Zidane

Yeah,on 40000 baht per month you would probably have a similar lifestyle to home.Maybe one mega night each week and a couple of nights cheapish restaurants and a few beers. But forget the a go-go and massage places every night. It would be financially impossible.....but living permanently here would be a lot different than holiday...you would have to slow down a bit or be dead in six months ! Depends what you want....Pattaya has climate,cheap food,cinemas,expat clubs.....its the horizontal exercise that bites deep into your wallet ! Incidentally,I've been looking on the net at Nong Khai...

Koh Chang is definitely the place to go to but its a 3 hour drive followed by a short ferry ride.Really youve got to go for a minimum of two nights.Beaches are lovely,beautiful scenery and crystal clear sea....but take a Thai babe with you as theres not much nightlife other than a resort called White Sands. I stayed a couple of years ago on Klong Prau ?? beach just up from Whitesands....hotel Klong Prau Resort was lovely but the nearest watering hole was 10 minutes walk up the beach.....you can hire bikes and cycle round although it is a bit hilly. Deffo worth a visit,though.

I've stayed at View Talay on numerous occassions and its fantastic....quiet and secluded with your own swimming pool and no problems bringing a girl back. I know in the past theyve had swimming pool parties where you can have a barbecue.You can have say two or more farangs with a couple of Thai girls for each of you.....all of you get your kit off and frolic in the pool ! But its split into two parts....some residential,some timeshare.....if you rented in the residential bit you would have to be careful of annoying your neighbours. It doesnt come cheap though....1 bedroom villa about 6000 b

I've used Emirates a fair bit and they are pretty good. You appreciate the chance to stretch your legs for 3 hours in Dubai,which is a good airport. Singapore Airlines probably just shade it as the better airline but difficult to get cheapies with them. Alternatives would be KLM or SAS which both have good connection times from Manchester. KLM,in particular,were very good.....SAS seats were a bit hard.....not so good for an 11 hour journey. A couple of decent websites are Expedia and Travelmood where you can book online and receive the tickets in 48 hours.

I stayed at the Penthouse once and its OK.Ideal if you want to butterfly your Thai gf for a few hours.....so I believe ! Theres not so many rooms but they vary from basic to ones with jacuzzis and small pole dancing area to encourage you to take a "Kitten" or two back from the a go-go next door. I never did that but be careful if you do as the mini bars stock an expensive champagne that the girls will probably go for. Other extras on top of the mini bar include handcuffs,whips and condoms so your nights entertainment is planned out for you ! Depends what your budget is but the hotel is wor

Both the Flipper House on Soi 7 and Flipper Lodge on Soi 8 are OK......standard room about 850 baht. You are right in the heart of the action with loads of bars on both Sois.The only drawback to that is if you pick a girl from near the hotel and want to change or butterfly,then the girls can see your every move.

I think the one you mean was at the High Five Hotel on Soi 8 on Christmas Eve afternoon. Apparently a generator next to the hotel exploded sending sparks inside which ignited. Twelve people were injured,none too seriously,although an American guy sustained a broken leg jumping from a window at the hotel. Not sure where the High Five is on Soi 8....suspect up near the second road.....I was in Soi 8 on Xmas Eve night down at the Flipper Lodge end and never noticed anything. Hope this helps. Zidane

I'm coming to live in Thailand next year. A few weeks ago when I was in Pattaya I met this guy called Ross who told me that next year the Thai government is going to levy a 40% tax on farangs renting accomodation in Thailand. Please,can someone confirm Ross is talking bullshit and can anyone recommend a good condo/apartment/house for longstay in Pattaya or Jomtien. Thanks.