staple

While I still think Pala is excellent, I just strolled past the new Hillary 1 (soi 4) and they now have a full kitchen that serves wood fired pizza. I ordered a large pepperoni for 280B. Damn good pizza. Cooked perfectly, and the cheese was very good.

If the booths at Suvarnabhumi are swamped you can always go to Terminal 21 (very close to your hotel) on the top floor all the major carriers have a store. Just find the plan that fits your needs and they will set everything up for you. I prefer this to Suvarnabhumi because you can take a little time to find the right plan and best deal. Also the food court there is awesome.

I've stayed at Phachara many times, it's great for longer stays. The location is hard to beat, and it's in a very quite sub-soi while still being very close to the action. I recommend booking directly with the hotel by either email or phone. You'll get the best rates doing that. Skip the breakfast if there is an extra charge for it as it's shit.

I'm sure you're already aware of this site lotus, but for those interested in this should check out http://www.thaivisa.com/

Excellent & thorough review. Thanks, now I know where I'll be staying for my next trip

all good here

Yes, Aspen Suites on Soi 2 is LB friendly. I'm not 100% sure, but I think they recently implemented a fee if bringing 2 or more guests. I would check with the hotel via email to confirm.

I don't know any docs, but correct me if I'm wrong, won't the pharmacy next to Bully's on Sukumvit between Soi 2 & 4 (the big one not the little one) sell you just about anything without a prescription

You can also take a bus from the Sai Tai bus station. The cost ranges from 185baht all the way up to 501baht depending on the class of service you choose. Here is a link http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/bus/ttmbus/index.php.

FYI, I'm from Los Angeles so I guess I am less fearful of traffic & vehicles then most.

Guess I've been lucky because I've taken minivans several times and have always had good experiences. Always arrive safe & on time.

What makes you say that?

Well, your in luck as I just planned for a weekend trip to Hua Hin in April. I found the best way to get there is by minivan. You can catch a van at Victory Monument from 05:00 to 20:00 & they depart every 30 min. It will take about 2.5-3 hours & cost 180baht. Here is a website on how to get from Bangkok to Hua Hin & one on how to get from Hua Hin to Bangkok.

I will be spending 3 weeks in LOS in April, and would like to head down to Hua Hin for a couple of nights. I've never been to Hua Hin so any hotel recommendations would be much appreciated.

I usually spend between 2,200 - 2,700 baht a night for a room.

Thanks for the recommendation & the info Mardi. Knowing that the Hilton is the center helps a lot.

Thanks for the info flipflops. I will be bringing along a companion so my nights will be covered .

I'm with you. If & when I move to BKK I'll be looking for something more reasonable, but I assume your like me and you want not only comfort, but location. Phachara a great choice & 50,000 a month seems right to me.

Great choice. Phachara has a good kitchen & washer/dryer. I just booked there for my stay in April. A little more advice, some of the balconies in Phachara have air conditioning condenser units on them & they are loud & blow out hot air, making the balcony all but useless. Make sure you request a unit with a clear balcony. Also, I wouldn't pay any extra for the breakfast as it's shit. Enjoy your stay!

If you want to stay close to the action you should also check out hotels like Aspen Suites or Shama, both on Soi 2, and Phachara Suites on Soi 6. All three are "serviced apartments" & have all the amenities you would need (full size fridge, stove, pots & pans, flatware, utensils, washer/dryer, etc...), and all offer a monthly rate. You should contact the hotels directly via email or phone (found on their website) to get the best rate.

The breakfast at Majestic Grande on Soi 2 is pretty good (for a hotel breakfast). They have dim sum, a small sushi selection, fresh fruit, eggs made to order, pastry selection, etc... If you are able to wake up during the operating hours then I would recommend eating there. If you mean the Majestic Suites on Sukhumvit then I'm not sure as I have never stayed. As far as Aspen goes the breakfast there is shit & I would recommend sleeping a little longer rather then waking up for it.

I live in Los Angeles & I know & love me some authentic Mexican food, but Menudo? I don't care how hung over I am. I won't eat that crap no matter what. It's quite literally slop!!!!

I'm not sure about them getting any of the lobby, but I heard from a very reputable source that they took some of Annie's Soapy. Apparently it was a storage room that was never used, and imho the space that they purchased from Annie's was gotten for a song.

congrats on living the dream

I recommend the street vendor directly across from New Wave bar (just past CIB on Soi 7). Everything I've tried there so far has been really good, but their papaya salad (Som Tom) is especially good. Me being the falang that I am I always tell them "no spicy", and it hits the spot every time. If you want to get some BBQ then go to Soi 4. Setup in front of Stumble Inn you'll find Un, and IMHO she makes the best BBQ around. If you're looking for a good desert the ice cream vendor at Dubai on Soi 4 (next to Hilary 2) can't be beat. 100B for a 3 scoop cone of some of the best ice cream I've had in a long time.