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10 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Fast track is a separate area , Fast Track Immigration is mid way between the 2 main immigration areas. Arrivals on non Thai carriers usually walk on a bit further to Fast Track, which is signed.

If regular immigration looks quiet, I usually just go there. 

Thanks. Haven't landed in BKK since 2019 so my memory is hazy.

Probably the wrong thread.....

We land on Dec 13, we'll have fast track passes. If we arrive to a Q like that, do we just (as politely as possible) barge through?!

Sounds good. When we landed on Dec 15 (10AM) we accidentally walked into the normal immigration Q. "Not too bad", I thought, looked like a 10 min Q.

Then realised they'd moved the 'Fast Track' to another section. Off I went to Fast Track. There were more counters open than people, so straight to the counter.

Was through in approx. 40 seconds!

Was in BKK for a few days over the new year.

No issues getting taxi to turn on the meter  (told them my destination in Thai).

I was testing out Grab (I used it for the airport runs) and was generally showing up 2x the meter price (ie. Thong Lo to Chinatown, 211THB Grab / 95THB meter)

2 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

Yeah, not dirt cheap, but similar to USD < 30baht/1 USD, the cost is still about $5 which is considerably cheaper than I would pay in the USA for a massaman dish.  Compared with ~ 44 baht /1 USD I first got back in 2004 on my first visit. 

I totally appreciate that it's still cheaper than the West. I wasn't b1tching, just posting my experiences. 

The killer is the exchange rate, not the THB price itself, so i'm not blaming the locals! But it was great when we did find 50THB dishes! We were on holiday and didn't much of the prices, again, just posting my experiences. I visited my friends, living in the Klong Toei slums (I'm slightly involved with a charity based there) and they told me how the market prices for raw materials has also shot up, hence the vendors need to charge more.

I can see, though, how Thailand may not be the backpackers dream it once was. Not an issue for us, we work the rest of the year and blow some money when on holidays... you'd do it anywhere. But good luck to the budget backpacker! (Which we once were)

12 hours ago, LandOfSmiles99 said:

Hi guys

 

On the same topic, how manageable is Koh Samui to  Koh Tao?

 

Cheers

That'll be one of the easiest ferry trips you ever do. You jump on the Lomprayah at Samui to Phangan. You MAY have to transfer ferries at Phangan, sit around for a while and get back on a Lomprayah to Tao. 

I've always gotten off at Phangan for a few days so can't remember if the Samui ferry continues (so Phangan is just a stop)

Last time I flagged a woman taxi driver in BKK she wanted 200 baht from KSR to Suk Soi 3..... it's a 78 (round up to 100 inc. tip) fare!

Been buying from 'Majestic Tailors' on Lower Suk (main Rd) - I think it was somewhere between Soi 2 / 4.

Been buying there for 5 years (wear the clothes regularly) and very happy.

Hi All,

When we landed in Swampy last year (Dec 2015) for our annual 1-month holiday to LOS, we were able to purchase a 30 day data (Think 10GB?) / Voice / SMS SIM there and then from the counter (Could have been AIS... can't remember)

Does this still exist? I see 15 day etc. but ideally we want a 30 day.

Wondering if this no longer exists? Any advise would be appreciated. We just want a pre-pay 30 day Data / Voice / SMS.

Many thanks.

I've been to BangKwang (as a visitor) - never had any issues leaving / entering LOS. (That said, i'm only on the 30 day tourist visa when I visit)

Just back from a wonderful month holiday in LOS (our 3rd time).

Unfortunately, witnessed some of the usual scams that are still going strong.

Chaweng beach, Samui. A couple head out on the Jetski. Come back and the usual "you broke this". They even had pictures of the damage beforehand, but the 'boss' was having none of it. The guy eventually went off to the ATM and returned with a wad of cash for the 'boss'. Not sure about figures, we just happened to be sitting close-by and could see what was going on.

Ko Tao. Witnessed 2 scooter 'damage' scams. I'll admit to being nosy here. When I saw what was going on, I stopped and pretended to be on my phone. Each occasion, the renter claiming scratches caused. The person who rented the bike clearly showing that the marks were mentioned on the rental sheet/picture, but each occasion the renter was having none of it, and mentioning crazy figures. At that stage, I walked away. (PS. If renting on Ko Tao, Oli's beside the main pier is honest, doesn't take your passport)

That said, on Ko Tao I did witness a guy fall off a bike in Sairee town, causing cuts to himself and a bit of damage to the bike. Be careful out there, folks!

Glad to say, our holiday was very un-eventful, everything went smooth

Regarding Tao being busiest it's ever been... Baloney!

We were there 3 years ago, THEN it was packed. Hard to find accom. (we had pre booked thankfully), dive boats full, beach bars full at night etc...

When we were back there from Dec 26 - 30 2014, things were different. Yes, the boats were busy, but not totally jam packed. Plenty of 'walk in' accom on Sairee Beach available. Dive boats noticeably quieter. Infact, when I went for a dive, there were only 3 of us diving (although this was a morning dive). The only real busy restaurant was the one belonging to Sairee Sairee cottages... everywhere else was just 'walk in'. Some of the beach bars were dead (esp. down AC bar side... we just walked past, refused to enter the premises).

I noticed that the beach bars up the north end of the beach were busier. The only real busy bars were Sunset (I think that's what it's called?) and one slightly further south than it.

Prices seem the same as 3 years ago... 200 baht for a scooter (had no problem getting deposit back), 120 baht for a chicken skewer meal from the beach bars.

People are still coming to Tao, but I suspect they're radiating out to other resorts outside Sairee Beach. I did get a sense of discomfort while there, but maybe it was just me.

"So, as he exits Soi 2, after taking the left, instead of taking the right after that to go through the 50 baht toll, he goes straight on and takes us on a tour of Bangkok. After a while, I ask him why is he taking us around in circles, and that i'm watching the route on Google Maps. He spouts some cr4p about having to take a U-Turn and once I tell him he didn't need to take one, he quickly gets back on track and bring us on the expressway..."

You owe the taxi driver an apology. If you turn left, as you have to, out of Sukhumvit Soi 2 on to Sukhumvit Road there is no right turn possible on to the Don Muang tollway because you're on the wrong side of the dual carriageway. The taxi driver had to continue along Sukhumvit until he could u-turn.

Yes, sorry, you're right about not being able to take a right (I know you can take a right to go on the Easy Pass, but you had to cross the road further up Suk Rd.)

However, he still took us on a tour as he did a lap of a block south of Suk Rd. and also a lap of a block north of Suk Rd, before eventually taking us to the toll

^^ Didn't realise it was a site sponsor, sorry. Just saw the 1 post and got immediately suspicious.

I should also add my one Tuk Tuk experience... again from Lower Suk Rd. wanted to go to Ko San. As taxi's are about 80 baht, I was willing to pay up to 120 baht for the fun factor. Driver wanted 400 baht!! I laughed and walked away, when he started to negotiate with me "OK OK, 200 baht, I take you to suit shop".

Whatever he was smoking, I wanted some (or not). I must add, we had just landed in LOS so were veryyyy white (we're Irish) so they were probably hoping we were spring chickens with no clue.

Having been to Bangkok 3 years ago and having no issues with taxis, upon my return last month I felt relaxed, despite various complaints on the forums.

Arrive at the airport, get my ticket... quickly snapped off me by a taxi driver. No problem, it's late... in the car and get to hotel. As soon as he starts driving... I don't see a meter. I ask him twice to turn on the meter and he starts mentioning a fixed price. I tell him to stop the taxi, and all of a sudden the meter appears from under a towel! How sneaky! 220 baht to get to lower Suk Rd. - no problem

Second incident... GF gets into taxi and the meter is on (great) until she notices that it starts at 65 baht. She points to the meter and says "35 baht" and all of a sudden the meter drops to 35 baht.

There were various incidents of 'no meter.... xx price'. We were coming from Koh San one evening, back to lower Suk Rd. After about 3 attempts we got a guy with a meter, yet he still wanted 200 baht to go on a trip that's usually 80 baht. Eventually he decides to turn on the meter (after asking several times) but then he tries to take us on a de-tour. We tell him we know where we're going and why is he taking the long way... he kicks us out of the taxi... happy days! Flagged the next available taxi and he got us back to Lower Suk Rd. for 70 baht (we gave him 100).

A funny one (although not at the time, as I was on a strict time schedule) was when I wanted to go to Bang Kwang prison. I thought i'd just get a taxi as it'd be easier than BTS + boat. I hail a taxi and the first guy won't go there.. no prob, into the next one. The next taxi driver takes me to the wrong &lt;deleted&gt; prison! I tell him I want to be at BANGKWANG, but he drops me off at the young offenders prison and insists it's Bangkwang. I just get out and hail another taxi... he agrees to take me, but wants to bring me on another tour of outer Bangkok. It's only when I point the phone at him and he takes an immediate slip off a dual-carrageway and eventually brings me to (close) to BangKwang. He insisted he had brought me to the right place (about 10 min walk from the prison) but by chance I recognised the roads from Google Street View and just walked.

The cherry on the cake was upon our departure from our hotel in lower Suk Rd. We asked the hotel if they'd ring a trustworthy taxi (there were plenty outside waiting which we avoided). Taxi arrives and sure enough the meter is on... perfect. We tell him to take the express way and we'll pay the tolls. He then turns around and says "500 baht, I pay tolls". Not a hope. Again we politely tell him that we'll just get out if he won't use the meter and he starts giving us a sob story that he won't get any money on his way back in. One last time we tell him 'meter' or we get out. So, as he exits Soi 2, after taking the left, instead of taking the right after that to go through the 50 baht toll, he goes straight on and takes us on a tour of Bangkok. After a while, I ask him why is he taking us around in circles, and that i'm watching the route on Google Maps. He spouts some cr4p about having to take a U-Turn and once I tell him he didn't need to take one, he quickly gets back on track and bring us on the expressway.... all of this for about 30 baht. &lt;deleted&gt;, if he'd just taken us the direct way he would have gotten more in a tip. Anyhow, 220 baht from lower Suk Rd. to airport, still not a bad price... it's just the principle.

These opportunistic rip-off merchants really bug me, as they are giving the honest taxi drivers a bad reputation. In fairness, about 25% of the taxis we got were perfectly honest, but this is an obvious minority which is a pitty.

Rant over, needed to get that off my chest

Can I buy some spam with those tickets? Bit late to be posting btw, we're back in Ireland, but thanks for the spammmm

We're meeting with a friend later and she said she simply must see a ping pong show before leaving LOS. I went to my first one last week and in no rush to return, however...

Can anyone name, or pm me, somewhere that I can just walk in to? Ideally on lower Suk Rd, I'm guessing close to cowboy or Nana.

We dont mind paying a fair entry fee or even buying a couple of overpriced drinks

Guys thanks a lot for the info!

Thanks for the info folks. Been on the public boatany times, want to get I to the canals.

Sirpia will use your info thanks

Hi all,

Last thing on our to do list is to spend an hour or two on a khlong exploring the canals.

Is the best advise to just rock up to central pier and go for the upstream pier and wait for someone to sell us a tour?

Yea I was on the orange boat and it stopped there, didn't know what it was. Will go up there for a look today thanks

Hi all,

Any recommendations in the lower Suk area? (We're staying Soi 2).

Previously got a teeth laser and clean in a place located within a complex opposite Soi 15, think its called 'Korean market' or similar now due to the Korean restaurants on ground floor. The dentist was on 2nd floor up the escalator. (Hope its still open... Will just go back there if no other recmendations)

Thanks