teelack

I was there a while ago and did a trip report. I was influenced by Rhino Tusk (great photos) but perhaps if you look at "Search" you will find other points of view.

Depending on your needs. Are you a smoker as I think that would make a hell of a difference. Non smoking: Retox Soi Lengkee. 98 baht, Almost next to Retox is the Vogue/Thailand and the breakfast is about the same price but you can sit out doors and smoke. Killkenny. Basic breakfast is 110 baht but you can smoke and you do have the Soi LK circus to look at.

One last comment regarding Leather. I had heard of his Private Dancer but could not find a copy in our conservative land. One night I was working late and looked it up on the Internet and lo and behold, there it was ordering me to print it of while the office was empty! I did so and wondered if in fact there was checks on the printers and paper usage as this was about 200 pages of print. I didn't get the sack and I didn't get an account but I did start a long enjoyment of his work. I always assumed that there had been an 'arrangement' when Ricky was running the Private Dancer club because if I recall correctly he did book signings there .

Funny but I too know Praed Street and in the only other Spider book that had a presence in Pattaya he puts his mate up in the Penthouse Hotel and that get a bit of free publicity.

I haven't read this entire thread so if I duplicate, sorry. I have just finished read Stephen Leather's TAKEDOWN which I think is probably his latest. It a hard to put down read and while not the best of his work is still worth a few hours of your time if your into the hard case mentality beloved of the Lee Child school of writing. What else makes this worth a review is the Pattaya connection. As is probably well known Leather is no stranger to Pattaya and brings the place into this novel. I will get back to that. The book concerns a number of threads but of interest to Pattaya people are the Russian mafia connection and the fact that it is seen as a haven for British gangsters. These two groups plus a mob of mercenaries make up the cast. What you will have some fun with, is the Walking Street connection. figuring out the places that the fictional places are based on are fun. We even have a club manager called Ricky! So where is Red Oktober, The Cellblock and the Firehouse? It really isn't that difficult. I like the yarn about the bar girl who has penned on one hand BUY ME A DRINK and on the other (expecting a refusal) CHEAP CHARLIE. This book is a romp. The 'hero' is uncompromising, as are his English gangster mates, and two Russians who mess with a bar girl end up with beer bottles inserted where the sun don't shine. As he says "It was only a Singha bottle". Read, enjoy, forget.

I can understand you not wanting to debate or indeed substantiate your comments. I would have thought that the offer of a retraction or an apology would have had you drooling. Bugger! Wrong again. As for the green/red ticks. I am still a long way behind some of the best contributors to this board and right or wrong, I always tend to read their contributions. I will concede that travel in general and Thailand in particular are important parts of my life but that is perhaps why I have totally no interest in social dating or chat sites. If I have anything to say its here and not Twitter etc. Incidentally, if I recall correctly I congratulated one boardie on getting to a significant tick milestone and got some red ticks and flack for that! I also have a life to live so your not on your own there but being called a liar is somehow important to MY life if not yours. Incidentally, if I do know a few people on the board it is simply because when I am in Pattaya I am always up to meet people at Cherry Bar, bar crawls and the late lamented FLB parties to mention a couple. I have also met people on a one on one basis and there are few people who's company I didn't enjoy. I would simply call this an extension to a circle of friends that this site allows one to make. This is also a part of 'Having a life'. Finally, whilst you might think that what I do is a waste and that I don't 'have a life' I would point out that I did my thing with fifty years in the work force. I have been married, had kids and a satisfying career. I now have my time in the sun literally with up to 4 months a year in Thailand. I do have the time, the interest and perhaps some ability to string some words together. My trip reports have always been dedicated to the board member who has a few feet of snow outside his home in Canada or where have you, and who dreams of Thailand. That to me and obviously others, is a worthwhile pursuit in my retirement years.

Jacko. You mentioned that you wanted to get back to topic. For this reason I have been quiet for a few days but perhaps you will allow me to take umbrage at the above. To the very best of my knowledge I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN A LIE about you and would be pleased to retract it or apologise should that be the case. I have said many times that a mans spending habits are up to themselves but should I wish to express an opinion then its up to me. I am one of the most strident believers that Pattaya is for everyone, and be you well heeled or frugal, you can still have the time of your life here. Please let me and your fellow boardies know when I lied about you. Yes, I paraphrase (who doesn't) but you did write this "...as i have said before i try to dress well and smell nice I think some of the bad experiences guys have are brought about by their own distrusting behaviour and the belief that everyone is out to rip them off". I am not sure what smelling nice has to do with some guys "Bad experiences" but I guess that you know. Then you write this."Teelack and Jacko you guys have been the most vociferous in urging maximum caution. I would love to see a single example of me being "Vociferous" which I suggest is a word that you don't understand and should take care when you use it. As someone who almost always goes LT or LLT I need to be extremely trusting or my life would be a misery. Also, both Jacko and I said that our drugged experience was many years ago so perhaps we did in fact learn some lessons.

Same thing happened to me quite some years ago and it was very hard to get over. I guess that somewhere in my psyche I may have a reluctance to get involved with freelancers but then again it still happens. I can only believe that when a girl is employed by a bar/club there is at least some possibility of tracing her but then I ask myself who's side the cops would have been on. I did call them but when they turned up the guest register and indeed the receptionist were of no value at all.

Fisherman the use of the invented word slobbishness I think covers your description of guys who neither dress, smell or look the part. It's easier to say than list the sins individually. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

I wasn't going to bother but hey, let’s do it. So. By preaching a bit of caution this labels us as "Glass half full" people? I don't think so. Perhaps forewarned is forearmed is just as applicable. As your previous posts point out, and indeed the above, you are prepared to pay 4000 baht plus 1500 for a LT plus all the trimmings. This is over the odds for Pattaya but each to his own. The vast majority simply cannot pay this when added to food, hotel, flights and what have you but as sure as hell they all have a good time in this town. Then again a lot live here full time and there are plenty like me who spend four months a year in Thailand. A number of your posts have drawn attention to the fact that many of us are lazy and self-destructive because we neither dress, bathe nor groom to your standards. Thanks for the hint but I think that we have it now! If we missed out last night by not being presented properly despite offering 4000 baht then I guess that you are right. In a previous mail you mentioned that some boardies were ganging up on you and that you were taking umbrage at people who dare question your attitudes, spending habits or your advice. You even suggested that there was a clique who had it in for you! Read the following. I get ticked off from time to time by the mutual admiration societies on here Jacko and Teelack I made a contribution to a thread and you two deem it necessary to make what you think are smart arse comments.You Jacko are a moderater and should be encouraging people to respond and join in with threads.I have been making occasional contributions here for a number of years but never have i belittled other peoples contributions. The people who contribute to this forum are as different as any bunch of people who could ever be found on this earth. This is in terms of finance, appearance, attitudes and most importantly, what they come to Thailand for. Perhaps a little bit more live and let live would be appreciated. PS. Is your comments regarding our “slobishness” not belittling?

Evil. It depends what value you place on the view. Yes, the Baht Buster is great value but only if you want TV sets showing a different form of sport on it. Give me people watching any day and bugger the 11 baht difference! Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Kilkenny has a 99 baht breakfast. The breakfast is fine but ask for the fried tomatoes, not canned. The the real joy of the place is that the view from the corner of Soi LK is as good as it gets if you are a people watcher. Sip the coffee, see the Pattaya life and think just what 99 baht get you in most of the world. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

As usual. a big thanks. The multi use condoms got me going.

Well done. This is the best way to handle your question. Don't forget to spend an hour or two each day looking at other accommodation options in the area that you like. I admit that I took some time of looking and inspection before I found what I wanted. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Well located and I have read positive comments over the years but never stayed there. If your looking for it on the internet try SUTUS Court.

The only advice I will offer is as follows. Read all you can about your destinations on sites like this. In my case I believe that it saved me a lot of time and money as well as having introductions before I even set foot in some of the places mentioned. If you cannot find the information that you look for make a note and post it here. The one thing however that you CANNOT rely on is that any boardie will have the same opinions, needs, wants as you do. For every guy who is happy to pay premium prices there is another looking for a bargain on Beach Road. For everyone that tells you Thai food is good another will extol the virtues of the vast range of European food in Pattaya. Many will tell you of the pleasures of the gogo bars while others never go near them and quite legitimately believe that they are a rip-off. And so it goes on. Pattaya is a place that has something for everyone, even those that secretly have a fetish need and want a good spanking! There is simply no " One " Thailand or Pattaya. Enjoy but read, ask and follow your own agenda.

Hi there and thanks. Here are a few more details. The direct Thai Air has been about $1750 for the last 2/3 years so I gave up using them. They recently extended to flying seven days a week and have cut the price to $1200. The price that I have paid via STA Travel is $604.00. Here is the point. The plane leaves at midnight from Auckland with a stop over in China and then arrives in Bangkok at 10.40am and this should land me in Pattaya by 1.00PM. Haircut, bank, money exchange swim and nap and its like getting an extra night in town. The Thai Air flight gets in at 8.55 PM. You will also note that the flight follows a normal sleep pattern whereas the Thai Air expects you to shut up and sleep about 6.00PM NZ time. No wonder I never sleep. On the way back the flight departs Bangkok at a very reasonable 6.55PM (Allows me to book a 250 baht bus trip at 3.00PM on Bell Bus before I leave home) and gets into Auckland at 4.00PM. This is the only drawback against the Thai Air direct but there is a flight Jetstar to Hawkes Bay at 6.55 PM and this was all up only $79! I am happy for the trade off. I checked STA and they have a load of dates at the above price. I got in as soon as I saw it as I never expect to see it again. As a side issue. I am happy to travel Malaysian however they have stopped the morning flight into Auckland and the only time that you can arrive now in midnight. The price has also gone up. I enjoyed their budget service so I am sorry about this.

I completely agree with you and understand but against Thai Air special price for instance the saving for me is $600 and that is not to be sneezed at. I also tie in well with regional flights and arriving at 10.50 am is like having an extra day. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

I have never bothered booking seats as I always ask for the emergency seats or I am last on and look for a bunch of empty ones. I am usually lucky and land the extra leg room. When you talk about a budget carrier I have to say that for my money when you are at the back they are all 'budget' and I have flown with many carriers. There seems to me to be very little difference between them. As for China Southern. I flew with them possibly four years ago and mentioned in my trip report that what they needed was a few years of dealing Euro passengers in order to understand their needs. According to what I read in Skytraks they have indeed learned their lessons and I don't see that the reviews are any worse than Thai Air or Swiss Air for example.

In my opening post I mentioned that the fare was the lowest that I had seen. Well bugger me! Today I logged on and that price was reduced again by over $160! Booked on the spot. Thanks for the feed back.

I have been looking for flights into Bangkok and by far the lowest cost is China Southern. It is in fact the lowest cost I have ever seen. It does have a 3 hour stop in Guangzhou but I don't care as most of the other details are spot on. The plane is stated to be a 777-ER. Has anyone any comments to make re the airline or the plane type? It is yonks since I have used a Chinese airline. Skytrax isn't all bad but some personal feed back would be appreciated.

This only applies if you don't lose your phone! Yes, it does happen. It happened to me and also to a friend of mine in Pattaya. Losing one sim is bad. Losing two is a disaster. In the long run I believe it better to have two phones. Personally I throw my home phone in the safe and start it up again the day that I leave Thailand.

Which only shows that a meaningful and sensible answer is only possible if the full information is provided at the outset.

Why go to Tucom? Sim cards are available in any convenience store. I note that many 7/11 stores also have boards with clearly printed cards with dozens of offers. Read them and take your pick. There are 2 caveats here. Does your hotel have good internet? If so you really don't need an expensive fast card. If however it doesn't then trying to use a slow card as a hot point is hard work. Seems to me also that unless you are travelling to the boonies most of the cards are much alike. If however you are going to be in the wop wops you need to take advice as to what card works best for your area. Bottom line is, it all comes down to your own wants and needs. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

I have mentioned this before but unsure if its the truth. There was a report that due to all the food and wastes in the beach area that it was attracting sea snakes. Truth or not I propose to stick to the hotel pool.