Eric_Olthwaite

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=29825

Congratulations. I'm English, but I have to say your lads deserved it, and we didn't.

I've just had an email from the Majestic Suites offering a "Grande Superior" room at the Grande Majestic for 2,500 Baht with breakfast. Seems pretty steep to me.

Thanks for the replies fellas. The dear old Nana sounds good, except for the temptations right outside...

Many thanks, Sir Toppham. Looks to be just what I need.

Can anyone put me onto a decent hotel near the British Embassy, please? I need to do the affirmation bit soon. Many thanks for any advice.

...three, two, one, I'm back in the room. (Bugger. I preferred it where I was)

I can only see one eye (and maybe a mouth)

Andrew, I suspect there are few of us on this board who don't recognise some elements of your story in our own lives. A couple of years ago, I got involved with my first "Good" Thai girl, and after so many let-downs with BG's it felt like a miracle. God, I daren't tell you some of the soppy things I did, I was so smitten. But I think I knew all along there was someone else, and in the end it was that nagging anger at my own self-deception that made me force the issue and confront the truth. Even so, for months afterwards the sense of loss and emptiness was unbearable, and I could barely drag my sorry arse out of bed each morning. Like you, I felt like giving up on the female of the species (Well, except for one thing...) but I tried one more trip to LOS. Even had to change my favourite hotel of 12 years standing (too many bad memories in the old one) but one morning in the new hotel I noticed the receptionist watching me and... well, to cut a long story short, we're getting married in a few weeks. My advice (for what it's worth) is to draw a line under the whole thing, get yourself to LOS, and have loads of fun. Don't beat yourself up about the Hotmail thing (you were upset at the time) and remember there are much worse faults in a person than being over-trusting. You deserve better, and given time and patience, it will come to you. Just hang in there. (Sending a PM too)

Lots of reports here- http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/air_india.htm

Not really a toast, I know, but what Englishman could ever forget that boyhood anthem My Friend Billy ?

! On behalf of all of us stuck in damp, grey, miserable Farangland- Shit, shit and double shit! :crying Seriously, have a great time mate. Live the dream.

I agree with Neil. When I first started visiting in 1989, I used to like telling people how much better the tourists behaved in "sleazy" Pattaya than in places like Faliraki & Ayia Napa, but now the gap has narrowed a lot. I hate to see it when some rat-arsed moron gets up on the platform in a bar and drops his trolleys, or makes a complete arse of himself with some street vendor. I think it's a combination of cheaper air fares, and the fact that naughty nightlife (trying to keep within forum rules here) is seen as much more acceptable by a younger, more self-centred generation, as evidenced in the rise in popularity of stag trips to Amsterdam or Prague. Shame, because for all its rough edges, Pattaya used to be a much nicer, easier-going place a few years ago.

http://mysite.verizon.net/philsackett/temp/hypno.html

Just curious, are you still going for it?

The cheap charlie in me likes some of the fares on offer, and the aviation anorak in me fancies a ride in an Ilyushin Il-96 before they're replaced with Triple Sevens or whatever. Are they really as bad as some people say?

Do these people go to Bangkok? http://www.naked-air.com/03flight.htm

NPK Travel did me proud a while ago; good, friendly service, good English, and very quick. Their own website seems to be down at the moment, but I found this- http://www.thaipro.com/z1028a/321_thailand.html Have a great trip.

God, and I thought Heathrow was inconvenient for me.

I used to have precisely the same problem flying Thai, and regularly used to stay at the Regent Palace, which has a great location a stone's throw from Piccadilly Circus and the tube. Very old and basic though (not all rooms even have a bog) and at something like £85 a night not even particularly cheap now. My suggestion would be to call in a travel agent's and pick up some of those "London Superbreak" type brochures. If you buy a rail package, make sure the return ticket will still be valid when you get back though.

Many thanks to all who replied. Seems I was mistaken about Qatar, who now look very promising.

Anyone seen any sign of prices coming down yet? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4176671.stm

I have a relative hoping to fly to Thailand in March, but because of a specific medical condition he really needs a lie-flat seat. Done a few searches, and so far all I've really come up with is BA at a whopping £3,800 (First Class) or cheaper Qatar which we don't really fancy. I'd be very grateful if anyone has any alternative ideas or experience of lie-flat seating. Already found this- http://www.flatseats.com/Reviews/A-Z.htm PS, Bring on the A380 (rolling out on Tuesday), when we'll have seats like hotel rooms, bowling alleys, gyms, etc, if you believe the shite some people put out.

Tell us more, Cape Codder. My guess is you've recently returned from your first trip to LOS, and I know how bad that feels. This kind of sums it up for me- The Tyranny of Happiness- http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/reader/reader845.html

I'd 3rd it.