helloitsme

Agreed. Used it twice already today. 2nd time was a young Thai who was telling me about the war with the taxis...

I used grab taxi for the first time today. With the exception of the GPS on my phone, despite my best efforts, not registering my exact position but one the other side of Pattaya tai, and on a side soi, it worked fine. My car was an older pickup with a tweaked exhaust and chrome alloys, but... What was more alarming was the route the drivers satnav too us to get to soi 15....I was well and truly lost!!

Ironically, the more parky posts about community, the less I want to meet him!

If you do Facebook, there's a group called pattaya condos for sale and rent...or something like that. When I was looking last month there were loads available. However, beware...just because an agent advertises a condo doesn't mean that that condo is available for viewing or renting, as they will have to check that it is still available with the owner...it may have been rented by another agent! If you don't mind jomtien I seem to recall seeing various advertised that way for 10k or less, but whether they have a full kitchen or washing machine or not is debatable.

I did several short wanders around that area today...the lines of people were beyond 3rd road on tai at 9am, and the 2nd road lines up to royal garden by a similar time. The queues to go in were definitely bigger than the people coming out... What I was impressed about was the water, food and first aid stations set up. I was offered several bottles of free water, but declined as I already had one. Also impressed by the motorbike taxis and baht bus drivers, who appeared to be giving their time and efforts for free to Thais in black.

Just to round this off....the top floor apartment had issues with the drains in the bathroom, and whilst it was a nice, light and airy condo, the smell and the fact that is was HOT (top floor and sun morning and afternoon on the walls) meant it was a no go. The lower floor would have worked, until I got talking to the juristic people there who showned me a 3rd floor, one bed condo at the same price. Done. Move in on friday.

I'd love to see the tour buses going down the soi that connects 15 to buckhou...either towards or from buckhou....!

And when they say more than enough for 2, believe me, it is!! I didn't read this bit, ordered it, and struggled to get through half. Great taste though

Same same here, but they turned around a 60day Visa in less than 5 working days by post

Just walked past the photel place....4 large gold matching busses outside. Same yesterday morning, midday ish. Lots of noise from what I assumed was reception. Guess it was change over time!

Same as my thoughts...thanks! Unfortunately not an option....there are signs all round the place saying it is a residence not a hotel and stays of less than a month are illegal. As my contract will be with a "reputable" agent I doubt they will condone this. Useful info...thanks. the bar next to the development won't be an issue as both condos are in the opposite corner of the development from the bar. Action street is actually hidden behind ok me of the hotels there, and isn't too much of a concern. It the two level bar complex that now has the grand total of 3 open bars in it

Gentlemen....some of your thoughts please.... I am looking at renting a condo in the Avenue Residence on soi 15 between 2nd road and soi buckhou. I have narrowed my choice to 2, both with pros and cons, and would like some thoughts in case I have forgotten anything. One is in building b, on the 1st floor, that is one above the ground floor. It overlooks the small soi that links soi 15 to buckhou, and the small area of scrubland when the motorbike taxis reside. Advantages, few stairs when the lifts are out, disadvantage, security...easy for people to break in from outside??, no natu

As someone from the UK, although darn sarf, I agree with that! With their track record, anyone taking bets as to how long they'll last?

Cardboard, gaffatape and a coat of paint and it'll be as good as new. If they didn't have steps available to disembark the passengers, how did they get them to the replacement planes...tightrope??

Good luck - one of my favourite gogos!

I stayed there as a backpacker on my first trip to bkk in the mid 1990s, on the recommendation of another Traveller. At the time I wasn't taking girls back to my hotel, as was travelling with a girlfriend. The hotel was always full. Getting a room was a bit hit and miss, and the room we had was basic, but functional. We tried to extend our stay but the place was full. As they make their views known in advance, I don't have a problem.

What about the small gogo that was attached to papayago, or whatever it's called, on soi Diana? Had a similar name. There one trip, gone the next.

Question regarding proof of income for a Brit.... I understand the 65k baht a month income needed for a retirement visa, but HOW do I proove it? Copies of statements from UK bank? Records of monthly transfers to thai bank? (How many months needed?). Letter from embassy, but how do I proove income to them??

Just read the story on page 5 (i think)of the Times, whilst waiting for my takeaway to be cooked. (We obviously have an upper class take away!!)

So if, just for fun you understand, we all started voting red on every post, would it take you as long to reach zero as it took to reach 500??!! Thanks for the efforts, especially the food reviews

Believe he finally retired years ago and has since passed away.

I stayed there for a couple of nights in August - and will be back there for a couple of nights over the new year. I had a sea view room. As stated, the rooms are new, therefore clean, but bright and basic. Great view over the bay and the jet ski scams. Bed was comfortable, good aircon. Noise was obvious until about 3am, but seemed to come from somewhere on Beach Road rather than the bars below. Having said that, I didn't get much sleep the first night due to the little brown hot water bottle next to me, or on the second night due to the rain storm on the iron roof just off the balcony

If you ring the number on the back of your debit card and speak to the advisor - tell them NOT to put you through to their travel people. If you get the advisor to order them they can order to your requirements. I've just done it and collected £200 and £100 cheques from the branch of my choice.

I'm sure I read some time ago that they were going to put a cover over the whole lot- but can't be sure. With all that scaffolding - is it still possible to walk through the Avenue - from 2nd Rd to PBR?