Greenwich Boy

Very much a Chiang Mai specific answer but we seem to be swimming in boosters. Your initial two jabs determines what your booster will be as long as the second jab was over three months ago. The only odd one is 2 Pfizers (me) which leaves you not eligible for a freebie yet. As my second jab was 9 months ago I paid 1,650B for Moderna at a hospital and got jabbed on the spot. Very efficient.

Selfish maybe but it bodes well for covid extensions continuing.

Similar experience with Ram yesterday. I had 2 Pfizers in the UK with the second one in March so would rather nor wait for a freebie booster. 1,650B and very efficient but check your cert, mine has the wrong date of birth.

Had my Moderna booster yesterday and have just looked at cert. Glad I did as date of birth is wrong! As a previous poster it shows as my first jab as the first two were done in the UK. More paper to carry around. No mention anywhere of dosage. I will ask when I get the cert corrected.

I use a firm called Currency Fair for my transfers. Similar to Wise. A few weeks ago they emailed me to say that transfers above 50k Baht may have to be sent via Swift and may take longer and result in additional fees. This being a change at the Thai end. To be honest I have no idea what Swift is and my transfers are less than 50k so did not pay much attention, just reporting what they said.

I have friends done Covid extensions in CM. There is no need to go on the last day. I would be uncomfortable doing that for any extension. The issue is that for your first Covid extension here you get 60 days from application date with subsequent extensions tagged on. You also need to do the 15 days under consideration unless you use an agent. My info is only up to date as of last week!

I liked the buses for the convenience. I dislike the faff around getting a songtaew unless you just want a very short trip. I tried to get one from the train station to Maya last week. I got the full list of excuses Nimman very busy (I asked for Kad Rincome Huay Kaew) Cant leave yet, not enough customers. Very long way. 100B but must drop other customers first. I was not expecting a 30B ride but you do wonder if it worth the effort. I walked round the corner, got a Grab for 90B

I have been a Singapore Airlines fan for over 20 years. When Emirates started flying out of Stansted I used them. I got stuck in Bali when the Covid poo hit the fan in March 2020. The only flight I could get out was with Qatar. I flew back to Thailand with them in May. They really are very good and will have my business if schedules suit (I am paying myself and sit in the back of the bus)

I fail to see the relevancy here. I have been here on a STV since May and am no digital nomad. Anyone who satisfies the requirements can get one. Do they really think any self respecting nomad is suddenly going to declare income he receives because he has a STV? I may be missing the point but unless it is a new type of visa this is not a story at all.

I am with you on most of that. I will be going on the Friday before. This will be my first Covid extension. Friends of mine who have done this in CM have got 60 days from application date on first extension but 60 days tagged on to subsequent extensions. Time will tell. I agree that until land borders open Covid extensions will continue but I am not prepared to wait until announcement.

Using my situation as an example. I am stamped in till 20/2. I am not running the risk of waiting till 24/1 to see if they extend. Going to immigration on the last day can open up a can of worms if you catch an officer in a bad mood. I will go the week before. If they do extend I have spent 1,900B and only got 30 odd days but can get another. If they dont well I still have 30 extra days. Just wish they would not leave it till the last minute to announce extension or not

One option is to go to immigration now and get your 60 days. As the covid extensions are currently available till 25th Jan go back a couple of days before this and get another 60 days. A bit of a pain and extra trips but it is only another 1,900B and it removes some of the stress element.

That is what I have been told by my agent in Chiang Mai

A 30 day extension will get him to about 6th Feb. Covid extension are currently available till 25th Jan. Worth considering getting the covid ext just before this in case it is not extended again (I hope it is) As the announcement regarding the extension is only made at the last minute it will provide peace of mind. Either that or fingers crossed

Can only report my own experience. Everything was checked at departure airport and again at Bangkok. I strongly recommend at least two hard copies of everything. With regards hotel booking, as long as you have a printed copy of paid for accomodation, I can not see them contacting the hotel to check. See no reason why cancelling before departure will be an issue. I have done both my extensions (I am still here) I used an agent because I am lazy and hate immigration, my paperwork was all in order. First extension I only needed my passport and the usual copies. Second time I was asked for insurance. Pot luck on the day and which office you use. The STV gets a bit of a bad rap, but for a 9 month stay without committing to a long stay visa and with most borders still shut it has worked out a treat for me. Good luck.

Intereting. I got my STV from London earlier in the year and the only thing in Remarks was Employment Prohibited, the same as a SETV. Do you mind saying which Embassy you applied at.

You are fine although I understand that you need to get the remaining. 45 days in CM. Worth checking that point though

Back in May I got a STV with a one way flight. I know things change.

Friends of mine have got the 'under consideration' stamp in C M on UK passports.

I am currently doing touristy things in Bangkok. Just seen my first tour group near Wat Pho. Snake of maybe 30 people. Bloke with a stick and a flag in charge. Eastern European or Russian from listening to them. Back in Chiang Mai there are a few new faces about. Not a lot I agree but some are still keen to travel whatever obstacles are put in front of them.

I used AXA Thailand for my STV. If you want the contact details of the insurance agent I used (He is English but based in Thailand I think) PM me. From memory I paid about £600 for 9 months cover for whatever was needed to get the visa. I am 54. Usual disclaimer, I have nothing to do with AXA, the policy just got me what was needed.

I use a firm called CurrencyFair. Had the account for ages so have not got round to opening a Wise account. To paraphrase a mail I got from them a few weeks ago. 'Our banking partner is no longer able to support THB transfers of more than 50k. If you do transfer above this amount it will be sent via Swift, you may suffer delays and additional costs. Transfers below 50k will be treated locally' I did need money last week so sent a couple of 49k tranfers and they did take 2 or 3 days. Please note, I am not using this money for visa purposes so it does not need to state international transfer

Could you outline the ball ache involved in a VTL, particularly the one to Singapore if you know as once Covid extensions stop I will need to leave. Have survived the Thai evisa system, CofE, PCR tests and 15 nights quarantine. Is it really as bad? Cheers.

I find the service on the plane as good as ever but everything else from even the booking process has been heading downhill for a couple of years. I have a lot of unused miles but after that will switch to Qatar

Heading down from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on the train for a couple of days just for a change. Planning to use public transport when I can but would appreciate some tips. I know you need two pre paid cards, that is fine. Stupid question, I have a Bangkok Bank ATM that says Rabbit on it. Can I use that on the Skytrain? A lot of lines seem to be 'under construction' Which metro lines are actually open? Just the colour is fine, can work the rest out. Are the cross river ferries working, and is that a cash fare? Any of the major tourist places shut? Many thanks