lovedog100

I would prefer not to have a seat, just a ticket. It makes it much more likely that I would be bumped up to business, or first class if all the economy seats are filled.

So, the next time you come to Patts, he puts up a sign with an arrow that says that you are away on holiday, and won't be back for two weeks. Home depot sells a week killer that will sterilize the ground so that nothing will grow in it for a year. Using a sprinkler can, writing the "word asshole" on that pretty lawn, would piss you off as much as your sign did him. Traditionally people try to make friends with other people that are likely to live next to them for years to come. It just makes life easier. Up to you.

I can believe that San Fransisco is on the list. It has got to be one of the most unfriendly airports I've ever flown into. Koh Samui isn't an international airport, but it is the nicest looking, friendliest I've ever flown into. Utapao has got to be one of the most efficient I've seen. It has no bells and whistles, but I walked in 10 minutes before boarding time because of my taxi being late. I made my flight easily. I made it through the lobby, to the ticket counter and checked in, my travel agent had screwed up my ticket, that was fixed, went threw security, got a cup of coffee, then on to a tram all in ten minutes. I was impressed.

http://www.iceinnpattaya.com/content.html

] I don't know. I can say, it's a great place to eat, and not just Pizza. Cafe Uno has excellent food. They have with out a doubt the best burger in Pattaya.

You will actually get a better exchange rate with travelers checks in Thailand. I have had to sign them 3 or 4 times because the lady thought that my signature looked different. She cashed them though, and it was only at one place that I had that problem. I read a trip report on PI yesterday and it said that they had a hard time cashing them there.

True, but where else would three police officers be used to enforce a 50 Baht license law? What a waste of time and manpower. Personally I'd rather see them get all the people blocking movement on walking street. The ass holes trying to get me into an upstairs gogo, sell me flowers, or take my picture, not to mention the couple of seafood restaurants that block half the street with people standing in the street. I still don't understand why they say "welcome" yet force me cross to the other side of the street. Don't even get me started on those peddling watches and DVD's while I'm trying to eat. I'm starting to take it out on the restaurants for allowing them in to bother me. I'll leave little or no tip, and say, "I come here to eat, not shop."

Phuket Taxi Abuse: Cruise Line Slams 'Rip-Offs' By Alan Morison Sunday, March 14, 2010 A LUXURY cruise company wants to switch docking points on Phuket because ''the taxi situation in the Phuket Port is terrible.'' The cruise line also reported rip-offs and abusive behavior and said the attitude of the taxi drivers was ''totally unacceptable and extremely bad for tourism.'' The cruise company, which prefers to remain anonymous for now, is taking its complaint direct to Phuket's Governor, Wichai Praisa-ngob. . Such a criticism from an important source of income today and in the future for Phuket is likely to trigger rapid action, much as if an instruction had come directly from a senior level of government in Bangkok. The concern of the cruise company first came to light in an email exchange with a well-regarded west coast restaurant. ''We would have liked to send you more people, but unfortunately the taxi situation in the Phuket Port is terrible,'' the email from the cruise line said. Thailand's new slogan, ''Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value,'' is aimed at attracting more tourists. Yet Phuket's reputation as a holiday destination is being damaged by frequent complaints about excessive fares demanded by taxis and tuk-tuks, thuggery, and the lack of an efficient, cheap public transport system around the island. Added criticism from a luxury line management is certain to accelerate Governor Wichhai's plan to impose meters in taxis and tuk-tuks as fast as possible. Reversing the damage done by tuk-tuks and taxis will also be high on the agenda for the governor's second meeting in April with the honorary consuls from 15 key nations that provide Phuket with most of its tourists. Phuketwan has seen the email correspondence between the cruise company management and the Phuket restaurant, which ends with the cruise management expressing the intent to complain directly to Phuket's governor. Here are edited exchanges: From the cruise line: ''We were happy to promote your lovely restaurant and we did get a few good comments from a few guests who visited your venue. We would have liked to send you more people, but unfortunately the taxi situation in the Phuket Port is terrible. The local drivers who were in the port all work together with the same attitude and that is to totally rip-off tourists. These drivers were not pleasant to deal with at all, and for the next visit we are suggesting that the ship anchors off Patong Beach instead of docking in the Phuket Port.'' From the restaurant: ''Yes we all know the taxi driver situation in Phuket is horrific. Those same drivers will probably be the same ones in Patong, too, but at least from Patong it is not such a long drive and people can also opt for not going anywhere. Unfortunately we don't have a pick up service, either.'' From the cruise line, intended for the governor: ''Following our vessel's recent visit to Phuket, we would like to bring to your attention the extreme challenges faced in the Phuket Port with regard to taxis. The drivers on standby in the port quoted ridiculous fares from the start and it was clear that they were aiming to really extort money from our Residents, Guests and Crew. We were informed that the drivers are part of the local community and are the only taxi vehicles allowed to pick-up from this area and that the port has no control over this. After we spoke with our Thai crew members on the ship about the proper rates that should be charged, we then attempted to negotiate more decent rates. At one point the situation became quite unbearable and some of the drivers became verbally abusive when it was mentioned that their rates were ridiculous and way too high for us to consider. It came down to the fact that the drivers refused to even consider to take the business if their rate wasn't paid and they simply preferred to sit down and wait for another hopeful customer whom they could overcharge, even after they were warned that we would not give them any further business. From this point onwards, the front office team recommended private transfers to be booked through the contracted tour company and no further taxi bookings were made. Thank you for your time and we trust that this situation will be looked into further as it is totally unacceptable and extremely bad for tourism.'' An initial complaint by the cruise line company to the Tourism Authority of Thailand brought no response. A representative from the restaurant asked the cruise line whether the email exchange could be passed on to Phuketwan, and the cruise line manager agreed. Every year, the cruise line delivers thousands of tourists to Phuket. The importance of the cruise line market to Phuket became evident earlier this year with the arrival of the world's most luxurious cruise liner, the Queen Mary 2, which stopped over on Phuket on a round-the-world tour. More visits are also being made by US Navy vessels, including the aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan last year and USS Nimitz this year. International media and tourist chat sites have reported widely that the greed of local taxi and tuk-tuk drivers is the biggest negative of a visit to Phuket, which has good beaches, coral reefs, and much to recommend it to visitors.

Dietrich, I've been pretty vocal about my hatred of Phuket. Everything is to expensive. People in shops, restaurants, and massage parlors will grab you as you walk by, and not let go. The tailors are just like Pattaya. A tuk tuk will cost you 200 baht to go somewhere you could walk in 3 minutes. As you walk down the street people scream at you to go in their place if they aren't close enough to grab you. Going into a restaurant is weird, the waitress doesn't even know the word menu, in a Restaurant full of farang, the girl can't speak a word of English, and that is in restaurant, after restaurant. It's the same in many stores, malls, and bars. It is really not fun. Almost everything you do becomes a chore because of the lack of English, people trying to block your path, and those trying to rip you off. That being said, I would like to offer an alternative. Koh Samui. There are lady's available on the side soi's they are not in your face like Patong or Pattaya. Koh Samui is a beautiful tropical island, where you can rent a nice bungalow right on the beach. The beaches are beautiful, while there you can get a massage right on the beach, even food and drinks will be brought down for you. It will cost more than Pattaya, but equal to Phuket, taxi's are way less. Most everything you'll want to do is walking distance, you will receive smiles as you walk around, not yelling in your face. Mongering is on the down low, so your wife won't spend her time pissed off at you for bringing her there. I would recommend taking the family on one of the jungle tours in the jeeps, they are a blast. Every one on Koh Samui seems to speak English. The jet ski's, para sailing, and boating is honest on Koh samui and a rip off on Phuket. Phuket will be frustrating, Koh Samui will be relaxing, and fun. Ask around, I'm sure you will hear the same from others.

Good question. I'm confused.

That was good :)

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Firefox has spell check installed. If it's not working. 1# At the top of the Firefox window On the menu bar, click on the Tools Firefox Edit menu, and select Options...Preferences.... 2# Select the Advanced panel. 3# Click the General tab. 4# Select Check my spelling as I type. 5# Click OK Close the preferences window.

I hope you are joking Melvin. Bringing $100 USD is good, but what are you going to do for money your second day??

That is why I never book more than one day. If I want to stay, I can always extend after I am there. I also have the option to find another place that I like better.

No, the losers are for sale also. What I think is weird, is the successful bar, and the loser, are the same price.

I must have missed something here. He is reopening the bar, yet going away??

Guess I don't know it. So, what makes it a legend?

Yes, I know. Just wanted to put him on the spot. Guess I'm not the only one that could see it.

What is the "good location?" Also, how much of the furnishings, and equipment do you own? How much is rented, or belongs to the landlord? How much business have you done in the last year?

Bush had quite the sex life. To bad he never got a blow jobso we could have got rid of him.

First off, anyone can see it's a picture of you. It's been so long since you have pulled your head out of your ass, that you just don't recognize yourself. So how is it that the guy born in Panama is verified, and the other is not? Oh, right, because there is no proof that you will accept, because you want your loony thinking to be true.

Guess fox never told you. McCain was born in Panama. Funny how the ultra right brings up thing about citizenship for the other candidate, yet ignore it for their own candidate.

U-tapao airport is small and easy to get through security. When I want to samui, I walked threw the door and was getting on the place 15 minutes later. My taxi was late picking me up and I was sure I wouldn't make the flight. But, no problem. The Taxi ride cost the same as going to BKK, that sucked. Think I'd take a shuttle next time.

I wonder how anyone could complain after eight years of the Bush/Cheney regime. What was the other option, McCain/Palin? Thank God the American people saw threw that set. Imaging Alzheimer's and idiot running the country. Especially in the shape Bush left it in. America would be back in the stone age by the time their term expired. Lifelong democrat LOL Do you really think anyone took that statement seriously?