torrenova

Agreed, I had a problem with a driver last year who seemed to have a problem driving down Soi 13 where I was going to try the Sandy Springs. i know the city so didn't need directions but the silly fucker still drove past it 3 times !!! All hotels have faxes and usually email so they can send you a fax of their location and some directions in Thai if necessary. The guys flying in could do a little to help themselves though.

I emailed Gazelle and they can back with the following business class fare.

BigD, I agree that for those who do not know exactly where their hotel is, a driver who knows Pattaya would be appreciated. However, as every hotel can organise a car for a maximum of around Bt1500 or so, that would perhaps be the best bet. Also, as the hotel has a vested interest in getting you to their hotel, I suspect that the car would actually turn up. I've had a few who looked as though they had been to Pattaya perhaps once in their lives, or perhaps they were thick as shit, I don't know !

I've not flown Eva in any class but have monitored comments about them for some time. From what I deduce, their premium economy (Evergreen Deluxe) is good value for money but their business class is not, in comparison. I suspect that their business class is akin to that on Thai. I believe their inflight equipment in Evergreen is non too comprehensive either.

I just hope you realise that Thai Air business class is not business class in the manner that BA, Virgin, Cathay, JAL etc. is business class. They have announced a plan to upgrade their product but I suspect that prices will then hike up towards the BA level, if they go for the bed approach in biz class.

Don't change the cash in the UK, you get a better rate in Thailand. You can bring TCs, debit cards (work everywhere), credit cards and perhaps some cash for taxis etc. when you arrive. I rely on plastic but I have access to baht in Pattaya so I'd bring some baht (maybe 10,000 = £140 or so) just to get started. For the main money, it depends upon whether you have multiple cards and are confident in using them (and have the cash in your bank / within your credit limit). If not using cards, then bring a couple of hundred in £ and the rest in reasonable denomination TCs (say £200 and up each, don't bother with stuff like £50 etc.). If cheques, £ cheques are fine. Depending upon where you stay, you may be able to pay by credit card (don't worry too much about the cloning stories). I'd advise never to pay up front for all your stay in case you want to move on. Also, don't forget to remember your taxi money for the trip to the airport and Bt500 to get out of the country. Also, on the way out, stock up on water and snacks or stop the taxi at a garage on the way to the airport as water is real expensive there and snacks are few and far between. Don't buy gold at the airport, its a complete fucking rip off. In fact, don't buy much at the airport as its nearly all a fucking rip off. Have a good trip and drop me a PM if you want to hook up in Pattaya as I live there.

The decent toyotas etc. at the airport are only Bt1650 all in to Pattaya and you can have as many piss / beer breaks as you want. You also get a proper decent mid size car, not a van. As I posted long ago, most people, Alex included, would fuck their passenger off if someone offered an extra Bt100. If staying in bangkok first, I use the brother of a mamasan at the Morning Night bar in Soi 4 but if I am coming direct, I just pay the Bt1650 and get a decent car. Coming back, you can't go far wrong with Paul Pat. He operates from the the beginning of Walking Street (big yellow signs for Bt800 to the airport - van I think) on the right and charges Bt1200 all in for a Volvo to the airport.

This hotel used to get some good write ups (on NP, pong etc. boards) but seems to have fallen from favour of late. I think there are better for around the same price. No personal reviews I'm afraid as I've not stayed there. I do think though that the rate on their website http://www.hotelmanhattan.com/ is rather high. A more realistic rate might be around Bt1000 - Bt1200.

I don't reckon that the Sept 11 thing will have any effect. Last minute deals may be on hand but these seem somewhat thin on the ground at the moment. I've booked some people on BA (LHR-BKK) for £611.40 on their website. Sure, you can get Emirates for £485 but the direct services (they didn't want Eva) are around £600. Etihad is offering LHR-BKK for £370.

I note that they are undertaking renovation works in October. It may be wise to see whether they have been completed before you confirm. http://www.asiatravel.com/thailand/beachview/index.html http://www.ethaihotel.com/beach_view_hotel.php Sorry to say I don't know anyone who has stayed there.

I know a guy keeps a room above a bar in Pattayaland which also houses some of the girls who work thereabouts and he pays very little, around Bt2000 per month. He's in the country when his contracts finish but it is just easier than moving everything back and forth each time he comes. Of course, you have any electric and probably water on top of that. I know he has put in an air con unit.

You can't fly to Phi Phi island. The easiest way is to fly. Either fly from U-tapao (Pattaya) to Phuket and get the ferry to Phi Phi or go to Bangkok and fly to Krabi, and get the ferry from either the port or from Ao Nang (worth a look in itself in my opinion). Bangkok Air flies direct to Phuket from Pattaya www.bangkokair.com whilst Thai Air (and possibly others) flies to Krabi www.thaiair.com The train is not really an option as the nearest main station is Trang, some 70km or so from Krabi and more from Ao Nang. Also, the overnight train to Trang doesn't allow you to see much countryside as it gets dark quickly and was a bit of a bit of a let down when I did it. It does save an hotel bill though if time is not the priamry consideration. Accommodation on Phi Phi is overpriced. Best to try and book ahead for at least one night but you can try walking through the thinnest part of the island from Ton Sai bay beach (where all the ferries land) to Loh Dalum beach which is much better and has some cheapish bungalows. You will be able to book at least one night in either Ao Nang or Phuket from an agent. From Phi Phi you can get down to Ko Lanta, Ko Hai, Ko Libong and further by ferry or private long tail boat charter.

4th Feb is still high season for many hotels and your case isn't helped by Chinese New Year on Feb 9th. That said, I would still expect a reasonable reduction of at least 15%, perhaps a little higher.

This is just a question for those living on the east coast of the USA. Is there any reason (before non stop flights obviously) why you guys don't just fly through one of the european hubs (London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam etc.) on to Bangkok ? It would appear to cut the total journey time down quite considerably.

You don't need any injections. Tetanus you should already have but the rest are unnecessary for where you are going. Scaremongering doctors would sell you anything to increase their profits.

Where'd you get that rate ? dates ? and was it prepaid etc. conditions etc. ? Thanks

I just looked at the www.ba.com site and found the following: Flying out 20-Dec 445 23-Dec 405 24-Dec 328 25-Dec 328 30-Dec 286 31-Dec 286 Flying back 11-Jan 327 20-Jan 285 Thus, you could fly out on 30/12/04 and back on 11/01/05 for a total of GBP 613 plus taxes of about GBP 40.40 You can pick and match with the BA site as they offer you the choice to view each price for 14 days either side of the day you enter for both legs. You can also check in online, avoid all the queues at check in and saunter off to the bar.

All my flights originate from Bangkok these days but the problem you have is that Thailand does not really operate a yield management system for the major airlines. All prices are the same and whilst all tickets are flexible (3mth, 6mth, 12mth), the price is higher than the cheaper non flexible tickets which can be obtained in the west. A classic example is British Airways (www.ba.com). The prices for originating in BKK can be double that for originating travel in LHR.

Try this email address: info@sandyspringhotel.com I found them responsive to emails but thought that their hotel was overrated. Last year we had a membership scheme giving discounts but no more (don't know whether memberships are still honoured). As others posted, lots of noise now due to building works on that Soi but i don't know how the SS is affected. I moved out last year after one day.

In response to your question about the room above the bar (not my bar), then yes it is girl friendly. In fact, many TGs live there themselves. However, the rate is I think a little higher than Roppongi mentioned but whatever the rate, it would only be available at that level on an annual or very long term basis IMHO. Not really for just a month or so.

Paul Pat will pick up at the airport but I think probably around Bt1600 all in. His Pattaya to airport charge is Bt1200 all in. Personally, as we do business together, I wouldn't give out his number as I suspect that there would be a large number of no shows. Similarly, last year, there were many discussions over accommodations with some guys holding reservations in more than one place or not cancelling reservations. This sucks big time as it only pisses the owners off and raises the prices. Same same taxis.

More than likely. If the driver fucked up then the company is going to get some of the petrol money back from him or whatever. He'll just blame the farang. On the other hand, there must be loads of farangs who just don't give out the correct information or decide to change plans etc. and fuck the driver off. Bit of a double edged sword in my opinion. I never book anyone. I may stay in Bangkok then again, I might not. its just easier to pick a decent Toyota up for Bt1500/1600 or a cab for Bt1200 or so.

No it does not run 24hr room service. In fact, the quality of the food is one of the lows concerning the RG. Room service until perhaps 9/10pm ? But really, it does not make a big difference. You are not there at night and really the only time I missed decent room service was during the day, when hanging around the pool. There is a cafe (decent) just next door and an internet place. At night, you can bring some food with you or buy ingredients and have your girl cook you something up on the stove.

Some up around Soi Buakaow are in the Bt300 range or thereabouts per day. Cherry Lodge up the alley from P72 on Walking Street is Bt2.5k per month but no aircon.

Roland, Yeah, just dreaming. Dreaming that on 16th I'll be dreaming that I'm on a plane, dreaming that I'll land in LOS on 17th. Shit, I think I am dreaming now. Lazyboy, I don't see what the bar's profitability has to do with the price of hotel rooms etc. Bt 10k is the going rate. Nevermind though, you pay what you want and I'll do the same.