Sessachief

Hello, new to the forum, and I need some advise. I believe we wil be staying in a house in South Pattaya off the Phratamnack rd. There will be up to 8 of us, And I believe we will be staying close o Casa Espana.. I just checked on one of your online maps.

So basically how best to get around, and how much should one pay ?

I hope to visit the Islands , and also get into town, Island being Koh Lan I think!

So Tuk tuk prices or is there a Baht bus that one can walk to and pick up?

Finally is the water park close ?

Suggestions and help most welcome, and is there a good night market anywhere near. ?

Thanks in advance & excuse my spelling.

So as a complete newbie, Koh Lam sounds like the place to take my family en mass for a good beach and some swimming and snorkelling?

I believe we are staying in south Pattaya on a Hill Pratmarck ?! so how does one get to this Island, and are then any other really nice beach areas close by to where I think I am staying.

I realise Pattaya has a poor reputation in some respects, but that is where I am staying with eight of my family, so some help would be much appreciated.

Given that I am going to have a look at East Pattaya, where is the best part of the Island to stay, for R&R, snorkelling and perhaps some easy sailing. I want to spend around 800 to 1200 BHT a night including breakfast. I hate mosquitos with a passion and will require good clean Air conditioned accommodation , in an area with enough good places to eat.

So any suggestions? I hope to be travelling from Vietnam to Thailand up or down have not worked it out yet. so passing through Cambodia as well

I have been to Hua Hin , lovely place, very busy,prices seem high for Thailand, beaches nicest outside of Hua Hin.

Sadly no Hospital that is worthwhile close by though!

I am interested in Golf, Sailing Tennis, and the normal indulgent pastimes.

I am going to look closely at Pattaya, I note the suggestions to go further south, so any thoughts of where to stay when we visit in Dec/Jan would be much appreciated. Condos are the way to go, you cannot own land on which any houses are built.

Pattaya is about an Hour and half from Airport i believe, and that makes a huge difference. I do fancy being able to get to Islands for clean water and beaches, which is easily done I believe from Pattaya.

Do I gather they are trying to tidy Pattaya up a bit as well?

All help needed, Yes renting for six months seems a good idea, if you can spend that amount of time, sadly for me two to three weeks is the best it will get.

Suggestions most welcome

"Best advice is to spend a bit of time in both and see which one is the lifestyle you would enjoy most."

This has been said earlier and is the best advice. Go and rent in both areas first and find out which you prefer. If you have the money to live in more expensive places like Pukhet, Samui etc, then go stay there too. In any event you definitely should go for a short trip at least to see how they compare.

Try near to Pattaya - probably Jomtien, and check out of town south - Na Jomtien to Bangsaray.

Go to HH and also check out Cha-am. They are all very different types of places. Look at what you want for location, beach, sunset, transport, eating, shopping, expat community, proximity to night life for the odd excursion, etc, etc. AND SECURITY.

Some places around Pattaya are not secure, especially some housing estates. Condos do not generally have as bad a problem, but there are some so look at how good the security is and whether you feel you are happy with it.

Bear this in mind.

Also then you can properly research prices if you want to buy.

Why do you want to get the train?

It is not like the systems in the western world.

The bus / minibuses are good and easy to get.

Dont forget taxis are cheap by western standards. bangkok to Pattaya can be as low as 1500 baht plus tolls approx 100 baht. HH well over 2000 , say 2200 as stated before. Not that you would take taxis every time but be aware that it is an option particularly if you have a few people travelling.

jojothai

Sadly I don`t have unlimited funds, but I spent time in Hua Hin , Phuket, and travelled a couple of Islands down south as well. I am searching for Golf/Tennis/sailing zones, clean beach & a good all year round climate. Pattaya has now been mentioned as a worthwhile place, easier to get to new Airport, place is tidying up a bit.. Bags of good condo`s to rent long/ medium term. I would settle I gather for Jomtiem, am reading it is much less seedy than central Pattaya, but close enough to indulge in if needed. I gather also that medical care is much more available in and around Pattaya than Hua Hin. Furthermore Cinemas show English films, although I guess instant copies would be available.

Finally it is easy to travel to almost anywhere else in Thailand from Bangkok Airport ( the new one) should one need, and after the hassle of getting to London Gatwick or London Heathrow,(with the exception of road travel safety) that is a right result for Pattya.

Does anyone know about local expat golf societies or sporting clubs.

Finally any suggestions of well built , well managed condo units in and around Jomtiem. Thoughts !!??

I think that you are on the right track - Jomtien or Ban Saray (even further from Pattaya) are great places to live for all the reasons you mention; good all year weather, many good expat golf and sports clubs (try http://www.pattayasports.org/ ). Superb golf (19 top courses within one hour's drive) and many other sports - lots to see and do, great food and restaurants, many good/great beaches and islands nearby and you don't have to go into Pattaya except for shopping for some exotic expat treats. The local people outside Pattaya are OK ( spoilt by too many tourists and expats etc.), though not as friendly as more rural parts. Convenient for travelling etc. Many good condos at reasonable prices to choose from (all budgets)

That's why I live there!!!

Thanks for the info, any hints on where to find Condo`s to rent a reasonable prices ? I looked at the sports club connection, I will e-mail them, can`t work out the pricing for playing the local courses.( my Mac does not open their XLS files) I did like Hua Hin, and Cha-am Is also nice, I am not expecting hospitals to be the sole reason , but In Hua Hin you are two hours away, in Pattaya one is close to treatment if needed. Jomtiem I gather has a reputation for Gays, no problem with that, Mrs Sessachief would take exception to old with very young, and I have to say I would very much support her in that. I can fly everywhere else i want, and Cambodia and Vietnam are on my list. My son in law suggests Pattaya is worth a look. So where to view the area by the Internet, does google earth give a good enough overview?! Tally Ho , role on December/january

Sadly I don`t have unlimited funds, but I spent time in Hua Hin , Phuket, and travelled a couple of Islands down south as well. I am searching for Golf/Tennis/sailing zones, clean beach & a good all year round climate. Pattaya has now been mentioned as a worthwhile place, easier to get to new Airport, place is tidying up a bit.. Bags of good condo`s to rent long/ medium term. I would settle I gather for Jomtiem, am reading it is much less seedy than central Pattaya, but close enough to indulge in if needed. I gather also that medical care is much more available in and around Pattaya than Hua Hin. Furthermore Cinemas show English films, although I guess instant copies would be available.

Finally it is easy to travel to almost anywhere else in Thailand from Bangkok Airport ( the new one) should one need, and after the hassle of getting to London Gatwick or London Heathrow,(with the exception of road travel safety) that is a right result for Pattya.

Does anyone know about local expat golf societies or sporting clubs.

Finally any suggestions of well built , well managed condo units in and around Jomtiem. Thoughts !!??

I think that you are on the right track - Jomtien or Ban Saray (even further from Pattaya) are great places to live for all the reasons you mention; good all year weather, many good expat golf and sports clubs (try http://www.pattayasports.org/ ). Superb golf (19 top courses within one hour's drive) and many other sports - lots to see and do, great food and restaurants, many good/great beaches and islands nearby and you don't have to go into Pattaya except for shopping for some exotic expat treats. The local people outside Pattaya are OK ( spoilt by too many tourists and expats etc.), though not as friendly as more rural parts. Convenient for travelling etc. Many good condos at reasonable prices to choose from (all budgets)

That's why I live there!!!

Sadly I don`t have unlimited funds, but I spent time in Hua Hin , Phuket, and travelled a couple of Islands down south as well. I am searching for Golf/Tennis/sailing zones, clean beach & a good all year round climate. Pattaya has now been mentioned as a worthwhile place, easier to get to new Airport, place is tidying up a bit.. Bags of good condo`s to rent long/ medium term. I would settle I gather for Jomtiem, am reading it is much less seedy than central Pattaya, but close enough to indulge in if needed. I gather also that medical care is much more available in and around Pattaya than Hua Hin. Furthermore Cinemas show English films, although I guess instant copies would be available.

Finally it is easy to travel to almost anywhere else in Thailand from Bangkok Airport ( the new one) should one need, and after the hassle of getting to London Gatwick or London Heathrow,(with the exception of road travel safety) that is a right result for Pattya.

Does anyone know about local expat golf societies or sporting clubs.

Finally any suggestions of well built , well managed condo units in and around Jomtiem. Thoughts !!??

I think that you are on the right track - Jomtien or Ban Saray (even further from Pattaya) are great places to live for all the reasons you mention; good all year weather, many good expat golf and sports clubs (try http://www.pattayasports.org/ ). Superb golf (19 top courses within one hour's drive) and many other sports - lots to see and do, great food and restaurants, many good/great beaches and islands nearby and you don't have to go into Pattaya except for shopping for some exotic expat treats. The local people outside Pattaya are OK ( spoilt by too many tourists and expats etc.), though not as friendly as more rural parts. Convenient for travelling etc. Many good condos at reasonable prices to choose from (all budgets)

That's why I live there!!!

Sadly I don`t have unlimited funds, but I spent time in Hua Hin , Phuket, and travelled a couple of Islands down south as well. I am searching for Golf/Tennis/sailing zones, clean beach & a good all year round climate. Pattaya has now been mentioned as a worthwhile place, easier to get to new Airport, place is tidying up a bit.. Bags of good condo`s to rent long/ medium term. I would settle I gather for Jomtiem, am reading it is much less seedy than central Pattaya, but close enough to indulge in if needed. I gather also that medical care is much more available in and around Pattaya than Hua Hin. Furthermore Cinemas show English films, although I guess instant copies would be available.

Finally it is easy to travel to almost anywhere else in Thailand from Bangkok Airport ( the new one) should one need, and after the hassle of getting to London Gatwick or London Heathrow,(with the exception of road travel safety) that is a right result for Pattya.

Does anyone know about local expat golf societies or sporting clubs.

Finally any suggestions of well built , well managed condo units in and around Jomtiem. Thoughts !!??

Hello, no doubt this might seem a little dim, our daughter suggested we get an Apple MacBook for the best of travel,e-mails,pictures etc.

How would one of these little computers, compare for:

E-mails, Skype, pictures, internet browsing, and basic Microsoft stuff.

My wife wants a machine, that is really simple, easy to use , finds Hot spots, does everything automatically, and has long battery life.

Also simple and effective anti-virus updates .... My Mac cost me around £590 so how does that compare?

Any help much appreciated

I've been using the 4GB Asus EeePc 701 for about a year. I use it when I travel because the 'traditional' lap top was just a pain to lug through the airports.

The light weight and small size are a huge bonus - it's good enough for email, and the bundled software handles Excel, Powerpoint and Word well enough to work on the move. The quick boot and shut down is also great when doing a quick check of mail before a flight or wifi-ing over a coffee.

I brought some 4GB Asus EeePc for the kids and what annoyed me was [tounge in cheek] (1) too cheap compared to the other note book we use (2) works too well for what it is (3) upset we never went that route for the office notebooks .

All in all they are the best for users on the move without a doubt.

The EeePC 1000 looks like a good compromise between screen size and rugged portability.

It has a 40gb SSD so should be fairly robust.

Only problem is the SSD only comes with Linux but I suppose getting XP installed wouldnt be too hard.

http://eeepc.asus.com/global/1000.htm

Anyone seen the 40GB SSD Eeepc 1000 in Thailand yet ?