iammarilou

Thank you all for the great responses. We are not in a hurry to get to Chiang Mai. We have a lot of times in our hands so we'll probably check a lot of the places you guys suggested here. Thanks a lot!

Just arrived in Bangkok and rented a car. We will be driving from Bangkok to Jomtien Beach in the next few days and then driving from Jomtien to Chiang Mai. Its going to be a very long drive (based on google maps) so we decided to break the drive in between. Any suggestion for possible places to stop to spend the night or two? If there are something to see in those places it would also be a plus. It's our first time to do this drive so any suggestions would really be appreciated. Thanks!

I am planning to enrol in one of Bupa's Platinum Plan in the next few days. I was just wondering if anyone has tried/still is using Bupa and are they worth it? Their plans are kinda expensive so I want to know anyone's experience using it. Are they really helpful or easy to deal with?

Let say I came to Thailand on a visa exempt and was given 30 days. Before my 30 days finished I extended it to another 30 days. Then I'm leaving the country for a week and will come back again.

I don't understand. Why wouldn't you just get a tourist visa for the first part of your trip?

A single entry tourist visa covers your first 60 days, only costs about 1250 baht and there's no distractions going to immigration. Your visa exempt + extension option involves the hassle of a trip to immigration plus a 1900 baht fee for the extension.

Plus you still have the option of getting a 30 day extension to your visa after those 60 days if your one week exit plans change in any way.

I would if getting a tourist visa in the Philippines is not a pain in the ass. I could go to another country (Laos, Cambodia, or else where) to get the tourist visa but I had to go back to Philippines for some important matter.

If you don't already have several it would be fine. Have some money on you not a bad idea. The main problem is getting on the plane. You won't have a ticket out within 30 days. Also on your second flight in you do not mention flight out of thailand.

We always have ticket out of Thailand within 30 days whenever we come here and just rebook it to another date when we have to. Thinking of doing the same thing as what the first visa exempt stamp. Extend it for another 30 days then get out of the Thailand. Then maybe do the same thing next year.

Let say I came to Thailand on a visa exempt and was given 30 days. Before my 30 days finished I extended it to another 30 days. Then I'm leaving the country for a week and will come back again. Will I be given another visa exempt stamp? Or will I have a problem getting in? Thanks.

More info:

We'll be entering via air. A Filipina and a British.

I am a Filipina and I am holding a double entry tourist visa for Thailand. Is it possible for me to apply a Schengen visa while I am here in Bangkok instead of going back to my country and apply it from there? I was told I can do it here as my current visa for Thailand allows me to stay here for more than 3 months. But I want to make sure if that information is correct. Anyone knows anything about it? Thanks.

It would contributors if you state if you're interested in day trips or a couple of days or longer.

I actually mentioned in my post "I'm looking for suggestions for places to visit outside Bangkok for a day or two"

There's a circus not that far from Bangkok if your interested ...... it's called Pattaya !

Thanks. But Im a woman and I've been to Pattaya 3 years ago. Not my thing.

A short outing. Paradise shopping mall (refurbished a few years back and now very good with a Foodland) on srinakarin road followed by a few hours in Rama IX park behind it. There's also Megabangba/ikea worth visiting on bangna trat road about 20 minutes drive away.

Thanks. Im in Mega Bangna almost everyday (except weekend) for coffee. I am also currently staying near a Paradise Mall.

There's a circus not that far from Bangkok if your interested ...... it's called Pattaya !

Thanks. But Im a woman and I've been to Pattaya 3 years ago. Not my thing.

Thank you all for the replies. I forgot to mention I do have a rented car. Will be checking these places starting next week. :-)

As what my title says, I'm looking for suggestions for places to visit outside Bangkok for a day or two. Preferably just an hour or two drive from the city. Somewhere not too touristy and open on weekdays. Gardens, mountains and that kind of stuff would be nice.

Thanks.

Hi, I will be going to Thailand next week. Will be spending time around Bangkok, Hua Hin and probably Phuket. I will be needing the internet all the time as my work depends on it. Last time I was in Thailand I was using the AIS Travellers sim and it was working good in most places. And I liked the idea that I could send sms to my home country for only 4baht. But before I left Thailand DTAC was advertising 4G/LTE (apparently the first in Thailand). I was thinking of trying it out.

Has anyone had experience using this network? Which is better DTAC or AIS? Does AIS offer the 4G/LTE now? Thanks.

Misleading title. What does this got to do with a Filipina?

Went to Japan (Tokyo and Nagoya) twice. First in 2009 for 15 days and second just last year during the Cherry Blossom season for 3 months. Never used any tours. I just research a lot about where to go and how to get there. There are a lot of websites that you could get informations about these places. Once there, it will be easy to get around as the public transportation there is fantastic and always on time (although they can get very busy on certain times of the day). And Japanese people are very friendly, always willing to help when you feel like you're lost. Got lost many times but its okay its part of the adventure. And I found it very safe walking, getting lost in the street. And without the tour group I am free to manage my own time not being rush from one place to another. Goodluck on your trip! I would love to be going back to Japan again someday (maybe Osaka and Kyoto) !

My friend's friend is apparently having hard time losing weight through dieting. She now wants to have her intestine operated to make it smaller. I don't know the exact term of the procedure (gastric bypass maybe? ). Im not familiar with the procedure either. And because Thailand (Bangkok) is famous for plastic surgeries she decided to have it done here.

Can anyone please suggest where is the best place to have this thing done? Is it even safe? I am so clueless in this kind of topic as it never crossed my mind to have any types of surgeries for myself. Any suggestions will be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

I agree with the people about Asus Zenphone. I had Zenphone 5 and I really loved it. I had used samsung as well ( Samsung Note 2 supposed to be one of the best on samsung ranges of phones) but that gave me headache and cost money for repairs after less than 2 years of using it.

Zenphone 5 also has low-light mode for camera which is pretty good for taking pictures when its dark. Its got big screen, dual sim (not that you need it), and cost 5990 baht. But Zenphone 2 is coming out soon so might want to check on that as well. Goodluck!

I watched it. Waste of time. Would never recommend it.

So sad! That's why I haven't seen her in Coronation Street on a few episodes now. RIP Anne and RIP Deirdre

I just came back and will be staying for another 3 months. I have been using AIS traveller's sim the whole time I have been here last year as it gives me cheap SMS rate (3 baht) to my home country. But I found that sending sms to local numbers here also cost 3baht. I have also been using the 799baht/month package for mobile data. I work with my computer all the time so having internet on the go is important for me. Now I find it expensive to use 799baht/month package. I wanted to change to another network if there is another one that has cheaper mobile data packages but still has reliable connection especially if I will be travelling around Thailand (will be in Chiang Mai next week and who knows where next).

Can anyone share their experiences with their mobile data? Which network would you prefer? Thanks!

Passion fruit

I don't understand all the fuss about Uber. Some people constantly bashing it but never really used it. Its like iPhones vs androids. Some people can afford to use it and some cannot. If you can't afford it then don't use it. If you can then do. It's a matter of personal preferences. No need to bash if you can't afford or you don't want to do use it. Just saying!

Personally I love it. I've used many metered taxis in Bangkok and I have experience more unpleasant trips than pleasant ones. I used Uber in my home country too. Drivers are nice, new cars, smells good, no loud music in the background, drivers rarely speak and never complains no matter how far the distance of where I'm going (as long as its in the city), water ready for me in the car, pick me up in front of my doorstep. It's safe too. I installed another Uber app in my partners phone with the same information as what I have and we can both track down each other's trip (if we are not in the car at the same time) and the car and driver's info. That is pretty awesome for me.

Hello,

Christmas is just around the corner. Anyone has any idea where to get an affordable Christmas eve dinner for two overlooking the river? Or any place with a nice view?

This is our first Christmas in Bangkok and is staying in a hotel so cooking Christmas meal like I usually do is not an option.

Thanks.

Thanks for all your replies. I now understand.

I just bought an iPhone 6 Plus over the apple's Thailand online store. I bought the phone today around a little bit after midnight. The receipt/confirmation says:

Available to ship: 5-7 business days

Delivers: 22/12/2014 - 23/12/2014 by Standard Shipping

You see this is my first time to purchase anything on the apple's online store. Can anyone explain to me what this means? Should I expect my phone in 5-7 days or on December 22-23 ? Im not good at math but I know December 22-23 is not 5-7 days business days from today.

Thanks