Emil

I renewed mine in LOS this past summer. Unless your planning to travel outside of LOS within the next 6 months I would wait closer to your expiration as you get 10 years from the time that your issued your new passport so you would loose a few months (wait for their next visit to Pattaya to save yourself a trip). I applied for mine when the US Embassy made one of their routine visit to Pattaya so I only had to travel to Bangkok to pick it up about 12 days latter. Also I applied for a passport with the additional pages. Once you get your new passport then take both passports to Jomtien immigration. They will ask you to leave both passports and you'll pick them up the next day, no charges. Either

I stayed there back in Nove/Dec 2004 and put a review in the hotel reviews section. At that time the cost was 8K, 9k and 12K. The only difference between the 8 and 9K was that the 9K's balconies faced the pool area. I had the 12K room which was larger than the others. Just a short walk to soi Buakaow where you can hop on a baht bus which will either take you south and over to the Walking St area or north up to the Big C area. Back then I got housekeeping free once a week and the deposit was to cover your utilities useage. Got the balance back with no problems.

I'll also recommend Mr T. But if your timing works the best deal is the Bell Bus service. I think they depart the airport to Pattaya at 8 AM and 10 AM (other times also) at a cost of 200 baht and will take you to your room.

I know you were, I had heard a rumor awhile back that over on the hill new places couldn't be higher than the Royal Family residence.

I think those building regulations have changed, one of the Northpoint towers is suspposed to be 54 floors.

From what I've read its going to be 50 floors and very exclusive. Also a marina is planned to be built nearby.

With all the publicity that this place has received during the past years not once have I seen posted monthly rate on this board.

One thing that you may find helpful after a stressful visit to the immigration office in Jomtien is a relaxing massage at the Yellow House. I've heard about a massuse named Tammy that is excellent in relieving stress.

There is also another new hotel on Soi 4 next to PIH, can't remember its name.

Mr T is 1000 which includes parking and tolls. I tip 100 For the return Mr T charges 900 baht including tolls. 100 baht lower as there are no parking charges and no waiting time.

Wish I could be there for the free hotdogs but I'm stuck over here in Pattaya and will be enjoying Loy Kathrong on the 12th.

I also got the email just before I left for LOS this past Tuesday using a savers award. The good news that was included in that email was that United will revert back to their prior policy of either actual miles or 500 miles on all flight segments for those with elite status. This was good news for me as I fly from Sacramento to SFO on my flights to BKK so I will earn 1000 miles (premier executive) instead of 190 miles on those legs. What's even more important is that 3 R/Ts from Sacramento to BKK will still get me premier executive status using the 500 mile minimum. If they kept the actual miles flown policy I would have been about 1500 miles short of earning premier status.

I also used his services this past Thursday when I arrived at BKK at 1 AM and I think I need to talk to him about his service. This is the 3rd time that I've used him for airport pickup and all 3 times he's had a mini van to pick me up. I travel alone and I'm wondering if he's sending me a message that I'm pom pui. Anyway about an hour and 20 minutes later I was at my apartment. Won't use him on my return to BKK in mid December as I have a noon flight and will use the Bell bus service.

Never done it myself but have been told that barfine for Soi 6 is 1000 baht. definetly more than for a beer bar girl but the same as a go-go girl and you don't have to wait until after 8 PM to bar fine when most of the Pattaya go-gos open.

You can grab a day shift coyote after 3 PM for only 600 baht

I've never asked United to check with their Star Alliance partners and I've had 14 freebies over the past 5 years. They done it automatically for me and only once did I fly United on the entire trip. In 2 days I''l be on United to Korea, then Thai to Bangkok and Singapore for the entire trip back to SFO. Cost to speak to an agent has been $25.

Tom that's assuming that he had checked luggage, he's stated earlier that he takes 1 week trips. This guy really is a slow learner, even after his 1st trip close call he still believes in cutting it close. I like to get to the gate early especially on my return trip final leg. This past trip and another 1 about 2 years back, I was in the gate area when they began the anouncement for volunteers to give up their seat because they were overbooked. I was the first one to the desk and both time received a $600 voucher. Time is money.

I think they have one where if you open a business of a certain size and "X" amount of Thais working for you.

That's really a crap shoot and no one can predict. If Mr T has someone like myself being delivered to the Airport for the United Airlines flight to Narita then I would say Mr T because he would have dropped off his customer at 5 AM and could have a cup of coffee while waiting for you.

I'm home now or I could stop by and get a price quote for you. It located right across from the Markland hotel a very short distance from Beach Rd. It looked very nice when I walked by the place.

Then try a combination of both. The Sandy Spring's group opened a new hotel near the corner of Beach Rd and Soi 1 about 4 months back. Its called either Summer Spring or Spring Summer hotel.

When they first put up the fences, they had opening in early 2009 on the fences. When I returned to Pattaya last month I noticed many signs that had just been put up around town that said opening Jan 2009. Also at the BigC, a fitness tenant to be in the new mall had a sales area set up selling memberships also saying that they would be open in Jan. I thought that those dates were a bit optimistic but they do have two shifts working on that site and I believe that the mall will be open well before Sep. I don't think that all retail space will be leased by then and if they are building a Hilton on top of that mall as rumored I'm not including that when I talk about the mall. The Avenue which is alot smaller first began construction in Dec 2006, they were open in August 2007.

Have you checked out the Baron's. Thats the recently remodeled hotel thats located between Sois 8 & 9. The rooms near Soi 9 should be quieter than those on Soi 8. The mall thats currently under construction is scheduled for opening Jan 09.

I wish that Bell was a 24 hour operation as they are the best transportation deal (150 baht) that I've seen advertised. Unfortunately becasue of my arrival/departure times I've only been able to take advantage of them twice when United put me on one of the Star Allilance carriers.

I would say two things. Mr T is cheaper, he's 1000 baht from the airport to Pattaya and 900 from Pattaya to the airport. Toon is 1200 from the airport to Pattaya and 1000 (I think) from Pattaya to the airport. The other is accessibility, Mr T has an office located on Soi Diana in Pattaya and Toon is located up in Bangkok. I don't think either drives and that they are dispatchers who have arrangements with other drivers. Who knows, some of the drivers might even drive for both.