Pattayaguy1999

I am a 'cheap charlie' as well, so I will try. I have caught a regular baht bus(bb) from Royal Garden to Central, out, 5bt, walk across the intersection, bb to Pattaya North, out, 5bt, walked a bit up North and flagged one heading towards Sukhumvit, out at bus st. and another 5bt. Got there for 15bt and not much grief. I made sure each bb had passengers on it, had exact change, never talked to the driver. If you don't have much luggage, one of your friends with a motorbike should be happy to take you. Good luck and yes Jack, you are sounding a bit cheap.

I certainly would like to see this 5 country visa come to fruition. One problem maybe the pricing. Thailand give visitors a 30 day visa for free, the others charge roughly $25-30 per month. Hopefully this can be worked out and let visitors bounce between countries with less border hassles than one must now deal with.

I would go to either Big C or Lotus. They both have many types at various prices. I got a proper helmet with full visor for 700bt. Lock it to your bike or take it with you. Leaving it in the basket will result in not having a helmet when you return.

Want to spend a week in Vietnam in August.  Does anyone know where I can get a cheap flight there.  Also I'm undecided as to where I will go in Vietnam.  Does anybody have any suggestions on how to spend a week.  I have to do some visa stuff, but that should only take a couple of days.

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If you are in Hanoi, I would hit Halong Bay and visit several of the islands. If you are in HCMC, I would either go to DaLat to get out of the heat or hit Vung Tao or Mui Ne. Mui Ne is less busy than Vung Tao, great if you just want to relax.

Just exploring my options.... I was thinking that if time isn't a worry, a bus may be another option...

I might even go halfway to somewhere like Khao Sok...then onto Phuket...

Just thinking

totster

Totster;

I took the bus from Phuket-BKK several years ago, before the budget airlines made flying competitve with the bus. If you take the overnight bus, you get there in the morning and save one night's accomodation. If on a budget, that may make it worth doing. Just thinking out loud, Totster.

No suprise here. In developed countries a significant percent of the population (mostly male) do not wash their hands after using the toilet. I carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in my fanny pack when traveling around. No water or towel needed. Just squeeze a small amount on and rub your hands together. Air drys and kills most of the germs. Worth the effort IMHO.

Pattaya has plenty to offer other than tons of bars and available ladies, ladyboys and men. Yes, it did become popular because of the nightlife and beach, but many ex-pats have decided to stay for other reasons. The cost of living is lower than other resort cities, plenty of sports possiblities, esp golf. Many fine golf course are within an easy drive, at affordable rates. Another plus is that there are plenty of guys from whatever country you are from to network with. Good luck with your choice.

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How did you actually get to the Pattaya bus terminal?

If you only have a backpack, you can take a moto taxi. If you have too much luggage to carry easily, charter a baht bus to the bus station. You should be able to get there from most Pattaya hotels for 40-70bt.

Aren't "alternative women" ladyboys?

"Women of the third category" actually. I will take a living ladyboy over a blow up doll anyday!

Somchai Readsalottaporn has confided in me that sales are brisk...

but not from the targeted consumer group of university students. It seems most of his orders are coming from down the highway in Pattaya.

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If there is one city that does not need blow up women, it's Pattaya. If all the old, fat, bald, tattooed slobs that populate Pattaya can find 'love' in hundreds of places, who needs a blow up doll? Probably why so many of us like it!

Unless the airlines reduce the airfare accordingly, how will this result in more tourists? It will take continual press releases in Phuket's major markets to stimulate higher visitor numbers. Only when visitors are assured that everything is back to normal will they return to the Phuket area. Significantly lower airfares should help, but will not solve the low occupancy levels hotels are experiencing.

This is very distrurbing to read. To kill someone you know for 1,000bt? I could understand if they were using drugs, but just to kill for temporary gain? At ages 13, 15 &16? Thai society has it's hands full if this is an example of the way the young people are thinking.

One thing that I think would be helpful is to join one or both of the Pattaya Ex-Pats Clubs. Both have a mission statement of "Ex-Pats helping Ex-Pats."

Both clubs have many members that have already faced the problems that you will face. Housing; renting or buying; Transport; renting or buying a car or motorbike; Utilities; Schools; Visas, etc.

The Pattaya Ex-Pats Club meets every Saturday morning at 11:00am, Grand Sole Hotel on 2nd Road. The Pattaya City Ex-Pats Club meets every Sunday morning at 10:30, Henry J Beans Restaurant, Beach Rd. Both have websites and have online newsletters. You can ask questions online and have ex-pat residents of Pattaya help with your inquiry. Good luck.

<http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com>

<http://www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com>

Pattaya or Phuket?  Opinions please!

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I think most divers will agree that Phuket offers many more options for diving than Pattaya. Many more Islands off shore and many more live-a-board boats, clear water most of the year.

Unfortunately for those of us who live and work in the area, many of them already do... even if we're not fat and drunk.

Pattaya does seem to attract the scum of every country. Add the scum of Thailand to the mix and you have a real cesspool. It is going to take many years before the drive to bring families to Pattaya overcomes the present mix of visitors.

Is this an example of the "quality" tourist the present administration is so eager to attract?  In your dreams, Toxin.

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A couple more incidents involving fat, drunken farangs and the Thais will start to get the wrong impression of farangs in Pattaya!

If you're stupid enough to go around in the middle of the night with a gold chain worth 350k ... som nam nah!

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I generally side with the farang on any of these stories. The deck is so stacked against any farang that it is hard to root for any Thai. But, I am going to make an exception with this Brit. Any guy who wears a necklace worth $10,000 around Pattaya is just too stupid to defend.

Another death...another Scandinavian in the headlines...seems people are dropping like flies at the moment....

It is distressing, another naked farang dead at 49. That seems young for a heart attack. I guess if you are out of shape and trying to service too many of our local BG with Viagra, it can happen, all too frequently.

How often have we heard this one...we all know what happens, everybody wears helmets for a while mainly without the strap fastened and then the Thais stop wearing them and the passenger carries them...I`ll give it a couple of months....

All too true. I am sick of the Thai police letting dozens of Thais go by w/o a helmet and stop the first farang that comes along. Slective enforcement. I think the only way this will be successful over the long term is for the individual cop to benefit from each ticket written; say 200bt, the city getting 300bt. Unless the Thai police see a reward for enforcing the helmet law, it just seems to fizzle out.TOT.

There's gotta be more to that story or he must have been a complete whacko.

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A whacko ex-pat living in Pattaya? That sems unlikely! I am afraid Pattaya does get it's share of disfunctional farangs. , perhaps a bit more than it's fair share? A couple more incidents like this and Pattaya is going to get a bad reputation.

One evening not long ago, during the high season and during the peak hours, I counted bahtbusses on beach road, just for fun.  For ever ONE bahtbus with passengers (any, even one) there were 4 empty.

Getting rid of 80% of the baht busses in Pattaya would fix several probles:

- Those remaining could earn a decent salary so they didn't have to defraud the tourists but charge the correct 5 baht from everyone without getting into a strop.

- Traffic would be eased no end.

- Pollution ditto.

- Accidents caused by erratic bahtbus drivers ditto.

The remaining unemployed drivers could go back to Issan and work the fields again. Seems that's about the height of what they should be capable of anyway.

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All true, but I don't expect it to happen anytime soon. I have a motorbike so I don't have to bother with the baht bus drivers very often, but I am rooting for a real bus system to be successful

Doctor John;

Put that way, I can start to understand why so many farangs go off high rise buildings. If you add financial problems to a disillusioned ex-pat, you don't get a happy ending.

Why are they always naked when jumping?

Good question. I am saddened by the sheer number of farangs that go flying off high rise buildings in Pattaya, naked or clothed. I am skeptical that all are suicides, but clearly some are. I am afraid Pattaya attracts a very dodgy crowd of farangs, Thais alike for that matter. Add alcohol, drug consumption, finacial pressures, relationship stress to a group of dim bulbs and I guess this is the result. Very sad reading, however.

What is the best way to Pattaya from Koh Sarn area.I shall be leaving BKK just before Song kran. Is it best to go to a Travel shop/hut/place to get a coach or is the bus station recommended.

How far away from the main drag/beaches is the bus station in Pattaya?

Any info appreciated. 

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The easiest is to book a mini van from any of the travel agents right on KSR. There are 4 problems with mini van. 1. They spend an hour driving all over BKK picking up passengers. 2. Stop at some gas station for a smoke break, gas, wait. usually 15-30 minutes. 3. In Pat they take everyone to whatever hotel they are staying at. this can take 15-30 minutes running around Pattaya. 4. Add reckless drivers and it is not usually a fun trip. I want as much metal as possible when traveling. You can take a city bus to Ekamai (Southern Bus St) and get on the next bus going to Pat. They leave every 30 minutes. You are there for less than 100bt. Once there, you can get a share baht bus for 40bt that will take you to your hotel. You can also get a motorbike taxi at the station for 40-60 baht to your hotel, best if you travel light. You are 2-3 kilometers from Pattaya Bay and Beach Rd. Pull up a Pattaya map online and you will see the bus st. close to Sukhumvit on Pattaya North. Hope this helps you.

Tuberose;

I saw your inquiry on Skaw beach resort and checked another option that looks better than Skaw or View Talay. Take a look at Astoria Resort Hotel. North of Dusit, right by the beach and in a much quieter area than Jomtien. The price is OK, less than a 1,000bt a day, perhaps they have a monthly rate as well. Hope this helps you.

http://www.r24.org/thailandtravelsearch.com/pattaya/astoria/