Emil

Bella Villa on Soi 4. Basement parking and a standard room around 1000.

I think she charges by the inch, so I think Jimmy paid the correct amount.

I've stayed there before and the gay area is between Soi Yensabai and Soi VC. Two other hotels are on that Same soi and all three were built about 2 years ago. The White Rose and Marine Yensabai Mansions are both on the same soi. The White Rose cost me 650 daily (I didn't try to negoiate a price) but the room I had the bed was hard. Overall a good hotel for that price if you can find a softer bed or like hard beds. The Marine Yensabai costs 700 a night (5% discount if you stay 2 weeks) and has the best rooms and view of the 3 and is closer, but no pool. Emil

I've stayed at both the Flipper House and the Eastiny Place and both had small balconies. Neither overlooked any go-gos. Emil

I don't follow your question about superior and standard. The 600 rate is their published rate per night for anything less than a month. Because it has just opened they are only charging 450 per night instead of the 600. Don't know how long this will last, probably until they get close to filling up. This place is quiet, it is located about 200 meters off of 2nd Rd towards 3 Rd so I would guess its about 500 meters from Beach Rd. No bars nearby and the only construction that is currently going on is getting close to being finished. Emil

The Sawasdee's have 4 hotels. I haven't stayed at any of them but the one that looks the best from the outside is the new wing of the one that is located I believe on Soi 10, not to far from Beach Rd. Emil

I haven't taken it for over a year now that I fly with United and don't get into Bangkok until 11 PM. When I did take it in the past they had 3 daily departures with one being at noon and you were on a regular bus. The cost then was 200 baht to their office on 3rd Rd with an additional 50 baht each if you wanted the driver to take you to your hotel. Emil

That monthly rate is for a long term stay and only good for a limited time. The daily rate is 600, 450 during this limited time. I believe their rates are daily, monthly and long term. No pool, but was told they might add one later. I looked at their rooms and if you don't need a pool its a great deal. Emil

Just to add a little to Dingo's comments, the old wing of the hotel was refurbished within the past year. Emil

On the corner of Soi Dianna and Soi Buakaow some new hotels have just opened. Just a short distance from there you'll find 2 relatively new hotels ( Opey de Place and J & P Court ) and 2 other hotels that have just opened between them. These should cost you no more than 600 a night. Baht buses run up and down Soi Buakaow at least till 2:30 A M. Emil

The ferry leaves from the new pier about 5 times a day and arrives at the main town which isn't much. There are baht bus taxis and motorbike taxis to take you to the beach you desire. Hub posted a website on Koh Larn about a month ago.

I think that discount is pretty much standard, if you ride the bus down from Bangkok your receipt for the ride says show it to the hotel and get a 30% discount for low season and 20 % for high. Emil

I would rate them in the same order as the irishman. The noise factor in this area is only a problem if you want to get to sleep before 2 AM. In this same area you also have the Sunshine, Bella Vista and Eastiny Inn with the Bella Vista the cheapest at 600 including 1 breakfast. You can prearrange an airport pickup for 1000. There is a thread in the general discussion about Pattaya regardingthisquestion. Emil

Hub, I've flown on JAL twice and thought they had very good service, got into BKK around 11 PM. I flew on some very cheap fares and they gave me 70% of the miles towards my AA frequent flyer account. Emil

I have used khrongfa@ego.co.th the last 3 trips and haven't had a problem. Cost is 1000 baht + parking (50) + tolls (150) for approximately 1200 total. The driver is always waiting for me in the arrival hall with my name. First 2 trips they had a late model sedan, this last trip I had a van to myself. Emil

You will get some of the best deals if you contact a hotel that has just opened. They will have special rates for awhile until their hotel has become established. Not only will you get a good price but you will be staying in a new hotel. On potential drawback if it has just opened is that they will still be working some of the bugs out. Emil

Agree 95%, but if your at least premier status on United Airlines and placed in economy plus, you have more legroom than on CX. Emil

There are new hotels and apartments springing up every month, so unless there are going to be alot more tourists in Pattaya this year you should be able to find a good deal. If you restrict yourself to one area, yes you will pay more. If you look around when you first arrive you should find good deals for a 3 month stay. I'm talking around 12k per month. Look at Gabor place for an idea of what you can get for that price. Emil

Walked down the soi this morning. The condo work is progressing nicely as they are now up to the 4th floor. The Ma Masion expansion that you saw in the above photo is complete but another project on the other side(Beach Rd side) has just begun and is either a new hotel or expansion to Ma Masion. The 3 bars that were down the soi across from the new condo project are now closed and its just a matter of time before the new hotel project starts. Emil

Bigmike, I don't know about early in the morning, but the baht buses run up and down that soi at least till midnight and about the only way I fell unsafe on that soi is the amount of traffic on that narrow soi. Emil

Since my first trip, I always make it a point to have at least 5000 baht left after paying taxi and airport departure tax for the next trip. Emil

If your concerned about getting the best deal, I would get a hotel for the first day and then check out some other places that intersts me in person. Do this around late morning or afternoon when the manager is working. This is the person who will decide whether they will give you a lower rate based on their occupancy and your length of stay. Emil

About midway between Mike's Beach Resort and the Bella Villa Prima they opened Mike's Orchard around Feb of this year. Soon after they began construction on the property between Mike's Orchard and the Bella Villa to expand Mike's Orchard. Also in that area next to the Charming Inn on Beach Rd, they were working on a building that had stood uncompleted and and looks like it will be another hotel when finished. On the other side of the Charming on Soi 3 they had begun construction in May of what appears to be another hotel or apartment. Emil

I've stayed there 4 times within the past year and have posted the only reviews of the place in the hotel review section. I have 2 of there business cards and I noticed that each one has a different email address. 1. mikebeachresort@hotmail.com 2. resort@mikepattaya.com The longer your stay at their hotel it seems the better the rate you will receive. The first stage of their sister hotel down the soi opened earlier this year while the 2nd stage should be completed early 05. The Marine Yensabai Mansion on Soi Yensabai is a nice hotel @ 700 a night, only negative is they don't have a pool. Emil

SB, My 2+ hours in the chair for the work that I've had so far on my root canal was totally painless. Both times she gave me a shot in the gums and never felt anything thereafter. Talking to Ben about the same dentist he told me he felt a slight twinge when he had some dental work done. Emil