torrenova

You do get some anomalies though, like the cost of potatoes or fresh juice. As you say, fish is real cheap, as are most fresh vegetables. You can cook up a real nice tasty and balanced meal for very little. That said though, you can eat in restaurants away from the tourist areas for far far less than Walking Street. You can't just go out every night and getting into the habit of staying in is imperative. It is also something to consider when you look for accommodation, do you need cooking facilities inside / outside etc.

No, what he got would be an "IT" (inclusive tour) fare where they chuck in a couple of days acommodation to "hide" the real price of the discounted ticket. You can change the hotel and the total price will increase. You can work out the cost of the flight by asking for another day at the hotel and then deduct the daily charge from the original figre.

I questioned that mysterious charge as it didn't seem to be derived from a formula based on the units used. If I have the time, I may go to the office.

Sure, drag your bag and suitcase from your hotel up the soi and try to get it onto a "moto taxi ". Then drag it up the non escalator section of the BTS. Then drag it across to the bus or hire another "moto". Then put your stuff in the hold. Forget about it (sure ? bus stops at some places and I'll tell you, if I want off before it gets to Pattaya, it will stop and any Thai will tell you the same). Then drag your bags to another moto or songthaew. Then get to your destination. If you could (and I know you can) get all that stuff on a motorbike taxi, think about the risks, danger and get a damn taxi. If indeed it costs another $30 which I dispute (more like $20), then coming twice a year, =4*20 (going each way) = 80 = $1.60 per week (@50) or $ $0.40 per day (@40). Every day, get the bus, 4 times a year, get a taxi.

It's not the trend, just stupid rack rates. The owners must be rolling in it because I cannot see anyone ever, ever paying that money up there. Bt400 is more the going rate not Bt4000.

The price difference is not as it seems. You have to get to the bus station which will need a baht bus if you have luggage (Bt100), then you have to wait, then you need transport at the other end (taxi say BT150). So the total cost can be around Bt350+ Forget the minibuses. They take forever at either end. If you have only hand luggage then ok, try the bus. But to save less than Bt1000, have all the hassle, risk having your luggage stolen etc., just get a taxi. After all, you have flown thousands of miles spending hundreds if not thousands of $ to get here and you worry about another $20 or so ?

Annual maintenance at 3600 * 250 (rough approximation for VT2) = 900k. Out of that you have insurance, maintenance, repairs, security, accounting costs, salaries etc. Doesn't leave a lot for a sinking fund. Then again, even if you had to put in a new lift, you'd be splitting the cost between 250 people (equivalent) so the cost per condo would not be much. What you have to balance is depreciation (interior), internal maintenance, value appreciation (if any), maintenance costs etc. versus rental charges and likely rental charge increases. Yields are very low here.

I can get you one in View Talay 2, high floor, from studio up to one bedroomed. 2 pools, good onsite laundry and shops, security, in room safe etc. Let me know if you are interested. If it's any recommendation, I live here.

Agree with most of the comments about the Woraburi but I don't think it is worth Bt1500 a night. If you get it for around Bt1000 then OK. The breakfast buffet is nothing to write home about but it is there if you want it.

What about the De La Mer on Walking Street ? http://www.hoteldelamer.net/ No pool but really nice, new (2 years) and great location.

Offshore, pay fuck all tax.

Sorry Gabor but the girls will always welcome you but they will call you a cheap charlie behind you're back when you are gone. Why do I know that ? Because I've been there when guys did exactly that, Bt20. Girls on the beach probably get more of the Bt200 or so than the shop girls who get a mere Bt70 for an hour.

It is a complete rubber stamp job. It used to be Bt500 but when they twigged on that people were paying Bt2000 to go to the border, they came up with the majic Bt1900 figure. You can ask beforehand for how many days you want. Usually 30 on a 60 or 90 day visa but you can get more and 10-15 on an entry stamp. If you are a few over this "limit" just ask them. They want your cash and don't want you to go to the border. They couldn't give a fuck really.

I think the arguments are simpler and I'm not even going to go into the maths here as the figures for various places in Pattaya are so different as are investment returns. If you rent, you can walk away. You will lose only your deposit and any advance rent paid. Problems are sorted out by the agent / landlord and small problems shoulc allow you to repasir and claim back the expense. You do not know where you want to live and the costs of moving may mean that you have to trade down if you sell and buy another property. You may want to leave Pattaya altogether. I have a friend who lives upcountry but comes down to Pattaya once or twice a month and stays a few days in an hotel. One disadvantage of renting is the agents. Most try to rip you off with ridiculous rents. I know my rent would be more than 2/3rds more if through some agents in Pattaya. The upside is that there are loads of condos for rent and more being built every year. Remember if you can to arrange for your lease to end in low season. take a 6 month one if you have to and then an annual lease as your negotiating power is much stronger. As for what to do if you have the funds to buy. Well, invest in secure assets if you cannot afford to lose it. Something easy to get out of and totally secure. Work out what you will need for capital purchases (car, computer etc.) Do not underestimate inflation and foreign exchange rate movements. Overall, even if you have lots of time here on vacation, check into an hotel for a month. Then rent somewhere for a few months. Then decide what you want to do for the medium term (3-5 years). Check out tax positions etc. Don't rush into anything.

I know a bar that rents out mopeds which went down the all in insurance route pricing but had to stop after a short while as there was a problem getting the money from the insurance company and customer who had had their bike stolen were, quite rightly, not happy. A possible reason for this was the fact that if some Thais realised all was insured, they would make off with the bike, thinking that no-one would suffer. Unfortunately, I think your case, sadly I'm afraid, highlights one of the risks of renting a motorbike in LOS. As to a solution, I think mediation is going to be the way forward. You have roughly 2 weeks to find the bike, or could presumably pay another 3k for another month's hire, giving you 6 weeks or so. I know that may seem like a waste of money but maybe a reward for repatriation (talk to the police) could bring the bike back. As an argument with the owner, I would state how much you have paid him already (good if you have hired it for a number of months already) and find out the 2nd hand costs of buying the same bike. Also, if you are short of cash now, you will presumably have some income coming in the next month or so ? Maybe he will wait (he has little choice really). If you suspect a problem coming and he knows where you live, consider moving if you can.

I reckon he'll have to prove the bike was his, thus he'll need paperwork. I guess that if he hasn't got your details (passport etc.), you've rented cheaply from someone who knows where you live, like your landlord etc. Do you know which bike it was ? Year ? Km on clock ? How much rental did you pay ? Who did you rent from ? Why offer Bt20k straight away ? Was it insured ? Was it locked ? How long had you rented it for ? Any photos ? Can you be sure that the guy who rented you the bike hasn't knicked it ?

Whilst I actually dislike the practice of tipping, I do so. In the case of massages, the price to the customer has been kept artificially low for too long. The one opposite my bar for example (Sirent Boxing Complex) charges Bt200 per hour for Thai or foot massage. From that, the house keeps Bt130 and the girl gets Bt70. So she earns Bt70 per hour when she can work. Sure more than a factory wage but Pattaya is more expensive to live in. I tip Bt100 per hour, not because I can afford it, but because the price is actually too cheap. It will be cheaper in places like Soi Buakhow as rents there are cheaper. Still bet the girl gets about Bt70 of it though.

I have heard that they rip you off for the elcctric charges (price per unit). Wouldn't stay there anyway after seeing the TV interview with the little twat that runs the place. I think overpriced and better value elsewhere even before the electric rip off.

Nana Plaza in Bangkok used to have a sign directed at muslims (arabs) akin to "we respect your culture so please respect ours" referring to, I suspect, the ability to drink alcohol and fornicate with loose women. Some girls do not like the arabs who come to Pattaya and some establishments do try and enforce non admittance. From talking to girls over the years, it seems this stems from some being cheap, wanting to have anal sex etc. and the girls have somewhat tarred most people with certain skin colours with the same brush. The same thing happens in reverse with the Japanese. Some places will allow only Japanese entrance. Why ? because they can charge rip off prices that the non Japanese would not pay and complain about. The girls like the Japanese because they finish quickly and tip well. I've met good and bad from all areas of the world but you shouldn't see any difference just as any other newbie would experience. Play the game fair and the girls will take a shine to you.

So what is going to happen when rents go up, leases need negotiating, prices go up and the cheapness has gone ? No more cheap beer, no more cheap hotels, etc.

Be realistic. You will spend more in the first year because of capital purchases and going out more. Then you settle into a lifestyle. Make sure you have insurance. Long term insurance. Don't underestimate how much you will spend. Living on nothing is not a happy existance if you want to be able to do what you want. You have to develop social activities other than hitting the bars.

Sorry but you will not get an hotel for that money with all the facilities you require. You can get an hotel for about that figure but not with a pool or in room safe etc. Also, as you don't know the area, you cannot decide to stay in one place for a month. Get an hotel for a week, sort something else out for the remainder of your time. Or increase your budget to somewhere around Bt20,000.

Ritz on Soi Post Office

As ever, it depends upon birds and booze. The more of those you want, the more cash you need. I can't be bothered to work out another breakdown but 100k per month is ok, less if you can make capital purchases outright (house, car etc.) Watch out for inflation.

It was originally know as the "cheap charlie soi" and with good reason. Everything was cheaper and the people who stayed there would rather have cheap prices and shit quality than good quality at realistic prices. That has changed somewhat. Prices are still cheaper but Walking Street is the "West End" of Pattaya. Budget accommodation is available but to save a couple of hundred baht a day would not make it worthwhile as getting back needs a private hire bus or a bike (coming down is easy on the regular route). Would I stay there ? No, I don't think I would. However I would perhaps go and look at the bars around LK Metro etc. and see if there was a reason to go drinking there. If there was, then maybe I would consider staying there. I know one thing though. Unless they own the freehold, no-one makes any money selling beer at Bt35-45.