BigDUSA

Flipper Lodge and Eastiny both have a good pool. I've stayed at both. You can't go wrong with either.

The main nite life area is compact like a rectangle about 2.5 miles long 1 mile wide if that much and you can drive around the rectangle in about 25-30 minutes with no traffic. I would stay anywhere in the rectangle. I like the following cheap good hotels. www.skytoppattaya.com www.flippergroup.com www.sabaiinn.com many others in town. Enjoy.

Tweety, From my point of view, your being played for a SUCKER. In Thailand 500K is one hell of a lot of money and I take it your bride to be is almost 30 and not a virgin when you meet her? In Thai society she's over the hill and damaged goods. No Thai man would pay a dowry for her. And you think she helped you? Mutual respect, I don't think so.

Given the Thais "planning and organizational skills", I would think sometime in the second half of 2006.

I'm curious will Southwest check your bag thru to BKK?

If your bride to be has been married before and or has children. Dowry is not required. It will be expected because your a farang. I would let the family make the first move if they ask for 100 or 200K your being played. Watch how your women presents this to you. I would be willing to pay 40K with the understanding that 20K would be kicked back to me. Kickback goes on all the time between Thais. As long as you don't slobber all over her and stick your tongue down to her stomach. They won't throw you out.

I haven't stayed at the Nova Lodge but the location is great. Your on Beach Road and Central Pattaya Road. Soi 6 is less then 10 minute walk, Soi 7 & 8 are about 1 minute away. They have a new high speed internet shop. Looks like a nice hotel.

Unless the problem was weather related or crew problem how did UA strand you in Narita. UA has a hub there and should have replacement planes if it's a equipment problem. I've been flying UA for 12 years and have flown over 750,000 miles with them. I've had few problems with them.

You need to pick one airline and try and fly them every time you travel. Check out their frequent flyer club and see which one fits you. I try and fly United from Philly to everywhere. I fly over 50K miles per year and I'm a premier executive. I get double miles every time I fly and I get to use star alliance clubs when I fly for free. With double miles I pay for two and the third one is free. My frequent flyer miles are good on all the star alliance partners.

How did you like the hotel? Did it live up to your expectations?

As a cheap Charley I like to save money when I fly to LOS. I can book UA from Philly to BKK for $695++ and the trip takes 28 hours. If I fly to S'pore, I have to lay over for almost 8 hours till I can get to BKK and the cost is $805++. If UA has a plane problem at Narita and since Narita is UA hub for Asia they have replacement aircraft available. The cheap airlines don't. Personally I don't want to take the risk involved with the cheap airlines. My time in Pattaya is more valuable then money saved.

How much did you pay? What amenities do they offer. Website?

Any time from mid February thru October works well for me. I don't like songran in April. Not as many tourist and the prices are cheaper. I've also been to LOS in November, December and January and that works well for me. More tourist and not as cheap but just as much fun. In other words any time of the year is great except songran.

I stayed there twice. Good value for the money. Only thing I didn't like was the walk to 2nd Road. It's in the sun both ways. I would stay there again.

Phuket hotels will be cheaper and airfares will stay about the same unless Asia is hit with bird flu and people start dying.

I live in Philadelphia, Pa and have taken a long weekend in Sydney, Australia. I was gone 4 days and had a great time. If I could get a flight to BKK for what I paid to fly to Sydney ($500). I would go in a New York minute.

I paid $88USD+ taxes from JFK to BKK on Cathay Pacific in May 2003. Cheapest airfare I ever flew on.

Being a cheap Charley is not the be all, end all. I look for a reliable service with decent equipment that shows up on time and DOESN'T DRIVE LIKE A CRAZY MAN. So far Alex fits the bill. It's great that guys have found many ways to get to Pattaya.

Areca Lodge is guest friendly.

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With the disaster in Phuket and other resort towns many tourist for at least the next 90 days will be making other travel plans for Thailand. If your thinking of coming to Pattaya in the next 90 days make your reservations now or you may be out of luck. If for one reason or another your vacation plans change do the hotel a favor and cancel so they can rent the room to others.

Make your reservations NOW. January is very busy plus you have the vacationer from Phuket coming to Pattaya.

Many credit card companies in the US offer free travel insurance if you charge the cost of your travel tickets/package on their card. I have never made a claim with them.

These prices are good from Philly on UA.

Truly an off the wall question that just maybe you would do way better to ask the airline you plan on flying with what their policy is with regards to flying with your pet. O ya, Thailand may have specific rules on pets coming into the country. Way better to ask the Thai embassy in Washington then a bunch of guys on a PUSSY forum.