Keith5588

Thanks huangnon and Peterw42 for your helpful information.

I will ask the hotel and have a look around after arriving. If I see a rental place very close to a large hotel I think they would not scam customers, also if renting via the hotel recommendation it would probably be good.

 I have have a look on the internet and see that in 2018 it was decided to have a road going completely around Kho Chang, does anyone know if it is possible to go across to the East side from the South West of Koh Chang?

Thanks

Keith

I live in Khon Kaen with my Thai gf and we are going to have a holiday on Koh Chang after spending a few days in Pattaya then Rayong.

Should arrive at Koh Chang White Sands Beach 15^th Dec. As prices are low I have already noted to stay at Kacha Resort for the first night but have not booked it yet so still flexible.

I am now looking online for some Scooter rental shops. I will probably rent a Honda Click as the larger cabin bag fits nicely between my legs when riding a Click.

I find it a bit strange that there not any Bike Rental shops close to the Kacha Resort on Google Maps or a search on the internet.

I would like to check before going to not waste time because I would definitely not leave my passport or driving licence but am happy they take a copy and happy to leave a deposit. I would also want reasonable helmets.

Hopefully someone can help

Thanks 

Keith

Glad that you had a good trip Thujone.

I live in Khon Kaen with my Thai gf and we are going to have a very similar holiday on Koh Chang.  I had already noted to stay at Kacha Resort at White Sands Beach for the first night.

I am now looking online for some Scooter rental shops. I will probably rent a Honda Click as the larger cabin bag fits nicely between my legs when riding a Click.

I find it a bit strange that there not any Bike Rental shops close to the Kacha Resort on Google Maps or a search on the internet.

I would like to check before going to not waste time. I would definitely not leave my passport or driving licence but am happy they take a copy and happy to leave a deposit. I would also want reasonable helmets.

Hopefully someone can help

Thanks 

Keith

Is it too early to know more details?  For instance my Thai gf has already used 7 of the 10 nights allowed, will we still have only 3 more nights to use up until 31 Jan 2021? 

Thanks Dazinoz. I have just had a look at the entry date on my TM6 and I am sure that I entered the correct date. Maybe I did get some other information wrong. I will try again in December.

Sorry for any confusion when I wrote manually, by that I meant that I physically went to my local immigration and did it in person.

I successfully did an online 90 day report on 2 June 2020, it said to report again after 30 Aug.

When I physically went to immigration to renew successfully my 1 year extension of stay I didn't think the IO would do anything concerning my 90 day porting but they did and gave me the receipt to report again 22 Sept.

After what John terry wrote I tend to think that when the IO updated my 90 day report it did not update the online database so the online reporting thought I was overdue.     Just guessing. 

My report was due 22nd Sept, yesterday. I tried many times. There is maybe one thing, I successfully did an online 90 day report about 2nd June so it was due about 2nd Sept. Sorry not exact as I do not have much time at the moment. 

I then went to immigration to renew successfully my 1 year extension of stay on 25th June and at that time the immigration officer also did another 90 day report, putting the receipt in my passbook that next due 22 Sept. I did question it at the time and she said I will be OK to do the online report before 22 Sept.

As I have now done it manually I cannot try again until about 20 Dec when it is next due.

It's not that important, I was just curious.

Two days ago I filled in page 1 then clicked “Submit", then this error was shown 

“For further information regarding The 90-day Notification Report Service, please contact the Immigration Branch Office in your residence area”. 

I clicked "OK" which took me back to page 1, no errors indicated.

I was using Chrome Browser, I changed to Microsoft edge ……. Same error ….

Yesterday I went to my local immigration and did it manually. For me it was easy as immigration is just 3km from where I live, there were a lot of people there due to the Amnesty ending this weekend but the staff were very good and processed 90 day reporting quickly. Because they were very busy I didn't like to enter into querying about 90 day online reporting.

Last time in June it worked fine.

Anyone have any information?

Thanks

Keith

6 hours ago, connda said:

The Mrs and I always worked as a team on trip planning.  I'll look up hotels, and the specifics including a base price, location, amenities, then let the Thai wife call and hammer out a price package.  We almost always are able to find a deal better than what is listed online.  And if they don't want to deal we just go on to the next hotel. 
This is now a solid buyers market.  Deal with hotels that will give you a good deal; forget about those who won't. 
Those that have signed up for the government plan?  Instead of being call a 40% Scheme it more aptly should be call a 40% Scam.  The government and hotels working together to rip-off Thai consumers?  Can't do it to foreigners so turn that con-game right back onto your own people.  That's sad.  But oh so Thai, isn't it?  <head-shake>
 

Information is worthless if it not quantified. Can you please give at least one instance where the government 40% off scheme is a rip-off for Thai consumers? Where you can get a cheaper price by just contacting the hotel direct. Same applies to restaurants.

I have only telephoned one Hotel and they did not reduce their prices anywhere near 40%, the lady said a special deal for Thai citizens which I think was in the region of a 5% reduction. I only telephoned because booking it at a much lower price through the government scheme didn't work, it was a technical problem, all the other 5 hotels I have now booked worked fine.

I think the government interfering with normal market forces will if anything force all hotels prices lower even those not registered to participate in the scheme. How do you conclude that is a rip-off to the consumer?  Please explain as I think I  missing something.

5 hours ago, sandyf said:

I think you have misunderstood the 3000 baht, I think that is to do with the room price. As far as I am aware you can only get 40% on the first 3000 Baht of the cost of the room per night. If someone was in a room 2500/night discount would be 1000/night, your interpretation would limit the room price to about 1500/night and that is not the case.

 

This is the government website  https://www.xn--12c1bik6bbd8ab6hd1b5jc6jta.com/

Right click and select "translate to English"

Follow the link at the top to search for businesses.

If you click in the box for Province, 2nd option is near you.

@sandyf I have read the terms in Agoda TTogether again and you are correct, I am wrong.

Here is what is written  

“When you open the Agoda app, click on hotels. A banner at the bottom of the hotels search page will indicate if you are looking at the TTogether campaign properties. If so, the prices you see already reflect the TTogether campaign discount of up to 40% (maximum 3000 baht per room per night). Please note that this discounted price is only valid if you are successfully registered as eligible for the campaign, and have remaining room night validity.”

Still a bit ambiguous in my mind whether 3,000 is the full price or the discount but that doesn’t matter.  It is per night which is important and I got that wrong   Thank you Sandy.

Your link is very good, up until now I have just used the Agoda phone app and used my gf log in number, I could select Hotels or Flights but not Restaurants ………… I left the rest to my gf as I read somewhere that there is not much information in English as the discounts are only for Thai Nationals.  With your link, it does just as you say and I can search for Restaurants, plus I can see some of the other terms like “Limit the right to a maximum of 10 rooms or 10 nights (effective from 1 September 2020 onwards).”

So thanks again Sandy.

On 8/26/2020 at 7:23 PM, sandyf said:

If you go to the TT website you can search for participating restaurants in the area, that is what I have been doing and found some crackers.

Hi @sandyf can you please post the URL / link  of the TT website, is it in English?

We have booked 3 hotel nights. I just asked my gf to show me her GWallet and it still shows 5 nights allowed and 3 nights used. Also a total discount of 3,000 baht allowed.

My 5 hotel nights will equate very closely to a total discount of 3,000 baht.

For those that have had their nights increased to 10 has the total discount value increased from 3000 baht to 6,000 baht? 

I haven't put it to the test yet but I am fairly sure that for you and your wife you can only claim 5 nights under the scheme, either 5 nights in the same hotel or one night in 5 different hotels.

I have a friend who has said it may be changed to 10 nights and I hope it does but for me I selected a couple of very expensive hotels so the max discounted amount would need to increase also.

We haven't travelled yet but my gf had transferred 1,000 baht into her G-Wallet.

She just opened her G-Wallet, selected "transfer" and she said she can select to transfer money from her G-Wallet to her bank.

I think a lot of people would be angry if it was a government scam in that they kept your money.

I have now booked a hotel for the first night, a bit upmarket, the room is 55 sqm, but it cost me just 795 baht, I paid cash at 7/11.

I am glad that I am selecting to pay cash at 7/11 because as I wrote earlier I tried 3 times to book Novotel Kamala Beach and it never sent confirmation or a bar code, if I used a credit card then I would be wondering if it deducted the money.

I have now also booked a hotel at Patong for my second night stay. It looks good, Agoda rating 8.1.   I paid 361 baht and it includes breakfast, if I use the vouchers it will be almost free.

I just spoke to my gf and she has already deposited 1,000 baht into her GWallet using Bangkok Bank.

She also said that the vouchers can be used up to midnight of the day that you check out. I then noticed that Sandyf has already corrected himself.

So Sandy it looks like you can use the vouchers to help pay for your lunch.

Cheers

Keith

My gf just tried to book via the Agoda app Novotel Kamala Beach hotel for one night of the 10th Sept. 

It all went exactly the same as the hotel we booked for the 9th, we again selected to pay at a 7/11 but this time at the very end it stated we have 6 hours to pay (as before) then nothing, no bar code, no email, basically it did not work. I tried 3 times. Another small point is that it listed correctly the cost of 627 baht then after adding tax and service it arrived at 811 baht but it should be 746 baht.

I telephoned Novotel Kamala Hotel direct as some recommend. I explained. The best she could offer to a Thai citizen for one night for the same Superior King Room is 1,199 baht which includes the add on's.

So in this case they do not offer a good dealt when phoning direct, maybe other hotels would.

I will look for a different hotel later today.

Cheers

Keith

Under the TTogether scheme I have seen more than one descent hotel for 400 baht per night including breakfast.

I value the several comments that recommend telephoning the hotels direct, I will definitely do that in the future but for now with this discount scheme and vouchers I don’t think I can be bothered to telephone.

Also the comments about the hotel may be closed. My thoughts are that this can happen but I think more through laziness / forgetting / can’t be bothered. Concerning the hotels under the TTogether scheme a representative for the hotel would have to give their ID and recently positively register while knowing that the hotel is closed which I think is unlikely.

I know the scheme is only for Thai Citizens while travelling outside of their home province.

Anyone know if my gf would be eligible for the forthcoming flight back to Khon Kaen where we live?

Anyone know if the maximum number of hotel nights is still 5?

Assuming we receive 600 baht in vouchers on 9 Sept (I realise it may be 900)  does this mean that if we take a trip with a registered company and the trip costs 1,500 baht, then we actually pay 900baht?  Or would we be limited to buying a trip up to a maximum of 600 baht and only pay 360 baht?

And can we take this trip at any time in the 2 weeks we are in Phuket?

I’m now going to plan a bit more, I wasn’t going to pre book hotels but now I think I will, at least for the first 5 nights.

Cheers

Keith

Thanks for the information @sandyf  

My gf registered and obtained a code for the Agoda App.

I downloaded and installed Agoda App in my phone, entered the code and could see all the discounted prices. After some investigation the lower prices do look to be genuine.  I decided for us to stay at Maikhao Palm Beach Resort the first night and from now on for my gf to go ahead and book.

After she installed Agoda App to her phone and successfully logged into the TTogether the prices she saw were not discounted.

I first reset both phones, same result. I totally uninstalled Agoda App from my phone then my gf saw the discounted prices. Just a heads up if anyone does the same.

We have now booked and paid for one night at Maikhao Palm Beach Resort through the TTogether scheme, cost was 795 baht, it’s normally a lot more, for instance booking.com has it at  1,270 baht.

You are right that it is too late for the flight but I booked with Air Asia a direct flight Khon Kaen to Phuket cost 1,590 baht each and if my memory is correct that was not on the government discount scheme, only more expensive flights were on the scheme. I will look again for the flight back that I haven’t booked yet.

So at the moment I feel that the discount scheme is good, especially taking into account the vouchers that we should also receive.

Thanks for the information on that Sandyf.

Thanks for the information zzzzzz, after booking I can and will message the hotels. If it still turns out to be a scam in that they are actually closed then we have a scooter and so can easily find somewhere else. I assume that our contract would be with Agoda and so Agoda would have to refund my money if a hotel is actually closed.

The cost per night at the hotels are so low at the moment I may book a few luxury places that I would not normally stay at.

I believe that we can only book 5 hotel nights through the discount scheme but I played tennis tonight and a friend said that she thought she heard on the news that it is changing to 10 hotel nights will be allowed?

Cheers

Keith

I think @Saraburi121  is right. I sent a message to booking.com and the relevant part of the reply is

"Unfortunately we would not have the 40% off. For that special you may have to book through the site provided by the Thai government."

Seems that booking.com has nothing to do with the 40% off scheme.

I have just looked at Agoda and they have a whole question & Answer on the government 40% off called TTogether.

I don't want to spend too much time on this but I am now curious how this works?

I know that the same hotel can be listed in Booking.com and Agoda and if that hotel lists with the government scheme then customers in the know would definitely book the hotel via Agoda.

The Thai government would be giving a huge advantage to Agoda and not Booking.com.

That would 100% not be allowed in the UK ........... something is not right!

I live in Khon kaen with my Thai girlfriend. We are going to have a 2 to 3 week holiday in Phuket. As of now I have only booked the air Asia flight Khon Kaen to Phuket Airport on the 9 Sept.

I intend to hire a motorbike at Phuket Airport then travel down the West side of the island and then up the East side, staying a night or two at places. I haven't booked any hotels or the flight back yet, will do that a day or two before needed.

My girlfriend just tonight has registered with the Thai government 40%  tourist discount.

I am confused, basically I really do not know how to take advantage of the 40% discount, anyone know if it is worth looking into?

Hotels at the moment are relatively cheap. I asked my gf to look for hotels in Phuket that have the government 40% discount ....... she came back with Rawai Palm Beach Resort is 1,199 to 1990 baht per night. She could not find the exact cost tht we would pay.

I had a look on Agoda and see that  Rawai Palm Beach Resort has been reduced from 14,000 per night to 770 baht per night. I know nobody would have ever paid 14,000 baht but that is what it says, crazy!

So I can book it for 770 baht plus the approximate 18% for service and tax so about 900 baht!

Does anyone know more details of the Thai government 40%  discount and if it is worth spending time to use it?

Thanks 

Keith

Hi Orton,

I live in Khon kaen with my Thai girlfriend. We are going to have a 2 to 3 week holiday in Phuket. As of now I have only booked the air Asia flight Khon Kaen to Phuket Airport on the 9 Sept.

I intend to hire a scooter at Phuket Airport then travel down the West side of the island and then up the East side, staying a night or two at places. I haven't booked any hotels or the flight back yet.

My girlfriend just tonight has registered with the Thai government 40% discount tourist discount.

I am confused, basically I really do not know how to take advantage of the 40% discount.

I asked my gf to look for hotels in Phuket ....... she came back with Rawai Palm Beach Resort is 1,199 to 1990 baht per night. She is not sure if we would pay that amount or 60% of that.

I had a look on Agoda and see that  Rawai Palm Beach Resort has been reduced from 14,000 per night to 770 baht per night. I know nobody would have ever paid 14,000 baht but that is what it says.

So I can book it for 770 baht plus the approximate 18% for service and tax so about 900 baht!

Can you please help me understand how I can take advantage of this 40% government discount?

Thanks 

Keith

Thank you so much DFPhuket,

After your previous post I send a message to Air Asia via Twitter. They replied after a few hours just like yourself saying that my Credit Account was now activated. I logged in and looked and sure enough I have credit for all my Air Asia flight, so100% they were all cancelled.

I much prefer to just send a message and then  go off to do other things, waiting on a phone or dealing with a non understanding robot can be annoying.

I then asked them for all means to communicate with them that is not the AVA robot and I received this reply.

To serve you better, we would like to re-direct you to AVA at https://tinyurl.com/yxd9y7nk. We assure you that you'll be given faster and more efficient assistance. Thank you for your understanding and support

I only had a very quick look,  it does contain clickable links to message them via Twitter and Facebook. I’m not sure how useful it is.  A message via Twitter did work well as @DFPhuket  said.

My gf has said that there has been a few new cases of the Covid-19 virus in Rayong and Bangkok because people from overseas were allowed to enter Thailand because they were VIP people ….. M’mmmmm

So I will wait a few days and then hopefully book a Thai Smile flight to replace the cancelled Air Asia flight.

Also a lot of thanks to everyone that has given advice and suggestions of places to visit, it has been so good..

Keith

Thanks again DFPhuket,

I have just logged into Air Asia to check my booking again and I have no upcoming flights.

I click on my Credit Account and just have a blank screen so I don't know how much they have credited me with. 

This is the first time this has happened so I need to calm down and try to learn how best to contact Air Asia.

I just tried and get this automated AVA which just seems to waste time. Maybe it is because I am 67 years old.

After they informed me they were only cancelling my return flight on the 21st I left it a couple of days. My outgoing flight was still showing so I booked the Thai Smile flight.

If I have known Air Asia were cancelling both flights I wouldn't have booked the Thai Smile flight.

I am beginning to hate Air Asia!

4 hours ago, DFPhuket said:

I think you're going to have a problem, since AirAsia has pushed back their start date for Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai. When they first released their schedule, they listed daily flights to a lot of destinations beginning August 1. Since then they have reduced their schedule - but they don't seem to notify passengers of a flight cancelation until closer to departure. 

 

I was booked on the direct Chiang Mai/Phuket flight on Sunday, August 1, but I noticed they will actually only fly 4 days per week (and not on August 1). It was by chance I noticed. I contacted them by Twitter direct message and told them that I could see my flight had been canceled (even though it still showed it was fine) and they agreed to either move me to Monday's flight or give me a voucher. 

 

If you start a new booking and use flexible dates, you'll see they are only beginning Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai on Sept 2. I'm certain they aren't flying the route in August. 

 

Thank you DFPhuket.

I booked Air Asia flight 1 Aug Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai and also flight 21st Aug CM to KK.

This Friday just gone I received an email cancelling only the flight on 21st Aug, the reason being due to covid-19. When I looked at my bookings with Air Asia it still shows the flight for 1 Aug to Chiang Mai but the flight on 21st has been removed. 

I followed instructions and had my money credited as a voucher for the flight on the 21st.  

I then booked a flight with Thai Smile for the 21st, over twice the price and goes via Bangkok.

Now after reading your post I think I should check that my flight on the 1 Aug is actually flying.

Actually I might just wait for 5 more days and do the self check in online which should confirm if the flight is actually flying. I don't think Air Asia would issue me with a boarding pass if the flight was cancelled ........ but you never know.

Thanks for the information

Keith

I will look out and try some Kao Soi kai.

Such a lot of helpful suggestions. Thank you.

Because of what happened concerning Air Asia in that the flights very quickly sold out and also I heard that the VIP Green buses also needed to be booked in advance. I think it’s all due to not being at full capacity straight away after the easing of the lockdown.

So I booked the VIP green bus to Chiang Rai to spend 6 nights in ChiangRai, and also the return trip back to Chiang Mai.

I also reserved all hotel rooms, they can be cancelled without charge but I am quite happy with what I have done for a first visit.

I think this time we will have a good look around Chiang Mai and also join 2 Hash runs during the 9 nights.

If we come again then plan to sleep at other places to make travelling more relaxing and leave the booking of rooms until we need them.

I would not want to visit a zoo but the Elephant Nature Park sounds good.  Visit  Mae Tang at the same time if have enough time.

Definitely  Doi Suthep  and Mok Fa Waterfall 

Maybe ride around the Samoeng Loop

Trujillo, I realise you are right concerning using Songthaews for long trips, they would not be as good own transport.

Thanks for the information concerning the “Hell Temple” …… I will show it to my girl friend but for me I think I would give it a miss, too gruesome.

Now reading comments from orang37 I will try to visit the cave temple as suggested by Trujillo.

I’m now going to get ready to go and earn some money playing Petanque ……. Hopefully.

Cheers

Keith

Ps I haven’t read the few latest posts

Thanks again,

Lacessit - I will have a look to visit the Erotic Gardens, could be good for some holiday photos.

A1Str8 – I agree and usually like to be more flexible than a tour allows.

Trujillo – Thanks a lot for all the suggestions, much appreciated. Concerning the Songthaews I am a bit confused on how convenient they are or not. Now deciding with all the help that it is best to travel on the hired motorbike. But I was serious about using a Songthaew because I had looked at this web site

https://www.chiangmaitraveller.com/chiang-mai-public-transport-songthaew/

An extract

The yellow songthaew has specifically designated routes going between Chiang Mai city and the other towns. They do not roam around Chiang Mai city but only wait for passengers at the bus terminal. Here is the routes and bus terminal information of the yellow songthaew:

Route: Chiang Mai – Chom Thong
Depart from: Chang Phueak Bus Terminal
Hours: 8.00am – 16.00pm
Point of interest: Hang Dong district, San Pa Tong district, Wat Phra That Si Chom Tong, and transit to Doi Inthanon National Park, Mae Klang Waterfall, Wachirathan Waterfall.
Fare: 20 – 30 Baht

Route: Chiang Mai – Wiang Kalong – Wiang Pa Pao
Depart from: Chang Phueak Bus Terminal
Hours: 6.00am – 18.00pm
Point of interest: Khun Chae National Park, Chiang Rai Hot Spring

The orange songthaew plies the route from Chiang Mai to Fang district, where the beautiful Doi Ang Khang National Park is situated.

Route: Chiang Mai – Fang District
Depart from: Chang Phueak Bus Terminal
Hours: 6.15am – 18.00pm
Point of interest: Doi Ang Khang, Fang Hot Spring
Fare: 40 – 80 Baht

Etc.

So they do travel long distances but I accept they would not always be good for a day trip.

Also the Songthaew that goes to Doi Inthanon I assume would not stop at the waterfalls? I guess?

Sorry if I am being a bit stupid.

Thanks again for all the help

Keith