Jump to content
All visa questions and fresh Immigration updates here ×

blanes2007

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    107

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by blanes2007

    Safe way to get from Siem Reap airport to the city?

    in Cambodia General Chat

    Posted · Edited by blanes2007
    addition

    Road traffic in Cambodia is much more chaotic then in Thailand but slower because of road condition and total mess. No one is neglected on the road except big Lexus SUVs belonging to big shots.  Don't try to ride motorbike by yourself, and bicycle as well. Even been in Siem Reap, you'll certainly put off by the idea of walking - no country for pedestrians.

     

    All that is left is to hire tuk tuk driver for about 20-30 per usd day. You can find lots of proposals in Siem Reap Facebook groups. Such a driver will meet you at the airport and then take you to Angkor Wat the next days.

     

    addition

     

    But you can simply choose the driver from the dozens of annoying idiots waiting for customers in and outside airport parking.

    Google Maps and TripAdvisor positive customer reviews

    in SME Business in Thailand

    Posted

    We recently started a small business (massage shop). Despite the fact that our customers are satisfied with the service, they are very reluctant to leave reviews on Google Maps and TripAdvisor - which in turn affects our rankings on those sites and eventually visitor traffic. At the same time, some of our "competitors" were closed permanently during the pandemic, but their obviously dead accounts are still above us in "spa" rankings just because they have many reviews collected in previous years. Paid advertising on TripAdvisor starts from 16,000 baht, and such costs will definitely not pay off.

     

    I don't want to mess with dodgy Internet services that cheat reviews using bots and fake accounts with Indian and African IP addresses. Both Google Maps and TripAdvisor now easily spot them and could ban my business profiles. All I need is only 1-2 new reviews a day from a real аccounts with normal online history and binding to Thailand.

     

    An Indian tailor's shop next to us has several thousand positive customer reviews on Google Maps and TripAdvisor, and even gained some sort of "TripAdvisor's customers choice" status. What is his secret? There are many small Indian businesses in our neighborhood, their owners know each other and act as a mutual promotion network...

     

    Any thoughts?

    "respectable" Thai traditional massage place for a cultured American lady ?

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted · Edited by blanes2007
    addition

    I can recommend you newly opened Kunlarat massage near Shangri La Hotel

    Google maps 18.77823107479257, 99.00324968703656

     

    they provide really professional massage, brand new rooms and furniture after renovation, and air conditioning. I recommend it as i already tried a lot of different massage shops in CM but this one is by far the best.

     

    spacer.png

     

     

    • Like 1
    • Popular Post
    • Popular Post

    What might happen if you tested Omicron positive on arrival to Thailand: how hospital scam works

    in COVID-19 Coronavirus

    Posted

    In short

    I came to Thailand on "Test & Go" scheme, was tested Covid positive on Day 1 and then taken without my consent and against the will of the insurance company to a very expensive medical facility, where I locked by now as both me and the insurer refuse to pay extraorbitant bill.

    I would like to warn other foreigners planning to visit Thailand about the danger of the hospital scam even if they have paid for the valid Covid-19 insurance.

    In long

    On February the 13th, I came to Bangkok on "Test & Go" scheme, made Covid-19 test in 'AAA' (we know and respect Thai laws) private hospital and stopped in the hotel. I had standard Covid insurance with $50 000 coverage issued by big Thai 'BBB' (again, we know...) insurance company.

    Next day I received a call from the representative of 'AAA' hospital who told me that my test was positive and I should move to their hospital for treatment. He asked me to send him by email my Covid insurance policy and some other required documents. He insisted (Important! ) that I must be sent only to their hospital as 'it is contracted with the hotel by referring to the DDC' (this is the quote from the email which is saved; I have no idea what that abbreviation means).

    Meanwhile, it is clearly stated in my insurance policy and on the website on 'BBB" insurance company as well that the covered medical service must be only provided by the hospital from the insurer's net (but 'AAA' does not belong to them as it is supposed to be an expensive private facility).

    A day later anonymous 'AAA' representative called me to the hotel and told that they had agreed with BBB insurance company to cover the cost of my treatment in their hospital with my policy. That was a lie as actually the insurer refused to do it.

    Also I wasn't told any details about the type of the medical facility, its pricing and the payment procedure.

    The other day I was taken from the hotel to the AAA hospital. To my surprise, I was accomodated in luxury-style room, though I had expected to be placed to the mid-range medical facility sharing the room with other Covid-infected patients.

    The next day another hospital representative called me and asked if I had already contacted with my insurance company to negotiate the payment for their service, otherwise I will have to pay from my own funds. I was amused, and contacted BBB insurance company, and found out that they don't want to pay for AAA service as it way  too expensive (110 000 bht for 10 days in the 'hospitel' ).

    The same day I was asked to sign an undertaking to pay all my hospital expenses, without service details and pricing what I refused to do.

    Eventually, after spending 2 nights in the 'luxury' room and being firm :((( I was proposed to pay 'only' 9000 bht and free to go home :))) which I also refused to pay as I was taken to this 'hospitel' by the deseption.

    Today is Saturday. I am still locked in my 'vip room' and can't go outside. The hospital representative do not bother me anymore but the food is still delivered, so I'm sure my hospital bill is growing at an alarming rate. :((((





    • Like 2
    • Sad 1
    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 1
    • Popular Post
    • Popular Post

    is cambodia nice to visit for a month? as my local immigration office says on jan 25 . no more covid extension. it is finished for good.

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

    I'm in Cambodia currently. Both Phnom Pen and Siem Reap look much more clean and civilised than 2 years before.  Border passing in the airport was a breeze. The hotels are incredibly cheap, a lots of discounts. First time in my life I'm not dreaming about going back to Thailand ASAP and even enjoy my time im Cambodia 

    • Like 8

    Second 60-day Visa Extension Questions

    in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits

    Posted

     

    At the entrance to the Airport office you will be given an application form in duplicate (so take 2 photos) and several other documents that have to be signed.  Friendly assistant at the entrance will check your documents and if everything is OK send you inside the building to the ticket counter, there nice ladies check the documents again... and ask for a Letter from the Embassy! If an applicant can't provide it, they give  an Affidavit with a few checkboxes kinda "the Embassy of my country does not issue such a letters." Filled it but the package is still incomplete - they also asked for a printout an email from the Embassy or at least the announcement page from the Embassy's website.

     

    I guess this is a formal requirement. In my case they agreed to accept the even Embassy's Facebook page. Having printed the page at home the next day I came back to the same nice ladies. They checked the documents again and were completely satisfied with the beautiful color printout from Facebook in Russian. Gave me a ticket, 15 minutes of waiting, call, 1900 baht, taking photo,10 minutes of waiting - Mister Blanes2007! Take your passapot! - Got stumped until 20 of January! Bingo

×
×
  • Create New...