Pattaya - Highlights - 5/2011

These are my highlights on Pattaya after a week's visit in May 2011. I have visited Pattaya many times and it has been visited and reported on by many others, so I am just the changes I observed.

1. Flight, Manila - Bangkok.

I was in Manila and saw a newspaper ad that Philippine Airlines was offering low fares for a week for travel to many cities, including Asian cities for travel from mid-May to the end of June, 2011.

I tried its web site and saw that I could get a round-trip ticket, MNL-BKK, for $271 at the exchange rate of about 43 pesos = US$1. Air travel was limited to a week.

Earlier experiences with Cebu Pacific Air were not so good. Its flights were at inconvenient hours and many times its web site would not accept my USA Mastercard. So, it has to offer me a heavily discounted air fare to put up with its midnight flights.

Philippine Air web site accepted my Mastercard immediately. So, I had purchased a ticket. One caution was that I had to show my Mastercard when I checked in at the airline in Manila. Second caution was that the Mastercard charge added a fee for international/foreign transaction, 1-3 percent depending on your bank.

There was no option to buy more weight over the maximum of 15 kg of one checked bag and 7 kg of one carryon bag. The airline checkin staff said that an extra kg would cost 531 peso.

I weighed my bag on my bathroom scale. The Manila airport, Terminal 2 scale, weighed my bag at 1 kg more. The Bangkok airport scale weighed my bag at 1 kg less.

2. Philippine Air flights.

Flights to and fro were acceptable. But, nothing to crow about.

TV monitors were lowered from the ceiling and washed out by ambient daylight.

No before-meal drink service was offered. No alcohol was offered on the morning flight from Manila.

Only alcohol offered was offered on the afternoon flight from Bangkok was wine.

No seconds on any drink, including water, soda, coffee, wine, was offered. Available upon request, if you can find an attendant.

It appeared that more time was spent on offering duty-free items for sale than on meal/drink service.

3. Bell Bus, airport - Pattaya.

I entered the Bell Bus web site as a member and reserved a seat on its bus from the airport about two hours after arrival, and a seat on its bus from Pattaya about five hours prior to flight departure from BKK airport. The bus runs every two hours from morning to late afternoon.

The cost was 200 baht per trip. Since a car pickup by Mr. T Taxi or supposedly any taxi at the airport costs 1,000 baht or more. The bus would save me 800 baht per trip, or nearly US$30. That means taking a Cebu Pacific Air flight would cost an extra approximate US$55 in land transport.

At the airport, the Bell Bus waiting area was near the Airport Express Bus desk. A Thai man wearing a light blue shirt with the name Bell Bus over his shirt pocket directed me to the Airport Express Bus desk, where I paid B200.

The Bell bus left a few minutes after its scheduled hour of departure and arrived about 1.5 hours later at its terminal on North Pattaya Road. All passengers transferred to vans and about 15 minutes later, the Bell van dropped me off at my hotel.

On the trip from Pattaya to airport, the Bell van picked me up about half hour before the scheduled departure. However, the last pickup was at a hotel somewhere between Second Road and North Pattaya Road, which had a parking lot full of vehicles and lots of Indian people walking around. We waited about 15 minutes to pick up an Indian-looking couple, who were arguing with the Bell driver to wait for someone else.

We did not wait and arrived at the Bell terminal about 10 minutes after the scheduled hour of departure. All the Bell staff in the parking looked hostile, since many buses were delayed waiting. I paid my driver B200 for my ticket and moved my bag over to the airport bus for loading.

We left 20 minutes after the scheduled hour of departure and arrived 1.5 hours later at the airport.

I was early in line for the Philippine Airlines check-in by 5 minutes. Its counter staff opened for check-in less than three hours prior to departure.

4. Thailand Immigration & Customs.

Unlike other reports, I did not experience any long delays clearing through Thai Immigration on arrival or departure. I attributed it to luck and daytime travel.

On arrival, Thai Customs just waved me through. Carrying less than 15 kg in my checked bag and less than 7 kg in my carry-on bag, I could hardly be carrying much merchandise worth Customs inspection and taxation.

5. Airport Services.

On arrival in Thailand and at the airport while waiting for the Bell Bus to leave, I walked around the facility.

Exchange Rate. On May 24, 2011, the bank counters at the airport showed the same rate of B29.15 to buy baht and B30.71 to sell baht. By comparison, exchange places in Pattaya offered over B30 to buy baht.

SIM. On level 2, one stall advertised Happy SIM for B99.

Train, Level B. The basement level has a train station, which offers transport to certain locations in the city of Bangkok. This was new to me. I have to follow up on this to see for my next visit to Bangkok, if the train would be worth my while.

Subway sandwiches. Level B has a Subway stall that offers the daily special of a six-inch sub for B89. By comparison, Subway outlets in Pattaya offer the daily special for B69. However, in the departure waiting passenger area, the lowest sandwich price I saw was B90 and the cheapest coffee was B85. I bought 500 ml of water for B30.

6. Pattaya Hotel.

My hotel did not respond to emails I sent it.

However, it was listed on www.asiatravel.com .

Although the web agency required my credit card number, payment was to be made directly to the hotel. I avoided the extra credit card fees by paying in cash directly to the hotel. The drawback was a one-night charge if I cancelled.

I am not mentioning the name of my hotel, because it is fully booked near and during the high seasons.

7. Big Eats.

I like buffets. They are ready to eat with no waiting. As a single guy, in my young days, I have spent too much boring time waiting for a restaurant to cook my dinner. Also, buffets usually offer more in quantity and variety. Quality is debatable, but low quality is acceptable with low prices.

Unfortunately, prices at most places have increased and/or buffets have disappeared.

-- Lek Hotel and Apex Hotel increased buffet prices: breakfast, from B110 to B150. dinner, from B180 to B250. But, note that Lek Hotel offered a buy of 10 dinner coupons for B1,800.

-- Diana Inn held its buffet prices: breakfast for B110. dinner for B185. Its young female cook did for me a steak and extra large chicken breast fillet with a separate peppercorn sauce that were really very good. I wanted to try one of Diana Inn's large shiskbob, but did not have a chance to return.

-- Robin's Nest, Soi Diana, near Soi Metro/LK, only offers a noon buffet on Sundays, B199.

-- Beefeater, Second Road and Soi Diana, Saturday and Sunday, 12noon - 4pm, B250, tacos/nacho/ribs.

-- Steak, all-you-can-eat, 5th floor, Central Festival Mall, between Beach Road and Second Road, near Soi 8, B285.

-- The Captain's Table, Soi 13, Friday, 6pm, grilled on order, all-you-can-eat, B250.

8. Mexican Eats.

I have been in the mood for Mexican food for the last several months.

Recommendations were variable for Pattaya restaurants, such as Tequila Reef, Blue Parrot, Big Bob, Beefeaters.

I did not get the chance to try any of them.

I did pass by Shenanigan's, 2nd level, The Avenue mall, Second Road. Its chalkboard in front listed: Monday, all-you-can-eat tacos, B249. Thursday, fajitas, B250.

9. Cheap Eats.

-- Carrefour, Central Pattaya Road, ground floor, stall on the far right. Pork sausage sub, roast beef sub, B30. Tasty meat, chewy bread.

-- Subway, many outlets. My usual outlet is on South Pattaya Road and Walking Street. B69, six-inch sub, daily special. Best were: Wednesday, chicken breast.

-- The Avenue mall, rear entrance, food court. B40, Thai plate. I did not try it, but the food court looked new.

10. Night Spots.

Go-go clubs open at 8 pm. On Monday night, many such clubs opened at 9 pm. Happy hours at many clubs go to 9:30 pm and some to 10 pm. Of course, some clubs do not have happy hours, but still may offer a draft (draught) beer for the lowest price on the menu. Caution that some clubs provide a draft that has only 6 oz of liquids.

Bar fines average B600. Some clubs charge a higher price for so-called show girls. A few clubs will lower bar fines around 1 am or later. Of course, after the clubs close for the night, there is no bar fine and you have to rely on your powers of persuasion. Money talks, bullshit walks.

-- The Iron Club, Walking Street, sea-side. Best sound system.

-- Baccara, Walking Street, sea-side. Most comfortable seat, next to stage, allowing view of glass ceiling and girls dancing on it.

-- Jazz Pit Pub, Soi 5. Older european white man played an electric guitar like a Spanish guitar, such fast music as bossa nova, modern jazz, and Broadway show tunes. Good for a romantic couple. A little more expensive than a go-go club.

-- Alcatraz, Walking Street, land-side. New club. Big club, more for tourists with its jail-like decor, clothed dancers, and huge interior. Needs more air conditioning.

-- Fahrenheit, Walking Street, land-side, next to Alcatraz. New club. Better than the usual larger clubs, but over-crowded with furniture and customers.

-- Guy club, Walking Street, land-side. New club. Bare chested Thai guys danced in front of their club. I did not go inside and did not see anyone going into the club, but who knows.

-- Baby Dolls and Windwill, soi's off of Walking Street. Raunchy as usual.

-- New Living Dolls One, Happy, Heavens Above. Good as usual.

-- Club Boesche, soi land-side off of Walking Street. Closed. Across was Club Relaxxx. A Thai guy in front held a sign that said Boesche jacuzzi. A friend explained that an owner of Club Boesche had bought Club Relaxxx, but nearly all the Boesche girls went elsewhere.

11. Random Observations.

-- May 2011 was supposedly the low season. However, Walking Street did not have night times when it was full, but not jam packed, of tourists. Most tourists looked Indian, although few were in the go-go clubs, and some tourists looked Russian. A couple of tourist groups looked Japanese or Chinese, but they lacked the usual people wearing the loud Pattaya tourist clothes. My hotel did not seem to be full of guests. Some expat residents expressed annoyance at so many tourists, but accepted them as a part of Pattaya.

-- Pattaya store fronts seemed to have more signage in Russian. One of the cable tv channels devoted to Pattaya seemed to be 24-hour Russian language. But, as suggested before, the month of May did not show a large number of Russian tourists in the city.

-- Saw one white female, late 50s, blue-veined legs, lean body, happily leading three Thai teen-aged males probably back to her hotel room. Good for the goose and the gander.

-- TV cable channel, Pattaya People, showed two short pieces on its CEO visit to Angeles City. One piece involved an interview with the manager of NT Realty Company (Northern Thailand). Other piece involved an interview with the owner of Tequila Reef restaurants in Pattaya and Angeles City.

Both, already two years in AC, extolled the potential of AC to be the next Pattaya, especially with AC international airport opened. Another piece on the channel advertised the ABC Hotel and its beach around its swimming pool, which would not seem to a casual viewer to be a stretch of the imagination. Some expat Pattaya residents noted that all the people in the tv pieces had some reported suspect aspects of their repute.

-- Thai girls seemed to be growing taller and with bigger breasts. In the 1980s when I first visited Thailand, go-go girls over 5-foot tall and with breasts more than B cups were suspect as she-males. Not now.

-- Testosterone. Injections are available, with two costs involved. One is the ampule of medication, costing B170 - B200, and injection costing about B100. Oral medication, as tablets, are available for about half the cost in the Philippines. However, there is an issue on whether testosterone taking orally will be effective. Note that one person mentioned that anti-estrogen tablets might be needed to counter the increased estrogen level due to taking testosterone.

-- Saturday afternoon meeting in an outdoor garden of mostly American guys, some Canadian guys, and a few other nationalities split between residents and visitors, was lively and informative as usual. Attendance seemed to be growing, in spite of the fact that the discussion board that spawned the meetings has closed down, due to the Thai government making the owner liable for any "incorrect" post on the board. Good to meet old friends and meet new friends and exchange info.

12. Conclusion.

I apologize for not providing complete information.

I recognized that there are a lot of questions raised by the points I stated.

Also, in a few instances, like the name of my hotel. I avoided stating specifics. For example, my hotel is already well-known and I want to be able to get a room when I visit.

Otherwise, I hope the preceding report will be helpful in your visit to Pattay.

A week was too short of a time period to do visit all the places I knew.