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as for gogos, how about Carousol, or the Sea. Very friendly in their days. As for Pattaya in general. My first trip was 2004. Full English breakfast at the Pig and Whistle, big owner Graham. I miss Carre 4 now big c on pattaya klang. Better choices. Butcher Arms Pub soi bukhao now gone. The Domocile Austrian restaurant now split up and moved around. Brauhaus German place right next to it now closed? Peppermint with the multiple stages. Man that was nice. Topps market as others mentioned . I almost bought the little internet area there that had 5 or 6 computers. Boy that would have been a money pit. Bowling alley upstairs too was nice now and then. The little used book shop was worth a browse. Soi Yume up behind Big C before it got all paved and developed was a nice quiet area. Nantana gardens hotel was a favorite of a buddy of mine. Remember getting a cd burned at the photo shops for you new digital camera images? And let's not forget when there used to be definite high and then low seasons. It really was different to experience.

My grandparents all came from Greece. Parents and me born in the US of A. Been to Pattaya over a dozen times over the years. The last greek meal I had there was pattayanis up off of soi bukhao. A clever name combining Pattaya with his name of Yanni. It was pretty good. Have not been back to Thailand since just before the COVID shutdowns.

I liked it better when it was the Butcher Arms Pub. Was sad to see it go, as was the Pig and Whistle .

I'm familiar with the general process of going to Thailand and converting my Visa exempt (with an extension most likely) to starting the Non Imm O visa, which I will then get extensions due to Retirement. I will use the monthly transfer in of funds from the USA. While I would like to do the simple put 800 k baht on deposit in Thailand, for various reasons I prefer to keep that amount of money invested in my home country. Anyway how much can an agent do for me? I hate paperwork, hate government office waiting lines, arbitrary Immigration officers, etc. I don't mind taking time or waiting, heck I will be retired, but going back and forth and getting different forms, etc, I prefer to avoid. Also, can an agent help with 90 day reports? I am not looking for any shortcuts. I have just read so many stories of frustrating immigration offices, that I don't mind paying for some services. I am planning on being based out of the Pattaya area initially.

I could not resist the way you spelled biff. Reminds me of the classic American TV show Cheers. They would go eat at this horrible disgusting all you can eat buffet place. The Prime Beff was 2 dollars. The Loobster special also. they always got sick, but kept going back

Why make any statements about anything when in a foreign country? Why walk around flaunting expensive jewelry?

haha possible. I last flew in and out of Utapao in 2019 and it was great. Not busy at all back then. I loved walking out on the tarmac to board the plane via the steps. Quite interesting to look around at the long runway, the hills beyond, and imagine those big B 52s there during the Vietnam war era.

Thailand 7 - 11s are a blast. Staff is usually very pleasant. Some quick microwaveable snacks like burger kung are a cheap feed. Quick small bottle of water, or gatorade on a hot day. The gals behind the counter always helped me top up my phone minutes when I buy some more there during my holidays.

Slide not push. A Brit might recall that bookie robbery attempt scene from the movie Snatch where the nits think they are locked inside and then their comrade pushes open the door from the outside. Great movie

In regards to bike accident policies, many also require you to have a motorcycle license in your home country in order for the policy to be valid. Just buying some extra policy in Thailand may or may not require that. I know many tourists over look that and get stung by a bill

partial denture eh? I like the sound of that.

You are totally unaware of what is covered or what is not covered. Emergency treatments are covered by Medicare and medicare advantage plans. Other than that I am well aware of what is covered or not covered when dealing with routine things. As for no Government insurance, well you are wrong. People under Tri Care are covered

As Dan O stated. USA in my case does not issue the letter. Quite a nuisance that I was not expecting when I retire to Thailand. That would have just made financial things simpler and less other agencies one would have to deal with. Setting up monthly transfers. None of my current three USA banks do that automatically to overseas accounts. I have to contact them each month, and usually deal with somebody on their staff that has little to no experience with it. Then of course one has to check and hope it gets coded properly on the Thailand end. As for 800k baht on deposit, well, that would now require that FINCEN or FBAR report. Easy yes, but it would require me to report that on some other forms due to my work and security clearance. Just one more thing I don't desire to have some US Government official asking about. Anything dealing with foreign countries can lead to time loss due to inquiries, etc.

I can believe the driver was trying to back into the parking space, but at some speed. He even went over the bump blocks that you can see in the photo

Yes. I have been aware of the Chinese "investments" in Africa for many years now. A subtle form of hegemony.

Thailand needs to decide how much foreign investment and control and influence they want or need. There is lots of money in the world that could swoop in. China already has probably more in Thailand then most people realize.

Saw that movie as a young teen in about 1972 just starting high school. Classic

I still get all the emails promising me monies ready to be released, etc. As far as the romance scams, did they ever face time with the person to see they are at least physically what they represent? It is trivially easy to create profiles using other's pictures, documents, etc. Kind of like hostage mob movies. send a current photo or video, with today's newspaper, etc.

I did it once back in 2005. Pffff. Too messy and too long. I don't mind a few days of wildness, or a weekend. But a whole week is too much. Can't walk to the stores, shops, mall without getting soaked. Not the way to enjoy every day. Definitely might not be something somebody with a short holiday might want.

Well, the system has its pros and cons. I certainly didn't set it up. One can get more robust dental coverage if one chooses higher priced premiums. Medicare and Supplements are a strange setup that has years of evolution behind it. This is my first year using it so being a life long test engineer that has a knack for finding defects or unanticipated results in things, I am sure I will stumble into the worst of things. 66 in May and Social Security and semi retirement on the horizon. Go Pattaya! Trip 16

Thanks all for the replies. I guess I will have to decide if at my age 66 it is worth doing the full implant path. I know several people at my age who had them and so far no issues. I also know some people that are doing quite well missing one tooth. I'm getting a second opinion and evaluation and exam from a local dentist here near work in CT before I decide to travel to CA to see my normal regular excellent dentist. Probably am leaning towards just the extraction, a graft for the future if it looks like I may need one, in case I decide to go with implants after things heal up.

yeah, I have heard rumors of needing a source of income statement. I also pointed out years ago when the USA stopped doing the income affidavits, that somebody could be just spending down some money and sending it to Thailand every month in the required 65k baht amounts. Those transfers in no way prove a source of income in the traditional sense of the word. Many people cash out their 401ks or IRAs due to market uncertainty and decide to just spend it down. Anyway, thanks.

Expect a lot of foolery with the Elite Visa systems? 1,000,000 1 million Thai Baht for the 20 year visa. I can see many people come up with that money, but then, how do they support themselves?

Years ago when the first Russian masses came, there were many many tour companies set up. You would see the buses all over Pattaya. I think one was "Pegus". A cruder version presumably of the Greek Pegasus. At that time Thailand started cracking down on foreign so called tour guides as many if not most were working illegally and without proper work permits. I would expect more Russian "service girls" to use a nice word patrolling walking street and handing out fliers and pamphlets. Tsk tsk. Need a work permit I remember when the Russian lettering started showing up on restaurant menus in Pattaya years ago. At first I thought it was not good, then I stepped back and reconsidered. Why should English be so special in addition to the nominal Thai? Or for that matter German or Swiss or other western languages? Well, none of those groups tried to take over Pattaya. They opened a French or German or whatever restaurant which was great. I have stayed in several hotels that were started by German owners. I don't see that with the Russians. I see them sticking together. I never saw or heard a lot of Russians in many of the Thai eateries I went in to over the years. So I presume the owners had Russian backing otherwise why spend the money on Russian signage?

I have a tooth that broke. Also the central part that had a root canal fell out with the pin. So I have partial tooth base for lack of a better word still in the jaw. This was a lower third from the back tooth. Had issues from it a long time and dentist did a great job keeping it intact the last 15 years but now wondering what to do. I am 66. I don't have any other dental issues. At my age, I am pondering the need for going the full route of extraction, graft, implant, crown. I am not going to live a long time! I don't mind missing a tooth back there. I am aware of possible issues with other teeth extruding or moving, etc. but I also know several people that have done just fine with a space. I am on USA Medicare and have an advantage plan with United Health for Dental. That only covers about $1,000. I had one full quote from my favorite dentist of $5200 which would be my final out of pocket cost. I happen to be in CT working and he is back in California. But he is worth the visit. Coincidentally I am about to finish a contract job and was looking to go to Thailand for a long vacation if not full semi retirement, so I am considering taking months off and going to Thailand and getting this dental work done there and just paying out of pocket. I been to Thailand 15 times going back to 2004 so I am familiar with Pattaya. So wondering on cost of a simple extraction. Then wondering on cost of the full nine yards, extraction, graft, implant, crown. Any experience, or prices or good dental recommendation in Thailand? Thanks