Opinion needed

[Mishko]

Hey guys, I am looking at a condo offer, it's just over 14.200 BHT for 18 nights, and it is 77 sq meters. 

It is a mix of residential and hotel and it has a huge pool. It is located at Naklua, it doesn't give the name of the complex but it says it's opposite soi loilang or the old anton restaurant

(it is not at the far end of Naklua but closer to Beach Road, I think the area is called Wongamat)

Just in case someone has stayed there, and can give me their impressions. 

One thing they mention is:

"ELECTRIC AND WATER INCLUDED BUT LIMITED
maximum use per week is 100 KW of electric and 2 qm of water
(if use more 1 kw electric is 0,20usd and water 1 qm3 is 1 usd )
SO PLEASE MAKE AIRCONS AND ELECTRIC OFF WhEN LEAVE ThE APARTMENT than you dont pay more (bcs for normal use the electric is more than enough included 400kw /month )"

so I hope that looks okay but please chip in if you think otherwise. 

Found another offer for about 18.600 BHT for 18 nights at Atlantis Condo (Jomtien) including the use of a motorbike, so what are the rental rates usually? is it cheap to do anyway? I have the B license, is that enough? I am getting the A1 sorted in the next days but may not be on time for my trip later in July.  

 

 

 

[ingo67]

Given the choice, the Naklua condo sounds better - easier transport links and nearer to the action. Atantis Condo is a long way out.

Tourists are better staying off motorbikes, plus you need a IDP or a Thai Licence or you will get fined, plus the trouble with drink driving.

[Mishko]

19 minutes ago, ingo67 said:

Given the choice, the Naklua condo sounds better - easier transport links and nearer to the action. Atantis Condo is a long way out.

Tourists are better staying off motorbikes, plus you need a IDP or a Thai Licence or you will get fined, plus the trouble with drink driving.

Thanks Ingo, I would plan to ride it only when going to the beach or during daytime. At night I would park it. 

I won't be getting rattled every night either, as the ladies need me in shape. But I am not decided in favour of the bike, may leave it for future trips when my knowledge of Pattaya has improved a bit.

So is the IDP not easy to get then?

[ingo67]

IDP - used to be easy from the Post Office, but only a very few do it now, best bet is AA or RAC. When I got one last from the RAC it took weeks, but that was several years ago, Doesn't cost much, about £8.

[Gaztop08]

Mishko am I right in saying this will be your first time in Pattaya?...Have you booked your accommodation yet?....I ask because the transport links are quite good where you suggested but they are a little bit away from the central area if this is going to be your first time.

[Mishko]

15 minutes ago, Gaztop08 said:

Mishko am I right in saying this will be your first time in Pattaya?...Have you booked your accommodation yet?....I ask because the transport links are quite good where you suggested but they are a little bit away from the central area if this is going to be your first time.

Yes first time, I am looking at places now, as there is a lot on tap so far.  There are places more central like The Base or Centric Sea, some look good, although the former look like small suites or nearly studios like some have pointed out, and there seems to be division about them on these forums. I also want to try and be careful not to choose a place that will be too noisy if I go central. 

If I end up in the wings, I bet it won't be too bad if i can find 10 BHT or cheap taxis around at night. I hope that offering the ladies a ride on them on the way back to mine won't be seen as poor etiquette lol

[Gaztop08]

Well I had my first Pattaya trip last year and I went 3 times.Being out in the wings will be ok...just ok.Those places are better for people who have been a few times know the "lay of the land" and have decided they want a quieter holiday.I understand what you say about not wanting noisy in central but there are a lot of areas not like that.For your first time the areas you suggest I think are too far out.

The area that will be good for you is Soi Buakhao.It sounds like it is just a street but it's a big long winding road with bars and small sois branched off it.Some parts of it are about ten minutes walk from beach and motorbike should not be required as everything(cinemas,shopping centres,food courts,bars etc) are alll within walking distance.

My advice to you would be to make a new post with suggestions from board members about accommodation in Soi buakhao area....and list some of your requirements....price,not being noisy etc.

[twicestung]

Quote

 

If your budget stretches to it I would go for VT6 has everything to tick your boxes!

[LASportsNut]

It is difficult to get your bearings and find your way round the first time without a wingman.  

I recommend you stay in Central Pattaya near Central Festival (Several hotels and or AirBnB), LK Metro (several hotels), Soi 13 (Sandy Spring).  

[Doubleh]

My advice would be keep it simple first trip get somewhere central to the main entertainment areas. You could also book your accommodation for just the first 5 days while you look around and find somewhere else more suitable or extend where you are, low season shouldn't be a problem with accommodation. 

[GorGuy RIP]

11 hours ago, Gaztop08 said:

list some of your requirements....price,not being noisy etc.

If you list in order of priority, I am sure many people here can help you.

Also access to beer bars, gogo bars, do you want to walk or take taxis.

On a B licence, yes you can rent a bike even without a licence, a very small fine if you get stopped. If drunk driving , it can be 20k baht.

I am happy driving a bike in Pattaya, however I have had many years of driving bikes. Think of driving a bike in London, and then add crazy people driving the wrong way down the street and pulling out of side roads without looking.

Both the places you mentioned are not central.

[Mishko]

Thank you guys, I am browsing now as I post, plenty of spaces to choose at The Base, Centric Sea (anyone been here?), seen this one at VT6, looks quite good: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/10709730?location=Pattaya Chon Buri Thailand&check_in=2017-07-19&check_out=2017-08-06&s=QlVIpy2K 

Why I don't like at the Base postings, is that they give you different ranges of prices and pictures of the complex which carry over, but not too many of the rooms, or at least they look doctored up, and I know they are small but some might be stretchier than others, a sq m count by default would come in handy. 

My preferences, to be honest, I don't know how much it will bother me certain things until I am there. I understand the centre is where's at and the buzz of it, but noise levels would only probably bother me if they didn't let me sleep, or if I had inconsiderate neighbours next door. I know I want to have internet access in the rooms, and some owners specify they offer it very clearly. I assume all of the rooms will have safes, I hope I am not mistaken. 

There are also many a bit further south, where Unixx and Waterpark condos are, it's very close to WS, what about this area?

I would be very keen on bedrooms with sea views, but is this top dollar only?

About riding in Pattaya, I will leave it for next year, but as I lived and rode in south Spain for a while next to colonies of gypsies back in the 90's, I am not particularly fazed by it (that was the Far West on the road) 

I'd be more fazed by the prospect of being stopped by Thai officers, where you are on your own, and you don't know how bent they are and how they like you on the day. A small fine could become a bigger problem in those circumstances. I will probably sort permit to ride, in the same way I'll probably sort a bank acct. cause seeing the girls I am seeing, it is extremely likely that I will come back to this place (hope they don't bloody clean their act now that I am coming) 

 

PD: Found a real good offer in The Chezz as well, It's rather economic and will make my shortlist probably.

[Buddy Edgewood]

Seems rather off-putting about the electric and water limits.  When I'm on holiday, the last thing I need is to be worried about going over the set limit, especially when there's no way to monitor.  There's plenty of other condos in Pattaya that don't have such silly rules.

[LOTTELLEE WINNA]

If I were a first time visitor to Pattaya, I wouldn't stay too far out of town. Regarding the condo v hotel debate, a good compromise is an apartotel like KTK residences or @Mind.

[Scuba+]

For a short holiday of 18 days I'd stay central in a hotel, not Naklua or Jomtien. Somewhere between Soi Buakhao and beach road. Even for my last 6 month stay i was very central near beach road.

[Mishko]

Update: I just bumped into 

 so I doubt I will book CS, I want to be able to determine that the hotel/condo is girl friendly, as I plan a fairly constant inflow of girls ST/LT's. 

The info given by some posters about the building was scary to say the least