The_Fat_Controller

The Areca Lodge is full of British wrinklies ! They are all playing card games around the pool in the morning. Just had 14 days in Pattaya, and it is very busy with families and couples as said before. Also, if you want one of the more popular hotels, it would be a good idea to have a reservation. Areca Lodge are just about full from now until the end of March, and they said April bookings are much higher than normal.

Have to agree about NPK and Rak ! Just used them again for a ticket for my TG to the UK, and as usual they were very helpful and efficient. Last year I contacted several Pattaya agents by e-mail from the UK, and NPK were the first to reply and had the most competitive prices for the ticket I needed. I also visited some others when I was in Pattaya, but NPK were certainly tops for service and attitude, and Rak speaks very good English.

A buffet breakfast is included at the Areca Lodge, and is reasonable.

I will be staying in the Holiday Mansion for 3 days next week. It is directly opposite the British Embassy, and like yourself my gf and I will be heading for the Visa section. The rate was 1484 Baht per night for 2 people in a Premier Deluxe room including breakfast. This is where I booked and paid for it. I have used this company several times before with no problems for other hotels. http://www.thailand-hotels.voyagenow.com/t...gkok-hotel.html The lowest price is only available on certain dates, just enter your dates for a quote. Bookings are usually confirmed within 24 h

I'll join the Areca fan club too, but if you decide to stay there it is essential to have a reservation. It is a very popular hotel, and I'll be back for my 8th visit in early February.

You'll be lucky to find any. The UK school holidays are when the airlines put their prices UP !

New airport to Pattaya travel time should be about 75 minutes in average traffic, depending on how well they manage the road building around the local area. This seemed to be a serious concern in some articles I read in the Bangkok Post and Nation newspapers last November. Possible the airport will open in September, but without the local infrastructure fully finished. TIT !

As often as you can afford it! IMHO March, April and May are too hot, September and October too wet.

http://www.arecalodge.com Only 1190 Baht for great (poolview) room, even less for no view, and the room size is the same, breakfast included. Guest friendly, quiet, and about 200m from the Lek on Soi Diana.

Happy New Year to all on Pattayatalk. As BigDUSA posted, the Areca Lodge is quest friendly. Your guest will have to leave her ID at the front desk, and if you can be bothered to wake up in the morning, breakfast for 2 is included in the room rate. IMHO the Areca cannot be beaten for value for money, with decent rooms, good aircon, a quiet location and 2 good pools.

Areca Lodge has a sauna and gym. http://www.arecalodge.com

That picture is about right for a "no wind" flight. Last week it was coming over Stornoway in NW Scotland and heading off towards Denmark, and has not been that much further south than that recently.

The Singapore Airlines Newark to Singapore flight heads east over the Atlantic, so I guess the Thai flight will do the same. How far north they go depends entirely on the weather patterns over the Atlantic Ocean, but it is certainly NOT a Polar track, though it may go over Greenland and near to Iceland.

Have used Asiatravel several times with no problems, and better rates than contacting the hotel directly. Last holiday in November 2004, used this company http://www.thailand-hotels.voyagenow.com The rates were even better than Asiatravel, but you do have to prepay by credit card.

Nice hotel. I have stayed there 7 times, and will be returning in late January. The High Season price, Dec 1st - 31st Jan for a pool view room is 1690 Bt, drops to 1190 Bt on Feb 1st, check the website ! For other opinions check the Hotel Reviews.

If you are upstairs, the overhead lockers are MUCH smaller than on the main deck, and on my last flight a lot of bags had to be stored in the coat hanging area at the top of the stairs. Be prepared to have your bag stored there, and if it soft-sided and contains fragile items make sure it goes at the top of the (large) pile. Regarding leg room, whatever your size you should be OK. Seat pitch and recline is such that if the person in front of you has the seat fully reclined, it is difficult to squeeze past your neighbour, so if you need to get up and about, request an aisle seat. Even then

Just completed another round trip with China in Dynasty class. Outbound from AMS the aircraft did not have personal TVs, but on the way back it did. Service was excellent as usual. Have just booked for January 31st, and the price from Gazelle Travel was £799, a slight increase due to fuel surcharges, but still good value I think.

The walk to second road from the Areca is about 3 minutes, and to Beach Road another 5. Top_Cat and friends take a LOT longer as they often get hauled in to the beer bars along Soi Diana ! LOL I am also a BIG fan of the Areca Lodge, and am leaving tomorrow for what will be my 7th stay there. As for beds, a Double Room gets 1 bed, and a Twin Room 2 beds, and this is how they are described on the website. If you want to book with requests other than those offered on the Reservations page, just e-mail the hotel, they are very helpful. Hope this has been useful information !

China Airlines from AMS is now back to 3 classes, First, Dynasty(Business) and Economy. The Premium Economy with big seat and standard economy service has been withdrawn. The round trip Dynasty upgrade is available for £300 to UK travellers, well worth it, and is around £780. 19 days to go and I'll be upstairs on the 747 going to LOS !

Areca Lodge, Soi Diana. Plenty car parking space. Hotel is great, 2 pools, guest friendly, nice rooms that are well maintained. Just my opinion. http://www.arecalodge.com

Try my usual agent http://www.gazelletravel.co.uk

My GF vivited the UK using Emirates in April. The fares FROM Thailand are cheaper than from the UK. Try e-mailing the travel agent I used, http://www.npkpattaya.com Address is npk@ptty.loxinfo.co.th and I am sure they will find out for you.

http://www.npkpattaya.com/

I got my girlfriend's ticket here in March http://www.npkpattaya.com , in Soi Pattayaland 1 The ladies working there were exceptionally helpful and we got a good deal with Emirates as they had just started the Dubai-Glasgow route. I tried e-mailing several Pattaya travel agents from the UK, this company were the first to reply, quoted the best fares on various airlines, and got my business. I visited the office in person on several occasions, and the ticket was issued the same day as I paid for it. Price competition between agents is fierce, so shopping around will not save

Have just made my online booking at this site, http://www.thailand-hotels.voyagenow.com/t..._rai-hotel.html They have very good prices for hotels all over Thailand, and believe me, I have done a LOT of searching. BassGod, the price for my dates in October was 964 Bt for a double, and 903 Bt for single occupancy. As I hope to persuade the GF to stay in the hotel with me, and not at her family home, I DID indeed splash out on the double room ! LOL