irmster

I can understand that sentiment. I've got an 8 night visit coming up - my first in 2 years - so I am staying in a terrace suite at the Marriott. Nice rooms, easy access to the pool, and of course much less hassle coming back with a guest than staying in the main block of the hotel (especially for ST). It's not that cheap, but it works for me.

Anyone stayed here yet? Fraser Pattaya "opening deals" from THB 2200 ++

Actually, 2/3rds of TG domestic services will go from Don Muang.

the Grottino is a great place and rooms have all the sport channels - have watched a few PL/CL games there.

the Moscow-BKK leg is on an IL-96 4 engined plane. I flew first class, and frankly it was pretty dire. No IFE, poor seats (and the economy ones are much worse) and grumpy crew. With so many other deals around (Eva, CI, Etihad etc) I really don't recommend Aeroflot unless the deal is exceptional.

BA prices vary by country. I just flew Milan- BKK return in Business class via Heathrow on BA for £1250. If I had flown direct from London it would have been £3600.

I suppose it depends if you want a full service hotel with pool etc or not. If you don't then it's probably not worth spending the extra 1100. Another thing about the Grottino is the great food - I had a very pleasant (Swiss) 3 course meal delivered to my room for 200 baht when I arrived. Meant I could hit Soi Cowboy on a full stomach!!

I've just stayed at Grottino (www.grottino.com) - 1700 nett, clean modern room with DVD player + all UBC channels, 24 hours broadband for 150 baht, no joiner fee, 6pm checkout if you need it. I looked at Majestic grande but having stayed at Grottino before I went with them again and was very impressed. Anywhere but Nana hotel - complete dump imo. Grottino is off Soi 19 - few minutes walk to Soi Cowboy. Right by Skytrain station - 1 stop to Nana and 3 to Ekamai for Bus to Pattaya.

this board is very useful...I managed to go arse over tip last night and made a bit of a mess of my knee. Hotel staff helped me clean it up and bandage it etc, but by this morning it had gone a very nasty purple and yellow. Anyway, went down to Dr Belen - excellent and quick service - cleaned it up, some iodine (ouch), antibiotics as the yellow colour apparently means infection and spare dressings etc. 800 baht well spent. Gonna have to be Lolitas for a day or so as I have to keep my leg up

if you can sit out by the pool in Vegas when it's hot, you'll be fine anywhere - Pattaya is very humid this time of year but in my experience doesn't come close to Vegas dry heat at its worst. Generally at this time of year it's a mixture of sun, cloud, rain and all 3 together. I've never had much rain when I've been in Pattaya what ever time of year I've been.

unless you're dark skinned, you'll frazzle no matter whether it's overcast or sunny. You can spot the people who have sat by the pool all day and not bothered to use sun screen because it's cloudy - they're the ones with the 2nd degree burns

perhaps you should both take your little spat offline - can't say it is particularly interesting or relevant for anyone else.

very sensible post i thought....until I got to the bit about West Ham. Only thing they will win is the prize for the lowest points total every in the PL.

I do find it a little odd that people who spend £500+ on a flight and then after 15 hours or so in the air can even think about messing about with taxis to bus stations, waiting for a bus, taxi at the other end etc etc - when the cost of a taxi to Pattaya is an absolute bargain if you've got good negotiating skills (and there are often people in the taxi line going the same way who are happy to share). If you're staying to Bangkok first, then it's a different issue, but if you are going straight to Pattaya, then going via one of the city bus stations is too much hassle. Only my view - YMMV.

I had my worst ever driving experience in the old Thai limo service - my first trip to Pattaya around 1990 - the driver had a death wish - road was horrible in those days, potholed and slow lorries doing u-turns everywhere. Driver didn't slow down for anything - I was in the bus with some german guys - one of them took a swing at the driver when we arrived. Stayed at the Royal Garden (now Marriott) I recall - the side building where the terrace rooms are now was the whole hotel.