richard_smith237

Yup.. Its a scam that has been around for a while now. Numerous threads about it... including the one I started below, a few people were sceptical that it was really a scam, but since then a load of others have also reported the same attempts. Easy avoided simply by never doing Cash on Delivery (for any order).

No…it’s one of the bigger chains & it’s consistent… Marriott is kind of like the Audi of hotels, whereas the Mandarin Oriental is more of a Rolls Royce…

Take a look at Decathlon https://www.decathlon.co.th/en-TH/p/touring-bike-riverside-rt-520-blue-11-speed-hydraulic-disc-brake-riverside-8656222.html

Agreed... even down to the training of the staff... Though its an extremely bold claim - "best in the world"... ... But the 'best anything in the world' is an extreme claim when it comes down to subjectiveness... That said, the opinions of some so far indicate they have never stayed there don't have a frame of reference and are just poo-pooing something they know little about.

I kind of agree, that everything is fine until it isn't... Though I've been over two decades here, been involved with 3 car accidents, no issues, police were fair, insurance sorted out simply... No big deal. I think the 'gouging' occurs when weakness is shown.

International Schools here are the worst mockery of education. Yesterday visited Berkeley at Bang-Na to meet old friend: "wannabee asylum on steroids" I'm not sure what '=Berkley is like... But if you've never had a child at one of the international schools in Thailand, then you are not qualified to comment. My Son's International school is simply fantastic. That is surely an individual situation - there is no consistency that suggests in 'single parent situations the father is always better' - thats just rubbish, the mother may be the better parent, or neither. You will need healthcare one day - and if its something serious that can get very expensive (my bills have exceeded US$20,000 in the past 12 months alone) For the free healthcare option - Citizenship makes sense for anyone living here who is working here (for longer than 3 years) - it takes effort of course. And you get a yearly visa - with the life time Thai Elite, I get a life time of Visas, a lifetime of Airport transport and fast track, a life time of free Golf, Massages, yearly hospital checkups... 15 years in, Membership has already paid for itself and then there is the option to sell it on.... (and memberships are now worth more than they use to).

So you have only eaten the mouse there? You must have never stayed in a really nice hotel the Oriental is not even close to number one time for you to get out more. Au contraire... I've stayed there and it was fantastic - I've eaten there at both the Authors lounge and Lord Jims, both excellent. I've been to weddings there, the events and catering were excellent and right up there with the other top hotels in Thailand (such as Kempinski & St Regis) I've stayed a lots of excellent hotels: the Oriental is in the top three that I've stayed at. I've also stayed at the Ritz Carlton, which was outstanding. Best hotel I've stayed at is the Dharmawangsa in Jarkarta (upgraded and had two private butlers !!) If you don't know about hotels and just wanted to blabber on some some reverse snobbery because you don't like the price, then you've already done that......

I just completed this quiz. My Score 40/100 My Time 196 seconds  

Erm... have you tasted UK tap water ?? (Its like a swimming pool)... I'll still to bottled water. Then there is this.. (below).. from 'theoretically' civilised countries... https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1q1d51w27o https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1q1d51w27o And this...

If referring to the government schools, agreed. Otherwise, International Schools here are excellent... Nope... father isn't the most important, if having to chose, the better parent is the most important and thats not always the father and not always the mother. Not at all: Thai Citizenship gives you access to free healthcare. As I age, I expect insurance premiums to rise to such a level I have little choice but to self insure and hosptials dual charge here - SO.... If one can obtain Thai Citizenship - it has that huge advantage. Then there is the advantage of never having to do the 'visa stuff' again. Also, on the 'Elite-shmelite' comment.... My Thai Elite membership and accompanying Visa s are for life.

Do UK airports make the final decision? I think each Individual Airport makes its own decision - which initially was made after installing next-generation CT scanners. But, the scanners had a higher than anticipated 'rejection rate' flagging liquids, thus the 100ml rule was reinstated, this time as measure to limit queues caused by the higher rejection rates and requirements for further investigation. https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/airport-security-rules-liquids-laptops-xw8hk058f#:~:text=The rule was scrapped at,3D scanners were rolled out.

Nothing is free. It's included. Those credit cards charge fees. If they didn't, they couldn't pay the airlines to offer benefits. Last time I checked, the airlines make more money selling points than they do selling tickets and flying people around. I'm making a pedantic argument, for sure. But for the majority tuned in here, free water from the lounges isn't an option. And pointing out getting water from the lounges is bragging about access to the lounges. Everyone knows there's goodies in the lounges. That's not useful information for anyone. Its free lounge access with the Credit Card. And the flights we get from the Credit card points is also free (tax on top of course). I make far more from the Credits Card usage than they ever cost me - so yes, its free. Valid points though... one of the very good things about Bangkok Airport is that it doesn't fleece passengers. Water can be purchased for very reasonable prices at any of the cafes & shops for anyone wanting a top up (cheaper than most any other airport I've been to in the world). In contrast water probably costs about $10 at Istanbul Airport - I exaggerate, but that airport is an outrageous rip off.

Fair enough - they are massive, I don't think I've seen sofa's of that size at IKEA Mega.

They sell mouse? He has no idea... His only intent was to display his reverse snobbery and couldn't even spell room or mousse... The Authors Lounge there is rather a nice place for lunch. Lord Jim's is a great place for a buffet. Been to a few wedding parties there - events were excellent.

Not quite correct - there are credit cards which give free lounge access.

Where are you taking the dog ? (from where to where)

I'm not so sure about that... I recall stories a few years ago (around the year 2000) where people were checked and charged for having tint that was too strong. What surprised me most about such reports, is that such testing was not more frequent, the Police could make an absolute killing fining people with dark tint. Then there is this article from The Tiger (year 2000)... that discussing the 'tint law' - which was stated that tint blocking more than 40% light is illegal. https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/Crackdown-tinted-glass-cars T'was yet another announcment of a crackdown after which nothing happened !!!

He's perhaps better off getting medical advice from a Doctor than a gym owner...

You first need an MRI to find out whats wrong... i.e. Meniscus damage... Unless your knee is 'jamming' and extremely painful all the time then surgery is most likely unnecessary. Healing time takes anywhere from a month upwards with a lot of dependant factors. For me, sport was painful 6 months later following a meniscus repair (trimmed back a complex tear) and the knee still isn't 100% (I don't think it ever will be), and now the other knee starts to hurt... (its the legacy of way too much sport throughout my life).

Its called 'skiplagging' and not illegal from an immigration point of view, but airlines do what they can to stop people from doing this, even banning a passenger from the airline if they are caught doing this repeatedly. I believe its more common in the states. I don't think this is the reason for the boarding pass checks at Immigration though - Immigration do not care to do the bidding of airlines, especially if it involves any 'extra' processes or work etc.

Give me Thai Immigration and Suvarnabumi airport over any US Airport and US Immigration and security staff any day of the week !!!!

In a similar story to the Ops, arriving last month, the immigration officer asked for my boarding pass, I didn't have it... My Wife was a couple of rows across and had the boarding passes in her handbag, I was able to ask her. Then the Immigration office said it doesn't matter and that was that. So... I'm not sure what the reason is exactly - but they definately want to 'see a boarding pass' or at least be sure that you have one. I think it may be to stop people doing 'airside visa runs' (i.e. getting a cheap flight, passing through Immigration as if to exit, then turning round and coming straight back in again) but surely that would get picked up on the Immigration Database.

Which IKEA - the one at Mega Bang Na seems to have plenty of large Sofa's on show... (at least the L - shaped ones with 3x large seating cushions)

Top floors of MBK.... (a number of furniture shops up there). IKEA - (Mega Bang Na) contrary to what many state, there is decent quality furniture there Crystal Design Centre - (Map link) - loads of higher end furniture shops there Chic Republic - (near CDC or on Bang Na Trat, before Central Bang Na) SB Furniture Design (plenty around) Index (plenty around)

Not down Sukhumvit road Pattaya in a Black Toyota Vios with a 90% tint you can't !!!! But I think your point is you have plenty of riding / driving experience - which of course helps... ...But back to the tint point - it doesn't matter how well we can drive if we can't see a motorcycle in front of us because the tint is too much.