chargers2011

Should I take the SA Express or the SA City Line? Arriving at the airport and want to go downtown to connect with the BTS skytrain. Also, will I have to pay again for the BTS skytrain?

Aspen Suites in Sukhumvit Soi 2, far enough down the Soi to be Totally quiet ! close enough to duck n weave if desired - huge 1 berdoom suites in the price range, free Tuk Tuk to Suk Rd, and has the Ploenchit Centre with supermarket on the corner with Suk Rd.

Aspen Suites look great, but can you walk to Lumphini Park from the hotel?

You would still have to go onto Soi 4 and Brnjakiti Park is much closer.

Thank you. I'll forget about Aspen Suites and I'll book at Omni Tower.

Aspen Suites in Sukhumvit Soi 2, far enough down the Soi to be Totally quiet ! close enough to duck n weave if desired - huge 1 berdoom suites in the price range, free Tuk Tuk to Suk Rd, and has the Ploenchit Centre with supermarket on the corner with Suk Rd.

Aspen Suites look great, but can you walk to Lumphini Park from the hotel?

Bangkok Omni on soi 4 has one brms for about 1500 baht a night plus 100 baht for wifi...has big swimming pool and some kids play areas...walking distance from there down soi 4 to tobacco monopoly and Queen Sirikit park and of course soi 4 is full of bars, restaurants, and more nightlife than you may want. You can rent through management company there cheaper than via the front desk. try bangkokomni.com

Bangkok Omni looks pretty good. Checked agoda.com and it's 1300/baht for a studio. Is it an easy walk to Lumphini Park or Benjakiti Park? I couldn't find Queen Sirikit park on the map.

I decided to stay at the Hotel Selection Pattaya. Any advice before I book my room in a couple of days.

Thanks

I have a wife and 2 year old son. I'd like to be within walking distance of some night life and/or a park (for my boy). Need a swimming pool and free wifi internet. Hotel under 1800 baht/night.

Thanks

???? There are factors which you did not mention for "which one"? You single? You with family? You don't mind air pollution or expect it to be quiet at night? You looking for something basic or expect the hotel to be like a big "chain" hotel?

I have a wife and a 2 year old son. I need to be near the beach. I have a wife that I love, but I still like to go bar hopping. Although, I won't cheat on her. I'd just like a clean room near the beach. By the way, I met my wife in Pattaya, been married now for 4 years, we live in America, and have a wonderful 2 year old boy. I am very lucky to find such a great girl and have a terrific family.

Is this hotel near the nightlife (soi cowboy, nana, or any other bars)?

I have it narrowed down to 4 hotels.

Hotel Selection Pattaya

Twin Palm Resort

Eastiny Place Hotel

Nautical Inn

Requirements. Near the beach, swimming pool, clean, and under 1600 baht/night.

Or maybe you have some other suggestion. Thanks

I arrived in Vientiane yesterday.

The entire riverfront area (the main reason for being here) has been torn up - a length of 3-4 ks. There is nothing there but piles of dirt, earthmovers & choking dust.

I was going to stay here a few months, but will reconsider. Anyways, don't bother with Vientiane.

If you like pretty girls & bars, why not go to Pattaya? Not much in Laos in the way of bars, tho plenty of freelancers hanging on the streets.

Is the construction done yet?

Hi again,

Thanks for your replies. I still haven't gone yet because certain things have stopped me, like a 20 month old baby. We now plan to go to Thailand in Feb 2012. Two weeks in Bkk, three days in her village (that's all I can handle), and one week in Lao. From what I read, I can get a visa for $35 on arrival. Will my American born 1/2 thai baby boy need a visa too? Do I need any photos? Will my Thai wife need a visa? Still looking for things to do while we're there.

Thanks again.

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice and the comments. We want to bring her brother over only for about a year, not permantly. I'm guessing it would have to be a tourist visa or a work visa. Some funny comments and I'm not offended. Yes, I'm sure it's her brother and not the father of my child. My boy looks exactly like me and I know he's mine.

Thanks

My Thai wife came to America on a fiancee visa 3 years ago. She became a permanent resident and got her 10 year green card recently. We have a 1.5 year old boy. We would like to bring her brother over to be a nanny so that she can work full time. How do we go about getting a visa for her brother?

I've been drinking for 23 years and a functional alcoholic for about 15 years now. I don't drink everyday. I usually just drink on my days off. When I was single, I didn't worry about my drinking (one of the good things about being single). Now I have to keep it under control because I have a wife and a young boy. I know when I get drunk, my wife looks at me and thinks "what a loser". Last week, I decided to quit drinking until my next vacation to Thailand in November. I've never quit drinking before and I'm sure it won't be easy. I want to drink again, but I want to do a better job of being under control. I want to keep it under 6 beers/day on my days off and during vacations. I'm going to do my best to control it, because I don't want to be like my sister and two brothers. They can't drink at all because they became alcoholics to maximum.

Best of luck, mate. Make the most of your sobriety, and you might not want to go back...

Your health will benefit, though you might not notice it at first, and you'll be able to get more done; I'd have never got the job I'm in now if I'd been drinking - I'd not have been so positive and fresh at the interview, even if I had had nothing to drink on the plane over... just the general lethargy of too many late nights would have taken its toll.

See you in November!

SC

It's only been a week without a drink for me. You are right, I do get so much more done. I get to spend a lot more time with my boy and wife (although I still need my alone time). I exercise every day and I'm committed to getting rid of my beer belly by November. Also, things are much more easy going. I'm not in a hurry to get all family duties out of the way so that I can drink. I'm even going to start meditating. I'm 44 years old and I can feel my body deteriorating. Time for a change.

Hey, where are you Newstart2010? Are you drinking again? Did your wife have the baby yet?

I've been drinking for 23 years and a functional alcoholic for about 15 years now. I don't drink everyday. I usually just drink on my days off. When I was single, I didn't worry about my drinking (one of the good things about being single). Now I have to keep it under control because I have a wife and a young boy. I know when I get drunk, my wife looks at me and thinks "what a loser". Last week, I decided to quit drinking until my next vacation to Thailand in November. I've never quit drinking before and I'm sure it won't be easy. I want to drink again, but I want to do a better job of being under control. I want to keep it under 6 beers/day on my days off and during vacations. I'm going to do my best to control it, because I don't want to be like my sister and two brothers. They can't drink at all because they became alcoholics to maximum.

Go to Chaing Khong Thailand on the Mekong. Cross over by water taxi to Houayxay Lao and take cruse boat down the Mekong to Louangphrabang. From there you go overland to Vientiane and cross back into Thailand at Nong Khai. Do some googling on this. You will not regret this trip. And BTW the Beer Lao is fantastic.

Thanks a lot. I'll google this and check it out.

I don't cheat on my wife, I just like the bar hopping and the attention from the young girls. I guess they don't have that in Lao, but I still want to go with my wife for a week. Any advice on what to do, where to go, and where to stay?

Hi,

My wife wants to go to Lao. She is Thai. I'm sure she will like it, but what about me. There are no beaches. Is there any nightlife? I like bar hopping and flirting with pretty girls. Are there any casinos? Where should we go and how much for a hotel?

Thanks

Simple.

#1: The girls. The most beautiful/friendly girls in the world

#2: Drinking beer at the outdoor bars and getting drunk in the hot Thailand weather.

#3: People watching

#4: cheap hotels

#5: drinking beer on the beach

#5: Not having to drink and drive. Pay 10 baht for a baht bus to take you home.

It sounds like the guy hit rock bottom and went psycho on that girl. He was at the top of the world. A professional poker player and making a lot of money. I think he went on a long losing streak at poker when he got Thailand fever. A previous poster said he was now living off 15000 baht/month and still hanging out with the rich crowd. Don't know if that's true, but it seems that he did have money troubles, emotional problems, and sexual problems. The higher you go, the lower you can fall (example: Mel Gibson).