marcortez

15 days for a simple "permission to stay" stamp in your passport.

I recently made the visa run to Bam Laem at the Cambodia border with a visa run company out of Bangkok. January 15th, 2010 http://thaivisaservice.com/ Email communication was quick and answered all the questions I had. The experience was a piece of cake. Pickup and return was at the KFC parking lot at the On Nut BTS station in Bangkok. The vehicle used was a newer Toyota 10 passenger van complete with a DVD movie screen. Very comfortable seating and AC. The driver was not a maniac and drove cautiously, even slowing to ease the shock of bumps and road construction areas. It's an all day trip...coming and going. The van leaves at 8 AM and we were back at the On Nut BTS station about 5:45 PM. Everything is handled for you, including filling in the necessary forms, presenting those forms to the Cambodia officialdom and the payment of the fees. While waiting for the entry process into Cambodia, we were escorted to the local casino where you could select from a variety of lunch items. You pay for it, but Claudio (the operator) refunds you 100 baht, no matter if you spent 50 baht or 150 baht on lunch. There are many "duty free" stalls near the entrance to the casino, selling mainly liquor, cigarettes and assorted "enhancement" concoctions, to include the real thing (boxed, sealed and hologram labeled Viagra and Cialis) and various generics from India. I burn Marlboro lights and have been "burned" before with cheap crap made of ditchweed and was leery of the quality. So the dude opens a carton, takes out a pack and told me "you try, you like" These stogies were fine, tasted just like what I buy at any 7-11 in Bangkok. 350 baht for a carton of 10 packs of 20 stogies each. I wanted to buy 2 cartons at that price but the dude told me "do not do, only can take one to Thailand" The only paperwork you need to do, is sign the Thai departure and entry forms. Not necessary to talk to, or sign anything in front of the Cambodia immigration officials. It's all taken care of for you. The only time you need to see a Thai immigration official is when your "exiting" Thailand and then again on re-enter. Totally painless. Your returned your passport with the necessary extension stamp, along with 100 baht for lunch and your back on the road. The van stops about 2 hours into the journey at a small mini market for a toilet/burn break, both coming and going. Fee for all this is 2000 baht with 100 baht refund for the lunch. You will need your passport, a copy of the passport and 2 passport sized photos. For anyone seeking a visa run in Bangkok, I would highly recommend this service.

Would you be so kind as to post that pricing link here please. I can't seem to find it......

Agreed.......I looked all over the Dancewatchers website and never could come up with any pricing structure. If the OP could give a range of prices, that certainly would help save condo seekers time and frustrations trying to figure out what the rental rates are and save time for Dancewathers, having to respond to "how much $$ for # xx room" inquires.

I stayed at this Bangkok hotel for a total of 5 nights this month (January 2010) A deluxe room was 2249 a night booked via the hotels website, including taxes. Agoda had the same room listed at 19xx baht but that did not include the taxes. So it came out very nearly the same per night on the hotels website. This hotel is well inside Soi 2 and it's a fair walk to Sukumvit. However, the hotel does provide free tuk tuk service back and forth. The tuk tuk day driver is a great guy. Name of Yuth. He spoke good English and was always ready to take me to Sukumvit with a smile and some chit chat. If walking towards Sukumvit, you could cut thru to soi 4 at the Rajah hotel site, near the Annies massage joints. The deluxe room was roomy, big flat panel TV, kitchenette, hot water pot and a full size refrigerator. Big comfortable bed with black out curtains and a easily adjustable AC unit that was quiet on low fan. There was some sort of DVD player hooked up but I think it was just for music CD's and not DVD movies. Not 100% sure about that. Free buffet breakfast coupons were provided but the buffet setup sucked. Good thing it was free. I was there when it opened at 6:30 AM and the bacon and potatoes were already cold and limp. Very limited choices of either farang food or Thai food. I passed on two days.....opting to just wait it out for lunch at Bully's pub on Sukumvit. Joiner free of charge and if you book 2 persons, the second person is also provided a free breakfast coupon. In room electronic safe, bathrobe and a spacious closet and all the bathroom amenities provided. There are no 7-11's or Family Marts close, the nearest being on soi 4 at the Rajah shortcut. Although the room was great with a LAN computer connection, and a very friendly staff....the lack of nearby conveniences, along with the crappy buffet, would make me pass on using this hotel again. http://www.aspenbangkok.com/

As of Wednesday, Dec 30th. 09, there is still lots to be done..mostly going downhill towards Jomtien and back uphill from there.....both sides. Dust is nasty........although they do seem to try and keep it wet. And in some spots, it was really wet!!!

Agreed.....to this day, it's still that way.

I stayed at this hotel for a total of 11 nights in late December and will check out on 2 January. This place is tucked into the corner of the soi, on the same side as Lolitas and the Rock house and catercorner to the Billabong. The lobby area consists of some very comfortable seating and is totally "open air"....with many tropical plants and wood planked flooring. It is private and not easily visible from passersby on the soi. A very nice place to burn a stogie, if so inclined, and chit chat with whomever. There is no bar, no restaurant or other amenities common to other establishments. Due to full booking during my time frame, I had to select a "superior" room at 1200 baht. Upon check in, I queried the reception lady if a "deluxe" room might be available at 1500 baht. I was in luck..the previous anticipated guest had canceled and that the deluxe room was available, but not for the total time I was wanting. I ended up staying in the deluxe room for 4 nights and then had to move "down" to a "superior" for 2 nights. Then as luck would have it, another cancel and I could move back to the deluxe if I wanted. I jumped at it.......albeit for only 3 nights until a previous guest who had a reservation showed up. So another move "down" was in order until check out. The deluxe rooms are very roomy, views outside to the soi with sliding doors and very comfortable with outside table and chair. However, that AC compressor is right there also, as are many balcony seating areas. Superior rooms are smaller and I had no view other than the other side of a building. The deluxe rooms come with a pot to boil water for coffee making and a generous supply of "red cup" and creamer was provided......not so in the superior...bring your own hot water pot, if coffee is your thing first thing in the morning. The bathrooms are unique in that there is a double sliding glass door with opaque glass that shuts off the bathroom area from the living area. The fixtures were modern and worked well. The beds were very nice..not too hard nor soft. Wi-fi routers on each floor so the signal was strong at all times. Free unlimited use of the wifi also with a secure connection password required. Each room was fitted with a security box with the normal 4 digit code. One drawback in the superior room was a lack of electrical outlets. I had to move the minibar refrigerator to gain access to an outlet for the laptop. More outlets would have been much better. Like at the work desk where I use the laptop. No joiner charges and even sometimes the night reception man did not even ask for ID from the lady. On occasion, I would hear some loud music noise coming from, I believe, the Billabong bar. Not intolerable by any means...but I could hear it no problem. I feel the prices for this area are a bit high considering 1500/1200/1000/800 are the rates for deluxe, superior, class and standard. However, this is high season and all rooms are 200-300 baht a night less in low season. The front desk ladies are super nice and super cute too!!!! And they can have your laundry done at laundry prices.......there is no up charges like most hotels who charge over the top for laundry. There is a Family Mart on the corner of soi Dianna and LK Metro for any needed supplies and 7-11's across Soi Buakow. Rich bar and restaurant on soi Buakow was my breakfast choice as was the Canterbury Tales......a short walk away. Motorbike taxis available right out front of the Pasadena and it was 40 baht to the entrance of Walking street. The TV's in each room are a bit small I believe...at maybe 19" screens. And each room is equipped with a DVD player for movies. Mini bar refrigerator is of normal size....small!!!! I had to move out the provided drinks to make room for my water and choco milk supplies. All in all, this is a very clean place and the rooms are comfortable, especially the deluxe rooms. It has an elevator (lift) that was quick......no climbing stairs as in many places on this soi. If you don't mind paying the price, I can fully recommend this small hotel. http://www.hotelpasadenalodge.com/

Early would be about what time??.... Thanks

I recently booked a flight from BKK to MNL and beyond, with Cebu Pacific airlines. Upon entering all the data required to make an online booking, my first credit card was "declined" so no booking right?.. So I break out another debit card and bingo..it is accepted and I am all set. While checking my accounts online, I see a charge to Cebu airlines on the CC that was originally "declined"!!! And sure enough, the debit card was charged as well..as was expected. Now I have paid TWICE for ONE seat on ONE flight!!!! I am furious beyond furious about this so I sent an email to customerservice@cebupacificair.com and explained what had happened. Waiting and waiting for 3 days no response from them. I send another email outlining the very same problem.....again no response. Now, thoroughly frustrated and making an international long distance phone call from California to the Manila call center is out of the question due to the costs......I write my credit card company a secure mail and dispute the double booking from Cebu. Long story short, the CC company credited back my account with a disputed situation. So now I write Cebu a THIRD time to the their customer service email......NO freakin reponse again. By this time, I am now in BKK and make the call to Manila from my Thai mobile...... Jaysuss...that ate up 200 baht for the call in a heart beat, but I did manage to get to talk to a real person. My account has now been credited and all is well. My rant is about the shitty customer service with Cebu..take caution friends about them if you do book online with Cebu and have any issues.

Your doing a fine job Pete......keep up the great work and update as often as you can.

Exactly......make SURE you get a review by a competent expert in dental implants to confirm the bone in your jaw is sufficient to support the implant post. I was told by a Pattaya dentist...."sure sure you have ok bone for implant" Horse pucky!!!! The implant post came loose within a day. Even with eating only noodles. This was confirmed by a USA dentist who told me flat out...."I would never have recommended implants for you, there is just not sufficient bone to support the posts"

Nope, your not wrong.

Another caveat to be considered is make sure you have enough bone to support the implant. This is confirmed using X rays. Without sufficient bone, the implant will loosen and come out. I would strongly urge anyone considering implants in Thailand to make sure your home dentist says your a good candidate.

I have flown all of the 3 big Asian carriers out of LAX. EVA.....Taipai...BKK China....Taipai...BKK Cathay Pacific...Hong Kong...BKK Seems to me a 747 is a 747..big and bulky on the takeoff...3 rows outside.....4 rows inside....coach class. Some have "seatback monitors" and some don't. One or the other may have a slightly larger seat pitch agreed, and that helps as I am not a short guy. If one can cop an aisle seat, I just put one leg down the aisle and hope the food cart does not smash a toe. My shoulders stick out beyond the seat back and invariably, the attendants bump into me....jolting me out of la-la land. However....now and again, the cute girls rub my leg in passing!!!! Xanax works GREAT!! I have zero loyality to any of them, as they all feed you, get you to where your going on time normally and the attendants are all cute Asian girls. Price is what is of paramount importance to me. China, time after time, usually has the lowest price of these big 3. I can't seem to fathom the reason why they do not allow you to choose your seat in advance.....can't think of any advantage to that at all other than to make you notch up the fare. However, if you do notch up the fare, then one can make the seat selection in advance at an attractive price also. Maybe $100 USD more.... for advance seat selection might make it worth it.....for some. I will arrive early for check-in and plead for an aisle seat!!!