womblejamie

Singapore Airlines can do a very nice one way deal from Bangkok to London for only THB229,675 including taxes. The flight is biz on a B777 from BKK to SIN then a rather comfortable suite on an A380 for the SIN-LHR leg. The round trip is only THB337,095.

erm how much? let me just just ask the wife for the airfare!!

I thought about taking the KL to London flight, but like with some others I found that with a flight down to KL and a possible hotel stay in one or both directions in KL and the added extras it turned out not that much cheaper.

I also had a friend that done this leg on a return journey and she said she would never fly again on a long-haul flight with Air Asia, basically you get what you pay for!!

Have booked my return flights to London with Qatar for the grand sum of 27,949 each in April. Could be much happier at that price and I had been shopping around for a couple of months changing my times and dates.

Yes Nienke is great and she has a banner at the top of this page, highly recommended

1)The island and the rest of Thailand I feel is as safe as many places to live with a family and children. The kids are a bit young at the moment, but like a previous poster said there are a variety of sporting activities like sailing, martial etc... to keep them entertained. Just putting them in a one of the schools or nurseries and they will soon make friends.

2)For babysitting services you are probably best off getting a recommendation from a school a nursery or even putting an advert up at one of supermarkets and interviewing the applicants yourself.

3)Medical system seems fine to me. I'm with Bupa and had to use the hospital once and it was all covered by my scheme except a nominal admin or something fee.

As for other posters telling you "don't do it", make your own choice. Thailand is a beautiful place, as you are aware after visiting and wanting to live here, but some people feel its is their duty to warn you, thinking that you don't have the intelligence to investigate yourself. Good luck in your ventures and hope all goes well for you.

I will also be taking that journey in the beginning of January so will let you know what its like after I've made it to Khao Lak!!

We left on Thursday 7th January. CM to Tak was fine. From Tak farther south on Hwy 1 to Nakhon Sawan, there was some very uneven (to say the least) roads, but nothing for too long that would make me divert another way. Hwy 32 to Bangkok, absolutely fine...

have just been to CM office to inform them I am moving from CM to Khao Lak. No problem, filled out a form, a gut will come on Monday to take old equipment away. When I get to new house I must contact a provider in the area with my previous account number and ask for an installation. They tell me no charge, but I will let you know the story...

I sent a parcel to the UK on the 17th via registered mail, around 500baht, and it arrived on the 22nd so was well impressed with the service from the Hang Dong Post Office, will defo send parcels again.

I will also be taking that journey in the beginning of January so will let you know what its like after I've made it to Khao Lak!!

Sent a PM with a guys number for motorbike rentals

The wife done it and loved it, not my thing though and the fish would probably need a week to get all the dead skin off my feet!! She's been twice, once with a friend the first time and the second time when some friends were visiting from Khao Lak. Khao Lak now also has a Fish Spa!!

Two I've used that don't play games whatsoever are Budget near Airport Plaza and North Wheels on the east side of the moat...

You say you are a tourist .

I never heard of a tourist have to make a visa run. they go back home after a while.

Get areal visa if you have genuine reasons to stay in Thailand

what is your problem? when we first came here we didn't know how long we wanted to stay for our year holiday and had to do a visa run to get another tourist visa. Tourism is a genuine reason to stay in Thailand

100,000 BAHT!!!!!!!!!!!

What, is she planning to buy some land with the proceeds? She got to be off her bleeding rocker. I've heard some things in my time but that has gone so far over the ridiculous line that its just a dot in the distance.

A friend of mine has sonic bikes, he's on Chang Kian Road (excuse the spelling), north west of the moat. His shop is just before the Muay Thai training. If you not know where it is just PM me and I'll give you his number.

Portsmouth Football Club Bar (PFC) was one of the best bars on Samui for its excellent food, Sunday Roast was outta this world, staff were the some of the best I've ever come across in Thailand as they made the effort to know what you drank or ate and would never leave you staring into an empty glass even on a busy night!

You could watch just about every imaginable sport there from the thrill of Premiership Football to I think I actually watched Dwarf Tossing (yes it is a real sport) one afternoon in there. Above all else, Nick and Poon could not be more of a host making a special effort to know everyone who came through there doors whether they were for a just a few days or a few years they befriended well most...

I am stuck for where I will watch the footie and have a Sunday Roast when next on Samui, so I think I'll just turn up on Nick's doorstep and demand he cook me roast beef with all the trimmings while I settle into his armchair, and you know what? He'll be just as accommodating and give the bill at the end!!!

been looking mate and the best bet is off to Bangkok as bar the usual Spicy!, Fabrique and the others there not be a lot going on for dance party as such!!

Kate and me have been trying desperately to try and get flights down for the last night, but way too much to spend for a night out in samui, will see ya next time we're down, good luck tonight mate and see you soon.

yes Dance Party, you know that thing you go to and dance, it's kind of like a party!!

sorry dj I do not know at the moment, but I'll ask around for you

Thanks for the above advice, but although I am not the best DIY person I have already tried boiling water, bleach, the crystal drain unblocker and even a coat hanger. all pipes have been done as far as i can go as they now travel under the house and i don't think me ripping up the floor will go down to well with the owners!!

Must admit am very intrigued as to what plumbing problem is immediately obvious - impromptu fountain in front garden where there shouldn't be one??

No fountain... obvious problem is blocked sink pipe and I've done all I can with it like drain clearer and a long bendy thingy to go round the pipes!! In England we had this company called Dynorod (I Think) bloody excellent and this job would be done in 5 minutes, not holding out hope here...

nice call, as my house is Thai, my plumbing is Thai (which is why its probably up the shoot) looking for cheap that why i live in CM for anyway!!

Go for the double entry tourist visa which you can get at Birmingham or I have used Hull in the past (via post) like a previous poster said. It can give you up to 180 days in total with just one day taken up in a border bounce mid way through and a couple of trips to immigration. It's dead simple like pjclark1 said.

If you need to stay within an hour's drive, I'd suggest going for one of the resorts along the Samoeng Loop, where the mountain will block the city glare. But consider heading to the Chiang Dao area (1.5 hours away) or all the way up Doi Angkhang (3+ hours) where the show could be spectacular. And thanks for the reminder. I'd like to get out of town too if I can swing it.

I'm with cm das on this, spent a night in Chiang Dao last week and the sky was so bloody beautiful and clear at night that i opted to get drunk quick so I'd to lay on my back and just gaze at all the brilliant stars in the skies above!!!

Seriously though it is clear as a bell up up there and some great places to stay for cheap prices!

In need of a plumber in the Hang Dong area. He/she (PC world) doesn't have to speak any english as they will see what the problem is straight away!!! Anyone got any number contacts etc...

Just did the journey last month on Chakrapot (or similar name) and after some negative stuff from a while ago about the buses I have to say they have a new one and it is outstanding. We booked a week in advanced and managed to get the front seats of the upper deck (so had extra leg room) but all seats had plenty of leg room for stretching out. A nice calm bus driver who did his best not to down M150/Red Bull and go like the clappers. I must say it was the best bus journey we have done in 5 years and will do with them again the next time we need to travel to Udon Thani