teelack

Back to the subject. I have usually done the following. It takes a bit of work setting up the relationship but it works. Where I live a major player is The Flight Centre which I believe is international. They claim is that they will beat any advertised fare by $1 and give a $20.00 voucher for the next trip. What I do is to trawl the local travel agents and interesting airlines web sites for great fares. I simply copy and paste to my 'chosen/designated' travel consultant and that is the deal that I get. I have been doing this for years and I believe that it could have saved me a heap of money and aggravation. It means that I deal with one LOCAL travel agent and usually just one person. As a tail piece I asked the consultant recently if this method bothered her. She laughingly replied "That is what I am here for and get paid for".

Is Mr Toom still 1000 baht all up?

I also get the feeling that they have designated filling points perhaps where they get a better deal They are prepared to wait for ages rather than look elsewhere.

Thanks Butch. I will try PT taxi next month and report back. Mr T let me down on a couple of fronts last trip so it is time to try something new. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Seeing as we are all admitting to being CC I will expand on the Bell Bus prices. Buy from their office or online and it is 250 baht. Buy from a Pattaya travel agent and it is 380 baht and I am sure that there are in between prices. They pick up and deliver to your accommodation as long as it is listed on their website. Suggestion is that if you know that you are going to use them book from home as it is easy down load and print the tickets although a ticket is not essential to get to the transfer station. One last point. I was on Bell last week. I could set my watch on a 90 minute journey but they took is so gently that the trip took 105 minutes so if the extra transit time is an issue, beware. Seems that they are trying to save gas and run more economically. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

I would pick Sabai Inn but you need to get the better rooms there and not take the cheap option as some of these are inside rooms, ie, no windows. Make sure what your getting when you book.

This morning I Googled airport taxis in Bangkok and there seems to be a number of options for 1000 baht all up. I personally see no reason to pay more. I would however like to see any other personal recommendations from boardies I have been using Mr. T for years without problems until last month. I had a day time arrival and as usual went to entrance three but no driver. I rang his number and they chased it up and got back to me quickly. The bloody man was hanging about outside awaiting me and I headed off to see if I could find them but ended up back at the start. We eventually hooked up after another call, although he didnt come into the arrival hall, and off we went. Needless to say he also stopped to gas up and gave me a grumpy look when I offered no tip. As a post script I did email my complaint to Mr T and have so far seen no response. I think it is time I spread the my net a bit wider.

Me too. Good start to my week especially those "... Enviable erections" Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk

Not sure which yarn I like the best so I might as well say, all of them. Always appreciate your efforts. Thanks Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk

I have a scheme that has worked for some years now. I deal with a company that advertises best price guaranteed. I scan the internet and when I find the deal, flight and conditions that suit me I copy and paste to the agent. I recently booked at a great price some $200 lower than their best price! Not only did they get that deal for me but I also got a dollar off (best price guarantee) and a voucher for $20 for my next flight. I really cannot think how I can better this deal. Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Hi there and thanks for a great report. Its a funny thing but the Philippines leave me with so many contradictory feelings. I have been doing home work in the last week or two regarding a visit in the next few months. The truth is that I keep on getting put off a visit and your report has as many negatives as positives and I am back to wondering if it is worth the effort. This in no way shows any disrespect to your excellent report. i am still fence sitting!

Where in the USA do you normally get $US dollars? PS Your profile does say that you live there!

I also read that Harbour Mall may end up as the only Tucom in town. That could be a game changer for the area.

Its a while since I have been there but I think that little has changed. Think of PP as having a lot of Hostess bars/ Gentlemens Clubs and also some heavy duty night clubs. Also, the hostess bars were a hoot in that the girls drink what you want them to drink and it is beer for beer with me. They can get as pissed as newts and some interesting things can happen in these bars. I recall that there is some really good info put out by a publishing company called Canaby Publications and all the up to date happenings are well documented. I have only ever stayed at the Flamingo because it was handy for bars, night clubs, market and supermarket and a 2 dollar ride to the river side. It also will pick you up free from the airport and handle all your internal bookings if your heading off to Snooky or Siem Reap. By the way, forget the local currency. The de facto currency here is the $US

I was wondering if in fact Harbour Mall and the Big C sort of feed off each other and in time whether the gap between will get filled with a better shopping experience. They are close enough and on the same side of the road to make it happen. I was reading that the owners of Harbour have spent 2 billion baht getting to this stage so presumably there is a plan for the longer term and the backing to make it happen.

As usual you started my day in the best possible way. Thanks

Thanks guys. I will keep doing the home work.

I am seriously thinking of having a five day stop-over in Manila in the next few months. Air fares are fine as Philippines Airways run from Auckland, Manila and onto Bangkok. Stop over is fine from the visa point of view as well. 8 in What I would like to do is start doing the research on the areas to stay and the possible hotels. Ideally I would be looking for the Manila equivalent of Sukhumwit Road in Bangkok and Sio LK/Walking Street/Sois 7& 8 in Pattaya. In other words, in the action area.Any advice appreciated. I think that there is enough info on day trips but its the night life that I am interested in. Incidentally I have read Grubers TR but would like some other thoughts.

Actually I think that if you count the Oasis the number is 17. Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk

At a quick count up I think that there are now a total of 14 a'gogo in the soi!

I have no idea but I only once stayed in the area and it will be the last time. I was however somewhat unlucky in that there was a major renovation going on over the road and the tile cutter can give you toothache! I guess that with all the construction going on in Pattaya you can never be sure. Also there is action in the street till 4.00 AM or so and if a bit of almost guaranteed peace and quiet is on the agenda you really have to look at other options.

I too feel your pain Jacko but in the interests of balance here is my Expedia story. I have booked both fares and hotels.There was no changes in the air fares but I did changes with the hotel bookings. I found them fine to deal with and I was dealing with India as well. I also was on their list to occasionally get special hotel discounts and used a voucher to stay at a top class Pattaya hotel for the price of a low class one. All in all a good deal. One other comment. If they have a local service and local number, use it. Ringing at night for instance could get you sent anywhere in the world but ringing in your local business hours might get you one on one with a local operator.

I note that this movie has started appearing on some of the pirate sites so you could get a head start on it.

Tallguy beat me to it. I went for a look at the fairy last night. This is a bizarre choice of name for this place. Firstly, it is on the site of the old Babyboomers gay a'gogo. It is also in the thick of the Pattaya gay scene. We looked and was told that it "Was for guys on their own that were looking for a beer, blow job or hand job'' Very salubrious!

I was looking at some booking sites and BYOjet keeps popping up of late. The fares were good and as far as I could see there were no hidden costs on the fares that I checked. Due to some contact issues I did an Internet search for reviews and its a bit of a shock. Almost half the reviews were excellent and more than half terrible. Looking at the phone contacts they appear international but I wonder if anyone out there has had any experience with them?