aardvark

I have never sat in one of the seats with no one in front of you, but I think that having the video come out of the armrest would be a reasonable trade off for the extra leg room.

I certainly haven't used them. I would not pay any travel agent $5.00 to receive a quote.

Hub, I paid the following: Basic All Asia $699.00 US Tax Depart SFO $46.40 HKG security transit $12.60 Biz class trans pac $2,198.00 $2,956.00 Last year they were selling the basic All Asia at $200 less than this year. I went to the Phillipines, Hong Kong and Thailand. My one trip into Vietnam was not on this ticket. Even with the extra $200 this would be competitively priced with EVAs business class for a round trip to Thailand, but Hong Kong to Manilla, Manilla to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Bangkok and Bangkok to Hong Kong were in Cathay's cattle class.

I forgot to add, consider Singapore Air's new Executive class. It has new seats with similar spacing to EVA, for about the same price. I think it is only available on flights out of LAX until more planes get upgraded.

I have flown EVAs Evergreen Deluxe class many times and have just booked them for my trip in November. The seats are in the front of their 747s in a 2-4-2 configuration (2-2 at the very front) and have a 37-inch pitch. If you are over 6 feet or 200 lbs then Evergreen Deluxe is worth every penny. I have been upgraded to business class and the food though fancier is not as good. If you are looking for an inexpensive business class seat on the transpacific portion of your trip consider getting Cathay Pacifics All-Asia pass and purchasing the business class upgrade. I did that last year and it was wonderfull.

I used it last November. I was happy with it, but there was a hassle finding a travel agent that knew anything about it. You must use a travel agent -- see the rules on their website. And there may be blackout dates or surcharges around Christmas.

Make sure that they really give you the class of room that you reserved. In particular, they will overbook the premier class of rooms. If you want a balcony ask when you check in if you are getting that. The main woman behind the desk really has to be pinned down or you will get one of the side or back rooms -- which I think are the ones with the worst bugs -- the last two times I stayed there I got more bug bites inside than outside.

I start watching prices as soon as I get back. I travel in November and prices for November flights seem to drop late early in June. Then I book my flights.

Stiffler: I always travel EVA, I am always overweight and have never had a problem or an extra charge. However, I fly on another airline to the gateway (usually SFO) and always have my bags checked through from PDX. My personal bag is nearly always overweight and has never been checked. Coming back I always leave from BKK and they never seem to notice -- I think everyone is overweight their.

Any of the Presidents: President Solitaire, Grand President, Royal President and President Park have DSL available. JWMarriott also has it.

I have stayed there every trip to Pattaya since 2000. If they have been losing your faxes it means that they don't have the room that you want. Eventually they will give you the booking and then downgrade your room when you get there. They did this to me the last two times I stayed there. I managed to get the premier room that I had reserved only by being ready to walk out the door last November and in January 2003 I was taken to the room without even being told that I was downgraded.

IMHO, above the lobby is more important these days than rear facing. Street noise does not come thru in the premier rooms facing the street if you have your balcony door closed.

I really like EVAs Evergreen Deluxe class. But this year I am trying Cathay Pacific. I will be in biz class on reduced rates for the tran-pacific portion (SFO-HKG and return)

I have found that many times with Expedia that running the search over again another way can get you a lower price. The same is also true of airline sites and Travelocity. Also picking the flights individually on multiple leg travel and keeping to the same airline and if that is not possible keeping to the same alliance will get a lower price.

I just recently got JW Marriott on the Hong Kong Priceline for $450HK/night for 6 nights in November. After the Priceline fee it works out to $67US per night.

I had forgotten about the minibar problem. After I had a problem one time I started buying drinks at the 7-11 that were not stocked in the minibar and did not have any more problems.

I have never had a credit card problem with them. However, I have never had to cancel, only change my arrival date or time. Refund problems are a pain -- I have had them with places in the U.S.

I have stayed at the Penthouse three times. I used the champaign service the first time when I was landing around 1 AM and figured I might have trouble finding a girl when I got to Pataya and the bars were closed/closing. One of the girls was great full of life and the other wasn't feeling good or something. Neither girl was very cuddly in the taxi. (However that girl is now one of my regulars). They stayed with me until almost 3 PM in the afternoon. The fee includes long time with both girls. Also includes a welcome drink with the girls in the bar which is alcohol for you and ladies drinks for them and can be the next day. The champaign sucks, but then so did the girls. The limosine was a very nice and comfortable Mercedez Benz. I do not recommend this service unless you are arriving really late and you are sure you are not going to be jet lagged. The owner says the price is so high because they can't get the girls to do it otherwise. They never took my picture and posted it anywhere. I think the pictures posted are for "bell ringers". If you are using their taxi service they require prepayment with or without girls. If you book a premier room or better they want a deposit. The only problem I ever have with any of the kittens is that they sometimes help themselves to for sale items in the room. Sometimes during busy season all of the premier or better rooms are full. I got downgraded for one night this year. The multi showers have one fixed head at a decent height and one of hand held heads that can be set at a fixed point lower down. Except for the higher head than I usually find in Thailand it is not a big deal. There are no in room safes, but there are good safe deposit boxes at the front desk. I have faxed them my credit card number and signature for deposits twice and have never had a problem. 24 hour restaurant and a breakfast buffet. New mamasan this year and the bar is being run better. Anyway, I do recommend the Penthouse Hotel and only recommend the champaign service if you are going to arrive really late and there is no one else to arrange to have girls waiting for you in Pataya. Charlie

Most of the lower priced rooms at the Penthouse are at the back. The next price up are on the side. The higher single rooms are at the front and have views of the soi.