The_Fat_Controller

I stayed there last year with a friend from Scotland, separate rooms as she also likes ladies. Absolutely no issues with noise or feeling unsafe in Soi 2, my friend walked all around Pattaya on her own, both during the day and returning to the hotel at night and never mentioned a thing. We had rooms that backed onto Soi 2 at the Large Pool (Deluxe B Non-Smoking) and got a deal to include breakfast for one, just email the hotel and ask for their best rate. Rooms are not that big but clean and comfortable, staff are good, as is the Sala Thai restaurant. The only odd thing is that

One small point, many drugs have a warning on them "Do not store above 25 C" Can you be sure any pharmacy outside of the big hospitals will comply with this advice?

All I can say is that Mr T has never let me down in the 7 years I have been using his service.

I am also an Areca Lodge fan. Decent rooms, guest friendly, good location and if you can be bothered a good breakfast too. I just had green chicken curry and some pork with oyster sauce! The usual Western stuff is available which includes decent back bacon. Now off to one of the two pools.

I am a regular at the Areca, having stayed 3 weeks at a time, 2 or 3 times a year since it opened. I would assess the beds as FIRM, not rock hard. I have tried the RG but found it a little too far out of the way for me and as I use the pool wherever I stay, the traffic noise was really a pain during the day. Will be back in Pattaya this coming Friday and in my bed at the Areca that evening.

There lies your problem, NEVER let a UK bank make the exchange. Send your money in STERLING and let the receiving Thai bank convert. The currency exchange companies always take their share, if it is not a discrete charge it will be incorporated into the rate.

Yes, fixed fee for SWIFT transfers on any amount and no limit on the amount either. A reason for the transfer MUST be specified for any transfer to Thailand, no idea why, but that's the rules with Nationwide. My Thai bank (Bangkok Bank) charge a fee of 0.25% of the amount received in Baht, maximum fee is 500 Baht.

Nationwide charge £20 for international SWIFT transfers. This goes up to £25 on the 1st November 2010. Just search for "SWIFT" on the NW website.

Buy a KINDLE from Amazon. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-Wireless-Re...=sa_menu_kdp3w2 Classics are often free, and some of the latest best-sellers are less than £3. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-Kindle/b/ref...;node=341689031 I am waiting for mine right now. No dirty, dusty or snot covered pages and the books are yours forever.

Taking off at Amsterdam. Take-off flap setting for sure. You can see the spray from the tarmac as he has just rotated, would not get that on landing.

A bit like your spelling then Codhead ? I am sure China Airlines will be around for many years Villa, I fly on 28th October.

China Airlines prices from UK regional airports using KLM connections are around £700 for Economy and £1329 for Business. This is for travel at the end of October 2010. I have recently booked Business Class for £1329 from Glasgow, which is still a lot cheaper than Emirates or any other 1-stop option.

Excellent steaks at MY WAY, a small restaurant in the Diana Arcade next to KISS on second road opposite Mike Shopping Mall. The Nasi Goreng is excellent too.

The Central Festival has a good selection of places to eat on floors 5 and 6, plus a food court in the basement. I like the Japanese style curry in CocoIchibanya. Prices are the same as everywhere else in Pattaya for the major franchises (MK/Pizza Company/Swensens etc)

3 trips a year on China Airlines for the last 6 years, have only had the newer entertainment system twice from AMS. I was chatting to the crew last trip, the newer cabins are planned for the AMS service but no firm dates.

Economy seats about average size on the 747-400 they use from AMS. No personal TV, just screens around the cabin. Normally on time from AMS as the aircraft arrives about 9am and departs 2.30pm. Cabin crew are excellent, a mix of Thai and Taiwanese on the AMS-BKK-AMS flights. I now use their discounted business class, which comes in around £1200 flying from Glasgow.

Sandals and socks, the biggest fashion faux-pas. However, seems to be quite normal amongst the old gits in Pattaya, as are the Bobby Charlton comb-overs and the occasional syrup ! Why wear a wig in this climate ?

One hint, if you like to go for walk in the daytime and are not from a hot climate, put some sunscreen on the TOP of your feet, I got burnt once and it was painful. You can wear pretty much what you want, when you want. The Thais like CLEAN and FRAGRANT, so stock up on the deodorant and shower often. If you plan a temple visit, a shirt with a collar and long trousers will suffice.

The Areca pool was "guest only" last year for a while as they closed the second (big) pool whilst extending the decking around it after construction of the new Evergreen wing.

According to their website, pressing # only speeds up the dialling process as it tells the computer you have finished entering the number. You SHOULD have a recorded rate message at the start of the call, did you get that ? I made a mistake by NOT dialling 18185 before using that service and got charged £7+ for a call that would have cost 20p. I cannot access some 0844 numbers through my landline provider, AOL, but just get a message saying it's not available. Time to search through the VM website, good luck !

Areca Lodge pool use is 200 Baht. Just confirmed this with reception as I am here right now !

The Areca Lodge have a promotion running right now, started 22nd June. Email them at info@arecalodge.com and ask for their special rates. I am staying there right now and it is pretty quiet, occupancy running at 50-60 % which is low for them and a lot of the usual suspects I see every June are missing. I am NOT connected with this hotel, just have been staying here 3 times a year since 2002.

The worst thing you have to worry about is what comes UP from the drains when the streets flood ! This "soup" can ruin a pair of shoes and trousers. At least what is falling on your head is relatively clean. The rain is mostly vertical, so an umbrella and walking slowly works for me.

There are now 3 zones for ash. Areas where ash MAY be found in low concentrations, there will be no restrictions in theses areas. RED on the map. Medium ash areas. GREY on the map. In these areas aircraft may fly subject to the time limitations determined by the aircraft/engine manufacturers, so that will be an individual AIRLINE decision subject to their own risk assessment. High ash areas. BLACK on the map. This area will be closed to commercial traffic. New maps are here http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pres...on/fiveday.html

Five day forecast here http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pres...on/fiveday.html