Thailand forum

Same goes for all destinations really. (Chiang mai, Phuket, Samui etc..) We did use someone similer in samui the first time we went. All 8 of us got in A MINI Van and got taken to bungalows in Cheweng, we got out, looked and said 'take us to see another please'. So we went on to another one. This one was great and we (all of us at various times) have been back there a few times scince. So that tured out great.

BUT,

Again, same thing happened in Phuket to my wife and I. I usally stear well clear of touts from experience but as we arrived in phuket late at night for the first time and with no accommedation I decided to use a travel agent right at the bus station (MISTAKE) I looked thru their books of hotels and bungalows and decided to just go with one out of my lonely planet guide. (These books have got me around asai) So they said that their driver would take us instead of a taxi. Basically, the driver took us straight to a hotel, one they get commission from of course and i was aware of all of this and i told him NOT to drive up to the hotel. He pulled up, got out and opened my door for me. I REFUSED to get out! and i did not, telling him I want a different hotel from my book. He got in a right mood and slammed the door, got back in the car and drove us to the nearest hotel - which turned out to be a nice hotel, 5 star and 8 times our budget!

So, we told the hotel that we had been dropped off here by the driver and had no room and couldn't afford to stay and that we needed a lift. They got thier mini van to take us to the Bungalows we wanted to go to (in the lonely planet guide book). Thing is, it was after the Tsunami and the bungalows were no longer there! :(

He offered to take us to another hotel and we had little choice so off we went. He was driving frantically becuase he obviously had to get back to his hotel-he was working- and we looked at a couple of hotels but they were full. The last place had room so he got our bags and tried to charge us somthing like 500 bhat. I think i gave him about 300 actually.

Good for experience but a pain in the ass at 12:00 at night! lol

You have to watch out for the "Official Representatives" that meet you at the Hualampong Railway Station too!

They try to get you going in when you want to buy tickets and try to get the arriving passengers on the way out for transportation and hotels!

beware of pattaya - blackpool with hookers :/

yes MADMAC ive been there myself :D

i may be mistaken but i believe it is actually the 'bargirl' capital of the world :P

3 days was long enough for me though,was'nt quite my cup of tea,i have no problem with the 'nightlife' its just the busyness of the place (packed full of mao farang!)and the poor beach that i didnt like.

:)

I like Pattaya because it draws all the guys who want to get drunk and chase Thai women into one, central location. Thus they don't end up in my province.

Yes it does attract guys who want to drink everyday & chase Thai girls, also guys who want to have a few rounds of Golf, relax on the beach, do some shopping, swimming in a great climate, go diving, all the water sports, go to the many Gyms and get some big muscles, train for Thai boxing, play tennis, deal in Art at the many galleries, & of course chase Thai girls.....

Yes well you can slob around with some of the low lifes, you see them where ever you travel as well as in your own town or City where you come from but do not judge Pattaya by its cover.
I have a house here now that would cost an absolute fortune in the UK and to say nothing of the climate here, you know what the weather is going to be like every day guaranteed.
I can go to the beach of which there are some nice areas in Pattaya where I can be almost on my own, I can play some of the superb Golf courses around Pattaya with a caddie for a fraction of the price of the UK.
I can eat a wide variety of meals for about the price of a beer in the UK, and so it goes on and on all out of sight of the busy bar areas so no hassle.