gaprau25

Sorry, I meant that they will check your air ticket to make sure that ... a. you have an exit ticket out of the country and...b. that said ticket is scheduled before your visa runs out. In Thailand, I've never been checked by anybody for anything. But in the Philippines I got hit both by NW Airlines when checking in, and at immigration both times I went. The good thing about the Philippines is that you can very easily get a very long extension to the visa. So the trick is to go with no visa (getting a visa for PI in advance is about as easy as overhauling your car blindfolded. Way too much trouble) and just get the 17-day (forget the exact number) visa at the border. But be sure to go with an open airline ticket that you can change once you're there. THen extend your visa in country. In Thailand, on the other hand, getting a visa in advance is as easy as pulling a girl on Walking Street, but extensions are getting trickier all the time, and it can be difficult to be sure if the one you're getting is legal (not something you want to find out at the airport, but many people do lately). So the advance visa is the way to go.

Pretty much every summer I stay about 35 days, and I always get a visa in advance so I can chill with beers by the beach all summer, instead of sweat like a dog in a cramped visa van to Cambodia. But I have never had my ticket checked. This time, I was going to do a visa run to Manila for a week, so I wasn't going to get a visa this time. But, I guess for the $40 or whatever I usually pay here, it's worth the peace of mind. BTW: FYI: In the Philippines, they always check your ticket.

A friend of mine also recommended the Metro. I'll be arriving at the beginning of August. The plan is to stay at any hotel I can find, rent a scooter, then spend a few days looking around for a good monthly place. If I find anything, I'll post it. The only problem is finding one that doesn't brow beat you for having the...umm...occasional guest. In fact, that should be a topic of it's own, as it's not something you can learn without actually staying there.

S & P looks great. I checked the links on subsequent posts -- it says it's on Soi Diana. I tried to google it, but can't find a number or map. Any suggestions?

It's scary.... I know the name and location,a nd I have a vague recollection of what I did there... But beyond that... I can't remember the alamo... I'll check it out the next time I'm in town.

I agree. It's difficult to tell what the hell is going on in the mind of somebody that desperate. One thing I AM thankful for is that both of these guys just ended their own lives, and didn't try taking anybody with them. Gotta be thankful for that, eh.

Sorry, I should have specified. I was in View Talay 2. Building 1 has put in security cameras, and that stopped the break ins -- although they used to have their share, too, from what I've been told by long-term tennants. View Talay 2, on the other hand, is still a free-for-all, particularly around busy holiday times. When I was there, an American guy on the 3rd floor actually had his door ripped open with a crowbar -- through a deadbolt and regular lock. On the other hand, the guy was notorious for bringing chicks home and showing off his expensive computer and cash stash. They got him between his regular-as-clockwork 9 to 10PM evening jog, so he reckons the "security" guys there were in on it. Anyway, I stand corrected. Yes, View Talay 1 has less problems with break ins. But until building 2 gets cameras, look elsewhere.

I agree with Sapper that Mermaid's is not the best place to go if you want more personal service. It's a very safe, responsible and well run outfit, to be sure. But the number of people who pass through it means you don't really get to know people very well. And they have a bit of an "insiders / ousiders" thing going with the zero-to-hero clan, so you kind of feel like you don't really belong there. I did my open water with a Swedish guy named Claes who runs an operation called "Moose Divers" on Soi 5 in Jomtien. He is very low volume, so you'll be able to ask anything you want and get more info than you'd planned for! haha. But this guy has done more dives and has more certs than anybody I've ever met. And he has the lowest prices. I think my open water PADI cost me about 12,000B, everything included. As for the boats, he goes out with the Mermaid boats anyway, so it's all the same in terms of boat quality. Just don't expect crystal clear waters and beautiful fish at any time of the year. The visibility is shite and there's not much to see. But it's a fantastic place to learn, since the apres-scuba is the best in the known universe.

I agree with all who have said that bottled beer is the best way to go. A buddy and I went to a few gogos in the lower sois that had super cheap beer -- but it was draught and tasted like, well, watered-down draught. One other thing, during my last visit, I got a bit tired of the elephant-piss, and switched to "Bacardi and coke." But what I got in both places was "Sang som and coke." So no point buying the more expensive stuff when they just give you the local brew anyway. Not that I mind sang som at all, mind you.

I usually rent in Jomtien. I like to be able to get away from the Pattaya craziness when I need a break. The only problem with Jomtien is you have to go over that bloody hill every time you want to get into town. Next time, I'm going to try Naklua (North Pattaya). It has action of its own, quieter beaches, and is quite close to the "Big C" and other shopping areas -- and of course, all the party Sois and bar complexes on Second Road On thing, if you do rent in Jomtien and are looking on line, you'll see "View Talay" everywhere. My condo got broken into on Christmas, as did 4 others, and break ins are so common there, it doesn't even raise an eyebrown. Make sure wherever you rent, the entrance is very secure.

The booming voice from this thread says "Pattaya" and I have to agree. I spend lots of time in both places (I live about 3 months a year in Thailand). For me, Pattaya is the best of all worlds. You have a fantastic bar scene, both gay and straight (I only can talk about the straight side . You have a great infrastructure with excellent shopping, movie theaters, entertainment bla bla bla, just like BKK. BUT you have that beach just a short walk away. Ok, granted, it's far from the best beach in Thailand, but for me, any beach is a good beach. But if you want to hang out with people who live a normal life in Thailand (ie, working stiffs, both foreign and Thai), or if you want great food, then BKK is the place to be. In fact, BKK has pretty much all my favourite restaurants in the world, all in one city. Pattaya kind of sucks for food.

ACtually, Jambo, I wouldn't necessarily go for the most expensive places. F'rinstance, the Ao Prau Resort is a great resort (West Coast of SAmet) but has a shite beach. For me, Hat Sai Kaew -- the beach on the NE coast -- has by far the best sand and sea. But it also has the most package tourists. My ex and I used to stay at the Sai Kaew Beach Resort -- the priciest on that beach at about 2,400 B and up. Pretty basic, but nice rooms and fantastic service. If you want to avoid the billions of package tourists, you can head a bit south to Ao Phai beach...where you'll then have to put up with the billions of young "travelers" who seem to flock there. Still, the beach is nice, and quieter than Sai Kaew by day, and the only party place on the island by night. I stayed at the Silver Sand last time in one of their newly-built air conditioned rooms -- very nice -- for 1,400 B at peak season. Looking forward to hearing how it went for you.

Well, this is my first post on this site. Hello everybody. I agree that a day trip to Samet would be a hassle. But the beach there is something you should see if you can. The sand is like baby powder and the colour of the water is gorgeous. But it is a trek, to be sure! If I were you, I'd bring along some company and stay the night.