Eric_Olthwaite

Because of my location, flight timings etc, I often have to spend a night in London before a flight, and I probably feel ten times more unsafe there than I ever have anywhere in LOS. as Wisbadger says, be careful though. Re the Nova Lodge RNSG (can I call you that?) did you know that the bar there (facing you as you turn into the lobby/reception area) was supposedly the very first one in Pattaya? One or two more now, though... I believe the old Nipa Lodge, with bungalows originally, was also the only hotel in town when Pattaya was first "discovered" by a jeepload of US Servicemen in 1959.

Yeah, hands up TT. I think I read it when I first found this site, but then forgot there was much more to it than just the forums. But is the suggested figure of 100,000 Baht right? I've seen that amount quoted elsewhere as the starting point for a (quote) "Upper Middle Class" girl.

PS, Forget the beach at Pattaya itself. Decent ones at Jomtien or Wong Amat though, both just a short taxi ride away. Have a great trip (you will)

Until a personal issue made me change about a year ago, I never stayed anywhere other than the Nova Lodge. Not the cheapest and some of the rooms are just a little tired now compared to it's heyday as the famous Nipa Lodge, but still pretty good. Guest-friendly, good staff, lovely garden and pool for relaxing, good buffet breakfast, and unbeatable location; central for nearly everything and just down the road from Tops supermarket. God, I miss it... :crying

Has everyone seen this? I love it... http://www.grumpieroldmen.co.uk/forum/phpBB210/index.php

Evidently a male saying it (from "Khrup") Something about "Good luck Mr XXXX. I xxxx xxxx good xxxx, xxxx little bit" Now I look at it, that's a pretty pathetic effort, and I'm sure someone here will do much better. Failing that, maybe you could say what you think it is, then we can look in our dictionaries or phrase books.

Getting spliced in LOS this year, and I'd really appreciate some advice on dowries. I know social standing is a major factor in determining how much, so to put things in context, my tee rak is a hotel worker in Pattaya, from a modest northern family. I could also use some tips on Thai wedding etiquette, such as whether it's OK to show affection western-style ie kissing the bride etc. Thanks in advance for any help.

Songkran is great fun, but whatever you do, don't leave LOS while the madness is still going on. Just because you're carrying a suitcase and obviously heading for the airport wont make you any less of a target. Once in Phuket I saw a whole tuk-tuk full of farangs set upon by about 20 people with buckets, and I shudder to think what their flight home was like. Bloody good fun otherwise though.

Quite new I think- http://www.etihadairways.com/ http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/etihad.htm

I've been having second thoughts about this, and if you're really keen and you can spare the dosh, maybe you should have your "One Night In Bangkok" after all. It would obviously need a bit of preparation to save precious time over there (ie pre-booking your hotel, transfers, maybe even getting your currency in advance) but I'm sure everyone here will help with the details. If you landed just after lunch on the Saturday, you could be checked into a hotel at Sukhumvit around 3.30, leaving plenty of time to rest and get cleaned up before starting to explore the NEP around 7 or 8pm. Back to the h

Or Hamburg?

Tsunami email hoaxer admits guilt http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/4142463.stm I know it's easy to over-react, and I know I should stick to my New Year's resolution and rise above these things, but after due consideration I think someone really ought to find this Cxnt and beat nine kinds of shit out of him.

Up to you of course, but even following Dingo's plan you'd probably have less than 24 hours to really spend in LOS, especially when you factor in transfers, checking in 2 hours before the return flight, etc. Somehow I doubt you'd be in much state to really enjoy it after a gruelling 11 hour flight. Could you wangle a slightly longer trip initially (throw a sickie or something) to see if it's really for you, and sus out the possibilities for weekend breaks? Sorry if this seems a bit negative, but good luck whatever you decide.

Welcome aboard Liam, and glad to hear you enjoyed your trip. I'd give my right arm to be able to take that first-ever holiday to Pattaya again.

My girlfriend in Pattaya is very upset at the loss of Prince Bhumi, the 21 year old grandson of the King. Odd that none of the media (at least here in the UK) seem to have picked up on that particular story.

According to what I've just seen on their website, Emirates, KLM, and Singapore Airlines all fly non-stop MAN-BKK. Ahh, if only it were true. They really ought to be more careful, because apart from potentially creating a lot of complaints from angry customers, it makes me wonder what else they might be getting wrong. While I'm at it, can anyone settle an argument? I've got a friend who swears blind that Thai once used to fly non-stop MAN-BKK, but I reckon he's talking out of his arse.

Hi Busta, can you tell me a bit more about the Business class seats on KLM, please? Do they fold really flat? What's the inflight entertainment like? Thanks for any info.

I am sure everyone here will join me in offering up a little prayer for the people of Phuket and Phi Phi.

I reckon everyone should try the Nana at least once. God knows it's got some rough edges, but there's probably no other hotel quite like it anywhere in the world. A bit like Thailand itself, in fact.

Except when we're pissed off, then we're mad or upset too. So if we're drunk, and mad because someone is taking the piss, then we're pissed and pissed off, and we often tell the other person to piss off.

I actually asked him once, and I think he said he started in the early Eighties. Another one I always seem to see is a tall, skinny guy pacing up and down the beach road trying to sell rucksacks and bags. No one ever seems to even stop and look, so it beats me how he makes a living.

I'd agree the Apex is one of the worst in Pattaya. BTW, do hotels ever read forums like this, to see what people really think? But what about the worst anywhere? Talking "proper" hotels. A few years ago, Bangkok Airways screwed up my flight from U-Tapao to Phuket and put me in a real dump on Koh Samui, near the Big Buddha. The room was about the size of my bog at home (didn't smell as nice though) and on a boiling hot night the a/c (right beside my bed) sounded like a C-130 revving up. Next morning the receptionist muttered "200 Baht" and when I mentioned Bangkok Airways just shrugged and went

Is it just me, or does anyone else have weird dreams after drinking Mekhong? Too much of any other booze (including Thai spirits) and the next thing I know I'm waking up with a hangover, but with Mekhong there's all sorts of strange stuff going on.

Over a month to go, and I'm already heartily sick of having "Christmas" rammed down my throat. This year, I went into a department store here in the UK in the third week of September, and they had a huge banner saying "IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!"

Am I right in thinking there was a massage parlour in the hotel? Is it still there? Often looked at it, in such a great location, and wondered why on earth it hasn't modelled itself on the Nana in BKK.