Firepole

Sounds like they're trying to see if they can get you to make the wire transfer and then use the credit card info to start charging things from a dummy company other than etixcentral. A double whammy? Since the "travel agency" has all the info I'd call my card company, report the card lost, and have them send me a new one with a differant number. It would save some hassle if they do make several charges. Just my 2 cents worth. A wire transfer to a bank in Bulgaria? Holy crap! All bullshit, I'm sure, but in case you need it the domain is registered as follows(from register.co

echster, Nice report. I too am somewhat of a "tin junkie" but you've got me beat by far. I've only booked EVA through their website but would be interested in checking with a consolidator. Can you recommend any? I fly out of LAX. Also, have you found any sites that show the seating on the EVA 777's they're going to use in the future. I figure they are, eventually, going to be put in service U.S.-TPE. EVA site comes up blank, Seatguru doesn't list them, and Boeing's are generic. Any help on either is appreciated. Thanks up front.

I just realised that I spent an hour "playing" with Google maps. It sure is a good resource and I now know what my house looks like from outerspace It's odd that there isn't a direct link to the map feature from the Google homepage. Well, I couldn't find one. Thanks for the link.

Hi, Welcome to the board. Now is a good time to start your search but don't lollygag(procrastinate). Sorry, it's the Southern Comfort. Seriously, read everything in the hotel review section on his board and you may also find a little info at (click on link ->)Pattaya section of BKK forum It's generalized but it might help. Your budget might be cutting it a little close but, for example, Dynasty Inn(Soi 13 Pattaya) had a regular rate of Bt990 per night that went down to Bt600 for monthly stays in 2004. Their nightly rate is now Bt1200. I have no idea what the monthly rate is set at

Nana Tours in the lobby of the Nana Hotel(directly across Soi from Dynasty) has transport, door-to-door, from Nana Hotel to your hotel in Pattaya for Bt350(maybe Bt250). Make reservations the day before or early on the day of departure.

Where is Soi Batman?

Andyfez is correct about the "contract" with airlines. If you "break" the contract by changing your itinerary on your own they will come after you for all kinds of fees and last-minute fares. This includes buying a round-trip(return) ticket and only using the first half. They will treat this as a one-way ticket where the fares are normally a hell of a lot more expensive the round-trip fares. They can, and will, bill your credit card that you originally purchased your ticket on for the differance in fare.

Al, I'm not sure if your plan is to bring VCR tapes to LOS from home but keep in mind that, like DVDs, there might be a differant format. I thought I read somewhere that it has something to with VCR's designed to play for North American TV's therefore making No. Amer. recorded tapes useless elsewhere. Similar to the situation with DVD players but I believe they can be reprogrammed whereas VCR's can't. If anyone knows this info to be incorrect please post it as I'd like to know myself.

Hub, I'm not sure if you meant no change of planes when referring to the EVA non-stop EWR-BKK but I think this flight makes a stop for fuel and pax in SEA. I think it's only a short stop without a change of planes so it's not really a big deal.

I can only help with Utapao as I flew Bangkok Air to Koh Samui in Jan. 04'. Nice organized(by Thai standards) little air-conditioned(cold) airport with a snack bar w/alcohol and a trinket(tourist junk) shop. I forgot what the taxi fare was but remember it as not being too bad. 600Bt sticks in my mind but I could be wrong. I saw people being dropped off in Baht Buses so you might consider negotiating a deal in Pattaya if you don't mind the thought of speeding down the highway in the back of a pick-up truck. Not me! The way these people drive made me nervous enough in a regular car. I digress. S

Do I understand that you've NEVER flown anywhere at all? If that's the case then you've chosen one Hell of long flight to pop your flying "cherry". I hope you don't suffer from air sickness or, worse yet, claustrophobia. Wouldn't that be a bitch. I'd take a test flight soon to make sure. If you want to do that go to Travelocity.com and check their "Dream Map". Click here: http://dps1.travelocity.com/dreamMap.ctl?Service=TRAVELOCITY Don't forget to input your "Departure City" in the box in the upper left hand corner(YYZ is the code for Toronto). Flying direct from Canada is more costly t

I was just playing around with flights for a possible side trip to Phuket while in LOS. I found that AIR ASIA had round trip flights from BKK for Bt1390 while BANGKOK AIR had flights(same date, roughly same time) for Bt5400. I checked a few differant dates and found the same for all dates. It doesn't seem to be a promotional fare. I'm a firm believer in the old adage that "if it sounds too good to be true..." What's the deal? Does AirAsia have a poor safety record, old planes, transport livestock in the cabin...? Thanks up front.

Hi All, I've already booked my first week(mid/late-Jan.) and last week(mid-Feb.) in Pattaya but still have the middle 9 nights open. I was hoping to check out hotels during my 1st week to find a room for those 9 nights(late Jan- early Feb). I might even look for a room on one of the islands. Finally, my question. Should I be worried about finding a decent and inexpensive room for the middle 9 nights? I'm pretty sure I could book before I get there but I'd rather look around. Any thoughts? Thanks up front.

I just received this email: Dear Mr. XXXX, Thank you very much for your email on date 28/10/03. We have to apologize for cannot confirm your booking in the period of 19 Jan'04 because now the hotel have fully booked from December'03 untill the end of January'04. Sorry for inconvenience in this time. Best regards, Reservation dept/Flipper Lodge Hotel

Thanks OnMyWay & Emil. I called the Flipper Lodge and they told me that there were no rooms for my three nights, Jan 19-22. I've got a nagging feeling that they have rooms but weren't going to book for only 3 nights. Possible?

Hi All, I just sent an email to the Flipper Lodge(Soi 8 ) requesting rates for 3 nights starting Jan. 19th, 2004. Their website shows rates of B1000 for cityview, B1100 for seaview, and B1300 for deluxe. Will they give me a better rate if I by-pass the website reservation and book using email? What price should I try to negotiate them down to for each room category? Thanks up front.

I'd like to be able to come back to the hotel and jump in the pool for a swim. Of course, this could happen very late at night and was wondering what hotels allow there guests(and TG's) to use the pool very late, or all night long? I'd like to initially stay in the Soi 7 or 8(maybe Flipper) area and then on to the RG but might change my plans for a pool. Anyone know? Thanks upfront.

I'm making plans for a trip in Jan. and am considering spending the extra $200 or so for the "upgrade" from coach to Deluxe. Is it worth it? I'm 6ft. 3in. tall and need all the extra room I can get. Is there more legroom? Width? If so, is it enough to stretch out? To be concise I'm only worried about comfort. Any other ammenities i.e. food, TV, etc... would be nice to hear about but seat comparison, Deluxe vs. economy is my main goal. Thanks up front. I DID A SEARch and didn't find the following post. Found it after reading the forum. Hope the link works: http://www.freelancerbar