Pattaya Reports

[QUOTE]Yesterday I went to the big electronics market, know as Tuk Com. . . . Food court in the sub level.[/QUOTE]The basement level also features a useful store that sells all kinds of miscellaneous electrical and electronic things. So if you need an extension cord, batteries, voltage converter, socket adapter, etcetera they have it there. Right next to that store there is a tiny supermarket. It's not impressive, but it's got everything you need and the prices are lower than at the fancy markets that cater to falangs at Central and The Avenue.

The food court on the lower level at Tuk Com is OK, especially if it's raining and you want an air-conditioned space to sit indoors. But the food is better from the vendors that set up shop on the same side of South Pattaya Road about 100 meters west.

Bunky

The basement level also features a useful store that sells all kinds of miscellaneous electrical and electronic things. So if you need an extension cord, batteries, voltage converter, socket adapter, etcetera they have it there. Right next to that store there is a tiny supermarket. It's not impressive, but it's got everything you need and the prices are lower than at the fancy markets that cater to falangs at Central and The Avenue.

May I recommend 7-11 for all your eletrical things. I own shares!

[QUOTE=Sunlover2;1657005]I suppose with the state of the ruble it would be the same anywhere they travel abroad, but I can't imagine losing 50% (prices doubling) for Russian tourists in the last six months not having an impact. Maybe they are just completing planned vacations, and new booking will be down. And maybe those who made the foreign investment (property in Thailand) got enough rubles out of before the deval and are doing relatively well. Time will tell; but I think there was enough Russian money supporting property values in Pattaya that there might be a bit of a crash somewhere in the future.

SL.[/QUOTE]This article seems to agree - [URL]http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism/450460/tourist-arrivals-eke-out-2-5-gain-in-nov[/URL].

Not sure why the article has so many typos.

[QUOTE=ActionOriented;1657654]This article seems to agree - [URL]http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism/450460/tourist-arrivals-eke-out-2-5-gain-in-nov[/URL].[/QUOTE]The situation has got to be having a big effect on the Pattaya area. I was watching Bloomberg TV real-time the other day when the Ruble-USD exchange rate went from 60 to 80 (a 25% move down) and then back to the mid-60's in the matter of a couple of hours. Such financial market instability is SCARY and has at least an indirect economic effect on all of us. This too will pass; but it might get even more ugly until then: [URL]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-17/russian-tourists-with-rubles-told-nein-to-no-at-exchange-kiosks.html[/URL].

Hang in there Uncle Volodya!

SunLover.

Sanpetch Suppabawonsathien, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the Russian tourist market in Pattaya was slumping for the first time in 12 years. "Hotel room reservations from the Russian market have already dropped by 70% for this high season," he said. "Some Pattaya hotels are operating at only 30% capacity in high season. Chinese visitors have overtaken Russians as the biggest market for Pattaya. "
[URL]http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism/450522/russians-give-pattaya-a-big-miss[/URL]

The report states the Russians are the third biggest market for Thai tourism. Who's one and two? I've been looking for a monthly rental in Pattaya, and have been unable to find one at a decent rate. Three places I looked at have no availability.

[QUOTE=JavaMan;1657911]"Hotel room reservations from the Russian market have already dropped by 70% for this high season," he said."[/QUOTE]This is sad news!:)

I will be there next week!

[QUOTE=JavaMan;1657911]Sanpetch Suppabawonsathien, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said the Russian tourist market in Pattaya was slumping for the first time in 12 years. "Hotel room reservations from the Russian market have already dropped by 70% for this high season," he said. "Some Pattaya hotels are operating at only 30% capacity in high season. Chinese visitors have overtaken Russians as the biggest market for Pattaya. "
[URL]http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism/450522/russians-give-pattaya-a-big-miss[/URL]

The report states the Russians are the third biggest market for Thai tourism. Who's one and two? I've been looking for a monthly rental in Pattaya, and have been unable to find one at a decent rate. Three places I looked at have no availability.[/QUOTE]Supposedly Thai Airways cut direct flights from North America due to rising fuel costs. With oil at an all time low. Maybe it's time to resume direct flights and recapture the North American market again!

[QUOTE=JavaMan;1657911]
The report states the Russians are the third biggest market for Thai tourism. Who's one and two?.[/QUOTE]China and Malaysia.

[QUOTE=Hioctane;1658147]Maybe it's time to resume direct flights and recapture the North American market again![/QUOTE]For better or worse, the North American market is pretty irrelevant for Thailand from here on out. It's all about Asia now.

[QUOTE=Hioctane;1658147]Supposedly Thai Airways cut direct flights from North America due to rising fuel costs. With oil at an all time low. Maybe it's time to resume direct flights and recapture the North American market again![/QUOTE]Amen brother; but it is unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Thai Airlines discontinued their [I]non-stop[/I] flights to LAX and JFK, but still have a direct (1 stop) BKK-LAX flight via ICN. Both TG and SQ returned their A345 metal (which was capable of making the North America journey non-stop) to Airbus. The new and fuel efficient Boeing 787-9 could make BKK-SFO / LAX non-stop but I don't think the city pair (s) market is big enough to support it, and there are already plenty of NA TATL / TPAC connecting options.

SunLover.

Anyone have any first hand accounts of the castle in Pattaya? Use a girl? And how much? What are you allowed to do and what can't you do?

[QUOTE=AmaBondSx;1658541]Anyone have any first hand accounts of the castle in Pattaya? Use a girl? And how much? What are you allowed to do and what can't you do?[/QUOTE]How much, is on the Castle website, and UP TO U! Regarding your other questions, it's Thailand, you can get whatever you want, however you want it. :D And no, I have not gone. For that amount I can get 2 at the Devils Den. :D [URL]http://www.the-castle-pattaya.com/thai-mistress.html[/URL].

[QUOTE=Hioctane;1658147]Supposedly Thai Airways cut direct flights from North America due to rising fuel costs. With oil at an all time low. Maybe it's time to resume direct flights and recapture the North American market again![/QUOTE]The issue has everything to do with capacity load over the distance. The payload decrease in carrying the fuel over the non-stop distance cut the flight profit margins so thin that it became practical to increase the profit by stopping. TG had stopped in Osaka but only for fuel. Evidently they have moved on to using Incheon.

[QUOTE=Steve7777;1657648]The basement level also features a useful store that sells all kinds of miscellaneous electrical and electronic things. So if you need an extension cord, batteries, voltage converter, socket adapter, etcetera they have it there. Right next to that store there is a tiny supermarket. It's not impressive, but it's got everything you need and the prices are lower than at the fancy markets that cater to falangs at Central and The Avenue.

May I recommend 7-11 for all your eletrical things. I own shares![/QUOTE]The market is "TOPS" - small but has most things. It's the same market as Central and 2nd Road just 1/5 the size.

[QUOTE=JavaMan;1658671]For that amount I can get 2 at the Devils Den. :D[/QUOTE]While this is still true I checked out the DD website the other day and it looks like their in-call prices have gone up recently. Two ladies / 90 minutes is now 4,000 baht up from 3,600 baht. Puts them more in line with Eden Club in Bangkok which is currently charging two ladies / 90 minutes for 4,400 baht.

SL.