I sent an email to Eurowings on 1 aug and got reply on 9 aug. In brief, translated from German: most customers wish to be billed in the currency of the country where the flight starts, but they are working on a way to offer choice of currency to be billed in.

The booking is processed.

Flight search showed 176 EUR, when I went to book on eurowing's website they charged me 6829 THB. Two days later, on my bank statement:

178,84 € Betrag: -6829,00 THB Kurs: 38,1851

(i.e. 6829 THB was converted to 178.84 EUR at an exchange rate of 38.1851)

on xe.com, between 24 and 26 july 2017 the exchange rate was between 38.86 and 39.13.

Thus, I lost about 3 EUR = 120 THB due to unnecessary currency conversion, in combination with unfavorable rate at visa.

The flight is still available at 176 EUR (no checked luggage, no food, no entertainment - all these can be booked separately, but I will manage without - anyway that was not my question).

On my last two trips (May and Jul 2017), the bus (from Bangna-Trat bus station; it seems all buses from Ekkamai and Southern Bus station stop there, in both cases there were only one or two seats lef, to North Pattaya bus station) the bus did not stop on the way.

And return to Bangkok, van didn't stop for petrol (however when asking the driver nicely, he let me and other passengers out at ARL Ladkrabang or in Din Daeng - I stay in Sathorn and going to Mor Chit would be a detour).

Robinson Bangrak has the expensive (Felix from Sweden), but my friend says he likes the cheaper Dewhurst better. Last week in Friendship Pattaya, the Dewhurst was sold out.

Yesterday in The Mall Bangkapi Gourmet Market, no chili con carne at all.

10 hours ago, sanemax said:

Go to the German website and book it there ?

I tried. They still charge in THB. The address is .com in German language.

9 hours ago, JamJar said:

If your parents tried to book the same flight they too would be presented with Baht. I don't know what you were thinking.....

I didn't think of that. I guessed the country from where you book the flight (IP address), not where the flight starts, determines the currency.

I booked the flight (Bangkok to Berlin via Cologne for 6829 THB, this will be my cheapest flight ever) and will report back on exchange rate once it's billed on my credit card.

A recurring problem, currently with eurowings: I am in Thailand now and want to book a flight to Germany. I am German, the airline is German, the destination is in Germany, the bank I will use to pay is in Germany, yet the website shows prices in THB and if I'm billed in THB, there will be conversion fees! How can I choose to pay in Euro?

I could have someone in Germany (my parents) book the flight for me, but that would involve texting or calling the flight and bank details.

If I use a VPN, that could lead eurowings to believe I'm in some other country and bill my in that currency, nothing gained (and might interfere with online banking).

I'm old fashioned and like to do things on paper rather than on internet. In addition, my bank account is in Germany, if Myanmar embassy bills me in USD, there will be conversion charges. Furthermore I have no printer, so I would have to go to internet cafe to print the visa.

Shared taxi Myawaddi to Hpa-an, shared by how many people? (This information is nowhere on the internet or in guidebook, the driver could cram 3 in the back and 1 in front, then the trip would bring him 100 USD.)

Around Hpa-An, we travel two, and my friend brings a drone (any advice on droning in Myanmar?), so better by car. Anyway, I have never driven a mocy and have no international driver's licence! Bicycle would be fine for me, but not for my friend. And I plan to go up and down Zwegabin on the two different trails, so have to arrange pick up by driver (if I were alone I would hitchhike or wait for a bus, but my friend wants more comfort).

On 11.7.2017 at 7:04 PM, phuketrichard said:

online visa is great ( the only kind I have had in the past 3 years)  if u dont live in Bangkok or chiang mai and dont want to stand in line and wait for 2 days 's ( plus taxi's there and back)

Plus saves u a full page in ur passport

I'm spoiled for living in walking distance to Myanmar embassy in Bangkok.

Got the visa: 17jul2017 queue 11:05-55 to submit, could have picked it up on 19jul but was away, got it today 20jul2017 queue 15:30-45 (and then everyone gone!). 1600 THB for three day, +550 for next day, +690 for same day.

Of all the websites that describe how to get the visa, all failed to notice or point out the entrance to visa section is actually on Pan road. So I walk along Sathorn road past the embassy, and turn into Pan road, and shock! There is a small migration of people, estimated 200, sitting on both sided of the road on the sidewalk, for a length of about 100 meter.

However when I asked in the yellow sign copy shop, I am told they are all Myanmar people and not queuing for tourist visa. I got my passport copy there for 8 THB (the most expensive I have ever paid, even in the embassy they only charge 5), but as he provides an airconditioned room, with a seat and table and visa form and stationary, that is fine with me. Much more comfortable to fill out there than it would have been in the embassy. The red sign copy shop looked less comfortable and more crowded when I walked past.

No proof of entry or exit requested.

I'm currently unemployed, but put my job name and address of job center where I'm registered in Germany as unemployed under "current occupation", and it passed.

What would a car with driver from Myawaddi to Hpa An, and sightseeing on the way, making the whole trip 4 hours driving and 3 hours sightseeing, cost? Then for the following day around Hpa An, keep the driver or send him back and get one from Hpa An (who might have better local knowledge)?

I'm looking for a contact (telephone number, Line or email or facebook) to forward to my friend so he can book the service to travel in luxury and comfort.

The 2000 was my own calculation to have an idea what it might cost. If someone asks for 10,000, I know it's overpriced. Now I remember a friend took taxi to Hua Hin and paid 1500.

A friend of mine will arrive next month in a party of 6 people and is looking to get a car/bus/van to take all of them, and several suitcases, from Bangkok (probably hotel in Sathorn area) to Hua Hin. Any recommendation, websites, phone number, price?

I asked a friend who used uber: then don't have such large cars, would have to book two cars.

I asked a friend who works in tourism, and he asked whoever does their driving, and they wanted to know which date (either lost in translation or they are so obtuse to confuse a general inquiry with a booking).

Multiplying number of seats in a van with ticket price (southern bus station to Hua Hin) would give a number of around 2000 THB.

(This post might fit better into travel forum?)

What is the advantage of online visa? Other than queues at Myanmar embassy in Bangkok

https://nomadicboys.com/get-visa-myanmar-bangkok/

https://travelhappy.info/thailand/myanmar-visa-in-bangkok-how-to-get-it/

What about proof of exit when applying for visa or at immigration in Mae Sot?

What is cost for rent of car and driver, do they speak English, does the car have aircon, change car and driver at each overnight stop (hpa-an, kyaitko) or one all the way? Can it be done by bus (I mean is there a good bus network, like in Thailand)?

I am planning to travel overland from Mae Sot to Yangon begin of Aug 2017. My first time in Myanmar (but spent long time in Thailand and have been to various  other SEA countries on visa runs).

I will apply for visa in embassy in Bangkok, their visa form is odd http://www.myanmarembassybkk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/APPLICATION-FOR-ENTRY-TOURIST-VISA.pdf Which fields are important, which not? Current and previous job? I am unemployed. Will the form be available at the embassy (I don't have a printer at home, easier to fill it out there than going to an internet cafe to print it). Any problems when entering on that land border (Mae Sot - Myawaddi)?

According to

http://www.myanmarembassybkk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/visa.pdf

tourist visa costs 1600 THB and takes three working days to process. The most expensive visa in the region, and that is part of the reason why I left Myanmar that long (about 15 visa runs elsewhere, I even twice paid air fare to Taiwan - 8500 THB return - than suffering the humiliation of paying 1600 THB for a visa).

The rest of the trip two scenarios:

Either go alone by bus or other public transport and fly back from Yangon to Bangkok. Trip will be via Hpa-An and Kyaikto for some mountains and temples. In Thailand I get around by public transport very easily (I can speak and read Thai), how is the public transport in Myanmar, and how can I get around with English?

Or go with a Farang friend and take his car from Thailand to Myanmar and back (we have done such trip recently to Cambodia, where we learnt at the border crossing Hat Lek / Cham Yeam that we have to return on the same border crossing, which was inconvenient), however return via Kanchanaburi if possible (shorter than Mae Sot, but on the way going I have sightseeing in Mae Sot, actually could do the entire trip the other way round: enter Myanmar in Kanchanaburi and exit in Mae Sot). Any experiences taking Thai car into Myanmar?

Is proof of exit required when entering Myanmar? If I travel alone, I will buy the flight Yangon - Bangkok before going, but when traveling by car, what to do? The car might serve as proof of exit for my friend, but what about me?

Taking a Thai car into Cambodia (Mon 5jun2017)

Farang friend FF owns and drives a car in Thailand, which we took into Cambodia. This was possible without much delay or bribes or documentation, but can only be done at two border crossings: Hat Lek (Trat province) / Cham Yeam and Kap Choeng (Surin province) / O’Smach (information from internet). Taking the car back to Thailand should be possible at any border crossing, however upon entering we learned that we have to come back to the same place (Hat Lek, our place of entry), recent regulation. If I had known that before, I would not have gone. In addition, you are only allowed to drive in the province of entry, but we kept the red number plate they gave us (to be displayed behind the windscreen?) in the glove compartment as to not draw attention, and drove all over Cambodia without being stopped.

I entered separately from FF as a pedestrian, and taking car in took about 30 min longer. Here what he told me: red number plate costs 1000 THB, an obscure fee 100 THB for stamps and documents, a tip 5 USD for a taxi driver who led FF to the various offices.

Going back into Thailand on Sat 10jun2017 we did together, and indeed from their pile of documents they (Cambodian customs?) picked out the one relating to FF’s car, for him to present elsewhere at the border.

Visa on arrival at land border scam

When we arrive at Hat Yeam Mon 5jun2017 shortly after 8 am, already busy with locals crossing (but only short queues). Opening times 6-22 are posted at the border crossing. Stamp out Thailand 8:11, stamp in Cambodia 8:30.

I was aware that there are scams running, but didn’t have details. When applying for visa on arrival at Cham Yeam (in a room with table and chair, whereas the arrival/departure form and passport was handed through a window while I was standing outside), I was asked for 1600 THB (47 USD), and without saying a word, I handed them 30 USD. Then I was presented with an officially looking document (about A4 paper laminated, with signs of wear and tear), that said something like “Ministry of …, Announcement on …, Visa is 30 USD + 7 USD processing fee, stamp, signature” which I was not prepared for. The idea to ask to take a picture came to my mind, but I dismissed it. I should have asked to take a picture! And show them my old passport with previous visas from Phnom Penh airport with 30 USD stamped in. But I was flabbergasted and handed them a 50 USD note and received 13 USD change. My visa sticker does not have the price stamp.

Money exchange

ATMs have a fee of 4 or 5 USD, in addition I don’t know until later what rate my visa card gives. For Thailand, I found bringing cash is the most efficient way. Apply this to Cambodia. Following this lead http://www.khmer440.com/chat_forum/viewtopic.php?t=30992, I searched for the place recommended and walked along street 51 (Pasteur) from south to north and checked banks and other places along the way for exchange rates to exchange EUR to USD. Tue 6jun2017 around 9 am on xe.com 1 EUR = 1.12635 USD. Most banks don’t have exchange rates displayed, but if you ask they will tell you their exchange rate (not my style, skip). A place Wing (green, street 51 diagonally opposite Heart of Darkness disco) 1.08. Lang Daro pawn shop (green, near st 144) 1.105. Somnea (gold shop, st 136 between st 51 and st 53, south-east corner of Central Market) 1.121. Or Sovann (gold and jewelry, across st 136 from Somnea) 1.121. Exchange there.

On 22.5.2017 at 4:35 PM, Teelak17 said:

My advice = bring cash and use your credit card if necessary. Be carreful when you exchange money. Some are fake and some time people try to give you the tore banknote. Ask your bank for only 100 euros banknote.

 

Best place for exchange euro is Ly Hour shop at street 217 ( Charles de Gaulle Blv ) near Olympic stadium.

More recommendations for exchange EUR to USD, please. I remember, last year I had run out of USD and urgently had to exchange EUR to USD to pay for bus ticket, and two money exchanges near bus tation did not take my EUR.

My home currency is EUR, so I guess it's better to exchange EUR to USD in Cambodia than EUR to THB to USD in Thailand (where I'm now).

No Chili Con Carne in AEON/Maxvalu Harbor Mall Pattaya or Big C Pattaya Glang, but finally found even two brands in Friendship supermarket: Felix (Sweden?) 560 g for 395 THB and Dewhurst (USA?) 390 g for 122 THB.

(One of my rare visits to Pattaya, and passing these places anyway I had a look there, but the hunt in Bangkok continues.)

My friend lives in Soi Ngamduplee (between Sathorn Soi 1 and Rama 4 road) and I live nearby. He does his grocery shopping at Foodland Patpong, so I assume they don't have CCC.

It's not for me. It's for a friend who has limited mobility. I'm out and around all the time, but do all my shopping in local Thai markets. I haven't set foot in a Tops/Villa Market/Foodland this year before his request. So I'm looking for recommendation which particular market and branch has chili con carne, so I pass there on occasion.

Where in Bangkok can I buy canned chili con carne? There was none in Tops Silom Complex and Tops Robinson Bangrak when I checked this week.

I'm planning to cross into Cambodia at Hat Lek / Koh Kong on 5jun2017 (then travel one week in Cambodia and leave via Pailin). What is the current visa-on-arrival situation, do they accept 30 USD or want a bribe or request to pay in THB at a rate that is much more expensive than 30 USD?

Some of such scams are mentioned in this thread posts 12 and 35.

Alternatively, I could go to the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok (far out, but I know my way around), where I would either have to pay express or come back the following day (huge waste of time and transport costs). A friend has been recently and said he paid 1100 THB for the visa and 100 THB for express (10 minutes wait) and 200 THB for a passport picture. But the visa he showed me says "30 USD" (currently 1021 THB). Side note: I couldn't find a website of the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok. At least opening times and comments (mainly about rude service and overcharging) on google maps.

I don't like the idea of e-visa (and with processing fees and exchange rates - my credit card is in EUR - it might cost even more than VOA with all bribes, and I rather wait 30 min at the border than fumble 30 min on the internet - and then go somewhere to print it out).

My experiences Hat Lek from Cambodia into Thailand were positive:

I just notice this thread is misplaced in

Quote

Southeast Asia Forum

 

Forum for Southeast Asia, other than Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia: Discuss news and issues related to Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

Can a moderator move it wherever he thinks it belongs?

Any recent experiences (current law and how it's applied)? Plan to travel with a Farang friend who wants to take his car from Thailand (bought there, all documentation, driver's license, taxes, insurance) to Cambodia for about one week (probably enter and leave via Chantaburi and/or Trat province, travel in Battambang, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville), and then back to Thailand.

I finally bought the Canon G7Xmk2 and have been happy with it since.

I don't know if the multiple issues my Sony RX100mk2 has are due to poor manufacturing or wear and tear (after 3 years and about 30,000 pictures, with me in dust and rain, and a lot of sweat either as water vapor or touching my sweat soaked clothes). So try something new, and the Canon is cheaper than the current Sony.

Some observations:
I like that you have to open the flash manually. I want full control over flash.

The Canon comes with a charger, only in a footnote in the manual you find it can be charged over USB. Big issue for me, I have only one battery, and I don't want to be stranded during a trip with empty battery because I forgot to charge it, in such an emergency I can charge with power bank that I always carry with me.

On the Sony, when the picture is reviewed, I can instantly zoom in to check. On the Canon, I have to hit the review button first.

Internet gives 1 inch sensor size and 13.2mm x 8.8mm sensor size, but this is nowhere near 1 inch diagonal!

When I have the camera hanging on my neck and it is on, accidental touches of my abdomen on touchscreen performs operations that I don't want. How can I easily disable touchscreen so I can leave the camera switched on, hanging on my neck between shots?

5 hours ago, morocco said:

I have seen a few farang hitch hiking. It's embarrassing to see. Another case of ignorance towards the culture of the country they are visiting. 

I have hitchhiked myself in Thailand many times (around 50 times between 2013 and 2016) and see nothing wrong with it. Granted, the first case was because being dropped off at the wrong spot by a Thai friend, I was waiting for bus there were none! Always positively received by those who stop (you could imply negatively received by those who did not stop).

But I speak Thai and know my way around. If someone comes here without local knowledge and without money, that's strange.