CheshireTom

Marriott. Hilton. Dusit. Tune. In that order.

No.

And the Aussies apparently. So, best of luck to both of them. I supported/followed the Yanks in South Africa and got a decent run for my money. Let's hope Radamel & Co can come up trumps for me this time round - I'm looking forward to it already. I wonder what the chances are of England being drawn against the US - memories of 1950, and all that!

Just like the previous WC, they are still pissing around trying to decide who will be transmitting the games. Since Scotland have decided to opt out, I still have to decide on a team to follow - I might go with Colombia.

Apart from Pattaya (if for whatever reason it wasn't an option), where would you choose to live in Thailand, and why? What would be your priorities? Accommodation? Girls? Medical? Beaches? Transport? Proximity to borders? Food? Farangs?

Additional airport taxes would hit Thais as well when that's not the intention. I think the guy is just suggesting that his ministry should be given more dosh.

Don't forget the health insurance!

All, or mostly, down to tropical storm Nari. It has passed (until the next one).

I would book a separate flight to Scotland with KLM/Cityhopper and overnight in Amsterdam - I'll be staying in hotels during my time in Scotland, so it's not an additional expense and I'll save a few euros by booking in advance. I think the fare is 95k Baht to LHR during that time period, so quite a bit cheaper to AMS.

To be fair, the 78k Baht is the price to Amsterdam (rather than LHR) but since I have to go on to Edinburgh it's probably the preferable option for me - and I get to avoid the horrendous UK passenger tax (or whatever it's called these days). If my memory is any good, if you are going to transit at one of the major European hubs, Amsterdam is a pretty decent option.

That's why he said, "expected" and emphasised that no date has been set.

Thanks for that, Mick. I have to travel on to Edinburgh, which is why I was looking at the Amsterdam flight. I must say that from the video, it looks a much better product and exceptional value compared to Thai and BA (around 30-50k Baht cheaper as well).

Why? They don't offer it to either Bangkok or Edinburgh. Besides, Royal Laurel is a business class product, not premium economy.

Anyone used EVA's new(ish) Royal Laurel Class to/from Europe (Amsterdam/London)? It looks pretty decent on the website (1-2-1 configuration) and at 78k Baht (including taxes) return to AMS it looks like a good option for me (going on to Edinburgh).

As mentioned earlier, the Filipino band has gone from Moon River.

It appears that some people think that if you plan to fly from the US into BKK and then on to a beach resort(s) for 10 days (5 days in Samui and 5 days in Phuket - not a "short trip" by any stretch of the imagination) it's a good idea to leave your checked bags at Don Mueang. Cool! Or maybe he meant the OP should fly to Samui before flying back north to Bangkok to change his bags over and then fly south again to Phuket when there's a perfectly good flight between the two islands. Either way, I don't see what the bonus is of trying to do a 10 day twin island break (not a short side-trip) wi

Nobody flamed you, or "shot you down" as you claim, for expressing your opinion. However, you seem to have taken exception to me making "an honest attempt to assist a boardie" by expressing mine (that I can't see any bonus in trying to do 10 days in Samui and Phuket with nothing more than 7 kg hand baggage) and providing him with additional, pertinent, money-saving information in response to his request for "Any other ideas?". Whatever your issues are with that, you need to get over them - it's not as if it's the first time you've indulged in one of those silly personal rants.

LOL. I was dreading you calling me a "know it all".

I remember a while back another BM (Papillon?) asked what a small bottle (330ml) of Singha cost in Misty's - I'm not sure he ever got a straight answer to a pretty simple question. Similarly, I asked the same question about X-Zone and, likewise, didn't get any answer. So, as a sort of benchmark for GoGos' beer prices in Pattaya, what is the actual regular price for a small bottle of Singha in the chrome palaces around town? I'm not interested in any promotions unless they are all night, every night.

Thai AirAsia start the Khon Kaen route later this month - the OP is travelling in January.

What's with all the personal crap? Do you have some sort of issues that you need to deal with, or what? Have you ever flown domestically with either airline? If so, when and where to? Or are you suggesting that some of the information is/was wrong? I'll attach a screen shot to help you decide. The prices include flight, bus and ferry fares as well as 15 kg baggage allowance and seat selection, but not domestic airport charges.

I can't see what the real bonus is. Simply fly with Nok Air and you'll not have to worry about Left Luggage fees. It's not as if the connecting bus/ferry service is going to leave any earlier because you only have carry-on baggage.

Where would you recommend?

Nothing could be further from the truth on their Bangkok flights. They both operate 777s to BKK. That's where the similarities end. One (Etihad) seats 10 pax across the aircraft in seats that are 17.5 inches wide whilst the other seats 9 across in seats that are 18.9 in wide. Seating plans Qatar Etihad

It's no different from the process at Heathrow if I fly back to Manchester on a through ticket. You clear immigration in London and collect your bags in Manchester. The computer system will tell customs who has travelled on a through ticket and the baggage tag should show the final destination and intermediate connections. Presumably folk have to clear customs at the point of entry in the US?