SNGLIFE

Always, Always fly China Airlines from LAX or SFO

FYI - The various seemingly independent travel agencies located throughout Pattaya are owned by 1 of 2 companies. All of the other "independent" companies get their tickets from either of those 2 companies. Joy Travel is the largest of the 2 (I can't recall the name of the other at the moment, but it's on the opposite corner from Joy Travel at Pattaya Thai/2nd Road). So, just go to Joy Travel. Or simply ask the agent you go to who owns them. Note that those walkie-talkies on the desks are used for inter-office communication so that they aren't tying up each others phone lines and customer calls can get through (bookmark this rare case of something actually making sense in LOS). Don't ever let someone tell you there is really a competitive choice when buying your tickets in Pattaya. Just like Coke, 7-UP, Marinda, etc., the Coca-Cola Comany is still getting paid. Go with the office that has the flavor you like.

You may also want to think about Udon. Your baht would go about 25-40% further because housing, food, and transportation is about 1/2 what you would pay for the same in the Pattaya/Rayong area and no traffic/pollution worries. You would live like a king on your budget. You can also find women from University students (wicked grin) to elderly ladies who speak english to help take care of you. The owner of the Jan Condotel is almost non-functional, but his wife (can be a bitch at times but in a good way, I suppose) takes excellent care of him from my observations. Also, women seem to be less treacherous compared to what you find in the Sex Tourist areas. The city has real parks and other relaxing outdoor recreation activities. There are also enough non-abrasive bars/restaurants to just sit and pass time chatting or watching the telly. You can hop over to BKK from the local airport for just over THB 3000 r/t. There is an excellent hospital in town and I highly recommend grabbing one of BUPA's Platinum level insurance policies. These are (relatively) dirt cheap and you are treated like royalty. Thailand has the best quality of care on the planet. It's worth a peak, and stay at the Jan Condotel. They will pick you up from the airport and have free broadband internet in all the (very modern) rooms for THB 400 per day, or THB 8,500 per month(!!!). The rooms are even better than what is on the website. There is a central mega-mall with 8(?) theaters (3 are usually always in english) and visa run via Nong Khai (30 minutes north) is also nice to have nearby. I do not know about the nightlife, as I do not indulge, but there are bar areas and lots of medical clinics (nearer the universities), so read into that what you will. Good luck!

This was the concern I posted when I first saw the new board. The more users, the more useless posts and the more threads. Soon, you will notice a mysterious drop off of user activity as more people get frustrated with keeping up with it all.... Just my 2 satang.

IMHO is the ability to scan all the replies from the top level. As any long-timer knows, the best read posts are usually the replies. Once the new board gets cranking, there will be too many top level posts to scan efficiently, and most will miss out on the good stuff. :-/ Just my 2 satang. Now, back to the shadows... :-X --SNG