BigDUSA

I wouldn't take a taxi since you don't know your way around Pattaya and most likely neither will the taxi driver. Look for reliable car and driver posts in this section and use one of the services recommended. I've used Alex a number of times and have been satisfied with his service. Other guys have used him and were satisfied also. Some guys were not.

New airport to open sometime `next year' Suriya: No later than "next year" Suriya concedes that delays are `inevitable' AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK SARITDET MARUKATAT Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreang-kit has admitted for the first time that delays in Suvarnabhumi international airport's opening are inevitable but vowed it would be no later than ``next year''. The minister said a new opening date for the airport in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district would be decided on next month. When asked exactly when it might open, he replied: ``The country will definitely use the airport next year.'' The original opening date was set for Sept 29, 2005. On Feb 5, the chairman of the Airports Authority of Thailand, Srisook Chandrangsu, cited March 2006 as the date when Suvarnabhumi international airport would take over from Don Muang. The minister had planned on revealing the new launch date last Thursday, but has now opted to wait for another month. ``I wanted to first see how the construction work was moving along and find out to what extent the Songkran break might affect the schedule,'' he said. Mr Suriya described this month as ``critical'' because of the long holiday, while the upcoming rainy season could also disrupt the construction schedule. But he stressed that any postponement in the opening would only be announced once, to avoid causing unnecessary confusion. ``The government does not want to make one announcement after another like other airports,'' he said. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will visit the site again next month to get an update on progress, he said. Mr Thaksin camped out at the site last September to examine the construction process himself in the hope that his presence would speed up the work. The airport is being built to allow for 45 million passengers a year and the government will use it to replace Don Muang and to strengthen the kingdom as a Southeast Asian aviation hub amid competition from Singapore's Changi and Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur international airport. The minister conceded that the delay seemed inevitable given the amount of work involved. But he defended the government's decision to set Sept 29, 2004 as the original launch date so construction firms could keep their work plans intact. ``I knew from the beginning it would be difficult to meet that deadline. But the deadline had to be set to avoid complacency,'' he said. Mr Suriya said the delay would have no effect on airlines' plans to move from Don Muang to the new airport and added that informing them three months in advance would be sufficient notice. A key step after the completion of the building work is to get the International Civil Aviation Organisation (Icao) to check the site and decide whether or not to approve safety and other standards. Without Icao approval, the airport won't be able to open. Mr Suriya said the government would not rush to open the airport if any safety issues remained in doubt. Bangkok Post

Check out the meeting section. Look for reliable car and driver. Fair number of services listed. Problem with many cabbies they don't know Pattaya and you can spend some time trying to find your hotel. I've used Alex many times and have been satisfied with his service. Other guys haven't been pleased.

Excellent price out of JFK. Wish I could take it. If I was going to go, I would go to Bintin Island off the coast of Indonesia for my holiday. Save the r/t time to BKK.

The price of jet fuel had damn near doubled in the last year. Cheap airfares are going to be hard to find. Last year I booked Philly to BKK June departure for $1KUSD. This year same time cost is $1400USD.

What problems did you have? Other members seem to like it.

I wonder how they were able to track him down and I'm surprised with his money why he wasn't able to buy his way out of it?

US fugitive nabbed in Thailand 2 hours, 51 minutes ago Politics - AFP BANGKOK (AFP) - An American fugitive wanted by the FBI for scamming internet investors out of millions of dollars has been captured at a coastal resort in Thailand, police said. Eugene Carriere, 55, was arrested late Thursday at his residence in Pattaya, southeast of Bangkok, about a year after he entered the kingdom on a fake passport, a police officer said. According to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's website, Carriere and an associate were wanted for operating a telemarketing scheme in California which defrauded website investors out of over 11 million dollars in 1999. Their firm, YES Entertainment Network Inc, told investors it was developing an internet website with video channel service and promised returns to over 800 investors in the United States. None of the investors received payments, and much of the money was transferred to offshore bank accounts in Hong Kong and Singapore, the FBI said. "Thailand and the FBI will now investigate to determine where the 11 million dollars are," Captain Chakkrit Wongprommes, chief investigator of Pattaya immigration police, told AFP. The FBI said Carriere fled the United States in 1999 and a federal indictment was filed in December 2002, while the whereabouts of the associate, identified as James Eberhart, are unknown. Chakkrit said Carriere had been transferred to Bangkok and was to be extradited to the United States.

Can you change riels back to USD or baht?

http://www.khonkaen.com/

There are no cheap tickets in August. Prices drop in September and go up in December.

I like to come in early and play the dice game wth the girls. If she wasn't busy, I would always ask her to play. She would giggle and smile and she enjoyed the game. I'll miss her.

Sky-Top has high speed internet cafe, one baht per minute. Cafe is open 24/7.

Speak for yourself, John.

US Air is one of the many US carriers that's going bankrupt. I have 70K frequent flyer miles with them and wanted to use then. I must have called their toll free # at least 100 times before I finally got thru. I was able to get the dates I wanted 11 Oct-30 Oct with decent routing. With customer service like this no wonder people don't want to fly with them. I'm flying with United another financial basket case but they are in better condition then many others and with Thai on the return trip. Once the tickets are issued the other carriers will honor them either that or I'll have a very long stay in LOS.

I bought booze at the local 7/11 at all hours and was never turned down. Curtailed selling hours seems to be ignored. TIT.

We currently have a large number of American tourist in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I received my 10K miles on Delta this month.

Smoke ie: Montecristo #8 500 baht. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Every baht bus driver knows where soi Batman is. Close to Sukimvit (s) Road.

UA has a problem in NRT and they want to overnight everyone there. I think to myself, where would I rather overnight, NRT 60 miles from the middle of nowhere or at a hotel in BKK. In less then a New York minute. I opt for the BKK hotel. UA gave me free transfers and stay to the hotel, three meal vouchers and a 3 minute/30 minute internet usage. I have to send in a post card to UA for further compensation. I grabbed some sleep and cabed it over to Mo Chit and was on Soi 7/1 later that day enjoying a free BBQ at the Aussie bar. Waitress offer up stairs massage for 350 including a beer and 500 for a more then decent smoke. Thanks UA for an extra night in BKK on your nickel.

Snobird and myself used another car service in BKK and the guy showed up on time and a newish Toyota. Cost 1100 plus tolls. No problems stopping for a leak and beer. I will use then again. pra_artd.hotmail.com

Buffalo to BKK on UA for $695. Check www.travelocity.com

Check out www.flippergroup.com . Good hotels, good location and in your price range. BTW guest friendly.

snowbird, I totally missed your post. Would be more then glad to share a ride to Pattaya. I will be at the round table. See you there.