Fr. Lust

That sounds like a good place to visit/shop. Anyone know if there are wholesale outlets for Thai goods - I have some folks interested in importing goods for sale in Los Angeles.

Very nice gesture by the FLB ownership. Even though I only visit the bar occassionaly, it makes it seem more like a 'community' then just a place to have a drink and pick up some 'entertainment'. The 10 or so times I have been in FLB, the bar staff were all a delight. Very friendly and nice. I joked with all of them, Om included and they, more then either the regular customers or working ladies made the visits to the bar worthwhile and memorable. Great pictures of the funeral. If I had been in town, I would have contributed and I know most of the regulars who were there contribu

Thanks Gabor. I love foods from all over the world - one of the things I like best about Pattaya is all the different kinds of food that is really good and inexpensive. I will make a point to try Unicum - I've had Hungarian food before here in the States and really enjoy it!

Citibank just sent me a notice that after April 1 they will charge a 3% fee for purchases in foreign currencies. Screw them. I'm going to cancel their card. My credit union ATM does not charge a fee nor does my MBNA World Points card. Hate these damn banks.

Don't really know vanai place or Skytop, been at Thai Archer & think it is great (especially the wi-fi in rooms) and have looked at Anna Jet but they lack 'hotel' amenities. Thai Archer is in an interesting location - right across the street from Lolita's so the great temptation is to walk across and get a bj 3 times a day!. They have a very good restaurant and staff is very friendly - guest friendly as well.

I used Eye Glass Express in the Big C shopping center and am quite happy with my bifocals - cost 6000 baht but I chose expensive frames. I understand there is also a good place for glasses on the beach road side of Big Mikes Shopping Center.

Dr. Oliver's Clinic across from the Day and Night Hotel. He is French/Swiss, speaks about 8 languages, is inexpensive and excellent! He advertises in all the Pattaya monthly's that can be found in the hotels.

I certainly agree with all those who have said Ventienne - it has got to be one of the absolute best anywhere. There is a German restaurant on Soi 7 about 5 doors up from beach road that is outstanding. Pig & Whistle, Rosie O'Grady's, Sportsman (both Soi 6 and Soi 13) and Queen Victoria's - and not just for the breakfast, the lunches and dinners are outstanding as well.

Know lots that are not pricey with pools. Don't know about fitness rooms - I thought all the exercise with the TG's in your bedroom was enought exercise but then, I'm not a fitness buff. Try the Arecia Lodge. Their pool is very good they have a fitness room, well a gym. http://www.arecalodge.com/amenities2.html Residence Garden is great but no fitness room.

Love their pub as well as the Pig & Whistle next door. Just wondering about the rooms. The web site doesn't really tell much, sounds good but would like some first hand info.

I don't know the answer but would be interested in finding out - also about quarentine in Thailand. I have two cats that are very important to me and if I were to decide to move to Thailand, would have to figure out how to bring them with me.

I stayed in the Residence Garden last May and enjoyed it. No problem with 2 girls - we even hung out at the pool all afternoon a couple of times and never got an evil look or comment - just good service. November I decided to try 'the other end of town' and stayed at the Intown Holiday and while it is less then half the price and in walking distance of damn near everything, it was pretty sparce and barren and threadbare in comparison to the RG! I've booked a room in the RG for two weeks in January. The luxury and service are to my mind, well worth the price.

In May I flew economy - choosing the aisle seat in the last row because the last two rows only have 2 seats across on the sides instead of 3. I'm only 5'7" so leg room isn't that big an issue but its such a long damn flight that in November I chose to fly Evergreen Deluxe. I have difficulty sleeping on planes - problems sitting long periods of time, so the extra room was useful as I could stand and move around near the seat easier. Since leg room is not an issue, the main advantage I found was that in the Evergreen Deluxe it was easier to find space for my carry-on (they say one but I had o

I am staying at the Intown Holiday and for 600 baht a night it is O.K. The location is great - from here you can walk almost anywhere and the surrounding area is full of nice, inexpensive beer bars. The room is pretty large, at least you can walk around and not feel closed in. The furnishings and hallways are a bit sparce but they keep it pretty clean. The only disadvantages I've found is that you don't have hot water in the sink so you either have to shave in the shower or with cold water and phone calls have to go through the hotel operator so you can't hook up to a dial-up interne

I thought that the outlets in Thailand were the two pronged but round outlets requiring a transformer from the American flat prong. I could be wrong as I did not bring a laptop or any other item that required recharging.

I booked the Residence Garden for mid-January. The boss man confirmed the reservation and rate but added that they are quite busy and would appreciate being informed early if there was any change in my reservation. I would never, never make a reservation and just not show up. That is about as rude as one can be. The RG may still have a few rooms available as may the Jomtien Boathouse.

I booked for mid-November and received a confirmation - here is the address: info@mail.intownholiday.co.th

Living in California and having two friends who own travel agencies, I don't think a travel agent can find any better deal on EVA then you can get off their wegsite. I just booked for mid January from LAX to BKK Evergreen Deluxe for $811 US dollars - with fees and taxes it came to exactly $900.00

For anyone from the USA - my experience with my Credit Union Visa was great. It worked all over the world, in Pattaya it worked in at least 5 ATM's I tried and - here is the good part - I didn't have one fee charged by the credit union, just the exchange rate charged by the Thai bank and no ATM fee, no 'foreign conversion' fee (like a friend of mine with his Washington Mutual Bank Visa). I've had the same experience recently in London, Toyko, San Jose and Tijuana. No fees. I don't know that all Credit Unions in the USA have the same policy but it certainly is worth exploring!!

From all the posts I guess I'm lucky in two respects, being 5'7" means I fit more comfortably in the seats and flying from LAX I get a better price to BKK - even though it doesn't make any sense given the relative distance between Europe and LA from BKK. From LAX anyway, I have not been able to find a consolidator or discount web site that offers EVA Evergreen Deluxe for less then the direct EVA website. $850 USD for my November booking and I just checked on mid-January and got the same price so either I'm lucky or EVA just likes us Californians.

Thanks for the responses on ISP's - I will follow up on the info provided.

What ISP serves Pattaya? My ISP - highstream, doesn't have overseas numbers so I guess I would have to sign up for some kind of 'temporary' service to be able to connect or switch to an ISP with service in Thailand.

What is AIS, how/where do you access it & is there a website dealing with the service?

Greg B As it turns out, Delta Dental claims that, except in an emergency, they will not cover any dental procedures out of the USA. Phuck them - I am going to change insurance companies. My Blue Cross Medical PPO coverage, on the other hand, is more then happy to re-imburse for medical services in Thailand. I am still intending to visit a dentist in Pattaya in November.

Last trip I stayed at the Residence Garden and it was great but, for my trip in November I want to conserve a bit on the dollars as I would really like to return in January and if I spend too much in November it might cause me to postpone a return that quick. After reading all the reviews - and I do mean all of the reviews in the hotel section - I decided that, for a basic room with A/C, Cable TV, Fridge and a pool in a reasonable location, the Apex would be a good deal. Am I being too frugal? I could afford more but don't know that I really need anything more. Any old hands care