Emil

bigfoot, That was a rather long visa run. My shortest turnaround will be coming up next week, I spent 40 days in LOS and 18 days later will be back for another 30.

Schools out, I use my FF miles during this time period.

Its been about 2 weeks since I went by, the pile driving was done a few months back, they had just started with the ground floor. I don't know how many floors this place will have, but your going to have construction at least through the end of this year.

Yes, they have a sales offices on Pattaya Klang near Soi Buakaow. The place was scheduled to open the 1st of March but its still months away. It located a short ways off of 3rd Rd between the Buffalo Bar and Pattaya Tai.

As mentioned earlier the Soi Dog, I mean Soi 7 does it on 20,000 a month. Not only doesn't he drink alcohol he has a live in GF so he's not spending money on barfines and lady drinks. When he was renting his place it cost him about 4500 baht a month. With a girlfriend he also has many of his meals cooked at his place and she does the laundry. He doesn't have any baht bus cost because he's not afraid of walking and in the process lost over 20 kilos. He's almost a monk because he doesn't butterfly although I wonder about Emma. There are ways to keep your costs down if you know your way around Pattaya and how the system works. If your going to Pattaya to shag it can be done on your budget, if your going there to drink it can't be done.

If its raining hard that just a good excuse to stay in the room and shag the girlfriend. It warm that time of the year so the rain shouldn't be a problem, carry a small collapseable umbrella. Think of it being Songkran but with clean water and no powder. She wants you there for her birthday and a nice gold present.

I'll give it a go. On the north side starting from the beach you have Ma Masion (with a new wing), Golden Crab (also with a new wing), Inn House built after the AA Residence), the AA Residence and then the current building site. On the south side you have the old AA, Haven, Sandys Springs built after the AA Residence, the old Condo, the new Whitehouse Condotel, and the Dynasty also built after the AA Residence.

Here's what I've discovered for getting the most room for your baht: 1. Go during low season (which you are) 2. Get the monthly rate 3. Go east, away from Beach Rd yet stay close to the baht bus routes 4. Stay at a recently opened place before they get a following.

Its the same hotel however the distance to 2nd Rd is deceiving. Its located on Soi 15 which enters 2nd Rd near Pattayaland 1. You head east for a ways then north and then east towards Soi Buakaow. Its more than double the distance to 2nd Rd than the Areca. Still not a lengthy walk, but I wouldn't recommend walking it late at night as its isolated. Once they build that new shopping complex on 2nd Rd, hopefully there will be access through the shopping complex and it will be a direct shot to 2nd RD.

Don't forget to add in the additonal electric cost to run your pump.

When I was in Pattaya in December they were interviewing someone from the Nothshore project on TV. At that time they said they only had 10 units left unsold. What was more interesting was that they mentioned that they were building another project just north of Northshore that would be 40 stories high. I'm guessing that this would be located next to the Amarai and Soi Zero where they tore down that old hotel. If your not in a hurry, as this project won't be finished for awhile, I would suggest that you stop by the Nothshore sale office on soi 5 and ask for some info.

I've used those streetside services many times without a problem. I leave my hotel at 3 AM so that I can be at the airport around 5 AM for my 7 AM flight. The cheapest I've used is the stand across form the Camelot hotel that charges 750 baht. I pay the tolls.

I'll be arriving on United Airlines around 11:30 PM (2330) and should be through immigration and customs by midnight. Anyone wishing to share a ride to Pattaya?

conley price of 1200 is for their private car, they also have a price for a mini van (1500 or 1600) if your traveling in a small group. Address your email to Ms Arunee, who should get back to you within 24 hours.

I use Dr Darika at Pattaya International hospital on Soi 4. She's sweet and is expecting a baby in around 4 months so I don't know how much longer she will be working before she takes maturnity leave. I paid around 800 baht for a filling.

Since 2004 (12 trips) I have used this company for transport from the Bangkok airport to Pattaya without any gliches. On my past trip in January I arrived at the airport at 2:30 AM or 3 hours late from my scheduled time and my driver was still there waiting for me. Whether you use them or another service make sure you give them your flight number in case your flight is delayed.

and a pretty darn good one if I do say so myself. Once I learned how United's bonus miles worked, it took me less time than someone who I know that pulls the trigger at the Welcome Inn to determine how much I could save on my trips to LOS. Has anyone tested the water since I left? I'm still learning about the benefits of United FF program. On my latest return trip, I was told that I could use UA's Red Carpet Lounge at international airports, only took me a year to find out.

Hub, United is now running a special of only 45K miles to fly to China, Hopefully Cathay will respond with their 45K offer.

Don't know what you consider cheap, but the 2 best equipped places I've seen are Tony's on 3rd Rd between Pattaya Tai and soi 17 and a new place that has just opened on North Pattaya Rd between the dolphin roundabout and 3rd Rd on the north side.

I had read earlier its about 55 kilometers closer to Pattaya than the old one. It will be about the same distance to centeral Bangkok. Should eliminate the cost of2 toll booths and hopefully the costs to and from Pattaya will decrease. Saw a piece on a Thai news channel where they were testing the baggage handling system last week.

Are you talking about the same place. Eastiny hotel just opened on Soi 7, I believe that the Eastiny Residence is on Soi 10 or 11 next to the Sawadee Seaview.

Most hotels will cut you a deal if your staying for longer than 2 weeks if they're not busy. I stayed at the Holiday Mansion last year, daily rate was 1200 and the monthly was 12,000 plus utilities (1000) and you opnly got house cleaning once a week free. Don't let the in room safe or DVD player be a major concern as you can purchase both of these for around 1500 each.

New place being finished now near the top of the soi by Pattaya Klang, don't know when it is scheduled to be ready.

I needed to be more specific in that if your only flying once a year then any airline with the best price is the one to fly with. If your flying frequently then you need to check out how each airline's frequent flyer program works. Like I mentioned before, I took an EVA flight back in 2003 before I fully understood UA program because EVA's price was a hunderd dollars cheeper, only to find out later on that the $100 savings cost me about $800 in 2004.

I've got to disagree. If you received 1 mile for every mile flown with each airline I would agree with you, however United for example will give you double miles for each mile flown once you get to premier executive. On top of that they will put you in economy plus ( 5 extra inches of legroom) once you're premier and if your premier executive you can request emergency exit row. Another added bonus is that they give you extra baggage allowance. Before I thoroughly learned about the FF programs I thought like you and it cost me about an additional $800 that first year. My last 5 trips on United to BKK cost: $25 $25 $840 $25 $305 Love those FF miles