one bed room condo/apartment

[whittler]

Hi, I am coming to LOS this summer with plans on staying. So far I have
just stayed in Pattaya/Jomtien. From what I have read I would like to check out HuaHin. I am 65, and have no desire to do yard work, so
that's the reason for condo. I will be moving with a lady friend. What would a 1 bedroom condo cost per month?? I would like to have a swimming pool, but if not what would a membership to a gym with pool cost?

I was told never drive in Pattaya, does this apply in HuaHin also?
I like to stop in a bar and drink a pepsi or 2, maybe throw some darts (just learning) and listen to some toned down music. (hard to find in Pattaya). Is all this possible?

Thanks ,

whittler/ aka Mike

[PeteC]

I was told never drive in Pattaya, does this apply in HuaHin also?

I can address this portion. Nothing wrong with driving in Pattaya if you drive like a Thai and keep your eyes moving in all directions at the same time, with special focus on the motorbikes. I've found HH to be about the same in the congested downtown area, although less traffic. No matter where in Thailand, basically forget most driving rules you practice in the States as you'll cause accidents. Just go with the flow here. Enjoy your new adventure! Pete

PS: If you're thinking of buying a vehicle, go for a pick up or SUV as you can see over traffic and that helps tremendously. Also size counts here, you get more respect....LOL.

[whittler]

Hi prcscct, thanks for the reply. I think you are right, at first the child in me came out and I wanted to buy a motorbike. But at my age one crash
and that would be it for me. I want to enjoy LOS for a long time.

Thanks again,

Mike

[Wesu]

Next time when I go to HH i will ride a bike, sure. Easy, fun, everything. In Pattaya, nope. The traffic in Pattaya is a total chaos in my opinion. In HH it's just... not so total. And also in HH I guess you need to ride / drive yourself more if you want to move around, because there aren't that kind of bike taxis or baht buses as in Pattaya.

Anyways, if I went to HH, I wouldn't want to clean or something, like in a condo. I would like to stay few months in a place like Chaba Chalet, cheap, nice, tidy hotel with a good service.

[STEVE G]

Once you get to know, there is no problem getting about Hua Hin without your own transport. There are plenty of motor-bike taxis and tuk-tuks about and if you find yourself living there, you can find ones that you can phone for which is handy if you are in a remote spot.
Driving can be frustrating but is not really dangerous, although motor-bikes are obviously more so.

[bradders]

How strict are the police reference 'drink driving'?

Are there 'spot-checks' such as in the UK and presumably other countries where they can pull you in and breathalise you for virtually any or no reason at all (for example: tail-light or brake-light not working, or simply 'suspicious' you may have been drinking)

In Dubai you would normally have to be involved in an accident before the police became 'interested'. (No 'spot-checks' yet!) BUT if you are caught the fines can be severe plus a jail sentance possibly followed by deportation depending on the severity of the accident and/or how much consumed!

Just interested to know if drink-driving is a (serious) problem in HH and how the guilty are treated?

I note Whittler you mentioned "a pepsi or two" - if that's your only intake then you'll have no problems at all!!

bradders

[lomuamart]

I'd say that drink driving is a serious problem in HH, as it is all over Thailand. There are adequate laws against it, but they never seem to be enforced, except for some spot checks I've heard of during major public holidays when the road carnage is worse than normal. I'm pretty sure that the legal limit for alcohol is 50 ml. In the Uk it's 80 (although they're talking about lowering it to 50). So, that's not a lot of Chang!!! One big bottle would probably put you near, or over, the limit.
I'm not sure what happens to a farang when they get caught, as I've never known anyone who has been. However, a while ago near Phuket, a friend told me that during a clampdown there, it was something like one night in the slammer and so many thousand baht fine. If you were caught a second time, it was a higher fine and deportation. Bet that was only temporary though.
PS, penalties would, I assume be more heavy if you were involved in an accident.

[bradders]

Thanks for the info lomuamart!

It's very interesting that after all your years in HH you don't know of an expat that's been caught/convicted for drink-driving!

Speaks highly of your drinking buddies!! (and you of course!)

I guess with taxis and tuk-tuks being so reasonably priced it's crazy to take any risks!

As a matter of interest - the tolerance level in Dubai is ZERO - not even ONE small chang! - but every night people pour out of pubs & clubs totally pi**ed and (somehow) drive home - though a few don't always make it!!

Continue to enjoy your nights out - risk free!!

bradders

[BaaBaa.]

I guess with taxis and tuk-tuks being so reasonably priced it's crazy to take any risks!

Where are we talking about???

[bj.blackowitz]

Sure

last trip I asked a taxi driver to bring me, he said, Just let me finish my beer

I kindly rejected and took another one