richard_smith237

Same here, no proprietary, grossly overpriced Apple product for me. How has this turned into an apple bash ???.... sites don't price based on the brand of device you are using... thats just some nutty paranoia...

Realistically - its all a bit of a mishmash... no one site or one single method or booking is consistently better priced than the other... Agoda is good for browsing, narrowing down your choice and getting an idea of the price range etc... once the search has been narrowed down, sometimes the same hotel / same deal can be found on another site (or direct if calling) for a better price...

The comment is somewhat 'throwaway' without an explanation. We had a less than wholly positive experience a couple of years ago with an Agoda booking. We'd booked a nice hotel in late 2020... shortly before our stay the hotel e-mailed us that the pool and restaurant would be closed (due to covid regulations) - Pool and restaurant were operational at time of booking. The booking was non refundable. I cancelled the booking and asked for a refund, which was at first rejected by the property (info passed on from Agoda). I argued 'change of contract' as alterations where made to the facilities which were available at the time of booking. Agoda agreed to the refund and offered 'Agoda-cash'... I rejected and pointed out that I didn't make the purchase with Agoda cash and thus expect the refund directly to method of payment. Agoda agreed and refunded... But, it was an unnecessary hassle and something that should have been resolved, instantly, professionally and without the back and forth which just irritated a customer. That is just one semi-negative experience on an otherwise very handy platform that delivers for the customer every time (nearly).

The DUI checkpoints and the Helmet check points are of course a good thing, IF they actually work... But they don't.... the Police just take a fine and allow the rider / driver to continue - this is not safety, its just money. We don't see the police riding / driving around and pulling people over for no helmet... we see helmetless riders at traffic lights infront of a police booth and the police do nothing. We see drivers who appear drunk, can't stay in their lanes and drive erratically... Police officers behind them or passing them etc on a motorcycle do nothing. We see riders and drivers jump lights in front of the police who do nothing. We see polluting busses / trucks belching out smoke and the Police do nothing because they have the 'sticker' which shows they have paid the bribe. Once we get down to the nuts and bolts of it - policing in Thailand has nothing to do with policing and everything to do with supplementing their otherwise meagre income - this behavior is so ingrained, the BiB act with overwhelming entitlement. over, they get paid. ------------- In over 20 years, only one time have I known a moving vehicle to be pulled over by a Policeman (in a car or bike) - we were travelling in from the Suvarnabumi Airport in an AOT minivan.... A policeman on a motorcycle pulled the van over - I wanted the driver to exit the motorway at the next junction instead of stopping precariously on the side of the road... he wouldn't.... I was furious them (both policeman and driver) placing my family and I in such a precarious position. The reason for the stop... (something I've never heard before) - Minivan taxi's are not permitted in the right most lane of the motorway (complete BS IMO) - the Policeman demanded 200 baht from the driver.... IMO... this was outrageous lack of safety awareness and appeared to be disgusting corruption.

Because it has, for about the past 15-20 yrs. YMMV Check points stop everyone... i.e. there's a general checkpoint in the road, you are in a queue of cars and they either wave you through, or pull you to the side for further checks. There are also 'some' check points that have speed checks earlier up the road.. but, most 'checkpoints' are not for that... they are for Tax, licence, drugs, DUI checks etc... And whether you are 'legal' or not has no influence on whether the Police officers pulls you in for further checks... What does have influence is: a) Your tax is clearly within date. b) The Police officer can see clearly into your vehicle. c) The Police officer does not see anything untoward in your behavior etc d) Presence of a dash-cam can also influence this. e) other factors influencing the Police officers profiling. Note: IMO, in over 20 years driving here, being a foreigner in a car actually has a positive influence on this outcome the vast majority of the time, the BiB are simply not interested in foreigners in cars (IMO)..... But, in area's outside of Bangkok with lots of foreigners (Patong / Pattaya) it would appear that the police are more brazen and seem more inclined to pull over foreigners on motorcycles.

That could well be it... dash-cams keeping them honest perhaps so they have to look for other things... tax being the obvious one... and DUI.... ... But, if they really cared about DUI they'd be breathalysing every person involved in an accident as a matter of fixed policy and fines would be significantly higher, they' also charge 'fleeing the scene' with a greater penalty than DUI.

On the subject of traffic check-points themselves. In and around Bangkok at least, there are much less than there used to be. Never an issue though, I never once felt that 'foreigners' were being specifically targeted... I have always just been waved through, sometimes asked where I'm going, but thats about it.

If these check points were so effective at saving lives why aren't the same techniques utilised in developed nations where road safety is significantly greater ? Check points are lazy policing. I don't think anyone has anything against effective policing... its the 'silly stuff' or 'revenue grabbing' that draws criticism. When the police at a check-point take 200 or 500 baht from a person not wearing a helmet and they let them continue on their way we know its not about safety.

This is the correct answer. The same setting exists in their mobile app. If I recall correctly the setting is somewhere near where you set which currency to show. That answers something that has been bugging me for a few years !!! Why sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't show the full price. I use more than one browser.... thats clearly why, each with a different setting !!

Rubbish. I'm in Pattaya and Agoda showed me prices before taxes on every hotel I looked at Then thats very odd.... because I had the opposite experience.... Strangely... it doenst matter where I set my VPN to now (Thailand or outside) - Agoda always lists the price per night 'After Taxes & Fees'.... As I mentioned - there's no rhyme or reason and it seems everyones experience differs...

You can change to show/view the total price in Agoda on the main page before starting to book. Booking.com shows the price of the full stay - its the most open, but sometimes the 'deal' is slightly different and things like breakfast are or aren't offered etc when compared to similar pricing on Agoda and other platforms. Agoda.com shows the price per night... when logging on from within Thailand Agoda shows the price per night including taxes etc... (caveat, for 'most hotels - its not always so). When logging on from outside Thailand, Agoda shows the nightly price before taxes. Confused ???... its a bit of a PITA but we just have to be aware... and all platforms show the full price before you pull the trigger.

Its not always simple... A lot of the sites price based on your location. I'm often overseas and the Wife and I look for hotels for a break etc... (agoda / booking.com etc) Sometimes from overseas its cheaper... A recent booking (hotel) in Thailand was about about 13,000 baht (looking at Agoda from overseas), pricing for the Wife (in Thailand) was about 17,000 baht (identical booking). Its also often cheaper to book a Thai hotel from Thailand..... It seems there is no rhyme or reason - but it pays to shop about and use a VPN etc...

I know its difficult to name... but which hosptial ???.... somethinggrad, somethingvej, somethingkok? Any procedure my Wife and I have had at Hosptials in Bangkok have all required pre-authorisation from insurance and thus a cost estimate was provided (the final costs usually being below this). So.. its very strange that they hospital failed on this. Additionally, you are quite right, the cost seems extremely excessive for what is a relatively simple procedure. A recent procedure (knee arthroscopy) was estimated to cost 360,000 baht at Bumrungrad, the actual cost was about 60,000 baht less than the estimate.

Perfectly understandable complaints.... lots of other people around are simply ignorant and inconsiderate... #1-3 - this is just an incredible degree of inconsideration towards others (these people need a slap across the head). #4 - If the 'mode of transport' is not busy, I dont see this as a major issue, so long as the person takes off their shoes and feet are clean. #5 - As above... 'mode of transport' is not busy, but make space if it's getting busy. #6 - People just being ignorant of their surroundings. #7 - Unacceptable and highlights a degree of inconsideration and ignorance - anyone encountering this needs to ask the people behind not to do so (I can't be worse with little kids behind as they like to stretch out and put their feet on the back of the seat in front - when travelling with my son I had a rule not to 'touch' the seat in front at all). Most travellers are respectful - but the problem with sharing space with other people is that we are always subjected to the lowest common denominator - its one of the reasons business class on flights is far more desirable, its not just about the comfort of the seats, but about minimising the potential for ignorant and annoying inconsiderate people around you.

or are you projecting that because thats what you think you'd turn into.... Regardless of how other people having money makes you feel, the Ops criticisms are valid.... You may not understand that if you are don't have similar spending power or don't wish make any higher end purchases... such as a house, higher end car, luxury items etc....

Put any of them in in any form of health danger and see them fold on their principles.... In fact, remove any of the comforts they enjoy that are provided them as a direct result of the Oil & Gas industry and we'd see the measure of their resolve. These people are just fools... If they weren't protesting against oil, they'd be protesting against something else... they're just habitual protesters looking for a cause.

Two possible options for installation. 1) Hard Wiring - Check your warranty as a hard wired dash-cam could void the warranty (for any electrical issues). - Hard Wiring with a fuse tap is simple... (plenty of videos), you can hard wire to an 'always on' circuit, or an 'ignition off-off' circuit depending if you want parking mode or not. Note - IF hard wiring to an 'always on' circuit, ensure you use a 'battery magic' device to protect against battery drain (the battery magic turns off the cam if usage while parked takes the battery power to below a pre-set voltage (i.e. 12.0 volts etc). 2) 12v plug - which is the simplest and wont void any warranty - this installation is by far the easiest and any cabling is extremely simple to route through the upholstery and down any pillars etc. I'm not particularly tech-minded, yet I have installed FWD and rear facing dash-cams on two of my motorcycles (Innov K2) and on about 5 Cars.... So.. don't worry too much this is something that can easily be done yourself in half an hour, otherwise, perhaps at a place such as cockpit or a car electrics shop (the kind of place which sells car audio etc) - but you should know which circuit into which you wish to hook in the dash-cam power and to have the right kit to prevent battery drain etc...

Op perhaps needs to clarify - is this a one off 6-9 month visit, or something he intends to do yearly? If the Op could provide his age would also help others provide accurate advice.

Where's Khun LA ???..... Wouldn't have happened if it was an MG EV !!!

Don't worry... its only a matter of time... A certain percentage of every nationality are utter tools.... with so many Brit's travelling to Thailand, a nation which is covered with so much 'English speaking media'... its only a matter of time before a Brit does something stupid and the media picks up on it... ... like a 'Thai-Auntie at an eat all you want seafood buffet'.... a few dumb and predictable posters will 'be all over it' gorging themselves with the inevitable 'brit-bash'

There's nothing wrong with being kind... BUT, we have to be 'careful with our kindness' for some mistake kindness for weakness and attempt to take advantage. When someone attempts to take advantage of our kindness and we put our foot down, the tables suddenly gets turned and what would have been our kindness gets interpreted as being mean. I often have to point out... 'don't force me to become the person I don't want to be'...

How well do you think that would go down ???

Indeed... I know guys with 40 million baht houses... Happily married etc, house is in their Wife's name of course... but its not really right, is it. I think there is an option for wealthy guys to make their 'investment' here over a certain amount and they may be able to own property outright, but as the Op also mentioned, its risky. For a single guy, why would they come here and make those sorts of purchases. The same goes for Cars... Why can't foreigners who can prove income finance a car ?... not everyone wants to pay up front. The 'system' seems set up to 'offend' those willing to spend plenty of money here. And... as the Op mentioned, unless making purchases from street markets, the items in department stores are often more expensive that the same items in our home countries... Luxuiry items, forget it, a lot more expensive here. The 7-11 thing... Its just stupid and another example of how Thailand refused to put the consumer first.... refusing to accept PromptPay and forcing TrueMoney (because thats owned by the same people) highlights exactly this.

Op makes extremely valid points... Thailand is always spouting on about how it tries to attract higher net worth individuals, then makes them jump though stupid hoops... The issue of course is that the Op made the mistake of 'discussing that he has plenty of money' on this forum and that tends it irritate those who do not... - Are jealous. - Think the Op is boasting. - Have such short attention spans they struggle to read a long post. The Op does a good job of explaining how Thailand trips over itself where the basics are concerned and as soon as someone wants to 'colour outside of the existing limited and antiquated lines' many difficulties are encountered and convenience and service is not considered important. A lot of the responses are typical of what can be expected from many who's attraction to Thailand is most certainly not about 'quality'.

Yet it still seems to bother you so much... Now... how many of those who are so 'anti-cashless' were born before 1964 ??? Of course, we don't know... but this is one of those threads which is perfect for 'boomer resistance'... Those who are are less technically adept are more likely to resist change towards newer technologies. ... and, as much as it seems to bother you, those who are older are far more likely to be less technically adept, less flexible and far more likely to resist adoption of newer technologies. Some of the 'anti-cashless' comments are simply very poorly thought out and highlight a stubbornness to adapt rather than any real intelligent reason not to evolve.