gk10002000

My friends and I stayed at Malibut on Ko Samet during the tsunami in 2004. Lucky chance we had moved our Phuket reservation to Ko samet for convenience. Georgous beach. great food. good bungalow with air and pool etc. Night time outdoor barbecues are stunning. Each of the 7 or 8 small hotels put out a spread where you pick your food, fish, crab, kabob etc. They cook it up fresh. 5 of us ate for about 35 USD on a warm evening outdoors, with the waves lapping. Bring a girl. Malibu is quiet, without much to do. But, that is why you go there. Quiet and easy to get ther from Pattaya.

twice i have sent an email to the hotels I wanted and that was enough to secure a reservation. I would not send a credit card or pay in advance for many reasons. Besides, usually one gets a better deal by just showing up in person.

I have arrived on that late flight form LAX a few times. Both times I napped pretty well on the plane so I jumped in a taxi and went straight to Pattaya. Easy to check in to hotel and still hit the streets at 5 am. always something to find in pattaya. Some times a nice quiet but fun time can be had when the noise has quieted down and one can sit outside on those bar couches and relax and revel in having the ability to fly half way around the world and do whatever one damn well wants! I do remember my first time when I arrived at noon and it was nice to be able to look out the window during the drive to pattaya/ .

I use this site all the time. about 10 thai radio stations to pick from covering a large range of music and talk. http://www.learningthai.com/radio/

I took bus from pattaya to ekamie. nice ride. nothing special. bus was a bit aged, kind of like an older usa greyhound, but AC worked fine. seats were ok. No space in bus to store my carry on bag, no overhead and no underseat to mention. I did not want to put my bag outside in the external bus luggage areas, so just keep that in mind and keep an eye on your things. Bus made two stops along the way as i recall. Just over a two hour ride to the Ekamie bus station. I took a taxi from there to NANA. Next time, I will walk from Ekamie up to the BTS skytrain. It is not far. Pattaya bus station is not far from the tourist area like SEcond road. I hopped on a motor scooter taxi as I only had one carry on luggage. Think I gave the kid 50 baht for the 5 minute scooter ride. I like the bus because you can look out the window. I have taken taxis several times from and to the airport. I have taken mini shuttle from hotel to the airport. That is probably the best combination of price and speed because 4 or 5 people on the van make the cost about 300 baht. On my first trip I took the shuttle from the airport to pattaya at the Thai airways terminal. IN 2004 the shuttle ran at 0900, 1200 and 1700. 300 baht. Not sure it still runs. By the way, the skytrain is nice and easy to use. Good way to browse bangkok. But it doesn't go everywhere. maps are easy to get. barnes and noble or borders carries bangkok maps and of course they are online

I was in pattaya for christmas in 2004 and 2005. The buffet at the Lek Hotle was fabulous. Outdoors by the pool. Real turkeys being carved. prawns and crabs and kebobs on the grill. Just wonderfult. A few of the hotels may be full, but there are always others to pick. Weather was cool in 2005. actually wearing a sweater at night was not unusual. This was my 4th time to Thailand. Some businesses were a bit crowded. I liked that. better than being the only patron in an establishment

I stayed at Nana last year during Christmas busy season for 3 nights. I had tried to book online, but they said they were full. I showed up in person and had no problem. Room was ok. Huge bed, small fridge. Old bathroom with a rotary dial phone, but every thing worked. Hallways had old brown carpet and definitely looks bad, but nothing smelled. The BTS train station is right around the corner so it was convenient. Of course Nana plaza is across the street. The downstairs disco is supposed to be OK, but they wanted 500 baht entry fee, even for people staying in the hotel. I just wasn't interested. The Dynasty right across the way has free shuttles down to Pattaya for Dynasty hotel guests. So, you might be able to hitch a ride if you stay at Dynasty. I am sure the rooms are a bit better, but probably smaller. Nana hotel has a fairly good sized parking lot and the hotel lobby is set back. Many girls stand right outside the entrance to the lot, which helps security a bit. Don't need too many unescorted strangers wandering around the lobby. The hotel resaturant was pretty good. Large selection, reasonable prices. Front desk people were nice. Lock box behind check in desk. Pool was very small and I didn't even bother with it.

My friend and I stopped by the shooting range at Tiffany's. They had a good selection of guns. However, the prices were more expensive than any shooting ranges in the Los Angeles California area that my friend and I had been to, so we decided it wasn't worth it to shoot in Pattaya. This was last year. I don't recall any of the price details, but the overall cost was not a great deal.

You will have no problems that time of year. For a quick and easy hotel, I do recommend the FLipper Lodge on soi 8, close to Beach Road. Rooftop pool, in house massage is 300 baht for great one hour oil massage. Right in the middle of Pattaya so easy to go in any direction. Hotel should be about 600 to 700 baht a night during that time. SUmmer months they give huge discount, stay 7 nights, pay for 5 nights, average price is < 600 baht.

Go up Central road to Carre 4 shopping center. In back of it, about 1/4 mile is a real nice condomium complex. o Nantana Garden Hotel. My friend stayed there, and I checked it out too. 10,000 baht one month for furnished 1 BR place. Nice swimming pool, easy baht bus ride to Carre 4 and then easy walk, or you can rent a motor scooter like my friend did. Clerks were really nice.

I am very interested in working in Thailand and spending a lot of time there. I have visited it four times. I know most of the Teaching English angles, but I am interested in an engineering job. I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a MS in Math and lots of experience over the years. Anybody got any leads or solid information? Thanks

FLipper Lodge or Eastiny Place. Flipper should be having stay 5 nights get 7 . AVerage price will be about 550 baht. Close to beach road. Great in house massage for 300 baht. rooftop pool. Really all you need for a week or two. Bottom of soi 8 near beach road.

I have taken taxi from BKK to Pattaya three times at all hours of the day and night. Just go right outside to the sidewalk just outside the sliding doors of the airport. Go to the Taxi Kiosk. Girls speak english and taxi takes you right to Pattaya. Somewhere around 1400 baht or less. All taxis were Ok and had air conditioning. Sometimes they stop and get gas, so don't get nervous.

i found the in house massage at Eastiny Place and Flipper lodge to be very good. no fooling around, just the all body oil massage as firm as you want. 300 baht for one hour and they come to the room. Easiest way to relax and then a dip in the pool is always an easy and good thing.

i stayed flipper lodge at bottom of soi 8 in May of 2005. They had special where you pay 5 nights, get 2 or 3 free. AVerage price turned out to be 550 baht. That is a hell of a price for the quality. action street, seaview room, decent hotel, rooftop pool, in room massage for one hour oil 300 baht. I will do it again when I get there this year

One more option. On my first trip in September of 2004, i took the mini van that Thai airways was running from BKK to pattaya. IT only costs 300 Baht. It ran t 0900, 1200 and 1700 as i recall. Not sure if they still run it. Book the bus at the Thai Airways ticket counter down on the ground floor.

If you really are trying to live there, you probabaly want to apply for the retirement visa. Make sure you have records of financial income, either online or whatever. Making visa runs every few months is not a good idea. If you get settled in, and then get booted out of the country, you won't be happy. Mail over there is iffy. Strongly recommend you leave an address in the states for important stuff, like checks, financial documents, W-2s, new ATM or credit cards. Have some one bring them with you or you go home and get them now an then. Don't ever put all your mail in one package if mailing it to thailand. Losses or thefts are common.

skip dynasty inn. rooftop pool is a cold jacuzzi. room was small, but OK. walls were thin. FLipper lodge soi 8, eastiny place soi 8. always good defaults. Sabai has three hotels on the same street and across from each other. recommend you visit their website, then just show up and have a look around. My friend stayed there and it was ok. fliper and eastiny have in hotel room oil massage for one hour 300 baht. Just a great relaxer. fool around for extra, or just enjoy a good massage and watch tv

i had "seaview" room in june. no balcony as window was sealed. I was on the 5th floor i think. top floor may have a functional balcolny. I could see the sea from my window, but the balcony was just an outcropping that the Heat Pump sat on. Hotel was great off season. pay 5 nights, stay for 7. average price was 565 baht. roof top pool, in room oil massage for 300 baht and one hour. great way to start the day or just to relax and do nothing and watch tv while getting an oil massage. never a joiner fee. However, getting 2 beds in thailand often incurs an extra charge i think. i have heard that, but never experienced it.

i had "seaview" room in june. no balcony as window was sealed. I was on the 5th floor i think. top floor may have a functional balcolny. I could see the sea from my window, but the balcony was just an outcropping that the Heat Pump sat on. Hotel was great off season. pay 5 nights, stay for 7. average price was 565 baht. roof top pool, in room oil massage for 300 baht and one hour. great way to start the day or just to relax and do nothing and watch tv while getting an oil massage. never a joiner fee. However, getting 2 beds in thailand often incurs an extra charge i think. i have heard that, but never experienced it.

LOOK NO FURTHER. My friend stayed here in December, and I visited it to check it out. 10,000 bhat for the month! honest! great pool. nice and quiet. It is about 300 yards behind the Care 4 mall/store up on central road, about 1 mile up from the beach road. Very, very nice place. In room safe. My friend rented a motor bike. I agree. plenty of baht buses on central road, but it is a few hundred yards behind Care 4 along the road. Nantana Garden Hotel. It's SUPER nice, the best I've ever seen in Pattaya. It's 10,000 a month!!! 159/353 Soi Umae 0 3841 6225-6 aey9387643@yahoo.com very nice place. Central Pattaya Road

i walked by it all the time in december. it did look small and not particularly attractive

Off season, the flipper lodge at the bottom of soi 8 is pretty good. pay five nights, get seven. Roof top pool, and right near the action. get a seaview no problem. In hotel massage is 300 baht for one hour oil massage. just a great way to spend an hour getting an oil massage. I was there in June and paid an average of 565 baht I think. Normal off season rate is about 750 baht.

there really was a place, but it did not do well. believe it or not, it goes against the Thai sensibilities. The outwardly do not judge people by their looks. You will see that so many time when they can't understand why you are not attracted to their "good heart". I think the idea of hiring a bar girl only if she had big boobs was mildly uncomfortable to many people. just my opinion

MUST DOs: 1. Soapy massage at Sabai Dee. second road, near Big C mall. 1600 baht, 1.5 hours. go in, sit in lobby, have drink pick girl from dozens of girls sitting there. Pay cashier. Go up to room. She gives you bath in huge tub. She gives you soapie on inflatable mattress. slip and slide. most fun you may have your whole time there. then, if still able, go on bed and get your exercise. 200 or 300 baht tip is greatly appreciated. Note. There are three of these big massage parlors there., Sabai Dee, is nicest, sabai room, sabai land are ok. big white buildings. can't miss them. 2. For short time, can't beat soi 6. cool little bars during day. go in, have a drink, go upstairs, 600 baht one hour. 3. soi 3, Welcom inn is good short time 4. Soi 8 and Soi 7. just walk down any night. more noise and girls than you can count. and I mean more than you could imagine. 5. Walking street down end of beach road south end of town. Many strip joints and gogos there. could for a short hangout. very clean places and the girl's bodies are to die for. more expensive than bar girls, so you may not want to take a girl from there. 6. day trip out to Ko Laan. off shore island. beautiful little place with beach and food and clean water. pattaya bay is iffy. I recommend charter a boat from pattay beach right across from Hard Rock Cafe. 1200 baht or thereabouts. guy waits at island while you do your thing. 7. touristy stuff. Nong Nooch gardens. Pretty fun elephant show and indoor/outdoor tourist show. good to get out in the country. take a girl for the few hours. One needs to unwind now and then 8. movie theater is nice and cheap even with popcorn and coke. Wear long pants. AC is arctic cold. 9. food. Thai every where. Good german place on second road Breahaus, between soi 7 and soi 8. Sushi in Big C is pretty good and 1/3 price of USA sushi places. 10. Pharmacies sell viagra, cialis, antibiotics over the counter. 11. cigar shop around soi 13 on second road. plenty of cubans there. 12. breakfast buffet at Lek or Apex hotel on second raod. 110 baht all you can eat. 13. full english breakfast at Rosie Ogradys on soi 7.