geisha

Last time I saw an official count ( about 3 yrs ago,) there were a few million Laotians, a few million Cambodians, and the same Vietnamese and Burmese on the list !!!!!!! Really ???

Start in Cambodia. Don’t forget you need visas. Easy. Visit Siem Reap ( Angkor Wat!!!!!) a rip on the Tonle Sap . Then go to,Phnom Penh , take a river trip through to south VIETNAM NEAR Can Tho where the best imaginable floating market is .Beautiful. Then bus to Saigon , Dallât, Hoi An, and Hanoi . Don’t plan, careful of rainy seasons everywhere, and go as you like. A Laos trip is also good. Luang Prabang , Trip up the Mekong back into north Thailand by boat.

I also love Bali and go often from Thailand. But be careful, the rainy season from Nov/ Dec to April,/Mai is crazy. It’s opposite to Thai seasons. Much more culture than Thailand, beautiful people, lots of nice places tho Kuta area is a mess , too many tourists , traffic etc. And hot weather !!

French embassy is very unhelpful , I avoid them like the pest. Look hard at the requirements, they are quite fussy. I would put Tourism and visiting friends as the reason.

Are debit cards more risk if used fraudulently / stolen ??

Probably the same frequency as Flu vaccins .

A good taxi driver in Bangkok is worth his weight in gold. ( or Baht ) . I’ve never been ripped off in nigh on 40 yrs of visiting Bangkok. Always lucky maybe. What they have to put up with all day working a taxi is awful. Now, if you ask me about Phuket taxis, or Pattaya, that’s another kettle of fish ! They’ll never give you a decent price no matter how often you take the same ones. Example, Phuket : Kata to Patong, max 15 mins drive 500 Baht. Pattaya : they’ll try to charge you around 500 Baht , same 10/15 mins The airport runs 1200 Baht, makes no sense. i will never complain about Bangkok Taxi prices.

You can’t compare the two. When you hire anyone in France you pay their URSSAF social security, Ameli free health for most, health insurance compliment ( Mutuelle) . They get 40 hrs week , or less, are paid from the SS when they are sick, get paid holidays 5 weeks a year, and, at the end , a usually good pension until they die. People on the dole are paid , every one gets a free obligatory education, children do not work, a family get free health care, plus benefits for every child a family has , tax free for most etc etc etc. Tell me how Thai workers are protected please ? All that, comes at a cost. This is why western countries have higher prices for food/ hotels / houses etc. It’s not rocket science.

Best post yet !! Nearly every condo I have rented over many years has been full of snowbirds. Well off retirees who can afford the nicer condos, eat in restaurants every night and generally spend money. I’m one of them. The biggest hurdle for us, is getting the visas. Many, like myself, get so fed up they used the Visa exempt way, which is good, ( apart from Covid times) but not everyone wants the hassle. So, either a shorter stay, myself, or go elsewhere. Why is it so complicated , it’s sheer ignorance on the government’s part. All the neighboring countries seem to manage fine . Thailands problems won’t go away, they will get worse.

Best is the owner declares you online. Then she gives you a screen shot of the declaration with your name on it. Ask when moving in .They are obliged to do it by law. If there’s a condo office the secretary usually does it.

For tourists , I don’t think 10$ Will stop them from coming at all. Globally there will be less tourists traveling by air due to fuel hikes. Foreigners working in Thailand and traveling by air, their company probably pays the airfare . Only private business owners would pay 10$ out of their own pocket , maybe. As for principles, since when has the government ever had any ??

When younger with less money I used to pay for fast track , and my niece that came to BKK 3 years ago also had this service which was great. I suppose it’s been discontinued since Covid ? or still possible?

Agree with you. But as I said, I get through BKK immigration in 5 mins on business flight, only to waste an hour waiting for my suitcase at the belt ! No getting away from that if you have more than hand luggage. Of course if you are on business/ work, and have only a small carry on then you don’t have this problem. Luckily I don’t go to the UK often.

“ foreigners who can’t or don’t want to pay “. ? Anyone with an ounce of good sense and responsibility would either abstain from sex or pay the 400$ a year treatment. Cant pay, then you should not be in Thailand in the first place , and you should also abstain from sex. 400$ is the equivalent to a dollar a day, or one beer . No one should be allowed to play with other peoples lives.

I don’t think I’ve ever had delays on departing. Arrivals yes, come in on business or first, very quick, then you wait an hour on the belt for your suitcase!!!!!!

My choice, Bangkok I love , so much to see and do. Koh Chang is much nicer than Phuket.

Yes, some nice condos there, one opposite actually. Airs better too and Siam Icon not far .

Looks well made to me. Give them a small “fine” and keep it there. Who exactly is it bothering ?

Every little helps. My sister had a good idea. Working in a lawyers office where the totality of the other offices were similar, architects etc, they’d have a yearly whip around of all the building and then choose someone who needed help , handicapped kids, operations abroad etc . I thought it was marvelous how they all came together and did what they can. More of this is needed in these difficult times.

Hi, is the Oasis bigger ? 14900 Baht sounds expensive ( 400€ ?) 280€ here in France at Amazon. Is the Oasis really worth it ? I read a lot .

That may be the plan. The court will decide that he goes, but keeps him on as Defense Minister? I didn’t even know you could hold 2 positions ?!

Don’t go Mondays or Fridays. I’ve always been very early morning just before opening time then it’s usually ok. Otherwise TUE WED THU afternoon.

Not KL , they don’t have a great reputation for visas. Definitely Cambodia or Saigon. Saigon is good for tourist visas. Great to visit too, try and spend a few days. Fantastic food.

Or, as a friend of mine found out in January . Applied in France , all in order, due to delays, he had to leave without it. Which I why I didn’t get a visa and came exempt. So we both stayed 2 months instead of 3. He’d applied early but it apparently took 6 weeks. And yes, I know January was still difficult times , Thai Pass / insurance etc was easy compared to an evisa !!!

If I was choosing a hotel it would be near Terminal 21. Opposite there’s plenty choice and 5 mins to sea front. Also a 3 min sea front Baht bus will take you to Central,Festival Mall and town center. At the moment plenty of decent hotels and nicer ones on Booking.com around 3300 Baht for 3 nights. Indians tend to hang around walking street area and near the school/ temple as there are all the Indian restaurants and cheap massage., Enjoy.