carpediem

I tried one with the swankiest shop I found - Lancers in Walking Street. Lots of smarmy bullshit & measurement for 2 suits. Turned out an expensive mistake. I think their (chinese/thai) tailor works from a standard pattern with minimal ability to make much adjustments. So the key shapes - around chest etc - turned out ridiculous. Don't ever jump in with a big order until you've tested to see if the 'standard' cut fits your shape. cd

sh Thanks for the response & info. Are there any small unit still for sale in your vt5 building? Was considering buying something to use until the time my Sails unit is ready (2 years) – and then either re-selling, or renting, it. cd

Thanks emil and philler for the detailed, further response on specific work and dentists at pih. I have emailed another name that highlander emailed me - but no response so far. But now I also have Buddhachart and Boonsri as back-ups, if need be. The work I've had done in France has turned out to be expensive and no good and I may well have it undone and redone in pih - plus the implants. The main pirpose of the trip is in danger of becoming a side-show, though a less painful one. Thanks again. cd

Irishman, I don't dispute your points in theory. In my choice of the Sails, the reputable info and pedigree of the developer takes it outside the potential problems you mention. I don't know if I'll regret the location/distance. It's still a couple of years away, so let's see how south Jomtien comes along in that time. But thanks for the comments. cd

Philler. Actually your recommendation comes in time for me - just, as I leave for Patt in 48 hrs. Another board member emailed me with a recommendation of PIH, and he had had implants done - as well as other dental work. And I wanted to hear from someone who had had implants. He used different names from yours. How did you in fact choose your PIH dentist? Was it that you chose PIH and then it was the luck of the draw on which dentist you were allocated? I assume you also found the prices far cheaper than England? And the quality as good as any there? So far every comment about PIH has been positive. cd

I've decided to go ahead with a unit in the sails. I cogitated for these weeks and when I rang the unit that I had my eye one was gone - so I paid a resrvation on my 2nd choice. The point that 51% must be taken by thais to enable ownership is someththing I'll raise with the estate agent. Decided against La Royale, because the size of remaining units didn't suit me. Though it was much cheaper on a baht/sq m basis; and apparently resales on my preferred units were to come up imminently. However the Sails is a superior standard of aprtment, and certainly of facilities. Also the sails has the advantage of a 5 star Meridien hotel in the adjacent tower - which should offer restaurants etc, and may make for easier rental possibilities for holidaymakers. som nam na, the northshore developer is also going to be marketing a highrise luxury development in wongamat, called northpoint - in june. You can register with them on the net or at the northshore office in soi 5. owen, if your comment about the tone of discussion referred to me - thanks. There was absolutely no reason or intention on my part for anything other than a good natured 'pro s and con s' debate. cd

aussiechic Posted: Apr 13 2006, 12:32 PM Arriving in Thailand from Australia via Singapore I can't see any reason( except for Name brands) to bring anthing with us. Everything in duty free is dearer that what you find on the street. We arrive in Thailand with a carry on bag (no waiting) with a change of clothes and not much else. Are you serious? Scotch whiskey cheaper at Big C than at BKK duty free? If so I don' suppose Kuala Lumpur - which I'm transiting - would be any better. cd

Looked at the website. Seriously considering a longish term booking next week and have just sent email asking about availabilities. Would be grateful for your further info or comments on a few things: how close is it to the beach and how quick/practicable to get to around big c or central patt? is their internet any good? is their fitness centre any good? is the kitchen any good - well equipped - with new stuff? is the in-room safe good size - take a small laptop? which type of room did you take? do you recommend one type of rm? do they all face the pool? is the place brand new? did the place look already pretty full or pretty empty when you were there? Would you have stayed there if not already with a girlfriend? Appreciate any and all comment - positive or negative - on any, all or some of the above points. Thanks a lot. cd

Yup, me too. Asked them specifically for post 30th april, low season rate; but they ignored that question and just came back with what's on the website. Frustrating because in most respects I liked the hotel from my last visit. I think I'll turn up and attempt to do better on the spot - I'm offering a long term stay. If it doesn't work I'll go elsewhere. But right now I don't have the time before the dparture. cd

aphodbeeblebrox Posted on Apr 27 2006, 02:09 AM Is this not rare in Pattaya for a hotel in this price range to leave its prices unchanged going into the off season? Or am I wrong? (Only been just the once to Pattaya - in high season). cd

last minute, i know.....but someone interested in sharing my taxi booked with toom at 1130-ish?

eneukman, may i ask a technical question re dss & estates? my father died while he was living abroad. there was some months overshoot with the payments of his pension into his bank account. when i informed dss of his death they came back to say that some hundreds of pounds paid after his death needs to be reimbursed. i replied that i'd do that when i had access to the account. a solictor is now handling the probate. do i just ignore my correspondence with dss? how long for? will they automatically get the money somehow before probate is granted? cd

Their website quotes prices up to 30th April. Has anyone booked for a date in May or later, in the low season? If so I'd be interested to know what price they got - whatever the room/suite etc, ie roughly how much they drop the price for the low season. They do not reply promptly or not to anything other than a boilerplate question. Otherwize most of the points seem favourable. cd

Appreciate the trouble taken to pass on detailed info. Tahnks. cd

Curious how a lot of bm s get hot under the collar when it is suggested that the tg and thailand is not immune to effects of this equation of reducing money value.

My thanks to Gonzo, dv34917 and billrussell for the responses. I need root canal work prior to an adjacent bridge and 2 implant on the other side, so Gonzo's experience with Dr Napoporn is to the point. A recommendation at the P international Hospital would have been ideal as I'll be living v near by - but that's a trivial point, outweighed by her english and 'cuteness'. Kicking myself that I didn't discover Pattaya's possibilities earlier - considering what I've spent recently on work that I'm not 100% happy with, and may well also get re-done now. Anyhow, I'm now set up - for the dentistry and also the diversions. (I wonder how you guys identified the dentist: at random? by recommendation? through this forum? by trial and error?) cd

I had lots of helpful responses, and apologize for raising this query just this last time - I'll be on pattaya in a fortnight anyway. Has anyone had implants done and would recommend the particulat dentist for the work. I don't worry about the price because it seems clear already that it's bound to be far less than in europe and that the qua;lity will be at least as good. Failing a recommendation it'll be just chance whether I get as good a dentist for this specialized work as I might have. Thanks guys. cd

alan and how often is that? not to pry, but without that info your estimate of expenses isn't of limited use, surely. cd

This looks good and I may change my present booking to move to it next month. Do the standard or studio rooms have a balcony? What might they typically overlook? Do the bathrooms have separate showers or is it in/above the bath? How 'spotty' is the wifi? This is important & I'd really appreciate feedback on it - especially if some one is using an apple mac. Otherwize do they have a place with a wire connexion? Is there a nearby decent food supermarket? (If not a la Big C, then something reasonable.) Does the kitchen have any sort of stove/hot plate, or just the microwave? Residents' responses would be appreciated. Many thanks. cd

could a resident let me know their current 3 month rate and if they offer wifi or connexion to internet in the rooms? cd

I assume also that Pratamnak Road - when I look for it - will not turn out to be the boon docks.

Alan Thanks for that bit of encouraging info. I'll assume you did that not too long ago. Based on that I'll just offer my hotel address and I hope I won't have to try many banks before being successful. cd

Are airlines now selling their cheap tickets directly on their websites? At one time those prices were only available through the consolidator sites or offices. (eg Swiss, Etihad, Qatar, Gulf or Emirates.) cd

Is United Overseas Bank a practicable bank at which to have a local Pattaya-based account? Any disadvantages vs a thai bank? I'll need to open an account very soon - am going there to put down money on a condo development - and presently am sifting through the various comments and recommendations on another thread on 'which thai bank is best/worst'. cd

can someone suggest places to fit as many of the following criteria as possible - but definitely including nos 1,2 & 3 - for under 20,000 a month given a stay of 3 months or more 1. wifi, or connexion to, internet in the room - and which is guranteed to work with my apple mac laptop 2. a kitchenette with basic utensils provided 3. air conditioning 3. room/studio more than 40 sq m & as new, bright and cheerful a possible - and not naff 5. cleaning every day with linen change a couple of times a week 3. within walking distance (ie 5-10 minutes) of the beach 4. if possible with a 'fitness centre' or within a few minutes walk of one i ask because of the comment about new places opening all the time, and after reading about the dutch-owned apartments etc. or if someone can point me in the right direction to do my own looking during my coming trip - would like to find and settle on a suitable place for the future trips that are sure to come. thanks cd