ajarnmarc

1 hour ago, Mavideol said:

but before they kept saying that tourism was not an important source of income for Thailand, what made them change their view

Heard that, and so many on here as well...

All said the same thing. 

Our participation wasn't meaningful, Thailand would just carry on as it were. 

Yet not a single post I saw, ever claimed they alone would make a difference in the economy, 

but as a whole.

The negatives started outplaying the positives for the country.

I believe every visitors knows full well, when they arrive, this isn't their country, 

and nothing will change because of them. It really comes down to judging the benefits any one country has to offer, is all. I think for the most part that is what posts here are expressing, and yet they get slammed down on how this isn't their country, should not try to change anything, and if you not like it; go elsewhere. Which is what I think most are expressing as there own consideration, as they evaluate the overall picture of day to day life within the kingdom. If they share their thoughts and some of their experiences, then constructive criticism can be provided from the community. As to how things might be similar elsewhere, and it's really not all that outlandish as we perceive it to be at the time...?

2 hours ago, rwill said:

To help avoid customs check keep packages small, under 2 kilos, and the value less than 1,500 baht.

This advice is very accurate and true.

5 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

1. You get rid of Pipat, and the other cowards, and extremely timid people blowing up the economy. 

 

2. You start designing sensible plans. Like any and all people from all nations are welcome starting tomorrow. If you are willing to subject yourself to quarantine and pay for it, no restrictions should apply. None of the applications to the consulate nonsense. No bloated health insurance. 

 

There is an insane plan being floated on Samui right now. It goes as follows. Have a laugh:

 

Many destinations that are heavily dependent on international tourism have been especially hard hit by the various travel, transit, and entry bans. There is no clear timeline set for Thailand to allow international arrivals outside of residents, Thai citizens, some business, and healthcare sector travelers.

Now, the Tourism Association of Koh Samui has come up with the following plan according to the Bangkok Post:

1. Only visitors on Thai Airways operated flights would be allowed to enter the country (often the most expensive airline to fly to Thailand).

2. Guests would be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival to Koh Samui.

3. You would then be required to quarantine for the 7-days inside your room and not allowed to roam through the resort/hotel facilities even if your test is negative.

4. Between 7 – 14 days, you are allowed to use hotel facilities outside of your room/suite, but not allowed to exit the hotel grounds.

5. After 14-days, you could leave the hotel grounds but only with a unique wrist band.

6. You need to exit Thailand within 30 days of your arrival (the maximum allowed to stay without a visa).

Conclusion

This is probably the craziest idea from tourism operators that I have come across. Are they this detached from reality?

How can anyone even remotely think that tourists would entertain this kind of a hassle to “vacation” in Koh Samui when you are essentially a prisoner for the first 14 days and then allowed to roam with a special wrist band attached?

 

I understand that some of these hotels are becoming desperate due to lack of revenue, especially in Koh Samui that is an expensive destination within Thailand to fly to because Bangkok Airways owns the only airport (and I would assume charges monopolistic prices to other airlines).

It is unclear when Thailand is going to reopen again for international tourism arrivals. It isn’t easy to see this taking place anytime soon. Plans like the one above won’t generate any meaningful results even if miraculously implemented

I agree this is one of the more craziest of concepts, but it truly shows we are just revenue to the locals, nothing more. Koh Samui for one has so very little to offer in the form of good dining, while you're stuck in your depressingly decorated room. Once you are freed from there, they will certainly be taking advantage of your presence outside the guests room, by trying to pour drinks down you. I know when I visit there, the waitresses seem depressed and make like they don't understand me when I ask for soda water. They want to sale alcohol knowing that once a person starts to drink, they will at least order another if not two more drinks to accompany the first. Then if you get to the stage of wrist band, you can look forward to what? Oh yeah the tore up broken inner road within Chaweng to walk around smelling the fantastic sewage which is exposed through out the vacant night life that barely existed before covid arrived. Koh Samui has always been over rated, and under developed in any meaningful way that might benefit a tourist looking to have an enjoyable, forget memorable time. The happy newly freed tourist will just have to pay for rides to find an open restaurant depending on the time of day they wish to dine, since the places that are of interest all have their own set of operation hours, which unless you are local you will spend at least a few days trying to figure out where or when things are open, and on which days.

An issue us expats have to or should be considering is when they open up the boarders again, the locals will go back to placing their fear/ concerns back upon us expats. Confusing us for the tourist that yes could be infected. 

I'm only now starting to see some fake smiles presented when they view my presence, in the months past that certainly wasn't the case, I was simply the dirty foreigner the government labels us all to be. At least with the boarders closed, the local kinda relax some, very small, but to some degree, they are able find it acceptable to be in the same area as I or my associates. The longer the boarder stayed closed, the more the Thai's can figure out if we are any worth to their economy, since we for sure are not valued for our personality, that much has been made perfectly clear in 2020, if no time before...? Once the boarder open again we will also hear non stop about how if you not like go back where you came from from the expats that want the country to themselves. All in, the boarder closed is the safest way for the expats here to have any chance to enjoy the country we for now call home. I still have plans to exit this façade country, once the boarders open in the countries I do wish to relocate to, so for all the power keyboard warriors out there, save you energy, I'm not interested in what you might have to write. 

Thank you OP for the detailed description you've provided for us all here. 

I truly appreciate your effort in doing so, and hope you will be reunited with your family soon. 

Best regards for your health and your future with your family. 

On 8/9/2020 at 12:39 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

A friend has been notified that his Certificate of Entry has been approved. 

He’s been told which flight he can return on. 

He has to secure the ASQ booking for his arrival date (and make payment for his flight) before the Embassy will e-mail him the CoE. 

 

 

SOME Embassies are taking the MFA instructions too literally and are requiring ASQ bookings upon application for the CoE which is just idiotic and fills up all the spaces with bookings for dates people will have to cancel as they don’t yet know their flight date or even if their entry has been approved. 

Other Embassies have taken a more common sense approach to the instructions issued by the MFA and recognised that its impossible to Book an ASQ and Flight when it is the Embassy who allocate the flights. 

 

when you state embassies, do you mean the Thai consulate? If so, then this would make more sense to why some are requiring it one way, why another is requiring things another way. No actual training, with everything left up to the director at each location to decide what kind of obstacle they wish to place before any certain individual. I state that, for I have seen requirements change even within my own party, with females usually having a better go at the processes the Thai authority request.

7 hours ago, tomacht8 said:

Had a similar experience.
I downloaded the official TM 7 pdf form from the Imigration Head Office and filled it out neatly on my computer. Then had to learn that the Koh Samui Immigration has its "own" TM 7 form and the official TM 7 is not accepted there. Crazy. Then I had to do it all by hand in duplicate again.

I also had the required family photos with me for my application. Family sitting together on the bed, family together in the living room, family together in front of the house number plate, etc.
I had the photos due to their format, vertically on A4 in my documents. I was then instructed that this was not possible. I would have to deliver my photos upright on A4. Well, the immigration woman has her boss's instructions, but that you can't turn a document folder 90 degrees in your hand. Crazy.

Has a letter from the bank with me and the double set of copies of my bank book and also the original. Every 12 year old could have seen that I had the required deposit in my Thai bank account for more than 2 months, sent from abroad. 

But the nice immigration woman insisted that I go to the bank again and let the bank print out the same account numbers on paper with letterhead from the Bank.

Well, the 25-year-old translated copies of my marriage and family documents were no longer good enough. For this I had to fly to Bangkok, have it translated again, have it stamped by my embassy and then have it certified again by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
Then again to the local Ampur and got the K22 paper. So I have already helped Thai tourism well. It cost me a lot of money and time. Still, I asked the nice immigration woman how she thinks I got the 12 non-0 multi year marriage visas that are in my passport?

Somehow the administrative processes are totally messed up.

I had the same problem with the nice lady @ the Immigration. She was the same lady that had processed my last two extensions before. The year the family photos needed to be taken in dslr format quality. As I presented my photos, and even though any one could tell who was in the copy, Immigration insisted on improving the print quality of all the photos I presented, showing the proud photo examples on her desk, where indeed someone took with a proper camera, and had printed out on paper far better than my A4, that actually matched the paper this immigration uses for the application form. Per the Immigration request my new landlord had to go to the immigration office and prove he had registered my stay on his property. Tried to get a yellow book, and the local Ampur wants 35,000 bht; for something that is supposed to cost 35 bht. I was floored, so we quietly left. Came back the next week, and was told the same price, by a different staff. I only wanted the hellow book, so I not have to go to this Immigration everytime I need a resident document, which cost 500 bht a print. Naturally I thought if I can get the yellow book and really only have to pay 35 bht for, I would be shocked. I was indeed shocked, just in the other, less positive way. I'm not sure where I got the info about the yellow resident book being just 35 bht, so I could be mistaken about that, though I'm sure the resident book is not supposed to cost 35,000 bht. The Clerks at the office don't even speak the cost, they write it down on paper. Two year drivers license renewal cost was 7,000 bht, even with the immigration and doctor form. I not even have to travel to give back, and when I do travel, that is what the local police are here for, at another 500 bht a pop. Yesterday the police got me again for the rear foot pegs being down. I forgot to check the pegs, so that cost me 300 bht for police fine.

9 hours ago, JonnyF said:

12 months ago they suddenly decided to enforce the TM30, forcing expats to take Monday off work to "report being home" if they went away for the weekend under the threat of visas not being renewed if we failed to comply. The same weekend away when we were paying 10x the amount to get into a national park, charged extra to stay at hotels (if you walked in), double for water parks etc.

 

Now, they want us to help them in their hour of need.

 

????

I had to get my landlord to register I was staying on his land, in his rented house. Yes the owners are supposed to do this, but why is it the expats job to get the owners to do it, and then prove they did the online register, by adding it to our paperwork when we renew our extensions? If Immigration wasn't so demanding on the expats, they could come out for a resident inspection, then stop by the owners place, and have a chat with the owner in person, to make sure they are in full compliance with everything Immigration requires from them, and not add 4 additional copies to our stack to show the screen shot of them online register, and the copy of signed form they want the landlords to fill out. My landlord had to go down to immigration to speak with them in person, before they would let me proceed with the renewal extension. 

well now that this is out of the way, we can move on to more important issues in life.

It appears they are starting to realize that Thailand doesn't truly have much to offer in the form of attractions which are tourist based. So they have to scrap the bottom of the of the pit to come up with something, anything new to present. Example, few months back they spoke about legalizing prostitution...

The writing is on the wall, the country is desperate to attract new tourism; hopefully with deep pockets, so the locals can do even less to appeal to the tourism they do interact with, while still getting a financial return, solely based on location, not on services or products, since both are only fare at best, with hygiene and safety at the very bottom of their consideration list.. Thailand is still holding tight on the idea that foreigners get their funds so easily and in plentiful supply as well, so no matter what occurs in the world, we will always have money to travel, and our employer are always handing out long vacations annually. All Thailand needs to do is just come up with a genius idea to attract the naive tourist that isn't truly aware of how boring Thailand truly is, or how risky it can be with concerns to dining out (seniors being beaten and filmed in Hua Hin, and in Pattaya) or traveling within the country (motorcycles coming down the roadways & sidewalks in all directions) just a few things that come to mind, which tourist might be surprised to see, which isn't displayed on ads. Nor for the smokers in the world, that will be surprised to be slapped with 100k fine for smoking outside, on the beach. I'm so glad I'm not a smoker, I would hate the law, as it makes no sense at all.

4 hours ago, seancbk said:

 

Yeah Above 11 has always been good.   

Havana Social Club which you can find down a small alley sort of opposite Above 11 is also very cool, there is no signage or front door. Instead, there is just a mock-retro phone booth with a 'Telefono' sign. You'll need to call Havana Social for the entry code. Step inside the phone booth, dial the secret code, and a false door in the back of the phone booth swings open.

 

 

wow, sounds interesting. Thanks for the tip...

On 7/12/2020 at 9:02 AM, cmarshall said:

As it happens the manager of the condo building approached us a few days ago and asked would we be interested in moving to a duplex apartment in our building.  In the past those duplex apartments have been renting at about 25% above what we are now paying.  So we are now in negotiations. We offered about 10% less than we are now paying for a smaller unit.  We explained to the agent that the current furnishings are not acceptable and she acknowledged that they are indeed old and unsightly, which the landlord understands.  She asked us to make up a list of replacement items which we will do from Ikea.  She thought it wouldn't be a problem.  

 

I negotiated changes to our current lease before signing and will do so with whatever lease the agent puts before us.  I have never signed a lease as offered.  We did the same with my wife's commercial lease. We have encountered landlords with a take-it-or-leave-it attitude, in which case we leave it.

 

Our building is one that is marketed to foreigners and Thai high-sos.  By Thai standards at least it is a luxury building.  Right now there are no foreigners entering Thailand and many are leaving.  So, the market for such apartments is exceptionally weak.  We reminded the agent of the current conditions and that we have been long-term tenants in the building.  The agent admitted to us that the unit has been vacant for a year.  

 

We expect the negotiation to be successful.

 

YMMV.

Well stated. I'm sure the negotiations will be successful. Now is certainly the time to relocate to a property which before was not so affordable. The market has never been better one can certainly assume. To except any terms provided to the renters even under normal times is just weak. There more vacant properties than there are renters, that is just the norm here in Thailand, and of course the ones trying to get over on the renters are the owners, to assume anything else would be naive. Many interesting points were brought forth in this posting, which I too have made note of going forward, and I thought I had covered everything in my 21 years of renting within Thailand. So I have to time a moment to Thank all the creative posters who have commented and provided some interesting suggestions. 

31 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

Conduct the survey in Pattaya, Phuket, Samui etc I am sure there would be a different result ?

Samui and especially Phuket, have been screaming for years ~ Get out!

These two location especially don't want tourism, just look how they welcome the foreigners.

The only way they allow us to coexist is if we just keep our eyes down and follow the lead that is provided to us. They do cherish the foreigners that defend the locals positions, those expats they need to sustain their message, that all is well, and it's just in our heads, what is taking place all around us each day. I started in Phuket in January of 2000, and for sure it is not the welcoming place it once was for foreigners. 

8 hours ago, stephenterry said:

And with a continuation of that trend, the Thai baht could return to the last decade's exchange rate...which would make my life financially easier.

There you go... silver lining after all.

9 hours ago, dsj said:

According to my wife, she went to DLT at Bang Chak last Thursday, and you do need again a medical certificate. this is what is required.

Thank you for posting this, very helpful.

23 hours ago, cerox said:

I was thinking about buying the Elite visa in the past few days, under the assumption I would be able to get back with paid quarantine (same as WP and marriage guys). This would have been on top of the other advantages as e.g. 5/20 years IO-hassle-free stay and entry possible via Bangkok airports.

 

Elite staff answered me next months certain countries would be allowed back. So it seems like Elite members get the same priority as other tourists.

It really shocks me because I thought they were selling a product here and this would have been so easy money (more applications, more quarantine bookings). I can only conclude that we have been too arrogant thinking they would want our money.

For sure the Thai's want your money, just no benefits come from it.

I've learned over the years, that everytime a Thai ask how long I've lived here, and they ask this question often... the best thing to say is just a few months. I've seen how the Thai's treat me better than if I say 21 years. So it appears the higher you are up the ladder in finances or experience, the less you mean to them or at the very least, the less you are deserving of their hospitality, as that is short lived and reserved for the people who come and leave. 

On 2/6/2020 at 11:59 AM, ubonjoe said:

Your wife's name does not have to be on the house for where you are living to apply for a extension based upon marriage.

I cannot understand why she would not be willing  to spend a few hours at immigration with you to apply for an extension.

It should not be any problem to use the non-o visa you have now to apply for an extension based upon being the parent of a Thai.

On 2/29/2020 at 5:09 PM, ubonjoe said:

There is no required requirement in the police order for the 400k baht to be in the bank for any amount when applying for extension of stay based upon being the parent of a Thai. But a few odd offices have been reported as want it to be in the bank for 2 months.

Some offices are wanting to see proof the 400k baht is still in the bank when you return to get the extension stamp.

If have seen no reports of the anybody getting a multiple entry non-o visa in Vietnam or the Philippines based upon being the parent of a Thai. The only confirmed nearby location is at the consulate in Penang and they want to see the 400k baht a bank an/or proof of income.

25 minutes ago, a3tsw said:

Stadtler should be aware that there are vigilantes afoot itching to fire off there slingshots at those not wearing masks. 

wow that sounds very scary, what should we do? 

The police have roadblocks across the country, 

with one goal in mind, find anything to site a citation for. 

For foreigners the police are already writing down the license plate of the vehicle before you even get to speak with them about why you was pulled over, and what might be wrong...?

Now you're writing we have to be concerned with vigilantes with slingshots. 

I have read about these reports on facebook, but in my area more locals are wearing the mask as some sort of fashion statement, or chin guard than anything else. 

I do agree that even with islands cut off from flights or ferry service to or from the islands, how is it that the area can be infected? Then there is the case of the entire country being cut off from inbound flights, so again how can there be an infection to spread, when we are going on five months for something that was supposed to have a shelf life of just two to three weeks?

Even if we wanted to give more time to allows those that were spreading it, to come under control, that should have been fully out in the open and everyone that could be exposed within a time period of say forty five days. This is just logical thinking, and of course my own personal opinion, as I process all that's going on in this country at the moment, it is not in any way what I think about what others do or don't do, that is up to each person.