Call charges?

[papalazarou 0]

Intend to use my laptop quite alot to connect to the internet next time I come to Thailand. Therefore, I need a hotel that will offer me decent priced local phonecalls. I emailed a few places I stayed before and the cost seems pretty high. I know from a friend who rents an apartment in BKK it costs about 3 bht to make a local call in BKK regardless of how long the call lasts and I'm guessing it can't be much more in Pattaya. Does anyone know of any decent hotel or apartments in Pattaya that offer direct dial and don't lump on extra charges for the call?

 

TIA

[stevemcm 1]

Don't bother if it's a hotel or condo with a switchboard and extensions in the rooms most don't have enough lines to allow residents to tie one up for long periods. At my condo for example all calls both incoming and outgoing are cut off after 10 minutes. If your room has it's own line then OK buy a loxinfo card for 60 hours at about 700 or 750 Bt, can get cheaper if you shop around, and you are in business, don't buy the cheaper internet cards.

 

Do you need to bring your own PC? They are a pain to cart around airports, likely to be stolen & likely to be examined by customs. There are plenty of internet cafes around at 1 Bt/min or less. Mains power in Thailand is unreliable, 2 friends have had their laptops damaged by electrical spikes. Lastly I doubt if you will be staying in your room long enough to benefit from bringing your PC, there is too much to do elsewhere.

 

stevoh.

[papalazarou 0]

Stevoh,

 

I've already considered some of the points you raise and decided to take it anyway. The one thing that almost swayed me against taking it is the weight. I've got a big hefty Dell contraption, with all the bits and carry case it weights in at a wopping 5kg. Roof Garden Inn Hotel said I could dial direct from room at 1baht per min, which is just fine for me. Looks like a nice place too but a bit out in the sticks for my liking. If I get anymore positive responses from hotels on call charges I will post them here.

 

Picking up on your point about electrical spikes, I've been using a surge protector I got in the UK with a conversion plug whenever I'm abroad. I was told this will give me adequate protection.

[SunnyValentine 173]

Papa,

I am also one of those that carry around their Laptops when going to Thailand, and I (so far) never regretted it.

I need my Internet Connection for some work as well as browsing through Forums, collecting latest Information, and . most of all - read the Morning Paper from home at Breakfast.....

As to Hotels charging for Phone line, mind you: avoid the ones that charge per Minute at all cost!

A local call within Pattaya costs around 3 Baht, and most of the Hotels I stayed at charge this plus a (understandable) Surcharge, ending up at between 5 and maybe 10 Bt net per call.

As I usually log in once or twice a day, usually for one Hor or more, the Costs for any Per Minute Charge would be quite High!

Residence Garden have a good Connection from their Rooms (usually 45 K or so), and they charge around 5 or 6 Bt per call, making this Hotel a good Alternative.

I now stay at a 1-Bedroom-Condo (View Talay) with full Tel line, and costs of 3 BT per Call, on a one-month rate of 20000 BT plus Electricity, Water and Service.

 

Sunny