onzestan

Thanks for the tip onzestan, but that promotion is non-existent for Jan 2009 (I always stay there around my birthday)

Best price they have incl breakfast is 2990.

I paid 2850 last jan incl 1 dinner buffet x2 per 2 nights, did check accor website but got better deal.

Will check in dec but might chose Charoen Thani Princess instead.

At asiarooms price is 2690 now to 31st Oct, you got yourself a good deal

You"re very welcome.

However, if Charoen Thani Princes have not refurbished their rooms the last few years be prepaired for a lot less comfort than you're used to at the Sofitel, and also the breakfast at Sofitel is the best available in Khon Kaen IMHO.

cheers

onzestan

I regularly stay at Sofitel Raja Khon Kaen, paid 1800 3 years ago, 2000 2 years ago, 2500 last year, 2850 this Januari , November 2008 prices begin at 4000!

At that price they will not see me next January.

I beg to differ.

Just booked for 3 nights next month. They have a promotion for 3 nights - pay 2 - at less than 6000 Baht for the 3 nights, all taxes and breakfast included. This on the accor website.

cheers

onzestan

I dont like to change planes soI fly BKK AMS, Eva (Emerald) or China (Biz, app 77 K)

then take a 2 hour train to Antwerp, or onwards

the train station is one escalator ride directly below Schiphol APT. very convenient even with luggage.

Indeed, however since OP was asking about business class, I didn't mention those.

I used to be emerald member with China Airlines, have tried EVA only once and can inform you that the business class is nothing but glorified economy compared to Etihad and Qatar, and I don't mind a stop halfway for a couple of hours.

I am booked with Qatar for december at Thai Baht 75.500,- (booked 3 months ago).

My 2 cents.

onzestan

Dear Jingthing on another one of his crusades. Don Quixote comes to mind, fighting against windmills indeed.

cheers

onzestan

go up to arrivals, it's cheaper and less crowded

Go up to arrivals from arrivals ?

onzestan

Any recommendations where the best deals are?

I fly qatar to either Frankfurt or CDG Paris. Rent a car from there for the trip to Antwerpen and back since otherwise I don't have transport in Belgium.

Etihad go to Brussels but about 20.000 Baht more expensive at the moment, and since I have to rent a car anyway I prefer Qatar not only for the price but also the schedule.

hope to have helped.

onzestan

Sorry, but my statement stands. Living in Thailand and dealing with Thais can sometimes be frustrating. In point of fact, Thais bring their own very special set of frustrations for me I have not dealt with working in eight countries, mostly stemming from cultural considerations that make it hard to achieve business objectives. I am willing to bet I am not alone in being frustrated by Thais from time to time. I am very sure Thais are frustrated dealing with me from time to time, mostly stemming from my Western perspective on management issues; I certainly don't view them as racist because of it.

If it makes you feel any better, some of the Westerners living in Thailand also frustrate me, but that has less to do with Western culture and more to do with the type of people they are.

Maybe, but if I have learned anything in my years living in this country, it's that you can't blame the Thais for being Thai.

We westerners judge everything by our standards, which is something that cannot be avoided because of the place and circumstances in which we were born and raised, and it's only, as you mentioned correctly, because of experiencing other cultures that our horizons broaden, but we can never fully adapt too these cultures because of our background.

I also get frustrated sometimes but prefer to believe that it's because of specific circumstances and not because of race, culture or religion.

Anyway I hate the word racism for all its implications and do believe that it's used much to frequently in this day and age of political correctness, even so far that it's lost much of it's impact.

Again no malice intended.

onzestan

For those of us in the middle (not blinded by love, or crazed with anger), living here and trying to do the best we can means taking the good with the bad, but doing what we can to avoid the bad. Thailand is a good place to live, but that does not mean it is without it commonplace and unique problems. I am fortunate enough to live and work in a very high end environment, have a well educated girlfriend, friends in both the Western and Thai business community, and speak and read Thai. Even with all of this, I still have problems from time to time and occasionally grow very frustrated when dealing with Thais, as I am sure most of us do.

As such, I am glad I have TV so that I can vent on from time to time, and see others are in the same situation, while offering practical advice to those in need.

Thanks to all who shared their views and made a meaningful contribution to the discussion.

Have a great day.

Seemingly a very middle of he road stance.

However may I remind you that it was you that made the topic about racism.

I would believe you're in the middle, if not for your remark about getting frustrated when dealing with THAIS.

If you were to change that to dealing with PEOPLE, then maybe (and just maybe) I would accept that what you're saying is not biased.

No malice intended.

onzestan

Am flying qatar to london via doha and was wondering what the duty free prices for perfums and watches were like . I have always thought that Bangkok and London duty free more expensive than local shops .

check the duty free catalogue on qatar website. All the answer you may need.

cheers

onzestan

Tourist are considered easy prey the whole world over, not only for the holiday mood they are in (mostly) but also because most of them will just shrug their shoulders when its about a small amount.

I don't think racism is involved just the idea that foreigners are more easy to cheat than the locals.

My 2 cents

onzestan

not with those sort of weapons...

Does it matter which sort of weapon?

Read this article : http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/art...year/article.do

And that's only for the first 4 months of the year.

cheers

onzestan

<deleted> - sometimes thai(s) are borderline primitive.

Never heard of drink related fights, stabbings and murders elsewhere?

cheers

onzestan

I would like to go to CAT to see Miss Waree, where is their office.

Thanks

Telephone building on Pattaya Thai road.

When coming from Sukhumvit its on your right hand side about 100 meters before the traffic lights at the 3rd road junction.

Good luck

onzestan

Well let's bounce the ball back shall we.

What does OP thinks/believes to be the downsides of living in Thailand?

Having lived here for nearly 20 years now, I would be lying to say there are none, but I have yet to find a country where there are no downsides, and I believe that these are not the same for everyone.

I'm happy here, more than I was in my home country and that's enough for me.

cheers

onzestan

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, seems cat has lowered their prices but they are still billing me at the old price (2600+vat for 2/1 Mbps)

In short, reliability is excellent, they pull a dedicated cable to your house (less error prone then the existing TT&T/TOT spaghetti wiring), and in my case speeds are pretty stable at 1700 kbps down (international!).

I'm not sure why you'd go for the symmetrical package since now its about 800 Baht more expensive then the regular package, plus with the regular package you can use any standard ADSL modem.

My uploads are between 600 and 800 kbps...

Cheers

Hi Monty,

You'll have to go to cat (Miss Waree) to sign the papers for the lower price.

BTW you owe me a beer for this tip.

cheers

onzestan

I'm looking for business class flights from the UK to Bangkok. Where's the best priced place to purchase these from ?

Any recommendations as to which airlines, routes or travel agents to use ? Obviously I want the best price and I prefer flights that depart in the evening or late at night.

I'm not too bothered if I need to make a connection in Europe or the Middle East, I won't travel via Dubai though due to their over zealous drug policies so Emirates is out.

I can fly out of Birmingham or London.

check-out qatar website and do a ghost booking for the dates you would like to fly. If you click on the 3 days option you will get a choice of flights and tarifs.

BTW Qatar is one of the few airlines that gives you the cheapest options on their website.

hope to have helped

onzestan

Notwithstanding all the above I do wonder.

Some people receive help from unexpected sources, others not.

Some people are respected, others are not.

I wonder why?

cheers

onzestan

Hua Hin boring to the extreme.

World famous night market with 300 stalls all selling the same rubish.

Everything more expensive than Pattaya.

As mentioned couple of nice seafood restaurants south of the city overlooking the bay, but that's it as far as I'm concerned.

Oh nearly forgot the abundance of jellyfish in the sea and on the beach depending on the currents.

No thank you.

cheers

onzestan

I've ridden that train several times over the last 5 or 6 years. At first, I took the first class compartment. But, about the third of fourth time, first class was full. So, I took the air-conditioned, second class sleeper. Now, I always use the second class. You have nearly as much privacy, a more comfortable berth, and a more comfortable seat. Actually, you have a little more privacy in second-class -- there are no curtains on the bunks in the first-class compartments but there are in second-class!

To my way of thinking, the first-class is not worth the extra money.

Concur.

Second-class sleeper is the way to go.

Great fun also sitting in the antiquated restaurant coach.

cheers

onzestan

Where to start, to numerous to tell really.

One springs to mind.

A couple of years ago, I had a kidney crises (kidney stone moving). Very very painful.

My next door neighbors that had just moved in the week before, drove me to the hospital, took our dogs in for 3 days, visited me and my wife in the hospital and came to pick me up to bring me and the wife home.

Wouldn't accept anything.

cheers

onzestan

Many thanks for all your replies - far more than I had been expecting. I can see much good advice in all of them. Special thanks to onzetan regarding the consulate/embassy point which, I must admit, hadn't occurred to me previously.

You're very welcome.

cheers

onzestan

Fortunately for me, I was never an investor or sponsor of one of these angels.

You had them for free? :D

onzestan

As far as I know, the Bhuddist religious ceremony brings closure to those you leave behind, and I believe this is a good thing.

Cremation is cremation so I' m not worried about it.

If you come to live in Thailand don't forget to inform your consulate/embassy of your last wishes, especially about what to do with your mortal remains.

cheers

onzestan

My only gripe is with the title of the topic.

I didn't find any mention of Pattaya in the article.

onzestan

i guess no one noticed the 2nd post here which said i made a mistake. i am asking about ETIHAD, not emirates.... thanks

Have you read my reply?

I gave info about 4 airlines not only emirates.

cheers

onzestan