This year it's going to be Pattaya

[perth_couple]

You cant go to far wrong taking PigDogg's advice on anything Pattaya related - especially if you want value for money!

As for the old women telling you not to hire a scooter, ignore them all and have a ball - I took the three of us around on one for a week or so and it was brilliant! That and only 150tbt per day plus fuel

[EyeMahk]

(perth_couple @ Dec. 23 2008,19:35) As for the old women telling you not to hire a scooter, ignore them all and have a ball

Just to clarify, I didn't say don't rent a scooter. I just said that riding your own scooter is NOT safer than using a moto taxi. I have lots of experience riding around Pattaya on a scooter, and I think it is a great way to explore areas that are not easily reached on baht bus. But it is not always an "easy" place to explore on scooter. Things "not fun" on a scooter are Pattaya Tai during the day (because of traffic), the intersection of Soi Buakao and Soi Diana (very dangerous T-intersection), pulling onto Third Road from the west, anywhere around Soi Buakao market on Tuesday and Friday and various other hazards.

I suggest only an automatic scooter and do NOT give your passport as security on the rental, give a copy or find another place to rent the scooter. You must always wear a helmet as there are many places that police stop bikers without helmets. If you are stopped in a "roadblock" (like on Pattaya Tai just east of Tukcom), they will take the keys to your bike until you go pay the fine and return. As a matter of fact, standing at this roadblock watching bikers get pulled over is a fun way to pass the time. It is every Tuesday and Friday afternoon.

[abba]

"But I think I have a healthy sense of risk ".

There is a saying: "Do not write checks, that your body can not cash."

Risks, pertaining to driving scooters, which might be difficult to evaluate in advance:

If a person needs money, then some will have no inhibitions about causing you an accident (such as seeing you coming on a scooter, and then opening a car door, in your face.
(When a falang and a thai have a traffic accident, then it is a given, who will get the blame (and thereby open ones wallet).
(Pre-meditated "accidents", do not only happen in Thailand.)

As far as the traffic gridlock, in the evenings, you will hardly ever see it anywhere except Beach Road.

Regarding the hotel you mentioned, it is located on third road. The speed of traffic is relatively high. In the day time not much problem. But when the sun has set, the visibility is lower. This is not a good combination with cars parked alongside the road, together with high speed, and at least one non-conspicuous intersection ( ten meters from Buffalo Bar).

Also, third road is possibly the most central place where a hot shot can really show off (the speed of ) a suped-up scooter. (After midnight.)

What to make of all of this?
In the day, you will probably be OK.

At night, the worst case scenario might be, that one could be lining the pockets of surgeons.
Then again, surgeons with varied experience would be a good thing (if I am in need of one).

[manarak]

LOL

ok.

I will go there and see...


For my defense, I must say I already drove in Moscow, Athens and Milano. They all have their own style of reckless driving. haha.
No, really - don't worry mama - I'll be cautious.
:-)

Thanks for all the good info!

[abba]

... I'll be cautious ...

Yeah, YOU will be cautious.

And everybody else will be wearing an amulet, or some other good-luck charm, singing "Don't worry, be happy".

You have been driving in Moscow. Well, if you were driving a SCOOTER there  (even in summer), I will tip my hat to you.
(At least there most people value their own lives. Even in traffic.

The way the locals think in Thailand, well ...we're a long way from Kansas, Toto.)

As for risk-assessment, I think I will consult a banker, other than yourself. That is, when my money comes back to me.
          Signed, "another beggar in a shopping street"

[manarak]

no scooter in Moscow - that wouldn't be reasonable.
nah - I had a beefed-up volga.

As I said, every city has its own style.

In Moscow, being a pedestrian is more dangerous than driving.
Basically, pedestrians have no rights. Cars will not slow down, even as you are already crossing the road, so watch out.
If driving, the one thing that will strike you is the speeding on the very large streets - if you can even speed, because most of the time they are clogged with trafic. There are no lanes, and the cars that look like they have no insurance have the right of way.
When there is jam, you just advance as much as you can, you fill the gaps left and right from the other cars - it doesn't matter if it is a bus lane, emergency lane or whatever. The only lanes staying free are in the center of the major streets, and reserved for government use.
Of course you have to watch out the black Mercedes and BMW with blue light on the roof - these may or may not be officials... or "mafia" as the russian say indiscriminately to designate businessmen as well as real "mafia".
Then you can be surprised by cars slowing down, almost stopping in the middle of Noviy Arbat. Then you can witness cars that don't have good brakes avoid the obstacle, and other cars avoiding these. Chain reaction - sometimes with critical mass effect.
The reason for the slowing down would mostly be that they spotted girls or friends on the side and they want to show off their new car...
There are very few signs for directions, but orientation is quite easy. Reading the signs involved slowing down, because I still don't read cyrillic fast enough.
There have been many efforts in the last years to reduce corruption within the GAI (traffic police), and amazingly, it is now very difficult and quite risky to pay bakshishs instead of fines. Even bigger cars are not spared.
...
so much for moscow.


Milano comes in a completely different style.
Trafic is rushed and aggressive, quite like in Paris.
The number of scooters drives one nuts and after some time you stop to care too much about them.
Once, I sent one flying into a group of trashbins, but it really was his fault.
The other thing that will drive one nuts are directions.
With some notions of latin or if you speak french, it is quite easy to make some sense out of most of the signs, but there are some really priceless configurations of signs, like, say, "TUTTE LE DIREZIONI" and, just beneath it, "ALTER DIREZIONI" .
Hmmm.... saw that one in France too.

Athens was like a blend of Moscow and Milano, without the official lanes, but with some extra mess and unintelligible signs. I can read greek (had 11 years of ancient greek at school), but the words are modern and I couldn't make any sense of them.
Thank god I was driving an 18 year old Volkswagen, so the other cars were afraid to touch mine. :-)


I am bored today.

[abba]

 

... and the cars that look like they have no insurance have the right of way

Thanks for giving me a chuckle for Christmas.