Crackpot

Mike Many moons ago I was told by a UK Doctor whom I was travelling with that is was illegal in the UK due to its content. He had inquired about it and found that there was some sort of banned drug or stimulant in it. Whether it has been legalised here yet I dont know. Ive never seen it in any supermarket or even chemist and neither has my wife who would tell me if she had. I find it great in the morning if I have a hangover ;D. though I find the taste a little yucky As a matter of interest I might bring some back on my next trip and ask at customs if its legal or not

I'll probably be applying for an ATOL next month or when I come back from my next trip, early November.

http://www.westeasttravel.com 0870 220 1001 0870 220 1039 HTH

YAAAAWN !

Well I am informed that Gazelle Travel in Newcastle didnt charge. Or one could contact someone like Diethelm Travel via the web. Last time I looked, their double rooms were carrying no single supplements. You pay for a double room you get a double room, no supplement for single occupation

Pat, you must meet the same girls as me What are those little white sticks they carry though ???

Torrenova Its just the same flight thats being advertised from between £405 to £470 which some of us got for £412.

Got to agree with Louyi. They can put in for date for an Interview then arrange the marriage for say a week to 10 days beforehand. He'll need to sign a document stating he is free to marry and will need a decree Absolute. Tell them to get all the paperwork they can. Cant agree on the Thailand UK website. Any mention of the word BarGirl sends them all into a panic as, of course none of them ever married one ! (as if) ;D ;D ;D

Hi Taff Yeah I know the contricks some agents use to kick up their commision rate, and its criminal. Fortunately as you know you dont have to book with those agents, there are some decent agents here in the UK who wont charge you Single Supplements. Or even just go and book at the desk. Enjoy yourself ;D ;D ;D

I'm sure you can find a URL for it somewhere

Lipo 8 Baht? More like 15-25 Bloody expensive

Turbo. What you have are new type tickets, not boarding cards. Just hand the first two in at the check-inn desk. As for reconfirming flights, you should always do this whether on a package deal or a do-it-yourself flight. Its usually one of the first things I do after arriving at my Thai hotel. You can do it yourself but its generally easier to get the travel booth in your hotel to do it or any travel shop. They will charge something like 50-100 Baht. In 25 years of travelling to the far east Ive seen 3 people bumped off flights for not reconfirming, the last being this year in February at Jakarta. It usually only happens at very busy times but it does happen and if you have spent all your money it can be a tad embarrassing. My custom is to arrive at Bangkok airport, change up £100, put 500Baht into passport for airport tax on departure. Get taxi to Hotel and check inn. After dumping stuff in room go to Beaureax de change and get money, from there to travel shop to reconfirm flight, then back to Hotel to dump money, passport and air ticket into Safety box. Its become a routine now.

Hi Taffy The Thai price was , as usual, only for certain flights on certain days, so it wasnt suitable for everyone. I did see on teletext that some agencies were charging £475 for the very same flights and throwing in a couple of nights Hotel accomodation, which might suit some. I still get very annoyed at UK companies who charge single supplements for Hotels in Thailand when they dont get charged that same supplement

Could someone tell me which supermarkets sell it? Its certainly not in Sainsbury's, Tescos. Asda or Somerfields.

Ranger Just take some money with you if you are going the ATM route and change it at the airport, when you come out into the big reception hall after baggage reclaim and customs there are bank Change shops directly on your left hand side (and on your right too) Then DONT PANIC ! You can take your time and wander round Bangkok or Pattaya and use one of the many ATM's there. I suspect that so long as it is a Visa and you have a password they will all work. MY TSB one does.

Lipo Does give you a boost. Dont know whats in it, but was told its banned in the UK. Great in the morning when you have a hangover. Its sold in all the small shops that have cool cabinets along with similar looking stuff like 150

Hi Bert I can honestly say that in all my trips to Thailand, which would be over 40 times, I have never ever had any problems with safety deposit boxes. I did in the PI but never Thailand. For the last 20 or so times in Bangkok Ive stayed at a small hotel where you have to supply your own lock and key for the box and I have special small Chubb lock that I use all the time. In Pattaya, Ive stayed at the Dianna, The Woodlands, The Carlton and the Asia and others and never had any problems. However I now have an account withe Kasikorn Bank (TFB) and have had it for some time due to group members blowing or losing their wads and me having to help them out. I have a UK account with the TSB and can transfer funds into it online or by phone.

Juan. The problem you will have is the night manager at the Dusit. Ive known some guys get girls in OK and some who have been turned down. Its probably worth chatting to whoever is on the night desk when you arrive and have a talk. The worst that can happen is that he'll say no. But as its low season you might get lucky. Youl find that most bank cards that work in ATM's in the UK will work in Thailand but your Link card is doubtfull. Ive got a TSB card that works fine in all the machines. I usually take cash with me and put it straight into the Hotel Safety box along with my Passport and air ticket. Its usually OK in most reputable Thai Hotels. When you go out at night, only take as much as you think you will spend plus 1000Baht. That generally works for me but it might take you a day or two to get used to the cost of things. DONT FORGET TO RECONFIRM YOUR RETURN FLIGHT Apart from that, dont worry, your heading for some serious fun. Be cool, try not to drink too much, and most of all ENJOY ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Alter ego. I would seriously question those figures of Non UK employees what with the downturn in Air Ticket sales . Though it makes good publicity for the masses I doubt the authenticity of the figures. As for ABTA in relation to Thailand, I know very few people who buy packages to Thailand other than families. For the average bloke buying an air ticket and then picking up his own accomodation ABTA would have no relevance as the air ticket would be covered by an ATOL, either from the travel company providing the ticket or the consolidator supplying the ticket to them. However, I agree that if buying a complete package then using an agent within ABTA would be of use though probably far more expensive than a non ABTA agent.

Alterego Ebookers main online call center is in London. Ive been there and seen it on several occasions. It employs about 200 or so people there. I havent had any dealings with their overseas call center as I call them direct on a private number, but I do know they have had many problems with non-fluent English speakers, and have cut back drastically on their NON UK employees. I also know that all calls will be routed through their London office first and only when those lines are overloaded will they be diverted elsewhere. Anyone booking via telephone with Ebookers can ask for a direct phone number to the person doing the reservation. . ABTA is a trade organisation created to protect its own members. I know many people who, back in the mad 70's and 80's lost lots of money by booking with a so-called ABTA Agent. Because of the publics perception of ABTA many Tour Operators get membership, but it is the ATOL that would protect the customers, not ABTA. I am not, have not, and will never apply for or attempt to obtain an ABTA membership. ATOL licensing is setup by the government Via the CAA where all licencees are bonded dependant on their ticket levels. I will be obtaining my own ATOL when my present contract expires, as I have stated many times.

Dave. They are a reputable company with an ATOL Licence and Bond (Worth FAR more than the silly ABTA thing) If you cant find the dates you want using their ONline system then call them. Once you have paid for your tickets they usually send them out within 2 days By the way Alter Ego, their call center is in London, and is quite big, though I do know they have a lot of Indians etc working for them.

I remember going to a County Fair near Baltimore once and they had a stall selling Clams. The thing that put me off was this long thing dangling out the bottom of the sheel like a limp dick. I just couldnt face eating one. Now a plate of Jellied Eels? GORGEOUS

Whats the Mileage, Sydney-BKK That fare seems quite high. Its equivalent to UK- BKK Dont Garuda do a cheaper flight through Denpasar ?

Well You put your mussell inside her clam ! ;D ???

Its the same with Gold. I bought a supposed 22Kt chain about 5 years back for £120. when I returned to the UK I was told it was more like 9 Kt and worth about 50 quid tops. [smiley=crying.gif] Ya pays ya money and takes ya chances.