texanaust

17 minutes ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

@texanaust I sent you a message. Check the top right hand side of an open 'topic' page and click on the envelope.  I've recommended a good driver for you. Have a good trip.

 

OOPS, I didn't realize you're in Phuket.

Yep, doubt your driver will want to come down to Phuket, but thanks anyway.  

We need a reliable and safe car and driver to take us from Bang Tao to Hua Hin at the beginning of June.  Are there any drivers or services that someone can recommend?  Thanks! 

I applied on the 4th and received approval yesterday for Feb 21st.  I submitted a second application on the 12th because I forgot to upload the PSAS receipts (used same email address).  My approval was given without the hotel being paid in full surprisingly.  I was about to do a third application after paying the hotel, but was approved before the hotel replied to me.  

1 hour ago, Robin said:

Behind all this is the sad fact that  unless it is easy to come to Thailand, people are not going to come.  Thai government and TAT do not appear to realise this.  They live in  world where rich people are queueing up to visit Thailand.   Not any more, there are many other attractive places to visit.

What I cannot understand is why no hotel or travel agency are not offering packages that take away all the hassle; book a holiday at the hotel and your own flight nd they fix all the Thai nonsense and meet you at the airport and get you through the entry requirements.

Does nobody want the business?

Where is the spirit of free enterprise? 

Same here.  Name one Phuket Hotel website that mentions they will take care of the Thailand Pass, PSAS test payment, etc for you in one package price...I don't think it exists.  There would be many (including myself) who would pay extra for a one-stop service that guarantees receipt of the QR code and takes away the hassle of resubmitting multiple times.  

I applied about 6 days ago and no response.  When I put in my application number it just says 'reviewing,' but I think I'll need to reapply.  Has anyone been successful with a sandbox application where you have been able to pay online (like Agoda) and not to the hotel directly?

8 hours ago, tommygato said:

You have to pay hotel directly in order to get SHABA certificate, but make sure the hotel is SHA+ approved. I used Agoda to book, then I contacted hotel to get certificate and they told me they can't give it to me as they did not receive the money from Agoda yet, they advised to cancel Agoda and book directly. Once I did that I got the certificate.

Thank you for the info.  However, I want to book with a refund option (in case my flight is cancelled or test positive, etc).  I feel like Thailand Pass is pushing everyone into booking direct which equals 'non-refundable.'

On 1/7/2022 at 4:50 AM, richard_smith237 said:

6) Get Hotel SHABA Certificate (and reference) 

What is this?  If I book and pay via an OTA (Agoda), will they give me the SHABA Certificate or do I need to contact the hotel directly?  I booked on Hilton.com and simply uploaded the email confirmation-obviously that was not the correct thing to do...

It would be nice if Thailand Pass would actually write these requirements on their website as I have applied with no response probably because I don't have this SHABA certificate uploaded.  

Do you have to have a fully paid hotel reservation for the Phuket Sandbox?  Can you book with a credit card deposit?  If you do have to fully pay, are there any hotels/resorts that allow refunds or last minute date changes if you are denied boarding due to Covid, Thai pass issues, etc?

31 minutes ago, Pumpuynarak said:

Are you sure about that ? I've just had 7 days approved.

I thought it was 7 days for most countries too.  Has it just changed to 10?

18 hours ago, UbonEagle said:

Sorry slightly off topic re the sandbox.

Was due to travel back late Jan but hadn't booked...obviously had planned on 1 night test n go but now iced.

The sandbox idea sounds ok but if going anywhere outside your room i'd be a tad paranoid about getting the virus then testing positive on day 7....stuff of nightmares...particularly if omicrom gets going on the island which it inevitably will.

I think i'll just take a punt and wait until the 4th to see if any change (doubtful) and if not just go the 1wk BKK hotel option in a nice decent sized room.

Got 3mths up my sleeve so time isn't huge factor, and given i did at least 5 by 2wk QTs for work in last 18mths it wont kill me.

Anyone else in the same boat ?

Yep, I'm in the same boat.  If nothing changes then I think we'll go to Phuket and pick a nice resort to vacation at.  Besides, if you pick up the virus on day 7, the insurance should take care of you (just the inconvenience of further quarantine).  I suspect with omicron there is no guarantees even going AQ in a Bkk hotel for a week, so may as well enjoy the sandbox.  

I am hoping for a change on the 4th, but I suspect T&G is gone for the next few months or until they accept Omicron's spread.  

Sent by the Chinese government?

Metro Jomtien.  Large, spacious, quiet.  No short termers.  

The unlimited AIS packages 4Mbps & 6 Mbps with no data limit appear to have vanished.  They have been replaced with low max speed data limits then throttling plus the prices are higher.  Anyone know if the old monthly 6Mbps 550baht unlimited code *777*7209# still works?

Hard to say from the video whether he stalled or not.  If he was not using the rudder pedals, then an uncoordinated stall is very possible.  However, in a stall/spin accident, the aircraft will often turn and then nose dive into the ground.  It happens very quickly.  It could be he tried to recover, but there was just not enough altitude.  

Currently what hospital/doctor do you recommend for these procedures?  I also need some samples taken to test for Coeliac disease.  I've used Dr. Varocha before at BNH, but BNH has raised its prices by 40% and no promotions right now.  Bangkok Pattaya has a promotion, but cannot answer a simple email. 

I also want to pick a hospital that has a reputable pathology department.  Otherwise I may just wait and have it done back in Australia.  

Hi,

My daughter is looking to take some Russian classes while in Jomtien.  Does anyone know of language schools offering Russian lessons for a reasonable price in Jomtien or Pattaya?  Any recommendations?   

Thanks in advance. 

We used about 6 visa exempts with no problems over a three month period just recently.  This was with a passport with lots of tourist visas and O visas from previous years.  No questions asked.  We came in and out via the priority lanes.  Most stays were 2-3 weeks and one was just short of the 30 day mark.  

I like the "No photographs" sign right above the patient.  Obviously the officials wanted to capture that... 

I had the opportunity to check out the 'Emergency' department at BPH this morning...I had a heart rate issue caused by a new medication.  It caused major dizzyness/heart racing to the point that two guards had to help me into our car.  Anyway we arrived at the hospital and they immediately had me lay down, took blood pressure and did an ekg.  Everything looked okay, so they sent me upstairs to the heart center. 

I was promptly seen by a cardiologist who after examining me recommended blood tests for thyroid and one to detect if I'd had a heart attack.  He also suggested an exercise stress test.  The tests were back in an hour-normal and then followed the stress test-also normal.  By this time I was feeling a bit better.  The doctor gave me some medications to control the heart rate and my doctor back in Australia said to immediately cease the culprit medication.  I was home by 1pm.  

Anyway, the visit to emergency, ekg, exercise stress test, blood tests, cardiologist, and misc nursing charges came to 6800baht.  I thought it was a good deal.  They gave me a package price for the exercise stress test without me asking.  Overall a very good experience.  Maybe a little more spoken English would help, but to be expected-I'm not in Australia.  Hope this helps.  

Waiting for Fox to return on BTV...

3 hours ago, edd said:

My wife and I went there for a massage
Saw the prices and left
900 B for an oil massage
EACH.
Nice looking place but
WAY over the top price.

Could be a bit higher than that now, albeit for 90mins.  I was also looking at The Relax in Jomtien as an alternative.  We're willing to pay $$$ if we can find someone actually trained to do a proper oil massage.  None of this push here and pinch there random cr*p that we seem to find at the 200/300 baht places.  

Has anyone had a massage at this place and would you recommend it?  Thanks.

2 minutes ago, iReason said:

 

Right.

Let's get our Brownshirts on and ask employees what their political affiliations, past or present are before they get the job.

 

This one-dimensional, binary thinking is beyond tedious...

Special Counsel is different, but maybe your one-dimensional binary thinking says otherwise...