Daveuk

There is another second hand bookshop on the upper floor of TOPS supermarket, Second Road. Has quite a varied selection, including a larger proportion of non-fiction than Caterbury St. Also its suprising what you can find in the reception area of the larger hotels. Books left by guys leavig for home.

Thats a hell of a good price. I thought I had done well with £543 on Etihad. Mind you I go on 20 July, which is in the midst of what is normally an expensive time. Towards the end of August prices tend to fall with the holiday season tapering out.

I've just booked MAN>BKK 20.7.10 and BKK>MAN 12.8.10 on Etihad for £543 through Expedia. No long wait at Abu Dhabi for connections. The same flight 3 weeks ago about £900 !. Looks like flight prices have taken a sudden tumble. Double dip recession on its way ?.

Thanks guys I've casted around a bit more and have found Etihad flights with good connections at £776. Maybe thats about the cheapest which will be available.

I'm thinking about a trip late July (Say out 20/7/10 back 17/8/10), as late August/September is not possible. Air-Fares seem sky-high - more than I expected. Checking the usual websites £900 was the average without a long transit delay and £800 with a long wait on Qatar at Doha. I'm wondering if prices will fall or if I should bite the bullet and buy now. Any opinions ?.

Sabai Inn was a bit noisy when I was there in November, due to construction work on the new Welcom Inn being built next door on the site which was the Piano Bar and restaurent. Otherwise Bazle's comments are spot on.

Looking for a safe haven for your money ? All the major currencies seem to have problems US dollar, Euro, £ sterling, Swiss Franc I can think of many reasons not to invest in them !. What about depositing money in Norway ? Small sensible law-abiding population, a LOT OF OIL, thei own currency(Krona) and determined to stay out of the EC. Sounds good to me - I'm off to Oslo.

I've just booked Manchester > Bangkok Out 10 June Back 7 July Air France via Opodo £413.50 - looks like a good price to me. Not long wait in Paris.

Thunder - Best I could find around my dates was £655 from Manchester. Maybe cheaper towards the end of the months, but I have to go around 11th Feb. Anyway I will remember to check Qatar in future - its another possibility.

I've been fishing around for a 11th February flight returning 11 March Manchester Bangkok. Looked at Opodo, Expedia, Lastminute, Etihad direct, Thomas Cook. Found some offers at around £580 - £600 but with long waits at intermediate airports or early flights ex MAN (involving me in an expensive taxi trip rather than the train). In the end I settled for £641 with Emirates via Opodo. Recent trips have been £500 - £550 with Etihad, who seem not to be cheap anymore. Prices might come down in the New Year, but maybe they will be higher due to the plunging pound. Who Knows ?.

I stayed at the Nana Tai for 3 nights last February. I tried to check-in at the Nana, but they were full and offered the Nana Tai, who sent down a car to pick me up. A draw-back to many could be what seemed like a half mile walk to Suk Road and the Entertainment area. Their "free" Tuk Tuk, (the driver of which likes a 50 baht tip), seemed to be always available when leaving the hotel but was not around when I wanted to return with girl, thus necessitating a taxi/tuk tuk hire. The rooms were very run down (even more so than the Nana), but they were clean and everything worked. The restaurent w

During my October/November trip I spent a bit of time in this beer bar on Soi 7, and enjoyed it a lot. The drink prices were very low which was welcome following the drop in the Pound to around 50 baht. If I recall Heineken was 50 baht and Thai whiskey 35 baht. The bar invariably had a lot of customers, even at 9.00 am when I called for a coffee, in contrast to most of the Soi7 bars who looked to be struggling for business. Of course many customers were of the older expat/cheap charlie variety, but most were friendly and good for a chat, which I enjoyed when I was on my own. Most nights they

Thanks Feileacan (I would be interested in having your opinion) & Dr Winston. As it stands at the moment I will be in Pats later February. Probably just do a walk in and check things out.

I had a quick look at this relatively new hotel 3 weeks ago when I was in Pats and was quite impressed by the standard of the rooms and that there was a reasonable sized pool. Its situation would not suit a lot of guys being at a fair distance from the sea and being on a rather "downmarket" Soi, but these points are not negatives for me. I have just checked their rates on the website "theholidaymansion.com" and they seem very competitive particularly their monthly ones (12,000, 13,000 & 15,000 depending on the room). I'm thinking ahead to my February trip and with the Pound taking a nosed

Yesterday 8th November the rain started about 12.00 and it really hammered down for about 2 hours but eased to just moderate rain untill about 6.00 in the evening. Pattaya seemed more like back home in England than the tropics. Today seems rather cool with many Thais walking about in sweaters.

This is good advice, but you can use WD40 to clean a chain - it removes dirt gunge etc like magic. Then clean the chain and lube as above. Is there anywhere to rent a bike in Pattaya. I'm a cyclist (time trials etc) and often feel the need to pedal whilst there. Is this board fantastic - it now includes advice on bicycle chain lubrication !.

I've just noticed that the nightly internet rate for the Sabai Inn from 1st November is 1200 baht. Last year during Novemver I paid 1000. Is this sort of increase prevelent at other hotels ?.

I got Etihad (Via Opodo) Manchester > Bangkok > Manchester Out 28 October Back 24 November for £524 few days ago, but this fare does not seem to be available now, but check Opodo - they seem to have a few alternatives for early November at around £600. Opodo seems to be a little cheaper that Expedia, Ebookers etc. Obviously the fuel price is biting !.

I've just checked Opodo and found that £524 fare I bought a few days ago is no longer available and the current prices for the autumn are £600 +. I think the days of return fares to LOS of sub £500 are gone and to blame is the high price of fuel. This is obviously going to impact on Pattaya !.

Best price I could find for late October (My next trip) is £524 through Opodo Etihad Manchester 28.10.08 20:20 arrives Bangkok 18:45 29.10.08 Bangkok 25.11.08 9:05 arrives Manchester 17:35 Both via Abu Dhabi

Shauna The gym you refer to on Beach Road was the Universe but the building was demolished about 2 years ago to make way for the new Mall development. All the equipment was relocated to the gym I refer to in my earlier post on Sukumvit Road and this has the same name - Universe. Its run by a rather friendly Welshman, but when I was there In March there was a notice to the effect that it was for sale. It seems to be patronaged mainly by ex-pats who have the transport to get to the rather difficult location. Gentlemangeoff: When I ran the half marathon 2 years ago the heat did not seem to bot

I always go to the Universe Gym on Sukumvit Road. Its located about 300 yards from the junction with Central Road in the Bangkok direction. There is a good selection of equipment including free weights, treadmills, rowing machines & bikes. Cant remember the charge but I think it was modest. My only criticism was that the air-con was not very effective. You can buy 10 visits or join for a month/year or just pay as you go. Talking about fitness - Is anyone entering one of the marathon races on July 15th ?. Two year ago I did the half marathon, but now I think I could only manage the quarter

Pre-Arranged Taxi to Pats ? Not for me - I like a transport challenge !. Such as.... Several trips back I met a group of 7 young lads (20 years to 25 years) at Abu Dhabi Airport. Someone in England had told them about Pattaya but they had not much idea about how to get there. I suggested a mini bus and they asked if I knew how to get one. This I did on arrival and they rewarded me by refusing my contribution towards the cost, when I accompanied them. I disuaded them from taking shared rooms at the Royal Cruise Hotel and directed them instead to the Eastiny Place Hotel on Soi 8 to get a r

Why pay rediculous amounts of money for a car ? A 10 year old ford will take you down the road just as well as a new Mercedes, Cadillac, Lexus or BMW !. Why buy a £500 suit when a £5 pair of jeans are just as comfortable. Whats the point in having surplus cash if you dont spend it ? If you have got it Spend it - No point in being the richest guy in the graveyard.

One thing that hasnt been mentioned in regard to state pensions in the UK is SERPS (State earnings related pension). Unless you contracted out of this you will receive an additional pension which is related to your earnings over many years. I am 65 in March and have had quite a pleasant surprise in that whilst my basic state pension is only £85 per week, my total state pension will be £223 per week. The additional amount is mainly the serps element. This together with a pension I derive from being in a company scheme for over 30 years should see me well placed. There are a few other "fringe b