Lex

Thinking of using my Accor points to stay here in November. Can anyone give me an update on whether or not there is a joiner fee? Thanks

Thanks for the replies. Checked into the corona building yesterday, all as described by the Fat Controller except I've got a 32 inch LG flatscreen (excellent picture). No complaints but why are all the late night front desk staff gay blokes?

Has anyone stayed at one of the newly renovated rooms (i.e. non-evergreen) at Areca Lodge? What are they like? I like the newish Evergreen rooms but as the renovated rooms are available at the pre-renovation prices I'm tempted to book one of those. The renovation will be complete when I arrive at the end of November. Thanks

I'm booked on the Cebu Pacific BKK - Clark flight early November. I've also heard bad reports about that route but decided to risk it to avoid the taxi ride/rip off from Manila to Angeles. I've used them on other routes before with no problems so it's fingers crossed. If you want a good departure/arrival time then you're better off with non budget airlines. BKK-Clarke departs at something like 11pm arriving at 4am

I'm thinking of bringing a Sony PS3 instead of the usual laptop as it has a web browser, plays DVDs and I know a few girls who enjoy playing games It's not essential but it works best with a High Definition TV with HDMI connections, preferably 32 inches or more. Does anyone know any hotels which have these? I know of the Sabai Empress (corner suites), Nova Platinum and View Talay 6. These have flat screen TV's though I can't tell if they are true HD (older flat screens might not be). Feedback on these would also be appreciated. My other criteria: A decent pool In room wifi Price 1000 - 2000 in October Located North/Central/South Pattaya on the beach road/2nd road Baht bus route or within walking disatnce of WS Thanks

"Forever Young" (pre Jay Z) Happy have been playing it for years, probably strikes a chord with most visitors. Also, "Lemon Tree" the bars played it constantly during my first trip.

If I was heading out now I would stay there for 950 a night, it was about that when I first stayed there in 2005 and I thought it was good value then. I think the Areca Lodge is better all round but you need to book that early and the SR is more laid back. Next time I'm out I may give the Empress a try, might even book a corner room a try so I can hook my PS3 up to the LCD TV instead of bringing a laptop (the empress has wifi in the rooms, the resort only has it in the lobby area). But I would still use the pool at the resort - assuming that you can with it being part of the same group??? - it would only be a 5 minute walk (and a dice with death crossing 2nd road!). I would be interested to hear from anyone who has stayed at the Empress recently.

I've stayed at both, most recently at the Sabai Resort (superior room) in November. SR's superior rooms are small but adequate and well maintained. Can't recall what the beds were like. Always try and get a room on the pool/garden side as the BIG C side can get noisy with mopeds blasting up and down at all hours. PBR's rooms are better but the SR's pools (there's 3) are excellent and great just for relaxing by - way better than the PBR's rooftop job. Don't bother with the breakfast at SR but the rest of the menu is fine. I prefer the SR but if the pool isn't important then I would stay at the PBR. I just send them an email and they confirm the dates. Never been asked for a deposit.

Thanks, that's a great tip. I've stayed at the Sabai Resort loads of times and never realised this was possible, the aircon has always been way too cold.

I've stayed at both and would choose the Sabai Resort for it's pool. The rooftop pool at the PBR is tiny and there's little space to relax. You won't appreciate it if any of the other guests are loud or like to create a splash!

For F*cks sake alan! You can't post this and not give us a photo!!

It's pretty much behind the Areca Lodge (on the soi before soi Diana heading north on 2nd road). You could walk from one to the other in 5 minutes along a tiny (and dark) soi that runs alongside the Areca. I had a look because as I was intrigued by the mini suites with 42" plasmas (smaller TV's in the other rooms). I didn't really like the minisuite as the TV was so far away from the bed that it didn't make any difference that it was so big (I'm lazy and like to TV watch from bed - well I'm on holiday!). Still, IMHO the rooms were very nice and even without the introductory offers it would be good value.

Bazle I wouldn't worry too much about that happening. Government departments do not share information and are even less likely to in the future. Our government has tied its own departments in so much red tape surrounding privacy of information that it is almost impossible for one department to share information with another even when it is blindingly obvious that thay should! The chances are it would be an infringement of our so called "human rights" for the NHS to check residency status. But there is always the worry that they might and that's why most honest uk citizens lose out to fraudsters and illegal immigrants who couldn't give a toss about lying!

Nova Park charge an extra 3% if you pay by credit card

shyface Nova Park has ESPN and STAR sports (also HBO sophon cinemax) great for live footie. Also it's attached to Jamesons if your a sports fan who likes a little atmosphere. I've just come back from a week there though I found the suites very ordinary at 1900 per night. Pool area is nice though shaded after 3pm. I think the studio rooms would be better value at 1500. Definitely guest friendly.

I stayed at the Mercure in September. The wireless LAN was only working in the lobby at that time but there was no problem with "guests". Very nice hotel and great staff. Bit pricey now, I stayed in a suite which was 1400 per night on special offer. Biggest drawback is the location on soi 15. It's not far down soi 15 but there's nothing near it and you have to walk past a well dodgy area to get to it from 2nd road. A taxi is a must, make sure the driver knows where he's going!

I want to fly Qatar from Manchester in January or February (I'm only one flight away from a freebie) but there is nothing available in economy whatsoever (through ebookers, expedia, airline network etc). Surely they can't be fully booked that far ahead, are they delaying putting their tickets on sale? does anyone know if there's a reason??

Jollyblaze The Areca is a great hotel and they have internet but it's only dial up and slow dial up at that! But if you head out of the hotel and turn left towards 2nd rd, there's an internet cafe (also rents room) right next to the first bar you come to on the left. About 2 minutes walk. Has cheap 512k ADSL internet and webcams if you still want to do some chatting. You don't pay any airport taxes on arrival but if you use the Areca's pick up service be sure that it includes the toll fares or the driver will sting you for another 100 - 150. You can get a taxi from the airport taxi rank for 1500 but the Areca's minibus will be more comfortable (if they use it and not a normal car)

I've used it twice to Manchester and it's very realiable. Big Volvo estate on both occasions. Only takes 25,000 airmiles (or 2 return trips to BKK) to get an upgrade UK - Dubai and this includes the limo pickup. Well worth joining the Skywards scheme

Just got back to the depressing cold and rain of a UK summer after 3 weeks in blistering hot Pattaya, 8 days of which I spent at the Sabai Resort. I thought this place was great. In answer to Irmster's original question about construction noise, there was hardly any and it never bothered me (I slept til 2pm most days). They must have made a big effort to keep the noise down as they had still to complete two thirds of the complex, the "paradise land" and "villas" both of which have their own pools. The bulk of the rooms are single storey cottage style (with the exception of the standard rooms which are in a 2 storey block behind sabai room) and I think this helped keep things quiet as the ongoing work was at the back of the complex. I stayed in a "lobby garden" deluxe A for which I paid 1500 baht per night including breakfast (included if you stay 7 nights or more). The room measured 30sqm and was described as a suite. It consisted of a small office/sitting room, bedroom and bathroom with a walk in shower but no bath. The room had loads of space and the electronic safe was big enough to hold my (15"4) laptop, though I was disappointed that there was no wifi (Bella Villa is the best for that). Personally I would have preferred it if it had been just one huge room as the small office/sitting room wasn't a lot of use. I think some of the rooms right by the lobby are like this. For 1750 baht per night I could have had one of the pool view rooms which had a very large balcony (porch?) overlooking the pool. Didn't think it was worth it as the inside of the room was the same as mine. The pool and garden area were superb and very peaceful, though this was largely due to there only being a handful of other guests. The trees and plants (which are everywhere) look like they've been there for years though the hotel only opened in May. The staff were amongst the best I have ever encountered in Thailand. Very helpful and friendly. Most appeared to be in their early 20's and I think they were probably new and keen to impress (cute girl serving drinks impressed me). No problem taking girls back. They do check and keep the girls ID (but not if she comes back the following night). The breakfast wasn't up to much, the only good thing about it being that it was free and they served it up to 11am. Certainly wouldn't have paid 150 baht for it and only bothered once. The location was great, opposite soi 4 on second road, right next to sabai room. In the last photo, that's the Sabai Spa on the right. The hotel is further back. Some paintings appeared on the walls the day after I took these photos. They were quite erotic, must have waited until they sussed me out! The biggest drawback for me was the price though next time I might consider one of the standard rooms which cost 1250 baht per night (discounted to 1050 up to the end of October). Also, if I'm being picky the aircon didn't have a temperature control (only 3 speeds) and the bathroom was hot during the day. But that's small criticism, I'll definitely be looking to stay here again on my next trip in October/November and will be interested in how much the yet to be finished rooms will cost. PS one unusual feature of this hotel, there were bats flying up and down the open corridors. Scared the shit out of 1 TG, especially when I told her they were guests that had turned into vampires (Thais eh, aren't they gullible). Very funny watching her do her muay thai bit on them!! Can't imagine the hotel will tolerate bats scaring guests, bet they end up in someone's noodle soup before long!!

Irmster, they only offered me a garden lobby room at 1500 per night (normally 1750) I don't think there are any other types available until later in the year though they state in the blurb that every room is different. Don't know how much different they could be but some are just one big room and some have a large sitting area outside instead of sitting room like mine has. A garden lobby room would be my room of choice as it's the shortest walk (the hotel seems to go back a long way). Would of thought they could have given me a bigger discount though as there's hardly anyone staying here! The room is great, my only complaint would be that it takes a while for the aircon to cool it down but it is a big room (3 actually) and it's f*cking hot outside. The bathroom's hot most of the time as there's a small window in there that can't be closed (covered by an insect mesh) not a big problem but an odd design. I particularly like the big in room safe into which I can just about squeeze my laptop. MILLWALLFC/dotcom_OD I'll also be back in November. May very well stay in one of the new Sabai Lodge rooms but having seen both I reckon the Sabai Resort is better and it's not finished yet. Of course it is pricier so for me it will come down to what deals both are offering. Might see you then!

I'm staying there now. You're right about them still completing it but I've not heard any construction noise. The hotel goes way back and I think it's only the rooms at the back that are still being finished plus there's going to be another 2 swimming pools. I'm paying 1500 per night which includes breakfast. Have to say I'm very impressed with the place. The rooms are huge though it takes a while for the aircon to take effect (the outside heat is sweltering) staff are great and the pool is a picture. I'll post some more photos when I get home.

Pics are a bit smaller than I intended (first time I've posted them). I'll post some better ones when I get home

MILLWALLFC Here are some pics of the Sabai Resort: This'll give you an idea of where it is, Sabai room and Big C in the background, the Sabai Spa is the building on the right with hotel further back. The room is a lot bigger than it appears in the photos as I've not got in the small office/sitting room that you enter through. I'm checking in there tomorrow so will will report on how I find it when I get home. There's not a lot to choose between here and the Sabai Wing. What swung it for me was the better location, pool and the fact I'd probably be the only person staying there! (it only opened last week) Email is sabaict@loxinfo.co.th Website is www.sabairesort.in.th but for the time being this is just the same as for the Sabai Lodge dotcom_OD: Sorry, I didn't see any cottages listed when I was in the Sabai Wing, they had the rooms at 1350 and 1750 plus some suite with 3 bedrooms at 5000+ (way out of my price range)

[Lex, does this Sabai Resort have a website address...?????? Cheers] No, they don't even have a leaflet yet! But I'm going back there tomorrow to check the WIFI, let me know if there's anything you want me to check for you. I'll try and post some photos too