torrenova

I didn't say you needed £5000 per month, I said that unless you had £5000 per month, you'd need adopt a different spending pattern to that of a short term tourist. In any case, how could you get through Bt350,000 per month - easy. Room in Residence Garden @ 1350 per night = Bt 40,500 That only leaves Bt10,000 per day. Some good food, a good few beers, some lady drinks, a barfine or two, some cash for the girls, a soapy every now and then. It all adds up. I could easily get rid of £5000 in a month without thinking about it.

By the magic of google here is their website: http://www.npkpattaya.com/index.htm

I agree with NPK and also recommend the one next to the Siren Boxing Complex to the right of the Police box before the gates to Walking Street. They have international calls too for Bt10 per minute and are very helpful, speaking very good english.

The Rabbit Resort http://www.rabbitresort.com/ looks nice and is off the beaten track (I pass the road it is on numerous times each day). The prices are comparable to the best rates you will get at the Marriott (current best rates around Bt4000 including breakfast and taxes). I'd probably give it a bash if I had a girl in tow but probably wouldn't stay there if I was out on the pull each night.

Very good airline. Join their frequent flier club before you fly. For those who live in Manchester and the surrounds, who have to make a change of planes, it is a viable choice but for those who can go direct, it is usually a financial choice which makes Emirates stand out. I for one can't stand the middle east and have no intention of ever going there.

Get a single to Thailand and then start all your tickets from Bangkok. Thats the easy way as your tickets bought in Thailand will be changeable at zero ocst. To give you an example: I flew BKK-LHR last week on Thai. My ticket is 6 months fully flexible and I paid Bt26,400 (GBP 377 @70 to the pound). I never end up losing half a ticket as I never stay in the UK very long. Starting tickets in the UK is not the way to go.

I wouldn't bother. They sell you shit you don't want but you buy it as it is cheaper than where you live. They sell you too much and a lot of it is of dubious quality and often the designs are well out of date. Just remember, you didn't come on holiday to Pattaya to buy suits !

If you're on your own, then I reckon Pattaya gives you the best opportunities to move from tourist mode into resident mode. You will however have to put the brake on the financial expenditure unless you have GBP5,000 per month or so because it can soon get eaten up. You will probably end up with a live in but I would not go looking for one. I would try and adjust for the first 3 months and look to settle down somewhere around 6 months after your move when you know where you want to stay. Don't go overboard and rent a 3 bed, 3 bath condo or house as its just money down the drain. You've seen a couple on this board go down that route. As for keeping somewhere that friends and family can come visit, forget it. Why pay for something (extra rooms / bathrooms etc.) that you never use but for a few weeks a year. A one bed condo at most should suffice if funds are limited. Initially you'll be going out most if not every night I suspect until you build up a group of friends. These friends may influence where you live for example. They will also be able to tell you tales of where their inexperience caught them out. I'd try and make some friends outside the bar and go-go scene, join some clubs and get involved in some diverse social activities. If you are interested in some form of business, again, wait 6 months and study the ground very carefully. I hope all goes well.

Here's the Thai Limo website http://www.thaiair.com/About_Thai/Limousine/fares.htm Personally, I'd get a Toyota Camry for Bt1850 all in or arrange a car privately. The older Mercs can be had on a Bangkok to Pattaya return trip for around Bt3000 and are much better value.

So if it goes to Walking Street the prices will go up and most likely the food will become more bastardised to western palates. At the moment, it is sought out by those who want to eat there and judging by recent visits, it is not doing too badly in its current location.

http://www.airsafe.com/events/regions/asia.htm Details of fatal events and other shit at www.airsafe.com

The beach at Jomtien is still nothing to write home about and in many respects, is more dangerous than south Pattaya in respect of the number of boats plying their wares right up to the shoreline whilst people are swimming. The water too is non too clean. However, the beach is perhaps better than Pattaya. With reference to http://www.pattayaresidence.com/ and the affiliated sites, they all relate to View Talay 1, an older building a few hundred metres from View Talay 2. They have smaller rooms and older facilities.

Can you guys post up any of the cheap airlines which have set up in SE Asia in the last couple of years. The only one I can remember is Air Asia http://www.airasia.com/ Thanks

One thing that they hate is being the small fish in a big pond whereas before, back wherever they came from, they may have been the centre of attention. Even some of the more attractive ones must think they have arrived in hell where most of the girls around them are better looking, have better personalities and most importantly, they have the guys attention.

Yeah, in Pattaya the condos are shit and few and far between with pool, security and other amenities - I know because I looked at loads in 6 months. In the other direction Naklua is like mood base alpha - no reason to go there unless in the mood for a good German meal. I agree that View Talay building A is two minutes from the baht bus stop and building B a further couple of minutes away but I really don't want to have the buses and cars driving past my front door 24 hours a day. Yes, there is some construction but who sits in their condo all day ? Fucked if I do. I come home late, get up whenever and go out, either for a swim or into town. Its far from perfect but for the location, facilities and the price, it is hard to beat. Also, I can see the sea from my top floor (17th) balcony but who gives a fuck ? Would I pay 50% more to look at the water - would I fuck. What is the fascination with the sea ?

Basic living for me runs about like this: Condo (View Talay) - 14,000 Travel - bus and hire - 3,000 Food - eat in and out - 8,000 Drinks etc. - 10,000 Health, insurance - 3,000 Clothes, toiletries - 4,000 Laundry - 1,500 Girlfriend allowance - 10,000 Total - 53,500 With occassional items such as birthday presents, visas, flights to the UK a couple of times a year and other one off purchases, I reckon that the monthly total is around Bt80,000. Included in this figure is the additional cost of having a live in girlfriend which obviously impacts on food, laundry, toiletries, insurance etc. Also, as my girlfirend helps out in my businesses, she receives a salary from them. If she did not work, then her monthly allowance would have to be higher than at present. Of course, from that allowance, she sends some money home to mama. Now you have to remember that I have bar businesses and can order a drink in one of my bars without paying retail price. If I did not, they I would probably spend another Bt30,000 or more per month. So a realistic expenditure is around Bt100,000 and over a month for a good lifestyle. I suppose that a moderate lifestyle, staying in a few nights a week and going home early could be achieved for a great deal less, perhaps with no live in or an elder live in who is past her prime. I'd have to say though that trying to live in Pattaya on Bt40,000 or so per month means that you'll most likely be living without aircon, having a wank most nights, drinking Leo outside 7/11 and looking at all the pretty young girls that you came to Pattaya to fuck and now realise you cannot afford to.

I am well known as having stated that View Talay and Jomtien in general are too far away from the action. To this I must add that I still think they are too far away if you are on a one or two week holiday but for a month or longer, or if you are living in Pattaya, then they may be an option to consider. So what sort of deal can you get ? Well, a month at the Residence Garden will knock you Bt30,000 or so. The Welcome Plaza will be around Bt18,000. The Cherry Hotel is around Bt10,000. The Diana Group range from around Bt8,000 to Bt15,000. A room in View Talay will probably knock you about Bt15,000. So the difference between top and bottom is about Bt20,000 or USD500. Where would I stay for a month ? I'd probably check out some hotel deals for the month and get a price on some condos. More than likely I'd stay in the centre and I did live there for a year. Now, even I have moved out a little to View Talay and surprisingly, I enjoy it.

I'll be sad to see it go as I really like the place, a little set back from the road to block out some of the noise. Always had good food and reasonable service. If they do relocate, I hope it doesn't end up on Walking Street or out in the sticks.

With Thai direct at £370 and Etihad indirect at £299 there is no choice to be made is there ? £70 to save a few hours each way in the poxy middle east ?

The Penthouse is a dump and the owner (whose name escapes me at the moment) is a right cunt, even going so far as to cheat two of my customers out of their prize (won in his go-go Kittens) of a free and private use of the pool with a couple of girls from the go-go. So much so that despite having stayed there many times, they will not be returning. Loads of better hotels for the same or less money.

Honey Lodge on South Pattaya road just after the turn at Walking Street, Royal Palace Royal Twins opposite the Marriott and the Welcome Plaza all spring to mind. Even the RG is only 5 minutes by baht bus.

http://www.fairproperties.com/ has some for rent in View Talay from about Bt15000 per month. I wouldn't buy from them as they have a bad reputation but I know a number who rented from them and all was well.

Yensabai condos are 40sqm or multiples thereof. They should rent at about Bt8-10k per month plus electric and water. Some want more and others may be worth more but they are right up a dark alley if you want to go back in the early hours. As for buying, I wouldn't touch them. Ask around and the answer you get will be the same. Centre condos are better but not much. Too many stories about burglaries and other happenings.

The rooms with all the trimmings etc. are expensive and the chap who owns it, Dudley, is a bit of a twat. Sorry no, he is a complete twat. I concur to overbooking and the various bugs etc. I have some customers who stay there but they stay in the cheapest rooms (not sure if they even have windows ?) but they like the location. http://www.penthousehotel.com/penthouse_hotel/index.html Whats your budget and what do you want (if you know). Maybe then we can recommend some alternatives.

Check your spelling, then google.