LeoTex

I left BKK early on September 30th to reurn back home to the US. When at the ticket counter the airport security people were handing out the info page and one of the items was, 'don't buy liquid items' at duty free as you sill can't take them on the plane. I thought this was a holdover from before the new checkpoint was put in place. After going through immigrations, you now have the security check before going out to where the duty free and shops are located. When going to the gate (Northwest) they stil have the security check in place. They have you take your shoes off, wan you and hand check your carry-on's. So now we have 2 check points. One guy on the flight had made a few duty free purchases and pitched a big fit at the gate check as they told him that he couldn't bring the stuff on the plane. They showed him the letter they gave out at the ticket counter and he still wouldn't accept what they told him. They gave him the choice to dispose of the items or try and take them back and get a refund. On the plane he was still at it, saying he was going to sue the airlines and going on and on. He said that letter was only ment for items going through the first check point after immagrations. Since he was sitting across the aisle from me, I told him that is wasn't any of my business, but I got the same letter and it said you wouldn't be able to board the plane with liquids. I also asked him if he was making a connection in Tokyo and he said yes. I then told him that he also wouldn't be able to take liquids past the security check there either. I also told him that Northwest had nothing to do with the checks, it was the AOT (airport) security that was doing the checking not the airlines and they were just following the rules. LeoTex

K, not good enought, will be there in person. LeoTex

Congrats on the sale of the bar. I'm sure your concern wasn't to make anything on the deal, but get out from under it. It served it purpose when all that construction was going on at your end of Soi 8 with building the new bars. Also know that is wasn't easy dividing up your time between the two bars. I will miss it, because staying on Soi 13 I or we would stop in early in the afternoon for a beer coming or going to the hotel. Also was a good meeting place for the afternoon crawls. LeoTex BTW, what did you do with that game thing, Wii I think. need to keep my bowling skills up.

Nice photos Adam Only problem the're all the same. LeoTex

In Cambodia, you need to try the 'Happy Pizza'a'. After a couple of pieces you don't need to wonder just what the 'Herbs' are once they kick in. LeoTEx

The best I have found was the 4 1/2years I lived in Chicago Pizza, Little Italy Restaurants | Metromix Chicago They also had a Italian bakery, which was also good. In Pattaya, it is hit and miss. The pizza that MM get for the nights of the bar crawls is not bad. LeoTex

Yes, the hotels fill up fast and a lot of them charge more. I know the Sandy Spring adds a 500 baht extra charge for the last week in Dec and first week in Jan. Extra high season. I have stayed a few of the hotels that charge for the 'gala dinner' for both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, the only problem I had with that, they didn't even have a dinning room. BTW, the places that actualy had dinners, you had to pay even if you didn't want to or go to the dinner, like in no choice. LeoTex

When I was there in April, went in and looked at one of the rooms, standard I think. Looked nice. I thought I had a card with the rates on it, but must have missplaced it. I would also be interesed in how the stay was. Good lacation like the hotels on Soi 13 as you can go to either 2nd Road or Walking Street to get the baht bus, infact it is close to Walking Street to walk. LeoTex

Have stayed Pattaya Bar Resort, and has parking and good WiFi. Sandy Spring has parking, but WiFi in room hit and miss, but good in loby. Dynasty has parking and internet connection. Golden Crab, parking and free internet connection in room, but not WiFi. The only ones that I have stayed at in the past few years. LeoTex

I can tell that you haven't been yet, lol. Cultural isn't the work I would use to describe Pattaya and Angeles City. I was in Angeles City last month when a couple of friends return to Bangkok from Clark on Cebu. One left on a Saturday and one the following Tuesday. I think that is the only two days they fly each week, both ways. As Pattaya Pete said, sometime they cancel flighs as the last minute out of Bangkok, then will put you on their flight to Manila. Now that they only fly the two days, less flights if any are being caneceled. I think the the fare one was just a little over $100 US. Last month I did a three night side trip to Pattaya from the Philippines using Philippines Air, but had to fly out of Manila and the total fare R/T was $218 at the last minute, the other guys paid about $170 or so, but book earlier. LeoTex

I have not heard of Mr. Dream Transport not showing up. Is there something we need to know about. I have used him a few times and no problem at all. Also have had friends use his service without any problems. I'm not a smoker, but the driver that Mr. Dream sent took a cig break when we stopped half way to Pattaya for a break. I'm sure he would let you smoke in his car. This was last month, so again the service was great. BigD, I also send off a email when I'm at the airport getting ready to board the plane to both the hotel and what every car service I'm using. When in Tokyo on my layover, I will check for any replys and if there is any type of delay, I can again notifiy them by email or give them a call. LeoTex

I stay at both, hotels that require ID's and those that don't. To me it makes no difference. I do believe the Thai law is that anyone staying in a hotel must be registered, so that would include your new best friend for the night. I always stay at the Sandy Spring for most of my time in Pattaya, and there is more or less up to me (us) if the girl leaves her ID at the desk. Most of the time we just walk to the lift, but if I feel that she should leave her ID, we walk by the desk for her to leave it. If I'm not staying at the SS, I will stay at the Pattaya Bay Resort which has the policy that the girl will leave her ID card at the desk. Next morning they will call for your OK before returning the card to the girl. I have stayed at a few of the hotels on both Soi 7 and 8 and they require that the girl must leave her ID with them before she can go up to the room. As far as I'm concered, the hotel is following the law and looking out for us by taking the ID card and I don't have a problem with it. As what the others said, the girls are use to it and understand. LeoTex

I think they ran out the last time I was in there.

This has happened to me a few times; Get on a baht bus that I waved down on the route. After going a little ways up the road, someone else waves him down. They go up to the window and ask questions and they jump in the back. The baht bus starts back up again and turns on the next Soi to head in a new directions while there are still people on the bus. I start hitting the buzzer and he pulls over and I get off and walk away, while he is yelling that I owe him 10 baht. The other people just stay on the bus. I guess they wan't to go along to see where they wanted to go. Keep walking and don't plan on paying. LeoTex

That would depend on how long he is going to stay in the LOS. Abandon sounds like a good idea and just stay. LeoTex

Welcome to the board 'dhaina'. Now take your Airport mini cab to your nearest airport and head over to the LOS. LeoTex

Not on Soi 13 but near. The Pattaya Bar Resort which is behind the Avenues Mall which is across 2nd from Soi 13 has a low season special each year. The Standard Room is 999 baht per night with getting the 6th night free, so works out to 856 per night. I stayed there last year in July and I'm booked in next week for a week. I also spend a week there during Songkran. The only place on Soi 13 that I know has any break in the price is the Golden Crab. Not sure how long your staying, but they also have a weekly and monthly rate. I had a friend stay at the AA on Soi 13 durning Songkran. They had too many vacant rooms and made him a good deal when he walked in to ask the price for a room. If you want to stay on Soi 13, would give the AA a try. I normally split my holiday up and spend a week at the Sandy Spring on Soi 13, but they don't have a price break for low season as the hotel stays pretty full all the time. Hope this helps, LeoTex

Evil, Thats not a bad idea about checking at the departure gate in Narita before boarding for BKK. Most of the time I stay in the Northwest Club until they call for boarding and then head to the gate and get on the plane. LeoTex

I have stayed at both Eastiny's on Soi 7 and Soi 8 a few yeas back. I have found that all the Eastiny's a nice place to stay. Infact the only reason I still don't use them, is locations. I prefer staying away from all the beer bars and noise at night. You can take a look at the room here.Eastiny Hotels Hope this helps a little, LeoTex

My mistake, First looked and thought I saw 85,000, yes 8500 is only and repeat only $240 per month. Sorry, yes very good price for what you are getting LeoTex

The place looks very nice. I haven't looked at prices around the Jomtien area, but that monthy rent seems hight compared to simular place in Pattaaya. I think for $2.400 US per month you would get a lot more for your money, even in Jomtien, maybe a 2 bedroom, 2 bath at least. LeoTex

Not me 'Norf 400' I can't sit in the passenger seat because that is the seat we drive from. I find myself try to reach for a steeringwheel that isn't there, trying to take over and drive. LeoTex PS;, gotten a few replies, but the times don't match up, so still looking for someone that wants to share a ride to Pattaya.

wetwillie, Sorry it couldn't work out. I have had luck doing this 3 times in the past and all 3 of the guys have turned out to be good friends over the years. I post this arrival times like I give to the hotel when I make my reservations. If you tell them you arriving after midnight and use that date, they can't ever get it right. Thanks again, LeoTex

Arrive at BKK airport very late the night of May 19th on Northwest Airlines flight 25 from Tokyo. Arrive 12:35 AM (May 20th 00:35). Going straight to Pattaya Bay Resort. Have car arranged to Pattaya. Anyone interested please post here or send me a PM or email. Thanks, LeoTex

I have been a 'defender' of Mr. Toom in past when others have said his car and driver didn't show up. I guess when it happens to you it's a different story. Well it did happen to me. I had a 5:00 AM flight out of Bangkok the morning of April 15th. Wanting to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before my flight, booked Mr Toom by email for a 1:00 AM pick up at the Sandy Spring. He got back with after the 2nd email to confirm the pick-up. A friend of mine when to the airport the day before and told me that there wasn't any problem going to the airport from Pattaya with the 'red shirt' thing going on. Figured that this would give me plenty of time to reach the airport on time. Everything would have worked out if Mr Toom's driver had showed up, but he didn't. I checked out about 12:30 AM and was waiting in the lobby for my ride. About 1:15 I started to get a little nervous and started to call Mr Toom. He finally answered the 2nd number I had for him. I told him that I was waiting in the Sandy Spring lobby, but no car and driver. He said he would check into it. I call him back in a few minutes and he said a second driver would be there in 10 minutes, which never happened. After about 20 more minutes went by and I tried calling him again, but never got a answer from him. It is almost 2:00 AM by now and the hotel said they would get a taxi for me. There were 2 girls at the desk, and one of them went out side on Soi 13 and headed down towards the beach and then doubled back to 2nd Rd. About 5 minutes later she came back and said a taxi would be here in a few minutes. She had me pay the hotel (1,500 baht) for the taxi and they would take care of paying him. In a few minutes here comes a metered taxi. She tells him that we need to get to the BKK fast. She also told me that I would have to pay any tolls. Tolls plus 1,500 a little high, but better than missing the flight home, or is it? My plans were to drop my GF for the night off at her room on my way out, but she said don't worry about her because I only had a little time to get to the airport. Put my bags in the taxi and off we went. From pulling out of the Sandy Spring to checking in with Northwest was just a little under 1 1/2 hours. No tolls, because of Songkran. I still had time to hit the lounge club for a early morning drink, which I needed by this time. Hats off to the Sandy Spring for jumping in and helping. After I got back home, I sent Mr. Toom a email telling that I wasn't very happy with his service. The guy never sent me back a reply or never said he was sorry the 2 times I talked to him that night, trying to get a car and driver. Needless to say, its all hotel cars for me from now on, no more Mr. Toom. Pay a little more, but well worth it in the long run. Sorry to hi-jack your thread. LeoTex