Firefan

I swear I have read about it being possible to negotiate better rates with the banks for larger TT-wires into Thailand. (my search found nothing here though)

Does anybody have any experince with it? How much would one need to wire in to get a preferential exchange rate? What kind of extra compared to the TT-rate can one expect? (1%?, 0.25%? or what?).

Any experience appreciated!

Cheers!

You could well be right Basjke - as I mention; time will show. I have not been hired by these guys but I have done some background checking on the project.

Pattaya weather? If you come from a cold country and hate the cold (even Changmai level iffy-cold ) then it is fantastic! Also more sun stable than most other obvious alternatives as mentioned. A nice breeze even in the hot season, less rain and less storms than most other nearby destinations - hard to beat.

There are a lot of money in Eastern Eu that are looking for places to invest or just go vacation. Some of the worlds most expensive real estate is still in Moscow. 3500 Baht/night is set way too low I think. Does not matter that there are some "ladies of the night" around downtown - the average family will never go there. I already touched on the beach where I tend to agree with you.

As for price one thing is list price, and another is the initial discounted price one might get for taking the risk of buying early in the process - Did they turn down your offer?

I think the project will progress, albeit slowly - due to the current global financial climate. Nest milestone (developer already own the land on both sides of Sukumvit+BOI approval) will be to see those cranes come up and start working - we will see if that happens in 3 months time or not.

Cheers!

Hmm...if currency exchange shops are smart enough to update the price during the day - would it not make sense for shops that make their living on GOLD to have a constant feed giving them the gold market price constantly(no matter whether volatile or not)? Oh well....TIT....

Cheers!

Some here complain about yet another beach/area being developed. Sorry guys/girls - but it has been like that forever and that will not change - just get ready to move again and being one step ahead of the developments! Phuket and Samui were once silent, tropical islands....

The owner/company have an impressive track record of previous developments - and in addition is the main investor in the project - that seems like a good start to me. Escrow adds some more safety too.

While this project is partly capitalized by the owner, I am sure it still needs to meet sales targets/involve banks - and if the Russian/Eastern Eu market is where there are willing buyers, what is wrong with that?

The whole Condotel project with guarenteed investment returns (6%/year for 5 years guarenteed but future room rent return also+capital gains)+free usage of the condo for holidays/periods and a giant water park/entertainment area seems to fit both investors as well as families quite well.

The condo will be earning money when the family is not around and it will be managed/maintained by a high end hotel management company ensuring units maintain their value rather than letting guests abuse the condo and lower the value.

Russia have crap weather, short direct flights to Pattaya, generally they want to be in the sun and hang at the pool in a nice resort in a place with great weather (seperate note: I think Pattaya have some of the best year round weather of anywhere in the world for people who likes the sun/warmth/wind - Phuket and Samui and other islands is not nearly as nice as rain storms Etc. hit them much harder/sun more seasonal). They would want a safe enviroment for them/their kids - and do not want to be near the much beloved (by others) night life.

Some here are in awe about a starting price of 5M Baht... for ocean view, well managed condo in international standard 5 star resort.... sorry guys - not sure where else on the planet one can get that! (without bullets flying outside your window or your bamboo hutt not having hot water...). Comparing to another place in Pattaya makes little sense as the guests/buyers do NOT come to explore Pattaya. They come for the sun/warmth and a top end resort. So one should compare with other countries with similar weather/resort standard.

I agree that the beach there is so-so. While I am sure that the beach, being private, will be artificially upgraded this will never be the Maldives!

Most of the potential guests (be that buyers or hotel guests) will however be plenty happy with the pools/water park/spas Etc. for the reasons I mentioned earlier (families here for the sun).

Will it finish? I believe it will but it has several stages - heard that the base/water park construction start in 3 months time, and when those cranes come up I would think we see an even more increased interest in the project - as well as list prices going up. So snatching up one of the cheaper units now might not be a bad idea at all... - time will show!

Cheers!

Hi Bambi! Wauw - Holland now! You are one well travelled girl! When are you coming back to all of us in Thailand? Cheers!

Hmmm...the original poster was looking for a natural solution rather than most of the chemical, alcohol and paraben loaded creams we see everywhere and gets a recommendation for a cream that contains; "Cetaeryl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Ceteth 20, Polysorbate 60, Paraffin, benzyl Alcohol, methyl Paraben, Propyl Paraben" - Yummy!

If natural is the target then I agree with Mighty Mouse to use 100% natural cold pressed oils such as coconut oil Etc.

Cheers!

Because not related at all. Longstay is simply a retirement visa w. lipstick on it. Cheers!

Out of interest... why has there been no mention of Thailand Long Stay Company in this discussion? If roumors are tru they should be affected too right?

Mr. H

Have heard some of the higher end spas sell the digestive enzymes - as used (together with probiotics) to restore the healthly enviroment in the stomach/digestive tract after colonics. Expensive though (and probably little selection)! So makes more sense to get from abroad somehow. Never seen flax oil in any supermarket but GNC sells as capsules. Instead I just buy the flax seeds (in some of the higher end supermarkets) and put on my musli/in food. Cheers!

I tried both coffees (americano) and find them equal. I would just have thought that Macdonalds cafe coffee would but a LOT cheaper than Starbucks (which I understand it is in USA).

Here the price difference is fairly small - the Sbux americano is 65 Baht (don't remember clearly - but think was 5-10 Baht in difference for a small americano). Maybe the MacD one was a bit bigger though?

Cheers!

I bought one a couple of years back - don't think it made a difference. Maybe you have better luck with it - maybe it's a "new and improved! - Now with pro-vitamin b5!" - version. Keep us posted! Cheers!

Me + 1!

In fact I think I was the first to arrange an un-official Thaivisa piss-up at Larry's Dive about 2 years ago. Was fun, a great venue.

Cheers!

dam_n Alex! What a trip! Glad you made it back. Cheers!

Well I think what happened was that since the organizers were not there until 9 despite telling people to be there 730tish there were quite a few people just hanging out with other friends - and yeah that murgatroyd pirate costume was awesome! Cheers!

Yeah Thithi/Yas Etc., saw you arrive but then you were gone! Met a few other members there though - was a fun eve. Cheers!

What's up with all the fighting? Love not war!

Hugs and kisses, FF

Sounds like another fun chance to meet up with fellow TV'ers! I will be there again (I hope). Cheers!

RJT; at Santika then? Cheers!

Auch my head! Was a fun eve and despite my better judgement I continued out on town with Britmav and made the headache even worse.

Girlx/Yasx/Thithi/Thingthong; fun meeting you! How was Santika? I was up for it but ended up elsewhere.

Also great seeing Elsie and Scoobie again!

Great talks (over the music) with several people such as Alexlah, Scobangkok(sp?), Bkkjames, Soundman, RJT, Thaigirl, Midasthailand+wife, SBK, Razz(sp?), bigtoe and others I try to remember with my current aching head....

Cheers! (in water...)

I popped by 2 days ago and asked them to consider more than just the vodka shots they mentioned to me then. Like a "happy hour" just for us. Not taking away from Elsie though - great job! See ya soon! Cheers!

I think I want to partake in the piss-up too! Cheers!

Great idea James! Do they have an happy hour? Maybe they could extend it for us or whatever. Britmav; will you give them a buzz? Cheers!

Mig; in town next wk!? Cool!

Alright I feel slightly "immature" for my last post above and im just making this crap as I go along. so

On a serous note how short are the waitress's skirts at this establishment.? What are we ordering? Vodka, Tequila and those cute plastic kegs of Heineken? I'm down for that.

The skirts are fairly long and in many cases they are wearing pants underneath.

They do however smile and wai constantly, this was my experience anyway.

Upstairs there is a pretty good area for a sizable group, not quite as loud and just next to the icebar.

The white russians were rather milky, but effective. They also come with cherries?!

RJT, I am in the process of implementing my plan for global revolution in the name MoFoCA

(Movement For Constructive Anarchy), the initial stage of which entails bringing the illusion of sustainable capitalism to an end. To this end I have taken myself and my money out of the consumerist aspect of samsara, the economic turmoil around us is actually caused by me not purchasing alchohol. The final stage will be Killing Industrialists, Shallow SalaryMen, Hypocrites and Supporting Sustainability.

CodeName KISSmAHaSS -MoFoCA

Hopefully we can meet up again when my schedule is more accommodating.

Just a thought, perhaps someone who knows the (american?) owners of this place may give them the heads-up that we are coming and perhaps they could set aside a little place for all of us? Failing that, they could just give us a few bottles of Absolut and I would be ok with that.

Thanks

Cheers

Too many people I know are joining this one!

I will HAVE to join!

Britmav; look forward to catching up! And JD! and.....

Cheers!

Knightsbridge; yeah, I heard about the charity-concert being put together for him. Super move!

A rare viral nervous system infection. Yeah - I can see have the constant ICU at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital will eat through a 1M baht insurance very quickly. Even when comparing with heart surgery/brain surgery the ICU is so much more expensive.

I have heard similar horror storries (was also a rare viral infection) about the ICU cost at Bangkok Pattaya hospital and I believe that AA (Thaivisa) insurance assisted him in being moved to the Marine hospital down there after burning through 300k for just a wk+ or so at the ICU - and that was without any real surgeries.

I wish him the best and will get myself back to getting some more cover beyond my Thai visa 1.5M Baht cover.

Cheers!

Knightsbridge; like LoveDaBlues (and you) I am also surprised to see such a high amount popping up.

I have before requested more high-end examples from Thaivisa Insurance in order to decide what my own cover should be but never got any good examples. So I relied on valious anecdotal information and questions directly to doctors/hospitals and the normal expensive stuff (heart surgery/brain surgery/cancer treatment Etc.) all NORMALLY seemed to top out around 1M Baht at the better hospitals. Seems Lovedablues anecdotal info is in the same range.

Can you advise what he is being treated for that is so expensive? It would help me/others to ask the right questions at hospitals and thereby finding the right higher end cover for me.

CHeers!

Very important point by Naam! The OP was asking about bank account- meaning he/she has money (which could lead to interest/other stock& bond investments Etc.) the scary part about the US tax system to most planning to live abroad is that they have to pay US tax on all their (global) investment returns! As far as I (and Naam) understands the $80k deduction does NOT cover capital gains/interest Etc.

Naam mentions "own capital". I am not sure how ones OWN company would fit in that equation? Since most companies are 51% Thai "owned" here (leaving out the extra options that US nationals have for setting up a company) that might help with that?

The $80k deduction also had a sub clause about whether the employer is a US company or a foreign company but I do not recall the details.

Cheers!

I do believe US citizens are exempt from global taxation for any amount under $80,000....

Please do not make that mistake......Yes there is a ~$82,000 exemption available, BUT it is only available when you file your taxes....You must file and claim the exemption to get it.

most important is that the tax free $82k have to must be derived from employment, not from own capital!