Chongalulu

Yesterday’s article in the Times reported rampant inflation in accommodation/car hire etc. costs in most European resorts and in U.K. holidays itself . £1000 for weeks car hire! Air fares were cheap though. Having recently spent 2cweeks in Phuket I got great deal on the upmarket hotel and eating out was cheap. Diesel is almost a third of the U.K. price here too,not to mention gas and electricity prices vs Europe! . So once here - and I agree with complaints about stupid Thai pass- it is still very cheap ,even in Phuket . Daughter arrives here shortly for 2 weeks (£640 return air fare from Manchester) and I reckon overall will be cheaper than many European resorts.

This is nothing to do with standard entry requirements ,which of course vary between citizens and foreigners in all countries , but this relates to health /contagion issues . In that respect a foreigner and a Thai entering carry exactly the same risk of passing on infection so there’s no logic in discriminating on those grounds . But then logic and critical thinking have always been lacking in the Thai thought process.

My Thai daughter and her English partner are coming in June. He obtained Thai pass by uploading his standard U.K. travel insurance policy. As long as it includes Covid cover there appears no requirement to buy the Covid specific Thai policy

Was in Karon about 2 months ago for 11 days. A lot closed but from a tourist perspective enough restaurants and a number of bars open to suffice,so if you like relative peace and not bothered about the buzz from many being around it was better than a normal situation. Also negotiated a great discounted rate at the hotel reception after an initial 2 day booking via Booking.com which is generally unheard of ! Strangely though on both our speedboat tours to Similans and Phi Phi the boats were absolutely full . I thought they were good value too with discounted rates via the stall (agent) in Karon .

Oil is a globally priced commodity ($ per barrel)which Thailand will be paying. It is taking far less tax (perhaps even subsidising) per litre than European countries so purchasers here should be grateful of that. I don’t see motor vehicles here being significantly less than western countries despite more local input in the manufacturing process

Thai public don’t care about their appalling RTA deaths and the government doesn’t care that they don’t care either. Just make some throw away appeasing statements every so often and it’s job done. No intellectual capacity on either side to understand what the benefits would be.

When I convert and compare the cost of diesel here to say U.K. ,here it’s 75p per litre vs £1.80 ! What’s to complain about?

Like many,it’s a silly cliché which doesn’t stand scrutiny otherwise you’d never go onto the roads. The key is 'anticipation' - predicting what might happen ahead of you,being prepared and taking mitigating action. Here's another example "what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger ". Tell that to my uncle Albert who’s had 2 strokes… ????

I contacted "Geezer" travel insurance company back in UK and the cockney I spoke to reckoned about a 'monkey' £…

Every time I begin to question the harshness of my assessment of the intellectual capabilities in Thailand along comes something to substantiate and justify those initial prejudices. ????

Silly phrase . By definition the dead cannot write the other side of the story! Most survived anyway,so you’re setting the bar very low for congratulations. Getting vaccinated here was late,chaotic and required much application and effort,many received the inferior Sinocrap version too. I was lucky to get DONATED from USA Pfizer - so little to do with Thailand being proactive, and that’s what’s rightly being criticised.

Setting the bar very low. How many countries were charging peopl (including foreigners) for vaccinations? In much of the West they were chasing people to get their free vaccinations and making them easily available- even paying people in some instances! Here it was late ,chaotic and you had to chase around blitzing many sources to try to find one . I too got vaccinated eventually by being persistent and determined even driving hundreds of kilometres to get what we’re donated Pfizer vaccines from USA . Your implied praise is very much misplaced.

Here,it’s really not that common… 'even while riding a motorcycle alone'… ????

Now you’d rightly get a kicking for being in possession of an uncool Nokia phone !

Yes you can, the coverage probably is way better than the Thai insurers. I've entered twice with similar insurance. A UK friend is arriving next month having a standard annual travel insurance policy which includes Covid cover . Is there any additional clarification/covering letter from the insurers needed for the Thai pass stating that or do they accept/need the extract from the document specifying those Covid cover terms. Is there a requirement, for instance to illustrate quarantine cover ?

Yes,I did perceive that thinking wasn’t one of your strengths…

Not so impressive was your previous daft "Ukrainian motive". ????

If you don't think endemic corruption affects everyone’s life that only means you haven’t thought about it too deeply. Further illustration of a lack of thought is not considering the degree of corruption by country. Inform yourself better by starting with transparency.org for a better understanding.

I did that and still awaiting you living up to your promise. See,I was right and proved you wrong - I’m feeling quite quite smug now ! … oh wait… did you… ? ????

Properly invested in equities over 45 years that £5k would likely be a six figure sum funding a much more comfortable retirement for you now. Hope that’s cheered you up…. ? ????

Perhaps she’s half scouse? I’ll leave you to work out which part returned or filched the ???? ..,. ????

Someone bright enough to know they’ll survive fine (cats!) and the moneys more important!

A dumb low life . If you’re going to keep it,keep it all !

You haven’t heard about Thais and maths proficiency?! ????

The current incumbents can certainly spell disaster…