TURBO

I use a Canon Powershot A40 for my snaps . I was considering a Finepix 2800 but it didn't feel as sturdy and was a lot bulkier than the Canon . The Canon fits nicely into the pocket so it saves you bringing the case if you want to take it with you when you are going on the prowl . You can also get a 2X and wide angle lenses for it and there is a waterproof case available if you fancy underwater shots . The camera can be bought for £200 on the net . Derek

Try the Areca Lodge . It's a new hotel & well located on Soi Diana but it is not too cheap . Go to the hotel reviews for a link to their website . Derek

B-man , If it's too noisy after the first night ( the construction work , not my bedroom antics ) I'll not be long finding another hotel . I just wanted to have somewhere booked for my 1st few nights . The last thing I want to do when I arrive is start looking for an hotel . Might meet up with you for a beer or 3 in the FLB in January - I arrive on the 5th . Probably not make it for the meeting that night as my TG will want me all to herself - tough choice huh ? ;D Derek

Can anyone recommend an hotel in the Udon Thani Area , preferably in the 1000 -1500 b range & with a website ? Derek

I used to play darts with my girlfriend ........... Until her head got blunt . ;D Derek

Another hint for packing your bags . Don't put your camcorder or tapes in your suitcase . The temperature & dampness will affect your camera and possibly damage your recordings . I wasn't able to use my camcorder for the 1st 4 days of my trip because the inside of the lens was misted up ! Before my last trip I bought one of those hard plastic type suitcases with a front combination lock and 2 side key locks . Just as well cause somebody in either Phnom Penh or Bangkok airports had tried to open the case - you could see the scuff marks around the front lock where they tried to force it with a screwdriver ! Plastic is very strong nowadays and they didn't get in . Those type of cases are more expensive but after this experience I think they are worth it . Derek

Did you hear about the man who took viagra for a headache ? He had a stiff neck all night ! ;D ;D Derek

If you really want to get the girls screaming at you dress up in a US navy uniform , cut your hair really short and you'll be the most popular man in Pattaya , especially if there are no other sailors about . ;D Derek

Andy , Whever I get a spare hour I'll be posting the next installment so keep your eyes peeled . Only another few episodes to go as I'm nearing the end of my trip . Derek

If you've already got a girl take her to Xcyte . They put on an excellent cabaret show & the girls love it . There are a few single girls there but not many . The best disco to pick up girls is Tonys but it does get very busy so get there early if you want a decent table . If you want a good night out BF a beer bar girl , ask her if a couple of her mates want to come , pay their BF and take them to Xcyte for a night of fun . Read my trip report for some pics . Derek ( TURBO )

Changing of hotels is a useful method of avoiding problems with unwanted visitors if you change TG's and your old one is persistant . Derek

Pattaya is a football watchers paradise . Last October I was able to sit in Cats a-go-go at 9 pm on a Saturday night and watch the Saturday afternoon 3pm kick off premiership match live . An added bonus of course was the TG sitting on my lap and the other one behind giving me a massage . And when you get to the boring bits ( lots of these if you're watching 1-0 Liverpool playing ) you can watch the girls dancing . So I guess you'll have no problem seeing your games , as long as you don't mind foreign commentry ! But you do miss big Ron's cock-ups ;D . Derek

Read the reviews in the Hotels section of the board ! Derek

Somebody at work read a story yesterday in a British tabloid about a drugs raid having taken place on a Pattaya niteclub and some falangs were arrested . Has anyone got any more info on this ? Maybe it's the news about Cats only reaching the outside world now ! Derek

Leeds 3 Man. City 0 Need I say more . ::) Derek

Contact them via their website ( link below ) and ask . Can't see them being full in Sept as it's off season . http://www.apexhotel.cjb.net/ Derek

I was stupid enough to fall for one on beach road last October . They ask you a few questions and you draw a ticket out of a bag and surprise , surprise you win a prize . To collect the prize you have to go with them and give them an 'hour' of your time . I didn't get back to my hotel for 4 hours , thoroughly pissed off ! Each questioner gets 500 baht for each person they get . The current favorite is Talay Villas where I was . They say it isn't time share but it really is , just well disguised . I saved a few people from being conned in June by simply going up to them and saying 'it's timeshare' when I spotted them being nabbed on beach road by the clipboard crew . They weren't long leaving when they heard that & I got a dangerous look from the clipboard guy/girl when they saw their 500 baht walk away . Derek

The Areca Lodge has rooms available in January and I've just booked the Haven Hotel and they may have more rooms left . Derek

I'll probably be booking with them for January in the next few days and I'll let you know if they tell me the same . If you are thinking about the RG they are fairly full in December & January so I would book quickly . Derek

Has anyone stayed there & what did you think ? It seems well located and well priced . The Apex is fully booked & am also trying the Haven & the Areca Lodge . Derek

There should be no problem bringing 2 girls back . I did it and I was on my own in a single suite ! Go to the RG website and e-mail Ib , the hotel owner , and tell him you want to book a double suite via the FLB website and ask him the price . He is usually fairly quick replying . Derek

The Edge , You must either be Irish or a U2 fan or both . As to the RG you can get a suite which has 2 separate bedrooms but sharing the living room / kitchenette . Just ask for a 2 bedroom suite when booking . It will work out cheaper than booking 2 separate rooms . You can get a passing taxi from the hotel into town for 10 baht but to get back out again you have to hire one which costs 60 baht because it is off their route . One of the things I liked most , apart from the friendly , helpful staff , was the in room safes . You could get money out any time you liked and when you came back each night you could chuck your wallet & camera into it & not worry about the girl dissappearing with them . I kept a supply of emergency money in it which came in useful a few mornings when I discovered I hadn't enough in my wallet to pay the TG ! Derek

I've e-mailed a reservation request twice to this hotel but had no reply yet . Has anyone had any similiar problem ? I've read the reviews of the hotel , has anyone else any comments on it ? It sounds like it's well located , cheap & I like the in-room safes . Guess I was spoilt by the RG ;D . Derek

If you take the alleyway opposite the Marine boxing ring , past the Blues Factory and all the beer bars , past the open air Marine Seafood Restaurant ( excellent food BTW ) which is on your right and carry on straight you eventually end up on Pratamnak Rd next to a large hotel with Marble steps . Which hotel is this , what's it like and have you any contact info for it ? I'm looking for an hotel in that general area in January . I would stay at the RG but it is full . Cheers Derek

As I said before had got a price of £505 off Dial-a-flight for the Eva flight from Belfast to Bangkok via Heathrow but because the return leg arrived into LHR too late to catch the last flight to Belfast I had to stay in London overnight and catch the 1st flight next morning . According to them I had to pay for the hotel myself . I was in Belfast at a mates stag party at the weekend and found out he is going to Thailand on his honeymoon , using the same Eva flight routing as I was looking at . He booked through Trailfinders but they were including the overnight stopover in London in the price of the ticket . I rang Trailfinders today and got the flight for £504.20 inc. taxes ! I told the guy on the phone about Dial-a-flight expecting me to pay for the hotel myself and he said it is Eva Air that pay for the acommodation and it is always included in the ticket price ! I was even able to fly a week earlier than I expected as trailfinders had an availability that wasn't coming up on Dial-a-flight's system . So watch out for misinformed travel consultants or ones trying to pull a fast one . Dial-a-flight were not the only ones to misinform me , Flights 4 less told me the same . I'll see you all on the 5th January . ;D Derek