Travel and tips

You have quite a few different options as to where you stay in Bangkok. You just need to figure out what is best for you.

Finding a place to stay in Bangkok is easy. Finding a place to stay that suits your needs can be a different story.

This is geared primarily to the single man looking to have a bit of fun in Bangkok. And it is for the short term stay.

If all you have is a few hours to a half day in Bangkok, I recommend that you just get a room near the Suvarnabhumi airport. If you don’t know where you are going, getting from the airport to the main part of the city can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on traffic. If you are just in Bangkok on a short layover, stay near the airport.

If you have a day or two, you have many more options. It all depends on what you want to do.

For the first timer, I would recommend staying near Patpong Road, Soi Nana, or Soi Cowboy. These are three of the main night venues for the single man on the prowl. They all have advantages and disadvantages.

Patpong was the place to go during the Vietnam War and for quite a few years after. Now it is a tourist trap with a capital “T”. But, for the first time visitor, it is still worth seeing. Just don’t buy anything from the street vendors. Getting to Patpong at about 5 PM you can see how much work it is to set up this street market and how fast they get it going.

Soi Nana or Soi 4 is home to the Nana Entertainment Plaza (NEP). This is a three story, horseshoe shaped, neon lit, den of debauchery. Lots of go-go bars and some beer bars on the first floor for your drinking pleasure. Be careful of the transvestite bar on the second floor. A few years back, this was a great place for the local expats, but with the Internet, this is now a tourist destination. Hang out at the Nana Hotel parking lot across the street at closing time for a sight you will not see anywhere else in the world.

Soi Cowboy is still primarily for the expats. This is a small side street between Soi 21 and Soi 23 off of Sukhumvit Road. It is bar after bar after bar. Lots of hawkers and “hello’ girls trying to get you inside. Most of the bars are go-go’s and prices are lower than Patpong or Nana Plaza. Well worth a visit and a short cab ride from Soi 4.

There are other areas to get your hotel but I try to find a hotel near an area I plan to hang out in. I usually get a hotel near Soi 4 and this gives me easy access to NEP and also to Soi Cowboy. There is also a three-story, beer bar complex on Soi 1 where I like to hang out. I try to avoid spending time in taxis on the Bangkok streets.

If you are still undecided, get your hotel room on Sukhumvit between Sois 3 and 24 and you will be close to the action and short cab rides to anywhere else. You can walk to many of the shopping venues or catch the overhead train to get around.

Find out what you plan to do in Bangkok and pick your hotel based on where you plan to party.

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.

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 don’t 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 – don’t 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). Don’t 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 don’t 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).

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 don’t 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 don’t 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.

Today, when airlines offer more economy seating and more cut-rate fares, some customers and industry watchers predict the end of first class travel.
After all, many of the most luxurious methods of travel in the past – including the once-famous MGM jet and the Concorde – are no longer offering service. It’s too early to mourn the end of first class travel, though. At a time when it seems that low-cost air travel and trips are de rigeur, some companies are working harder than ever to provide high-quality first class travel experiences. Many more business, executive, and even pleasure-seeking travelers are choosing to travel first class.

There are many reasons why customers choose first class travel arrangements. Many note that the exceptional service and small extras – such as blankets and better food – ensure a pleasant trip experience. On a longer trip, these small extras allow passengers to arrive in good spirits and in a relaxed mood, ready to begin their day’s business or their vacation without undue hassle or fatigue.

Many business passengers find that first class travel arrangements help them make the most of their trips and help to project a professional image. For many passengers traveling for pleasure, first class travel is a pleasant luxury that adds to the quality of a trip.

If you have always avoided first class travel because of the cost, it is time to look at your high-end travel options again. Airlines, boats, and trains are all offering better-class travel experiences at almost all price levels. There are upgraded travel packages that offer some of the perks of first class travel at a fraction of the price, for example. Look around and talk to your travel agent – you might be surprised at how much sense first class travel arrangements make.

When people think of vacations, they often think of wide, sandy beaches, pristine snowy slopes, or quiet lakefront living, but they inevitably end up in the same place: a cramped, generic hotel room. Why settle during your vacation? If you’re traveling with a family or group, or if you’re staying longer than three days, consider renting a vacation home. These houses and condominiums can have breathtaking views, prime location, and fabulous amenities. Best of all, they’re often less expensive than hotels.

The largest benefit to renting a home is space. Instead of sharing both a bedroom and bathroom with your kids, you can stay in a two-bedroom, two-bath home with doors for privacy and closet space for convenience. You’ll never get a living room, dining room, and kitchen in your hotel. Renting a vacation home gives you space to unwind, space to play games, and space to have dinner, all without breaking your holiday budget.

The amenities in a private home are far greater than in a hotel. Vacation rentals are fully equipped homes, and you’ll have everything at your fingertips, from televisions to teapots. If you decide to have a dinner party, you’ll be able to use the pots and pans, and also the dining room table, the place mats, and the wine opener. And that full-sized refrigerator can save you tons of money—a bacon-and-egg breakfast is a lot cheaper from the grocery store than from the nearby restaurant. Private homes and condos can also include the use of tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses, boat launches, and private beach access—added bonuses you don’t always get with hotels.

Privacy is another great benefit. Homes and condos with private entries mean your vacation will be about you, not the couple in the next room. No one will be knocking on your door at five in the evening to see if you need your bed turned down. The ability to come and go as you please ensures your vacation will be just as you planned it.

Like all real estate, finding a vacation home comes down to location, location, location. With vacation homes, you can have the privacy of a mountain cabin, the view of an oceanfront home, or the vitality of a downtown condo. City ordinances often don’t allow multi-story buildings in a certain area (right on the ocean, for example), and so the only way to experience the best locations is to rent a private home. The location of your home also ensures you won’t have that generic hotel feel; remember, these homes are owned by other families, each decorated to be both inviting and reflective of the area.

Of course, for many travelers, the biggest reason to rent a vacation home is price. Not only do vacation homes save you money by offering a full kitchen, the prices of the homes themselves are often cheaper than a hotel for a week. Here’s an example: A family of four wants to spend a week in San Diego at the end of July. Getting two rooms in a chain hotel for seven days each, their total is around $2500. Renting a two-bedroom home for the same week is $1800. You actually save money and get more space! Month-long trips save even more money, a note worth remembering for travelers escaping winter weather.

For the less budget-conscious traveler, vacation homes are the best way to experience the luxury of a town. Plasma TVs, granite countertops, and private Jacuzzis can be found in any city—but not in a hotel. With vacation homes, you can get any amenities you want, in any part of the country.
While the jump from hotels to vacation homes may be a little intimidating if you’ve never tried it before, once you’ve experienced all a vacation home has to offer, you’ll find it’s much harder to jump back.

If you are planning a trip to Pattaya, Thailand, you will eventually have to figure out where you will be spending your nights. You have many choices.

First you will need to decide what part of Pattaya you want to stay at. Basically, your choices are North, South, and Central. Granted you can also stay on Soi Buakhao or nearer to Third Road, but it is still in one of the three areas.

Once you have figured out the area you want to spend your holiday at, you will need to choose a hotel or guest house. Depending on your budget, you may want to investigate some of the guest houses in Pattaya.

I have stayed at 5-star hotels, lesser starred places, rooms above bars and a couple of different guest houses. While 5-star hotels are nice, I prefer the quaint, mom & pop run guest houses.

I prefer to stay in Central Pattaya but I don’t need to be close to the bay. I can be a block or two off the main drag and still enjoy myself. My personal preference is Soi LK Metro near Soi Diana Inn and Soi Buakhao.

This is an “L” shaped, small street, with about 15 guest houses on it. Most of them have a small bar downstairs and 4 to 20 rooms upstairs.

I prefer them because of the service. The location is good enough. But to actually know the owners, call them by name, have a beer or two with them, and get super service is what I am looking for on vacation.

My favorite over the past couple of years has been a small guest house called Place2Bee. It has all of 6 rooms and is run by a very friendly Brit and his Thai wife.

I found by accident. I was trying to book a room at a place on the same street but they were full up and the owner offered to find me a room. I eagerly took him up on his offer and he steered me to the Place2Bee. I hit it off with the owner, John, immediately.

We would chat over coffee in the morning and a beer in the afternoon. He was full of stories and would always bring me up to speed on the latest news and gossip of Pattaya whenever I visited. I recommended his place to many friends.

However, John sold the Place2Bee, so I can no longer recommend it. I will still recommend the guest houses in the same area and will be on the lookout for another that compares with the Place2Bee.

So, you can see why I prefer the smaller, quaint, guest house over a hotel. The service is better, the owners friendlier, and there is a lot less hassle. Check one out on your next holiday in Pattaya.

Australia is not just about the city of Sydney and the grandiose Opera House. More than the famous kangaroos, koalas, trackers and the outback, the continent down under actually tops the list of every nature lover’s favorite escape to paradise.

Lismore

Lismore is perfect for those looking for the chance to commune with nature. Because forests are all around and even within the city, avid hikers, trekkers and campers alike would love to immerse in the beauty of nature that is just a few minutes away from the city center.

Credited as the birthplace of ecotourism, Lismore boasts of breathtaking waterfalls and national parks of World Heritage rainforests. Aside from the usual nature adventure, tourists should not miss Organic Tuesday which is a showcase of everything that grows on the fertile volcanic soil that is officially certified organic.

Kununurra

Kununurra is a city no only for a rendezvous with nature but also for inspiration and motivation when everything else seems to go another way. When all else fails and the moral is so down and low, Kununurra and its story is sure to bring back the smile and the determination to make things work.

Literally meaning Meeting of the Big Waters, Kununurra is a relatively new town in Australia. Contrary to most places which grew from small communities that gradually evolved into towns and cities and on the process developed a rich backdrop of culture and tradition, the city traces its history only a few decades back to the creation of the Great Ord River Irrigation. The town was created, in the truest sense of the word, with the purpose of being the service town for laborers and farmers that were implanted to the area during the construction of the dam and the irrigation system.

Sitting on arid lands, Australian government did not just resign to the fact that agriculture would not be feasible in the Western region. They then determined to challenge the adversities offered by nature. Aside from the dam, they also factually created two man-made lakes to ensure that farmlands they aim to develop would never go dry. True enough, what used to be hot and warm landscape of barren lands, Kununurra now features croplands and greeneries as far as the eyes could see.

Indeed, Australia never fails to keep surprising her visitors. Lismore and Kununurra are delightful desserts after a hearty serving of a taste of life in the outback.

Surveys are interesting. I took note of this one done recently by American Express because it backed up some data I learned at the (National Association of Female Executives) NAFE National Conference in May. According to the survey, 40% of the smallest business owners – those with less than $200,000 in annual revenues – are planning no vacation whatsoever this summer. But even business owners with higher revenues aren’t doing much better – only 75% of them expect to get away from the business this summer.

As we were told at the NAFE Conference, even those business owners who do get away from the office, won’t truly get away. Rather, one in three will link their vacation time to a business trip and 50% will still check in with the office at least once a day.

Why can’t business owners let go? What are the concerns that keep them tied to the business? According to the survey:

* An important client or customer will not receive appropriate service
* The business will miss out on a new opportunity
* There is no other competent person to leave in charge
* The individuals left in charge will make the wrong decisions
* An operational or equipment breakdown will occur without anyone to solve the problem

Such concerns are not surprising. It is hard for a business owner to take any type of vacation worry-free. But with planning, preparation and good leadership you can boost the enjoyment level of your time off to come back refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges and opportunities. Here are 8 steps to prevent vacation angst.

1. Make a plan – To avoid surprises, create a list of scenarios on your current projects and brief your staff on the possibilities and your major concerns about each client. Assign specific staff to each client/account so there is someone that clients can speak to who understands their concerns when you aren’t there.

2. Brief your key clients or customers – Offer them advance notice of any extended absence you are planning. There’s no reason to keep your vacation schedule a secret. Introduce them to your deputy and convey your confidence in their ability to handle any issues that may arise. If appropriate, consider letting them know how to reach you should a true emergency arise – not that one will because of all your pre-planning.

3. Leadership is being a delegator not a dictator – If you never delegate important tasks to others, you can’t expect them to be ready to fill your shoes when you want to take time off. To create a saner situation and build confidence that good things will happen when you aren’t there, learn to delegate responsibilities – divvy up those pieces that must still happen in your absence and postpone those that can wait for your return.

4. Strategically schedule your vacation time – Most businesses have a slow season or times of the year when the pace is slower, or at least a bit less crazy. Plan your vacations to coincide with those lulls.

5. Mini-Vacations – If you just can’t let go of the business for a whole week or two, or you can’t bear to be too far away from the office, try taking a few days out of town, or extend a weekend somewhere else. Even a brief escape from routine with a change of scenery can do wonders for your perspective and re-energize you.

6. Disconnect entirely – When you do take a vacation: turn off your cell phone, don’t bring the laptop, don’t check your email, don’t bring work with you and avoid the temptation to call or visit the office to “check up” on what’s happening. If there’s an emergency they can’t handle, they will find you.

7. Take time off to sharpen skills – If you just can’t justify taking time off to kick back and relax, then take time off to learn something new – business or personal. Taking continuing education courses at a local college or business school is a low-cost and effective way to break from your office routine, be with new people and try new things. Some programs are 3-5 days off-site if that fits your schedule better.

8. Keep your priorities straight – When you go through the exercise of listing the things you really care about, is your business really #1, 2, and 3? Outside of work, your priorities might be connecting with family and friends, spending time with kids, cultivating personal interests, staying healthy or pursuing an avocation. To regain balance in your life, you need to keep work, family and personal time in perspective. Those other priorities help you find more enjoyment in your time away from the business.

Let me know if these tips help you take a well-deserved vacation (or two) this summer.

Flying is a routine activity for millions of Americans, and raises no health considerations for the great majority of them. However, there are certain things you can do to ensure that your flight is as comfortable as possible. Changes in pressure can temporarily block the Eustachian tube, causing your ears to ‘pop’ or to experience a sensation of fullness. To equalize the pressure, swallow frequently; chewing gum sometimes helps. Yawning is also effective. Avoid sleeping during descent; you may not swallow often enough to keep ahead of the pressure change. If yawning or swallowing doesn’t help, use the ‘valsalva maneuver’:

* Pinch your nostrils shut, then breathe in a mouthful of air.

* Using only your cheek and throat muscles, force air into the back of your nose as if you were trying to blow your thumb and finger off your nostrils.

* Be very gentle and blow in short successive attempts. When you hear or feel a pop in your ears, you have succeeded. Never force air from your lungs or abdomen (diaphragm); this can create pressures that are too intense.

Babies are especially troubled by these pressure changes during descent. Having them feed from a bottle or suck on a pacifier will often provide relief. Avoid flying if you have recently had abdominal, eye or oral surgery, including a root canal. The pressure changes that occur during climb and descent can result in discomfort.

If you have an upper respiratory or sinus infection, you may also experience discomfort resulting from pressure changes. Postpone your trip if possible. (Check to see if your fare has cancellation or change penalties.) A final tip on pressure changes: they cause your feet to swell. Try not to wear new or tight shoes while flying.

Alcohol and coffee both have a drying effect on the body. Airliner cabin air is relatively dry to begin with, and the combination can increase your chances of contracting a respiratory infection. If you wear contact lenses, the low cabin humidity and/or consumption of alcohol or coffee can reduce your tear volume, leading to discomfort if you don’t blink often enough. Lens wearers should clean their lenses thoroughly before the flight, use lubricating eye drops during the flight, read in intervals, and take the lenses out if they nap. (This may not apply to extended wear lenses; consult your practitioner.)

If you take prescription medications, bring enough to last through your trip. Take along a copy of the prescription, or your doctor’s name and telephone number, in case the medication is lost or stolen. The medicine should be in the original prescription bottle in order to avoid questions at security or Customs inspections. Carry it in a pocket or a carry-on bag; don’t pack it in a checked bag, in case the bag is lost.

You can minimize the effects of jet lag in several ways:

* Get several good nights’ sleep before your trip.

* Try to take a flight that arrives at night, so you can go straight to bed.

* Sleep on the plane (although not during descent).

* During the flight do isometric exercises, eat lightly, and drink little or no alcohol.

Try to use a rest room in the airport terminal before departure. On some flights the cabin
crew begins beverage service shortly after the “Fasten Seat Belts” sign is turned off, and the serving cart may block access to the lavatories.