quality works being showcased, and the fascinating ways in how fashion illustration is evolving currently, Traits Très Mode is an absorbing show to catch. A visual banquet of colors, pen sketches and pencil markings is lined up and it just might inspire you to look at your clothes a little differently.

Because there will always be bad people out there, there are laws. For the rest of us, there are manners, the lubricants that allow the machine of society to operate without breaking down every 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the rules haven’t kept up with the times, leading to confusion and apathy.

What a minefield etiquette can be! If Mr. KIA had a baht for every question he received about manners, he would be Mr. Own-It-All instead of Mr. Know-It-All. But, don’t worry, Mr. KIA does this out of the goodness of his heart, not for material gain.

So here is a selection of Mr. KIA’s guidelines for the modern guy and gal.

You and Your Mobile Phone

The general rule is this: You should not talk anywhere other people have no choice but to listen to your conversation. That means enclosed spaces or in quiet places where people are trying to concentrate, recover or relax. So walking down Silom during your lunch hour, yak all you want, as loud as you want, gesticulate as wildly as you like. You’ll look like an idiot, and you might forget to watch where you’re going and fall into a hole in the sidewalk, but that’s your problem.

• Nightclubs, beer gardens, bowling alleys, rock concerts, fast-food restaurants: OK to talk.

• Fine dining restaurants, hospital rooms, movie theaters, the opera or classical concerts, funerals, tennis matches: Not OK to talk, not OK to answer, and your ringer should be turned off if your phone isn’t.

• Elevator, BTS, MRT: OK to answer and tell the caller you cannot talk at the moment.

• Casual restaurants: OK to answer, but not to engage in a long conversation.

• Jazz performance in an auditorium: Not OK to talk, not OK to answer. Turn off your phone!

• Jazz performance in nightclub: OK if you’re discreet, but be careful that it’s not someone like Alice Day singing because she’ll kick your ass.

There are slight adjustments to these rules when you’re in a group, especially if there are just two of you, and especially if it’s a romantic interest. Call Mr. KIA old-fashioned, but answering the phone and then holding a conversation when you’re sitting with someone else is just plain rude.

1. Don’t do it. But if you must….

2. Say something like, “I’m sorry, do you mind if I take this call?”

3. Keep it short.

4. If you can’t keep it short, excuse yourself from the table and hold your conversation in a less obvious place.

As for in the workplace, if you’re in a meeting:
1. Turn your ringer off.

2. If you absolutely must take a call, leave the room.

Does Mr. KIA consider the practice of hanging up after one ring so the other person will call you back (and thus shoulder the charges) bad manners? No. It’s tacky, but acceptable. After all, the other party doesn’t have to return your call.

Blazin’ Thumbs: SMS

You can get away with a bit more with SMS.

• SMS on the BTS or MRT: OK

• Restaurants (except for the really fancy ones that ban phones completely—good for them): OK

• Movie theaters: Not OK. It’s distracting to others, especially if your phone beeps everytime you press a button.

• Meetings (for work): Maybe.

• On a date (unless you’re trying to get rid of him): Never.

In Cyberspace

It’s bad manners to lie about yourself in emails, in chat rooms and in your profile on “networking” sites. If you’re asked something you don’t want to answer, then don’t answer.

Photoshopping your picture: OK to a certain degree (photo shops and studios do it all the time).

Posting a photo of someone else and pretending that it’s you: Not OK. That’s false advertising.

Posting a photo of yourself taken five or more years ago: Not OK. Same reason.

Doorway Etiquette

Here’s a little quiz for ya. What do you do when the elevator you’ve been waiting for arrives and the door opens?
a. Without making eye contact, I push my way through before people start exiting the elevator.

b. I stand directly in front and in the center of the doors and make the people who are exiting walk around me.

c. I patiently wait for those who are trying to exit the elevator to get out before I enter the elevator.

If you answered a or b, here’s what Mr. KIA concludes about you.

1. You’re an egomaniac. Basically you’re saying, “I am more important than everyone else, so get the hell out of my way.” You believe in survival of the fittest and you, obviously, are the fittest so you deserve to get that prime spot in the back corner or whatever.

2. You’re an idiot. You believe that by being a bully, you’ll arrive at your stop or floor faster. In fact, this slows things down, which is why the BTS and MRTA have put those stickers on the floor and why they have announcements reminding people to let passengers off first. The doors won’t shut in your face. You won’t get left behind.

On the BTS or MRT, make room for others by going all the way into the car. Again, those announcements are for a reason.

Do not lean on the poles as your sweaty body is preventing seven other peole around you from holding onto something.

Seat etiquette: If a seat becomes available while on public transportation, don’t just plant your fat ass in it without thinking about others. Here’s the hierarchy of who gets the seat: disabled people, monks, elderly people, little kids, women, and lastly men. (sorry, fellas). However, if you do get a seat and you see someone carrying something really heavy, Mr. KIA always admires the citizen who offers to hold the standing person’s package. It’s a thoughtful thing to do.

As for doors that swing open, it’s good manners to be aware if there is a person behind you and hold it just a bit so it doesn’t smack him in the face.

In the 21st Century, should a man hold a door open for a woman? Definitely. But a man should also hold a door open for a man; a woman should hold a door open for a man; and a woman should hold a door open for a woman. It’s about courtesy, not chivalry.

Modern Man on the Move

There’s no greater example of man’s inhumanity to man than during rush hour when it’s raining and the masses are fighting over cabs. It would be ideal if we had more taxi stands—if you can see one, you’re obliged to walk to it and wait in line. But they are few and far between, so here are Mr. KIA’s rules for hailing taxis. Assume you’ve come out of a venue and walked to the street and there is already someone else waiting for a cab

Do: If she is to the left of you (“down” the road) and less than 10 meters from you, wave the next taxi on so she can take it.

Don’t: If she is to the right of you (“up” the road), walk behind her and past her so you can grab the next taxi.

Remember Microbuses? Limited to 20 seats, air-conditioned, sane drivers—and all for B40! During rush hour they were often full, and as Mr. KIA flagged one down the conductor signaled that there was one seat left. It stopped in front of him, the driver opened the doors and just as his was about to raise his foot into the bus—bam!—from out of nowhere a tiny old woman body-checked Mr. KIA onto the asphalt. He was so shocked all he could do was laugh, and the driver assumed that this meant that he was free to drive off with that terrible woman in what should have been Mr. KIA’s seat.

In the Gym

1. Don’t sit on the damn equipment when you’re not using it.

2. Wipe your damn sweat of the equipment.

3. Rack your damn weights.

4. Don’t try to speak to Mr. KIA when he’s listening to his bitchin’ iPod mix.

Optional: Doing the put on/take off-your-underwear-while-wearing-a-towel thing.

Good manners: Wearing a towel when you’re walking around in the locker room.

Mr. KIA’s Rules For Email

To your mom or a client, write an email just as you would write a letter. That means:
1. Correct punctuation.

2. Capital letters. (How hard is it to press the shift key?)

3. Paragraphs or double spaces. (How hard is it to press the enter key?)

4. Salutation. (“Dear Mom…”)

5. Sign-off. (“Yours truly…”)

With your close friends, family members other than mom and work colleagues, you can relax a bit.
1. It’s not necessary to use a salutation or even post your name at the end (that’s what the signature function is for).

2. But not ALL CAPS or all lowercase.

3. Unless you’re 16, leave the emoticons and abbreviations (“LOL! ROTF!”) out.

Are you one of those people who emails 50 people with attached multimedia jokes, greeting cards with poems about friendship, or photos of that cute thing your dog did yesterday?
1. Stop it.

2. If you insist, ask them first: “Hey! Do you want me to send you 20 high-res pics of little Somchai taking his first dump?”

3. And for god’s sake, use BCC.

If you’re sending out emails to multiple recipients for work, you should always include a note somewhere in the email which gives the receiver a chance to be removed from your list by clicking on a link or replying with your choice of phrase in the subject field.

Who Pays?

In Thailand the traditional formula for figuring out who pays has always been (in order):
1. The guy pays.

2. The eldest pays.

3. The richest/most powerful (same thing) pays.

4. #2 and #3 can be swapped, but not #1 unless she is really #3.
But in the 21st Century, we’re a bit more progressive. (Please note that in the following examples, guy-girl can be king-queen, top-bottom, whatever. It doesn’t make a difference to Mr. KIA.) Assuming that both parties are from similar economic status:

On a date:
1. If the guy asks the girl out: He pays.

2. If the girl asks the guy out: He gets his wallet out, she offers to pay, he pays.

3. Once they get to know each other better, alternate.

On a business lunch/dinner:
1. The person with the higher position pays.

2. If they are equal, the person who requested the meeting pays.

3. If it just sort of happened, they split the bill.

Friendship is a bit different:
1. Split the bill equally—it doesn’t matter if she had 4 beers and you only had 2.

2. Spouses and gigs count. So you pay for yourself and her.

3. If at the end of the meal you order extra food to take home to your maid and driver, pay your share of the bill, then get a separate bill for the to go order.

You’re skint, but your friends want to go to a swanky place:
1. Tell your friends when you’re discussing where to go, not when the bill comes.

2. They will offer to pay.

3. You will suggest a cheaper alternative or offer to borrow some money.

4. They will both pay.

If one friend is considerably more wealthy than you:
1. He pays.

2. But you should always say, “You don’t need to do that, man.”

3. He will insist, and then you just say, “Thanks.”

4. If he doesn’t insist, you both pay.

Miscellaneous

• Greetings
Do you wai, shake hands, hug, kiss, air kiss, air kiss twice, air kiss thrice? It doesn’t matter. Just do something other than stand there and look foolish.

• Bringing Someone Along Whom Your Friends Don’t Know
1. Ask them if they mind beforehand.

2. Ask them again once you’re there.

3. If they mind, leave early.

• ATM Use
Multiple transactions are OK, but only if you have one card.

• You Run Into Someone While Your Headphones Are On
1. Close acquaintance: Take them off.

2. Casual acquaintance: Take off your headphones, say hello, put them back on.

• You’re Invited to Someone’s Home
1. It’s for a party: You must bring something.

2. It’s not a party: You still must bring something.

• Right of Way
Motorcycle on the sidewalk: You do not have to get out of his way—unless he’s a cop.

• Punctuality
It has always amazed Mr. KIA how “traffic” is acceptable as an excuse. It is even more amazing how it is still accepted as a valid excuse. The traffic is the same for all of us. Don’t be late.

• Queuing
1. Get in line.

2. If there isn’t a line, and the fruit vendor turns to you first even though you got there last, tell him it’s not your turn.

• Wrong Numbers
When you call someone, ask if you can speak to the person you’re calling. Asking “Who is this?” is bad manners.

If it’s a wrong number, you do not just hang up. Apologize first.

• Flying on Low-Cost Airlines That Do Not Have Assigned Seats
What the hell are you thinking?

Central Hotels Gold Card—Sofitel Central Plaza

Meat of the matter: Discounts on food—10% for a single diner, 50% for two, 25% for four—at Don Giovanni, Dynasty, Le Danang, Hagi, Suan Bua, Chatuchak Cafe
Side dishes: 10% on beverages and take-away baked goods.
Highlight restaurant: Craving crispy pizza? At Don Giovanni (Open daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-10:30pm), a team of Italian chefs bakes the pies in a charcoal oven.
Plus perks: The card can be used at various other Central group properties throughout Thailand.
Minus point: Can’t be used abroad.
Membership Fee: B4,900
Sofitel Central Plaza, Phaholyothin Rd., 02-541-1234 ext. 4210, [email protected], www.centralhotelsresorts.com/chic.  

The Club at the Hyatt—Grand Hyatt Erawan

Meat of the matter: Discount depends on the outlet, ranging from 10% for one, 50% for two, 15% for six or more at The Dining Room, The Chinese Restaurant, The Garden Lounge, The Breezeway and Spasso.
Side dishes: 10% off on drinks; 15% on afternoon tea at Erawan Tea Room or noodle dishes at You & Mee; 20% on full bottles of spirits and liquors at Bar@494 after 10pm.
Highlight restaurant: Spasso (Open daily noon-2:30pm, 6:30pm-2am) is still a good place to hang after 1am. The restaurant serves up Italian pastas and fresh oven-baked pizzas during the day, but turns into a vigorous dancing venue at night.
Plus perks: Complimentary birthday cake and no corkage charge on your birthday. Use the card at Figs Mediterranean Restaurant and Talay Thai at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, as well as at other Hyatt subsidiaries throughout the world when you are an in-house guest.
Minus point: Different discounts. At the Erawan Tea Room, all you get is a measly 10%.
Membership fee: B6,500.
494 Ratchadamri Rd., 02-254-6295, www.bangkok.grand.hyatt.com.

Club Landmark—Landmark

Meat of the matter: 20% discount on food when dining alone at all of its nine eateries. Bring a date and receive 50% off, three is worth 33% or 25% for four.
Side dishes: Voucher for a Peking duck when dining with a minimum five people at Sui Sian, voucher for buffet for two at The Atrium Café. 15% discount on beverages.
Highlight restaurant: Coming soon is the Landmark’s Rib Room & Bar, aka RR&B, the next “best steakhouse in Bangkok.”
Plus perks: 75% discount on joining fee at Fitness First.
Minus point: Can’t be used elsewhere.
Membership Fee: B4,900
The Landmark, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-252-6676, [email protected], www.landmarkbangkok.com. 

Prestige Card—Shangri-La

Meat of the matter: Discount is proportional to the numbers of diners per table: 15% for dining alone, 50% for two, 33% for three and 20% for four up to 50(!) diners. Mon-Thu stop by Next 2 or Angelini with a party from three to 12 persons at lunch and enjoy 50% discount.
Side dishes: A vast array of complimentary coupons such as 50% vouchers for dinner at Angelini and on board Horizon Cruise.
Highlight restaurant: From Nov 23-Dec 3, M.L. Kwantip Devakula reveals her secret cooking techniques at Salathip (Open daily 6:30-10:30pm). Some of her royal authentic Thai recipes are Phra Ram Long Song (boiled Chinese water spinach and beef in peanut sauce) and kaeng nua prik keenu (beef in fresh chili pepper curry).
Plus perks: Too lazy to go home after a big feast? The Prestige Card includes a 1-night accommodation voucher for 2 persons in its Deluxe room, Krungthep Wing (exclusive of breakfast).
Minus point: The card can be used only at Shangri-La.
Membership Fee: B6,999
Shangri-La, Soi Wat Suan Plu, 02-236-7777 ext. 6205/-6, www.shangri-la.com/bangkok.

Starwood Privilege—Royal Orchid Sheraton

Meat of the matter: 20% discount on food for single diners, 50% for couples, three get 33% and four 25%.
Side dishes: Various special vouchers to use at the participating restaurants such as all-you-can-eat international buffet for two at Etc (open daily 6am-11pm).
Highlight restaurant: Chow on scrumptious Italian fare while enjoying the views of the Chao Phraya River at the newly renovated Giorgio’s (Open daily 6-10:30pm).
Plus perks: Starwood Privilege Card can also be used at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit and Le Meridian Khao Lak Beach & Spa Resort, plus other participating hotels in the Asia Pacific region.
Minus point: It’s one of the most expensive membership cards, but you get what you pay for.
Membership Fee: B6,900 
Royal Orchid Sheraton, 2 Charoen Krung Soi 30 (Captain Bush Lane), 02-261-2555, www.starwoodprivilege.com.