Map of Patong

[daveduke007]

Cheers mate

[Road Runner]

(rxpharm @ Mar. 07 2008,16:35) Also get an international drivers license from the UK before you fly to LOS (you will require this plus your UK driver's license).

£4 from any main post office + 2 passport size photographs.
If you have a new UK driving licence you must take both the card and the paper.  If you still have an old pink or green paper obviously take that.

When you hire a car in Thailand they will photocopy your passport photopage.  The small hire companies will want to keep you passport while you have the car.
If you don't like that you may be able to persuade them to keep your UK photocard driving licence instead.  It is at least cheaper to replace than a passport and you don't need it to get home.

Also if you get stopped by the police while driving only give them the international driving permit.  Don't let them see your UK licence!
They could retain it and then you will have to pay a fine to get it back.

Whenever I have been stopped up country (they stop BKK registered cars round Khon Kaen to try to extract 'fines'   ) I have handed over the international permit  -  an out of date one!  
Each time they have looked at it for about two minutes and then given up and waived me on.

RR.

[Torurot]

If you do hire a bike make sure you get helmets. Patong police love Farang with no helmet. Guaranteed stop. Strangely the passenger(s) do not have to wear one but the driver does. If carrying multiple passengers they ALL have to be behind the driver (at least if driver is Farang).