Zeus

I've got to agree with the Clive Cussler recomendations. Especially for those who like adventure/suspense novels. They are very easy to read and what people refer to as a "page turner". I have read all his books, but if I had to recomend my favorite it would be "Inca Gold". Zeus

Agreed

Great stuff..... A Lipo soda (add soda water to Lipo) is a great non-alcoholic drink alternative at the go-gos or beer bars. They all have the stuff. It is a great pick me up if the booze (or jet lag) is getting to you. I would not consider it 10 times the strength of Red Bull, but I think it does taste better. I would consider it of equal strength. As to cost, individual bottles go for 25 B in places like 7-11, but as mentioned above - 10 packs can be bought for 98 B in markets like Foodland. With one Red bull costing $2.50 - $3 (100 -120 here in the US, I always stock up on Lipo and bring back at least one 10 pack (usually 2). It never lasts long enough, so soon I am planning my next trip back to the LOS ;-) Zeus

I agree with Cumcannon, the shuttle is as he stated. I use the Dynasty Resort as a regular first two nights in Pattaya, and I utilize the shuttle to get there. The Dynasty Resort is an excellent place, except for the location. Use those two days to explore the town and locate a more permanent hotel. I couldn't stay @ the DR long term unless I had my own transportation. The shuttle is on time always (12:30 - I think), and as stated, does not stop. Much superior to a bus. And when you figure in the cost of a taxi (1000-1500 , the two nights at the DR are extremely attractive. On top of that you are staying at a great hotel. I just hope that the Dynasty folks make the new Inn in Pattaya with equivalent room standards to the Resort. This location will probably become the first stop of the shuttle service to the DR. Enough about the shuttle..........Any new info on the hotel? Someone really needs to stay there and post a report and review. Zeus

Snowbird - I can understand how you feel after being charged a fee there. If one was charged to me, I wouldn't have been back either. But since I have yet to see a fee, I've had 7 repeat visits - so I guess in my case they earned the follow on business. A couple of questions about the fee: - How much was it? - Did they let you know about it when you checked in, when you brought the girl in, or did it just show up on your bill when you checked out? You are also right that there are many other hotels out there for the 850 B that you paid. The Welcome Plaza starts to loose a bit of its attraction at that price. But if they continue to give me a 650 B rate, I'll continue to stay. Unless they try to asses a joiner fee on ME! I think that I will save my old receipt that says "guest acc.", just in case. If that fails, there are plenty of other hotels in town. Zeus

gammon player: I think that all of the guys above answered you question. but yes the site is right. They just dont have any info up other than the price valentinoxxx: The resort is (or at least has been in the past) guest friendly. So I always got the 990 baht rate, and never a guest fee. Plus free transportation from the Dynasty Inn BKK. A good deal in my book - except for the necessary BB from town. It seems from the responses (thanks guys!) like this place is scheduled to be open soon, if it is not already open. I'm glad it's a new building. Hopefully, the quality will be the same as the Dynasty Resort - which is excellent! What we need now is some on site intel & pics from those boardies in town. How about it guys..... Zeus

I beilieve the answer is "sometimes" I stay at the Welcome Plaza always when I am in Pattaya. I have had 8 trips and NEVER had anyone ask for a guest fee. Based on that I'd say the answer is No guest fees. If they ever tried it on me I would check out the next day. However, there have been more than one person that mentions fees in posts to this and other boards. I believe these folks book on line and are not "walkins". All of my stays have been walkins, and never a problem. I've had at least 100 girls in that hotel without a fee. They do take the girls ID, which I feel is good security. Another thing I noticed, is that on my most recent bill it says "GUEST ACC.", which I assume means guest accepted. If they have to put this on some then there must be others that are not accepted. All that said, I will always stay here as it is in a perfect location, has a great pool, and has great rates. The walkin rate has been 650 baht. But...if they charge me a fee for a TG, I would be outta there so fast that their heads would spin. Zeus

I have stayed at the Dynasty Inn (Bankok) and the Dynasty Resort (Pattaya), but it appears that there is a new hotel - in Pattaya. I recently went to the Dynasty Inn/Resort website and a third option is listed : Dynasty Inn - Pattaya (downtown) I haven't heard of this place, so I emailed the Dynasty folks, and they said that the hotel was on Soi 13 about 50 meters from the beach - Rate is 990 a night. Has anyone heard of this place? Did they buy an old hotel or is it a new property? Photos or a pic of the rooms would be a great plus. I really like the Dynasty Resort, with the exception that I have to catch a taxi to get there. If there was a hotel with the quality and service of the DR on Soi 13, i would seriously consider it. Zeus

My personal favorite - Welcome Plaza. Its close to the action(right across 2nd Rd from Pattayaland #2), but not in it, has big pool, is near RGP and Walking St. Everything (and I do mean everything) you could want is nearby! I have stayed there during 7 trips, each time paying only 650 baht/night as a walk-in rate. Best value in town! IMHO Zeus

Another source (frequently mentioned on this board) - Angel Travel They are ticket consolidators, and can easily beat the $1500 price you mentioned. http://www.angeltravel.com/ I also checked NW direct (www.nwa.com) and you can get the flight for $1055. Zeus

How to get through your arrival fast: 1) Preparation - If at all possible don't check luggage. Take a carryon. This way, any time that you save at immigration will be rewarded. Otherwise don't worry about immigration - you will still have to wait for your luggage. On one occaision, I even bought luggage in BKK and checked my stuff(bought clothes, souveniers, etc) on the return trip. This is the most effective way of saving time in BKK. 2) Immigration1 - book a seat near the front of the aircraft on your inbound BKK flight. With 200-400 passangers on a 747, would you rather have them in front of you or behind you at immigration? 3) Immigration2 - Don't get in the first line you see! In fact walk as far past the long initial lines as you can. Often you will see manned stations with no lines at all or at least very short ones. 4) Exchange - If possible, carry enough baht for the taxi. If you don't need to exchange your money into baht you can proceed direct to the taxi stand. I always keep my extra baht when finishing a trip to have Thai funds available for my next. I realize that this might not be an option for most now, but it is a suggestion for planning for future trips. This is not a big deal if there are no lines at the exchange booths, but if there are - you save a lot of waiting in line. 5) Taxi - for the best rates use the metered taxi stand right outside the terminal. There usually is a line, but it should move quickly. You might even meet someone in line that is going to the same place you are and you can split a cab. By following these rules I almost always make it through the terminal in 10-30 min. However, on a couple of occaisions I ended up standing in the taxi line for a while. Actually I think that I easily spend more time in the taxi line than the immigration one. Zeus

I fly NW every time I go to the LOS ( this May will be my 8th time), and with the added FF miles, it is my airline of choice (more for the miles than the service - which is probably just average). They also have fare discounts often. My NW flight at the end of May was only $445 ($398 + $47 tax) No matter what airline you choose - stick with it as the miles will add up faster. I did get upgraded due to an over booking once and ended up in Bus. class. This was excellent, better than in first class on domestic US flights and a ton better to the intl. coach that I am used to. My biggest complaint on NW is that their BKK-NRT outbound flight is at 6:10 am. If you are in BKK then it means you have to get up at 3-3:30am, check out, catch taxi & get to the airport in time to catch your intl. flight - ugh. I have started just staying in Pattaya, partying till 1-1:30am, then checking out and catching a cab (and hopefully a small nap) before I get to the BKK airport. It works a bit better, but those early departures are a real pain in the ass. Zeus

Can't really afford to pass this one up...... I'm Booked! True to the subject title - I only paid $398 + $47 Tax ($445 total), for LAX - BKK Round Trip. I'll be in BKK on 5/23 and in Pattaya on 5/25. So, ice up a cold one (and warm up a TG)!! Zeus

I'm on the same NW flight the Friday before (11/22). Even worse is the 6:00am BKK-NRT return flight! I'm sure I'll see you at the FLB on one of those nights. Zeus

I have considered this hotel many times when I come to Pattaya, due to it's "central" location between Walking St. and Soi 7/8. However, each time I have chosen the Welcome Plaza instead. It's right near Walking St. /Pattayaland 2 /RG mall. It has clean rooms, great pool, excellent location, and only 650 baht. In my opinion, the best value in town. Although, I'm tempted to check out the Res. Gardens to see if it is worth twice the price. Each time I've walked in to the WP - so if you decide to dump Pattaya centre, have no fear - there are better spots out there. Zeus

$618 to the LOS 10/8 - 12/12! Weekday (Mon - Thurs) departure, and minimum stay of 6 days. United and Northwest Airlines. I'm in! I got my ticket for 11/21-12/2. Total cost $618 +$47 (Tax) = $665. Get your ticket while the seats last! See you all in November!! Zeus

Room Choice - Well it really depends on what you plan on doing in you room. If all you need is a bed & shower, go for the least expensive. The room savings can be spent on girls, booze, etc. If you are aiming to impress girls/friends (or yourself), then go as high as your tastes dictate. However, I would opt for the Residence Gandens if the rate goes over 1000 baht. It appears to be a higher quality place. But you do sacrifice the prime location of the penthouse. Zeus

If you like staying in the middle of the action - it is one of the best around. It is located in the middle of Soi Pattayaland 2, just steps to many go-gos. Negatives are that there is no pool, and that the budget rooms are a bit small. I just got a email newsletter saying that they were discounting rates for the Fall: Also this month begins the Great Fall Room Specials (September, October and November) for non-jacuzzi rooms with payment in advance. These room prices include one free breakfast buffet per day. Room Type Room Rate Baht Dollars Saigon 550 $13.00 Manila 650 $15.00 Phnom Penh 750 $17.00 Pattaya 850 $19.00 Premier 950 $22.00 Zeus

I've been to BKK/Pattaya 5 times (6 in November), and have taken Visa T/Cs each time ( I get them commission free). I have never had a problem cashing them. Zeus

Thats a good deal - However they (NW) don't give you FF miles for that flight. So the promotion is actually costing you the price ($474.50) + 37,000 miles (20,000 paid +17,000 you would have earned[ more for Elite members]) Then the $236.50 that you saved is actually costing you $437+ worth of miles. That's why you will see the airlines offering this type of promotion on a regular basis - it gets you to pay for the flight AND use miles, while not earning any more miles. Of course miles are worthless unless used and the NW NRT-BKK leg is almost impossible to get for free with FF miles. So if it works for you - go for it. BTW, the regular fares for NW have dropped a ton. LAX-BKK is $600 + tax ($47) before 10/31, $700 +tax after. The also have a new reservations site that they are testing: http://res.nwa.com/App/Home I'll be there in November!!!! Zeus

I too am a "budget" type traveler, but I go for value rather than just the minimum. And then I try to maximize all the fun I can for my 1 week (10 days ) or two week (17 days) stays. Keys to good success: 1) Get a good value for a hotel. I need a bed, bath, & pool, for good price that is in a prime location (most important). My choice so far is Welcome Plaza for 650b (walk - in), although I would like to try the Residence Gardens to see if it lives up to the billing on this board (and if it is worth twice the WP rate) 2) Vary your BF locations. If you always get the go-go 500/600 b BF , it adds up over time. I prefer the beer bar (200 or disco (0 BF). I will still do a few GG BFs, but the cost of the BF does not correspond to the level of service you get - it is more reflective of the level of expenses that location of the BF (bar) is incurring by loosing the girl for the night. 3) Drinking - this is a personal choice. I do not go out to drink to get drunk every night, but enough $$ is needed to make sure all have a good time. LDs are advised, but I usually buy only one at a time, and focus on one lady. I usually use 500-1000 baht for a full night of partying. Many spend more. You can do less if you take your TG home early, but then you miss a lot of the Pattaya experience. I can have a great time on $100 US per day, less if I don't have a girl every night. Full day+ girls tend to double the costs of food, drink, and entertainment. Some are worth it - some not. Try different things and find your "comfort zone" as every one is different and has their own idea of sanuk (fun). Even though I have given ideas for a low cost vacation - Never, ever let cost stand in the way of your having a good time. Zeus

Just walk in. In September there are always rooms in the hotels. I have always done walkins and have never been disappointed. I 've been in May twice, July once, and November twice. Just remember when you walkin to a hotel if the rate quoted is too high be prepared to walk out. There will be a better rate/hotel around the corner. Worst case - book a room for 1-2 nights and then go hotel shopping for the rest of your stay. Zeus

I've stayed in three(all 100% guest friendly): Penthouse: Good if you want to be right in the middle of the action. The budget ( Dynasty Resort: Excellent new rooms! ABF included. Located on "the hill" so getting to/from the nightlife can be a pain(need to rent a baht bus each time). Free transport from the Dynasty Inn in Bangkok to Pattaya. This can almost pay for the first 2 nights, based on savings if you used a 1500b Thai Limo. This is a great place to start so you can scout out local hotels to find the best for a longer stay. Welcome Plaza: Excellent value for the money (650b), large rooms (although not new), huge pool, right across from Pattayaland 2 - so you are always close to the action, but far enough away to minimise noise. I stay there on all of my trips. I have never needed a reservation - just walk up. Negatives - no cable TV (but that's not why I am there) I will investigate the FLB Residence gardens offer, but I really value the ability to be within walking distance to most of the the attractions - so I may end up at the WP again. Zeus

Any plans to link the logins of the FLB web page to the FLB message board like it was on the old board? I am logging in twice - once for the web page then once for the message board. The old board I only had to log in to the web page. I know I could just go directly to the message board, but I often like to go through the web page. Zeus