georgegeorgia

49 minutes ago, AverageAussie said:

 

I highly doubt that he can't contact the owner prior to completing the booking. Airbnb just doesn't work like that. More likely that he doesn't know how to or forgot.

 

Anyway FWIW when travelling I use one of these portable stainless steel mesh & cable backpack-sized security bags together with a good quality padlock. They roll up into a small space (when not in use) and can be secured to almost anything. Nothing is going to stop a determined thief, but this will slow them down and probably avert a snatch & grab type situation.

 

May I ask where you got them?

I'm wondering if Lazada may sell similar

1 hour ago, Asquith Production said:

Laundered money?

With "skid" marks on the undies!😂

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

I rarely get bad food or service. I'm one of the lucky human beings who God has granted serenity. It's probably because I tip

You tip....and....most importantly you 😁 SMILE 

11 minutes ago, Bobthegimp said:

 

Not at all, and it's disgraceful to virtue signal like I did. Time for some fresh(555) air and a walk. 

Sounds good bot ...love your words 😁 

23 minutes ago, Bobthegimp said:

 

Sorry to pick apart your post. Most of the rest of it rings true for most people except this bit.

 

I do care about other people. Each tip is given with good intent.  I tip, often excessively, because I do care. 

You Bob are a fine Gentleman,your blood should be bottled 

31 minutes ago, wombat said:

Poor bloke needs a girlfriend with a bank account and a debit card to leave it with.

Deffo safe that way for sure.😊👌👍🤣

He should have passport with him at all times for identification like it says In the brochure.

Ahhhh ,great point ..he does have a Gf , maybe he can transfer the $$$ from Australia into her Thai bank account 

Very good points 🙏

1 minute ago, AreYouGerman said:

 

The part about 'debit cards are for young people' is hilarious, because it's for boomers. We 'young people' have virtual debit cards with our NFC phones.

 

Anyway, I mean, I am not 100% what you are asking? I used a lawyer as an agent because he was offering it while I he did my Thai company stuff. Years ago where it was possible to do it without an agent. Now? Just use an agent, what's the issue?

I'm not good at ratio vs cost being a amateur data analyst 

But the cost to obtain one for us visitors /tourists, from a visa agent possibly could be a fee of 5ooo baht 

Then again of course,you can have it every trip to Thailand ,is it worth opening a bank account for a once a year long trip ,one must analyse that 

1 minute ago, AreYouGerman said:

 

Nonsense and BS.

I'm not sure what the process is in Thailand for us visitors ,maybe an agent could help.

Of course one must do the due diligence at cost vs ratio 

Or cost vs ........?

11 minutes ago, soi3eddie said:

Go to Lopburi by train, Grab or Bolt and enjoy. Plenty of nice hotels there. Hopefully you won't get bitten by the dirty, aggressive, and marauding macaques. Let us know how you get on and do, please, share videos of your close up encounters.

Pro tip: Take as many fresh bananas and shiny objects as you can and guard them with your life 🙂 

 

 

Thankyou Eddie 

I have never been to the monkey town and fascinated lately .

Anyone think it's worth going , is it far from Bangkok city , could I get a Grab there ?

Maybe I could get a train there 

Is there a hotel I can stay in 

 I would like to bring them snacks and play games with them

Are they all friendly and photogenic 

5 hours ago, Acharn said:

I've lived in Thailand for 42 years, and was stationed here in the Army for three years before that. I have never tipped once in that time. There were three times I was charged a "service charge" by a New Orleans restaurant in Bangkok, which had lousy service by the way, and have always regretted going there.

That's a first , no one else has admitted not tipping 

I guess there is a lot more and that can be for various reasons 

Great post

4 minutes ago, Robert Paulson said:

People tip because societal pressure, aka herd behavior.

 

If nobody knew if we tipped or not, nobody would tip. If you deny this you’re delusional. People tip to make themselves feel better. They do t care about anyone else. They want to fit in. Our entire society is based on herd behavior. Covid taught us this without a doubt.

Absolutely Robert these are reasons too.

And talking about tipping to fit in absolutely, it's expected to tip in a bar for a drink in Pattaya  ,it's expected! 

So you do it ,it's a herd mentality

But what about tipping to benefit.

Eg you work as front desk in my hotel , I give you a 100 baht tip ,thankyou for your kind service I say before you give me the key to my room.

I then expect extra service from you ,eg better room next time I book or extra water bottles or whatever 

2 hours ago, Asquith Production said:

I only tip at the places I use regularly I find that an extra 20 baht keeps everything ticking over nicely

So you tip to receive a benefit from it 

And there is nothing wrong with that 

Others too because of feeling guilty or some are compelled ,eg the waitress tells you please give me big tip etc before she brings the food out and she tells you she is relying on your tip etc etc  so you feel compelled you must tip ..at least something 

I had a limo (sedan)  driver taking me to the airport several years arranged by my business class ticket ,he tried to "compel' me to tip by telling me most people gave him $30

I couldn't afford that so gave him $5, he wasn't happy 

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

Oh, when in Pattaya I always pay 20 baht for the baht bus because the 10 baht charge is just ridiculously small.

Would that be the  guilt reason?

I'm have analysed what reason people tip

Great service, compelled , guilt , a benefit from it 

51 minutes ago, Roo Island said:

Most places we've been recently use qr codes to pay. Been to several restaurants that don't take cash anymore.

Im not up to date on technology, 

I am learning this QR codes it's not easy looking at menus etc 

I even use the checkout at a supermarket where a person is serving you rather than a self scan

Can I tap my HSBC card say at a 711 in Thailand nowadays?

9 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And then worry that cash could be stolen?

I prefer to pay a little more and have peace of mind.

Well you have the 150 baht withdrawal fee plus the low currency exchange if you withdraw from a ATM

2 minutes ago, oslooskar said:

I don't tip my doctor or my dentist when I get my teeth cleaned and I don't tip cashiers when I buy groceries. However, I tip just about everyone else because having driven a taxi at one time in my life tips were a good part of my income and greatly appreciated. I remember in the early 1970s Australians would never tip because it was not a custom in Australia but they eventually learned to do it and became very good tippers. The French, on the other hand, could not be excused for their failure to tip because tipping was a common practice in France and they knew better. Also, I tipped in France, so it really ticked me off when they refused to reciprocate. Anyway, I tip my barber a hundred baht for a 120 baht haircut and just about everyone else, even jitney drivers.

So your in the Philippines?

Philippines has a tipping culture doesn't it ?

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Why have lots of cash at all? Someone invited banks, credit cards, etc...

Tourists/visitors need to bring over rather than pay the withdrawal fees 

2 hours ago, still kicking said:

Banks are only good for people living in Thailand and credit cards are only for young people. I did apply for a credit card at my bank and the answer was no. Because I am a pensioner.

I'm working and I got knocked back !

Said I had a bad credit rating in 1992!

I will just stick my debit card 

3 hours ago, piston broke said:

the problem with a typical condo / house safe is that they are easily opened by a thief ....

 

imho - better off staching money in fake food tins / books ..

Like that idea !

3 hours ago, CygnusX1 said:

I agree with other posters here on Foodmart. For such a small supermarket, it has an amazingly comprehensive selection of Western food, everything that a fussy eater such as myself needs. I’m in Australia now, back in Jomtien in a couple of weeks, and am looking forward to Foodmart’s precut pineapple pieces, so much better quality than the whole pineapples I buy in Australia. I don’t think it’s more expensive than any other Western oriented supermarket in Thailand. What I can’t understand is how the place manages to handle all of the occupants of those thousands of condos, especially in peak season.

A very positive post 

59 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Are they still profitable?  That's all that really matters.

I have to wonder..though...I get the feeling sometimes several of the stalls are controlled by one group being Nepalese 

42 minutes ago, Pilot3Boz said:

I always tip well on all services, restaurants, lawn care, pool guy, massages, caddies, parking folks… It just seems the least I can do to show appreciation of their services for me and my wife… 

You Sir are a fine  Gentleman .

5 hours ago, QuantumQuandry said:

I think Foodmart is the best grocery in Jomtien OR Pattaya.  I find it odd to not consider it a full grocery.

 

I love their baked section, the prices aren't *too* marked up and they actually give me plastic bags instead of having to accumulate 287 'ecobags'.

 

That said, I DO supplement with deliveries from Makro for larger scale stuff and Grab 'greengrocer' for fresh chicken breasts.

I found their prices horrendous!

Far more expensive than Aldi in Australia 

Cheese , cold meats , even a lot of other stuff more expensive than ALDI