D1andonlyDman

I've also flown Merpati from Lombok to Denpasar. 20 minute flight, seemed quite professionally run. And Siem Reap Airways is run operationally as a transparent part of Bangkok Airways , which I've always regarded as an excellent (if often over-priced carrier). Those are 2 carriers I am surely surprised to see on the list. One-to-Go belongs on the list. They crashed a flight between BKK and Phuket a couple of years ago, due to pilot error, and they run really old planes that other airlines have retired from service.

Siem Reap Airways is a subsidiary of Bangkok Airways, and in fact, most of the Bangkok to Siem Reap flights are actually technically this carrier's flights.

IMHO, the Sabai Inn is the best value in Pattaya. Much nicer rooms than the cheap rooms at Sabai Lodge. Location right near the Big C mall is very practical.

I also like the CitiChic, but for purely mongering purposes, the Majestic Suites is a better value because it's around 900 baht/nt cheaper, and located at ground zero. But the rooms are MUCH bigger and also nicer at the CitiChic. I might also add, in addition to the "Big 3" of the JW Marriott, Westin, and Sheraton Grande, The Plaza Athenee is also a great choice, and it's located around 100 meters from the Ploenchit BTS station on Wireless Road. It's actually my preferred choice among upscale full service hotels, if I want to be slightly removed from the action around NEP and Soi Cowboy

Personally, I felt that SalaThai was the best Thai restaurant in the area. Fatties is also good, on 2nd road just off of Soi 2.

Majestic Suites is definitely the best in that price range, but you'd better book early, as the place is getting too popular. I was unable to get it for this 2nd week in December because my time in Bangkok did not firm up until a few weeks ago, and it was already fully booked. In general, hotel rates have been rising fast in Bangkok, and the places one-two notches up from the Majestic Suites, that I used to get for $60-70 US (30-35 pounds) are now all between $85 & $100. If you can't get the Majestic Suites, and your 25-pound price point is firm, the best alternative choices IMHO

Sabai Inn is also my first choice for good value in Patts. Nice large rooms with everything you need, for a great price, and no problem using the pools at Sabai Lodge across the street. IMHO, the rooms at Sabai Inn are much better than the similar cost rooms at Sabai Lodge. I'll be back there for the week of Dec. 12-18.

I'm not nearly as enthusiastic about the Dynasty Grande now that they have upped their rates to 2680/nt for the smaller rooms in the back building, and 2880/nt for the front building. That's a pretty steep increase over 2280/nt for either, considering that it still does not include breakfast. But it looks like everyone in Bangkok has been raising their rates this December. Anyone know anything about the new CitiChic Hotel on Soi 13? It looks great on their website, and it's owned and run by the same folks who own the Majestic Suites and Majestic Grande. http://www.citichichotel.co

Except that it's really a 3.5* at 2* prices. Not that there's anything wrong with that at all - in fact, I quite like the place and consider it to be a better value than the Majestic Grande. If you really want to know what a 5* hotel is like, and still want to be close to the action, I suggest the JW Marriott, Plaza Athenee, Conrad, or Sheraton Grande.

Well, some of us don't want to stay in a hoel when travelling. Especially in Cambodia, where lots of hoels have unexploded ordinance or landmines in them.

Cathay Pacific was running a fare sale all during the month of May, for $734 + tax round trip from SFO or LAX to Bangkok, good from September through Mid December. With taxes and fees, it came to $818. I booked my September trip on that special last month. But the deal is over. In any case, check the airlines' own websites, not the sites like Expedia. You should be able to get < $1100 fares, maybe under $1000, on EVA and China Airlines

Well thank goodness that the price of the songtows has not risen 5 baht. I would have cancelled my trip in September.

I've found that Anand at the Majestic Suites ALWAYS replies to my e-mails, but those are e-mails about reserving a room, NOT generic e-mails asking about policies. FYI, both the Majestic Suites and Dynasty Grande are certainly guest friendly. At Majestic Suites they will take your lady friend's ID, all of the time, whereas the Dynasty Grande is hit or miss about doing so. Both places also have in-room safes so your valuables will be safe if you fall asleep in the presence of a dishonest lady. IMHO these are two of the better values among places in Bangkok for the hobby. If you are look

The Cathay $734 deal comes out to $818 complete with taxes from L.A. I booked my trip for September.

I personally like to spend a bit more for the Dynasty Grande, because the rooms are much nicer and there is a good swimming pool. But on a tight budget, the Majestic Suites is hard to top.

Well that certainly narrows it down. At least we know you're not the short white guy with a hangover, a crappy suit, and a TG under each arm. (that's me, BTW).

I've flown KAL from the U.S. to Bangkok via Incheon twice. KAL is fine. Their safety record was impacted because they had two flights taken down by intentional violence, both with hundreds of fatalities: Once the Russians shot them down, and once a terrorist blew up a plane in the air. If you exclude those two episodes, then their safety record was actually pretty decent. Their equipment is pretty new, a mix of Boeing 747 and 777, and their crews are all ex Korean Air Force. Best of all, Incheon airport might well be the best place in the world to kill a significant layover. The KA

I have never paid the initial price I was quoted for a car to take me to Pattaya. No doubt their initial quoted price will be the same, but I am very sure that their willingness to accept a lower price or else have you walk away will be altered by the shorter duration of the trip. I have also always had the tolls quoted to me as an adder to the agreed price - for example, 1200 plus 200 tolls. If there is no tolls, there will be no toll adder.

I go to Thailand to buy Thai Pussy and other related items, but actually, I really prefer to rent, not buy, as I find it's much cheaper in the long run.

Next week is NOT the same as Xmas or New Years. Most of the better places in Pattaya are already either fully booked out, or nearly so for the Xmas and New Years weeks. I just booked a stay from Dec 18-21 last month, and all of my first half dozen choices for places to stay were fully booked already in late July for those dates, and the two following weeks will surely be even tougher. Among the fully booked places incuded all of the Flipper Hotels, all of the Eastiny Hotels, the Lek Hotel, and the BJ Holiday Lodge. I was able to get a room in the Sabai Inn.

The exchange rate has been between 37 and 38 Baht to the dollar recently, and is currently at 37.7 You will probably get something slightly over 37 at the local exchange shops, maybe as much as 37.5 per dollar. If you multiply your $1000 dollars by 37 or 37.5, you find that when you change your money, $1000 dollars will give you something a bit over 37000 Baht. So, if you pay 1000 Baht per shag, that's 37 Short Time shags for your $1000. Of course, you might also wish to eat, drink, sleep or take a cab with some portion of that money as well - not to mention having to pay your airport e

A beautiful, quite new boutique hotel that I really like is the Raming Lodge. Great location near the end of Loi Kroh Road by tha Tapae Gate, a very short walk to several of the best beer bars on that street, where lots of ladies hang out. It's guest friendly. www.raminglodge.com Unfortunately, it seems that they are really jacking up their rates come this November. I used to spend 1000-1200 baht a night to stay there, and now their posted rates from November on are double that. If they had a good swimming pool, I'd consider spending 2000+ a night there, but without a pool, any

It seems that the Flipper hotels are always fully booked when I try to reserve with them. I'm going to be in Pattaya from December 18-21, and quite a few places were already fully booked out a month ago, including the Flipper group hotels, the Eastiny hotels, the BJ Holiday Lodge, and the Lek Hotel. I ended up reserving in the Sabai Inn. I had thought that I was getting in just before the holiday spike in travel, but I guess not.

Personally, I would say that the Sabai Inn is better than the cheaper rooms at the Sabai Lodge, but not as nice as the more expensive rooms at the Sabai Lodge. If your budget is in the vicinity of 1000 Baht/nt, IMHO, the Sabai Inn is the nicer place, and you will not have any problem using the pools at the Sabai Lodge, which is less than a 100 meter walk away. If you don't mind spending 1400-1500 baht or more a night, then the nicer rooms at the Sabai Lodge will be a good choice. I've seen the rooms at both, and have stayed in the Sabai Lodge. I'll be staying at the Sabai Inn during my nex