torrenova

The Residence Garden - you can walk in through the car park as you don't need to collect a key from reception as it is on smart cards. There is a staircase which is out of sight of reception.

Hard Rock and Marriott are right on the beach but they cost (Bt3500+). As mentioned above, the flipper group ( http://www.flippergroup.com/ ), the Sandy Spring ( http://www.sandyspringhotel.com/ ) and the Eastiny are well located budget (less than Bt1000 per day) hotels. The Honey Inn on South Pattaya Road at the gates of Walking Street is another contender as is the Welcome Plaza and the Royal Palace on 2nd Road.

Why pay tax ?

I think it really depends upon whether you are flying in the front or the back of the plane. For instance, I consider Thai to be good in economy but their premium products are shit.

Thai Air for example only issues 6 month and 12 month tickets when they originate in LOS. They can be dated or left open at your request. You can change the dates many times for free. BA tickets bought seem to have the same level of flexibility although they do offer a 1 month option as well. As I know I'll be back within 6 months, I use that option on TG.

I lived in an hotel for a year that was Bt400 per day but Bt10,000 per month which equates to a 17.8% reduction. I reckon the Soi 8 rates of 14 for 10 or 7 for 5 are reasonable value but they are on their full rates. In effect, they are not discounting their rates in low season. The RG was Bt30,000 for the month a couple of years ago when I stayed there but it may well be the same today as their other rates have not gone up. You can get some places for Bt6000 to Bt12000 for the month but you will get what you pay for. I would consider a condo if here for a month or thereabouts. I know you have to do some cleaning yourself but unless you are the sort to trash the place, you are your own boss. For Bt15000 per noth you can get somehere really good and better than the Yensabai.

I live in Thailand and as such, all my tickets start and end there. I have never been asked to show an onward ticket but armed with credit cards I don't think it would be a problem. The great benefit of having tickts starting in LOS is the great flexibility. They do not have rigid dates and are often completely flexible. For example, I've just bought a return on Thai Airways to London for Bt32,500 including all taxes. A comparable fare from the UK, including the flexibility would be over Bt50,000. That is a 6 month ticket, a 12 month ticket is a few thousand baht more. You could try a courier flight ?

It really depends upon whether you have been to Thailand before and why you are coming. If you've never seen Bangkok then stay there a couple of days and do some touristy things. If you know your way around Bangkok then stay there a couple of days. If you have been before but just want to party then come on down to Pattaya when you land.

Don't pay more than about Bt800k for Yensabai. But, you don't have to pay Bt4m+ as Clubman thinks. I live in View Talay and I reckon Bt1.5m would sort it out. I see loads of stuff for Bt4m+ and a lot is not worth it. Sure, you might make money, but you could lose as well. i can only shit on one bog so having 3 bathrooms seems a little silly to me.

How about Thai (under the Air Canada code share) from Canada to London to Bangkok ?

I don't think any guys here would need to sleep in a Thai girls dodgy room over the shop.

If you are in Thailand and need a flight, you cannot trust any agent. This is not to say that they are not trustworthy but just that they don't know and as they can never afford to fly really, they don't care or have the inquisitive sense. To give you an example. I use a regular agent as my flights start and end in Thailand. She quoted around Bt42,000 to London return. I see in the Bangkok Post (which I get every day) a couple of agents advertising Bt26,400 for the same flight. So I tell my agent and she comes back a while later saying that it is available but I would have to take the daytime flight. The thing is that they just don't have the up to date information. That particular offer ran out that day but they had never heard about it until I enquired. I could have easily paid another Bt15,000 or so for my ticket.

Exactly, and that is why I castigated certain people last year. Making multiple reservations and not cancelling them or making a reservation and not showing up just drives prices up as hotels have to raise rates to cover the lost business. Some as you see, are now requiring advance deposits and even full payment before travelling. So its not clever and it hurts everyone. Perhaps in a while we'll be like some places on the Spanish costas where you have to pay months before just like your package holidays.

You must have had a few sherberts my old friend as he'll be able to go back to Bangkok at around 7pm after he picks us up at the airport and drops us off in Pattaya !

My regular driver is picking me up at the airport on the afternoon of 9th March and taking me to Pattaya. If anyone wants a Volvo 940 to go to Bangkok or the airport or indeed anywhere on the night of 9th March, leaving Pattaya at 19:00 or later, please let me know. Spot on driver, I've now hired him about 10 times and evenhired him and his car for 4 days to go to my girlfriend's home town last month. He speaks some english, enough to be understood and won't let you down.

I second that as I've used him a couple of times before as well.

So you haven't made a reservation at all then

Sorry to ramp up View Talay again but another convenience is what is available on site. You have a cafe, more than one actually but the one near the pool is better. Laundry can be on a price per piece or 60/70 pieces for Bt500. Sure, you can get 80 pieces in town but who's going to drag it all the way there and back ? There is a little mini-mart which sells basic essentials. All the delivery places know where you are if you need a pizza or something (Pan Pan is over the road just about and very good Italian food and pizza). Then you have the pool to lounge around. Finally, the girls love it, just as they love the RG.

If you're going to stay in Bangkok for a few days then go to Bangkok but if you're going to Pattaya, just get a taxi there whatever time you arrive. Then either have a sleep or head out into the night. You will still find whatever it is you are looking for.

You don't have to go to Hull, you can just send it off in the post (secure mail obviously) and they send it back in a couple of days. Personally, I think the whole thing is just a money making scam and they couldn't give a fuck why you want to go to LOS.

If its your company which is moving you, wouldn't their relocation people know about it. It would also be usual for them to pay for the very best as well in my experience. I'm sorry I can't be more help but maybe these guys can: http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/ http://www.premierinternational.com/areainfo.htm http://www.pattayaplaza.com/expat/schools.htm http://www.pattaya.com/pattayainfo/population/ I'll ask around but to be honest, I don't think I know too many expats with kids over here.

I've been looking at Soi Buakhao for a year or so but the profile doesn't work for me. It is the ultimate cheap charlies area but admittedly some increased entertainment. However, some places are still giving beer away virtually. The problem is that people are not really going to go there for a night out if their hotels are near the beach. Cheap fuckers will of course, but they will likely stay in a Bt300 room in or just off Soi Buakhao. Perhaps a bar and guest house would work, but probably only outright purchase I think.

I was in the Soi 8 immigration and a guy obviously over 50 was asked by the staff if he had Bt800,000 in a Thai bank and if so, they would give him a retirement visa, not merely extend his tourist one. As for the non imm B visa, you do not need a job offer and it is not that difficult to obtain. No real hoops to jump through but some simple planning will get yo uthe paperwork.

Honestly - no-one can - how long is a piece of string ? Daft question and will yield only daft answers.

Try Thai on their new aircraft from NY or search cathay pacific for good fares from all over the usa.