Tips & Articles on Traveling, Aviation, Boating and Cruises
Tips
Where To Stay When Visiting Bangkok
Sep 27th
It is the same as buying real estate. The three most important things to remember are location, location and location.
If you will only be over-nighting in Bangkok, you may just want to stay at a hotel near the airport. Traffic can be horrendous in Bangkok, and you dont want to risk missing your flight.
If you are like me and want to get out during your stay in Bangkok, staying in the Sukhumvit Road area is the place to be.
I only stay in Bangkok when I absolutely have to but when I do I look for hotels in the Sukhumvit and Soi 4 area. There are a few reasons for doing this:
- It is right in the heart of the action. Bars are within walking distance and prices for the hotel are reasonable.
- There are numerous restaurants within a five minute walk. I can get Thai, American, Italian, and many more European and Asian dishes easily.
- If I do need to get a taxi, I can open the front door of the hotel and take about 3 steps and get a cab.
- When it is time for me to depart and head for the airport, I get a taxi and a short jaunt across Sukhumvit and we are on the tollway. You dont want to get stuck in Bangkok traffic when you need to catch a flight.
- Even though I speak reasonable Thai, it is nice that most of the stores and shops in the area speak a little bit of English. It saves time and makes the shopping easier.
- Speaking of shopping, Sukhumvit is a mecca of street vendors. Sharpen your negotiating skills and get all of your souvenirs at dirt cheap prices.
- Free breakfast. I usually stay at the Majestic Suites Hotel on Sukhumvit between Soi 4 and Soi 6 (closer to Soi 4) and they have a basic free breakfast.
- I can book online. There are many places to book hotels in this area using online booking which saves me time and money.
- Relatively safe. There is a police box right on the corner of Sukhumvit and Soi 4 if you need help from the boys in brown.
- Quiet. Even though it is on a main road, and overlooks a bar complex, the hotels in the area are quiet
So you can see that for about $40 USD per night, you can get excellent value for your money. You can go upscale a couple of blocks away and stay at the JW Marriott but I prefer value for my Baht.
Where to stay in Pattaya?
Sep 27th
First thing you want to do is check your budget. Hotels, resorts and guest houses are available in every price range but you need to know how much you want to spend for your accommodations. Depending on the time of year, you can find a room in prices ranging from USD $10 up to a couple hundred dollars per day.
Next, figure out where in Pattaya or Jomtien you want to stay. There are three basic areas in Pattaya to consider north, south and central. The northern end of Pattaya is a little less crowded but further away from the nightlife. Central is in the middle of all the beer bar action. And, south is closest to the infamous Walking Street. Rooms in all price ranges are available in all areas. And transportation is not a problem anywhere in Pattaya.
If you want to spend time at the beach, none of the above areas are recommended. Jomtien is a bit better or go to an outer island, like Koh Larn, to get your toes wet. I would not go in the water at Pattaya Beach. Jomtien may also be a better place to stay if you are bringing over the family. It is close enough to Pattaya, but far enough away from the naughty nightlife.
Once you have decided on which area to stay, you need to figure out which hotel to make your reservations at. There are numerous online reservation web sites that provide a lot of information, prices, and reviews. You can also visit any of a number of online Pattaya forums for up-to-date info.
Consideration should be given to what is available at the hotel. Does it have a swimming pool? Do they charge for bringing in a guest? Are prices higher during peak season? Is breakfast included? Are there any promotions? Any mandatory holiday dinners I have to pay for (even if I dont attend)?
Most of the hotels offer the basics bed, air conditioning, refrigerator, western bathroom/shower, and cable/satellite TV. Some of the more expensive resorts will offer room service and have one or more restaurants on the property. If there is no restaurant in the hotel dont worry. There are plenty of small restaurants and street vendors all over the city.
I would then do a search and see if the hotel or resort has their own web site and see what the listed prices are. Then, I would check with one of the in-country booking sites and see if they have better deals (usually they do). Dont worry it is safe and secure and the service is faster and better than dealing direct with the hotel.
Finally, make sure you book your hotel or resort before you go. You dont want to arrive and have nowhere to stay. And, book early if you are planning to visit Thailand during high season generally November to March. Pattaya resorts and hotels may also have higher prices during Christmas/New Years and during Songkran (Thai New Year mid April).
Where to stay during the summer bridge festival in budapest
Sep 27th
Where to stay during the summer bridge festival in budapest
In 1999 the festival was a way of celebrating the Bridge’s 150th birthday and than it has become an annual festival. The old bridge, connecting Buda to Pest, is the symbol of Hungarian Capital.
In summer it is closed to the traffic and transformed into a huge stage. It hosts a series of free events and musical and theatrical performances. The visitors enjoy the pleasant views of the Danube while watching performances from jazz to classical music. There are also a number of stalls and cultural displays.
The good news? All performances are free!
The Festival takes place on every summer weekend from June to August! Enjoy it!
If you are looking for a budget accommodation Budapest, remember that the city can be overbooked quite soon. Tip: better book in advance to get the best prices and offers! However, Budapest offers plenty of accommodation options to any kind of pocket either for independent travellers, like backpackers or families. Private apartments are usually a very good choice, as youth hostels.
In terms of apartments, the city of Budapest is lately offering upper standards of comforts, with well refurbished and tastefully decorated flats or apartments. Expect to pay something like 10-30 euros per person. Some good apartments located downtown Budapest are the Anna Center apartment, Akademia Apartments, Apartment St, Michael, Gabriella and Elizabeth Apartments, Navigare Apartments, Budapestin flat, Arcadia Apartments, Aida Apartment. Youth hostels have cheaper rates per person. Some of the best located youth hostels and top rated by customers in Budapest are Mellow Mood Central Hostel, Moha Hostel, Goat Hostel, Domino Hostel, Marco Polo Hostel, Karat Hostel and guest house, Grand Hostel of Budapest, Riverside Youth hostel. 1st ( first) hostel with prices ranging from 12 euros per person per night in a shared dorm room.
Where To Relex For Holiday In Pattaya Thailand
Sep 27th
The following article covers a topic that has recently moved to center stage–at least it seems that way. If you’ve been thinking you need to know more about it, here’s your opportunity.
What do you do after a few days in Bangkok to get away from the traffic, pollution, noise and crowds of people? Head for one of the many resorts of Thailand. They provide a haven for you to completely relax in and forget the troubles of the outside world.
In Pattaya, there are a number of resorts that probably do that, but one that we’re sure about is the hotel Resort on Dongtan Beach, Jomtien Pattaya . Its large grounds provide wooded areas, a private beach and various recreational facilities so that there are plenty of options available for any visitor to relax and enjoy themselves. The site is large enough so that sounds from the outside world never make it inside the resort to distract one from the pursuit of peace and relaxation.
If your pattaya facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important pattaya information slip by you.
Our own stay, on a recent weekend, left us rejuvenated and ready to face the world again after indulging in as many of the resort’s facilities as we could. After settling into our luxurious room on the main level of the hotel (which included a beautiful ocean view looking south down the beach) we first started with a workout in the fitness club.
This well-equipped club had everything we needed, including treadmills, exercise bikes, free weights and machines to get a good workout. This was followed by a visit to the steam room for some further cleansing of the body before we left the club. This is a great way to relieve tension and get in the frame of mind to enjoy the weekend and we heartily recommend it. We visited the health club each day we were at the resort so that our regular weekly exercise schedule didn’t suffer a bit even though we weren’t in the city. And, if you’d like to learn something new during your stay you can try one of the classes that are offered on a regular basis.
Of course, after a day of working out and swimming next to the clean ocean air of Pattaya, you’ll develop a healthy appetite and you’re in the right place for being hungry. There are three different dining outlets in the resort that offer three distinct dining experiences. For a more relaxed, casual type of meal try the Cascade Cafe which has recently been remodeled along with the main lobby. Here you’ll find a great buffet breakfast along with an international, Thai and Chinese ala carte menu.
There’s a lot to understand about pattaya. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles. /
Where To Go In Thailand?
Sep 26th
You have lots of choices in Thailand for a vacation and you need to figure out exactly what you plan to do while you are there.
Your first stop will be in the capital, Bangkok and you should plan to stay there for a few days, especially if this is your first visit to Thailand. There are river boat dinners, short day trips to beautiful temples, and longer jaunts to the old capital, Ayudhaya, or visit the site of the Bridge on the River Kwae in Kanchanaburi for some WWII history.
If you like the beach, you have numerous choices. You can go to Pattaya, which is about 1 hour drive from Bangkok, or you can catch a short flight to Phuket or Koh Samui. If you really want to see pristine beaches and emerald water, go to Krabi. You can dive, snorkel, or swim to your heart’s content.
If you prefer cooler weather, head up north to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai and visit the temples and hill-tribe people. Local handicrafts, the Golden Triangle, and more await you in Northern Thailand.
For a very laid back vacation (my favorite), head to the northeast to an area referred to as Isaan (or Isan, or Esarn). This is a an area that includes Udorn Thani, Korat, Khon Kaen, Surin and some more smaller towns and villages. The pace is slower, the people friendlier and the cost of living about 50% less than in the touristy areas.
I have been to Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, Bangkok and many other cities in the Land of Smiles. My favorite is Khon Kaen. Located about a 55 minute flight from the old Don Muang Airport, Khon Kaen is an excellent mix of old and new.
I can purchase software and DVDs at the Oasis mall or sit on a picnic table under thatched roof overlooking the river while I eat my jumbo prawns and drink a cold Singha. I can visit a number of temples or go to a disco. I can hang out with the expatriates neat the Sofitel Hotel or go to night market at the University.
I can have dinner at a restaurant along the man-made lake while half the city is out jogging. I can go shopping at malls and outlet store that compare to any in the United States. I can even call and have pizza or chicken delivered to my hotel room.
I will be looking to invest in some property in Khon Kaen during my next vacation. I want to lease a house and start getting ready for my retirement in about 2 years. From what I have seen online, I can purchase a brand new3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2-story house for about $50,000 USD. That would be just about enough for a down payment where I live in Hawaii.
No matter what you are looking for, Thailand has it all. And it will be a lot cheaper than where you live now.
You can spend your days at the beach and your nights pursuing dreams of youth at all the nightspots. You can relax on a small island or go trekking in the jungles. Whatever you want to do, you can do it in Thailand.
