AZBill

Can't be that powerful or the issue would have never come up!

it is politically incorrect to say 'stewards/stewardesses', must be 'airline employees'

I have to agree,don't call me a Welder,you have to call me a Metal Fusion Technician.

Next we'll be calling hookers "erectile evacuation engineers"

Huh! Imagine that

Bank of America does mine next day for no fee. $5 million per day limit. Dollars not baht.

Agreed. Been using B of A for years to transfer to my two accounts here at Siam and Kasikorn and have never had an issue.

If its actually enforced the fines alone will fund the government and all its corruption for another 10 years!

Yeah that'll work! Nothing more effective than when the media and academicians get entangled with politics and politicians. There's a word for it and that's "cluster <snip>!

Anywhere next to an ATM!!!!

The Swissotel Nai Lert off Som Kid might fit the bill. Very quiet residential area next to a nice park with easy walking access to the BTS at Chidlom. I actually have a condo at the Address right next to it.

Queens Garden. They have a free shuttle.

Bill do you have a website or phone number for Queens Garden ? Thanks, Nirun

Here it is.

http://queensgardenresort.net/

I prefer Thang Ta who also have a shuttle service:-

http://www.thongtare...p?/en/page/home

Better rooms and service than Queens Garden and only about 900 Baht for a double with Agoda

Stayed at both. Either works for a short stay but the 900 Bt rate does not include the free shuttle. Its 1200 at full rate including the shuttle.

Queens Garden. They have a free shuttle.

Bill do you have a website or phone number for Queens Garden ? Thanks, Nirun

Here it is.

http://queensgardenresort.net/

Queens Garden. They have a free shuttle.

Talk to Alex Polger at Bangkok Base. [email protected]. Their site is www.bangkokbase.com. This may be what you're looking for.

.

I must be the luckiest SOB in Thailand. I fly internationally in and out of Swampy probably 30 times a year and I've never had or seen the kind of waits being described here. Half an hour tops on either end and most of the time 10 to 15 minutes with absolutely no waiting in security on the way out. Have traveled in and out 6 times in the last month with no issues. I always try to book early flights out and late back in. Maybe midday is much worse.

Contact my man Bob! I've been using him for years and he is the only driver in BKK I will use. Very punctual, honest, careful and responsible. Has a full fleet of cars or vans to choose from. He'll go anywhere. His e-mail is [email protected]. Tell him Bill from America recommended him to you. He'll treat you right!

Even if it's a separate ticket, I'd suggest asking if they can check your luggage all the way through to BKK when you check-in at your departure point in the US. I've often booked separate US domestic flights and then an international flight to Asia. I've been able to check my luggage all the way through every single time, because the airlines happened to be connected in some way (even if they weren't in the same rewards network). It doesn't hurt to ask.

This is true. The only airline that I have seen that can't check you all the way through is Southwest. Just show your international flight ticket to your US carrier. When you get to your international flight counter make sure to show them your baggage reciepts from the US carrier so they get it into their computer system. No there are no baggage lockers at LAX - I've asked! Have a safe flight!

i certainly would not take a family to pattaya,

nothing annoys me more than seeing farang parents ,

taking their children into the sexi soi,s .

theres a time and a place for everything ,

but pattaya is smothered in the sex industry.

i suggest chaam , would be far more suitable for a family .

I agree. Chaam has some nice quiet beaches but still close to town. There is also a lively night market there as well. When my wife and I go we stay at the Grand Princess Sovereign Resort and Spa. It's a very nice reasonably priced hotel with a Thai feel and good for a family. Has a great pool and is right across from the beach. They also have a free tuk tuk service to take you into the town area as well. I'm not a big fan of Pattaya and personally I would not take my family there if I have other options.

:golf clap:

I've been here several times before on extended vacations and recently moved permanently about six months ago. I've found that Thai people treat me as I treat them. In fact most Thais I've met treat me much better than I ever expected to be treated as a foreigner. We're nowhere near as nice to foreigners in the USA.

Of course every society has its jerks, but Thailand seems to have less than its fair share, per capita. If I ever end up in a situation with a Thai who is nasty or just plain rude to me, I'll probably just turn my back and walk away. If it ever, I say if it ever happens, that is.

I could not agree more!

Congrats on a successful move. I think you will love it here. The Thai people are wonderful folks and you hit it on the head. Treat them well and you will get it back in spades. Don't get caught up in all the negatives you hear. Every country and every big city has its issues, but on whole Thailand and Bangkok have far less than most, and the positives far outweigh the negatives IMHO. Make sure you get out and see the rest of the country because it is beautiful. Good luck to you and your girlfriend.

Does that price also factor in the graft money the Chinese supplier undoubtedly paid for the contract? Unlikely these POS's will last more than a few weeks. Typical Thai government cluster-f__k!

Geez guys! Why all the party poopers? Sonkran's a blast! My wife and I will be cruising in a tuk tuk with our supersoakers blasting everone in sight and enjoying the cooling buckets over our heads chased by a face full of powder! Then to a bar to get blasted ourselves on some AMFs (The Americans here should be familiar with this drink and what the letters stand for! LOL). I always carry the recipe on my phone for the bartenders here!

Thanks AZBill you have just provided the best evidence possible for justifying my escape to Cambodia.

Hahaha! Touche'! Have fun.

I took my wife there to see a concert at the Venitian and spent a few days sightseeing. If you like gambling there is plenty of it. The wharf area is nice to wonder around. The science museum was also interesting. There is a large observation tower you can go up for a great view. Interesting mix of Chinese and Portuguese culture. Some decent shopping. Hardly anyone speaks English and getting around can be a challenge. The people are not very warm to Westerners at all there so be prepared for that. No plan to ever go back and I agree that you would probably enjoy HK a whole lot more.

I watched the video and the guy was going apeshit and had to be restrained by another westerner. The one thing I learned living here and being married to a Thai is that the stick is the way they deal with things when it gets to a point. They do it with their kids, wives, husbands, dogs and whatever pisses them off. I've seen it with my own wife with her siblings and local Thai dogs (She only Muey Thais my arse LOL). A bop on the head is how they handle things here and in this case doesn't suprise me at all as the guy was getting pretty unruly. I actually thought the Thais there were keeping their cool pretty well for a while and trying to settle him down, but just like with a spoiled kid who won't stop whining, sometimes a good ear boxing is the only way to get their attention. I don't think it has to do with any inherent hatred for us as I have never really experienced any of that beyond just the scammers and taxi drivers. To the contrary, I've been accepted in my wife's village as one of the family when we are there visiting and I have never had a cross word with a Thai in all my years living and coming here. I do think that outside the city we can be viewed as a bit of a curiosity and we sometimes get looked at like we are from Mars. We also seem to scare the little kids sometimes upon first impression, but other than that its all good. As far as complaining, we all know the Thais don't like that and consider it impolite. Has nothing to do with us except when its us that are coming on too strong and creating a culture clash! Its their country folks and its us that need to assimilate, not the other way around.

Geez guys! Why all the party poopers? Sonkran's a blast! My wife and I will be cruising in a tuk tuk with our supersoakers blasting everone in sight and enjoying the cooling buckets over our heads chased by a face full of powder! Then to a bar to get blasted ourselves on some AMFs (The Americans here should be familiar with this drink and what the letters stand for! LOL). I always carry the recipe on my phone for the bartenders here!