Baritone47

Hi - Any board members currently in Pattaya or LOS from Southern California possibly returning home before June 18??? If so I could use a favor - I need a Thai SIM card before June 18 and while I know that I can purchase one on-line, the cost is inflated and the delivery time uncertain. I have a paypal account and would gladly send funds to anyone who falls into this category who is willing to pick up a card for me and I would either meet them or pay for postage to have it mailed to me from their home to mine. It's a long story and I know where to get them in LOS but in this case I need to install one sometime in the next few weeks. I hope this post isn't in the wrong section and my apologies if so. Send me a personal message if you're from southern california and would be returning home and would willing to do this. thanks!

Dear Fellow Board Members, Anyone on the board rented a car at the airport within the last year? If so, did you have to make any special arrangements if your flight arrived in the late evening? And has anyone used a GPS in Bangkok or Pattaya or going between these two locations? I am trying to sort out if I am comfortable doing this - not because of the driving as I have driven in LOS but because I will be taking a route I have never taken before and I have never rented a car at the new airport. Any info or help would be appreciated.

In light of a very recent positive experience with China Air, I felt a response was appropriate: First, some background info: I was a China Air gold card member for years. Just about every other flight to LOS from Los Angeles, they would upgrade me to business class on at least the long leg from LA to Taipei. At least at that time, their Business class was by my own experience just about the best for this route. Their standard of service was extremely high. However when EVA started pricing their Evergreen Deluxe fare just above China Air's coach, and Thai air started its direct flight and had its premium economy, I left China air for several years. Just a few weeks ago, my wife and son traveled on China Air while I remained at home. She is a typical Thai woman who hates to throw away money so toughing it out in coach is just fine with her if it gives her more money to help with the family expenses when she goes home. At the LA airport counter, the agent was extremely friendly, and didn't blink an eye when both suitcases were a couple of pounds overweight. She could easily have charged us or had us remove the excess. Instead, they went right through. However three weeks later my wife and son missed their return flight from BKK to LA. When I first called China Air I reached the New York office. The customer service rep was unable to do much as all flights out of Taipei to LA were completely booked for another two weeks. She could put them on stand-by and hope for the best. But she suggested I call the LA office two hours later. When I called the LA office and repeated the exact story, without adding any pleas or heavy words, the rep said that she would put me on hold, go to her supervisor, and see what she could do. Within 15 minutes they had my wife and son confirmed for the next afternoon flight. I never questioned how they did this in light of fully booked flights, but I thought that was an amazing bit of customer service, without any need for me to beg, etc. I would therefore say they're worth trying again if you're OK flying coach or affluent enough to afford their business class ticket. EVA, by the way, has gone to the dogs, their fares have gone through the roof, their customer service is mediocre at best, and all the reasons I had for flying them in the past seem to have gone away.

Six of the suits in my closet have been made in Thailand. From 4 different shops. There's nothing like a custom-fitted suit unless you happen to have a physique that fills out an off the rack suit perfectly, and that's not many of us. Alterations on a store-bought suit, more than the length of trousers or sleeves and perhaps the waist, can leave the suit looking and feeling off. Yes, tailors can take in the legs and the jacket sides, etc, but every part of the suit has been cut to a pattern and when you change only one part, the remainder isn't the same. This being said, not one of the suits I've had made were correct even after several fittings, and I had to allow time for these corrections before accepting the suit. If you're in a hurry or the delivery date coincides with the day you're leaving, you run a risk of taking away a suit with things left to adjust. (and look closely, for example a good suit sleeve should have a sleeve that appears to be able to open - their fancy demo models will even have real button holes - but if you aren't careful they'll give you a jacket with a straight sleeve, no slit, they'll pop the buttons on top, all to save themselves time and money. The model suits they show you - the fancy workmanship, the various pockets inside the jacket and fancy lining and special under-pinnings - usually some of these goodies won't appear on your suit. If you want them, insist on them, and don't walk away without them. (real button-holes on the sleeves, for example) And you should have a good eye or feel for fabrics. Don't trust what they tell you, all the inexpensive suits will be made with polyester fabrics or poly-wool blends, these will look fine but won't have the elegance of a fine wool or silk suit. And negotiate - you have to figure in order for them to afford these high visibility shops and have a hundred shops on each major street, they must be making a handsome profit with every suit. So beat them up a bit and get a better price. Every one of my suits is superior in fit to anything I can buy off the rack, but I've yet to find a shop that doesn't try to up-sell me or deliver a perfect suit the first time. Know what to expect, be patient and firm, leave time for corrections, and you can come away with something good.

I am considering a suite at the Residence Garden for later in the year. The facility seems an excellent value. However, I am used to staying on one of the active soi's - where I am within easy walking distance of bars, massage, shopping. I enjoy walking and for example when staying at the Queen Vic, would walk almost to walking street every morning for great coffee and breakfast at Tops. When alone, walking is my preferred mode of transportation. Residence Garden is on a very busy soi, and during my last visit the roads were under major construction, making access and egress quite difficult. I understand the construction has been completed. However can any of my fellow board members give me an honest opinion as to ease of crossing the heavy traffic roads in front in order to get to walking street? thanks, gentlemen! Billy

First, if you can get an EVA economy from LAX to Bangkok, regardless of stop-overs, for under $900.00 and you are comfortable toughing it out in coach, you best grab it. I am a long-time EVA customer, tried my best to find an EVA flight LAX-BKK towards the end of June for under $1000.00 and couldn't find a thing. I've booked the Premium Economy direct flight on Thai airways, but almost double what you think you can pay for economy. So probably not what you are looking for. I am one of those who also question why the prices have gone nuts, but the airlines will tell you its due to the fuel surcharges have gone up 4 times since last year. I believe that may be a factor, but most important summer is now just another high season, not quite as bad as XMas and Chinese New Year, but pretty close. When Thailand was not the family destination it is today, the only folks who flew there in the heat and wet of the summer were either the punters (like us), the backpackers with limited funds, or those going on business, with a smattering of students on holiday, a few families etc. All that has changed as we've noticed, and because children are out of school and families want to travel together, and because once you're there Thailand is still a bargain and one of the safest places to travel with children, summer is now high season. And for those of us who consider LOS a second home, yet wonder if there's anywhere else on earth where we can find the delights of Thailand at less travel time and expense, I would say that after months of research into all the other possibilities, I decided that I'd take the financial hit and go to where I am most at home, and that isn't Costa Rica, Brazil, Dominican Republic, certainly not Mexico. I'll be there in 7 weeks, and doubt I'll have any regrets about the cost! Mark

Anyone want to share a good car or perhaps a limo just after noon on October 16th? I've used Mr. Toom from Pattaya to the airport and was pleased with the service but the car wasn't much, and I figure two of us could hire a better car and have a faster more comfortable trip. I arrive on EVA from Taipei, 12 something. Let me know, Mark

Having heard so much about the new 777, I arranged my long leg from Los Angeles to Taipei on the 777, just a few weeks ago. (both evergreen deluxe) On my return, it was the 747. The new elite seats are crap even for a small guy like myself, with less recline, less lower leg/feet support, and very narrow. For a short haul, I think they're great because you've got a better entertainment system. But for sleeping, it's an entirely different story, with no way to turn to the side, etc. The newest upgrade in the evergreen 777 is the lack of restrooms. There were only two in the entire evergreen area, whereas the 747 has 4. Not much fun if you've really got to use the john as the rooms are often full. Then to add insult to injury, there's no place to stand and wait except in front of someone's seat. In a few weeks I will be doing it again but this time on the 747 both ways. Mark

I thought I would add my 10 cents, as I recently used Mr. Toom, and have a fair amount of experience with alternatives: I arranged for an airport pickup last month by email. He responded promptly to my email, and also provided me with his phone number should any problems arise. I had a change of plans, had to cancel his pickup, and again, he responded in a timely manner. I got to Pattaya through the kindness of a friend who picked me up. However, when it came time to get to the airport and home, I was concerned as it was a monday morning flight, and I knew traffic could be heavy. I called Mr. Toom from Pattaya, using the mobile number he had provided, and his English was more than adequate to make my arrangements. I was staying on Soi BJ, a soi so small I was certain that I would find his car waiting on walking street. Instead, the morning of my departure his driver had somehow manuevered up the soi, arrived even earlier than our agreed time, had his trunk open, and within a minute we were off to the airport. The car was nothing special - a toyota, good A/C, polite driver, clean, and we got to the airport in plenty of time. Would I use him again? Definitely. I might be able to save a hundred baht or so using another service, but the fact that I can make arrangements in advance, not have to negotiate at the beginning and sometimes in the middle of the drive when traffic takes a turn for the worst, well worth the extra few baht. Also, because Mr. Toom's business depends on word of mouth, he's sharp enough to want to keep us happy, and that to me is worth a lot. Mark

Sorry gents that my original post was unclear. I am in Pattaya now, heading back to Bangkok July 16 or 17. If anyone is going into Bangkok July 16, (not the airport) I would be interested in sharing a car. If anyone is leaving Pattaya noon or so on July 17, going to Don Muang, I might be interested in sharing a taxi. (by splitting a taxi from Pattaya, I get some extra cash that translates into an hour of fun or so, therefore I'm open on options) Write if anyone is interested. Thanks, Mark

Any fellow board members heading into BKK or to Don Muang 7/16 or 7/17, interested in splitting a taxi? I have a flight out on 7/17, but might also go into BKK on 7/16. If interested, post a response. I'll be in FLB this weekend, Mark

Just thought I would check again - I'm arriving July 7, just before noon, have arranged Mr. Toom for a pickup and drive to Pattaya. Any board members interesting in sharing a taxi, send me an email or post a response. Mark

I'm arriving just after noon on July 7, anyone interested in sharing a ride to Pattaya? Mark

I'm arriving around noon on Dec 20 from the US, looking for someone to share a car/cab/limo to Pattaya. Anyone interested, please write to mbritowich@sbcglobal.net

I have done this early morning northwest flight several times and done it both ways - gone into BK for that last night so not to worry as traffic is light at 5am - and I have arranged a middle of the taxi from Pattaya to the airport beforehand and again, making it to the airport was no hassle. Personally, I found that you lose too much time doing the overnight in BK - you have to get there the day before and driving into BK during the day takes forever, check in to a hotel and unpack in a hotel, using up several hours - if you stay in Pattaya you can enjoy that last night, doing a bar crawl, massage, or a ST, and then just sleep in the taxi enroute. However, I would caution you that building up mileage on Northwest is useless - I am trying to sell my Northwest miles because no matter how far in advance I try to use my upgrades, they never seem to have seats available. IMHO, Northwest is a bad choice unless you have no other options. After all, why fly this distance and not be able to use the 17,000 miles some time? Mark