Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Welcome to 700 travel blogs, to access a full index on your mobile please scroll to the bottom & choose from 700 locations. Email is [email protected]

Top tips London sightseeing

July 22, 2019 by David Herd

Top tips London sightseeing

Top tips London sightseeing

Top tips London sightseeing, very few cities offer the history, architecture and culture of London, so it’s understandable if you are eager to nail all the sightseeing spots on your visit. Londoners have many qualities, but they’re not typically known as the friendliest bunch in the world, so take a look at some of our tips to help you in the UK’s capital. After a few days of experiencing busy underground stations, charming pubs and bustling shopping centres, you’ll feel just like a local.

Tip 1, Stand on the right on an escalator.

Top tips London sightseeing

Nothing annoys Londoners more than tourists blocking their path when they’re running late for a train. It’s an easy mistake to make, especially if no-one’s pre-warned you, but standing on the left on an escalator is an unforgivable sin come rush hour. Just to make things clear: stand on the right, walk down or up on the left – it will make your life a lot easier without the sound of frustrated tutting behind you.

I hope this word of warning hasn’t put you off using the Underground, because it’s the best way to get around Central London.

Top tips London sightseeing Tube map

Top tips London sightseeing It isn’t too tricky to figure out, just watch out for the destination on the front of the train and you’ll be fine. 

Tip 2, Go on a free walking tour

Top tips London sightseeingEvery city worth visiting hosts a wealth of companies offering free walking tours and London is no exception. They’re by far the best way to see the city: they’re free (though it is always polite to leave a tip for the guide), it gives you a better sense of direction and it provides some exercise in the fresh London air. Why spend £20 on an open-top bus tour when you can burn off the fish and chips from the night before, admiring the beauty of Buckingham Palace?

Tip 3, visit the pub.

Top tips London sightseeing Even if you’re not the biggest drinker, it’s still worthwhile basking in the quintessential English atmosphere that consumes a London pub. If you are into your alcohol, most pubs will pride themselves on their selection of booze, ranging from pale ales to exotic cocktails. For the more sociable visitors that are planning on making friends with the locals on your visit, the pub is your best option. Brits quickly open up once they have a cold pint in their hand.

Tip 4, Make sure to check out the museums and galleries.

Top tips for London sightseeing 

London has so much to offer, yet the free entry into its art galleries and museums may just be the jewel in its crown. The British Museum, The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum are all hugely popular and in very close proximity, making the perfect itinerary for a day of history and culture.

Tate Modern is one of the most popular galleries and is ideally located right in the heart of Southbank, allowing you the chance to take a stroll along the Thames after enjoying some modern art.

Tip 5, Book your accommodation in advance

Top tips London sightseeing London can be a touch pricey, especially if you’re booking your hotel at the last moment. Make sure you’re prepared well ahead of time – saving money before you go creates some more funds to splash on a fancy dinner in Covent Garden. Don’t worry if you still haven’t found your perfect place to stay, there are plenty of companies designed to give you a helping hand with your search. Think of all the extra souvenirs you’ll be able to bring home.

One of my favourite songs about London.

Thanks for visiting my Five top tips London sightseeing photo blog.

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.


Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

February 13, 2016 by David Herd

The more things change the more they stay the same

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand are constantly popping up with many clubs closing and new venues opening. There is still nothing in the world quite like Walking Street Pattaya. Prices have certainly risen and tourists numbers are down in 2018, except for the Chinese. however that does not deter new clubs from opening. A while back I visited two of these new hotspots, Taboo which is owned by some French guys from Paris and Virgins owned by a Russian fellow called Slava.

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

An upmarket club with nice décor and friendly girls. I met two of the owners Glenn & Alex from Paris, they opened December 2015.

When you are in Taboo it’s up to you

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Walking Street is always changing, old clubs closing and new ones opening. Just last week in Soi Diamond Sugarbaby closed it’s doors after 30 years in business. This photo was taking by LovePattayaThailand, check out some of the articles I write for them here.                 

Hello baby

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Half Thai and half Japanese, a great combination.

 Virgins

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Now I’m quite sure you will find it very difficult to find a virgin working on Walking St. In fact the catchy name actually means the girls at Virgins have never worked in a Pattaya bar before. 🙂

Glass elevator

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Too lazy to climb the stairs? Well, there is a glass elevator to whisk you up to this dark sexy Go Go bar.

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

 Here is something quite unique in Walking Street, a rooftop bar where you can have a drink and enjoy the view.

Looking down on Walking Street.

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Views of Walking Street and Pattaya Bay.

Enjoy a spa with a lady

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Thirty minutes in the spa with the lady of your choice and a bottle of Champagne for B6,500, sadly it’s way above my pay grade.

Eastern European girls

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

They come from Ukraine, Russia, Uzbekistan & Moldova, just make sure you have plenty of money because this is an expensive club.

Neon lights of Walking St

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

There certainly is no shortage of lights here.

Most people come here to see….

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

You guessed it.

Pothole & I certainly came here to see her.

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

There has been talk for many years about demolishing the buildings on the western side of Walking St as they have been built illegally on public land. Here is how I feel about this subject; 

If 1/2 of Walking St goes Pattaya will survive & thrive, times have changed and this city must change with it. Why should a few wealthy business people with a false sense of entitlement be allowed to build on public land for their own selfish needs?
 
A story in a local paper mentioned some  business people who believe it will negatively impact on tourism in Pattaya, or even the Pattaya condo market. I’m guessing they may be some of the real estate agents who charge over the top commissions. I say give the beach front back to the people.
 
What part of the phrase “public land” don’t they understand?
 
Instead of loading boats at Bali Hai wharf for some strange reason quite a few still unload passengers around the Hard Rock Hotel and other parts of Beach Rd. There are even police in attendance helping the tourists to cross the road. I’m guessing somebody with influence has approved this anomaly. 
 
Pattaya has been trying to clean up it’s image for years but progress is slow. Here is an idea from left field, Thailand was Siam, Myanmar was Burma, Beijing was Peking etc etc. Cities & countries can & do  change their name, I would change Pattaya to “MAGIC CITY”.
 
 For the first 5 years I would just add “MAGIC CITY” to Pattaya, after 5 years I would drop off Pattaya & just use “MAGIC CITY” .
 
As I said before you have to move with the times. 🙂
 
Yours sincerely the FiveStarVagabond, November 8 2016.
Here are the illegal building on Walking St

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

 I say give the beach front back to the people.

Here I am in 2013 with some friends from Australia

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

My friend on the left is Nathan Corbett an absolute Muay Thai legend. He was world champion eleven times in 3 different weight divisions.

Walking St Pattaya

Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand

Well here we are back on the street with a many alternatives new and old to cater for our every need. Walking St is totally unique, it offers many more choices than the three Bangkok red light districts, Soi Cowboy, Patpong & Nana Plaza.  Even Amsterdam’s famous RLD does not come close to Walking St Pattaya.

 

Sabai Wing Soi 1, 3 swimming pools and nice rooms, 100 meters from BigC, great value at only $23 usd per night as of August 15. I live in the high-rise in the background, Markland. For a great room rate book here.

 

Just use THIS LINK for a terrific rate at the Wave Hotel.

The history of Walking St by Bangkok Post. 

Thanks for visiting my Go Go bars Pattaya Thailand photo blog.

Check out the other Thailand hotspots below.

Holiday Inn

bbc35e6d-80db-4e1c-8f51-83dd84f16520

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

36555237616_da3ed73d6a_o

The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Pattaya live webcam

Click bottom right hand corner for full screen.

9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)


  • Breakfast Bake n’ Brew

Counter only started June 26 2020.

This gallery contains 6 photos