duncanb

I took a van from hat yai to Penang recently. The Thai driver got pulled over twice by the Malaysian police, apparently the first officer "fined " him 1000b, the second 500 baht because he knew him. Not sure if the amount was actually what he claimed but we certainly where stopped. Never happened to me before, so wondering if there is a concerted effort 

I really do not think most people stick with one airline just because they are satisfied, I think flights (paid for by individuals, not companies) are a bit like car insurance, people generally shop around for the best deal available.

AirAsia is suffering some bad publicity at the moment after cancelling flights indefinitely between Adelaide and Kuala Lumpur due to lack of profitability, but failing to refund the cost of tickets: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-12/air-asia-stalls-on-flight-refunds-for-cancelled-adelaide-route/6307922

As for renewed flights to London, passengers that used to fly with AirAsia X will have already have found alternative routes by now and if they're satisfied with their present carrier, they're not going to switch back to AA again.

AA would be better off flying from Amsterdam as well because no Air Passenger Duty is levied on flights from AMS like it is in the UK: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty

Wealthy Thai friends of mine went to Pattaya, stayed in a nice hotel got a massage and enjoyed some good food and the pool. They paid much more than I would consider paying but Thais generally value their holidays/breaks and are willing to pay as they do not get that much time off

because that is the state of affairs in africa (only some parts), then it makes it ok to critisise someone who doesn't want to walk such a distance? for god sakes all he asked was a simple question about leaving his bike on a soi

The OP sounds like a lazy, entitled pussy. He's complaining about walking 1 or 2 km to the main road. Did you know that in Africa even children and elderly people have to walk 20 km to collect water, on rough dirt roads and up hill (there are no hills in BKK) and then walk 20 km back to their home carrying gallons of water, every single day? He's a soft, feeble half-man, which is a creature that BKK is sadly bursting at the seams with these days. Grow a pair.

So farmers get no more than 2 baht an egg, tesco usually sell 10 for about 50 baht, someone is making a decent profit. Like in many countries farmers and producers in general are screwed by big supermarkets

A sad waste of a life

I never said nobody wanted to help him, nor did it say as such in the article, it said they helped him after the incident, its just a shame nobody intervened.

I am guessing nobody took photos, otherwise the police would have said (or i hope so) that witnesses provided photopgraphs and they hope to make an arrest, instead they said woeds to the effect that they won't be able to find the suspects

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Given that 90% of the population have phones with cameras, its a shame non of the bystanders who refused to help him physically couldn't at least take a picture of the assailants

Where does it say:

- Nobody wanted to help him?

In fact the article mentions that bystanders helped him back to his wheelchair.

- Nobody took any photos. How do you know that, maybe there were photos but just not mentioned in this article.

Given that 90% of the population have phones with cameras, its a shame non of the bystanders who refused to help him physically couldn't at least take a picture of the assailants

Thank you Duncanb, extremely helpful. I assume you must have opened an 'International Account' with Bkk Bank in Thailand

if you can send funds in that way then hold them there in GBP £Sterling until a rate appears that you are happy with then do the conversion at an advantageous date.

If senders only have a deposit Bkk Bank account then, although you send the funds in GBP £Sterling, they would be converted to Thai baht imediately upon receipt irrespective of the rate in force at the time.

Sorry to ask you again but am I correct in assuming you have such an account?

I have no such account. the funds are sent in sterling and then converted immediately- I am not aware of any facility which allows you to hold the funds and wait for the best rate. Good luck

Yes ... there is a facility for BB to hold your GBP ... but you need to open an account, forgot the name and I think that costs about 1000Baht to open the account and then you can use it anytime. Then there is a small fee to change your money. You need to ask BB about this asd I can't remember the details.

But why bother using BB in London ... just get your bank to send GBP direct to whatever account here.

I spoke to Bangkok Bank about this facility, and they say it does not exist. If you can remember the name or give more details that would be useful

Thank you Duncanb, extremely helpful. I assume you must have opened an 'International Account' with Bkk Bank in Thailand

if you can send funds in that way then hold them there in GBP £Sterling until a rate appears that you are happy with then do the conversion at an advantageous date.

If senders only have a deposit Bkk Bank account then, although you send the funds in GBP £Sterling, they would be converted to Thai baht imediately upon receipt irrespective of the rate in force at the time.

Sorry to ask you again but am I correct in assuming you have such an account?

I have no such account. the funds are sent in sterling and then converted immediately- I am not aware of any facility which allows you to hold the funds and wait for the best rate. Good luck

Yes ... there is a facility for BB to hold your GBP ... but you need to open an account, forgot the name and I think that costs about 1000Baht to open the account and then you can use it anytime. Then there is a small fee to change your money. You need to ask BB about this asd I can't remember the details.

But why bother using BB in London ... just get your bank to send GBP direct to whatever account here.

Time, exchange rates and cost

Barclays say it takes between 7 and 10 days, and you need to make the transfer (if over 20,000 GBP (as I recall)) in person in the branch which is awkward if you are in Thailand. UK banks generally charge a lot more for the transfer and offer worse rates, and those rates can fluctuate a hell of a lot in 10 days.

If you have internet banking in the uK you can simply make a transfer using on line banking to BKK bank London, who then send the cash to Thailand immediately

Thank you Duncanb, extremely helpful. I assume you must have opened an 'International Account' with Bkk Bank in Thailand

if you can send funds in that way then hold them there in GBP £Sterling until a rate appears that you are happy with then do the conversion at an advantageous date.

If senders only have a deposit Bkk Bank account then, although you send the funds in GBP £Sterling, they would be converted to Thai baht imediately upon receipt irrespective of the rate in force at the time.

Sorry to ask you again but am I correct in assuming you have such an account?

I have no such account. the funds are sent in sterling and then converted immediately- I am not aware of any facility which allows you to hold the funds and wait for the best rate. Good luck

email address for a very helpful chap at BKK Bank in London

[email protected]

Essentially you can make a transfer from your UK a/c to BKK bank London (which is usually free), who then transfer it (in pounds is best for large sums) to your BKK bank a/c in thailand- see below. I have used them, the service was good, but if you travel between the UK and Thailand a lot and can get away with carrying cash with you then you get a much better rate in the likes of superrich

1) To transfer funds via BACS to Thailand in THB at a charge of

GBP15.00 where we convert in London at our exchange rate:

Sort Code: 60 93 98

Account Number: 92 00 10 00

Credit: [Name & last name of the person receiving

the funds in Thailand] (example: John Smith)

Reference: [The 10-digit Bangkok Bank account number in

Thailand] BKKBTHBK (example: 1234567890BKKBTHBK)

2) To transfer funds to Thailand in GBP at a charge of GBP20.00 plus

0.25 % of the amount in the Thai Baht currency (minimum of THB 200,

maximum of THB 500 ). This will be converted in Thailand at the TT

rate:

`

Sort Code: 60 93 98

Account Number: 92 00 20 00

Credit: [Name & last name of the person receiving

the funds in Thailand] (example: John Smith)

Reference: [The 10-digit Bangkok Bank account number in

Thailand] BKKBTHBK (example: 1234567890BKKBTHBK)

There is a difference in the account number. The TT rate is only

available in Thailand. On larger amounts the customer is usually

financially better off by sending in GBP.

2000 baht or so will buy you a mosquito screen for the window, so you still get fresh air, no chemicals and mosquito free sleep.

Why aggressive?

I am guessing to intimidate the other party, who wants a mild and meek lawyer?

Remember the HSBC poster advertising campaign which read something like "More people in China are learning English than there are people in England".

yawn. not everyone

"advertised for just under B34,000 "

So, you have not checked your preferred dates? What they advertise and what is actually available are often very different

department of transport in Taling Chan (5 mins from southern bus terminal in the direction of Pinklao), sorry I cannot be more specific, but the turning on the main rd is just before tops, a taxi driver will no doubt know it.

You need your licence (from home), proof of address from your embassy, passport copy, then you will have to take a colour blindness test at the nearbye opticians and to take a simple driving test (reaction test would better describe it). Expect it to take anything from about 4 hours to a whole day

19 million vietnamese Dong? Sorry its not enough

There is a platform between countries where train stops and your process through both immigration offices and reboard. Butterworth is the end of the line so not sure what in on your timetable. It is a train station and connects to bus and ferry crossing (to Penang Island - Georgetown).

thanks mate

is there a train from butterworth straight to kl by any chance?

Yes

I can't recall what time it leaves its late pm and arrives at about 6am in KL and you can buy tickets at the ticket office you will pass a few mins after you arrive of the ferry in Penang.

What a ridiculous article!

I think these countries would be much better served, if they urge there citizens not to come to Thailand at all. Now that will get some reaction from these children (Thai Government).

Are you going to recommend a destination that has the same things to offer as Thailand and no scams.

What is it that Thailand has to offer that is so great?

Is it all the polluted beches and national parks?

Is it the easy transportaion, that you take your life in own hands every time you step into a bus, van or taxi?

Is it getting poisoned in your hotel room?

Maybe getting food poisoning, thats always worthy of a return trip.

You tell me and I will give you a list of other places.

I am not saying there is not scams everywhere. Of course there is. is what I am saying is trying to get this government from the local to executive to do somthing. Maybe just try and enforce a law that is inplace.

Gosh! Been coming to Thailand for years and have had none of these terrible things happen to me. Must be doing something wrong.......

"Thai teenagers and university students". There is a big difference to a 13 year old and a University student. It seems to me like a bit of crappy research for a headline. Can you really compare the needs/wants desires of a teenager (13) and a university student? No

Buy a new condo not a 10 million baht unit but something for 1-2 million baht which many foreigners and middle class Thais can afford (bigger market for re-sale or rentals also). Buy off plan so it appreciates in value during the construction phase, and buy from reputable developers such as Q House or LPN.

You're right, buying off plan in Pattaya is the best investment you can make.

I heard Suan Sawarn,The Park and Heights Holdings among several others offer some great opportunities at the moment.

Did you read what I wrote. Did I mention Pattaya in my original reply?

Buy a new condo not a 10 million baht unit but something for 1-2 million baht which many foreigners and middle class Thais can afford (bigger market for re-sale or rentals also). Buy off plan so it appreciates in value during the construction phase, and buy from reputable developers such as Q House or LPN.

You're right, buying off plan in Pattaya is the best investment you can make.

I heard Suan Sawarn,The Park and Heights Holdings among several others offer some great opportunities at the moment.

Every traveller getting off the plane thinks to themselves 'Ooh! I can afford an apartment at 1-2 million!, I get a guaranteed good return on my investment and I am now a player, an investor, someone who has a stake in Thailand and most of all status at the bar! I have arrived! I have somewhere now cheap to live OR invest. This is a one-way bet! A no-risk future'

Please someone give me a job working for one of the developer companies.

And now for the Achilles Heel. The strong point of the sale (price) will be transferred to the weakness in the resale price. The quality of build will be poor. Not so poor that the place will not look wonderful for 12-18 months while the place is being sold off, but after that that the bits will begin to fall off. If you are here for 3 weeks you don't see so much but watching a place go up over 3 months makes one marvel at how shoddy construction can be masked by a covering of plaster and concrete and paint. Not to worry some will say, I am here for good. And what will be easier than selling my place in 5 years time with inflation and getting my money back? You think so? The worm in the bud is that after you have distressed sold your shoddy apartment for a significant amount less than you paid for it, your capital loss will more than wipe out any gains so you think you will have made. A good investment. No way.

I did say use a reputable builder and I did mention two companies which I view as reputable. Without going into great detail, I have bought from these companies and their developments have taken just short of 2 years to complete and am about to sell one of the units which will make me a good 30% profit. If a 30% return in a year is not a good investment, then what is?

Buy a new condo not a 10 million baht unit but something for 1-2 million baht which many foreigners and middle class Thais can afford (bigger market for re-sale or rentals also). Buy off plan so it appreciates in value during the construction phase, and buy from reputable developers such as Q House or LPN.