A few Pattaya questions.

[Jamozz 0]

G'day all,

 

Going to Pattaya for first time in November, looking forward to it. Got a few questions for ya's.

 

1. Getting to Patts from new Bangkok airport. Leaning towards Mr Toom as a few in here suggest, but isnt it just as easy to negotiate a fare with a TAXI METER taxi when i get there which could end up cheaper than Toom, and less hassle for organising.

 

2. I wanna travel to some of the islands near Pattaya. Like Ko Larn, or others. Where do i book a tour to these places for a day trip, and how much would i expect to pay for this? Are any of the beaches on these islands as good as Phi Phi, if so which ones and are they easily accesible?

 

3. Really dont wanna get food poisoning or stomach bugs while i am there, i wanna enjoy the holiday, do u lot have any general tips to avoid this?

 

Any info is massively appreciated.

 

Cheers in advance.

[vidman 2]

I dont know how much mr toom charges but it will be more expensive from the touts / official limo joints.

 

I have a bloke that does the run for 800baht (you pay the tolls) extra 150 or summit. PM if you want the number. He,s reliable (waits hours if need be, when immigration go slow) speaks english and it is a new car.

 

If your saving bucks and arrive daytime then get the free shuttle bus outside to the bus station(2mins away) and get the pattaya air bus for 106baht. drops you off at north pattaya.

 

 

RE-islands. Forget phi phi standards. If you want a speedboat to koh larn then it will be 1500 upwards. You can book by walking down the beach and grabbing the first bloke you see.

 

Again if your saving bucks then go to bali hai pier and book the public boat for 150baht return. Takes 45mins and gets you a free deckchair on the beach too. You have the choice of your return time i.e. 3pm,4pm,5pm.

 

It aint phi phi but a few minutes swim away from the beach and the snorkeling is very good with lots of varieties of fish.

 

 

 

Re-food poisoning: Forget it, i have been here for years and never had a twinge! Your average thai joint or farrang joint will be fine. The ones to watch are your KFC etc.....oh and the champion draft beer!

[sinbinjack 251]

Hi Jamooz,Take the easy way as far as taxis are concerned and book Mr Toom,His drivers know where the hotels are and as a newbie you don't and neither do the Bankok drivers, using taxis at the rank can be a nightmare or perfectly good for a saving of £3-£4 I would not bother, if you want to save money then get the bus as has been described.

Koh Lahrn is a nice island and well worth a days outing with a TG in tow,but it is not an organised trip you just go to the Bali Hi pier and the fare is not 150 baht but only 20 baht each way (that is what I paid16 months ago, last time I went)Boats leave at 11 am 12 am and return at 5pm and 6pm is the latest boat back,There are earlier than the 11am boat out but no farangs are ever up that early.The description above is dead on as far as scenery is concerned.

As for food poisoning take some Immodium and watch what you eat and where ,If like me you stick to European food then you will have the same chance of food poisoning in Pattaya as you do at home.Always make sure that the water you drink is from a bottle that has the security seal intact

Enjoy your trip, your first one will be a BIG learning experience that will never be repeated , as you soon become a part of the experience that is Pattaya.

PS if you watch the board then Emil sometimes gets a group of guys to go together and that can be a good day out if you are with a group of lads enjoying themselves,and Emil himself is a very nice bloke to talk to.

Edited October 15, 2007 by sinbinjack

[Guest jackjones]

Bell Travel service have a bus direct from the airport to your hotel for 150 baht. I think 6pm is the latest. Do a search.

 

If you come in later or want your own car and driver, use a traceable limousine service for the same price as a normal taxi. : http://www.thelimopattaya.com/index.php?la...e&Id=470026

http://www.thelimopattaya.com

 

Where is Mr Toom's office? What happens when something goes wrong? I would certainly want more contact details than a mobile telephone number.

Many people leave their brains behind when they arrive in Thailand.

 

 

Imodium when you have food poisoning? I wouldn't. Isn't that a great way of keep the toxins in?

 

Just let it out. Imodium is just for emergency use, when you just don't have access to a loo.

 

Otherwise, don't.

[csm 4]

Do a search for Koh Larn on the board you will find plenty of info, if you take the ferry when you get off you can catch a baht bus to one of the beaches on the other side of the island. I think I went to Manee or something like that, just arrange for the driver to pick you up in time to catch the ferry back to pattaya. Again search and get more specifics.

 

As to the food poisoning I would recommend staying away from uncooked vegetables and unpeeled fruits. The germs in the Thai soil are different from the germs in the soil where you come from. I broke this rule only once and had to be taken to the hospital for a few injections and was sick on the 20+ hour flight back home-not fun. Some guys can eat the above and have no problems but for me its just not worth the risk while on vacation.

 

What days will you be in town, I am arriving on Nov 16th.

[Mescalito 19]

When you book a driver with Mr Toom he'll give you his phone # in the e-mail confirming the pick-up. It's 1200 baht from BKK to Pattaya plus whatever you want to tip the driver.

 

Koh Larn is a nice place to spend the day, and as sinbinjack said all that much better with a TG in tow. Better yet is a couple of couples. There's a great spot near the landing where you can relax on a beach chair while a family with that concession cooks up a fantastic lunch for you.

 

Rent motorbikes and head over to Monkey Beach while you're there, and pack plenty of snacks (small bunches of bananas, nuts, etc.) that you can get near the main landing; you can get the monkeys to come down off the cliffs and take them from your hands. We spent a lot of time doing that on my trip in May and it was loads of fun. Keep in mind, though, that this isn't a petting zoo. These are wild animals in their native habitat and can get pretty nasty if provoked. Just take a look at some of their fangs and you'll get an idea of what kind of damage they can do. They're also very sneaky at times. When we were there feeding the monkeys, one of the larger males took advantage of our being distracted to make an end-run around us to where we had our bags sitting and he started going through all our belongings.

 

If you snorkel, you might want to take your gear. The water at Monkey Beach looked pretty clear to me, although if anyone here has been in it they can give you a better idea of what it's like.

[ben99 0]

Food poisoning/disgestive help.

 

http://www.questvitamins.co.uk/xcart/produ...at=9&page=1

 

Buy it - you will be amazed - must be this brand though- not the cheaper crap.

 

Take one a day while in your home country and 4 a day in LOS.

 

Don't ignore this post.

 

Have fun

[Jamozz 0]

Thanks for all the replies.

 

I will be in Patts from 6 Nov to 9 Nov.

 

Cant wait.

[SOLOTREKKER 0]

When in Patts, I have eaten from the street stalls, I only eat Thai food when in Patts, the one ocaission I ate a 'western' meal, was in the Lobster Pot in WS some years ago, I had a dose of the toilet 2 step, ( never be more than 2 steps from a toilet), I never had any problems with local Thai food at all!, But then The TGs I was with chose all the places where we ate. You can buy Immodium from Boots in Pattaya if you need it.

 

If you find that you have the desire to leave Patts, there is more touristy things to do than you will have time for, and Patts has quite a few travel shops around where you can arrange day or overnight trips.

 

Have fun

[bug27 1]

Been here 2 years and the only problem I've had (required a Dr. visit) was from food I ate from one of those walking street vendors on Beach Rd. Coconut shrimp........days old.

[Emil 0]

Vidman and Jack are both correct regarding the ferry fares to Koh Larn. There are 2 different ferry operations working out of the Bali Hai pier. The one for 150 baht is R/T and has about 4 departures a day and that ferry will take you directly to a beach on the north side of Koh Larn. The one for 20 baht is one way and has about 6 departures a day and you will land at the main pier on Koh Larn. There is no beach there just a few stores and a couple of hotels. From there you either walk, take a motorbike, or a baht bus to the beach of your choice. The baht bus mode will cost you between 20 and 30 baht one way depending on which beach you choose. I go to Samae Beach on the west side of the island and the baht bus is 30 baht each way.

[mickjn 9]

I have used Mr Toom many times,never had a problem

 

Do not be afraid to eat off food cart just be careful.You will see a guy not doing any business then another guy will pull up on his motor bike and all the locals will come out to get their food that is the one you get yours from

[sinbinjack 251]

Using Immodium ,I agree that keeping "it in" is not the best thing in the world ,but,when you are on a short holiday then all your time is precious and you don't want to have to spend two days sitting in your room terrified that you will shit yourself if you venture out.Immodium will give you the chance to venture forth into the unknown (not knowing where the next toilet is) without fear and will allow you to enjoy your holiday ,you can recover completely at home.

Edited November 5, 2007 by sinbinjack

[chokdee bob 0]

It's best you have a taxi waiting for the faster your on your way because if your flight lands when everyone elses does the line can get long I use JKtravel myself 1200 for the ride to Patts