stevemcm

Nightrider register via the Eva Air web site and you will get a 1,000 mile bonus. stevoh

I have never received an attractive price on the EVA air website. I saw an offer on Teletext, you could also try Ourstravel or the airline network. I didn't bother checking 'cos I bought my ticket in August. stevoh.

Starting next week EVA Air will be flying LHR - BKK on Wednesdays. There are some great fares to help fill these new flights. Offers are available till early December both journeys must be on Wednesday Flights. stevoh.

Agree with biga do not ask for the window emergency exit seat. The aisle exit seat is not as bad. The first time I flew Evergreen the booking clerk said I wouldn't be comfortable in the exit seat. On the B747 combi aicraft used from Europe, best seats are 24D & G, 26D & G, 27D & G and if no babies aboard any in row 20 which are right at the front. Having said that any seat in Evergreen is better than economy regardless of airline. stevoh.

Definitely worth it. The seats are wider and have more legroom but the footrest is useless except for midgets. The armrests are fixed so if you do not have anyone sitting next to you you can't spread out over 2 seats like you can in economy. There is a lot more free space for a walk and stretch in Evergreen. You don't get an invitation to the lounge until you have got a silver card which you get after 6 international flights or 25,000 miles. Full business class with Eva is not worth the extra, though you do get a lounge invitation. The lounge at BKK is awful, no toilets poor snacks only the free drinks make it worth visiting. I believe lounges abroad which are usually shared with other airlines are better, certainly the one at Heathrow is superb. stevoh.

An elderly friend who lives north of Vancouver always travels to Thailand via Europe. He says it is no more expensive and you get a lot more FF miles. stevoh.

Many years ago there used to be a daily ferry from Hua Hin via Cha Am to Pattaya. One of the travel shops in Soi Post Office used to run a boat on this route every Thursday in high season and I went in January 2003. The service had stopped in June and July and is unlikely to resume. However it is worth checking, the trip is very pleasant in good weather. Some of the speedboats especially at Pratamnak beach advertise trips, these are very expensive and potentially unsafe it is a long way and you don't want to be 35 miles from land if you get caught in a squall in an open speedboat. Using Bangkok airways you can fly from U Tapao to Koh Samui and from there to Hua Hin but it is a bit expensive. Otherwise take a taxi (Mr. Boon & Friend, Soi Bhukhao, 038 720148, 2500Bt), or bus to BKK then bus or train to Hua Hin. The train takes longer. stevoh.

My condo is overlooked by one of the helipads which is on the roof of the Royal Cliff Grand hotel. The other is on top of PEACH (Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall) also in the Royal Cliff grounds, I have never seen this one used. In June 2002 a party of wealthy Irishmen stayed at the Royal Cliff and commuted to Korea or Japan to watch Ireland in the World cup. They had helicopter transfers to and from the airport, except at night when they are not permitted. They told me that the chopper seats 7 and if you fill it transfers cost about 50 GBP per head each way. stevoh.

Ourstravel.com have EVA at 430 GBP + Tax until 3rd. December. However EVA only fly on Tue, Thur, Sat & Sun. Stevoh.

A Danish friend always flies via London or Amsterdam saying it is considerably cheaper but on the dates you require I don't think you will beat the price you quote. This late I don't think you would even get a seat on those dates from London. It might be worth checking Finnair via Helsinki. Stevoh.

Bazz - I don't know the earliest. The Eva reservation clerk in London allocated me seats for both flights & told me that as long as I turned up for the outward flight there was no need to reconfirm the return. However I didn't use the seat prebooked, I upgraded using my FF miles so was advised in LHR to re-confirm 72 hours before the return flight. I have a gold card you may not be able to prebook seats without one. Eva Air Reservations in London is on 0207 3808300 and in BKK 02 2400890. Stevoh.

I recently had tickets made of card with tear off boarding card stubs. On checking in the Eva Air staff took the whole ticket and gave me a new boarding card of the usual type. As for re-comfirming flights, I always do it, as I have a Thai mobile. It's not strictly necessary but I can book my seat number which is why I do it. I confirm my outbound flight for the same reason Stevoh.

Gus do not change your TCs in a hotel the rates are terrible. The worst in my experience was at The Grand Jomtien Palace who were giving 50 Bts to the pound while at the banks the rate was 63.8. There are several exchanges which are not banks, at the far end of Walking Street for example, they only require you to bring your passport the first time, they give you a photocopy for future visits. They also do not charge per cheque exchanged, which the bank booths do. Bank booths require your passport every time and charge stamp duty per cheque so you are better off getting large denomination TCs. The best deal for large (500 pounds upwards) cash exchanges is at Rungland Bank Gold at 193/162 Moo Rungland off Pattaya Tai Road. They do not take TCs. Tel 038 420097 Stevoh.

I agree with the above take sterling TCs. My Link card works in most but not all ATMs I use Thai Farmers Bank machines and have only had a failure with the ATMs in the Royal Garden Plaza. If you haven't done so already do not get your first Thai Bahts in the UK especially at Heathrow, get them at BKK airport the booths are very competitive and open 24 hours a day. Stevoh.

The Dusit positively discourages guests. In high season they won't admit them at all. Go elsewhere for your indoor league, if you don't know somewhere handy your guest will. stevoh.

Fishing time - there is a new BBC series about air traffic control. the first program describes a fatal accident at Paris CDG airport where a major factor contributing to the accident was the fact that controllers were directing french speaking crews in French. A british cargo plane was cleared to enter the live runway while another plane was taking off. The resulting collision killed the British co-pilot. The British captain was initially arrested and charged with manslaughter. Although the mistake was by the French controller the British captain would probably have been aware of the mistake and queried his incorrect clearance if all radio messages had been in English. stevoh.

Moto Sai get pregnant, need go hospital.

Duffab - buy now you will have great difficulty getting a seat later and even now you'll certainly have to pay a high price. For example I've just bought my ticket for 3rd. Jan and had a hell of a job getting it. I wanted an EVA evergreen ticket 'cos the miles will give me enough for a free flight. EVA allocates a fixed number of tickets to each consolidator and I tried 4, the earliest available seat was 10th Jan. The 5th, Ourstravel had a seat on the 3rd at a good price. 4th to 31st December is peak season and an EVA economy ticket will cost you 735 GBP, whereas before the 4th Dec or after New Years day the price is 455 GBP. Both prices exclude taxes. See http://home.btclick.com/ourstravel/ stevoh

A friend arriving in late July has asked me to buy 2 tickets for a Liverpool v Thailand match at BKK in July. I have asked about, but no one seems to know anything. Do you? If so please send an IM. stevoh

I arrived at BKK on 2nd June with EVA there were only 23 PAX in Evergreen, economy was more full but there were still about 20 empty seats. Immigration was very quick with no queues to speak of. On arrival in Pattaya I went down Walking Street and thought I was lost there were so few people about. stevoh.

Duty free is a better bet as long as you buy in BKK and not the UK airport. There is not much in it however and the airport duty free does not always stock the cheap local brands. In Thailand I smoke L&M Red which are 38-40 Bt/packet at a 7-11, 345 Bt for a carton in Tesco Lotus or 300 at Don Muang, however although I got some on my return in April this was the first time I saw L&M in the airport. I don't smoke them but am told that Benson & Hedges, Marlboro etc are not the same as those in the UK, Marlboro & Marlboro Lites are about 450 Bt/carton in Tescos. For really cheap cigarettes get some in Cambodia, Jet aren't bad at about 100 Bt/carton. stevoh.

The area between Soi 17 and Pattaya Tai has several excellent restaurants, Cuisine au Beurre and Petite Planet to name but 2. Daily set meal at PP cost 145 Bt (March 2003) choice of 2 starters 4 main courses and 3 puds. Pros:- main courses are of gourmet quality, range of vegetables available at extra charge. Cons:- closed Sundays, portions are modest, coffee counts as a pudding choice, not suitable for homophobes. stevoh.

Difficult this one. I can't speak for the Quantas scheme if there is a seperate one. The BA scheme is a rip off. If your ticket is a special offer from a consolidator, part of a holiday package or even a certain class (Ticket class not class of travel) then it does not accrue miles on their frequent flyer program. Even some Concorde tickets do not earn FF miles. The rules are so complex that your best bet is to ring BA and ask. stevoh.

When I first started playing I was given a bag of clubs comprising a half set of ancient but good quality Sam Snead Clubs (Even numbers) and modern Dunlop Blue Flash (Odd numbers). I very quickly found that I could play better with the Sam Sneads, I abandoned the Dunlops and played with a half set for about 3 years before buying a new full set. The half set are now left in Thailand and although they must be 60 years old I still enjoy playing with them. Conclusion is quality pays, and you don't need a full set to enjoy your game. stevoh.

Gus, last time I went on one of these it was 8 pounds a night. That was staying at the Beach Garden, the Regent could be more. stevoh.