jimmybcool

Dude, I think you got lucky. I recently got my tickets from a consolidator in SF and paid $900 for Evergreen Deluxe. Course, it includes travel from Phoenix and back. Still, $600 is a mistake. Good for you. ;D I am traveling on the 17th SFO to BKK (well, actually leaving SFO at 1:30 AM on the 18th). I am curious to hear how full these flights are. let me know when you get there. Safe trip.

BD, Welcome aboard. If your friend is moving to View Talay, and worked in Korea, and talks with one of them funny southron accents - I think I play golf with him on occasion. He recently retired to Pattaya if it is him. On PI, I wonder if it is a GOOD thing when women speak the same language as us. ::)

Thanks for all the help guys. I have a buddy (well, several actually) that lives in Pattaya and had him check out my contenders. based on location, price, and quality, the winner is: Sunshine Vista Apartments on Soi 3. I am reserved for an Executive Suite. Thanks again. I will provide a critique after my stay.

Shellman, I have stayed there many times. Pros - the rooms are large. All have a fridge and kitchen area. The staff is friendly and good. Security is good. Parking (if you rent a car) is there. Most everything works most of the time. It is convineient to Big C and getting to the action is easy. Cons - it is a pain to cross 2nd road going home after you've been out drinking. The beds are a bit short. The food is poor. There can be a noise problem at night. It isn't so much the beer bars out front (which can be noisy). They usually have a consistant level of noise and I can sleep thru that. But in early AM (3 - 5 AM) the effing dogs start caraousing and fighting. I wish I could bring a scoped rifle with me. There would be fewer dogs when I got through. > Overall I think it is an OK place. But I am looking to upgrade myself this trip. Consider all that in your thoughts. In general, I would rate it a 7. Cheers

valintinoxxx Yup. That makes the list too. Thanks. OK, now I got three on the list (four if you count giving Pinewood a chance to show me a room I like). Marine Yensabai Mansion - Soi Yensabai Sandysprings Hotel - Soi 13 Sunshine Vista Serviced Apartments - Soi 3 Right now, my impressions are: Marine Yensabai is probably a nice hotel but a bit of a walk to the action. I could be wrong. Sandy Springs - perfect location and looks good on the few pics their webpage has. I'm guessing this is a bit more expensive than the others. Sunshine Vista - a bit further out from my stomping grounds but I'm used to that. More convienient than Pinewood. Keep 'em coming guys. When I get there I'll spend a day and compare them.

Chris, I know nothing of testosterone or deca. There are a few gyms in Pattaya. The ones I know of are: One on a side soi off Walking street. I've been told it is a hangout for the gay segment of Pattaya society. Don't know if its true. There is World Gym on Beach Road (near Central Road). This is a good gym if you don't want frills. No AC, smells like sweat, uses real free weights and stuff. Well equipped and cheap (like under 100 baht per visit). I use it. There is Royal Garden for the upscale. AC, cute expensive kept thai women, hitech treadmills, the works. Expensive and you ain't gettin huge in there (except maybe in your pants looking at some of them babes). The Weekender Hotel up on 2nd Road just north of Soi Yotsak/Soi 6 has a gym attached to the Muia Thai gym. Never been in it can't comment.

Emil, Right now I got Marine Yensabai and Sandy Springs at the head of the list. My only concern about Marine is location. I'm not sure how far into Yen Sabai I wish to walk home late at night. I mean, I could get eaten by the big bad wolf. Do you have a link to Marine Yensabai Mansion? I've searched and come up blank. Thanks Jim

Oukiva Good info. BUT, I still think something is weird with the website. I see a few small pictures, but weird text next to them unrelated to descrivbing the pictures. Is that what you see? OK if so, just wondered if my computer is messed up. One thing I can't tell is if a refridgerator is in each room. This is critical for me.

yselmike It is ideally located. And what I see interests me. But their webpage is weird. Either I need some additional software to see whats up, or they effed up their site. Could you go there and tell me if you keep reading ads for Macromedia flash player or generator or something? sandyspringhotel.com BTW, whats the rate for this place and are they guest friendly? Thanks

Well, I suspect i will need to check into my regular hotel, Pinewood, then go hunting for a deal in person. None of the websites offer enough p ictures of the rooms, and there is no way to judge if it feels like home from the internet. Rex, thanks for the photos. It looks nicer than I thought it would so I will check Sabai Inn/Lodge out. But, I'm still open to other ideas guys so if anyone else reads this don't stop now. Think upscale a bit. I'll pay a bit more for peace and quiet.

Guys, Sabai Inn/Lodge are in the running. Thanks. I am quite aware of location as I usually stay right up the road at Pinewood Condos. It is a GREAT location. My biggest concern is the quality of rooms in Sabai Inn/Lodge. I've read the reports and saw some who were less than thrilled. Then again, if anyone had asked me after my first trip to Thailand I would have said ALL the hotels suck. One learns to adjust ones standards a bit. I guess the microwave isn't mandatory. The real issue is I do want to store fruits/veggies/milk and some dishes and eat at home sometimes. If you know of places that cost a bit more, I am not short of dosh. I won't pay the Dusit prices, but I can go to 30-35K a month for a nicer place. But it would have to be nicer than Pinewood to justify moving. Cheers

Jerry, You keep saying your better looking than me. OK. I'll grant you that. But I gotta tell ya, neither of us i s getting any stunners based on looks. 8) 8) 8) I'm giving serious thought to Lews again. I guess I could get over the lack of privacy in down season. Got to think on it.

jerry, I love Lews, but, ahem, lack of anything resembling privacy is why I no longer stay there. My private life was a subject of too much discussion amonsgt my golf buddies. Mostly envy I believe. ;D But, that is why I don't stay there. Emil, A Micorwave isn't a deal killer. But a fridge is a MUST. I try to eat a decent diet and if I go out I end up eating too much rich food.

Hi dudes, Well, my regular hotel responded and they haven't any suites, nor do they sound like they wish to negotiate prices in low season. Fug em. So, I am looking for a new place to stay. Here is the criteria: 1) Prefer inside the 2nd Road/Beach Road area so I do NOT have to cross 2nd Road or walk long distance. Don't care north or south end of town. 2) Want suite or large room. Need minimum kitchen with refridgerator and microwave. 3) GOOD AC. Must have good theormostat. I hate freezing cause its either all on or off. 4) Guest Friendly 5) Quiet. I like to SLEEP some of the night. 6) Large bed. None of this twin beds crap. 7) Secure facility and either inroom safe or lockboxes at counter. Candidly, the Residence Garden is intriguing BUT, it is not as convinient as I would like (500 meters from FLB? I don't think so). And since I am staying for 6 weeks I don't wish to pay that much. Ideas guys?

emil, Don't ya love icons. I'm still waiting on email from my regular hotel. Hmmm, maybe I'm not wanted. I knew I shouldn't have sold their TV. ;D ;D ;D ;D PS - kidding about tv 8)

Emil, On the nose man. I will check into my regular spot (Pinewood Residence) and try to work a deal. If no go, I'll look around. I admit I am getting tired of crossing 2nd road to get to Pinewood. Seems like a small thing but when you are tired and a bit drunk not that cool. I'll be looking around in a month I guess. Ought to be someone that needs a long term guest. :) So far I am considering SUnshine Villas on Soi 3. And FLipper on 8.

I'd rather just the Vindaloo sprint ::) 8) ;D

You need to check on Bangkok Air. They might fly from U Tapao to Siem Riep direct. Not sure. Once there, the key is to get a good taxi at the airport and keep him all day. He will be tour guide and everything for about $20-25. Oh, and they LIKE US dollars. Bring 10s, 5s and 1s as no one will have any change. Don't even bother with Rial or Baht there. I forget what hotel we stayed in. Wasn't much. And IMO, the trip should take no more than fly in AM. See temples, go hotel sleep. Wake up, see temples, fly out. You do NOT need 2 nights there and nothing much other than temples there.

OK. I guess the hotels aren't dealing that much. Back to the drawing board. Thanks

Dudes, Don't fight city hall. Yeah, it is extortion. It is unfair. It does suck. But, for 5 baht do you want to spend one of your vacation days in a hospital? Most of those baht bus drivers carry a club of some type and despite appearances, they are not unfamiliar with violence. You can pay 5 baht and walk a nd get away with it 1000 times. Or, you could get the lipo crazed nut that hates farang and caves in your skull. When it is all said and done, if you live there and know how to handle some thai language and have some presence, do what you want. If you are a tourist, pay the fucking 10 baht and enjoy your vacation. :)

Oh. Damn, took me a minute to relate your answer to the second question about the moving icon thingy. A very wierd thingy it is too. 8) Guess that's appropriate for me.

Hi guys, I am scheduling my return flight and am wondering if this SARs thing has cut into hotel fill rates. If so, are they negotiating more than usual? I'll be there for about 5-6 weeks. Just wondering if I should play hardball or if it is business as usual. And BTW, what the hell is that icon/thingy to the left? ???