richard_smith237

I think this is a good idea, a pinned thread is something I would check on a regular basis.

I narrowly avoided a speeding fine on the Bangna-Trat 2nd upper level express way after a friend called me to warn me (we were both on the way to the golf course and he was a few Km's ahead of me).

It seems to me that many of the locations such as speed traps etc (for cars in particular) are at fixed locations. It would be interesting to learn of other areas where I should be extra vigilant and not let my speed creep up.

Unfortunately the police love to hammer the motorbikes and I see those check points all over the place - keeping track of those check points might be a little more tricky.

Edit: I didn't notice this in the Samui, Phangan, kho Tao forum until now - I think a pinned thread would be a good idea for Bangkok also....

Judging on the input from the TE card holders, it would appear they biggest benefit for the card is how quickly thru immigration (with an escort!). Free golf and massage also gets a mention.

One poster says it will pay for itself in 7-8 years and now 12 years with the price increase. I can't see how this is possible. Exactly what kind of massage is on offer?

Its a simple matter of working out how much I used the services and the money I save each time I do so.

This is just for the usage that I have got from Thai Elite and this is just for the services. On top of this I save 10% at most of the shopping malls and duty free (not a big deal so I didn’t count it), and get 20% discount at a lot of the good restaurants (i.e. Marriot riverside Sunday Brunch etc)... I have not put a financial value on the excellent Visa benifits and the time saving when travelling through the airports 20+ times per year.

This is how I worked out that it would pay for its self in approximately 7-8 years, After usage this year it looks like about 6 years, but I imagine some years I could play less golf etc...

Golf at 2000 Baht per round: Playing 2-4 times per month: 4000 B to 8000 Baht per month.

Massage at 1600 Baht per massage: 2-4 times per month: 3200 B to 6400 Baht per month.

Airport transfer: 2 times per month (*See comment below): 2000 B to 4000 Baht per month.

Totals Per Month: 9200 B to 18400 Baht per month.

Totals Per Year: 110,400 B to 220800 Baht per Year.

1 MB Cost Recuperated after: 9 years to 4.5 years.

*Airport transfers in a BWM 7 series, so I estimate 2000B for the cost, but at the low end I’m also considering normal AOT taxi at what I used to pay before I joined Thai Elite which was 1000B per trip

(Edit for typo's)

Been reading about the Elite card for a few years now and the thing I find most curious

is that the literature/website provides only hints about savings on Golf, Spa's etc. never

any guarantees whatsoever.

Even more curious is that the owners of these cards do the same. Never once have I heard a

member give a factual report such as ... I go to Big Mango golf course once a fortnight

and get a 40% reduction. Now why is that ?

Naka.

For me personally I thought it was because when I said free golf and free massage, that's what I meant and thought it was clearly understood. I have not paid for a round of golf in over a year (I've only paid caddy fees and caddy tips... And for a cart at place like Alpine and Laem Chabang GCC)....

To Clarify - On any of the Courses listed on the Thai Elite website I play for free and only have to pay for the Caddy fee (and golf cart if it's a course where we have to have one)

This means, In Bangkok:

• Summit Windmills,

• Green Valley,

• Lakewood,

• Muang Keaw ,

Can all be booked as late as an hour before the same day (if the course is open) I pay Caddy fee (and Tip only). My friends get 10% green fee discount.

• Alpine,

• Navatanee,

Must be booked 3-5 working days in advance - I play for free and have to pay for the Cart and caddy.

Do RR make 4X4 these days?

Don't forget you'll have to report the colour change to the Transport Office and get your blue book amended, you might even need to get police permission to respray as it's going to be a different colour.

RR = Range Rover.... of course they make 4x4s (unless you are referring to different types of 4WD systems)!

I'm just guessing about the kind of car he has, given that he wants (another guess) Overfinch (kick arse) wheels... I'm a RR fan myself

I don't think you need police permission to respray. I've done it twice on 2 different cars and didn't need police permission, though maybe the rules have changed.

Thanks guys... Correct on all fronts... Mk III RR - I want pearlescent white... And 22" Tiger alloys.. to pimp it up a little !

This guy in Lad Prao - how good is he ? i.e. he's not going to Spoil A Range Rover is he? does anyone have idea of likely cost.

I've looked into importing the Tiger Alloys and drawn a blank unless I buy some when I am home and ship them over... But I also have to consider if the correct tires are available in Bangkok also.... RPM in Thonglor said they'd look into it, then were useless...

Thanks for all your comments...

While I was working for a Multi-national company I was paid monthly into two accounts.

A fixed salary was established based on what a Thai would earn in a similar position. This was paid into a Thai account and tax was paid on this. The remainder a significantly larger amount of the salary was paid to an offshore account.

When being paid from overseas this should be easy to do. Could a similar arrangement be made with your company ?

I’m not sure about the States. But a couple of years ago I would get a 6 month tourist visa from the UK. I no longer need this and I don’t know if it’s still available but maybe worth looking into.

In May, My girlfriend and I were going to take a short 4 day vacation… Our options were completely open and we talked about Maldives, China, Indonesia, Laos… etc

China was clinching it until I read this thread… It's now off the list.

We are now planning to head off to India to see the sights around Delhi and Agra… and enjoy our time there without having to perform back flips for a visa.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention…

I’m thinking about getting my car re-sprayed a different colour. It’s a black Top end 4x4 and I think it would look great in a pearlescent white.

Does anybody know of a good outfit in Bangkok who could be trusted to spray an already expensive car this colour and what the likely cost would be.

I'm also looking for some 22" alloy wheels (i.e. Tiger alloys), I've searched extensively (Srinakarin area, Behind Chula / MBK / Rama IV area) but have drawn a blanks from all.

Thanks…

How do I know this? I just visited them last week them to inquire about the card.

I dropped by the Elite office on North Sathorn Rd a couple of days ago and met two reps from the company.

Do they have nice complimentary cookies and coffee at their offices? Is that why you go there weekly?

Sheeesh there are are bitter people on ThaiVisa. I've been to see the Thailand Elite people once to get some FACTS, which is something ThaiVisa is particularly lacking in with regards to this visa on offer.

But then the Elite card scheme is clearly not designed for the great unwashed hoards of riff-raff that seem to view Thais and Thailand with contempt, so I can see why it upsets some so much.

No indeed, the Elite card was designed for the small overly manicured set of riff-raff that seem to view the world and humanity with contempt and who need overly priced trifles such as Rolex watches and Elite cards to compensate for imagined inadequacies in other departments. : )

And this is as intelligent as your discussion of the Thai Elite service gets?

Would my phallus be smaller than yours if I drive a bigger / faster / more powerful car? Or does your fixation with the measurement of another mans ‘piece’ or ‘member’ involve only his ‘time piece’ and ‘memberships’?

I'd be annoyed too. Equally as annoying is the inexcusable nature of the Ops. post who can’t even see when he is clearly in the wrong.

People having no respect for other property is a pet peeve

Usually after arrival – I’m in a car and on my way home 25 minutes or so after touch down (this also depends on baggage time – but flying business class bags are often the first group off).

And usually on a departure, I’m sitting in a lounge 10 minutes or so after arriving at the airport

all points noted - but there's anyway a marginal difference if you travel business / first class (particuarly tg) - elite card or not...

I always travel First Class, I am always the first out of the airport (before the other First Class passengers) (those with no TE card)

I love TE

Is there fast track immigration lane on arrival for First and Business class passengers flying on Thai Airways? In this case, yes… the difference in timing between touchdown and airport exit for first and business class arrivals compared to the T.E. arrivals must be negligible. Do other airlines passengers flying First and Business class get fast track immigration ? (if it exists).

Here are my opinions from some one who actually has Thai Elite Membership.

I have not been able to fault the Thai Elite card.

The Elite card will pay for itself in 7-8 years of usage at 1MB.

The 1.5m has reduced the value… but the costs can still be recovered in 12 years.

For some one not working in Thailand, not wishing to marry for an O visa, and with 30 or so years to go to retirement age there is no other option.

The service is excellent: 5 year renewable visa, Golf, massage, Airport expedition for my frequent trips.

Only one risk exists for me and that’s the risk of the Thai Elite service folding. There are promises of compensation in this case, although I’m not holding my breath.

IF the program lasts and I’ve heard no indications beyond speculation in Thai Visa that it wont, then at 1MB, 1.5MB, life time or 30 years, people will recover their outlay and after an initial period save money.

For the record: the Op is incorrect. The 5 year SE (special entry) visa (renewable every 5 years) remains, it’s effectively the same as a 5 year tourist visa would be, and people still have to report every 90 days.

I have friends who do not need the visa (they are work permitted or Married), but they also joined Thai elite because of the potential cost savings is provides. At 1MB it was a bargain when a little foresight was used.

For those with shorter vision of course 1MB is expensive, but look a little further (10 years) and we will save money.

I’d still be interested to hear from any Thai Elite members first hand who are not happy with service or regret buying it. I believe only that would give an unbiased opinion as they have been in the position to purchase membership in the first place.

For those who can’t afford it, that’s your lot, but knocking someone else because they can is a little narrow minded. You may not yourself be thinking from the same perspective. If I wasn’t as fortunate, I’d think it was too expensive also, but then again, a lot of people think fancy sports cars and 5 star hotels, business class flights are too expensive when all you need to do is drive from A to B or spend a night sleeping, or sit on a plane for 12 hours.

I’m not defending the logic of the price rise from 1MB to 1.5MB, I can’t understand this other than the fact that the Thai Elite management have realised that at 1MB is too much of a bargain. But, they still need to attract more members and a price hike does not seem a good way to do this. Better, accurate information and marketing would be a more logical way to move forwards IMHO. It would also put a stop to some of the inaccurate hearsay that circulates on forums like this.

Richard

Am I correct that you can also get two for one flight tickets with TG?

Johnb

Yep – but not with Economy only with full fare Business or First class flights.

The full fare is expensive and not worth it IMO as it works out at a similar cost as 2 business class tickets with Etihad (For example) who have flat beds.

Makes traveling in and out of Thailand a breeze too.

the only chance of breeze these days would be to stand downwind from the seriously downgraded fat tart waiting for you with the golf cart at the gate....

i've cleared immigration faster than elite card holders on most ocassions these days and they got their luggage after mine as well...

outbound last week i even witnessed a card member and his elite escort return to join the end of the line at tg business class section after finding the unmanned elite immigration counter....

That’s quite right – on occasions the Thai Elite immigration counter is unmanned.

Whenever this has happened to me, my T.E. escort and I walk past the diplomat queue to the table behind the booths and get processed immediately there.

When the airport is so busy that there are even 10 people in the diplomat queue and 20-30 or so in any of the normal queue’s I can’t see how anything could be quicker.

However, when the airport is empty there is little or no time advantage.

The T.E. Card in this case is only of real advantage the 80% of the time that the airport is busy with lots of departing or arriving flights.

Quoting a one off is ok, but I can confidently say that in my experience 80% of the time, the T.E. member is significantly quicker, through the airport, departing and arriving.

Usually after arrival – I’m in a car and on my way home 25 minutes or so after touch down (this also depends on baggage time – but flying business class bags are often the first group off).

And usually on a departure, I’m sitting in a lounge 10 minutes or so after arriving at the airport

Here are my opinions from some one who actually has Thai Elite Membership.

I have not been able to fault the Thai Elite card.

The Elite card will pay for itself in 7-8 years of usage at 1MB.

The 1.5m has reduced the value… but the costs can still be recovered in 12 years.

For some one not working in Thailand, not wishing to marry for an O visa, and with 30 or so years to go to retirement age there is no other option.

The service is excellent: 5 year renewable visa, Golf, massage, Airport expedition for my frequent trips.

Only one risk exists for me and that’s the risk of the Thai Elite service folding. There are promises of compensation in this case, although I’m not holding my breath.

IF the program lasts and I’ve heard no indications beyond speculation in Thai Visa that it wont, then at 1MB, 1.5MB, life time or 30 years, people will recover their outlay and after an initial period save money.

For the record: the Op is incorrect. The 5 year SE (special entry) visa (renewable every 5 years) remains, it’s effectively the same as a 5 year tourist visa would be, and people still have to report every 90 days.

I have friends who do not need the visa (they are work permitted or Married), but they also joined Thai elite because of the potential cost savings is provides. At 1MB it was a bargain when a little foresight was used.

For those with shorter vision of course 1MB is expensive, but look a little further (10 years) and we will save money.

I’d still be interested to hear from any Thai Elite members first hand who are not happy with service or regret buying it. I believe only that would give an unbiased opinion as they have been in the position to purchase membership in the first place.

For those who can’t afford it, that’s your lot, but knocking someone else because they can is a little narrow minded. You may not yourself be thinking from the same perspective. If I wasn’t as fortunate, I’d think it was too expensive also, but then again, a lot of people think fancy sports cars and 5 star hotels, business class flights are too expensive when all you need to do is drive from A to B or spend a night sleeping, or sit on a plane for 12 hours.

I’m not defending the logic of the price rise from 1MB to 1.5MB, I can’t understand this other than the fact that the Thai Elite management have realised that at 1MB is too much of a bargain. But, they still need to attract more members and a price hike does not seem a good way to do this. Better, accurate information and marketing would be a more logical way to move forwards IMHO. It would also put a stop to some of the inaccurate hearsay that circulates on forums like this.

That sounds like quite a harsh deal. It sounds as though you were taken advantage of and manipulated a little.

However, You have been a victim of your own naivety and a boss who was willing to take advantage of that.

If you were waiting for a work permit, you should have had a Non-immigration type B visa or something similar, you should have also been involved in the work permit application process (i.e. providing passport photos, qualification certification etc)…

With just a tourist visa you were working illegally and I doubt you have a leg to stand on or any right to claim unfair dismissal.

You were paid what a Thai would be paid in a similar role and there are plenty of Thai’s with a strong IT base.

I believe you might have to put this one down to experience and use what you have learnt when negotiating for further work with other companies.

Many years ago on my way the temple on a Sunday morning with my girl friend and her father

It was a half hearted attempt at showing that I am respectful gentleman, hence a Sunday morning visit to the Temple.

We stopped off on the way to get some Dim Sum (as both my girlfriend and I were hungry), as my girlfriend was driving, I hoped out and asked for the dim sum, my girl friend telling me what to say in Thai… My copy cat Thai worked and we got the Dim Sum. The street vendor asked if I would like sauce on it… And.. I repeated the question to my girlfriend in my best Thai…(over the lap of her father who was in the front passenger seat)… 'Naam Jim, Au Mai?'…

After his initial shock, my girlfriends father who had up until this point maintained an air of respectful and serious distance (while I was 'proving' myself)… cracked up …

A couple of years ago after dinner …

After having dinner, the Valet returned my girlfriends car and she went back to my apt to wake up for an early morning flight. I saw her off in the car and continued on out to catch up with some friends

A few moments later, I received a call from her asking me what she should do about the semen on her car and that the valet had spoken to her and recommended that she wash it off when she gets home as it can damage the paint work.

I told her not to worry, it won’t do any harm, I’ll wash it off when I get back, “But how the hel_l did semen get on your?” car I asked, she told me that they Valet had told her that they park the car near a condo construction site..

I asked still, “how the hel_l did semen get on your car from a condo building”…

She was getting rather irritated with me at this point… Particularly when I asked “what are the workers doing at the condo construction? Knocking one off, off of the 20th floor and it hits your car?”…

The discussion was getting a little stressed so we both agreed that I’d just clean it off when I got home.

I got home drunk, went to the underground parking garage and saw something sprayed up the side of her car… a tentative closer inspection revealed cement….

IF you are limited for planning time: I believe Switzerland is one of the few places in Europe where a Thai does not require a visa.

A UK Visa does not permit you to travel throughout the Rest of the E.U.

A Schengen visa will permit you to travel to many of the E.U. Countries (check limitations)

If you run a search this information should be readily available.

You mentioned that you are taking 4 kicks per stroke and that you are uncomfortable with the timing of 2 kicks per stroke....

However, as I understand it, fly is a 2:1 kick to stroke ratio and this maintains the body momentum between strokes...

Waiting for 4 kicks might allow the upper torso to sink into the water just that little bit more and with fatigue create more difficulty getting ‘arms over ‘ towards the end of the length. Also, making sure the chin touches the chest with the head down on the arm stroke permits an easier stroke.

When tired out, A cheat that not an illegal stroke is breathing to one side… As the body tires, less effort is required to breath turning the head, rather than lifting the head.

Strangely enough… The only Polite Immigration officials I come across have been in The UK and Bangladesh !...

Of course, I cannot comment on places I’ve never visited. However I am fairly well travelled.

In Thailand, I cannot claim that I have experienced bad manners, however the immigration are always just that little bit too surly for my liking. It’s as if they are posturing to purvey their ‘power’ and consider that I would interpret any sign of politeness as a sign of weakness.

I am always escorted though the immigration line by Thai Elite, we either go through the diplomatic line or straight to the desk at the back on departures, or, a specific Thai Elite lane or Diplomatic lane on arrival.

I would expect that dealing with Diplomats etc the immigration officials may be prepared to offer an extra little courtesy, a smile, a nod in reaction to the ‘thank you’ or even simple acknowledgment that I exist. This also always occurred pre-Thai Elite days.

The Thai Elite escort always gets a nod and a ‘Ka ‘or ‘Krup’ when they say Thank you…

This just leads me to think that the Immigration officials are rude and us foreigners are a sub-species in their eyes… As of late this behavior has driven me to play the same game and stand there, as if they don’t exist, then waltz through without even an acknowledgement. The thing here is, is that I’m deliberately lowering my standards by actively being what I think is impolite and the official is so ignorant he probably doesn’t even notice…

Is it a game, There is no way to win… But sometimes I can’t help getting drawn into these tiny momentary little ego games…. It’s fun and quite harmless so long as I am not directly rude and I only do it when the officer is clearly posturing.

Of course it’s not really an issue, however, after time some things wear thin.

As this post was started I thought my observations have some relevance.

In response to the opening post: The Immigration officer in this case was clearly a ‘bad apple’. Given the location I think it was smart not to raise the issue. But had this happened at an Airport I would been tempted to follow this up with a complaint.

I’ve given up with the communication problem.

My Thai is not great, but I make efforts.

When I’m with another westerner, they understand my Thai. My girlfriend and many Thai friends all understand me when I speak Thai.

When I enter any establishment of the service industry and speak Thai.. As someone said, the lights are on, but often no one is home and I either have to repeat myself a number of times or a Thai translates Thai for me.

Often, I am lazy to do the ordering (as I was brought up, as the male it should be me who deals with ordering and communication and take care of my partner, I believe this also works in Thailand), I break my ‘gentleman’s’ rule and let my girlfriend do the ordering etc… Again, very often the lights are on and no-one is home (this has happened with a couple of previous girlfriends, so its not a Bangkok accent thing). My girlfriend offers the suggestion that in a lot of the service establishments folk are not working in their native tongue, and that coming from a different province they often have difficulty clearly understanding Thai as it is spoken in Bangkok. This combined with a mind numbed by menial tasks and its hardly any wonder that things are misunderstood, forgotten etc…

It used to drive me insane… but I find that so many of the problems that frustrated me, because I thought it was a Thai/westerner thing also very often occur ‘Thai on Thai’

The folk who say they never have these things happen to them either have some pretty thickly rose tinted specks or they might be completely mind numbed and simply not notice… This is obviously why they would write ‘if you don’t like it, go home’ and attempt to tarnish someone else’s thread by attempting to turn it into a slanging match after the 5th or so post.

Did you think about transferring the money to her account - then she can go buy one ?

I just flew with them at the beginning of April.

The business lounge in Bangkok has not changed - it leaves a lot to be desired.

Food is very basic.

The lounge at Abu Dhabi was under refurbishment – and we could use the Transport hotel lounge or another lounge – they were both very busy.

In comparison, the Etihad lounge is far superior to any other ... Moet champagne, a full range of excellent foods and drinks and good seating (in Bangkok). Upon my return, I’m expecting the Emirates lounge in Dubai to be very busy however.

I always find the lounge time is limited unless there is a long time between connecting flights in Abu Dhabi. In flight the excellent 180 deg flat beds in business class far outweigh any differences in lounge quality.

I just flew Emirates to Dubai and the business class seats felt cramped a-la-economy style by comparison.

Its best to get a fluent Thai speaker to deal with this and get quotes for the make/model/age of the car etc… once you are satisfied with a company the procedure has been quite simple. There are advertisements all over and pretty much every bank has their insurance branch.

Recently I swapped over insurance companies because my current insurance company was undervaluing my car (i.e. the payout in the event of a total write off etc to the difference of nearly 1MB)....

With the help of my girlfriend I successfully found an insurance company who would insure my car for closer to its real value.

The company came round to my apartment, took photos of my car, chassis number etc. I'm told this is only necessary for cars greater than a certain value. I wired the years payment and faxed them the receipt, the same day the documents were couriered to my apartment.

Insurance companies are quite competitive. They will more than likely send an agent round to your office with the forms etc although don't expect an English speaker.

If its a standard Japanese car (i.e. Civic, accord etc) they will be able to value it based on the age and model without looking at it.

It would be a good idea to also have the Chassis number and new registration number.

My utility bills in Bangkok are between B2000 and B3000 depending on how much I use the Aircon...

I would guess that a good B30,000 apartment would have similar bills....