Phantom0z

You are absolutley correct. It's "Lite" in calories only. Now while I don't take my reading glasse with me when drinking I'm sure the content is around 5% like most. I still don't get why they stick a piece of lime in the fucking thing then call it a lemon.... They don't do it in the Pines but yeah, I know, TIT.

As of late friday afternoon they've started the pile driving next door to AA residence. Not a huge amount of noise (i'm staying in the south end room of AA) but it may upset some.

For some bizarre reason I stayed there a few times back in the late 80's, from memory I was meeting a mate who was already staying there and he was showing me the ropes for my 1st trip. Now I can only respond from what it was like that far back and all I can say is DON'T BOTHER. Dark dingy rooms, carpet that's sticky, makes stalag 17 look like a 4 star resort. The only saving grace was the gum trees out the back to remind you of back home, but on the downside with all those dried leaves lying around the place it would light up like a bonfire if anything happened. It was cheap! But so it should be.

Yeah, a really good location. Rooms around the 700 mark with suites at 1000 (nothing special about the suites, just larger). Might be worth booking ahead, this is the 2nd year where I've been thrown into a larger room for a couple of nights cos there's nothing else available. (During April, near Songkran which might have had something to do with it) Nice pool on the roof although there always seems to be a shortage of lounges. Crap selection of channels on the tv, HBO and just a few others, you can rent dvd players down at the front desk if need be. Stocked mini bar, just turf the stuff and replace it with your own if you want, never had any problems with this. Friendly staff, etc.

The last couple of years I've been relying on the "free" insurance which is provided when I use my card when purchasing tickets. While it might seem like a bonus, if you carefully read the fine print it's not always as it seems. Last year while I was in the 'pines I had a bit of a fall walking into those damn bars with the steps leading down. Didn't realise it at the time (although it hurt like hell) I'd actually fractured a couple of bones in my wrist as well as spraining my ankle. Checked the policy and it seems if the "accident" was my fault, i.e no one else caused it by way of pushing me, then I wasn't covered. Hmmm, not much of an insurance policy if that's the case. So best advice for full peace of mind is to spring for a proper insurance policy, but still read the damn thing.

G, I purchased a stack of western DVDs dubbed in Thai, with actors I have never heard of and the most pitifull story lines. I bought them from big C in north Pattaya. These were legit and cost between 19 and 29 Baht I think you'll find these are actually VCD's, pity there dubbed as they'd be top value otherwise.

I've stayed there a couple of times now, both in a standard room and what you would call a junior suite. The extra bucks for the suite isn't worth it in my opinion, it's identical to the smaller room except for a table and chairs, no view to speak of, I was looking into the condo next door.. Nice pool on the roof, the usual cable channels, personally like the location, HOWEVER, as per my last post a few months? back I did have problems with cc fraud, as this was the only place I had used it on my trip I'd sugest you use cash. Aside from this it's actually a nice place.

Thanks guys, appreciate the effort. I might have a closer look at the Koening Hotel, sounds interesting

Guys, been a while since I visited this board and need your help. Last year around July I was staying at the AA Residence in Soi 13, nice new place (back then), but I'm always looking for something newer and (possibly) cheaper. Nothing better than a new hotel which has promotional rates. ;D Next door and across the soi there were 2 hotels being built which I presume would have been finished by now. Also it looked like an extension for the Lek was just being finished off although it seems kinda separated from the actual building even though they shared the pool area. Anyone stayed in these places yet or have the names so I can do a search? I also noticed quite a bit of building going on around soi dianna and soi buakhao, I assumed at the time they might be hotels in the making but that the time it was just the bare bones showing. Doing a double header this time, the Pines and LOS, should be there around mid April.

Now I've done the big bus to Bangkok before but I can't remember whether they have buses going direct to the airport. The Thai bus that leaves from Pattaya goes too early for me and I'm not going to be crushed into those minivans if I can help it. So the question is do any of the buses leaving the terminal in North Pattaya go direct to the BKK airport and are the times every hour or so?