jimmac

Great pics of the hotel. I would endorse the positive reviews on this thread. I spent 2 nights there early last month and I enjoyed the great luncheon value. I also had dinner there with a TG and it was good but more expensive and less value. A couple of cautions though. I found the walk to Sukhumvit along the obstruction laden Soi a complete pain the ass. That BKK walk is ok for 100 or 200 metres but 400 metres is just a bit much. I took to taking a motorcycle taxi as the hotel tuk-tuk never seemed to be available, 20 baht to Sukhumvit. But I was reminded of the dangers of that whe

I would love to get one of those buzzers.

I was there on New Year's Day a few years ago. Very moving place.

Thanks for sharing that. They were late with my shorts. I went last night to pick them up and they weren't ready so they asked me to return this afternoon. Fortunately the timing wasn't critical and the shorts seem fine. I will, however, continue to use Nini in the future.

I'm curious why you don't recommend them. I just picked up today 3 pairs of good cotton shorts which I ordered there 3 days ago. They seem OK but then shorts are not a suit. I would recommend Nini Tailors on Second Rd opposite the Royal Garden Mall. Been going there for over 10 years and always been happy with the quality and service. They were closed for a family event this past weekend or I would have gone there for the shorts mentioned above. I will be back to Nini for made to measure clothes on all my future visits to Pattaya.

jballstate, thanks for the good review of Egyptair. I think I'll monitor the political situation there after their presidential elections in June. I think the Cairo airport was closed for less time than BKK when the insurrectionist yellow shirted fuckers took over it. You never Know what can happen to an airport.

Thanks for the pics. Lets see some more with the girls.

One of the attractions of Egyptair is cheap business class. I'm thinking of Athens-BKK because I'll already be in that part of Europe. It is less than $2,000 in Business Class including all taxes and a stopover to see the pyramids. The BKK flight is on a quite new 777 with very comfortable business class seats.

My information is that Egyptair do not serve alcohol. Have you flown them and been given a drink?

I'm thinking of taking them later this year. CAI to BKK is on new 777s and I understand they operate from a brand new terminal in Cairo. Business class is cheap. Only problem I understand is they don;t serve booze onboard but I think I can handle that.

I'm arriving about 7 p.m. from Australia at the end of April. Flying in premium economy so the airline won't help. I leave a couple of weeks later at about 9 p.m. for Australia. I just hate line-ups so I don;t want to take much of a risk that I will encounter endless queues.

Evil, what Fast Track do you use? Do your have a price, contact, etc? Do you use them for both entry and departure?

After an exchange of e-mails with the Sandy Spring, which was similar to speaking to a wall, I have succumbed and will buy a membership card for 350 Baht and stay in an 8th Floor Seaview Suite for 3200 Baht/night. It's still too expensive but you can't beat the location. They say they have suites on the 6th floor so they must be new. I'll ask to have a look when I am there. And I'm going to visit the SeaMe on Soi 10 and ask to see one of their rooms. If I like them I may move there on my next trip to Pattaya. In the meantime I'm looking forward to another nice visit to sin city.

So can you share with us what you consider those good alternatives to the SS to be? Which ones meet the criteria you cite?

I did. I even sent the initial inquiry as a reply with quote from my reservation in August, 2010, so they could see my rate was 2800 Baht. That's what earned me the wonderful reply above.

A couple of days ago I sent an e-mail for a reservation at the Sandy Spring for 5 nights in early May, low season. I have stayed there probably 8-10 times over the years, the last time in 2010. I always like their 8th floor Seaview Suites.....lots of space, great location, great balcony with a great view of Pattaya Bay. I read their website before e-mailing and it clearly prices my suite at 3,100 Baht. That's 11% higher than the 2,800 Baht I paid the last time, not welcome but tolerable. Imagine my surprise when I received a reply quoting a rate of 3,500 Baht, a 25% price increase over

Can any BM give us an update on Soi 10 and construction adjacent to the Sea Me hotel. I'm considering a stay there in 6 weeks so I'd be grateful for an update to know if access is easy and noise is not too bad.

Pete, where is the Pattaya Sports Clinic located? Its always good to know where one could go for a back problem if it occurs in Patts so thanks for offering this recommendation. I have a chronic back problem that recurrs from time to time. I've had it relapse twice in Pattaya and both times went to Dr Pack and found his treatment fine, much the same as my chiropractor at home. He didn't fix my back in one visit but 2 or 3 visits and it was on the mend. I found his treatment and service fine. But its good to have alternatives.

I'm with the previous poster who said what's important is value, not just price. I like the Sportsman on Soi 13. Orange juice, tea, eggs, double English bacon, black pudding and toast for 200 Baht. Good food and good value.

That looks like 'American' bacon to me.

A couple of pics here: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-thai-airways-first-a380-completes-maiden-flight-369129/

Thanks, Evil. Your first report was excellent. Look forward to more.

Thanks MM. I have been in a couple of those French restaurants and I remember a bunch of them within a block. I will check a couple out again on my next visit. They all seem to be a good deal.

Nice report, thanks for posting. Is that the soi with several French restaurants in one area?

Is the first 'sailor' available? She looks mighty fine.