funfun

Many many bars have free wifi for customers, just look for the signs, and purchase a cup of coffee.

BigC, Royal Garden, Avenue etc are all wifi, they seem to be mostly True, which is free for subscribers but will cost you a few baht if not.

same same, up north end, we have it soi 6 corner bar, tropical berts, jamesons, gulivers, not sure on queen vic, but most have it!

chris

Hi there

Im doing a visa run to Rnaong to activate my second entry on tourist visa x2. Do I need to bring anything with besides my passport?? Also I will be going 6 days before this first entry expires, is that going to be ok??

Cheers

not been to rnaong, but when i go ban leam to activate x2 was just 2 photos and passport, as for 6 days if you mean will they give 6 days extra, i cant remember 100% but im sure they added a day or 2 on my last one!

chris

Hello

I'm coming up to my 4th month in Thailand and need some advice on what to do visa-wise. I arrived at BKK airport from India in March and just got the 30day visa exemption on arrival. When those were up, I went to Ventiane and got a 2 month tourist visa, which I then extended by 30 days at Koh Samui immigration office. I think I'd like to stay an extra 2-4 months (I'm studying Thai, but with private tutors, so a study visa isn't possible), and am getting conflicting advice.

In Koh Samui, a long-term Brit said that he stays indefinitely by getting a 2 month tourist visa, extending it by one month at the immigration office, then exiting and entering the country 3 times (3 30 days exemptions), and then repeating the process by getting another 2 month tourist visa (he makes the visa runs to Malaysia). I'm near Chiang Mai now and have been told that it's easy to get back-to-back tourist visas in Ventiane (which I thought was impossible), and that I could even do that thing where you write "x2" on the application and get 2 tourist visas at once (making 3 consecutive tourist visas in effect).

My current plan is to go to Mae Sai just before my current visa expires in order to get an extra free 30 days and then go to Laos after those 30 days are up to get another tourist visa (or maybe "x2" if possible). Does this plan sound ok? Obviously I don't want to cross the border at Burma and then not be allowed back into Thailand again.

Thanks in advance for any help.

" I think I'd like to stay an extra 2-4 months"

you can get 3 months as you say by doing 3 x border runs, that would be without getting a visa like you last did, anymore time here after that you could then go get a visa if your still planing on staying!

Obviously I don't want to cross the border at Burma and then not be allowed back into Thailand again.

cant see it, but i have not been, any doubt go back to vientine again!

chris

Just came back from Vientiane, got a double entry tourist visa with no problem.

Arrived to the city on Mon evening.

On Tuesday morning 7.30am arrived to the Thai Embassy, already been there 4-5 ppls.

The gate was open on 8.30am, gave them the documents ( paspport+form+ paspport copies + 2 photos ) , then continue to the room inside the building were they calling ur names for the paying. Pay them 2,000 baht, got the receipt and on 8:50am was all done.

As the fellow's here mentioned, write x2 near the tourist visa check box.

Wed noon, arrived on 13:00, there were big line to collect the paspport but this was very quick.

After a 10 mins got my passport with the new double entry.

• Copies : You need copy of your passport frong page ( where's your pic ) + copy of the extension in case ur passport is more then 5 y.o + copy of the Lao visa page. better make it in advance, but the guys outside can do it 4 u in few minutes.
  
• Transfter : from Nong Khai border u can take taxi direct to Vientiane ( hotel or embassy ), don't pay more than 200 baht for this. the Taxies are actually private cars which the driver just put a temporary Taxi sign on his car. On the way back from the Laos border inside Thailand, better take the Van service on the Lao side which can take you direct to Udon A/p or bus station for 200-300 baht. On the Thai side you won't find Van, only private Taxis will try to rip u off with 800 baht for the same ride. But In case u r using their service, don't pay more than 500 baht.
  
• Hotels : Better stay at hotel near the Mekong river where most of the restaurants, coffee shops, mini mart are placed. Then u don't need a Tuk Tuk if u just wanna eat or buy something... I stayed at Aroon Residence hotel ( 25$ per night ) which was great but a bit far from the center...
  
• Tuk Tuk : They will try to rip u off even more than bkk tuk tuk's . Don't pay more than 15,000 Kip for ride inside the city.
  
• Money : Have some Exchange boots around the city center or at Thai banks branch over there. Bear in mind that most of the exchanges are close at 4-5pm...after that it's hard to find a place to change your money. Thai Baht is well accepted over the city but they will always will charge u more...so better use Kip.
  
• Nightlife : It's not bkk, the city goes to sleep very early. most of the nightclub and bars ( which not have many ) closed by midnight or even before. Bear in mind that most hotels won't allow u take ur " guest " inside your room....
  
• Food : They got delicious ( and maybe the best ) bakery in Asia. French style coffee shops with plenty of choises...
  
• Mini MArt: Have only few and most of them are closed on 9pm. not have 7/11 or similar that open all night. so if u need something, better buy before 9pm.
  

I wanna Thanks for all the members who gave me advice and info.

good post kojack and glad everything went ok and really nice to hear everything is still user friendly up there especially with the workload they have taken on in the last 6 months or so!

tropo

"You didn't make it clear about where the bank statements should originate from"

sorry mate, that was a quote from someone else!

"but the whole concept of a tourist having a Thai bank account is absurd"

i think they know we are not "tourists" and can and will turn a blind eye to the thousands that are here on a tourist visa, and are prob just cracking down on the ones here without funds to take care of themselfes!

"This is not new at Savannakhet. It's a consulate best avoided."

i have never been, does anyone know if if they do issue x2 there?

chris

if he was from yorkshire now, he would steal it, in the daytime then sell it and buy smack, or ketamin!

"The Visa I have is a six month 3 entry visa. If I would want to stay longer than that...what will I have to do?"

it's not a big problem, i dont actully know the visa your on and at a guess i would have thought its a 60 days at a time, so you would be able to extend that every time for another 30 days on top, maybe?

either way if im wrong (quite often am) you will be able to sort another visa out in local bordering countrys or do border runs so dont worry about that one till ya here, then nip back on here and repost with what youve got and what ya need!

"Also I am looking for an apartment or condo not too expensive (don't know the going rate). Just like a studio"

as a rough guide, very small room 3000 bhat a month

basic room air con 7/8000 a month

nice one 15/35000 a month depending on spec and area

on top of all are normally water an electric, no air con cheap charlie 1000 bhat a month, top of range air con on all day/night 15000

save more on above if go jontiem/ nakula/ soi bhukow, and all price are a rough guide and may increase as the high season kicks in!

"Would I be better off to buy a used scooter than rent?...if so where and for how much?"

rent for amonth or so at first would be my advice, just make sure ya like it and bargains always tend to come up with time!

chris

Without knowing the ins and outs of the application, I can't really say why the embassy may be hanging on, although if they either have any questions or require further information, they should have made contact by now. It could be that the case is considered complex and has either been put to one side or referred back to the U.K., but in relatively straightforward matters, there's nothing preventing a decision from being made locally.

Scouse.

hey up scouser, i was under the impression that they give you some sort of no where by you can check on net??

chris

ps ben's handed his in, should know next tuesday!

There have been other threads on this subject.

Basically a service was advertised some time ago, but it never seems to have got off th ground (or into the water).

I would have thought one of the major hotels could do it - offering a two-centre stay and the trip across the bay. But it seems that no-one is willing to take the gamble.

"I would have thought one of the major hotels could do it"

too right, and down to koh chang, theres a dusit here, one koh chang, dont know about hua hin, but yep would give more guests chance to explore a little more and spend more!

its four hours drive koh chang and same hua hin, so not a big drive for over here, but if youve just spent 12 hours on a plane then 2 hours down here ya prob not want to sit on a bus for 4 more, boat (ferry size) maybe 2 days a week might work!

chris

I am happy to say a high speed catamaran service is on the way the boat is at present nearing completion it will seat 80 passengers and take 2.5hrs it will start October > November time

to where koh chang or hua hin or both, and have any website up or details etc?

chris

just a quickie, just read on another thread about a guy bieng asked for his bank statments, so it might be as well to carry them and ya bank book if going there for a visa, this was a different consulte but it might be a new thing!

"I just got back from the Savannakhet consulate. Fewer than 10 people at or around the window and I left the consulate less than 10 minutes after arriving. Anyway, this time they told me that next time I apply for a visa I need to bring bank statements. I told him I have copies now and he gladly took them (he wasn't interested in seeing the original bank book). Interestingly he gave me back the copies of my current bank book and keep the ones for my old bank book (which was full and did not show my transactions for the past 5 months).

He also asked why I wanted to stay in Thailand and I said I was visiting. Of course I know he was thinking why is he visiting for nearly 2 years. He then asked why are you visiting Thailand and I just came out and told him this is my boyfriend (he was standing next to me at the window) and all question stopped.

The guy at the window is the same one that asked for my bank book last December. So I am assuming that from now on I need to produce copies of my bank book at this consulate (or at least to this particular guy)."

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...20&start=20

chris

There have been other threads on this subject.

Basically a service was advertised some time ago, but it never seems to have got off th ground (or into the water).

I would have thought one of the major hotels could do it - offering a two-centre stay and the trip across the bay. But it seems that no-one is willing to take the gamble.

"I would have thought one of the major hotels could do it"

too right, and down to koh chang, theres a dusit here, one koh chang, dont know about hua hin, but yep would give more guests chance to explore a little more and spend more!

its four hours drive koh chang and same hua hin, so not a big drive for over here, but if youve just spent 12 hours on a plane then 2 hours down here ya prob not want to sit on a bus for 4 more, boat (ferry size) maybe 2 days a week might work!

chris

What is the situaton on the ground in pattaya?

Soi 7 & 8, are the outside bars still allowing smoking?

Are all Aircon bars non-smoking?

I hope to return this July and it would be great if smoking was banned everywhere!

perhaps sommeone on the ground could update!

BF

"I hope to return this July and it would be great if smoking was banned everywhere!"

is that so you could then stand outside to talk to smokers, or is it that you want to walk into an empty bar, or is it you would like to see some bars resteraunts etc close down? this would seem a very popular reality in the the uk, no?

chris

"I will arrive around 9:25am in Udon. If i get my Laos visa in Thailand, are my chances of getting to the consulate before it closes fairly good or quite slim?"

i would have said, slim, reasons, land at 9.25, maybe 9.45 out of airport and in a cab, maybe 10.15/ 10.30 at border, maybe big ques there so could be an hour could be 20 mins, say for arguments sake 11.00 in laos, then you got to get to consulte, and have heard reports on here of them bieng busy so closing gates at 10.30 maybe 11 so i doubt youd make it, but i wouldnt like to say it aint doable!

chris

No it was my first on this visa but I was not asked for an air ticket in March when I had to renew for the third time on my last tourist visa

right cos im thick,

you say

"copy of the Tourist visa page stuck in my passport"

i take that as a photocopy of your visa thats in your passport?

then, its

"not asked for an air ticket in March when I had to renew for the third time on my last tourist visa"

are you saying this time you got asked for a "air ticket" this time in jontiem?

chris

Chris I think that you have got two post mixed up you are correct I was talking about the visa stuck in the passport

The second comment I was answering a question from TinuB about the requirements of a return flight ticket on the final available extention (I should of included a quote in my answer)

I hope this clears things up

it does, cheers offset, and "is it a new requirement" i think no mate, as far as i remember, copy of ya details page and one of your current visa, just on that in i think it was either kl or singapore, i had one very helpfull lady want a copy of every focking page, cos it wo 5 to 12 or somthing and she didnt want to play ball, when i explained to her that it would serve no porpose in copying blank pages, and that i thought she was a very nice friendly person, she explained i wouldnt be needing her again and wrote on ma passport not to return!!!!

got to treat some of these people like god, cos most think they are anyway!

chris

No it was my first on this visa but I was not asked for an air ticket in March when I had to renew for the third time on my last tourist visa

right cos im thick,

you say

"copy of the Tourist visa page stuck in my passport"

i take that as a photocopy of your visa thats in your passport?

then, its

"not asked for an air ticket in March when I had to renew for the third time on my last tourist visa"

are you saying this time you got asked for a "air ticket" this time in jontiem?

chris

The 4th of August is not the 4th of July.

too right,

sorry msedler, missed that , and hey hope all goes well,

chris

Although I think the OP is a good one, I think it would be an administrative nightmare and could also lead to mis-leading information, as agreed above an experienced member may well not post extravagantly, but may well have something valid to say, conversely a post count measured in 000's can mean little too, go look at the games and jokes threads

Also black marks could be issued when there is no directly related fault to the poster, for instance I remember a rather sticky situation in Visas for other countries a year or so ago and there was a considerable flame war going on between two posters.

Many posts were edited and deleted and because others had commented on the thread, these also had to be deleted for continuity purposes and so would lead to black marks through, 'guilt by association'.

Moss

yep good fair reply, i had a sending off sometime ago and when i have met other members of the thaivisa comunity it seems that when one is sent to the coolbox yo dont seem to have a right to reply or debate your reasons/views or for someone else from another area/ section to look at the case as you can in outside socity, this left me with quite bad feelings for that person, and i belive this is the case with others.

i think the orig post is a good idea and reading replys would seem hard to make it work, how about a sinbin thread where naughty boys/girls all the bad bits go in there, then people can see exactly what was said etc and make there own minds up or re card list where by you can see who's gotta chill out, or would that defeat the object?

chris

i think i always have had to have it, always seem to go in shop next door, and they just get on with it, take your passport, know what bits to copy, take your coin, and off ya go!

chris

You are correct with the point that there is a lot of confusion. The Police are interpreting the law as they see fit and many bars including the Outback are taking a safe line of no smoking at the actual bar face. We are open air but the second law says that we must provide a non smoking area and a segregated smoking zone. We, like many other bars are waiting to see how the chips fall while keeping very safe. The personal fine is 2,000 baht but the bar fine is 20,000baht for allowing smoking at the bar. No bar is willing to pay that just so that a couple of guys can have a durrie.

CB

So are you a customer at the Outback bar or one of the owners? Because you use the term "We are open air".

I am the manager - not owner

CB

Exactly as I thought a bit of free advertising for 'your' bar in the context of the smoking topic. Other bar owners like myself would be given a 'warning' or a 'holiday' for such a stunt!

Following up on my PM and out of interest - how are you and other bar owners coping with the law?

Indoor or outdoor?

A/C or Open Air

Designated smoking area and where?

cheers

CB

"Following up on my PM and out of interest - how are you and other bar owners coping with the law?"

not heard of anyone getting nicked in the soi 6 area, as of yet, get odd customer complaining, but thats mainly the way staff approach the issue, but so far so good thats why im on here everyday just checking news etc, am waiting for libiya's "20 bars on soi 7 done for smoking ban law"

chris

""Following up on my PM and out of interest - how are you and other bar owners coping with the law?"

well, ive still not heard of anyone getting nicked, as of yet, and i have just found a website here in pattaya (well i presume he,s here) that is naming and shaming bars still smoking, that should keep us on our guard if nothing else!

chris

"We have an appointment at the US embassy for 8:00am on the 4th"

if its the 4th, and its july, thats independance day or summut, and its the american embassy your off to, maybe only open halfe day or not full staff or fully closed, not sure, but if ya havent checked, worth a call maybe!

and

congrats, hope everthing goes well,

chris

Bangkok - In a case that has baffled Thai police, a 40-year-old man was found dead Sunday with a badly bitten cobra carcass in his hands and a condom on his member, news reports said.

Wiroj Banlen, 40, was found dead on the side of a dirt road near Lamsai village of Ayutthaya province at 7 am Sunday.

A preliminary police autopsy revealed Wiroj had sustained several snake bites on his right leg and his cheeks, said The Nation online news service.

The dead cobra found clenched in Wiroj's hands had also been bitten several times, and snake remnants were found in the dead man's teeth, suggesting a case of man-bites-snake in revenge.

More puzzling for police investigating the case was the condom found on Wiroj's member, which contained no semen. Police speculated that the deceased was removing his trousers when the cobra struck.

Wiroj's body was sent to hospital for a full autopsy.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asi..._man_from_cobra

Hi my 90 days is up where can I get a tourist visa guaranteed without any hassle.

I heard Malaysa is virtually impossible these days?

Has anyone been sucessful in Laos in the last coulple of weeks.

Also what are the charges now?

Any advice would be appreciated.

depends where you are in thailand really, up north, laos, and south, malyasia!

"Has anyone been sucessful in Laos in the last coulple of weeks."

lots, read these

Latest Reports Of Getting A Visa In The Region

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=189375

"Also what are the charges now?"

as lop says approx 1000, but dont forget you may have to pay for visa/entry into another country??

chris

Five more killings in deep South

Published on June 4, 2008

Two security officials helping to guard teachers were in critical condition after being injured in a roadside bomb attack yesterday, police said.

The two were flown by military helicopter to Hat Yai hospital for treatment.

Violence continue elsewhere in the restive region with a shooting in Narathiwat yesterday evening that killed two ethnic Malay residents in their 50s, while a teenager died in a separate attack in the province.

In Pattani, a 45-year-old Buddhist man was shot dead, while in Yala province militants attacked a house, killing a 15-year-old Muslim boy and injuring his four-year-old sister.

Officials at Southern Police Headquarters on Tuesday reported that 475 people had been killed so far this year in violence related to the separatist insurgency.

That raises the total number of people killed since the latest rebellion broke out in January 2004 to more than 3,300.

The Nation, Pattani

but didnt they get the guy that shot the 2 army marines days before?

chris

honda 50 cub approx 40 years old, single seat, just had everything done, new tyres battery carb clutch, etc first time starter, any trial in pattaya, 30,000 bhat.

for piccys & phone details pm me

chris

got a pc (just a cheapy) and its been used by customers for approx 2 years last week it had a virus or somthing and wanted help it said, the screen has turned blue with like ants crawling all over it, now where its a screensaver that someones put on or it trying to tell me somthing i dont know?

it was out of cpu or somthing anyway, and its only used for people checking web or emails, not botherd about losing anything on it as personal stuff i have on laptop, customers have been allowed to change and add tool bars colours and everything!

now id really like to just press a reset button but i gues it aint that easy, but thats what im hoping for an easy way to wipe the lot and start again, any help much appreated

cheers

chris

add: its a P&A bought here pattaya in tuk com!

looked through many others posts but couldn't find similiar to my queries. Ok, l have a work permit attached to a Visa expiring 30/10/'08. l am 45 years old, after 30 Oct l wont have the option to renew my work permit. l wish to continue living in Thailand, have property investments here, and have no reason to go back to my homeland. So, what options do l have? l may consider moving to a nearby country if u have no solution to my staying in Thailand. What visa options r available in nearby countrys? Also, in 2 weeks l am visiting Cambodia, for a week, with a friend. What do l need to do so as to not lose my current work permit & visa? Appreciate all your knowledgable advise

can you not go back your home country in october and get a 1 year visa, then you wouldnt need to move away from your investments etc?