Thailand Hotels, Restaurants, and Sights: May 2010

How to use the Bus to Pattaya

It's simple and hard at the same time. You need to go to the first window for the ticket, then you have to go to where the buses come, it's the first one by the stand. DOUBLE CHECK with an attendant there--just show them your ticket. Thai isn't necessary.

Royal Garden Shopping Mall Pattaya

Before the Central came, this was the place to shop if you were in the middle of pattaya, now Central is awesome, but the nice thing about Royal Garden is the foodcourt overlooking the ocean is awesome, and it's not very crowded

Central Mall Pattaya

The Grand Daddy of malls in Pattay--it's HUGE. the only downside is access is on second road or beach road, but at its peak, it's a traffic nightmare.

Shopping Mall: Big C Pattaya

This is the mall to go to before Central came, but I like BIG C for it's ease of getting to as it's on second road by the Dusit plus you can back road it.

Airport: Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport

this is one of the biggest airport if not the biggest in Asia. Clean and efficient, it's pretty awesome. wish they had more moving sidewalks...

Transportation: MRT--Underground Train

The MRT is fast and efficient--go from any station to Chatuchak and pop over to either chatuchak or Mochit Bus station--the ride is like 40 baht...air conditioned and somehow they managed to make it so you can use your cell phone. the same taxi ride would run you 200 baht.

Hotel: Four Seasons Bangkok

The building is set in a square with a hollow center that stretches to the sky. this is a class act with unbelievable security. There's a concierge on every floor by the elevator. I think they double as room security also. Plasma tvs, dvd players, beautiful suite and bathroom. it's princely, but it's expensive also. Located next to Rachadamri BTS, it's convenient to get around.

Hotel: Novotel Lotus Soi 33

Walking distance from Phromphoong BTS, this hotel is very good for 2000 baht or so. They have an excellent breakfast, great security, and service. The lobby is very posh and upscale.

Hotel: Sandy Springs Pattaya Thailand

The Sandy Springs Hotel in Pattaya on Beach Road 13/1 next to the Lek Hotel and by AA Hotel is very clean, affordable with rooms starting at 1300 baht, they have a small parking lot, a pool, room service, and 24 hour security. The lobby has a small bar with computers, a pool table, and wifi throughout the hotel at cost. It's location is the best reason--the Lek hotel has a great buffet for breakfast 105 baht and the song tails go on beach road to second, so you can walk to beach road, catch a songtail to walking street and come back on a songtail, or you can walk to second road, catch a songtail all the way to dusit thani.

Hotel: Dusit Thani Pattaya, Thailand

This is an AWESOME hotel. It's pricey compared to what you have in the area, but for sheer elegance, this is the place. They hold the WTA here so their courts are solid, the view is spectacular, and their swimming POOLS are excellent. service is top notch

How to use the BTS Bangkok

It's simple and easy.
1. find out what stop you have to go to.
2. throw the money in the machine, click where you are going, and get your card.
3. use your card to enter
4. after you exit the trains, use your card to exit.

if you lose your card, see the cashier

Travel Sight: Lumphini Park Bangkok

This park is AWESOME...You can get a year membership at the pool for 40 baht and it's like 10 baht every time you come to swim. The tennis court is 35 baht an hour. It's a great jog, a walk, or a place to just hang out. It's clean--but the toilets charge you for use.

Public Transport: BTS system

The skytrain system is very cheap, efficient, and fast. IF you must travel between 4 and 7, you can't use a taxi. Use the BTS. It's very simple to understand and use.

Shopping: Siam Square

Siam square is like a swap meet with shops. It's like MBK but laid out. It's a small Chatuchak but mostly for fashion. It's very much slanted toward the university student with karaoke, tutoring centers, and cheap eats.

Shopping Mall: Emporium Sukhumvit 24

This is like a small Paragon, it's located connected to the Phromphoong BTS. They have a wide variety of stores from Chanel, Guess, Sony, etc, but it's not as hectic and crazy as Siam Paragon.
It's not a place for deals, but a place for high end things and nice dining

Restaurant Baan Khun Mae Siam Square, Bangkok

This is a solid restaurant with good value. Dishes are from as low as 120 baht to as high as you want. They have an excellent array of dishes that are solid. They have a private room upstairs that can easily fit 25 people, and the people are very nice. Located next to the Siam BTS, it is an easy 50 meter walk in.

Khon Kaen, Khao Niao Road

This was an awesome event with multiple stages, food, and drinks and loads of fun loving people. the people aged from very young to University mostly. Alcohol was at a minimum but you could bring it with you, hidden. Good time, but this was during Songkran when things are happening anyways. Normally, it's a street with wedding shops...