Trvlr

I wouldn't worry too much about fake medication, especially if you go to a reputable pharmacy. However, dont assume you will get your medication in Thailand. While many common drugs will be available, there are many others that you will not find there - at least not in the form you are looking for it. One reason is that in the US current medical thinking results in single-drug medicines - one active ingredient only. In Asia and Europe, however, mixing different drugs in one medicine is common. To give an example, Advil and Tylenol (ibuprofen and paracetamol) are commonly sold mixed in one pil

I suppose this is better suited for a Cambodia forum somewhere, but many people do go to Siem Reap from Pattaya so I will try this first. Has anyone rented a car to get to the Arun-Poipet border? What does it cost? And, this is more important for me: how about on the way back. Can a Pattaya travel agent arrange a pickup at the border on a set date and approximate time? If there is a better way of getting there I'd appreciate it if someone posts it. I am going to look nto PMT flights from Pattaya's airport (UTP), but I haven't heard of anyone actually trying those flights. Any info will be

I had read a while back that Thailand mobile phone numbers were going to move from 9 digits to 10 with the addition of an '8' in the prefix. Has this change been implemented and is it working okay?

Joker, just be aware that I wont be there till end-Nov, so any impressions I have wont get posted till mid-to-late December. And, since you have been going there, I am sure you are aware that if you need an apartment about that time you should be booking it right away!

That's a useful list to maintain. No place where it can be stored for reference? And how about Jomtien ... any free hotspots in that area?

I am in the process of renting a property from Fair Properties also. Before I did, I posted a question on the board a couple months back and the responses by and large were not terrible. I haven't as yet seen what I will get - the rental is for later in the year - but so far I have found them to behave professionally and promptly. If I find after renting the property that there are serious problems, or if they screw with my deposit, then of course I will post my experience on the board. I suppose, to be fair, I should also post my experience if it is pleasant. As for prices, well I posted my

Thanks again everyone. Sounds like it may be useful having a notebook, using it for banking access, and the cafes for other times. Bob, the 1-2 cell phone connection is very interesting. I use my cell phone at home too, though I typically get speeds of 300-400. Fast enough that I canceled my DSL service. Now, do I have to have a long term plan with 1-2 to use their Internet access, or will a prepaid plan do? And if you have used it, how hard is it to get it working? I know that here in the US it usually takes several calls to customer (dis)service to get it up and running. By the time I hav

Thanks folks. Now, hotels probably have secure access, right? You need a log in and password to get into the network? And that they will only give to their guests. Bars and cafes may be less likely to have secure networks (they are also open to snooping, but I guess I will have to take my chances). A few names will really help, so that I dont have to ask again. Especially places where you know people have been able to log on without any hassles. Starbucks in the US have a variety of wireless access. I have used T-mobile's, but you have to have service with T-mobile to use their network, it

I am trying to find out if there are any new Internet options in Pattaya, in addition to using an Internet cafe. If I bring my notebook computer, but do not have a landline in the apartment, can I get into the Internet some other way? Can I, for instance, take my notebook to a cafe and will they allow me to hook into their network? Is access through cell phones becoming popular in Thailand at reasonable cost? Can I get wireless access some other way? To explain: I am usually not a fan of taking my notebook with me on vacation. I can check my email easily enough from cafes. However, ne

I think such rituals are pretty common, especially when government is involved. And often they are multi-religious, to cover all bases. I have read that the US consulate in Karachi, a city in Pakistan, was built on the site of a haunted house - one which brought bad luck to its occupants. As a precaution, the consulate was blessed by Christian, Muslim and Hindu priests before it was occupied. I am not sure it helped, but I, for one, am going to send up a pagan prayer for the success of Suvarnabhumi. Too much is at stake there, especially for board members!

Is there any indication as yet what taxi rates from the new airport to Pattaya/Bangkok will be? It is significantly closer to Pattaya than the old airport is, so rates should be lower - and journey time should be shorter. Besides, world oil prices have declined considerably, the decline is reflected in prices we pay at the pump in the US. Has there been any change in Thailand?

Grendel's assessment is right. I, too, used to stay at the Dynasty 4-5 years back, but moved to hotels in town. Getting to town is not very convenient, in the sense that NO baht bus route is near and you have to negotiate price with the pickups. If you have a steady, and just want to hang out, then it is a great place. Not too expensive and with nice rooms. The ocean is a few minutes away and, if I remember right, there are a few shops nearby too. But if you prefer to get into town frequently, then it is a poor choice - something on a baht bus route is best in that case, or within walking d

Marleyboy, I dont think you read my post correctly. I didn't ask for an average price. I asked for a "range" of prices, per square meter, for the "average" sea view apartment. The two are totally different animals. The kind of information I am asking for is always available somewhere. As to asking real estate brokers, I don't know that I will get the correct information from them. It is in their interest to inflate prices. The real information is to find out actual selling prices. In the U.S. - and most countries I am sure - that is the first thing you check on when considering a house or con

Thanks...that is helpful. A couple of followup questions: If the range is from 20000 to 75000 baht per square meter, what would the range be for an 'average' ocean view condo in Jomtien? Not necessarily ocean front, a view will be enough. Also, is there some web site or office where I can check the prices paid for condos in Pattaya/Jomtien? This will help determine what the correct offer should be. And there is no other locality near Pattaya?

I am trying to identify areas near Pattaya where seaside condos can be bought. Jomtien is obviously one of these, and perhaps the first consideration, but there must be others that are not as expensive? Some points that can be helpful: Public transport to Pattaya Not more than an hour's drive away. Preferably 30-40 minutes. Seaside or seaview condos. Some idea of cost will also be helpful, say for a condo of around 80 sq m in an "average" property. Please note, I am not looking for actual condos at the moment, just taking the preparatory steps of identifying appropriate localities. Thi

I dont know if this has been posted before, but I didn't see it in recent posts. If it is old news then my apologies. From the Cathay Pacific web site: "CX709 will be the first Cathay Pacific flight to arrive at the new airport, Suvarnabhumi International Airport, at 23:50 on 27 September. Starting from 28 September and onwards, all Cathay Pacific flights to/from Thailand will arrive/depart from this new airport."

Jack, a question for you. Did the airline not let you put the bike in a bike bag and check it in as a second bag? Or did you have two already? Failing that, I know people who have been able to take bikes for a nominal fee (US 15 -50) after putting the bike in an airline provided case. That didn't work either? Which airline was this and what did they hit you for? I may obviously need to do the same at some point (if I am that lucky!) and trying to get more info.

Maybe there are a couple of Thai words we can use to establish whether a pickup is a bus or a taxi? Anyone know what they would be, and the appropriate response?

Ha ha - that is funny Nidnoyham. Actually I thought so too, for a second, and said to myself - uh uh, another falang taken for a ride,and decides to take no more chances! Now, Skate, dont you be telling the surgeon you want your lower bags taken out. You dont know what you will be missing when you wake up! I wouldn't use fancy words like blephar ... whatever. Sign language will work best!

I have read and heard many different opinions on water supplies in foreign lands. One report, which I think quoted a CDC (the U.S. health agency) expert said that in general municipal water in most places is okay, otherwise local people would get sick too. I tend to believe this. Though you have to be careful of the delivery system in the place you are staying. In some countries municipal water is stored locally in tanks in every house, and then distributed to residents, and can get seriously contaminated in this process. Another theory I read is that if you use faucet (tap) water for brushin

Call me a wimp, but after reading reports of confusion (or deliberate exploitation by drivers) about whether a vehcile is a bus or a taxi, I have adopted one policy: Dont get on a pickup that doesn't have others in it. May be excessive care, but I haven't had any arguments either. As to your incident, I am strongly with those who have suggested you do something about it. If you dont, then you are condoning such behavior by Thais (or anyone else). Too many of us are willing to let such things go, and the end result is a worse world for all of us. Sorry about the preaching! And good luck with t

Sounds like we should support the new buses by riding them as much as possible, even if it is somewhat inconvenient waiting for them sometimes. Only higher ridership will increase investment in the bus line, which in turn will increase frequency. This will help counter the tyranny of the baht buses - competition never hurts in a situation like this. Apart from these considerations, from what I read here the new bus line can be a very attractive alternative, especially going to and from Jomtien. To get to Big C from Jomtien, for instance, if I take a baht bus I'd have to exit one, cross a road

Thanks MrMango. I am not totally familiar with Jomtien, so a couple more questions. The baht bus took you all the way for 10 baht? Or did you have to pay more? A more specific question: will they go as far as, say, Chaiya Phruek Road for 10 baht, or will the fare be higher that far down Jomtien.

Thanks DV34917. I agree that it is best to inspect a room or condo yourself before renting. However, sometimes that is not possible. I am there for only a month, so I really do not have the luxury of time. The second factor is even more problematic - I am there at high season, and that is a time when all the better places may be gone, and what is available will be more expensive. So, the next best avenue for me is to use the Internet - knowing that it is a tool with its own faults. From what you say Fair Properties appeared to be fair in its dealings with you. Let's hope for the best, and I

How far does the baht bus go in Jomtien? I am talking about the ones that leave from the end of 2nd Road and charge 10 baht. At what point do they turn around? What options do I have if I need to go farther? I read that a tourist bus was introduced, charging 30 baht per person. Is this operating and does it go to south Jomtien?