Driver License in Pattaya
Not taking sides! I can't dispute any of this technical stuff about a International driver license being a translation or what the UK Embassy defines a International driver should be. I can only tell you the benefits of having a International driver license and how it applies in Pattaya.
To start I have a A Class California Driver license and added a few years ago a motorbike license from the California Highway patrol school. I also have the following endorsements, Haz-Mat, Airbrakes, Class A / B training and aircraft towing certification. I have been using a International Driving License from AAA since 2001. The price for one of these now is $30. 00 with a picture taken by them. Since 2001, my license has always had a picture the clerk will take your driver license and look at your class any endorsement and they will stamp using a AAA (red) only what you qualify for so if you don't have a Motorbike license they will not stamp your International Driver License book if you don't qualify. I will get back to this area in the end! I have been in Pattaya now for over 10 years and have a Thai car driver license but don't have a Thai motorbike license I use the International Driver License. Personally getting the car license was a headache and just thinking of having to get the motorbike license at some point gives me nightmares having to go through the B. S. That waits me.
When it comes to Pattaya, there are two standards one for Farangs and one for Thais as most of you know? And personally there are two parts to Pattaya, the tourist side which I consider the Beach side and then there is the Darkside which is the otherside of Sukhumvit. In the ten years living here I have been stopped over 30 times throughout Pattaya on my motorbike and paid only three fines all for violation on the tourist side. Each time the violations were justified by the police even the one when I went down Soi 5, the wrong way pass Midnight. The guy was hiding under a tree! Most likely trying to make his kids tuition which comes in May and November. On the Darkside there are many checkpoints these are mainly after stolen bikes, drugs, illegal immigrants from Cambodia and Laos. In my stops, I pull out my packet of information which includes the bike ownership, the registration. A copy of my passport with my visa and place my International Driver License Book right on top! NEVER IN THE TEN YEARS BEING HERE AND STOPPED HAVE I EVER BEEN ASK TO PROVIDE MY CALIFORNIA DRIVER LICENSE TOO! Each and everytime just the book has been acceptable no matter where I have been stopped in Pattaya. To be honest I personally believe 99% of the BIB can't even read the book. I get a book once a year and it is stated in the front "Good for one year from the date of Issue"
Last, year I dropped my kid off at school in the morning in Naklua, on the way home going down Banglamung there was a check point on both sides of the street. The guy pull me over started talking Thai to me. I spoke back to him a little in Thai, pull out my packet same process as always but this time once the guy saw my International he took it and ran across the soi and show it to the Farang tourist who they had stopped and I guess he didn't have one and didn't know what they were asking of him. The guy actually ask me if he can keep it so he could xerox my book so they can use as a sample. I smile, and told him I'm in a hurry but got his station location and his name and I made a copy and brought it back down to Banglamung station.
I get stopped a lot on the Darkside, not because I look like a Farang but once they find out that I'm not Thai and a Chinese American all they want to do is practice their English with me. I've been stopped so much at the checkpoint there is always someone that stopped me before and they even remember my name at times. Each time my International has been good enough again never have I provide nor have I been ask for my California Driver License! My cousin also has been coming here for years and stays for months, he gets a International but doesn't have the area stamped for Motorbike operation. No problem. I took a bar of soap and crave out the AAA and got a red ink pad and stamp the book for him. He lives in the darkside when he is here and again stop often but never been ask for anything more than International!
In the end, this requirement is just a scam to get money from Farang. Like I said I'm a Farang but I look like a Thai, Farang are just moving ATM for these guys on the Tourist side. If having a license was really a serious requirement the first people they would get serious with are the people renting them out! Now does that make sense to you guys?
LBM
Hotels with good air-con?
I am thinking of making my first visit to Pattaya. I am an experienced monger with many trips to Bangkok, going back many years, but have not had the chance to get to Pattaya till now.
My main query: Can anyone recommend a girl friendly hotel in Pattaya close to the action, with good, COLD, RELIABLE air-con? I am VERY heat sensitive, so this is, for me, TOP PRIORITY, even more important to me than distance from the action, although what I would really want is a place with good cold rooms, right in the middle of things. I do not care about noise, breakfasts, or anything else or any other amenenites-just a COOL (and reasonably clean) room, to fuck and sleep in only! I'm willing to spend more in order to have a cold room-I am NOT looking for budget accomodations UNLESS it is certain that they can provide cold rooms! So, zero stars or four stars or anything in between are all acceptable, provided that they can fulfill my temperature requirements! Please let me know if you have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance, dudes-and if you want recommendations for hotels with nice, clean, iced-cold, guest friendly rooms in Bangkok near the action in the Nana area, I have several to recommend!