geisha

Online is the correct answer.

I fly regularly and have never found a better price on a booking site for flights. Usually on an airline website, you have all different prices as said above, refundable or not, luggage or only carry on, and worst problem of all, if the flight is not direct , you could be facing a huge layover somewhere or flights that go from 3 am to early morning . This can prolong your flight, already long, by half a day or more. Also in some places getting to the airport for those flights can be difficult .( bus/train taxi). I always take the most comfortable option and only a ticket that’s refundable or date change possible, especially with Covid still rife or personal problem. Is the airline a good one ? Easy to check on the review sites.

As a snowbird, I’m currently at home in the south of France. The ski resorts near Nice have closed after a busy winter season. Talking to my hotel neighbors, they all said they’re booked full from practically now on. In the EU , it was said that summer tourists will be staying close to home., The cost of petrol plays a part, but we have good rail service everywhere, what a great way to visit Italy , Spain, France and further comfortably and not expensive. Just booked a flight to Italy, under 60 € return. Tickets to Thailand are expensive, with Covid , there’s no telling what awaits you, with kids as well, costs a fortune, plus , so much to book in advance, hoops to jump through. Don’t forget there’s a war on our doorstep. There’s been a lot of bad publicity about the shenanigans with the tourists testing positive. Made headlines in the Time magazine this week. It’s been all over the internet. The Thai government still do not realize that they have sunk their economy. I have a lot of Thai friends, and they’ve said they managed to get the 2 first vaccins, but they are now * out of date* and they need boosters. Also that the city dwellers had a good service, if long, but out in the countryside ( I was in Phuket first) no one was vaccinated. The new variant is even more contagious than the previous Omicron. To get Thailand on its feet and get people working and businesses reopening, the government needs to jump in fast , get everyone vaccinated first, use the submarine ( laugh) payment to help the poor Thais get back on their feet. Then, maybe the tourists will come back. .

From,Jomtien side , up Theprassit road right side, about 2 thirds way up before the Night Market / big Tesco’s. Not sure if there is another one before that too.

You can also go into one of the shops telephone/ print / fax etc .There was one on second road before or after Mikes shopping ?? Otherwise, I’m sure if you go nicely into a 4 or 5 star hotel and ask if you can pay to send the fax, they would hardly refuse.

3 to 4 months after a Covid infection for a booster. You are panicking. If you’re very unwell and afraid , call the clinic. They will keep you for 10 days or send you home to 10 days comfortably. Only take paracetamol unless you have medical problems that don’t advise it. Test yourself every 2/3 days with different test brands.: When do you need to travel abroad ? My friend had Covid and one month after testing negative he did 2 PCR a few days apart and there was nothing.

Personally, doubt very much this will even come to the board room. Where did you hear/ see this report ?

Exactly, as a snowbird in Thailand since 1984, my last stay in Jan to March was quite depressing., I was never so glad to leave to spend 10 days in Bangkok, where there is at least a semblance of normal life . I won’t be back too soon. Seeing the state of the closed up beach villages and the poverty of the working class absolutely made me feel sorry I came.

In France where I live, we always open our bags in shops to show the cashier. I don’t mind, theft is huge, no skin off my nose. Went shopping with family in UK , opened my bag at cashier, she was quite baffled, didn’t understand. My sister in law said we didn’t have to do that there. I suppose UK does have loads of cameras.

I’m sure they can find an expert in that domaine amongst themselves ?

Maybe it’s a good excuse for the Thai government to refuse the order ? Lack of funds in difficult times ?

Of course the countries you mention May believe in Putin. They do not benefit from freedom as we do. They are locked in the dark with their leaders. The wider world knows better.

Yes, Thailand will suffer. The whole world will feel the knock on effect from this cruel war. People still vote with their feet when considering a holiday. As Thailand has seen during two years of Covid, tourists go elsewhere. European holidays are the first choice now, along with the Americas, Mexico, Caribbean etc. Hotels in EU are choc a block with reservations for this year. Covid is not over. Same with the Russian invasion of a sovereign country. Do you really think westerners agree with Russia ? we have television reporters from all over the world in Ukraine filming the attacks on civilians, hospitals, schools. The west will “ suffer” from lack of gas and oil, flight prices will rise, tourists will choose closer to home for their dose of sunshine. Retail prices are going sky high because of oil prices, so people have less money for extras. This was already happening in Thailand, and will continue. The situation will worsen over the year to come, and also more so if this despot Putin doesn’t pull out of Ukraine. The Thai government have shown how incapable they are to run the country during a crisis, the only place they will run the country now is into the ground.

I can tell you what helps. Wear a mask, don’t interact with friends etc for at least three four days before leaving Thailand and before leaving for Thailand. If the trip is that important, be capable of trying your best not to catch the virus.

I think some of you are all a bit dim ! Don’t you realize that this was done to show the plight of poor Thai families that literally have a bowl of soup or noodles a day ? Or are you blind ? Seeing only what you want to see about the land you’re living in, or are you ?

Maybe not, but she represents the millions of Thais who don’t get to eat their daily quota. Shame on the prime Minister, and every official who works for the Thai government. No doubt their daughters and wives are queuing up in Central Embassy to buy the latest Gucci or Prada .

Why not stay a day or two and visit , lots of nice cheap hotels !

In the small sea side villages and islands, you’d buy your fish fresh off the boats as they came in. Of course inland you go to a Makro etc. On Kata beach, I’d wait till Kata mamas boat turned up, choose my fish or whatever for the evening. Wow. Fresh veg straight from the local markets and fruit often from the back of a truck. I know things change, but mass tourism has greatly affected the quality of food, it also changes and affects the locals income. They earn less money !!!! Not all Thais live on the waters edge, in the hills behind phuket and the islands there were chicken farms, fruit, coconuts etc.. Now,,no more fresh chicken, it comes frozen from a supermarket. Easier, stick it in a freezer. I’m lucky, I live somewhere famous for its food and we are spoilt for choice. Give your clientele a lower quality, that’s it, you’re out of business. I must say I have much better and healthier Thai food in Europe than in Thailand, and that makes me sad.

Update on my previous post. super rich was closed at airport. I waited until I got to my hotel, and went to Central world across the road. There’s the head offfice opp Central world behind Big C too, but the queues are long.,

Beaches were good due to Covid. I spent a few months in Phuket, weather was a bit iffy, but the beaches were lovely. Once mass tourism starts up then the jet skis , long tails, plus the fully booked hotels pumping their waste into the sea, etc will pollute the water again. Thailand has no infrastructure. Whereas in western countries we do all we can to preserve the beautiful coast lines and beaches are checked regularly, waste does not go in the sea. I’ve been on Phuket and the other smaller islands when they were quiet, and when they were full, and the latter is not pleasant ! The people who I saw the last two months were quite disappointed, the villages looked a mess, signs hanging swaying in the breeze and filthy streets.. all locked up and abandoned. The quality of restaurant food has also fallen drastically. The fish comes from Makro, even the vegetables and fruit ! As mentioned above, the food has become hardly acceptable. I did stay 10 days in Bangkok though, where I was quite impressed with the efforts made . Enjoyed Bangkok more.

Hi, 2 questions please. How long did it take to get your Thai Pass, did you apply while in Thailand or Cambodia ?! And did they ask you for an onward flight ? Good report, thanks.

Unfortunately lots of young girls can easily pass for looking a bit older. Make up, clothes , shoes , how they behave. My best friends daughter at 15 went to afternoon discos,´mum drove her and picked her up. My friend and I had the shivers seeing the way the girls all dressed. None of them looked 15. Frightening. That’s why real ID is important for clubs discos bars etc , and why there are people in front checking the ID , very serious in Most western countries.,

Maybe someone from Korat will read this thread and start a crowd funding, or give the idea to the victims father.

Don’t they have crowd funding to pay for a top lawyer ? Money usually helps !

I know lots of people in Phuket who probably caught this new strain and we’re not ill, not even fever, just runny nose and cough, like an ordinary cold. Lasted 4 to 6 days. Friends in Austria also all had similar, went through all the family, same outcome. Everyone I know were vaccinated by the way and mostly in the 60s to mid 70s.