royboy

Nice place stayed there a lot since it did it;s soft opening with no doors fitted.

Been a while but 10am sounds about right but unless they have a coach party in you can be assured that the buffet gets toned down the later during service.

Some of the bigger rooms with balcony and mini kitchen are worth getting, 417 or 717 IIRC?

Good parking and location.

Sorry Cuban, what does this mean?

I drove up there one morning to try the breakfast. It looked OK but it wasnt tempting enough for me to actually sit down and eat it, so I went somewhere else.

I think it goes until 10:30, or possibly later.

Thanks KK.

This place in Soi 4 has been getting some good reviews lately & big discounts offered for non-refundable bookings. Anyone know what time they serve brekkie til?

All info gratefully received. Cheers.

Sorry..........that should read "Bella Villa Prima" (Senior moment kicked in!)

No doubt most bars will be showing the Man U/City matches today, but does anyone know where the West Brom-Arsenal game (on TrueSport 3) will be shown?

Thanks

Thanks for your input gents. Just booked LGW-BKK with Southall Travel for £50* return!

*(+ taxes = £416)

Vietnam Airlines are offering some good fares at present from LGW-BKK via Hanoi & returning via HCM, but I've seen some some pretty negative reviews of their services. Anyone travelled with them recently?

Thanks for all your input gents. I was surprised by the number of rapid responses & the diverse opinions offered.

For the record, I'm travelling no further than Yangon (Rangoon) & only spending 3 days there so I don't think I'll be over-exposed to malaria. However,on the back of the majority of suggestions received I've purchased a 12-pack of Malarone here in the UK. Incidentally, after shopping around I found that the price per tablet ranges from £2.28 to £3.15!

As far as side effects on any medication go, & as some have already pointed out, different people can be affected in different ways. The Malarone leaflet states that "more than 1 in 10" people may suffer headache, nausea, diarrhoea etc, while "up to 1 in 10" may experience, cough, insomnia, appetite loss or dizziness. All in all, it's a bit of a lottery.

I'm taking a short trip to Myanmar (Burma) next month following 3 weeks in Pattaya. My local UK surgery nurse advised me to take Malarone as a precaution against malaria & I've been issued a private prescription for it. Does anyone know if it's available in Pattaya, & if so, at what price? I'm told it's £2.50 per tab in the UK, so with my cheap charlie hat on I'm assuming it would be cheaper to buy in Thailand. Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks for the suggestions & comments.

I'm planning a short trip to Rangoon (OK, Yangon if you must) in late October & looking for recommendations for hotels/guest houses there, preferably independent establishments within 2 km of the centre & not owned buy the regime. Done the usual Internet trawl (Trip Advisor etc.) but would appreciate any personal recommendations.

Also, I realise evening entertainment is a bit thin on the ground there, but any suggestions would be welcome.

Anyone know the time of the last Skytrain of the day to Swampy? I've trawled the Net in vain searching for a current timetable.

Anyone know the time of the last train to Swampy? I've trawled the net for a current timetable but been unable to come up with any information.

Can anyone suggest a hotel or apartment reasonably close to the airport that offers half day (6pm-midnight) bookings? I've got a flight at 01:00 & fancy chilling out for a few hours somewhere other than at Swampy.

We just returned from 4 days in Siem Reap. We actually started the trip in Saigon. We took a bus from Saigon to Phnom Phen and spent 1 night there then caught a bus from PP to SR for $5 (each) and it took 6 hours. All of the "scamming" that "swissie" mentioned happens on the Cambodian side of the border after you get thru immigration at Poipet. We took a taxi from SR to Poipet for $25 and it took 2 1/2 hours. From the border we went to the Aran bus station and caught a bus back to Bangkok. I'm told that to catch a taxi from Poipet to SR they charge around $40. As far as scammers in SR we didn't have any problems. If time is short and money isn't a problem I would fly both ways.

Thanks for your comments Spaniel. I've now deffo decided against land travel from Patts & will probably do the flying option & possibly with a stop in PP on the return to Bangers.

Thanks for your comprehensive reply swissie.

I was originally looking to fly both ways with Bangkok Airways & judging from your comments this is the best option. I also planned to pre-book a hotel in SR to avoid the touting there that you describe. I did consider the boat trip to PP, though others have said the fare is a ripoff & you can't be guaranteed a seat. However, I did spend a very pleasant few days in PP a couple of years ago & a return visit wouldn't go amiss. Unfotunately I'm, I'm a little tight for time as I have a flight back to the UK on 28th October.

Another factor I have to consider is the weather forecast for Cambodia. I read that residents of certain areas of PP have been told oprepare for evacuation when the monsoons hit.

Cheers.

This is indeed a "Scammers-Paradise". The trip to the border (Aranyaphrathet) is no problem. But then it starts:

Before the border, the mini van will stop and you will be directed to the "Visa-Office". There you will be informed that the next regular bus to SM (included in the pre-paid price) will leave in about 3 hours !!! As an alternative, you will be offered a "fast ride" with a Taxi to SM for 400 Baht extra. (Most people go with this offer = who wants to wait 3 hours for a bus!)

The additional 400 Baht Taxi-Fare will also guarantee "a fast passage through customs". Bullshit: You stand in line like anyone else = no fast passage!

Once on Cambodian soil, you will board a bus that brings you to a "Tourist Welcoming Centre" just outside of Poipet. Because that's where the Taxis are to bring you to SM. At this place your "Visa-Taxi-Organizer" will explain to you, that this is (next to Phnon Phen) the only place you can exchange your $ against the Cambodian Currency. Otherwise you will get a very bad exchange-rate in SM. = Quite the opposite is true: Private money exchanges in SM will give you a better exchange rate than any official border exchange station!!!

After that you will be cramped into a Taxi with another 4 persons. Before you enter SR you will have to leave the Taxi and board a Tuk-Tuk that will bring you to a Guesthouse. Needles to say, the guesthose will be "strongly recomended" by the Tuk-Tuk driver. No choice ! In my case it was the Hotel Hilton. The Hotel Hilton was a guesthouse called "Hotel Hilton"! Funny, isen't it!

Once you have checked into a guesthouse, you will be making every step of the way with your "shadow". The "shadow" is a guesthouse employee, that is always at your side as soon you leave your room. It is his job to direct you to all kidns of places, that you are not even interested in. But there is no doubt, every place he brings you to, he gets a little "commission".

My advice: Book a return flight from BKK to SM. Not only to avoid the professional "Border-Scammers" but for the main reason: Cambodia has for the most part an interesting and changing landscape worth seeing. But the stretch between Poipet and SR is probably the the most boring type of landscape Cambodia has to offer. Nothing for the eye, absolutely nothing! So again: Book a return flight to SM and the take the 9 hour fast-boat-ride to Phnon Phen. Stay there fo a few days and return to SR with the fast boat to board your return flight to BKK. For somebody with limited time to spend, this is probably the best way to get an "Inside-Look" at Cambodia instead of hanging around Ankor-Wat for 2 weeks, always having your shadow right beside you. As described above, for a few Dollars more you can avoid the border-visa-mafia and can have a very enjoiable time in SR and Cambodia. Hope it helps, cheers.

This is indeed a "Scammers-Paradise". The trip to the border (Aranyaphrathet) is no problem. But then it starts:

Before the border, the mini van will stop and you will be directed to the "Visa-Office". There you will be informed that the next regular bus to SM (included in the pre-paid price) will leave in about 3 hours !!! As an alternative, you will be offered a "fast ride" with a Taxi to SM for 400 Baht extra. (Most people go with this offer = who wants to wait 3 hours for a bus!)

The additional 400 Baht Taxi-Fare will also guarantee "a fast passage through customs". Bullshit: You stand in line like anyone else = no fast passage!

Once on Cambodian soil, you will board a bus that brings you to a "Tourist Welcoming Centre" just outside of Poipet. Because that's where the Taxis are to bring you to SM. At this place your "Visa-Taxi-Organizer" will explain to you, that this is (next to Phnon Phen) the only place you can exchange your $ against the Cambodian Currency. Otherwise you will get a very bad exchange-rate in SM. = Quite the opposite is true: Private money exchanges in SM will give you a better exchange rate than any official border exchange station!!!

After that you will be cramped into a Taxi with another 4 persons. Before you enter SR you will have to leave the Taxi and board a Tuk-Tuk that will bring you to a Guesthouse. Needles to say, the guesthose will be "strongly recomended" by the Tuk-Tuk driver. No choice ! In my case it was the Hotel Hilton. The Hotel Hilton was a guesthouse called "Hotel Hilton"! Funny, isen't it!

Once you have checked into a guesthouse, you will be making every step of the way with your "shadow". The "shadow" is a guesthouse employee, that is always at your side as soon you leave your room. It is his job to direct you to all kidns of places, that you are not even interested in. But there is no doubt, every place he brings you to, he gets a little "commission".

My advice: Book a return flight from BKK to SM. Not only to avoid the professional "Border-Scammers" but for the main reason: Cambodia has for the most part an interesting and changing landscape worth seeing. But the stretch between Poipet and SR is probably the the most boring type of landscape Cambodia has to offer. Nothing for the eye, absolutely nothing! So again: Book a return flight to SM and the take the 9 hour fast-boat-ride to Phnon Phen. Stay there fo a few days and return to SR with the fast boat to board your return flight to BKK. For somebody with limited time to spend, this is probably the best way to get an "Inside-Look" at Cambodia instead of hanging around Ankor-Wat for 2 weeks, always having your shadow right beside you. As described above, for a few Dollars more you can avoid the border-visa-mafia and can have a very enjoiable time in SR and Cambodia. Hope it helps, cheers.

Like the soi hate the kind of expat/sexpat tourists it attracts. The worse of British can be found there, jonny come lately, sun reading idiots who know everything about Thailand without going anywhere other than Pattaya.

WOW! What an incredibly sweeping statement.

Would you like some more tar for your brush?

I personally like it. As stated many times it’s cheap and cheerful but more than that for me it is the location. Its central and everywhere can be reached easily and quickly especially with as previously mentioned the frequent Songtaew service.

Jim

Ps. btw Andy its worst not worse even a "sun reading

idiot" would know that as they know everything apparently

I thought JimmyChoons summed it up pretty well, particularly in relation to the Soi Honey/Soi Chiayapoon area. The southern end's ok though.

I'm considering having a few days in Seam Reap & then flying back to Bangers. I was planning do the outward trip by road via Poipet. Some operators advertise a 07.00 hotel pickup to get you ther by 16.00-19.00, but I've heard there are lot of scammers out there, particularly once you're into Cambodia. Can anyone recommend a good tour operator/travel agent for the one way jouney?

Without a shadow of doubt the very BEST rates available for GBP US$ and EUROS is the T & T Exchange booths on Pattaya 2nd Road. Coming from Pattaya Tai the first booth is closest just 100 yards down on the right. The second booth is on the left hand side of the road but further down but before Royal garden mall.

Agreed, & they've also got a booth on Beach Road, just before you hit Walking Street.

There are also a couple on North Pattaya Road that offer good rates(can't remember the names), one on each side of the road close to the Dolphin Roundabout.

The maps are correct but not especially useful!

If taking Siam Country Club road then it is 6km or so then turn right at the 7-11(#1) crossroads shortly after after the golf driving range on your left, then left again at the next 7-11(#2) you pass.

Or on Nernplubwan follow all the way to the end, 6km-ish), T-junction with the temple in front of you, 7-11(#3) on your right, you can get to the stadium either right or left here, its behind the temple, if you take the left turn you then take the next right, before 7-11(#2).

Handy to have all those 7-11's a guidepoints!

Friend of mine went to the last match at 18:00 only to find everybody leaving, they had kicked off at 16:00.

Thanks for the info Upnotover..............didn't realise it was so far out of town. Probably won't bother as I've not got my own transport.

Never mind the Champions League Final - I see Pattaya United are at home this Sunday (23rd May). Can anyone let me know where their stadium is? The map on their website is as much use as a chocolate teapot! Also there seems some doubt as to the kick-off time: 16:00 or 18:00?

Cheers

Make sure you have a reservation for the Bell Travel bus, as they no longer accept walk-ups.

Reservations? really. How do they accept those? Email? I am still in the USA. The good news is I moved up my vacation to May 6. Thanks for the heads up. I will inquire

Have a look at their website:

www.belltravelservice.com

You can now register with them & book online.

Anyone know any places in Patters (preferably North) that have got Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, etc) on their PCs?

Whatever criticism you may level at the Thais, their ability to smile, joke and accept extreme misfortune is remarkable.

Last night the entire area of 2nd Road, and many of the adjoining Sois were more than a foot under water, and the interiors of nearly all the bars, restaurants, shops and guest houses were also badly flooded.

Yet I didn't see so much as a frown anywhere. Their businesses were badly disrupted, most places had been forced to close, the staff were sitting atop of tables and chairs waiting for the water to subside.

No one was making any money, but no-one was complaining.

Many were laughing and joking.

We may have many frustrations when dealing with some of the more unsavoury aspects of Thai culture, but their ability to smile in the face of adversity, and accept what life throws at them is an object lesson to most of us from the west.

Great words! That's one of the reasons why I love this country and feel like at home here for more then 7 years!

Couldn't agree more...if it happened in the UK we'd be <deleted> & blinding (or crying) but the Thais take it all in their stride & get on with it (witness the tsunami!). We've got a lot to learn from them.

After reading these all posts I realise I was lucky. I was towards the southern end of Soi Buhkow, just had a massage, waited 20 minutes for a baht bus which fortunately dropped me at my hotel in Naklua Road an hour later. I was certain it would conk out & that I'd have to start wading with the others. Best 10 baht I've ever spent!