sabaidii2

Stay at the Penthouse Hotel (http://www.penthousehotel.com): think a richly-decorated bordello and you'll be in the ballpark. 1) You'll be right in the middle of the action 2) It's girl friendly, boy friendly, and ladyboy friendly - though I'm not sure whether they're sheep friendly. Any input from our Kiwi board members here? 3) The rooms are straightened up twice a day (you're expected to maintain a certain level of debauchery) 4) It's quite near Walking Street (won't have to bother with a baht bus) Other, less outrageous, suggestions are: Sabaidii Lodge (or Sabaid

If you look at the photo time-stamped "11:34", you'll see a wall of safes in the lobby behind the front desk. This implies that there are no in-room safes.

Not only is it enough to live well in Thailand, you can also live rather well in the US. In Thailand, here is how it breaks down: Currently, 41 baht/US $ baht/month --- What it's like 20,000 --- Merely the income of a well-compensated Thai. You're scraping the bottom of the barrel. You won't be drinking in bars. You'll have to pretty much settle for Beach Road and over-the-hill girls. No A/C in your room either. (Of course, if you choose to live in the country then your money will go much further.) 40,000 --- Doable, but you'll be watchi

"minimum cash and just use ATM machines" is the way to go. Be sure to contact both your credit card and ATM card institutions about traveling to Thailand so that there won't be any security holdups. Also, verify that both cards are accepted in Thailand (should be no problem so long as you have a major card: credit card (VISA, Mastercard), ATM card (VISA, Plus, Star)

First of all, welcome. 1) The air con bus from Bangkok drops you off at the bus station on North Pattaya Road ("Naklua Road"). Baht buses will be waiting there to whisk you away on the standard baht bus circuit. If perchance your hotel is not on the circuit, then you'll need to negotiate a rate. Standard circuit (you may need a map): North Pattaya Road ==> Beach Road ==> South Pattaya Road ==> Second Road ==> North Pattaya Road 2) You're right. It's low season, but you don't know your way around. Make a reservation. Besides, you're going to be tired from your

All right. You do have a point. Basically, Thailand is quite safe so far as crime is concerned. Is it possible to be robbed? Absolutely, but you have to do some very unwise things: 1) Hookup with ladyboys (Hey, I make no judgments here) 2) Get stumbling drunk and walk on Beach Road at 2 am (lots of ladyboys) 3) Bring a freelancer back to your room, put all your money on the table, and shower first. Actually, this isn't all that risky as the girls rarely steal, and all you'd be out is your night's money, but I'm trying to think real hard. 4) Walk around with expensive je

Matador, I'm going to assume that you're not putting us on. If so, then you are not using common sense. 1) Just how are you planning on losing your money and passport? Hotels provide safes for your valuables. If it should happen, then you'll need to go to the embassy. I don't know the details, but it should make for a major inconvenience. ATM cards avoid the problem of bringing large amounts of cash. Traveler's Checks also work. 2) Why do you feel that you're going to get into an argument? If you're prone to arguments, don't travel. What do you think the Tourist Police are

Bravo! Bravo! A shitty subject, but well covered.

What about the Penthouse Hotel?

I use the dentist on soi 5. I can't pronounce the dentist's name, but he speaks very good English (actually, quite common among medical professionals as I think many of them get their training abroad).

http://www.travelocity.com - This has a feature where you can specify departure and arrival date ranges. This makes it easy to find high and low season price differences.

I'm more interested in the situation where you stay for a month or three. Let's say that you're renting an inexpensive place (6,000 - 10,000 baht) that doesn't have its own safe. Can you go to a bank and rent a safe deposit box? What dopeople do?

Hotels provide a safety box or in-room safe for your valuables. What about for apartment rentals?

It is my sad duty to report that the Siptholek gym is no more as it has apparently fallen victim to The Weekender hotel renovation.

Another great reason to go to a gym is that it'll save you a hell of a lot of money. I've discovered, through years of extensive field investigation, that once you stay out of gogos, Thailand is pretty cheap. In fact, staying out of bars is incredibly cheap. Did you know that you can get a nice meal in a A/C sit-down restauant for the price of a couple lady drinks? I didn't know this amazing fact until I noticed the contents of my wallet shrinking at an appalling rate. Just for some variety (you really won't save any money) go to Tony's Disco and see what you can pull. I like it beca

I don't know, but I'll be in town next week. I'll really be bummed out if they are closed because part of the appeal of the Sabai Lodge is Siptholek's location.

"Do you know what the prices are for the Universe?" No. I've only gone to Siptholek, but the prices, like everything in Thailand, are a bargain compared to the West, so don't be concerned about it. What you should be concerned about is dropping from the humidity as you've already experienced. Unless you're acclimated to those conditions, the best you can do is fairly light workouts. I just remembered another gym on 2nd Road near Walking street. Look around or ask at your hotel.

Airconditioning? Surely Sir, surely you jest. The only gyms with A/C are the upscale ones that exist in BKK upscale hotels. In Pattaya it's more like the real deal. The Universe gym on Beach road has lots of weights and some aerobic equipment. No A/C. Siptholek on 2nd road, next to Sabai Room massage (near Big C) is geared toward Muay Thai training (A/C - What's that?). They do have basic weight equipment though not nearly as extensive as the Universe gym. If you just want an open space in which to move, this is the place to go. You'll realize though that Thailand is a poor cou

SoCalGuy, About the Sunshine Vista: 1) There are in-room safes 2) The pool is on the top of the building. While nice, it's also virtually deserted. I prefer the ambience of the pool at the Sabai Lodge - which you could certainly avail yourself of, as no one would know whether you're a guest there. At the Sabai Lodge you can read the morning paper, have a drink or meal poolside, or enjoy the TGs (other guys' or your own) splashing about. Occasionally there's some family trade, but everyone (it's mostly single guys) seem to get along well. 3) The restaurant is very nice - as

A better question would be: Where could I not find porno flicks? Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration. If in Bangkok, go to Phantip Plaza - the big computer geek place. Or you can just try the street vendors in both Bangkok and Pattaya. Don't know about American made pornos. I'm not real big on skin flicks as they always seem pretty much the same.

Since June is low season, you'll have your pick. Go for the Sabai Lodge (has a very nice pool) or Sabai Inn (without a pool but you are invited to use the one at Sabai Lodge). These hotels are located on Soi 2. Both hotels have rooms with 2-person showers.

Since I'm a fan of big showers (i.e., big enough for two), does Sandy Springs feature them?

So, I gather it's Beach Street specials only for you?

"life long body surfer"? Uh, the deal is that there is no surf to surf, so to speak. No really, there are no waves. Think of the water as a giant warm bathtub (okay, the water's not real clean so just think that someone's already been in it). Actually, the water won't kill you so long as you don't swallow it. A fun thing to do is get pulled on a banana raft - with your TG of course - and get dumped in the water. Jet skiing is another possibility. Bring a frisbee and play catch while in the water.

I've stayed at the Sunshine Vista and Resident Garden. Resident Garden is quite nice - the negative (for me) is its location. Its positive is that it is good value for the price. Note that you won't use the kitchen and I'm not sure that you really need a bedroom AND a separate living room. The Sunshine Vista has got a multiple-person shower (a major plus for me) AND a separate tub (ladies like it). Negatives: the pool is on the roof and is virtually deserted. The ambience of the SV is somewhat barren in this regard. Both RG and SV feature in-room safes if that's important to yo