horizons

Thanks for your posting. Sounds like a welcome service, and the prices are fair. My only other comment: I never go into places where the punters, or worse, the girls are smoking sheesha. (There are plenty of Middle-Eastern bars elsewhere in south Patts for that.) It's a complete turn-off, and is an unwelcome, stupid & unhealthy intrusion into bar life. (Which otherwise is intelligent, wholesome, politically impeccable & smells like roses ... 5555)

Yep. Go see it. Well written, acted & directed. Laughs, comb-overs, cleavage and elevating complexity in the scams. Remember: (only) some of this actually happened.

As before, gents (& all), your information is much appreciated. I'll check these out.

Lamai Wanta was very nice and about 1500 back then Thanks. It's now about 4000 baht. Anyhow, i appreciate all the info.

Thanks, gents (I presume :) ) ... useful.

I'm going to Koh Samui in mid-Feb for a few days. Any recommendations on OK accommodation in either Lamai or Chaweng? Up to 1500 baht/night? And, any tips how to beat the Samui taxi mafia? For example the transfer from airport to hotel? All info welcome. Thanks.

It's a bit curious tht you don't use your surnamnes, or mention whether you are faculty staff, or postgrads, or even undergrads?

I've used Dancewatchers in the past and found them excellent. Recently, however, they seem to have dropped the ball. Reduced number of condos, out of date website lists and booking calendars, non-refundable deposit raised to more than 50% of month's rent, minimal one-line response to enquiries ... they don't seem to care. Something's changed. Pity. I found another operator in the same building.

I stayed there for three nights last year - got a good price on an Internet special - Agoda or Asia Rooms or wotif. At 1000 baht it was good value. It is well run, clean & well located but no pool. At rack rates it's a bit expensive, but I guess you're paying for position position position. You could do worse, or much better around S. Buakhouw or S. Lengkee.

On a mad Thailand highway Diesel wind in my hair Bad buzz of mosquitas Rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light My head grew giddy, and my thirst grew bad I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway I heard someone ring the bell And I was thinking to myself This could be Heaven or this could be Hell She lit up like a candle And she showed me the way There were voices down the bar stools I thought I heard them say Welcome to the Hotel Calipornia Such a lovely place Such

I think that 19 April will be the big bad crazy stupid day for waterfight warriors. Note that Bell Bus transfers have all be concelled for that day - that is the hotel pickup/drop-off service, not the Swampy-Patts run:Please be informed that on April 19, 2011, Bell Travel Service in Pattaya will not provide a pick-up or drop-off services between Bell Office and hotels in Pattaya due to Songkran Festival in Pattaya city. A service between Pattaya and Airport and Bangkok city will remain the same. Passengers will have to manage your own transportation

I recommend it highly. Have stayed there twice. Well run by farang-Thai owner family. Girl friendly. No problematic 'ethnic' guests.

Has anyone had any experiences about there girlfriend being scared of ghosts? Yes, a few have mentioned them. Funniest one was in BKK when I was visiting a girl's room. A very small loom although she was neither poor nor a BG. I asked 'Why such a tiny room?' Answer: 'If have bigger room, too many goats can come in.' (.... ah! goats = ghosts! Kowjai. 55) Many Thais were wary of going back to Khao Lak, Phuket, Phi Phi etc after the tsunami because of the ghosts of the drowned. Read John Burdett's novel Bangkok Haunts - includes ghost sex!

BJ Resort Lodge, Soi # & Beach Road. 1000 baht & up. Good place, wifi, pool, excellent mangaement, clean, near beach ... Shagwell Mansion, Soi Arunothai, lots of un, well run, cheaper ... back past thrid road, so nowhere near beach, but a godd group of bars around there.

My two-bob's worth: BJ Holiday Lodge on Soi 4 Beach Rapod is excellent. 1000 baht .. baht it's very close to the beach, with pool, free WiFi & great staff. No joioner fee or attitudes. Well run.

It's entirely incorrect to think that you need to pre-book accomm. in Ko Samed. Having said that, I strongly recommend that you book a package that includes transport (from Pattay, I presume) to Ban Phe public WHARF (not Ban Phe town), plus the seven-kilometre ferry hop to Na Dan (Samed’s only “town”) and a transfer to your resort. You’ll cut out the hucksters, fuckwits and mis-informants, and several long waits. Pattaya tour companies will sometime pull a scam of delivering you to their Ban Phe town agent's office. Then you have top pay for a taxio to the wharf. (Fuckem!) Sai Ka

I stayed at the Mercure when it first opened about 2/3 yrs ago - a perfecly good hotel, quite family oriented. After that I stayed many times in the hotel immediately next door, the Pattaya Bay Resort - friendly, clean, well run. Can recommend it highly.

Seaside Guest house is where and how much, please?

J&P Court in Soi Lengkee is fine. 13 coins on Buakhow is cheaper but clean & good. Any number of cheapies along Soi Chaiyapoon.

Sue, Khun Onelilley is correct: 'bargain' fares during peak season (Oz & Thai) are improbable to the point of impossible. It's already late in the booking year. Whatever the cheapest fare you spot now, put your money down on it NOW. Seats will just get harder to find & more expensive. Or can you travel outside that peak season?

Looks good. Which floor is it on, please? And, I presume the last shot is the view FROM the apartment, not OF it.

Thanks heaps, js007. A spot light of illumination in the swamp of my innumeracy ... or summat. Much appreciated.

There are two statements in this thread that I don't quite understand, in terms of the official requirements. Can you guys who actually live in LOS on retirement visas confirm that these two (below) are accurate interpretations, please? 1) "If your income is only 33k a month then you would only need 400k on deposit." 2) "So if my income is B 40,000 monthly i would need only B 400,000 in the bank 3 months prior to application?" thanx

The AA Hotel in the same street - Soi 13 - has sea view rooms. The best are on the south side. This is the big old yellow-ish hotel right on the corner of Beach Road & Soi 13. It's been poorly maintained for years yet the staff are nice, the little pool is OK. and the sea views form the front suites (more expensive) are primo. The ordinary rooms all have views. Showers don't flood. Rooms have baths (I think), a/c & TV. There's a free breakfast of sorts. The owner/managers are very keeneow, but I enjoyed staying there many times until I moved upmarket and three blocks back to the excell

Yep, I've stayed there three times, going back for more next month. Highly recommend it - particularly at the one-week (or longer) rate. Good management, gym, pool, staff & location. Free wifi in yr room. Their website says it all. No joiner fee. No scams.