aussiexpat

Because you can't legally own a house in your own name. As I said earlier, I know you can buy a house in a company name however I wasn't comfortable with shelling out $6mil Bt and not actually owning the place. btw, I do plan to buy a house when I finally settle in Los, as I'm told mama, papa and little Sis will need to move in, however that will be in my wife's name (with 30-year lease to me). Also, as any property owned by you before marriage stays yours, it is nice to know that the Condo will always be mine if she ever kicks me out, or if I need a short break from my new family

I had just a look at Air Asia and they offer return flights for 3400bt for two people http://www.airasia.com/site/th/en/home.jsp

Well Guys, I bought my condo today It's a 2-BR condo on the 5th and 6th floor (2-storey) of the Urban and at 110 sqm should be a nice size holiday apartment. I used Tony's legal services at Magnacarta which was excellent (was reccomended on this board) and so far so good. If anyone else is looking, Joong was the sales lady and was a great help. Btw Bazle, I did have a look at City Garden after your heads up and it does look nice (and bigger than the Urban), however at a cost of 75,000bt per sqm, it was about 15000bt more than the urban... Also, I did see what money can buy on th

Thanks for your post and you also gave an answer to my next question, which is does anyone know a good lawyer :)

Okay, as far as the Urban goes, only tower B is open to falangs.....Here are the list of apartments available 1st Floor: D-101 114 Sqm 2BR city view; B-101 75 Sqm 1BR city view; B-103 80 Sqm 1BR city view; B-104 80 Sqm 1Br city view 2nd Floor: B-201 82 Sqm 2BR city view 3rd Floor: C-301 110 Sqm 2BR Pool view; C-302 110 Sqm 2BR Pool view 4th Floor: D-401 120 Sqm 2BR Pool view 5th Floor: D-501 120 Sqm 2 BR Pool view 6th Floor: wtf...all gone 7th Floor: C-701 110 Sqm Duplex City view; C-702 147 Sqm Duplex Pool view

Only reason is that I didn't know anything about it. They look okay online, so as I'm back in Patts this week-end I'll have a look....thanks for the tip

Oh, I almost forgot the most important question....money transfer. Does anyone know a good method to ensure that I get the internal rate of exchange instead of the international rate. It seems that the rates are now closer than I remember as a quick check shows the international rate at 34.45bt to the US$, whereas the Siam bank gives 34.72bt, however it'll still amount to a lot of wasted cash. (this is the $100 rate just to show the principle and of course large sums exchanged will get a better rate) I assume I should just bring a US$ draft and exchange it when I get to Thailan

Thanks for the great info Lordflash. I'm afraid I don't really know anything outside of central Patts, so had not heard of Pratumnak Hill.....in fact, the recent darkside crawl was my first visit outside the beach rd - 2nd rd loop, so maybe I need to get out more What I do want is something that is directly on an easy baht bus route to WS/Beach rd as I intend to drink and party lots when in Patts, so needing a bike to get places is not really appropriate. After some more research, I've dismissed the following: VT6 – This appears too expensive at 95k per sqm and it is a real

Just for info, I see that there are many apartments available in VT5 for around the 57-60k per sqm and these are fully furnished.....sounds like a good deal or at least it could be used as a benchmark for the newbie buyer? Does anyone know what the average maintenance fee per year should be?

Thanks for this. Being 95,000bt per sqm and only a shell makes the Urbin and Pride condo's look much better and while not being on the beach like VT6, they're are still very close to all of the action Any idea why the prices are not going down then....I guess they'd rather leave them unsold then make a smaller profit

I’m currently searching for a condo in Pattaya and it would be appreciated if anyone has any advice on the following three that I’m considering so far: Pride Condominiums: Soi 15 just behind 2nd road (near Mercure) Size: 8 floors with studios (32-33 sqm), 1-BR (44-62 sqm) and 2-BR (65-88 sqm) Price: Depending on which floor, prices are between 55-58,000bt per sqm. So this ranges from 2.4mil for 44sqm second floor to 5.1mil for 88 sqm on the top floor. This includes air-conditioning, bathroom and kitchen fit-out (some condo’s are just shells I’m told). Completion: End of 2008

Good idea Pete, but I think one of the main problems to "interact" is that your bar (as in counter) is so large....have you considered re-naming your smaller bar area "lookin" bar whereby beer mats are permantly green.... Just an idea but this would allow a smaller space to socialise and I would have sat there instead of at the main counter on the one time I went alone (other times were with a girl so would have had red mat anyway)

I just stayed 9 nights at Mercure and they never once tried to charge me any joiner fee. In fact all the staff were very friendly to my "joiners" and the girls loved the hotel. There is a sign at the pool saying fee of 300bt for non-guests to use the pool, but again my girl and I went swimming no problems as she had already registered her ID. Oh yeah, I was told there was a joiner fee if I brought back more than one girl...which luckily I have out of my system after 4 trips to Patts

Hope this is okay to post MM, however I think you posted previously that in low season the rate direct may be cheaper than FLB rate (35%) and therefore I just received the following quote..... Dear Sir Thank you for your kindly to Lk Metropole. We are gald to inform you that right now we have Discount 40% from daily rate -standard room which rate THB 1,500 per night -studio room THB 1,800 per night -superior room THB 1,920 per night -One Bed room Suite THB 2,700 per night THe price are not included Breakfast would you like to book please let me know Best regard

Can you check your passport again....I'm hoping is says born on 13th, so then I can come.....oh well, worth a try

How are any of those flights related to people travelling to Thailand.....they're all local Middle East Flights that will be delayed, which makes sense as they fly multiple times a day????????

Don't hold back, go for it as long as you have a ticket back & medical insurance :) As rent is paid at 6k/mth, you'll have more than 1350bt a day to spend which is huge if you don't drink....either that or you can spend 500bt a day on essentials and then still have about 25k a month for the odd Soi 6 extravaganza Seriously, if you start to overspend during the month, just pretend you had an absolute blinder on the booze...this always cleans me up for 2 cheap days whereby I only spend on Lipo's, Red Bull & Panadol

Thanks...haven't laughed so hard in ages...and glad you didn't hit the Kitty :)

My favorites so far (slightly amended) You know you’ve been in Pattaya too long when…… ...you stop finding ladyboys fascinating ...you can actually identify a ladyboy after 12 beers ...you get pissed off and ask where's the $#% checkbin when your home local insists on cash for beer ...you are upset that no girls in your home local call you "handsum man" or try to grab your nuts ...your cock falls off ...rather than kissing your tirac, you catch yourself sniffing her ...you still won't eat bugs, but you'll kiss a girl who's just finished a huge bag of them. ...you find golf/c

Yep, I reckon that would be a sure sign

ummm, is that a symptom of too much Viagra

Come on Guys, I've only been to Pattaya once, however I know I'd have been there too long if.... ....I got upset because my local at home tried to get cash after every beer...where's my checkbin ....I got pissed off that no chicks in my local called me "handsum man" or tried to grab my nuts ....I chat up a chick and then call her a bitch because she wouldn't go longtime for $30 (i.e. 1000Bt) and finally, in reference to Soi Unwise's post above, I know I'd have been there too long if.... I could actually identify a ladyboy when I'd had 12 beers

When I was in Saudi, I came across the following: You know you’ve been in Saudi too long when…… You're not surprised to see a goat in the passenger seat You think the uncut version of "Little House on the Prairie" is provocative You don't expect to eat dinner before 10:30 p.m. You need a sweater when it's 20 degrees outside Your idea of housework is leaving a list for the maid You believe that speed limits are only advisory You know which end of a shawarma to unwrap first You get used to using the cold water tap to get hot water during the summer You think all cops drive Merced

Cool, so if I hook up with a Nois BG, I guess that means I can check up on her when I'm not there :) Oh yeah, love the visiters map....I feel for the poor guy checking in from Alice Springs

Try www.atsiam.com it's the cheapest I could find for on-line bookings Also for a quick review of prices try: http://www.pattaya.com/hightlight/hotel/ho....asp?sort=rates