Pattaya Reports

[QUOTE=Sunlover2;1942316]If you want to stay up late I suggest you take a nap in the early evening. Wake up around 10 pm shower shave and grab something to eat. You should be good to go after that.

SL.[/QUOTE]I'll work on it. LOL.

[QUOTE=Adrena;1942461]I been to Pattaya the last few years and the prices have been the same. I haven't had a single star fish yet. I feel bad for the blokes who get them, but it doesn't change my approach or outlook on the hobby. You think I don't care about the market in Pattaya, and you'd be right. There is always another destination I could go if I stop enjoying Thailand. Right now, I think their prices are fine. The day I believe they are too expensive, I'll move on to a new playground, simple as that.

In your final sentence, you asked a question with a very obvious answer. The mongers will move on! I bet most of the gentlemen on this board could name several others cities worth a try.

Now, some of you actually live in Pattaya. I understand your concern with prices and tipping. That's a different situation than I am in, so I can't approach it in the same manner as you lucky fellows. I'm here for a short time, and I want to enjoy every minute. Stressing out over tips isn't something I'm willing to do. I want to treat Pattaya like a dream, not like a business transaction.

Happiness is the goal, formality is an obstacle.[/QUOTE]Yes, a couple hundred spinners a year for we expats can start to add up. $$.

[QUOTE=Adrena;1942461]I been to Pattaya the last few years and the prices have been the same. I haven't had a single star fish yet. I feel bad for the blokes who get them, but it doesn't change my approach or outlook on the hobby.

Now, some of you actually live in Pattaya. I understand your concern with prices and tipping. That's a different situation than I am in, so I can't approach it in the same manner as you lucky fellows. I'm here for a short time, and I want to enjoy every minute. Stressing out over tips isn't something I'm willing to do. I want to treat Pattaya like a dream, not like a business transaction.

Happiness is the goal, formality is an obstacle.[/QUOTE]I agree. For people like me who can afford only few days in Pattaya. It's still best value for money. Also where do you get this much security where you can do mongering without much fear about law enforcement. All other countries I visit I have to be extra careful that I am not messing it up. In Thailand I can be truly relaxed. You cannot put money to that.

What should one expect to pay from the airport to Pattaya if you just hail a cab?

[QUOTE=Breadman;1942831]What should one expect to pay from the airport to Pattaya if you just hail a cab?[/QUOTE]11-1400 baht. It sometimes depends who you catch dropping passengers off. Best price usually can be had on level 4, departures. There is a railing and turnstile you have to maneuver by taking it in the reverse direction.

[QUOTE=Breadman;1942831]What should one expect to pay from the airport to Pattaya if you just hail a cab?[/QUOTE]Negotiate for 900 + 60 for tolls. I always just give a 1000 baht bill at the first toll booth and leave it at that. Catch taxi on level 4 across the median as G&T said.

[QUOTE=GinAndTonic;1942860]11-1400 baht. It sometimes depends who you catch dropping passengers off. Best price usually can be had on level 4, departures. There is a railing and turnstile you have to maneuver by taking it in the reverse direction.[/QUOTE]If you are willing to pay 1400 baht, just arrange for your hotel to send a car. I know most of them are around 1200 baht, and you have less to worry about.

If you are a veteran of Thailand, you can find much much better deals.

Some of the more seasoned veterans will even take the bus, but I wouldn't recommend that approach to new Thailand visitors.

Personally, I opt for the hotel pick-up. It costs a little more, but it's less worry; plus I feel like a celebrity when I see my name on a sign, LOL.

[QUOTE=Sunlover2;1942316]If you want to stay up late I suggest you take a nap in the early evening. Wake up around 10 pm shower shave and grab something to eat. You should be good to go after that.

SL.[/QUOTE]Otherwise known as a "disco nap". I love 'them.

[QUOTE=Adrena;1942883]If you are willing to pay 1400 baht, just arrange for your hotel to send a car. I know most of them are around 1200 baht, and you have less to worry about.

If you are a veteran of Thailand, you can find much much better deals.

Some of the more seasoned veterans will even take the bus, but I wouldn't recommend that approach to new Thailand visitors.

Personally, I opt for the hotel pick-up. It costs a little more, but it's less worry; plus I feel like a celebrity when I see my name on a sign, LOL.[/QUOTE]Yeah, 1200 baht is the going price for a Pattaya based private car to pick you up. Remember, unlike a regular taxi they are oftentimes coming empty, just to pick you up and they wil be there with a sign that has your name on it, with AC.

My reason for taking them is because when I arrive I am carrying several thousand $ in cash, and so I want a taxi who is known, driver name, and somebody (the service I can trust to be on time) and who I I can contacg via telephone or message via email, if my flight is delayed etc.

Also, I usually change money with the taxi waiting for me for a few minutes on 2nd and Soi Buakhao money changer chains with good rates. This is because I have to pay in full, in baht, for my condo on arrival when I check in.

[QUOTE=Haven123;1942944]Yeah, 1200 baht is the going price for a Pattaya based private car to pick you up. Remember, unlike a regular taxi they are oftentimes coming empty, just to pick you up and they wil be there with a sign that has your name on it, with AC.

My reason for taking them is because when I arrive I am carrying several thousand $ in cash, and so I want a taxi who is known, driver name, and somebody (the service I can trust to be on time) and who I I can contacg via telephone or message via email, if my flight is delayed etc.

Also, I usually change money with the taxi waiting for me for a few minutes on 2nd and Soi Buakhao money changer chains with good rates. This is because I have to pay in full, in baht, for my condo on arrival when I check in.[/QUOTE]Hi,

There is a very good transport service called Bell Travel Services. The bus leaves Suvarnaboomi airport and to Pattaya and drop to your hotel. I always avail this service and it is excellent and cheap compared to taxi.

I have been to Pattaya many times and I have always pre booked Mr T taxi he sends nice car and driver always waiting for me at gate 3 arrivals with my name on placard never been let down always been 1000 bht including tolls I book same on way back to airport.

[QUOTE=Brbhaskar;1942965]Hi,

There is a very good transport service called Bell Travel Services. The bus leaves Suvarnaboomi airport and to Pattaya and drop to your hotel. I always avail this service and it is excellent and cheap compared to taxi.[/QUOTE]Sorry, but taking a bus in Thailand is not for me. Since I will be traveling with several thousand dollars in cash. Also, saving on that and vs. Saving another 500-700 baht on other things during my trip makes no sense to me.

For a 3-4 day visitor or a resident who is in and out a lot, it certainly makes a lot of sense. I just have to save 50 baht a day for 10 days to ensure I travel safely, comfortably.....and, privately, without having to share my space on a 1 HR or longer drive in frustrating stop and go traffic, after a long flight (s) from JFK in NYC. I can even stretch out fully in the back seat, if I so desire. And, if the driver brings me a nice cold bottled water and a nice fragrant cold wet towel to freshen up, I'd tip the guy another 100 baht. To me, it's a no brainier, after long, long flights and airports, customs , immigration, luggage and all that stuff....just quiet and peace is worth a lot, IMO.

I make the people who I am renting from arrange my pick up, so that the car service operator, car quality and security is a known ' known' , as opposed to an known " unknown".

And, the condo agent is in communication with driver to know I am on my way. I don't want any delays on check in upon arrival at my Pattaya condo. YMMV.

[QUOTE=Haven123;1943300]Sorry, but taking a bus in Thailand is not for me. Since I will be traveling with several thousand dollars in cash. Also, saving on that and vs. Saving another 500-700 baht on other things during my trip makes no sense to me.

<SNIP>
YMMV.[/QUOTE]I'm sorry, but travelling with several thousands of dollars in cash doesn't make much sense to me. A long time ago there also was a brief discussion on money (I forgot in which thread). I would be very nervous if I had that much cash on me. I can walk to nearly any ATM with my bank card and extract the amount of money I think I need for the next one or two days. Same with my credit card, although I will incur some bank charges. I'm Dutch, so maybe Dutch banks are different, but I very much prefer this over going to money changers.

Regards,

Ko.

[QUOTE=Adrena;1942883]If you are willing to pay 1400 baht, just arrange for your hotel to send a car. I know most of them are around 1200 baht, and you have less to worry about.

If you are a veteran of Thailand, you can find much much better deals.

Some of the more seasoned veterans will even take the bus, but I wouldn't recommend that approach to new Thailand visitors.

Personally, I opt for the hotel pick-up. It costs a little more, but it's less worry; plus I feel like a celebrity when I see my name on a sign, LOL.[/QUOTE]To Adrena.

It all depend I take the bell bus if I am by myself only and have one small baggage and I have done it many time but for newbie with a lot of luggage you should just take the taxi, it is a big different paying 1200 bht vs 200 bht.

Fast Eddie 48.

[QUOTE=StreightUp;1942187]New here. What does 'BF' stand for? Is it kind of similar to ST=short term? How long?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]Go to the top of the screen. Find the red menu bar that has your screen name, then the blue menu bar below that. The last pull down is called Abbreviations, and there are hundreds. You should find everything ever used here there.

And ST is Short Time. It will typically be around 60 minutes. You will get typically one release, but it seems many of the girls will give you a full hour so if you release early, they should stay with you a while longer. LT, of course, is Long Time, and typically means overnight. Ask the girl or mamasan when in doubt. I once was told LT would last until 6 am. I said I wanted longer as it was already 3 AM, so the manasan told the girl to stay until 10. Also, on Soi 6 once, I LT'd the girl early in the afternoon but it only lasted until 6 hours, so LT doesn't automatically mean overnight. You can't expect to pay just 50% or even 100% more for LT and get 12 times as much time.