redrio

hi all,

I would hate to see single travellers not given this idea I have.

Whilst roaming round Thailand.. Don't carry your passport.. Do the following.

Photo copy you insurance travel documents.. photo copy your hotel card and your passport..

Laminate them and carry at all times.

I did this and saved $30,000 dollars of hospital bills when I arrived at hospital in Thailand.

Sean

Hi there,

Pattaya is cheap. It has everything that any body could wish for... Diving Jet ski's.

The only thing I havent found Pattaya yet is a bad time for my money.

Rio

Hi all,

I hear people to refer to Thailand as a third world country..

What exactly is a third world country?

Since when has Manchester Uk, had a sky train and sky scrapers?

We are talking about Thailand not Nicaragua.

Thailand a place where people will help anybody, not hold a grenade to your face for a dollar.

Probably the best place to get medication or health services cheaper and cleaner than the Uk.

Thailand os not a third world country, 85% of people have a mobile phone.

Someone will kill you in Russia if you are wearing a $40 dollar pair of Levi's.

Rio

Hi,

If you are willing to travel at 7 o clock in the morning to Utapao then the cheapest way is 100 bahts.

This is not a fare but a tip.

Go to Mermaids dive shop either in central pattaya beach road or there shop in jomtien.

Ask nong, on the counter if she still works there. They have a couple of daily baht buses that leave at 7 to satthahip.

The bus goes past utapao airport on the way. If they have space the driver will drop you off.

Or you can try nakorn chai air bus on north road. You will probably get there for 60 bahts.

Its cheaper to fly from Bangkok to anywhere, Utapao is a wate of time. Samui and Phuket.

At least in bangkok you can fly with air asia or one two go for absolute peanuts to anywhere in south east asia.

Rio

Hi all,

the best way to eat cheap is not the buffets.

I have been to all the buffets, Diana Inn, Apex, Lek. And are all OK.

After 9 years, I found a place to eat and you can fill your belly up with beer and grub for peanuts.

There is a barbecue place on pattaya tai going to towards sukumvit road. its out doors and its where thais go for cheap food.

The other option is to goto any bar where its somebodys birthday. Free food whilst ever your buying drinks.

If you are after western foods then Apex buffet is the best and most variety.

I dont eat western food in Thailand, I find it hard to eat a sirloin steak in the heat. I seem to eat Thai food easier.

Why pay 700 baht for a steak thats melting your brains and not your mouth.

I can eat for a full week for this money on thai food.

Best English breakfast is un arguably the sportsman on soi 6. Crazy daves on soi bukhaow is nice as well.

You dont only get an english belly buster, you get a benidorm pub in pattaya.. Only fools and horses at 8 in the morning with a bottle of Sabai Wine cooler.

All this and 250 mg of ranitidine heart burn tablets are enough to stop you giving the toilet a puking.

Rio

Hi all,

I am chasing anyone who is up for a taxi share from Bangkok to Pattaya. I will be arriving on gulf flight 158 from Bahrain to Bangkok at 6 pm 1st of of January 2009.

I have a taxi booked with a reliable taxi meter guy. He is charging me 1500 and has room for 4 people and luggage. Rather nice Toyota. I use him all the time.

Just if anybody fancies cutting the fare between each other I want some replies fast.

Regards

Rio

Hi all,

I use to get this problem getting pulled at Customs.

All I do now is pull out my Padi scuba diving card.

Argue with that?

Bye Officer.

Sean

i checked out of the queen pattaya hotel on friday night to go back to suvarnbumi aiport. The queen hotel got me a taxi meter for 800 bahts.

They wrote out a receipt and said give it to the driver when he comes to pick you up outside the hotel at 10.30 pm.

I wandered about till 10 and went back to the hotel and the taxi was waiting outside. I gave the receipt to the driver and he passed it onto somebody outside.

He then drove me off and on sukhumvit road, he told me his name and all of a sudden he said you pay motorway 60 bahts and a tip for me.

Then he said " Too much corruption in pattaya, you pay 800, 300 baht for mafia and 500 hundred for me."

Well I thought that was it, I am getting stopped off and ripped off somewhere on the journey.

HE was doing 120 mile an hour on the bang na and looked as though he was drunk or on drugs.

I was swallowing my tongue for a whole hour an 20 minutes.

We got to the airport, but still was convinced he wanted more money the way he was looking through the mirror.

about 3 k from the airport his phone rang and someone talking in thai.

When he got to the airport he opened the doors and got out, he had his hand out, I gave him 100 baht and walked off fast, then another falang bloke jumped in the taxi and off.

I am under the assumption that the drivers from bangkok are using the pattaya taxi meter sellers there phone number and a 300 baht tip for return journeys to the airport illegally. the driver was bragging to the wrong person. I took his car number " 2458" and am posting it on this website and a thousand others. Some of the taxi meters are taking falangs to the aiport illegally via these mafia so called touts.

I cant believe that the queen hotel are in on the scam. These drivers are dangerous and are part of the thai mob. It only takes one accident or rip off or someone may even be killed by people like this.. They are breaking the law full stop. BEWARE EVERYBODY I did not trust this one bit.

whats the problem? you got to the airport for 900 baht. thats not too bad.

yes, but illegal, I have been stitched up in the filipines with a gun on an illegal tuk tuk and three blokes, so I arent taking any chances

i checked out of the queen pattaya hotel on friday night to go back to suvarnbumi aiport. The queen hotel got me a taxi meter for 800 bahts.

They wrote out a receipt and said give it to the driver when he comes to pick you up outside the hotel at 10.30 pm.

I wandered about till 10 and went back to the hotel and the taxi was waiting outside. I gave the receipt to the driver and he passed it onto somebody outside.

He then drove me off and on sukhumvit road, he told me his name and all of a sudden he said you pay motorway 60 bahts and a tip for me.

Then he said " Too much corruption in pattaya, you pay 800, 300 baht for mafia and 500 hundred for me."

Well I thought that was it, I am getting stopped off and ripped off somewhere on the journey.

HE was doing 120 mile an hour on the bang na and looked as though he was drunk or on drugs.

I was swallowing my tongue for a whole hour an 20 minutes.

We got to the airport, but still was convinced he wanted more money the way he was looking through the mirror.

about 3 k from the airport his phone rang and someone talking in thai.

When he got to the airport he opened the doors and got out, he had his hand out, I gave him 100 baht and walked off fast, then another falang bloke jumped in the taxi and off.

I am under the assumption that the drivers from bangkok are using the pattaya taxi meter sellers there phone number and a 300 baht tip for return journeys to the airport illegally. the driver was bragging to the wrong person. I took his car number " 2458" and am posting it on this website and a thousand others. Some of the taxi meters are taking falangs to the aiport illegally via these mafia so called touts.

I cant believe that the queen hotel are in on the scam. These drivers are dangerous and are part of the thai mob. It only takes one accident or rip off or someone may even be killed by people like this.. They are breaking the law full stop. BEWARE EVERYBODY I did not trust this one bit.

hi there,

I notice that there is only one school in pattaya for thai cooking..

seems a bit steep at 1600 baht for two hours compared to chiang mai,s school of famous thai cook somphon.

Does any one know of any other classed conducted in pattaya, just for simple street foods..

or has anyone been to the one in chiang mai and is it worth it hands on wise.

red

hi all,

I am wanting some information on how to get to ekkemai from the new airport?

last year I got a minibus outside A1 stand that took me to ekkamai.

then onto pattaya via bus.

I was wanting to also know will buses be running to pattaya from the ekkamai after 6pm this sunday night.

Other wise is there anyone that is on emirates 386 from dubai landing at 17.10 sunday 26th of november that wants to share a taxi.

Red

hi there,

I have a friend in thailand that has a small british restaurant.

I am thinking of taking some sample indian spice curry kits in my case in plastic bags ready made currie mixes, tumeric coriander etc.

I am a bit worried about taking brown powder in plastic bags through bangkok airport as could look dodgy.

Am I allowed to take these through in my case? they are only curry kits and not drugs.

Do I have to declare at customs england or bangkok?????

RED

hi there,

My friend is been married to a thai national who is currently residing in the uk and is 6 months pregnant..

He was wanting to know, is it possible for her to goto spain on a 1 or 2 week holiday from the UK next year.

I think they will be leaving to child with his parents whilst going on holiday.

Is there any red tape that i need to tell him about such as filling out any other kind of visas in the uk for her.

She is currently on a 2 year settlement visa in the UK..

Any info will be much appreciated.

Regards

Red

SHE MUST GET A SCHENGEN VISA,WHILST IN THE UK,IT WILL COST HER ABOUT £70,APPLY 6 WEEKS BEFORE SHE GOES....THIS WILL ENABLE HER TO GO ANYWHERE IN EUROPE....TIP..APPLY FOR 1 FROM FRANCE AS ITS EASIER AND QUICKER,WE DID THIS AND WE GOT IT IN TIME TO GO TO PORTUGAL.....ITS THE SAME VISA FOR ALL THE COUNTRYS IN EUROPE...THE COMPANY IN THE UK I USED CALL 02074991166.....njoi spain

how long is this valid for? and is it a multi entry, ie. 3 holidays in the life of the visa?

hi there,

My friend is been married to a thai national who is currently residing in the uk and is 6 months pregnant..

He was wanting to know, is it possible for her to goto spain on a 1 or 2 week holiday from the UK next year.

I think they will be leaving to child with his parents whilst going on holiday.

Is there any red tape that i need to tell him about such as filling out any other kind of visas in the uk for her.

She is currently on a 2 year settlement visa in the UK..

Any info will be much appreciated.

Regards

Red