Gus

Hi Newbies, If you are thinking of going to Pattaya or Bangkok for the first time and you are looking at this forum for some good advice. Please read Private Dancer by Stephen Leather which you can download in pdf format on this FLB web site. It is 219 pages long so may be trouble to print off but just download it to your desktop and read it at your leisure. I won't give too much away but it will certainly give you an insight into how the bar girls operate, well worth reading, trust me! (No, I'm not a doctor!)

gp2002 Click on the Hotels section at the top of the page, then Hotel Reviews then Bangkok and you will get loads of info about hotels/prices etc etc etc

Greg, I read on another forum that when you come back from Samui you have to be careful or else you will be lumbered for 2 departure taxes. If you fly Samui-Pattaya or Samui-BKK you have to pay a tax then also a departure tax from BKK if international. I believe it is best to book your baggage through to it's final destination at Samui and you only get hit once. Of course this assumes that you are returning home straight after Samui.

thumper, Collins concise dictionary states: Clam. 1,any of various burrowing bivalve molluscs 2, the edible flesh of such a mollusc. Mussel. 1, any of various marine bivalves, esp the edible mussel, having a dark slightly elongated shell and living attached to rocks etc. Come to think of it, I think Crackpots version is the better.

Valentino and Crackpot, Please don't let this little "spat" stop either of you posting information on the forum in the future. Both of you have provided lots of good info for the Bros, and long may it continue! It can only be good for FLB brothers if we have access to "in the trade" information. Rgds

valentino Thank you for that excellent info, It sounds good although I don't want to be travelling any more than neccesary as I'll only be in LOS for 2 weeks. I'llcertainly save the info and keep it in the back of my head, just in case. Rgds

valentino Cheers Bro for that info, when I am in Samui I don't know if I'll want to stay a while longer than planned, or return to Pattaya early, if nothing in Lamai takes my fancy. Rgds

I hope to be using this route in late January, does anyone know how the ticket validity works? If I book and travel on the outbound date, can the return date be brought forward or put back without any financial penalty. TIA

drifter, Check out ourstravel.com they are in London near Euston/Kings Cross station, I have booked Eva air evergreen deluxe in January and you do not have to leave deposit etc Just pay the whole amount 2 weeks before you go. Rgds

FBF Thanks for all the info regarding Ours Travel and the tips for booking, my friend visits Taiwan on business and I have told him to get in touch with Ours. Rgds Gus

Yesterday I sent an enquiry to OURS Travel for a price for LHR-BKK out late Jan back early Feb Eva Evergreen Deluxe. Today I received an e-mail with booking reference number and saying that I am booked in Economy L, is this deluxe? Also is there a site anywhere which lists the different ticket codes for airlines? I would imagine there are minor differences from airline to airline. The fare is £580 + 57 tax which seems good to me if it is Deluxe, but Ours made no mention of wanting C/C yet.

Moby and Crackpot, Thanks for the info. I expect the longer I leave the booking the higher the fare gets, it seems like I have to find the best deal, with the lowest cancellation charges just in case! Airline Network seems pretty good, Eva Evergreen deluxe just under £600 + Taxes with only a £75 cancellation charge. It just seems along time until late January, I like booking about 8 weeks before.....but I suppose it is then higher fares, lack of availability etc I think it was Ours Travel and Ebookers also had good deals but a 100% cancellation charge. Rgds

Moby, Sorry about the Goof!! it's lack of LOS...honest I don't know if I fancy China Airlines, they don't have the best safety record, I believe that China and Eva are both Taiwanese, still what the heck. I may go out LHR Sat 24th Jan and return Sun 8th Feb with a week in Samui but nothing certain yet. Rgds

If you book through Marriott did I read somewhere that you get a complimentary airport trip?

Moby, That sounds cool, I am going over at a similar time but have not yet booked. I checked out Airline Network/Eva Air evergreen deluxe,from LHR going out 3rd Feb returning 1st march, 3 fares showing; 572 +59 tax 100% loss if cancelled 592 + 59 tax £75 loss if cancelled 644 + 59 tax £75 loss if cancelled These fares seem pretty good but with it being 6 months away I was a little concerned about booking so early and losing my dough if I couldn't make it for whatever reason,but I don't suppose £75 is too bad. What airline are you booked with, is it direct flight? Also you Eva experts, is it best to book Evergreen early and risk losing some deposit, or will you be able to get a good deal nearer the time , even for a peak season time? Maybe the full passenger 747 will be using LHR by next February. TIA

Tangent, I know the Hilton on Terminal 4 does a 'day rate' check out the Hilton web site for details, prices etc

Wasn't the Blind Beggar the name of a pub in London where there was an infamous shooting in the 60s? Hopefully the same thing will not happen in LOS.

Crackpot, All the very best with your new venture, we can save a few quid, you can earn a few quid and theres still a few baht left over for the TGs:biggrin:

AlterEgo, Thanks for pointing that out mate, also the info on who owns who is very useful. Rgds Gus

Simon, Good info, aren't lastminutes telesales staff now based in India?

Great Story BP, Did you make it to your room in time or did you have a pre-emptive strike and pebble dash the walls?

Gerald, Hope you had a great time! Did you fly economy class with Thai? also was the aircraft full or plenty of empty seats? I flew HKG-BKK with Thai and I felt the cabin staff were very good. TIA

UK members, tonight(MON) at 7pm on BBC1 "Bangkok" is the choice resort in 'You call the shots', hopefully a few FLB members have told them the best places to visit!

Pilot, Rows 11 to 24 83 seats Check out, 'Best seats on Evergreen Deluxe' message and theres a link to the web site that gives seating plans for most airlines and their aircraft types.

Opodo have an offer on for July and August to fly with KLM Edindurgh to BKK from £379, I didn't study the fine print but this may help our Scottish members.