Khun.Dip

If after all those trips Pattaya still grabs you, those issues you cited seem relatively minor or temporary. Politically, the country is a mess, but I'm American so who am I to preach? I've just returned from three weeks in LOS, one in Pattaya, and despite the underlying disdain many THais have for foreigners (which Taksin used to skillfully exploit), there's no indication I'm aware of that anyone is interested in changing the P4P culture, even in its extreme form in Pattaya. One issue you didn't mention is the appreciating baht. If the dollar ever gets back to baht 41, I won't wait to buy something. The last projections I saw were the dollar could fall to 32 baht by May.

Ma Maison is perfectly adequate and has a better than average restaurant. But I only stayed there once because a girl I had to push out the door one day talked her way into my room while I was out the next day. She sat there, drinking my minibar dry, until I came back late with another girl. Not a nice scene or memory. From that point on, I kept my room key with me at all times.

Its website strongly implies it is guest friendly, but I've never heard of it and I doubt its claim that it has an after-hours downstairs bar in the old tradition of the Thermae and Grace Hotel in BKK. Location is a bit remote and prices are suspicously low, especially for peak season, which is what I'm looking for.

Criticism that this hotel doesn't measure up to the Marriott or another real five-star hotel is unfair, at least so long as the promo price -- which includes a good breakfast -- is in effect. It's true you can see where the owners cut corners to save money -- just two elevators, basic bathroom fixtures -- but this is a comfortable and good mid-ground alternative. Big con for me is the large number of Middle Eastern families, including women dressed in black, and other non-sanukers. Pool area is also small. Otherwise, the location can't be beat.