watgate

In the past two years I came to Chiang Mai either the end of November or the end of December. This year, for the first time, I have come to Chiang Mai the beginning of November and man is it hot. I am thinking that it will cool off as we come to the end of November and march into December. I guess my question for all you year round expats is how do you cope with the oppressive heat during the dog days of summer? My guess is you must stay indoors as much as possible in the air conditioning. What is typically an average monthly charge for electricity when the a/c is running almost non-stop? I'd be interested to hear about your experiences in dealing with the heat?

I can take you to a big car park and you can ride around until you get comfortable then i can take you somewhere that is not to busy but has other bikes and cars on the road i reckon about 1-2 hours should be enough as i live just at the edge of the city lots of places to practise .

I am wondering if there are any schools or places where one can go to learn to operate a motorcycle. Although I am quite proficient in bicycle road riding and have logged countless miles riding my bicycle, not only in the States but also in Chiang Mai, I have never learned to ride a motorcycle. Since I will be in Chiang Mai for almost 4 months this winter, I thought I should learn how to ride a motorcycle so I can explore places outside the range of my bicycle. I also want to go on some excursions to various places in Thailand once I become proficient in riding motorcycles. So, if anyone knows any places which could teach this farang, I would appreciate their names, addresses, and ph # if possible.

I can relate to HelloDolly because last year when I was in Chiang Mai for 2 months, I went with this sweet Thai girl to a wedding reception her cousin was having in Lampang. It was a blast. I made a complete arse out of myself, I drank too much and danced the night away with her amongst scores of Thai villagers form the surrounding village who were in attendance. It was so cool to be the only farang amongst all the Thai folks and everyone was jovial and having a great time. It was a unique experience and one I will remember the rest of my life. Captain Rob's description has my insides stirring because the places he has described sound like the places I am seeking out. Thanks for the input.

So I realize this is primarily a Chiang Mai site but based on my observations there are many individuals on this site who are very knowledgeable and informed about the country of Thailand as a whole. With that said, I am interested in any feedback concerning areas or regions of Thailand that someone has visited or lived in and they felt the area was a "must" see for other individuals. I have traveled a little through Thailand but would like to visit special places which really stir your soul or take your breath away. For whatever reason, maybe the scenery or the uniqueness of the region, any input would be appreciated.

As a person who likes to plan ahead, and seeing as how I will be needing to do a border run near the end of January 2013, is their ever a day when the border is closed due to a Holiday or other reason which would preclude someone from utilizing another exit and then re-entry into Thailand and maybe having to wait until the following day since the border was closed on the day you arrived at the border and thus were compelled to stay overnight in order to exercise your second entry? I am planning on going to Mae Sai exactly on the 90th day and I don't want to get up there and find out I can't cross the border into Laos and then back into Thailand because the border is closed due to a Holiday or some other reason.

So I understand you have to bring a couple of recent passport size photos, as well as copies of pages in your passport plus your visa plus your entry form into Thailand, when you go to the Immigration office in Chiang mai to get your 30 day extension. Does anyone know of a place to get passport size pics plus a place to get copies made of your documents?

So is it best to wait until my 90 days have elapsed ( initial 30 days then 30 more with tourist visa then additional 30 days by paying 1900 baht at Immigration office) before doing a visa run to Laos to utilize my second entry into Thailand so I can start the whole process over again?

Okay so I am coming to Thailand this winter and will be staying for 4 months and I fully understand what I have to do with my 6 month double-entry tourist visa. Where I am confused is that a couple of years down the road I am intending on staying in Thailand for 6 months and with a 6 month double-entry tourist visa it seems plausible that my visa might expire before I depart Thailand. For example, hypothetically say I will be staying in Thailand for 6 months from Oct 1,2013 until March 31,2014. I get a 6 month double-entry tourist visa issued on September 15,2013 so therefore my tourist visa is valid from 9/15/13-3/15/2014. So now, and this is my first question, can I go to immigration on the 60th day to pay the 1900 baht to get an additional 30 days? If so, then this would be on Nov 29,2013. Now, my second question is can I do a visa run to Laos on the 90th day to begin my second entry into Thailand? If so, then this would put me at 12/29/2013. So now another 60 days go by and I go to the immigration office again on 2/27/14 to pay another 1900 baht for another 30 days in Thailand. So now another question arises in that when these 30 days go by the date is now March 29,2014. My flight out of Thailand does not depart until March 31,2014. What is my recourse? Can I go to immigration and get an additional 2 days, and if so, any idea what the cost would be for the additional 2 days? Also, it would seem that when planning my stay in Thailand I could always lessen my stay a few days short of 6 months to avoid this problem. Do you concur with this strategy? Lastly, I was struggling initially with the concept of the 6 month validity of the tourist visa which begins when it is issued by the Thai Consulate office and the fact that I would still be in Thailand when my Tourist visa expired because, as in the example above, the Tourist visa was issued on 9/15/2013 and expired on 3/15/2014 and I was not leaving Thailand until March 31, 2014. My understanding, and please correct me if I am wrong, is that when I went to the Immigration office the second time on 2/27/2014 as mentioned previously in the above-mentioned hypothetical scenario, my tourist visa was still valid and even though it would expire before I departed Thailand on March 31,2014, the Immigration office would put a stamp or something to that effect in my passport to reflect the additional 30 days I would be able to stay in Thailand after paying the 1900 baht. Is this correct?. Whew. This can get complicated and congratulations to anyone who can follow this. My head is spinning just trying to convey my scenario and address my questions and concerns. Thank you for any input or information which might be forthcoming.

Does anyone know if you would get a better rate for American Express travelers checks versus US currency?

I will be arriving in Chiang Mai the end of October and since I will be staying for 4 months, I am looking to buy a new bicycle which I can keep here to use when I am here this winter and in subsequent winters. My question for all you knowledgeable bicyclists is which is the best place in Chiang Mai to purchase a bicycle. I am most likely going to be buying a hybrid with at least 21 speeds, as well as a helmet and bike lock. I am looking for a bike shop that will give me a good deal and I can get the best bang for my buck. Also, preferably one that has been around for awhile so in case I need to come back for any repairs or to fix a flat, they will still be around a year from now.

Has anyone ever encountered bed bugs while in Chiang Mai? Either staying at a hotel or a long stay place or any other place for that matter. I am trying to avoid a potentially unpleasant experience and if anyone has encountered any bed bugs or maybe knows of places in chiang mai that are known for having them, I would appreciate any information so as to avoid those places.

My apologies to any English blokes for inadvertently stating "Brits" when I should have stated Englanders. With that said I am impressed with the degree of sophisticated analysis offered up by the knowledgeable folks on this forum. Your insight is much appreciated and should my buddy achieve success with his picks, the first round will be on me.

That's a great idea. I know I will be looking to make a visa run around the end of next January myself and will be inquiring around that time for anyone possibly making a run.

Howdy- I need to know who is going to win the soccer matches between Spain and Portugal and Germany and Italy AND the reason(s) why. My buddy is in need of some insightful help from all you soccer afficionados and prognosticators. My condolences to the Brits for their hard fought match against the Italians. They can hold their heads high for their spirited match and remember, there's always the next time"

Ok I would like to know the exact details of what transpired with the infamous jet ski fiasco whereby some unsuspecting tourists were evidently ripped off by some unscrupulous proprietors. My intent is not to open up old wounds or disparage the thai people, who by the way I have a fond appreciation and love for, but just to understand what happened with this unfortunate incident.

I am considering getting a visa at the chinese embassy when I am in chiang mai this winter. I would like to enter China through the northern part of thailand with my bicycle and bicycle through the chinese countryside to see teir way of life and what the country has to offer. Does anyone have any experiences in china along the same lines as what I am considering doing? .

I have been staying in chiang mai the past two winters with increasing durations and have loved every minute of it. The previous 2 winters I stayed at a place that had a swimming pool. I love to swim and truly enjoyed the afternoon swimming sessions and vigorous exercise. This coming winter it looks like I might be staying at a place which doesn't have a swimming pool. I was wondering if anyone could recommend facilities or hotels which let you use their swimming pool for a nominal fee. Thank you for any information which might be forthcoming.

If I understand this, then a week or so short I wouldn't sweat but,according to wayned, and I do appreciate your advice and don't mean to criticize, if I apply 30 days before my flight, wouldn't that shorten the length of my double-enry tourist visa by a month since the tourist visa wil have been issued a month before I enter thailand.? So then,after my border run and after my second sixty more days in thailand I wouldn't be able to just go to immigration to pay 1900 baht to extend my stay an additional 30 days since my 6-month validity tourist visa will have expired. What then? What other options are there besides flying in and out of the country for 30 more days. I guess another option would be to apply within 2 weeks of my flight to thailand and then, instead of being short 30 days, I would only be short 2 weeks which could be added back by another border run. Is this correct.?

I am still confused with a visa only valid for 3 months. It would seem to me that if I receive my visa from the consulate office in the US 7 days before I depart for thailand and then enter thailand on the 8th day and fast forward and I go to immigration office a day before my 60 days is up, so now I am up to 68 days. I get the 30 days extension by paying the 1900 baht but wouldn't that mean that I must do a border run within 21-22 days to be within the 90 days validity of my initial visa? If so, haven't I reduced my 90 days useage of this visa down to 81-82 days in thailand?

I want to stay in thailand, specifically chiang mai, for 6 months and my understanding is that I have to get a double-entry tourist visa approximately a month before my departure from the U.S to thailand. Once in thailand, I get the initial 60 days and do I have to go to immigration on the 60th day to get the additional 30 day extension by paying 1900 baht? Also, I understand I have to do a border run to leave thailand and come back in to get an additional 60 days in thailand and then after those 60 days are up,I have to go to immigration again to get another 30 days by paying another 1900 baht. Is this scenario correct in order to get 6 months in thailand? I am also going crazy with trying to understand stamps in passports versus stamps in visas and when the countdowns begin and end. Can anyone spell out the correct procedure in as simplest terms as possible so as to avoid any problems once I am in thailand. Thank you

thank you for the info mario2008. If I am planning on arriving in chiang mai around december 1, 2012, when should I apply for my tourist visa?

I realize I should have started a new post but hopefully the moderators will see the error of my ways and kindly move my previous post inquiry to the new posts section of thai visas.

Hi Folks- I find these posts very informative and a big thanks to all of you who are willing to partake of your vast knowledge and experiences to us less informed and confused souls. With that said, I have a question pertaining to visa and the requirements. Next winter I am planning on staying in chiang mai for 3 months. With 3 months I understand that I need a tourist visa before I arrive in thailand and, once there, I will have to go to the immigration office in chiang mai at some point and pay approx 1900 baht to get my visa extended another 30 days, which will give me the needed 90 days for my stay. Where I am having trouble understanding is for a lengthier stay which is in my not-to-distant future. I am most likely looking at staying 6 months in thailand and my understanding is that for most people it is easier and cheaper to just get a double entry tourist visa. Where I need some assistance from all you knowledgeable and generous folks is a detailed explanation as to what exactly I need to do with this double-entry tourist visa. I am sure I have to do one or more visa runs but if you can give me a timeline as to what I need to do in order to utilize my double-entry tourist visa and successfully and correctly navigate the technical requirements for staying the 6 months in chiang mai would be most appreciated. Thank you for your help.

I am looking to rent a house in the center of chiang mai because my gf works close to the center of the city. I am looking to rent a house next winter for the months of Dec Jan and Feb2013. Any suggestions or info would be appreciated. My price range is in the 6000-16000 baht range.