808pizza

Thank you Gents. Your points are well taken and I will do my booking in the next few days. I really appreciate your putting up with the ignorance on my part, you've all been very helpful. It will be great to sit with some of you as I am big on reciprocation. LD101, Thank you for your considerations concerning my knee. I appreciate that. It's not to bad, but after a lot of walking it starts to ache. It's bearable, but annoying. Aloha to you all. Bob

Wow, Great Info. Thank you very much for taking the time to go through this item by item.

I'm with you on the success thing. I don't care about the cost either. Just want the normal (if I can use that word here) comforts and convinces that would be expected. I'll check the RG out right now.

Thank you Ricktoronto. I saw the errors with my space bar. Not sure what happened as I intentionally edited and re-edited the post. I will only use the debit card to get cash from the ATM and as recommended by others, I'll get an extra card in case of loss. Thanks for your recommendations here. The $40.+ does not put me in the poor house.

Here are a couple of hotel booking questions. First timer here. Let me start by apologizing, as I'm sure most of my questions have been asked before, however I am not the brightest bulb on the computer. I can't seem to find archived posts answering these questions. So for the other not so tech savvy members, here goes. I've noticed posts saying that I shouldn't have to give a deposit to make a hotel reservation and to definitely not give a credit card # to them. They've even said that if a deposit is required to go somewhere else. I can get a low limit credit card from my bank that could be used exclusively for the reservation, but I don't know if that is wise either. I won't use a credit card for anything else. I have a separate debit card account for the trip set up. Some of the hotels (seems most) say they only hold the reservation until 18:00. A deposit is required for late arrivals. It seems most flights arrive later than that and then there is the travel to Pattaya making it even later. At least that is what is available from Hawaii. My flight gets in around 9PM and add at least a couple of hours to that before I get to the hotel. How should I handle this? (Room booking and transportation from the airport to Pattaya.) Also,I am coming for three weeks. Should I book the initial reservation for two or three days, or the first week, not knowing the actual conditions and either extending or changing hotels when I arrive? I see that some BMs say to stay around Soi 2, and others say to stay a little more central between Beach Rd and Second Rd. Some advise Soi 13. I'm 56 (not one of the youngsters anymore although a young 56 J) and I don't necessarily need to step out the front door and be in the heart of it, but I like convenience though. (Bit of a knee problem) I also am able to afford nicer accommodations but do not need the fanciest. I don't think I'd be freaked out by the craziness of the Soi 6 area, say the Queen Vic, as a recent lengthy TR described a fantastic stay there. Guest friendly, safe in room, good food, not to pricy, and he was usually out during most of the noisy hours, so, what doyou think/ recommend? Are the Soi 13 places to much of a treck to get back and forth to? Another BM posted that his June stay on SOI 2 at Sabai Lodge was disturbing because of ongoing construction and (his description here) loud Indian folks. Good, clean, safe, secure, and hassle free (joiner guests) accommodations are hoped for. Guess that's what we all want. Is it a big deal that the safe is not in the room? Although I would prefer it was, I'm not sure if that item should be a deciding factor. Thank you ahead of time for your guidance here. What a great group of folks you are to share your knowledge and experience with us. I know this will be the best vacation ever. I arrive Nov. 23rd thru Dec. 15th. Hope to connect with BMs and tip a few together. I'm sure this will be the start of some good friendships. Aloha, Bob