Emil

Have all the rooms of the Mike's Orchid new wing been booked? I don't think there will be a problem with the Northshore noise, but now that I think about the soi 5 place I remember that they are building a new place behind it on soi 4.

I posted the same warning back in August, I guess you didn't see the post as it would have saved you enough baht for a soapy.

Roy, What about the new place located nearby in the middle of Soi 5. Looks like it could be ready to open November. With the opening of the new beer bar complex on the corner of 2nd Rd and soi 4, it could be loud at the Bella Villa if you like to go to sleep early.

That's the email for the Bella Vista between sois 7 & 8.

Never stayed there, love the location.

I don't any more to add than it more of a place for the guy who has a TGF and is on a budget. Its very close to Carrefour for shopping and to eat at their food court and other restaurants.

Its closer to the Big C than 75 Mansion unless your talking about the Big C on Pattaya Tai. I don't know about it being in a Thai area, it just thats its on a dead end soi so hardly any traffic at night. I don't worry about a place if motor bikes and cars are passing all the time. The pool looked nice and she said it had a jacuzzi. That new hotel is on the Carrefour enterance from 3rd Rd. One other option you may want your TGF to look at is just down the soi from 75 Mansion they are nearing completion of another hotel about the same size as 75 Mansion

I'm 10 for 10 with them. I know ting tong had a problem with them, however I don't know who was at fault. As an example about 3 trips back I sent them an email saying I would arrive at 11 PM on the 22nd when in fact I was arriving on the 21st. Fortunately after I sent the email it dawned on me that I may have given them the wrong date and when I checked I realized that I had and sent them a correction.

Bigmofo, Like Soi 7 mentioned this place is remote, all right if you have your own transportation. I wouldn't want to walk it alone at night and its quite a hike to the dolphin roundabout let alone the Big C. The room was very nice but didn't have the kitchen area like Mansion 75. We also checked out a new place that has just opened behind Carrefour, 6K per month so you might want to have your TGF check out the place. Let me know if she need better directions.

What I like about these guys is that they ask for your flight number so if your plane is delayed they don't take off. Two trips back I was a little over an hour late from Narita and my driver was still there waiting.

Arrived on the 13th and paid 1200 plus parking and tolls.

Everyone varies, I'm with UA and can take 2 checked and one hand carry because I'm Premier Executive. One reason that they maybe reducing the weight limit is because they are finding that the average weight of todays travelers is much more in the past, at least in the USA.

I just booked my upcoming trip with Khrongfa and they are still at 1200 plus parking and tolls (200), if you want a mini van its more. If your going the bus route remember that they don't run late at night until early morning. If I was going to go by bus I would take a taxi to the MoChit terminal and catch the bus to Pattaya there.

Thai Palace is on 2nd Rd next to the PIH and is under renovation. BJ and Sunshine Vista on Soi 3, Mike's Beach and Mike's Orchid on Soi 4 along with the Bella Villa Prima. Also in the middle of Soi 5 a new hotel is about to open.

Just in case your not aware, the Golden Crab right next to the Ma Maison has a 6 floor expansion project going on. It was scheduled for completion around January so by Novemeber the construction noise should be limited to the finish work. Depending on the location of your room it could be just a few meters away from this project.

Jack, Only the LK Metropole has a pool in that area, if you stay at the hotel adjacent to it, towards 2nd Rd, you can use the pool and fitness center of the Metropole. This place has larger rooms than the other places in that area however it costs more baht. There is a pool around the corner on Soi Honey that you could use, don't know its cost though.

Tom, Do those Thai percentages apply the same to other Star Alliance airline FF programs. In other words if I fly Thai in W class would I get 50% on my UA account?

When it comes to FF miles you really need to stay on top of the program and understand it. I know that when United runs some of their promotions that includes bonus miles you could fly a class that earns FF miles but doesn't qualify for the bonus. Also if you fly on some of the partner airlines you will only earn a percetage of those miles flown. In the past I've flown on JAL and only earned 70% of those miles with American Airlines. Last year when I flew to LOS in Nov on United it was my 3rd trip that year to LOS with them. My R/T is a little over 17K miles and I was excited that after completing that trip I would be Premier Executive (50K) which would allow me to earn double miles on all my UA flight for this year. When I looked over the net after I returned around the 20th of Dec my account only showed 49,800 miles. When I called them to see what was up, I was told that on my flight over on the leg from Narita to BKK I was placed on ANA and that I only earned 70% of the actual miles. I told the lady that I didn't think that was right because I didn't ask to fly with them and that if I would have know in advance I would have look for another departure date so that I could have flown the entire trip on United. I was planning to book a quick flight to San Francisco before the end of the year to get me over 50 K but she must have felt bad because she told me she would adjust my account to give me full credit.

First, to get to the original question, send a PM to ONMYWAY and ask him if any of those places in the area fit your budget. Most of them do now, however alot raise their rates during the time you want to be there. Your best bet might be to stay in one that has yet to open, but will soon. Back to the LK Metrople question, While the monthly rates are at least half of what the daily rates are, the 2 month rates are another 1/3 off the monthly rates with smaller discouts for the 3-6 month rates and the over 6 month rates. If you want to stay there you could ask about lower priced rooms.

I prefer to watch the game back at my room, its great for insomnia.

Barrief posted awhile back that he was staying at the Bayshore on his next trip. He booked a double and was told no problem with TG if she registers with him. If your going to be bringing different TGs back then you pay.

Quite a few Arabs in the area, also the place is right next to the Sunee Plaza which is similiar to Soi Pattayaland 3.

Its a nice looking place but remote, not a problem if you have a car or motorbike. Its about midway between Soi Buakaow and 2nd Rd, the problem is that its not a straight shot between the two like Soi Dianna. Once they build the new Robinson's complex it will be a short walk through the complex to 2nd Rd.

They won't be offended and will appreciate it. Like Gabor pointed out if you leave the money on the tray it will be shared by the entire staff and if you place it in their hand it won't be shared. If I've eaten in a restaurant and the service is good and the food is good then I'll leave some baht on the tray and place some in the waistresses hand.

Alan I've discovered that I have less problems in dealing with Thais when I either talk to one who speaks and understands English (since I don't have any Thai skills)or let my TGF handle the problem.