Kleyshay

Got the same deal myself, in the VT6. 500 baht per night. Flying out tomorrow from Heathrow. Will let you know what the condo and noise levels are like.

I flew with them from Amsterdam to Beijing last year. Cost was low, and everything was acceptable but no more. It was a very crowded flight, though, which didnt help. They certainly wouldn't be my airline of choice. Definately not in the class of Eva. China airlines are marginally better too. Personally I would pay maybe $200 - $300 extra to go with Eva but thats just me. If you are on a budget and flight times suit, then they are worth a punt.

Hi guys, I just went into the new wing at Areca, had a chat with my friend there who says it is all up and running and have almost full occupancy. She invited me up to take a look at one of the rooms which look very nice. This is a super deluxe rooms which are currently 1990 baht p/n (High Season rate) although are set to come down to low season rate in Feb. There are definately more people around the back pool area, which it shares with the Corona wing. I am sure their website will give you more info, but thought i'd post anyway.

I believe the point of maintaining the place and repairs was first highlighted by Agogogaran and Lovedog within in the first two replies. Yes, torrenova, we are all aware and have accepted that the costs for this were not allowed for in the original post. I see what you are saying about variable and fixed costs, and a good example used, but surely replacing TV sets that are in perfect working order with Bt40,000 Plasma TV's, would not be part of anyones business plan, as we are not going to attract those high end customers with just a Plasma TV are we ? If you are going to start replaci

Lovedog, that sounds slightly more in the buyers favour, as presumably the option to get out after the 5 years is then available, assuming you wanted / needed to, which seems to be a requisite for everyone. A 70% occupancy throughout the year, has got to be hard to achieve nowadays, although, like yourself I'm not an owner, I would think working at that percentage would make a very successful hotel or guesthouse, judging by the figures I know and didn't know about. My personal opinion is that an increase in occupancy rates may be achievable with this place, with an improved website and some

I asked about a CT Scan for chest and addomen at Pattaya International Hospital Soi 4 when I was in there recently, and the girl on reception made a call and came back with 18,500 THB. Reason I asked was that as I had paid for one back home in UK last year and wondered what the difference would be. £850 in UK. I have no idea about the different types 64 slice etc, and if indeed this is what you require, but thought it might help Website is www.pih-inter.com

OK, thanks, MM & Lovedog, I see what you are saying. Although could it be the 'key money' isn't the issue, it's what's written in the leasehold contact, that matters, as that could possibly provide a way out if need be, which judging by the replies, is want the majority of people require. As there seems to be so much negativity against this so called 'key money', I am surprised ANYONE actually pays it, and therefore it still exists. Keeping with the original case, change the figure to 1.5m as was suggested would be a more appropriate sum, surely everyone would be still be saying "Yes, b

I might not be the sharpest knife in the draw, but i did attend the occasonal maths class at school So if after say 5 years you have had enough, regardless of if you are making a profit, could you just not try to 're-lease it' to someone else or do you just have no choice but to walk away with your money done ? Also when one leases a business or even any leasehold property for that matter, anywhere in the world other than Thailand what is the initial payment called then? A purchase price ? Does it not equate to the same thing as key money ? And what happens when the lease finishes

5m baht up front to lease the place for 10 years (I called it key money, maybe this is the incorrect term, apologies) then 65000 baht p/m rent Then by the sound of it, you then walk through the door and start losing money

Fathermojo: Yes I do get on with the owner, i have known him for about 12 years, from my first visit to Pattaya. I am not interested providing every invoice or statement, if TSBA or Sunbelt want to do that for him and potential buyers, then fine. Therefore I appreciate then you guys could then not possibly give accurate figure, though if you think 40k p/m plus 1.5m is about right, then thankyou for your input, and this business is then way overpriced. It was more of a curious question, to which I seem to have spent far too long gathering information already and not spent enough time di

This is not a bad deal, especially as a first offer. HOWEVER, why are you assuming a 50 per cent occupied rate? This is the real key, is how you are going to (partly) fill those 22 rooms. The reason I assumed 50% is because I have stayed there and seen, and when I wasn't there was informed by others of the numbers in there. I have seen the invoices books to back this up and no they were not the 'other' set of books either...lol Averages for the last year were: Jan 09: 16 rooms Feb 09: 13 rooms Mar 09: 10 rooms Apr 09: 13 rooms May 09: 7 rooms June 09: 7 rooms July 09: 6

Got 'nicked' yesterday for walking the bike 20 yards down soi 8, then got on it when on the beach road - 600 baht fine

To attract the higher end customer, who buy the way doesn't stay in a 22 room guest house. You will have to make some big improvements, add a pool, internet with wifi, new furniture, paint, light fixtures, linens and towels, paint, parking lot, security, room safes, plasma TV's with cable. When I said I believe Pattaya is trying to attract the bigger spending customer I quoted the likes of Holiday Inn, Hard Rock and Amari, and did not include this or any other guesthouse.....that was my point. I am well aware the 600 baht guesthouse is not going to attract a high end customer, apologies

Not sure this is the correct section but here goes anyway..... During a conversation with the guesthouse owner (Thai) where I stay, he was telling me he had built the place and had been asked if he would sell. I was surprised, in our present climate, I couldnt see anyone, especially a farang buying it and asked why it didnt go down the lease route, he came back with this: A 22 Room centrally located guesthouse for lease A 10 year lease is on offer Owner wants 5m Key money Costs are as follows: All Utilities : 25000 p/m Staff : 22000 p/m Rent 65000 p/m Accountant: 2000p/m ?

Was in Areca last week, talking with the front desk manager, (a friend of mine) and she told me it was definately opening in January. They are just, fitting furniture etc in rooms.

Thanks Joe and Bill for the quick replies. Looks like the way forward. Fly to Udon and then the bus it is. Dont suppose you know how often buses go from Udon to Loei or if there is an online timetable ?

Hello folks, I am looking to go up to Loei for a few days to see a mate of mine. I went up there about 3 years ago, flying with Nok Air for less than 1000 baht from Bangkok. It appears they have dropped the flights now, and I really cannot sit on a bus for 10 hours or whatever it is, so does anyone know of an alternative? Maybe another airline or maybe I could fly into another airport and get a shortr bus trip to Loei. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks Jacko and Rnine, I will check them out. And LostinAmsterdam, I know exactly what you mean mate, I do prefer the night time flights too, as I tend to adjust to the time difference a bit easier, but as I cant really sleep on planes anyway, thats why I originally posted the question, otherwise I wouldn't really care. Cheers guys

Thanks gents, I think I will pay the extra and go with Eva

Hi all, now looking at a direct flight from Heathrow to Bangkok. Thai are offering a fair price but I've never used them before. My question is what IFE do they have on this flight ? Is it the screens in the head rests or screens for everyone ? Don't know what aircraft they use but flight numbers are outbound #TG 917 and inbound #TG 910. Thanks folks

Hi folks, my friend and I have just booked a return flight from the UK directly with KLM on their website for later this year. My mate has since found out his girlfriend is pregnant and guess what....the baby is due the week we are due to fly. I have telephoned KLM and asked about a refund if we were to cancel and due to the fare code it is non refundable. When I checked the e ticket it states £180 of the cost was airport tax, so I asked the KLM girl, if we were entitled to be refunded this tax, as we would not be using the airport. Hesitantly she said we might be. I asked what she meant by th

Not such a silly idea Bigjl, thats what i did. Bought one at tesco and took it with me. £17.50 and all was well. Thanks

Well I did it...just. I (with the help of our kind receptionist) managed to get up about 8am, I got the 9:40 bus to Morchit BKK purely cos my mate was coming from Rayong so would meet him there. I arrived about 12.00 and we then planned to get a taxi to Thonburi station to get the train at 13:55 to the bridge. Well, lo and behold my mates bus breaks down and he finally rolls in at 13:30 !!! OK we then decide to get a taxi, to try and make up some time. 1350 baht and an hour and a half later we get there. So back on schedule pretty much Had a nice time there, seeing the bridge, the museum,

Ok thanks chaps I am going tomorrow. Will bus up to Bkk in the morning ang catch the train from there. Will let you know how it goes. Once again many thanks

Hi there, I was planning a 2 or 3 day trip up to Kanchanaburi next week. I am trying to do it both time and cost effective as possible. Are there any direct Air Con buses that go up to there from Pattaya. What price and time does it take - possibly consider a mininbus. I see there is a bus from the Southern Bus Station in Bangkok, but if I remember the buses from Patts are to Ekamai and Mo Chit only. Is this correct ? How difficult and what sort of time from Ekamai or Mo Chit to Southern Treminal ? Or can anyone reccommend a better way? Thanks in advance chaps