yselmike

Go via Jomtien.

Back in the 70s I traveled outside the UK for the first time and I could only take out £100. When the UK went decimal the prices rocketed and when the Euro was introduced it was with a feeling of dread (I moved to the Netherlands) but they were clever all the prices shot up September- oct-november so by the time we knew what had happened they could say come February that they hadn't raised prices. The euro is now at an all time low and it's still falling that's all I know, it's lower now than it was when I was on Samui march 2002.

Middle 90s I arrived in Thailand sick from a nasty virus I was with a mate who was on a two week trip,Bangkok, Hua Hin,bang sapan then he left and I went to Laos. I spent 3 nights in Vientiane but I was not feeling good so I thought I would go back to Thailand and get down to the coast maybe visit some islands.fetched up midday in a bus station in Nakon nowhere looking in the rough guide for a place to go and a bus to take me there, a girl who spoke good English started talking to me and said she was on her way to Pattaya to meet her German boyfriend and I should go there the bus leaves in 20 minutes.We fetched up in the Sawadee hotel on what was then the edge of town it was cheap cheerful and basic and I had the time of my life. Came back almost every year untill I became jaded and the pollution and attitudes got to me, spent some trips in Sihanoukville untill I got jaded and the attitudes and traffic/police got to me, now I go to Jomtien and only go to Pattaya for the shopping.

Are the prices from the airlines or from agents? I see cheap flights from Skyscanner all the time but the reviews of the agents offering them are dire across the board,the prices from the airlines are always more when you put your dates in, have to pay for checked and bags seat selection etc. Though I believe Lufthansa do a budget ticket no checked bags or seat selection so if you can travel with only carry on deals are there,KLM do it but it's not that cheap but compared to the other fares it seems cheapish Emirates is looking the best at the moment for jan29 to Feb 27 from Amsterdam under €600,no seat selection but 25kg checked luggage.

Use the Bell bus,after the bus arrives in Pattaya they transfer the passengers to mini buses and deliver you to the hotel. You need to book and pay online. The bus to Jomtien does stop at a couple of places as it passes through north Pattaya on the way to Jomtien,the usual scrum of Moto's fighting over the passengers

Just walk through Rompo left hand side past the tree right to the end, turn left and the MPs are right there,a happy ending used to be factored in to the 300 price of the massage plus a small tip,a couple of years ago it was all in for 500 probably 1k now,a bit like soi 6 Jomtien but less LBs.

I go in the afternoon so carrying soap and towel is not a big deal and I stay in Jomtien plus they fit nicely in my man bag.You do all have a man bag?

The MPs top end of Rhompo are geared up for a more "fulfilling" experience, sadly hygiene and fluffy freshly laundered towels are not guaranteed,simply put they are knocking shops much like the ones on soi 6 on beach road Jomtien but they are the cheapest I know.

After the oil massage and any extras you may feel the need for a shower and a clean towel is a bonus.

From second rd walk up past the bars on Rompo right to the end turn left there is a line of 5-6 massage places, 1k used to get the full works,take your own towel.

Halloumi has to be made in Cyprus and feta must be made in Greece that's in the EU mind, Traditionally it was made from goat and sheep milk now cows is also used it's gained in popularity so they now import some milk but it's made in Cyprus so it's authentic go figure.keeps for ever unopened in the fridge.

84 to the pound was around the Asian currency crisis about 1998 so it's not a good comparison, about 55 to a pound would be a more realistic number. Really the pound is a low as it's ever been since the Baht was floated in 97 and my Euro is about where it was when the notes and coins were introduced in 2002 and it's not over yet.

No I'm saying the MEPs via the European parliament don't have a veto,it's countries that can veto some legislation and deals,say after brexit and the UK comes crawling back asking to be readmitted it would mean that all 27 would have to say yes it only needs one say Ireland to veto it.

I don't think they have a veto and the brexit MEPs are 28-9 out of 750.The 27 other countries may have a veto so good luck getting anything by the Irish.

He can't just call a general election because he must get a majority of two thirds of the MPs that's about 430 to vote for it,that's because of David Cameron's fixed term parliament act. If they vote to make a law to stop a no deal brexit and labour vote against a general election he is in trouble.

Back then the Baht was tied to the $us at 25baht to one dollar.It was floated in 1997 in 98 it peaked at 90baht for one pound.

EVA from Amsterdam seem to now have 6 versions of economy seats ,some of them you have to pay for seat selection and that's new don't know if it's the same from Heathrow. With a general price rise plus paying for seat selection a quick scan through looks like a €120+ hike on last year's trip. It will require some effort and research through the options to decide what's the best deal and seats on their flights now. Like more than a few of us 12-13 hours on a direct flight is knackering, I don't have any real health issues and can't afford the better seats so a stop over in the middle East might be an option, 6 hours then a break then another six hours might be ok as long as it's only a 2-3 stopover.

Boris claimed during the campaign for brexit that a deal would be done within 30 days, Merkel threw it back in his face yesterday.

It's the price,the total hours of the trip,the time of arrival in Bangkok,the time of departure from Bangkok and the time of arrival back to the UK/Netherlands.Heathrow would probably have the best options for the UK but I guess it's about Manchester not Amsterdam.

There's been a charge on seats with extra legroom for years but I need an aisle seat (stiff left hip and a weak bladder) The ME airlines might be a solution due to the stopover that's half way between Amsterdam and Bangkok,it's just finding a flight thats not 27 hours on the return leg and or gets you back late in the evening and with a price I want to pay.Should we expect a drop in price come the end of the year if the expected downturn in the numbers coming from the £.€.$. lands materialises?

Basic economy on KLM will charge €50 for checked bags each leg so add on €100 for a return flight,EVA is cheaper but now charge for seat selection in basic economy.Thats flying from Amsterdam.

That's where I am at,October 31 is the day.I have just had a look at the euro-Dong rate and it looks like it's on a slippery slope downwards."Now is the winter of our discontent".

And Trump keeps talking about other currencies being kept artificially low by governments to give their exports an unfair advantage.I see the € has gone under 34 that's me well out the game,it's going to be a long dark winter.

A race to the bottom then.

Morgan Stanley are predicting parity with the dollar for the pound if there is a no deal brexit,tin hat time.