NYE Recommendations

[tomcat76 327]

This year I'm arriving smack-dab on New Year's Eve (can't get away until after work on Thursday the 29th), and wondering whether to do it in BKK or Patts. Have been to LOS so many times, but not for the holidays in many years. If YOU were arriving for New Years Eve, which would you do (and where would you try and stay for that particular night)?

[joekicker 53]

This year I'm arriving smack-dab on New Year's Eve (can't get away until after work on Thursday the 29th), and wondering whether to do it in BKK or Patts. Have been to LOS so many times, but not for the holidays in many years. If YOU were arriving for New Years Eve, which would you do (and where would you try and stay for that particular night)? clueless

 

You never can predict prohibition, but traditionally it's an open-all-night deal, so you shouldn't be cramped. I'd be tempted to just go to Bangkok BECAUSE there will be fewer drivers around. But Pattaya and Bangkok are both party towns on Amateur Night, it's really six of one, and you're as likely to be (un)lucky in one as t'other.

 

No need to get picky on where to stay. The usual.

 

.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

It depends a bit on when you are arriving. If it's the 10.30-11.30 p.m window for the UA-Continental flights from the U.S., then you might want to go with Bangkok as it's a 30-minute ride into town as opposed to at least a 90-minute trip to Pattaya. If your arrival is earlier, then it's really a coin toss. There are parties at every bar and night spot in both cities. If you're in BKK, head to either Nana Plaza or Soi Cowboy. But book your hotel room NOW, as NYE is traditionally a night when many hotels are sold out.

 

Evil

[lovedog100 1,372]

Hey Tom.

Take this with a grain of salt. I have spent 3 NYE in Pattaya. My first choice, is going to FLB. Second Secrets. The first two years, I barfined 1/2 a dozen girls and went several places, then FLB. Both years we left before midnight because the girls wanted to try something different, and went to other places. Afterwards, we wished we had stayed at FLB. Secrets can be fun, but not alone, or even with a lady or two. You need a couple of guys with you spending money to get attention. FLB was much more social, even if your not spending vast amounts of money on lady drinks. The live band is much better than secrets recorded music. If you get wild and want to dance, FLB has a dance floor, and Secrets doesn't. In almost any seat in Secrets, you can only see one dancer, however, when the FLB girls get on the shooters bar, everyone has a good seat, and as many as 6 can get on the bar at once. Last year, we went straight to FLB, and stayed until closing. It was the Best NYE I've had in Pattaya.

 

That said, if you are really into the midnight fireworks, and don't have a seaside hotel with balcony, the Pattaya Beer Garden is the best place in Pattaya to see the fireworks from. If you are 30 or younger, the Hard Rock hotel, or Club Mixx is the place to be. Both will have single non bar girls available for the young farang, as well as freelancers.

 

I spend little time in BKK and can't really comment on a place to be there.

[Abacus 7]

This year I'm arriving smack-dab on New Year's Eve (can't get away until after work on Thursday the 29th), and wondering whether to do it in BKK or Patts. Have been to LOS so many times, but not for the holidays in many years. If YOU were arriving for New Years Eve, which would you do (and where would you try and stay for that particular night)?

 

Given that you can't leave until the 29th US Time, you'll be lucky to get to Thailand in time.

[Grandpollo 366]

But book your hotel room NOW, as NYE is traditionally a night when many hotels are sold out.

 

 

 

Asiatravel is down to its last 302 different BKK hotels with rooms on 12/31 so he needs to hustle.

 

And only 92 in Pattaya

[lovedog100 1,372]

Given that you can't leave until the 29th US Time, you'll be lucky to get to Thailand in time.

 

BKK is -14 hours from LAX. Depending on the time that he leaves, and where he leaves from. There should be no problem making it to Pattaya by Dec 31

[jacko 8,822]

BKK is -14 hours from LAX. Depending on the time that he leaves, and where he leaves from. There should be no problem making it to Pattaya by Dec 31

No it's not, it is +14 hours.

There is the paltry matter of crossing the International Date Line.

 

Didn't you ever see 'Around the World in 40 days'.... ?

Edited October 8, 2011 by jacko

[joekicker 53]

Given that you can't leave until the 29th US Time, you'll be lucky to get to Thailand in time.

 

Actually, he can leave on the 30th, have a couple of stopovers and get in on the 31st, not much of a trick.

 

.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Asiatravel is down to its last 302 different BKK hotels with rooms on 12/31 so he needs to hustle.

 

And only 92 in Pattaya

 

Agreed. The New Year period is a 4-5 day holiday for most Bangkok folk and, as in previous years, there will be loads of hotel bargains available. Central World Plaza is the place to be for the countdown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 8, 2011 by CheshireTom

[Abacus 7]

Actually, he can leave on the 30th, have a couple of stopovers and get in on the 31st, not much of a trick.

 

.

 

If he leaves on the 30th, it will already be late afternoon in Thailand. Remember he has to cross the International Date Line. I've flown from Australia to L.A. and it may only take 14 hours, but you arrive 2 hours before you leave. Coming back, you arrive 2 day's after you left. If he leave on the 30th he'll arrive on the 1st.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

If he leaves on the 30th, it will already be late afternoon in Thailand. Remember he has to cross the International Date Line. I've flown from Australia to L.A. and it may only take 14 hours, but you arrive 2 hours before you leave. Coming back, you arrive 2 day's after you left. If he leave on the 30th he'll arrive on the 1st.

 

It depends on which airline he uses. If he flies on United, he would depart LAX around 11.30 a.m. on Dec. 30 and arrive BKK at 10.50 p.m. on Dec. 31. If he flies Thai (non-stop) or EVA or China Southern on Dec. 30, he would depart in the late evening and arrive before noon on Jan. 1. Of course, if he's able to depart late evening on Thai or EVA (930 p.m. or 1130 p.m.) on Dec. 29, he would arrive on Dec. 31 before noon.

 

Evil

[Abacus 7]

It depends on which airline he uses. If he flies on United, he would depart LAX around 11.30 a.m. on Dec. 30 and arrive BKK at 10.50 p.m. on Dec. 31. If he flies Thai (non-stop) or EVA or China Southern on Dec. 30, he would depart in the late evening and arrive before noon on Jan. 1. Of course, if he's able to depart late evening on Thai or EVA (930 p.m. or 1130 p.m.) on Dec. 29, he would arrive on Dec. 31 before noon.

 

Evil

 

But he says he will have to leave on the 30th.

[lovedog100 1,372]

No it's not, it is +14 hours.

There is the paltry matter of crossing the International Date Line.

 

Didn't you ever see 'Around the World in 40 days'.... ?

Yes I saw around the world in 80 days. I can never remember if it's ahead, or back, so I googled "Time difference between LAX and BKK" -14 hours was that came up on the site I went to.

 

I just looked at an old itineary. Going home I left BKK 6:50am on the 7th and arrived SFO 12:46pm on the 7th. Coming back it was depart SFO 12:12pm the 14th arrive BKK 11:10 the 15th. If Tom were to take the same flight leaving 12:12 on the 29, he would arrive 11:10 the 30th. He could be in his hotel room in Pattaya by 2am the 31th giving him plenty of time for sleep, food, and a short time, before NYE celebrations start.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

But he says he will have to leave on the 30th.

 

Actually, what he says is:

 

This year I'm arriving smack-dab on New Year's Eve (can't get away until after work on Thursday the 29th),

 

If tomcat finishes work on the 29th early enough to catch a late-evening flight that same day, he would be in BKK before noon on Dec. 31. If he has to wait until the 30th and takes the United flight at about 11.30 a.m., he would be in BKK about 11.00 p.m. on Dec. 31. But if he takes an evening flight on Dec. 30, he wouldn't arrive in BKK until Jan. 1.

 

It's the same pattern with flights from the East Coast of the U.S. Several times I've gone straight from work to JFK or EWR to catch an"overnight" flight on EVA or Air China than arrives +2 days in BKK.

 

Evil

[joekicker 53]

If he leave on the 30th he'll arrive on the 1st.

 

Sigh. If he leaves the US on the 30th, it is no trick to arrive on the 31st. I do this every couple of months, sometimes more frequently.

 

ALMOST all flights out of the US arrive in Thailand the next day. The exceptions are the flights that leave the US late at night, which some do. If you leave LAX at 2330, for example....

 

The OP SPECIFICALLY stated the 29th - not the 30th. Flying at any time on the 29th means he will make New Year's Eve in Thailand exactly as he says -- unless he breaks his flight or his flight breaks down.

 

EXAMPLE: I have no idea where the OP is, but let's take beautiful Omaha, Nebraska, in the American heartland. Even if he tearfully leaves Omaha on the 30th, he's in Bangkok on the 31st by this US airline. It's not a trick. They do it every day.

 

 

.

Edited October 8, 2011 by joekicker

[jacko 8,822]

Yes I saw around the world in 80 days. I can never remember if it's ahead, or back, so I googled "Time difference between LAX and BKK" -14 hours was that came up on the site I went to.

 

I just looked at an old itineary. Going home I left BKK 6:50am on the 7th and arrived SFO 12:46pm on the 7th. Coming back it was depart SFO 12:12pm the 14th arrive BKK 11:10 the 15th. If Tom were to take the same flight leaving 12:12 on the 29, he would arrive 11:10 the 30th. He could be in his hotel room in Pattaya by 2am the 31th giving him plenty of time for sleep, food, and a short time, before NYE celebrations start.

It's called relativity, only Einstein and Steven Hawking are smart enough to understand it. But trust me on this, timewise, the USA is well behind nearly the whole world. Edited October 8, 2011 by jacko

[GlynRhedyn 32]

I'll echo what Lovedog said above. I was in Pattaya last NYE for the first time and spent it at FLB. It was an absolutely brilliant night (probably helped by the company I was in). I'll be back there this year.

Glyn.

[ThaiLearner 18]

I have been in LOS once for NYE and I had a great time.

 

 

I went to the Cherry bar on soi 8 and it was mad.

 

I wish I could be there this year.

[joekicker 53]

It's called relativity, only Einstein and Steven Hawking are smart enough to understand it. But trust me on this, timewise, the USA is well behind nearly the whole world.

 

Back in the old days.....

 

It used to be common to leave Bangkok, Saigon, Hong Kong ... and get to the US BEFORE you left. Flights back then went across the Pacific, through Honolulu, often Agana. It was kind of weird, going back in time.

 

Even these days, I often get to the west coast of the US two, three hours after leaving Bangkok.

 

.

[tomcat76 327]

'Make this trip every year (just not on NYE...). Normally, I'm wheels up from LAX on Day 1, make a stopover somewhere on the asian side (Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei, Guanzhou, Narita, wherever) on Day 2, and continue to BKK arriving just after midnight on Day 3. At the moment I'm looking at KE12 leaving LAX just before midnight on the 29th (arr Seoul @ 0615 on NYE), and KE657 (arr BKK @ 1215p).

 

It's possible to make it the next day - I usually come close to that arriving sometime around midnight Day2/3. Checkout CO891/CO9711. If I could leave THU morning I could be in BKK by FRI 1020p (which is closer to my usual itinerary, except I'm usually departing a few hrs later not usually going through BKK immigration until just after midnight).

 

Coming back, I arrive back in LA the same day I leave BKK. Making a trip to Japan in a couple of weeks - I'll be back in LA before I leave Haneda!

 

Trying to decide whether global recession is going to lower airfares btwn now and my departure date, or raise them as the result of reduced flight volume. (there's talk about AA bankruptcy...)

[jacko 8,822]

Back in the old days.....

 

It used to be common to leave Bangkok, Saigon, Hong Kong ... and get to the US BEFORE you left. Flights back then went across the Pacific, through Honolulu, often Agana. It was kind of weird, going back in time.

 

Even these days, I often get to the west coast of the US two, three hours after leaving Bangkok.

 

.

Well sadly the days of flying Concorde from London to New York and arriving before you left are gone.

Luggage in Moscow!

[lovedog100 1,372]

'Make this trip every year (just not on NYE...). Normally, I'm wheels up from LAX on Day 1, make a stopover somewhere on the asian side (Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei, Guanzhou, Narita, wherever) on Day 2, and continue to BKK arriving just after midnight on Day 3. At the moment I'm looking at KE12 leaving LAX just before midnight on the 29th (arr Seoul @ 0615 on NYE), and KE657 (arr BKK @ 1215p).

 

It's possible to make it the next day - I usually come close to that arriving sometime around midnight Day2/3. Checkout CO891/CO9711. If I could leave THU morning I could be in BKK by FRI 1020p (which is closer to my usual itinerary, except I'm usually departing a few hrs later not usually going through BKK immigration until just after midnight).

 

Coming back, I arrive back in LA the same day I leave BKK. Making a trip to Japan in a couple of weeks - I'll be back in LA before I leave Haneda!

 

Trying to decide whether global recession is going to lower airfares btwn now and my departure date, or raise them as the result of reduced flight volume. (there's talk about AA bankruptcy...)

 

Check out Thai air. I understand that they make a non stop flight from LAX to BKK saving you layover time waiting for the next plane. I usually have to spend a boring 2-4 hours in Japan depending if I've left from FSO or LAX.

[tomcat76 327]

Would love to take Thai Air, but their fares ALWAYS run much higher than other fares I'm able to get. This time around, about a $1300 difference (incl a SANLAX leg): $1466 on KAL vs $2715 on Thai. And I've noticed the waiting game never pays off with them - their flights just fill up. Take away the commuter leg, and there's still a $400 difference. Funny how that short commuter leg really distorts the price comparison. I can get a $1450 ticket on China Air (without the commuter leg), or just pay $16 more flying KAL and GET the commuter leg included. (The commuter leg by itself currently running $274.)

 

Bottom line: I can take KAL for $1466, or fly Thai for $1808 + 274 = $2082. $600+ seems like a lot just to skip a 90-min stopover and get there at 0620 instead of 1220. (Well, I think there's a few extra inches of legroom on Thai's A340s. KAL always smells like kimchi to me, too...)