teelack

Thanks for the comments. I was thinking about Laos yesteday and thought I would pass this on. The main thing thaat I noticed here was that the place is 30 years behind Thailand in sophistication and understanding of tourists needs but this is well compensated for with the willingness to do the best that they can and always with a smile. I am not sure if I will ever go back and with Burma opening up I might have to make a visit there one day.

Never seen this place nor heard of the differ club. Have you got a name or a map reference?

Thanks for the info. I went back to the example in the thread and it all made a bit more sense.

Hi Scott. Please place a 'reserved' sign on my table for three weeks hence!

I have a family to buy for as they look after house and cat. I found that the one place where I could get every thing is the newish so called Factory Outlet on what I think is called Tripp Plaza just up from Mikes and runs between Beach and Second Road. Great range at negotiable prices.

Thanks for the site. I assume that the system is that you print out the flight that you want and take it to your friendly travel agent and just hope that they will honour it?

Here is my take. Mr T and Mr Toom are two different outfits. I have only used Mr T recently and no issues. To fix these firmly in your mind, drop in on Mr T in Soi Diane and pick up a card. He is signposted almost across the road from The Areca. I did drop in and discussed my needs when getting a cab back from Bangkok and wanted a pick up at the Nana. Spot on time and no issues.

I just hope that you are this confident when your 70 but it sounds as if your 100% sure about everything that you think you know about. Besides health and age issues some of us are tied into minding for handicapped people in out families and other issues but I assume that this is too difficult for you to grasp. Try not to be so arrogant when making your silly assumptions.

OK I take it all back. I was led to believe that the fare was in the $1000 dollar mark and less for kids. I guess my first mistake was not to ask the OP if the 4 passengers were all adults.

Explain that please. When you have stopped having the ability to earn its not surrender; its reality.

Well assuming 2 adults and 2 kids, surely this is miles over the top at $8000? I have never read fares of this level here.

Difficult to do when your on a pension! As I understand it the Brits and Australians are world champions on adding surcharges to fares. Having said that I assume that the OP has booked business class and therefore the answer is in his own hands.

In a city like Pattaya there are thousands of girls who are NOT on the the game. Just look at the banks, retail scene etc. The issue is that two week millionaires are looking for a quick shag rather than a relationship and are therefore unlikely to go where the Thai people go to relax. In my younger days I used to search out dance halls where locals went to relax. There was always an element of danger " Whats the white man doing on our patch try to fuck our women" but in the main there was a lot of fun to be had. There has been one constant in my search for non bar girls and that is in fact dancing with the locals. Its an ice breaker and has worked for me in Latin America, Australasia and even in Asian countries but I have never even contemplated it in Pattaya. In quite a lot of trips I have met a lady visiting her brother in Pattaya who moved in with me for a week. I also met a lady who was a sales rep but these 2 were out of hundreds of people so I do believe that your chances are slim.

You have a fine way with words your reverence.

Bloody strange place this Pattaya. You can get a party in nuns habits but not Playboy Bunnies. Whats this telling us?

Have a look at the Windmill in Naklu. Its right on the main street. Another option might be to contact Xzone Nev who I believe owns a place up there.

I have been to Nong Nooch and had photos with the apes. I loved the result and hated the experience, if that makes sense. Like many of the posters I hate the practice and as a newbie thought it was great but I am cured now and will not do it again. If indeed they are sedated (and I believe that to be the case) then there is a good reason to stay well clear of the practice and perhaps this thread is a good place to start.

Thanks. Gave you a tick for this site. Have never seen it before but its a good place to browse.

Like me he keeps on looking for the best CURRENT deal within a certain geograhical area. Thats my way as well but I repeat, I will not now stay at a place until I have had a look first. Oh dear the difference between perception and reality!

Well IMHO the answer is to book a 1000 baht taxi with T or Toom and if he/she is not there go to the cab rank. Nothing to lose and 500 baht to gain.I have had so few issues with T or Toom and others that I believe it is worth the time, and when I say time I mean one minute!

Appreciated. I have been wanting to do the trip to Nong Kai but never had the courage. Also had the desire to do the one to KL or a side trip to Lankawi. I will read and learn.

Thanks for the comments guys. There is a bit of jargon here that has gone over my head but all in all it looks reasonably safe and worth taking a laptop rather than using an internet cafe. One more question. If I log onto a site, say my bank, is the site at risk only as long as I have the site open? In other words, if I log on, check, adjust or whatever and log off in the quickest possible time does this reduce my chances or being hacked even more?

Interesting comments Simon. I have had the same issues and in fact it has lead to rolling around on the floor with security sorting it out. The sad thing for me is that I am in a place where legally there is no smoking. I simply ask for a change of position of ash tray and I am attacked. This has not just happened one and I see it as a similar situation to the famous Oscar Wide saying. It was about fox hunting but went, "The unspeakable chasing the uneatable." Smoking will in the end go the same way as fox hunting but not without smokers defending their patch till the bitter end. In some ways I dont blame them (being an ex smoker) but by being a bit more considerate they will put the day off and threads like this will have much less venom.

I would add one more point to this thread. When I am in Pattaya I usually go and look at two or three places that I have read about or that others have recommended. Its always interesting to note the difference between your ideas about whats good and other reviewers ideas. Also, photos on the web can look so good and I am sure that some places use a higher priced room photo to sell a lower priced one. Its all a case of touch and feel. One more small point but for my next trip I have actually specified the room number that I want. I know that the light is good, its quiet and other reasons. This again is all part of the learning experience.

I was just wondering about this issue and really dont have the technical nous. How safe is it to use free wi fi in hotels and where have you? Am at any greater or lesser risk of security breaches say than using an Internet cafe? If there is an issue are there any remedies? The reason that I ask is that in a recent hotel stay all that was required for free wi fi was to put you hotel room in followed by the name and this information was handed out at reception on pieces of paper.