PenName

Bill - In the event you happen to know, what is the status / availability of using the Vonage system package over a wireless connection? Does the set-up require a broadband hard line or is it workable over highspeep wireless? Thanks. Pen

For whatever it's worth, for those of us making our trips from the United States... Okay, so THAI has this great new non-stop from New York (JFK) to Bangkok about to start making daily runs in a few weeks, and I was pricing it out when I remembered that I have been having a craving for a few days in AC, but not necessarily two or three weeks of PI. So, just for shits and giggles, I priced out the itinerary on THAI if it was JFK / MNL (via Bangkok) / BKK / JFK. That way, a few days of vairety could be enjoyed in AC without having to commit to an entire PI holiday (or an entire LOS one either, I suppose). Anyway, the ticket for just a JFK / BKK / JFK round-trip was $922US (pricing was for September / October 2005). To add the side trip to PI only brought the total fare to $1,047US. I've noticed several posts of boardies wanting to try a different destination or bring some level of variety to their honorable pursuits, so for $125US extra, those on or near the east coast of the US can have and sample even more dishes at the vacation banquet. There may very well be only marginal differences if leaving from the US west coast or other parts of the world, but I didn't price those out. As I say, just a heads-up for those that have been interested. I do think my own autumn travel plans are now coming fully into focus, though. Pen

Thanks for the info and the suggestion, guys. Unfortunately, I need all the info that's on my laptop, so using other computers that might be onsite, while fine for e-mail and the like, won't meet my needs. Since the boxes at the Areca are too small for a fullsized laptop, I'll look into other options. I've got a nice, sturdy Kevlar locking cable, but then there's the challenge of finding something truly permanent in the room to securre it to / around. Do any of you know of any properties with safes (preferably) or deposit boxes big enough to do the job? I apologize, as I'm sure this topic has been covered before, but I can't seem to find it through searching. Thanks, Pen

About what size is the storage space at the Areca? Big enough for a good size laptop (17 in.)? I know, I know; there are internet cafes everywhere you can spit, but I have to be tethered to the laptop for freelance work reasons and I'm curious if the safes at the Areca are of a proper size. Thanks, Pen

The Singapore Air flight with Executive Economy actually flies out of Newark (EWR), non-stop to Singapore. The seats have a 37" pitch, each with their own video screen, and the layout is 2-3-2, if I recall correctly. Also, there's a stand-up bar that comes in handy as a place to hang out and stretch your legs, which is a good thing since the flight is 18.5 hours. The good news is that once you get to Singapore, you've just got the short hop to Bangkok. Overall, I'd say the experience bests Eva but not because of anything negative about Eva -- Singapore Air is just hard to beat for comfort and service...and those flight attendants, of course. It is a bit more expensive than Eva, but you should give it a try if you get the chance. Enjoy. PenName

The Queen Vic has small balconies (on their penthouse rooms, at least) that overlook Soi 6. P.

SoCalGuy - Well, God knows that CX is always a good choice as well. I strongly considered their JHK - HKG non-stop and connection into BKK, but the two tie-breakers were (1) they didn't increase the seat pitch on their long-haul Airbusses the way that SQ did, and (2) while there's plenty to dislike about both, I tend to hate dealing with Newark marginally less than I do dealing with JFK. Oh, and there's also that the bulk of my FF miles are with the Star Alliance instead of One World, which is the system CX is part of. I'll be over for November and the first week of December. If you're going to be around, give me a heads up. I'll buy the first round and we can compare SoCal notes. P.

SoCalGuy- I was fortunate in that I didn't need a connecting flight to EWR since I will be wrapping a project in that area and can fly our of Newark without a connection. The fare of $1,208 for the non-stop to SIN and connection to Bangkok was all available and able to be booked on the SQ website. If you need to connect from San Diego, you may have to deal with the logistics of one of the online sites you mentioned (you might give bt-store.com a look, too -- their fares tend to be pretty good (comparatively speaking) and it's fairly user friendly), or book through a travel agent who can put a complete itinerary together for you. Let me know how things come together for you. When are you heading over? P.

BigD - I'm on the Newark-Singapore-Bangkok route in November. The fare, with taxes, was $1,208. During the summer or more popular travel times, I think it goes up to $1,450 or so. Now, that's comparitively high, but the "Executive Economy" seating is 37" pitch with individual entertainment screens / choices, and all the normal entertainment, service and scenery advantages of SQ. Also, the flight does earn miles for Star Alliance members such as yourself, and you get into BKK at a little after 10:00 in the morning; although, the departure home is 7:40 in the morning, or something like that (but that shouldn't shock the system of a UA loyalist like yourself). It's not something you might want to pop for every trip, but it probably compares (comfort-wise) to EVA Evergreen Deluxe or similar. Certainly something to think about when it comes time to cash in those Star Alliance miles for a no-pay trip over. P.

For what it's worth - Cathay Pacific has extended its July Special to BKK out of Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York-JFK for the month of August, or until it sells its inventory of seats. Haven't seen this happen in quite a while, so I guess the seats weren't moving for some reason. Maybe because of other competing fares in pretty much the same ballpark that offer FF miles. Anyway, Cathay to BKK from U.S. west coast is in the mid-$600's and from NYC is mid-$800. P.

SoCalGuy - If it's the A340, then it's non-stop to SIN, then the hop to BKK. I've done the trip on other airlines through NRT, but for me, after having been on a flight that long (to get to NRT), it always just wipes me out (mentally, more than anything else) to know that after a layover, I've got to climb into another plane for a remaining six hour or so flight, and then (most likely) to arrive at 10.30 in the eveniing or later. I can understand others who prefer to get out of the confining environment of a fuselage to walk around a bit to break up the trip, but for me, once I'm on a plane, the difference between ten or so hours and fourteen is marginal, and then I just have a (relatively) short hop into BKK from Taipei, Singapore or Hong Kong. Specific to Singapore Air and their outfitted A340's, there's also the issue of "Executive Economy Class," which includes 2-3-2 seating, slightly wider seats with better recline, 37" pitch, individual outlets for laptop usage / charge, and personal inflight entertainment screens that offer 300 options (if you include the music offerings). It's more expensive than their 747 hauls that include a fueling stop, but only by a couple of hundred dollars or so. The creature comforts make the longer haul more than bearable as well. And yes, come 25 October, I will be on my way on a Singapore Air A340. I may be wrapping a project on the east coast, however, so I may be on the longer, long haul of 18 hours from Newark. Either way though, it's then four weeks in LOS and getting caught up on more things than is fair to have done without. If you enjoy Singapore Air anyway (as it sounds you do), consider giving the LAX - SIN non-stop a try on your next trip. P.

SoCalGuy - Right now, Singapore Air is running two flights a day out of Los Angeles; one is a 747 (the afternoon departure with a long overnight layover in Singapore before arriving BKK late morning), and the other is their A340 that's been outfitted with "Executive Economy," which leaves LAX late evening and gets to BKK late morning after a short layover in Singapore. As far as I know, the A340-500 is being utilized in the U.S. right now (by Singapore Air) on only two routes: LAX - SIN, and EWR - SIN, with the Newark route currently being the longest non-stop flight in the world at a little over 18 hours. Generally a great airline, though, and one of the primary reasons for my membership in the UA / Star Alliance Frequent Flyer Program. I'll be on one of those A340's in 92 days. P. (A fellow So. Cal., by the way)

Sensei, Thanks in advance for the recon as right now, I think the EWR-SIN-BKK on Singapore Air is the one I'm leaning toward as the Executive Economy sounds like a decent deal for the time of year I'm going and Star Alliance is a decent enough frequent flyer collective, as far as those things caan be, anyway. God knows Singapore Air shows up at or near the top of most such lists and the price is under $150 less than Eva Deluxe for the same period, and I prefer more mileage options than Eva offers right now. When you have a chance, PM me or post your review if you would. Oh yeah, and have an amzing time. P.

Any member had a chance to try the long non-stops from JFK to HKG on Cathay Pacific or Newark to SIN on Singapore Air? I thought I heard the new Airbus planes for those routes were supposed to be a bit roomier and possessing of some greater creature comforts. I'm still deciding on my carrier for October-November and just wondered if anyone had blazed these particular trails yet. P.

Emil: Thanks a ton. I sent off an e-mail to the address you provided to see what their availabilty might be for my October - November trip. Funky furnishings don't deter me in the least as I tend to have no interest in "cookie-cutter" rooms that are all furnished and designed identically. I must confess that I really didn't know much about Mike's until your comments and posted reviews, but I do like the location (even though there was nothing so wrong with operating out of Soi 8 on my last trip), and I'm always up for a new gem. Now if I can just make it to 25 October and wheels up without Pattaya fever consuming me then everything might just be all right. Again, thanks. P.

I can't seem to locate any contact information on Mike's. Can you pass along an e-mail, phone or fax?

Actually, the deal is even better / more flexible as travel is allowed from 05 September to 30 November (as opposed to October). My October / November trip looks to be on KAL this time, however, as I have a soon-to-expire $400 voucher to deduct from the already (relatively) low price of $812. Otherwise, I'd be all over this Cathay offer.

Bill, Big D and Everyone - Thanks a ton for all the input. I didn't expect such a strong consensus backing what I suspected was the proper play. I tend to prefer foreign carriers for foreign trips -- Koren Air is just one that I haven't had reason to know much about. 20,000 FF miles into the account, delivery to our version of a discovered paradise, and all for a net of $412.50 shall be accepted as the no-brainer it probably should have been all along. As many others have pointed out before me, though, (a) it's 13 or 16 or 20 hours encased in an aluminum and steel fuselage of pressurized air, sub-par food and the occasional crying baby or rude seatmate so how enjoyable can it possibly be?, and ( the main thing, really, is about getting to LOS, right? Korean Air it is then, and that's another thing crossed off the "Okay, what am I going to do about this?" list. I didn't get to cross paths with many of you on my last trip in, but for those of you who are around and thirsty between 27 October and 23 November, the first round is happily on me. PenName

I'm arranging my trip in for the fall and I've got a rate of $812.00 from the U.S. midwest on a combination of Delta and Korean Air. Becuase I allowed myself to be bumped earlier this year, I have a $400 voucher from Delta that will make the net price $412.00. Now, the question is about Korean Air. I've never flown with them and have heard a variety of reports. Any opinions on whether I (a) fly the Delta / Korean combination and earn the miles for the trip in my Delta mileage account (which is the larger of my FF accounts presently), or ( cash in the voucher (which I can do through a company expense reimbursement) and put the $400 toward a ticket on another airline and gt miles (or not) wherever they might fall? In short, I guess, how tolerable or intolerable is Atlanta - Inchon - Bangkok on Korean Air apt to be? Look forward to seeing some of you in October / November.

I wonder about a comparison (from anyone who might have stayed at both) between the Conrad and the President Solitare? PenName

Yes, "addiction" is the applicable term it seems. But for me, it's not just the inexpensive and available sex (although that would be more than enough in its own right). What I did not expect on my first trip to LOS was that Thailand is more than a place and a culture... it is a state of mind. Do I miss my favorite bar girl since when I return home? Of course. But I also miss the pace and the people, that sense of "Up to you," that permeates not just the bar scene but the whole country. I also remain amazed how much of the outlook and perspective I bring home with me. While I am only marginally aware of it, people who have known me for years constantly remark on my "new attitude" that encompasses more patience, less judgment, greater tolerance and an overall sense of seeing very few things worth getting even slightly bent out of shape about. I too have begun to "run the numbers" on a Thailand retirement down the road as it is one of those far flung corners of the world that inexplicably feels like home, which I think is true for many of us. It is an addiction for which I seek no cure, only proper management. I don't really know if I found Thailand or if Thailand found me but I know I'm forever grateful for the introduction. Woe that it can not change my past but what a rescue that it has changed my present and (potentially) saved my future. I came for the women (yes, pun intended, I suppose) but the attraction has grown broader than that. I take Thailand as it is: the good, the bad and the ugly as I would rather be stuck in a BKK traffic jam in a taxi with the driver "lost" as the meter spins and the temperature outside beyond anything even orchids could survive than 99% of the places I can think of ourside of LOS. In the early stages of love, we are consumed by seeing the object of our affection as we would have them be. When this evaporates, the real test begins as true love is found not when we cannot see the faults and flaws or when we love in spite of such imperfections... true love is when we see someone, something or someplace flaws and all, and love it or them all the more for those things. More than a doxen times every day in LOS, I have been made to feel welcomed and loved (no matter the degree of facade or commerce), imperfections and all. My version of this thread's addiction calls for me to admit that "yes, LOS, I love you, too." (Forgive the rambling, stream-of-consciousness tone to the above but hey! (1) an addiction brings out such personas in us all, and (2) it's an otherwise uneventful Sunday morning in the USA and I'm Jones-ing a bit for a fix.)

Saigon, Singapore Air also has a 11.30PM departure from LAX that gets into Bangkok (with a decent layover time) early afternoon, and Singapore Air is generally in the same price range and level of customer reviews as Cathay Pacific, although such things are always a matter of personal tastes. PenName

I was just in town and got a good haircut, as well as a shampoo, blow dry and a shave for 300 baht total at a place on Pattaya South. Don't remember the name but it was on the north side of the street between Second Road and Beach Road (about a third of the way down from Second Road), next to a massage parlor and with a barber pole spinning next to the door. Good service, good staff and good air conditioning. I ended up going back a couple of times just to get a shave and shampoo.

I just spent two weeks at the Eastinty Inn and couldn't have been happier. The location is great, they upgraded me to a Superior room (I paid 700 baht per night because of the length of stay -- I had been quoted 800 baht with upgrade prior to arriving), the staff was efficient and polite, and I was pretty much left wanting for nothing. The only thing that would make me look elsewhere for accommodations in the future would be them being fully booked or me wanting to try a different part of the city for accommodations. Did they have a joiner fee for the second lady on a given night? Yes, but if I'm going to indulge in two ladies, kicking in an extra $7.50US (300 baht) seems more than reasonable, and a small price of admission for the dual pleasures. I had heard both good and bad things on here and elsewhere before arriving, but the location was enough for me to give it a try. It's nice when things work out.

Seems we've got this thread going in a couple of places, but we're trying to put together a party for the 4th. I've sent an e-mail over to Pete (or whoever at party@freelancerbar.com) and we're waiting to hear on availability, costs, etc. PM me or stay tuned here if you want to join in the hosting. PenName