Agent09

Always book ahead in Bangkok... but then I stay in one or two regular haunts every time and don't really want to vary it. Usually for Pattaya in 'high' season, Book ahead especially pre Christmas and New Year but have often turned up in Pattaya in low season, April and May and just stashed my bags with a friend or a bar and then just gone out and done a walk round a few hotels in SoiMetro/Buakhoa area and haggled for a price. Or I just book one night somewhere and then look around if I do not like it enough.

Following up on my 'intention' post above, and after my stay, I can't fault China garden in the main and recently stayed there on a split stay for 20 days in standard room and also jacuzzi room at the end of my stay for a night or two. Rooms, service, price all well recommended, location excellent, booking process fine and easy enough. Ideally located for LK Metro but without the noise. Just be aware for your taxi that the 'China Garden' frontage and restaurant no longer exists although there is a large A1 free standing sign and neon advert for the 'China Garden' rooms. Look for the 'Stea

I have now sent reservations for December 2014 to Jan 2015 for China Garden and hopefully they have the space available for part of my stay but I have to find an alternative for 10 days of it over the New Year period. I am looking forward to reviewing China Garden later this year. Thanks to the posters who have reviewed this place. Looks good.

Err.. I am just considering booking Metro Apartments for a month stay there...(I-Rovers is full for the duration).. anyone have recent experience of staying there as regards noise level...other than that I hear good things about it... I've been offered superior room at the back for some of my stay and standard room at the side for the rest.. with a long stay I'm concerned about noise but don't recall it being bad when I was in then (Irish) Rovers last time but that was like 2010... any recent knowledge on this specific to this guest house site?

Congratulations and VERY good luck for the future, a great achievement and one I wish I had the opportunity to celebrate with you.. but stuck in LOL... Wish you well and hppe to be back there soon as...

MANY congratz to you, Ricky, and your team of ladies for the great job you have done in making Babydolls one of the most fun places to go. It will feature in my next TR for sure after my recent May 09 trip. As you party or stagger home into the dawn I am sat in my kitchen in the UK with another day of grinding work from 0530 hrs wake up tomorrow before my two day weekend respite of free time. You Lucky People - what lives you lead!! Good fortune to you.

In balance for the much maligned Siam Sawasdee, I have in fact stayed there over several years at times when in serious budget mood, and yes of the chain it's the best one of the offerings so the others must be.. well... not sure... Yes it's cheap (ish) tho the walk in and net rates dont make it seem so esp in high season.. but I've bargained those down to about 600bt a night on most occasions for a stay. I have stayed there a good few times now, 05, 06, and 08 at various times, not always for my entire stay, Dec and May. It is what it is, a simple old chain hotel but I have to say in all

I will be making very honourable mentions of the Pattaya Beergarden in my next TR reports as I am in LOS now, and have been in the bar every day at different times since my arrival in early May. In short so far I am enormously impressed with every aspect of this ambitious project and highly recommend it. Have had the good fortune to meet Pattaya Pete and chat with him and he deserves every success and comes over as a really impressive and welcoming guy with a keen sense of business and people management. The bar itself is monumental in scale (you could fit the Bangkok bar in several ti

Good stuff.... I often wonder as one does about other writers and artists about how you arrive at your content, and whether you wander around Pattaya photographing stuff that later proves useful for a particular gag, or do you work out the line and then go source an image.. ah such is the fascinating behind the scenes stuff that writers think about...ha ha great comedy observations as ever, you see something literally on every corner and then twist it round to a comic viewpoint - that's skill indeed!

No experience yet as such but I am booked from dec 15th for a stay there and the Admin and booking etc to date has been first class polite and efficient with the best business english I have yet seen from a Thai hotel. The website shows an excellent resort and the location opposite Soi 6 is superb and easy for Big C and that entire vibrant area between Soi 5-2 now. I will be posting reviews after my stay but it seems good and rates excellent I am paying 1400 a night for a deluxe room with kitchenette and balcony and such... let you know how it is

Brilliant location for evening ambience to take smarter girls and outside buffet and bars and sea view romantic and very tropical night location, smart staff, smart prices and an upmarket venue for night drinks with amazing harbour views.. I would not stay there as this is a 'posh' hotel with old fashioned moral views about girls in rooms entirely to my mind out of place in that location and this century and is not for a Monger mentality. Nice place to take girls for cocktails and a very smart but pricey buffet etc... dinner date land here... but then they all live there and what we w

that looks VERY good for that rate.. I am booked now for my next trip but will check that out with a visit this time, great price for that level.. beats the hell out of the Sawasdee chain rooms etc that looks VERY good for that rate.. I am booked now for my next trip but will check that out with a visit this time, great price for that level.. beats the hell out of the Sawasdee chain rooms etc wish I'd seen that a week ago

Again thanks to all suggestions so many hotels ... so little holiday... ! my decision in the end for my 28 day December 07 trip from Dec 1 to 29 is: Bangkok Grand Business Inn - deluxe room 7 nights @1600 Baht Soi 11 convenient, in street with smart bars and attractions and near between Nana and Asoke, opposite Lolita's Soi 8 and half way between all attractions, redecorated some in 07 and a place I have stayed before, GF, desk ID check and phone call if lady leaves, great location and easy to find. Pattaya ( 2 hotes for variety and location and test new one) Areca Lodg

Ah thanks all. Now I think anyways as they emailed me back saying they are full and can only do part of my stay I've decided to spend higher levels and stay a better time this time and try other places anyways and save the Sawasdee for me next off season trip when its quiet. At choc a block it can be noisy and whats more they only have the standard rear rooms anyways not my usual front facing pool street view.. but thanks for the info those who posted. I'lle be sure to be up around there a lot anyways for the Buakhow nightlife and markets.

Just for update those who know Areca Lodge or if you are looking at it here is the latest tiered seasonal price info for high season I got today by email The price is from 08/12 - 15/12 @1,350Baht 16/12 - 23/12 @1,690Baht 24/12 - 29/12 @1,990Baht equates to rate of Bht 1726 a night for the 21 day stay above **if you are two free of charge but if three charge 300Baht per person ( extra person joiner IS being applied over 1 guest - I specifically asked about this having heard rumours) hope useful to anyone.

Pinewood looks really nice and very reasonable now compared to say Areca Lodge season prices... Being usually accompanied by at least 2 guests I spotted this little clause: Rates are for Tenancy (as indicated) sharing existing bedding and subject to additional Tenancy charge (Bht 300) for each additional person(s) thereafter. and with Pattaya Bay it's seemingly Bht 500? Anyone had any experience taking MORE than ONE girl back to EITHER and being charged an extra 'joiner fee' ? I presume this would onlu be if they are overnight anyways not just 'friends in room?' Pattaya Bay

hi all.. 7 days to wheels up literally this time next week Rodney ...in the air I hope on route to BKK will be later in Pattaya on Dec 8... and booking hotels online now.. I often stay at the cheap but fine Siam Sawasdee near corner soi Honey Inn on Soi Buakhow.. thats the tall lilac purple place with the pool... cheap and cheerful but last year Dec 06 there was a horrifically NOISY huge bandstand erected out the back on the spare land there and the issan band noise drove me so mad in week 1, I soon exited to quieter and twice the price Areca Lodge...where I can still go now | emai

Areca is wonderfuily situated as our estate agent friends might say and has that tropical hotel meets beverly hlls smaller scale frontal look which outclasses all locally bar the versace overkill of LK Metropole. It's clean spacious, a tad conserbative, nice pools, good rooms, smart ladies and posh-ish and staying there you feel a way cut above the Sawasdee and local room options in the 800-1000 a night levels , but you are paying for that with a room rate in the 1700s in December. I have stayed here several times and loved it an used the mini gym, never ate breakfast but enjoyed the hotel and

ah so thats what it is/was saw this being built this May 07 when I was up near Areca Lodge where I've stayed and LK metropole. I was in apartment in May but went there for the great locality, Papagayo club, Lolita BJ bar, Oasis a Go GO, Areca Lodge and Soi Buakhow.... looks good... maybe try this Dec this year or next low season Apr/May...

Thanks all many interesting suggestions. Hotel choices vary like preferences for BG but it's always good to hear about choices, regular haunts and gems. I am booked now for flight , outward NOv 30 arr BKK Dec 1 and return home (sob!!) on Dec 30... but it is my second month trip inside 2007 and third since same time last year included so can't complain... many a man would envy that while I am drooling at the luck and skill of the long term stayers or residents.. all suggestions helpful as with hotels like girls it's good to keep variety uppermost.. I'm making my arrival choices now but

Thanks both for suggestions Obviously I have already stayed at Grand Business Inn BK As for Pattaya Sunshine Vista and Sabai lodge 2 are both way way over my quoted budget so although nice are not suitable for an actual use. Same for Dynasty Grand which looks really nice Anyone got any other recommendations...? thanks

Hello Planning next trip from Dec 2 arrival afternoon to depart Dec 30 midnight + anticipate being in BK from afternoon Dec 02 and checkout Dec 8th morning then Pattaya My Previous recent hotel combinations: 2005 Dec BK Soi 11 Grand Business Inn 1600 bt night, 2005 good near to Lolita's Soi 8, equal distance between Asoke Soi Cowboy and Nana areas.... and then: Pattaya: Siam Sawasdee Soi Buakhow 750-850 Bt night good location short walk thru Soi Honey Inn to 2nd Road, easy Baht bus to walking street and up 2nd road to soi 6... great local area, pool 2006: Dec

Thanks all for taking the time to provide answers and I am grateful for your interest. I will be consulting the Consul yes but your answers are appreciated.

Non Immigrant O visa was obtained in days easily using standard postal application last year starting 05 Oct 06 and stamped 'must be utilised before 05 Oct 07' Have already been to LOS using it in Dec 06, and May 07. Next trip is planned for Dec 07 so I had anticipated applying for another one in Oct again, ready for Dec departure Questions - please assist if you can kindly, thanks - It's possible that I will need to go to LOS a lot sooner maybe even this month. Problem is I do not at this stage yet know if this unexpected trip is going to be needed or not as it's all going to be d

so far on any trip to LOS and Pattaya mostly I never drive... no bike, no car, and delight in being 'ordinary' and taking the Baht bus like anyone else and the Mo-Cy 'risk ur life' experience for that wind in the hair warm night feel, but of course living there must be different. I want and intend/hope/dream to live there but despair of the farcical and extreme equation of importing a car you like to LOS and don't want to barge around in a 4WD tank like an english housefrau going down the supermarket.. I did the incredibly convoluted equations on the thai consul website of trying to work o