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Thank you so much Jacko. Unfortunately that's all I remember. I have been there once, but do not recall anything beyond what I mentioned. I think his office is in a house by itself. I guess I will have to walk those sois once I get there and take my chances.

Can someone post the telephone number of Dr Aphichai Kritsadayurat - he is a dentist on, I think, Soi 4 or 5 near Beach Road. I need to make an appointment, my next visit wil be short and I need to get in. Thanks.

I wonder if an attempt tp get "Thai" prices won't make a difference? That $7000 figure looks very large. How to get Thai prices is a question - going to a dentist in a less tourist oriented town might be a way. Or a recommendation from someone. Problem is dental implants are a lengthy procedure and require regular monitoring. Sometimes they don't "take" according to my regular dentist. All those factors have to be taken into account in any decision.

Dentists are probably the biggest legal thieves in the US. And they know it - I have a few dentist friends who admit it. I have been in a dentist's chair, overhearing a meetiing of the dentist's staff in a room next door, where they were all urged to use all manner of methods to increase revenue. If you can do it, then going with a DMO - dental HMO- is the best way of fighting them. Those big organizations force them to fixed prices. Problem is, dentists then come up with their own ways of stealing. They will suggest unnecessary procedures to you and charge extra - refuse them all.

I dont know that I know the programs any better than you, Emil. I know you have been using United's for a long time and have frequently made sensible suggestions. Keep them up, always glad to learn!

I understand Emil, and I have been there. I have been at United’s Premier Executive level for at least two years and know its benefits. In fact, of the frequent flyer programs I have used, I consider United’s the best, based on past experience (I am not sure if they have made cuts recently). Currently I have Gold membership with Continental Skypass, but I don’t consider it as good as United’s, though it gives double miles too. If I am in a situation where one flight makes the difference between Executive level and Premier level, I will spend the extra $100 on a United flight to get the Exe

Thanks Emil. But the procedure you describe is a little too involved, and the outcome uncertain. I would have opted for a card with a fee, but I do not stick to one airline irrespective of cost. I was with United for a long while - and still use it on occasion - but if I get a decent competing flight for, say, $50-100 less than United's fare, then I will take it. I find that between United's and Continental's (Skypass) frequent flyer programs I can cover most of my needs. United is affiliated with airlines like Thai and Singapore, while Continental offers EVA and COPA.

Emil, you have an airline credit card with no annual fee? Which one is that? The offers I receive from United are for no annual fee for the first year, and from then on it's $60 a year I think. I use Citi for that reason - no annual fee, and they give one-third points for miles flown. (I guess it used to be more, but I never got it - they changed the rule just after I joined.) But I have never redeemed any with them, so I don't know if they are any good.

Anyone know what View Talay 3 is like to stay in? I believe it is right on the beach – which is a good thing. What about the negatives – is it hard to get to? Will someone be able to find it easily – say a girl I give the address to? How far from the Jomtien baht bus route? Any other comments will be appreciated.

Thanks guys! Didnt realize there were no low-cost airlines on the route. What I am considering now - for the excitement value, not just because of cost - is flying to Phnom Penh, and taking the bus to Saigon the same day (6-7 hours, with a-c). What I have to find out now is what time the bus leaves. On the way back I know I will need to spend a night in Phnom Penh, which will be fine.

Hi Folks I am having trouble finding an airline - the low fare kind - that flies Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh (or Saigon). I have checked the common ones like Air Asia and Jetstar, and they don't have that route. Anyone know of any airline? Or of a Search Engine that sniffs out low fare Asian airlines? Any ideas on other forms of transportation will also be appreciated. Thanks.

This is an old post but since it was revived I will add what I ended up doing. What everyone has posted is correct, by the way. I was tempted by the overland route from Pattaya to Siem Reap but eventually decided against it for two reasons: the bad roads, and the fact that I wanted to check out local talent in Phnom Penh. The reports I got on PMT, which supposedly flies from U-tapao to Siem Reap, were not reassuring, and the fare was not all that attractive. That left Bangkok. As mentioned earlier, Bangkok Airways has a monopoly and charges an arm and a leg. I kept a watch on the Air Asia si

Anyone know if any of the newer no-frills airlines fly Jakarta to Bangkok? I have checked Air Asia and Nok, and neither of them does it. The regular airlines are very expensive on this route and I am looking for a cheaper alternative. Thanks.

The exchange rate for the US dollar has always been bad at the airport. Last month it was consistently about 50 satang (half a baht) less than what you could get in Pattaya. I wish I had noted the exact figures, but I didn't. Maybe next time I will, out of curiousity. Yes, sometimes the difference in rates between money changers in town is so little that it doesn't seem worthwhile looking for a good rate. However, for some people it becomes a challenge, I guess, maybe a game. And it does have serious consequences - it brings in competition which in turn helps lower rates. You may think your $

This is a true story ... a friend, an Iranian, visited France on a business trip. While being shown around his hotel room by a business associate, he asked what the bidet was. The business associate, a woman, tactfully replied that it was meant for washing feet. A year or so later, the subject of bidets came up in conversation, whereupon my friend proudly informed us that the contraption was meant for washing feet. Perhaps, Dennis, you should have exercised similar tact with Flthyanml? Sometimes a little mystery in life is not such a bad thing!

I couldn't quite tell - are there rooms with a sea view also at Silversands? And what about guests - is there a joiner fee? As for the original question, Silversands is close enough to central Pattaya that you should not have transport issues. And since you are staying as a family you really have no great need to be heading to the bar zone frequently. I think you are okay as long as your hotel is not much farther than Soi 5 or 6. I just returned from there, but I was living much farther south - beyond Chaiyaphruek Road. Baht buses dont go there as a matter of course - you had to negotiate a

As you all know, the best price is what you are willing to pay for it. I was going to be in Pattaya for a month - my longest vacation in living memory, and I could not possibly stare at blank hotel walls for that long. I wanted a view, and a sea view preferably. The studio I got through Fair Properties - after searching through their web site - had all of that. The studio - about 54 sq m, close to 600 sq ft for the metrically challenged - was large and had one of the best views I have enjoyed in recent years. In Jomtien. I can only think of rooms in Bali and Greece that had better views. Th

I have just returned after a month, and I give Fair Properties a good passing grade. I know there have been mixed reports about them, but some members were waiting to hear about my experience, so here goes. There were certainly some lapses in service, but the most important thing was that I believe Fair Properties had honest intentions, and tried to fix things. Some of these took time, but the girls were trying, which I consider very important. Settling of my account and return of the deposit was prompt and fair and took just five minutes after I got to their office. Now, some of the lapses o

Copying ATM cards and using a hidden camera to note PINs is not that uncommon. It is always a good idea to cover the pin pad with your hand when entering the code. I even do it in groceries in the US, though I am a little lax about it. There are some commonly suggested precautions that people can find over the Internet - it is a good idea to follow them. I am gradually going back to depending on travelers checks more and more, mostly because of the fees that US banks are hitting us with for overseas credit card and ATM use. There are ways in which you can avoid extra charges with TCs: Amex

Come on, give the guy a break. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending 1/12th of the cost of a taxi if the bus journey is pretty straightforward - the savings will equal two STs or an LT! Not everyone has money to throw on taxis. Even if they do, it is wise to take the bus if it is an easy trip. Do you take baht buses in Pattaya, or do you hire taxis all the time? I can easily afford to hire taxis, but I take baht buses. Besides, people from most cities in western countries are conditioned to look for buses rather than taxis, the cost of taxis and distance being so much.

Thanks Eneukman ... I do have a Bangkok Bank account. They are reputed to be the only bank that will open an account for foreigners with only a tourist visa. According to their web site, accounts of this type do not earn interest - so you may want to check if you are really getting interest. They do pay interest on time deposits, probably over a certain amount. Account holders cannot use Internet banking, and are not able to write checks. About the only thing the bank allows is ATM withdrawals, which is better than nothing I suppose. I would really like to be able to write checks - that wa

Hilly, I have a few questions about Siam, which you say has great service. The first is whether they allow people without permanent status in Thailand to open accounts (work or retirement visa). Secondly, do they allow Internet banking to foreigners with tourist status, and do they give foreign nationals interest on savings? And lastly, do they charge any service fees on maintaining accounts? Thanks.

I am a little confused about the new tourist visa rule, because of conflicting info I am getting. According to web sites (including the Expats Club) people are allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 6-month period. But representatives of two consulates I have called said that it is the NUMBER of visits that counts, not the length of stay. According to them, if you have three visas on arrival on your passport in a month, even if you have stayed two days each time, you have to leave the country for 90 days. Has there been any further clarification on this topic? Thanks.

Thanks for the helpful postings. I was actually looking for an HSBC branch or HSBC-managed ATMs, but I guess they dont exist in Pattaya. I would have liked to open an account with HSBC in Thailand, but since there is no Pattaya branch I wont be able to do it unless I go to Bangkok. And if you withdraw money from HSBC ATMs you don't have to pay ATM fees. It's not a lot of money, but if it is as easy as selecting one brand of ATM over another then why not do it?

Anyone know if there is an HSBC Bank branch in Pattaya? Do they have any ATMs, if not a regular bank branch? I know they have a branch in Bangkok, but I am looking for one in Pattaya, or at least an ATM machine. If there is one then its location will be helpful. Thanks.