allane

Sorry to be a bother with this, but they haven't replied to an E-mail I have sent them. (That alone makes me not so likely to do business with them.) But, can anyone tell me what is the size of the smallest rooms which they rent on a monthly basis ?

I have been in all of these places at least a few times, and some of them many. They are all quite similar in format.

Of the places you list, I would say that Central Phraram 3 is probably the most accessible by BTS. From Saphan Taksin Station, cross Charoen Krung Road. On the north side of Sathorn Road (westbound), there is a bus stop just a few metres west of the intersection. Board a # 77 bus: orange air.con version, red and cream ordinary version, or little green one. About 30 min. to Central Phraram 3.

Going from memory on this one: Westbound to somewhere around the Bo Bae market. Eastbound to somewhere close to Ramkhamhaeng University.

-the very oldest none of you will even know of or know to find.

Perhaps you are referring to Fai Chai ?

Not having a map in front of me, I think the two closest would be either:

1) On the east side of Phahonyothin Road, about 1 bus stop (300 metres) north of Central Ladprao.

2) On the northeastcorner of Rama I and Bantadthong Roads (a bit west of the National Stadium, and across the road).

If you speak Thai (or are accompanied by someone who does), you should simply go to one of the van dispatchers at the Victory Monument or Century Place. I have never chartered one of these vans, but use their scheduled services quite often. To my observation, the drivers are employed on a casual, paid by the trip basis - they are not on an hourly salary. They could probably find you a driver who would be willing to take you wherever you want to go, on say 24 hours notice. I wouldn't worry too much about reliability; in several years of using them, I only had a problem once. Again, as long as you speak Thai reasonably well, and the guy shows up for departure on time, I don't see too much that can go wrong.

Also check www.ajarnjobspace.com

I think that employers are, or soon will be, migrating away from the original "ajarn.com". A website can either have a reputable, professional appearing jobs board, or can have a jobs board attached to a discussion forum about bargirls and prostitutes. It should come as no surprise to anyone that Thai employers prefer not to post their job vacancies on this latter type. A disclaimer that the two sites are linked in name only just brings smiles and chuckles from all who see it.

My monthly rental budget is in the 5000 - 8000 baht range. As I have a slight handicap, I would prefer a building with a lift, if possible. There is no need to provide detailed contact information at this time, just give me enough information that I can find the place. I speak Thai. If I like the neighbourhood and the building, I will walk in and talk to whoever is managing the place.

Hua Hin preferred, but would consider Cha-am too. Feel free to send me a Private Mail, if you don't wish to post details here.

Can someone tell me where they are ? The E-mail addresses I have are not working.

Most unlikely, in my view. They want assurance that the Visa/extension is being obtained for a real person, and that the person in their office is not running some sort of scam, obtaining visas for people who would not be able to obtain their own.

Thank you!

Welcome Plaza Hotel

east side of 2nd Road, between intersection with South Pattaya Road, and Royal Garden Plaza Shopping Centre.

Rate would be about 950/nt. in high season.

Chamchuri Square is on the northeast corner of Phraram 4 (Rama IV) Road and Phayathai Road, on the corner of the Chulalongkorn University campus.

This is 3rd party information; I have not yet been there myself. But, I have been informed that the new Immigration office is now up and running at the above location. Apparently, this office replaces the one that was in the Rasa Tower on Phahonyothin Road, though again, I haven't been there recently, so do not know if that one remains open or not.

I will have no reason to go into the new office myself in the near future, but it would be helpful to all if anyone who is in there in the next few days would post any details concerning the new place here.

Your post is confusing. I gather that you are a native speaker of Englsh, but part of your post seems to imply that you are looking for books by Thai authors, or at least on topics where foreigners would have no particular expertise.

When you go into any bookshop in Thailand (except those targeted at foreigners), you will see many books with English-language covers. But, once you get beyond the cover, the book is in Thai.

Sifting through various real estate listings, I am getting conflicting information as to where this place is situated. I know it is on Soi Chaiyapreuk. Is it closer to the beach, or closer to Sukhumwit Road ? Is it on the north or south side of Chaiyapreuk Road ?

1. How far out in Jomtien do the regular, 10 baht songthaews travel? Or,put another way, where is the last major stop which will usually have Thai passengers going that far ? I recognize that with my white skin, if I am the last remaining passenger on board, the driver would want to turn it into a taxi at that point, and that I probably wouldn't have much alternative, other than getting out and walking the remaining distance.

2. Going from South Pattaya to Jomtien, when is the last "scheduled" songthaew in the evening ? I know that in Pattaya, like anywhere else in Thailand, they run on a "when all the seats are taken" basis. But do they have some minimum frequency of service ? In other words, will they go every 15 minutes or so, even if they do not have a full load of passengers ?

You will have to go to Sai Tai Mai (Southern Bus Terminal) in Bangkok. From the Air-Con. bus terminal on North Pattaya Road, there are 5 or 6 buses per day. They are timed to avoid having to drive through Bangkok during rush hours.

other option is the National Stadium (near MBK)

To MiG16 (or anyone else who might know): Is the pool next to the National Stadium now open for public swimming ? If yes, can you provide information as to hours of operation and admission fee ?

I strolled in there several years ago, only to be told by a surprised security guard that it was not available for public swimming.

I am in the process of considering relocation to Pattaya, and am considering one of these two places, which, incidentally, are adjacent to each other. I would be interested in hearing from current or former residents, who can provide me with information and insight. I am interested in the sort of things that only a resident would know, rather than the things I can either observe for myself, or which the management will tell me.

- please indicate which place you are talking about.

- if you are a former resident, please indicate how long it has been since you lived there.

- feel free to send me a Private E-mail if there is anything that you do not want to post here.

With all due respect, I would like to make a reservation at this hotel. I think only the hotel itself can do that.

Better to stay on Phayathai Road, go halfway around Victory Monument and continue north on Phahonyothin Road for 100 - 200 metres. Then turn left to enter the expressway. This will take you to Stage II, which does not go particularly close to Don Muang.

If you want to go to Don Muang by expressway, go to Wiphawidi-Rangsit Road, turn north on it, and then enter the Don Muang Tollway (an elevated expressway, running above Wiphawidi- Rangsit Road).

I am taking the liberty of bumping this up to the top. While I have received one reply, and tried the given E-mail address, I have not yet had either a reply from the hotel, or a failure notice from my E-mail provider.

There is a place at the front of the former Tower Inn (a big hotel on the south side of Silom, about 500 m west of Narathiwat Road.) I think the hotel is now called the Unicom Grande Silom, or something like that.