Johnnyy

Spent the last couple of weeks at Lamai Beach. They have lost a few of the main bars like The Shamrock but are slowly getting replaced. Another music venue close by now. Plenty of restaurants open. 

Shame that it still seems be be plagued by dogs roaming the beach and streets. They seem non-plussed on the beach but not so on the streets at night. A few of them were very aggressive towards anything that went passed them last night. Rather unpleasant. 
 

Aside from that, still a fun place to visit. 

Sometimes in life when you are not happy you just have to suck it up and move on. You can’t beat the system. I bet he wished he had done that now. 

11 hours ago, Kadilo said:

Which poll are you quoting now?

A daft one !

Well my planned Samui holiday in November doesn’t look like much fun....

Very much the same for me. I used Tapa daily on the phone and iPad. Going via the browser is going to change things. 

I have been going to Lamai Beach for the last 10 years and the only people who have ever bugged me about drugs were fellow Brits. I’m comfortable visiting there.

Anything you can do to help before going to Thailand ?

 
Sorry but your experience is not representative of booking in either Business or Economy.
I know, as searching out flight deals is my thing. OTA is almost always cheaper.
Many who have grabbed the Gulf Air £1k Business Class deals will attest to that. Nowhere to be found if booked directly, sale or no sale.

 
Yes...to the point of disbelief....perhaps your market is different. This thread concerns the UK and Europe. OTA is almost always cheaper.
If they weren't, there wouldn't be any OTA.

No lol only on three occasions ever did the airlines own site offer a better deal. 3 times out of 169 occasions and thats it

It's not rocket science. I am flexible in my travel times, so I can look for when the airlines are discounting seats. If you got stiffed by Qatar, it was because you didn't research your alternatives thoroughly enough.
Why should I waste my time describing in detail my experience to an unsympathetic audience? The OP is talking about a travel agent that went bust. I think it's reasonably intelligent to think travel agents go out of business more often than airlines do.

All over the British media this morning. Pictures of him online. I suspect he will be interviewed very soon.....

50 pounds what insurance company. I use a global French company to travel to Russia for 4 weeks, looking at $200.

Unless you have a stack of pre-existing conditions, a premium is only going to cost around £50. There really is no excuse for not taking out a policy. 

I only travel once a year so as soon as I buy the ticket it’s insurance next. 

If you are a regular then get an annual one.

Hope the lady gets it all sorted.

Lamai Beach is full of them. They are on the beach during the day and roam streets at night. Time to get rid.

Some would call this music... All I know for sure is that it's noise, a lot of ugly loud noise! I may be somewhat 50 plus VAT, but on every trip back to Europe I still find decent gigs, from the Stones, the Who, what's left of the Floyd, etc etc

Believe night-life in Lamai has died partly out and only left the bars – before it was famous for outstanding after-party House-music "Fuzion Club", and the more Thai dance-band place "Super Sub"; and in really old days "Bauhaus" – seem like all is a nothing but a Saga now. However there may still be a band most of the week-day nights in the Irish "Shamrock Pub" – once the "home venue" for the amazing 

, which unfortunately changed some of their members the later years – and another band use to be at the Australian corner restaurant opposite the boxing square. It's a while since I've been there, so not perfectly up-to-date, but the band in the Australian restaurant used to be quite good.
 

Due to age and height I only go Business now and for the last 3 years have flown Finnair.

Very reasonable cost and it's not a long stopover. Looking forward to the new A350 this year.

However, being honest I would prefer a direct and have noticed EVA sales that come much closer in cost so this year have used up most of my points for a economy/upgraded to Business on Finnair and may go with EVA next.

Finnair business is always reasonably priced and you get an allowance of a couple of bags.

Just flown Finnair business class, 3 bags allowed ,

Yep, you're right. Were you on the A350 ?

Finnair business is always reasonably priced and you get an allowance of a couple of bags.

Have been going to Lamai Beach for the past 10 years and it one of my biggest pet hates.

If you walk along the beach there seem to be dogs everywhere. Then they appear in the Main Street at night. All rather unpleasant.

Get rid of them and ladyboys on motor bikes, they seem to appear out of nowhere, and it will be a much nicer place.

Are you equating the law abiding ladyboys with rabid soi dogs?

Tough question that

The queue for the EEC automatic gates was massive when I arrived back last month. Took around 40 mins to get through.

why don't you get together with your Thai mates and do some culling ?

Dogs or Ladyboys ?