Cookie Monster

I've followed the situation on the floods, as many of you have I'm sure. I'm not so worried about getting to and around Los, but I am curious as to what the situation is with availability of supplies in the shops etc. I usually try to travel light and buy locally what I need for my stay, stuff like shaving cream, toothpaste, and other toiletries/cosmetics. I've read the reports about shortages of beer and other spirits, but I'm not too concerned with that. Nice to have but not my main reason for going to Los. Can I get a resident BM to volunteer some info on what is in short supply

Guys, The problem has been sorted out. I can only put it down to a poorly designed website which doesn't provide all the info it needs to. When I went through the intial booking process they gave me the credit card choice, but then never followed through with prompting for the card details. I was puzzled by this, to say the least, but what I wasn't aware of is the fact that they will then send you an email with a link to pay by PayPal. If they had done this straight away there wouldn't have been an issue, but I forgot TIT, so the follow up email came in this morning......only 3 days la

Sorry guys, I should have explained in more detail. The hotel is not available on any agency listing, such as Agoda, and only takes bookings directly with them. There is no option for Paypal, that would have been my preference. They only show International bank transfer, which would mean £25 bank charge in my case, or the option of Credit Card prepayment. I chose the Credit Card option fully expecting that they would then prompt me for my card details. But that was not the case. The hotel, by the way, is the Samed Villa Resort www.samedvilla.com , which has been recommended by s

Gents, I've got a hotel on Koh Samet that I'm trying to make a booking for. I've filled out the online reservation form, but online it says they will confirm the booking once my payment for the first night has cleared. They don't provide any facility to actually put in your credit card details. Any of you ever dealt with this kind of scenario.........and if so, please let me know. Much appreciated, CM

Hammer, I usually stay at the Jomtien Boathouse, right on the beach road. Excellent place and absolutely hassle free. No pool though and no little kitchens either, but still an excellent place. www.jomtien-boathouse.com Same owner as the RG by the way! Just around the corner is the Silver Sand Villa, also hassle free and very comfortable. Some russian tourists but they don't dominate the place. It also has a good pool. www.silversandvilla.com Check them out before you give up on alternatives to RG. CM

OK, after asking the questions and reading some of the replies, I settled on Pasadena Lodge for my two week stay early November. Absolutely no complaints. Great place to stay, plus I had no problems with noise at all. On one occasion there was a live band at Billabongs that seemed loud at street level, but up in the room it wasn't a problem. CM

Check out the German Dental Clinic on the road to Jomtien. Very professional and high quality product with all the lab work done onsite. German Dental Co Ltd (Lab Technology International Co Ltd) Thappraya Rd, Soi-9, gdental@loxinfo.co.th 038-251289 038-251232 (Michael Schlatter)

OUCH!!!!!!! I'm getting a whole different aspect of the Metro area and I'm having second thoughts. I can certainly see where staying above a bar has its drawbacks of expecting you to drink there and the working girls pressure. I've experienced that at a small hotel on Soi 13. And it sounds like the area can be a little noisier than I've experienced during my short drinking visits. It seemed so quiet and relaxing!! Perhaps I need to look at hotels that are close to the area but have no active bar offer a better chance of some quiet. Maybe Areca Lodge? Or Chaba Hut? Or is it a

Thanks for all your input and recommendations. Seems like the LK Metro area is worth a try. Thinking of the Irish Rovers, Pasadena Lodge, or possibly the 3Som. All of the Metro area is so popular that the biggest problem will be availability of rooms (looking at November). Thanks again, CM

Thinking of staying in the Metro/Bukhao area this trip. We've met up with friends for drinks several times in the area. On our last occasion we were sitting outside the Irish Rovers having a few, and I noticed how quiet it was on the street. Didn't seem to be a lot of loud music pouring out of the bars close by. This was in November and probably around 9-10PM. So, my questions are: - Was this just a one off? - Does it get louder later in the evening? - If you stay at one of the guest houses there.....will you get a good nights' sleep? Would appreciate your insights and recomm

The next thread down from this one is Hotel Reviews and it allows you to view them sorted by price. Unfortunately, some of the reviews themselves are a bit outdated, but it does give you a good starting point. AM

There's an excellent German dentist on the road to Jomtien. Great work, good prices, english speaking: German Dental Co Ltd (Lab Technology International Co Ltd) Thappraya Rd, Soi-9, gdental@loxinfo.co.th 038-251289 038-251232 (Michael Schlatter) CM

You might want to check out this German dentist. He's excellent, ultra professional and his charges are comparable to Thai dentists. German Dental Co Ltd (Lab Technology International Co Ltd) Thappraya Rd, Soi-9, gdental@loxinfo.co.th 038-251289 038-251232 (Dr. Michael Schlatter)

Aussiechic, Good review. I have been a fan of The Haven for years and it's mostly down to the fact that it's a small, comfortable and accomodating hotel. Sure it has a few niggles, like the 7:30 staff activity, and in the evenings you sometimes have the golfers gathering around the watering hole to discuss the day's outcome. And yes, occasionally a loud asshole that you could do without - but you find those guys everywhere and from every part of the world. The staff are very helpful and responsive to your needs. It's mostly family members (cousins etc.) of the owner's wife, Anna.

So,,,,nothing new there eh?!?!? We get gouged for everything!! CM

You might want to check out this German dentist. He's excellent, ultra professional and his charges are comparable to Thai dentists. German Dental Co Ltd (Lab Technology International Co Ltd) Thappraya Rd, Soi-9, gdental@loxinfo.co.th 038-251289 038-251232 (Dr. Michael Schlatter)

Chodeeka, Haven't stayed at the Inn, but have stayed at The Haven hotel acroos the street many times. Soi 13 itself is a quiet little street with mainly hotels on each side. Good eating at The Haven and the Sportsman. Good bar on the corner of Soi 13 and Second Road. You'll enjoy the area, and it's easy to get to everywhere from there. CM

A good laugh

Teelak, Go see the German Dentist on Thappraya Road just after the Residence Garden. I haven't had a plate done by him, but have had other work. He is excellent. You will not have a problem with the quality of his work and he's not expensive either. Sure you can find it cheaper somewhere else in Pattaya - but you'll not find better quality work. German Dental Clinic Michael Schlatter Thappraya Rd, Soi-9, Tel:038-251289 gdental@loxinfo.co.th CM

Raithlee, Good breakfast can be had next door. The closest bars are down in Jomtien, just as you turn the last corner onto Jomtien Beach Road there are plenty of bars on the main Thappraya Rd. (one called Country Road or somthing like that, has plenty good looking BGs. Also before getting to Beach Road there's the Jomtien Complex which has several good ones to include El Coyote, Las Vegas Bar (naked pool players one of their specialties). Loads of little bars going up each little Soi off Beach Road. If you're into GoGos then you'll be shit out of luck......there's only one! You'll

I like to chill out on the beach during the day. When I stay in Pattaya, I usually end up taking a baht bus to Jomtien anyway as the beach in Pattaya sucks. Also, Jomtien has a lot more going on than you think. Plenty of bars and action, both in the Jomtien Complex and also up the little sois that lead off beach road. Not so many GoGos (I think only one) but that's much more to my liking anyway. And Pattaya is just a baht bus ride away. No big deal. Hotels in Jomtien that I would recommend: The Jomtien Boathouse, right on beach road. Quiet, good restaurant, and a stroll across

Tenqotodo & Cennn3, Thanks for the replies. I didn't mean to ask inappropriate questions, and really wasn't seeking details about the Hippo Bar. Only wanted to know if they indeed used the Welkomm Inn for their short time rooms. Now I guess I have to figure out how I feel about that!! Appreciate the advice on Sabai Lodge. Thanx again, CM

Can't seem to find many reviews about this hotel - at least ones that are within the last year. Anyone have some fairly recent experiences? Also interested in knowing more about their bar, sometimes referred to as the Hippo bar and at other times the No Name Bar. On the Forum of another site I read an older report where this bar is a short time bar and uses the rooms of the hotel. Is this the case? Thanks, CM