Michelangelo

Etihad currently offering 569 € return out of Brussels, valid until 25/10/07!

If you transferred money from abroad and can show the Foreign Exchange Transaction Form (previously Tor Tor Sam) delivered by your bank, you will have no problem to transfer the equivalent amount back to another country. If you brought in cash, as elef mentioned, it may be more difficult.

I recently saw a sign directing to a place offering storage facilities on a monthly basis; it is in Jomtien as you drive down Thappraya Road, turn right to Beach Road and right again where the bog condo building is located (forgot the name). They advertise for small safety boxes up to large storage containers/units. Maybe this can help.

Papillon, a good lease contract includes an option allowing you transfering the lease to full ownership to yourself or anybody else during the 30 years or at the end, if you do not want to renew the lease contract. Where is the risk? In 30 years, laws can/will change and going for a lease contract basically gives you a 30 year window during which you can see property laws changing.

Papillon, you never lease a house! You lease the land and own the house!

Transferring money and avoid the 30% withholding is very easy: just transfer with the clear instruction "funds for purchase of real estate property - Foreign Currency certificate required" and make sure you transfer in €, $ or any hard currency with conversion to Baht made in Thailand upon arrival of funds. This applies whether you intend to buy condo or house. Do not listen to all the crap being told about "do not do this, do not do that ... and only buy a condo". I suspect several condo owners/real estate guys misusing this board to circulate false information and push condo prices up. "Bu

why bother flying Emirates in the first place? Plenty of other airlines offering much better service both on the ground and in the aire!

Oui, monsieur! I am native french speaker!

KLM is a real pain ... bad food and too many delays. LH usually is on time, but service is rude and impolite. Definitely and by far AF! I have used all of them in recent years and have accumulated more than 100.000 miles on both LH and KL/AF, so I know what I am talking about!

Yes, Dusit Laguna is a bit over your 1.600 baht limit. Through wed reservation, you can get a room for about 70$, but it is worth every cent. Great hotel!

Sabai Lodge in Pattaya (Soi 2) and Dusit Laguna in Puket. I stayed in both and liked both. Both have all attributes you listed.

Thanks for the very constructive answers BigDUSA and Gary. Really very helpful!

No info about rooms, but had breakfast there recently. Nice buffet and decent price.

So many contradictory information floating around ... what is the best (most secure) way to buy a house these days?

The exchange booth on Northern Pattaya Road, opposite HONDA always seems to have good rates. Otherwise UOB Bank offers better rates than other banks

They all have nice pictures of what they promise they can make ... but in the end, it is all rubbish. Wear a suit one time and it is ready for the bin! Bangkok has some decent tailors, but in Pattaya, all the Indians pretending to be tailors are a ripp-off.

Istanbul airport is quite modern and not as bad as being described here. Used to fly through Istanbul several times a year when travelling in the Middle East a few years ago. Not a "disaster" at all.

White roses mean: please marry me!

Internet, laundry and 7/11 all over the place in Pattaya. Just walk out of your hotel in any drection and within 2 minutes you will have spotted all you need. Have fun!

Real estate agencies seem to be working exclusively in the upper range and hardly offer anything under 25.000 Bt/month. Best option is to read local newspapers (classifieds) and when you will be there, just drive around and see what is being advertised directly on the properties.

Park Hotel is on Soi 7

Best time of the year, start of high season.

No go-go's like in Pattaya, but good night spots in the Jalan Sultan Ismail area, particularly on Jalan P. Ramlee. Beach Club is a well know pick-up place. Lots of Vietnamese and Chinese girls. KL also has many MPs (Health Clubs). You can find more info on www.sammyboyforum.com

... and the food is quite good! Agree, nice place!

Nothing wrong with the Russians. I rather see them than the guys who better stay in their mosques!