geisha

Thailand is not attractive anymore due to its catastrophic infrastructure and kamikaze drivers. The quality tourists will not come to Thailand with its sleazy reputation. 

On 7/1/2020 at 8:30 AM, steven100 said:

exactly .... the chef, the waiter, the cashier and even the owner won't lose any sleep if you don't come back.

They were probably talking about the fussy farang while heating it up in the kitchen.

That is why most Thai restaurants don’t make it . When you open a restaurant you want to have a clientele, ones that come back, so you do your best to please them. If it means changing a dish that is too salty , too hot/ bland, or cold, then so be it. You change it immediately with a smile. Mistakes can happen and if you correct them you keep your customers happy. 

I would never eat any raw fish in Thailand or any other country with doubtful hygiene. Also., Those stalls where you can choose your own sushi in Central and elsewhere are absolutely disgusting.  

Which ever way you look at it, it’s not sensible to be traveling long haul flights in the current situation. People are wary of booking flights that might not leave or be delayed. There’s been huge reporting of this happening, with mostly only date change promised and not reimbursement. The average tourist who stays 12/14 days usually buys a package tour. Are these tours on offer ? From what the agents say , it’s no. The amount of tourists that eventually get to Thailand will be a drop in the ocean of what is needed to help the economy .

They can ask for what they want, regular tourists will not be rushing back to Thailand. Maybe a few for Christmas / New Year. 

I don’t think anyone should book a ticket yet as  Thailand is  closed to tourists for the moment., They have not published the exact rules for tourists to enter, regarding,
Who can , and can’t enter ? ( Nationality’s ) 

Is visa exempt still allowed ?
When will the Embassy’s start giving 60 day visas ?
Visas on arrival, and to whom ? 
health certificates ?
Insurance coverage ?

Im giving Thailand a miss this year, but some friends of mine are waiting for the rules before booking flights, which will be more expensive. Many travel experts have advised EU people to stay close to home this year.
 

What is wrong with normal bars / cafes where the seating can be spaced .Surely even Thailand bar owners can manage that, Europe does. It’s not rocket science.

5 hours ago, overherebc said:

I often wonder what the mental image of a 'high-end' tourist is.

Usually very different from what we imagine. Usually very discreet and not bling bling at all. Had a multi millionaire friend of Maggie Thatcher years back , from the laid back way he and wife and kids dressed, you’d never know it. 2 yachts, a mansion here and there etc. Abramovitch is the same, nice normal looking man. Most high class hotels are discreet places where you can swim and eat away from the paparazzi. Then of course you have the party goers who have money and drink hundreds of bottles of champagne in the exclusive clubs. One Russian family has recently taken over a closed 5 star hotel here ( closed for Covid reasons) for him and his family to holiday .  Discreet. 

16 minutes ago, scorecard said:

I just read a report on another site saying that the Thai government is quite surprised at the low numbers of foreigners who have registered to return; around 2,000 foreigners married to Thai nationals and small numbers in other categories.

 

I wonder if this relates to the costs of the 'alternative quarantine hotels' for foreigners, around 40,000Baht for 14 days and up. Plus in some cases costs of Covid 19 tests during the quarantine plus tests to gain documents to fly, Transport to and from the quarantine hotel, laundry etc.

 

Also costs of airfares (one way only) on repatriation flights is mostly above/well above normal commercial scheduled flights. Plus I noticed a comment that the fares on many repat flights doesn't include check-in luggage, all extra cost. Plus ground transport costs to get to the departure airport

 

I could be wrong but I wonder if these costs are a deal breaker for some foreigners, meaning that they just can't afford the current repat costs and must wait until quarantine days/venues relaxes, perhaps some will be eventually be allowed to quarantine at home but with monitoring, etc., and overall costs reduce significantly. 

 

This post is NOT in response to any other specific posts in this thread. And it's not about Chinese tourists. is not what this thread is aimed at.

 

Your thoughts about repat return costs? Please share.

 

 

 

 

Hi, expats returning to Thailand will not be on repatriation flights . They will pay the full costs of today’s normal prices that are high. Pleas correct me if I’m wrong. 

So are these few business men and wellness travelers going to hire private planes to get them to Thailand and back home ?

6 minutes ago, ThaidDown said:

To some people it must be a lot as they spend day after day on this forum (and others) slagging off the Thai government, everything about Thailand and all Thais yet they still want to  stay here or to get back in to continue living here.

 

 

The post was not about expats living in Thailand. It was about attracting rich tourists to Thailand. So, what does Thailand have to offer to wealthy tourists ? 

2 minutes ago, herwin1234 said:

according to all the wise farangs here thats impossible. Thailand, according to them, is too filthy and has nothing to offer to wealthy people. Well, this shows them factually wrong. Many farangs here are uneducated pigs (sorry for being so direct) who simply cannot see beyond beer and hookerd.

Educated and wealthy can, on the other hand, see and value what Thailand has to offer.

What exactly does Thailand have to offer ?

The Thai authorities evidently don’t know how rich people spend their holidays. Maybe they should have a look at Monaco, Cannes, st Tropez, Bora Bora, Moustique, Bahamas etc etc. That’s where the well off hang out. Of course, they could always copy these countries and turn Thailand into a dollar haven , but at its present state, Thailand is going from bad to worse.,

I was bored in Hua Hin. I liked the All In restaurant/ shop for foreign food. I wonder  if it’s still there ? Otherwise I ate in the night market, great fresh fish and huge prawns, and the occasional rat running over my feet !!

Not Thailand but Laos. Many years ago, I left  Vientiane on the bus going North. The bus was full, except the seat next to me. All Laotiennes , except 3 US guys in the back seat. Anyhow, after’15 mins, the bus stopped, a Lao stepped up, had a look around, me, very naive, put up my hand to indicate there was a free seat next to me. As he sat down next to me with his AK 47 , I sort of shut up and looked out the window a good while.

A while later we stopped for drinks and wc, I got out too, the three Americans absolutely hilarious outside. Apparently the look on my face as the guy with the gun sat down next to me was a picture. Anyhow, found it he was a guard for the bus as the countryside we were driving through was still dangerous back then. 

Years ago on Kata beach there were a lovely retired Lufthansa couple who got so fed up of being stung, they bought dive suits to swim in. Everyone laughed but they were the only ones who never got stung.

Great read.

Mostly ignorant, dirty rogues. The lady drivers seem better.

As we are Saturday, you could call the hospital in Khorat , or your local hospital , or a  Doctor , or get a Thai person to call your specialist for you. 

21 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Welcome to the New China. Thailand!

Thailand should be very careful. All over the news today is an new outbreak of coronavirus in the main Beijing market which supplies meat and vegetables, there are 4000 tenants. The police have closed down the market and all surrounding areas are in lockdown.

31 minutes ago, geisha said:

All over the news, new outbreak of coronavirus in Beijing market, they’ve closed it down. Xinfadi market has 4000 tenants! 

There are now 11  districts  in lockdown. 

All over the news, new outbreak of coronavirus in Beijing market, they’ve closed it down. Xinfadi market has 4000 tenants!