Fr. Lust

I book EVA evergreen deluxe from LAX for November. The price was about $850 - just slightly more then I could find most other airlines economy flights. Last trip I took Cathy Pacific economy and even though it is a great airline, economy for that long of a flight is just too hard on my old body! Actually I first heard about EVA evergreen on this board and decided to take the advice of the posters - glad to read so many good comments. Don't mind the extra money for the extra comfort and leg room. Being a short fella, I should be able to curl up like a mutt and get some sleep!

Hannibal & Greg B Thanks for the pricing info. Based upon the information in this thread I will (A) call Delta Dental and see what if anything the insurance will cover in Thailand and ( schedule an appointment for cleaning at my local dentist and ask him to send the x-rays and information to the BPH dental center and © will contact BPH and inquire as to cost and exact information for the local doctor to send. Damn I love boards like this. The sharing of useful information is an fantastic resource!

I use ATM's with my US Credit Union Visa Check card. Last May I must have used 5 different ATM's in Pattaya and never had a problem. I had a backup ATM card but that one is from a US Bank and charges a fee - the credit union doesn't charge and gives a good exchange rate. Check with your banks and other financial organizations before going and it is always a good idea on both ATM cards and Credit cards to let each card's bank know you are going to be in Thailand. Some banks put a 'hold' on any account used overseas unless you give them advance warning. It wouldn't be good the second time you go to use your card to find that the issuing bank put a hold on it!!! Fr. Lust

very interesting thread. I need a bridge - 2 missing teeth and even with my Insurance coverage ($2,000 max) it would cost me an additional $2,000 USD here at home. Any idea what something like that would cost in Pattaya? I checked out the website for the Bankok Pattaya Hospital and am considering making an appointment for the 1st day of my 2 week stay in November. Wouldn't break my heart to "have to" come back for follow up - give me an excuse to just do it and spend the money for another trip to Pattaya! Anyone with more detailed cost info, please either post it or PM me. Thanks Fr. Lust

How about the Apex (check the reviews section). Its only 500 baht, good location except for having to cross second street, has a reasonable buffet style restaurant. When I had the breakfast buffet there (back in May), I looked the place over and it seemed more than reasonable for the price. Fr. Lust

another great small hotel is the Jomtien Boat House: http://www.pattaya-hotelrooms.com/JomtienBoathouse/ Owned by the same people who own the Residence Garden. Right across the road from the beach, good restaurant and nice rooms. Mid-range price 900-1100 Bhat.

I stayed at the Residence Garden for 12 days in May (sounds like a movie title) and it was not just good, it was absolutely magnificent!! I has a 2 bedroom suite as there were two guys sharing both with different taste in women but both always with either one or two girls. We had maid service daily. The room service was quick and inexpensive. The lobby bar was nice, the restaurant food was varied from O.K. to very good. I had originally worried about the location but, once there I really enjoyed it - the baht bus comes every couple of minutes - really, never waited more than 5 minutes, and the ride into the teeth of the dragon was less then 10 minutes. All in all, I can highly recommend RG.

Rex7777 Actually I had breakfast at the restaurant one morning this last May and that is when I looked around at the Claire de Lune and the Windy Inn and thought it would be a good place to stay.

found a website for the Summer Place Hotel - 400 Baht per night and claims not to have a joiner fee. http://www.summer-place.com/ Looks pretty damn tempting from their website although I'm not too sure about their location. Anyone have any info?

Rex 7777 Yes, thats the place. How was the Windy Inn? Guest friendly? Cost?

Has anyone tried this place? I ate breakfast in their restaurant last May and thought the place look charming and clean - don't know what the rates are or if they are guest friendly. Thanks for any info.

Anyone have an update on the potential construction next to the Apex. I'm planning a November stay for 2 weeks and am considering the Apex but if there is massive construction with the noise, I might want to book elsewhere. Thanks for any info. Fr. Lust

Just to make it clear - I'm not going to Pattaya for the beach but since it is on a beach and I am a life long body surfer, I do want to go in the water at some point. Fr. Lust

I've read that the beach at Pattaya is not good for swimming. Is there a good swimming beach nearby or do you have to go to one of the Islands?

From the answers I'm getting the idea that I would be O.K. with minimal precautions. For years I've eaten off taco wagons in the streets of Tijuana, Rosarito Beach and Ensenada. If my system can take that, then I can probably take the Thai restaurants veggies and just use bottled water for actual drinking (only when avoiding dehydration or up in the middle of the night). Beer, especially dark beer, is my preference and Irish whiskey when I can find it. Don't think I will take the lead of the poster who bathes in beer however. Thanks for the info. Fr. Lust

The question for the 'old hands' - how paranoid should I be about the water in the Residence Garden and the restaurants in Pattaya? When visiting Mexico, I don't drink the water - just bottled water. In Costa Rica, I drink the tap water in the hotels, never a problem. The thing that always struck me is, even if I am drinking bottled water in the hotel, if I eat a salad at a restaurant, the lettice is rinsed in the local water, food is prepared in local water, I shower in the local water, my Coffee is made with the local water, so I am getting some of it in my system anyway. Do I my Mexico standard or my Costa Rica standard? Thanks Fr. Lust