buick

is there any new info on this topic ?  is paxlovid now in some hospitals in Bangkok ?  i have an Australian friend coming to town in July, he has a lung condition (from asbestos exposure).  he's had 2 shots of AZ and three boosters (i think all pfizer) and he got COVID here in BKK during his July trip last year (no complications, better after 4 days).  but he's pestering me about info on paxlovid.  my understanding is even if the hospitals have it, you've got to be infected to get the anti viral.  can't buy it and put on the shelf for a possible future infection.  he's familiar with bumrungrad and sukhumvit hospital.  he's nearly 70 years old and isn't very skillful with the internet so i'm trying to help him out with info.  thanks for any comments.

my ex-GF is from buriram.  her mom isn't in buriram anymore but she was there for at least a decade and she went to the casinos a couple times a week.  it was crazy.  she would beg for 500thb and that was all she needed.  she'd often have to borrow cash at the casino and leave her phone behind as collateral.  i gave her 500thb many times.  it was worth it to get her out of the way !!!  her and her friends would load up in a van and off they went.  she even spent the night there w/o a room, many times.  tough old lady !!!

On 6/15/2023 at 2:32 AM, superal said:

"The one up the hill" is what I said and you get there in a free pickup mini bus . Sure is a hill or or incline . Been there many times pre covid but now the Thai immigration want 1500 baht to allow you to go to the casinos and not stamp your passport . Before covid it was 500 baht to Thai immigration and 300 to Cambodian . Cannot see many takers for that , unless you know otherwise ? Talk about greed and shoot yourself in the foot .

BTW did you ever win ?

i did win one time.  so that was probably one win out of five visits.  i won about $400.  normally i was willing to lose $200 before calling it a day.  i took frequent breaks to drink 20thb beers.  so i'm still down overall.  it is fun, i got a couple hours of gaming on most trips.  i also had to bankroll a thai lady once with another $200 and that was lost also !!!

i've been to both casinos in o'smach multiple times.  unless there have been significant changes since 2018, the casino on the left as you enter from the thai side is nicer than the one on the right (right side has red roof).  i'm a little confused as one poster mentioned casinos (plural) on the left, but i think there is only one on the left and one on the right.  another poster mentioned a casino up the hill, i don't recall a 'hill' at all.  but maybe that is the one on the right w/red roof. i played roulette in the casinos.

2 hours ago, superal said:

When approaching the Thai immigration there are often visa agents . They typically charge 100 BAHT + for their service which is well worth it

are you sure you don't mean the Cambodian side for Cambo immigration ?  the first time i went i did pay a guy 100thb just to show me where the Cambo immigration office was.  it wasn't obvious after coming through from the thai side.  you need to do a form for the Cambo visa.  when i was using the border to go to the casino, i didn't have to do anything at the thai border, just show my passport (they did have TM6).  that was leaving thailand and coming back.  i've used the crossing a half dozen times but it was 2105-2018 timeframe, never a queue of more than a few people.  i was also a bit drunk once and forgot to get stamped out of cambo before going to the thai side.  didn't make that mistake again.  beers were 20thb at the shop in casino !!

i've spent some time in buriram over the years.  pre covid, i crossed the border into o'smach several times (2015 to 2018).  never a long wait to get through the border on entry or exit.  mostly thais going over to gamble at the casinos.  to go and come back the same day (you say 'border run' so i assume you mean same day entry/exit) was an extra fee of 300thb.  i'm pretty sure that was paid to the cambodia 'officials' but it has been awhile and i'm not 100% sure, might of been when coming back to thailand.

as far as your specific #'s.

1.  i got 30 days on a US passport, not sure on netherlands.

2. i brought a passport photo and the cambodia visa fee is less expensive if paid in US dollars rather than thai baht.  but not a big difference.  but you need a good quality USD note, old worn notes might not be accepted.  not a big deal to use baht and 'overpay'.

3.  i think the only cost will be the visa for cambodia (assuming a netherlands passport requires a visa) and the fee they may ask for to do a same day arrival and departure.  otherwise the costs are variable, will you go to a casino or spend some time on the cambodia side doing something that would cost money ?  i guess you have to get to the border from Surin so that could be a cost.

4.  you should able to go anytime w/o a large queue at the border on either side.

5.  coming in visa exempt via a land border is fine in terms of getting a 30 day extension at an immigration office in thailand.  i did that after a border run at o'smach.

i know an agent in bkk.  he works with the jomtien office.  but the cost of the service is not what one might consider 'a bargain'.  probably 25,000 or more and add extraif it involves getting the 90 day Non O plus 12 month extension.  i've known him for 15 yrs, i do my extension on my own at CW, i told him i'd use his service if it was 10,000 but that wasn't enough.  PM me if you want more details/contact info.

i know an agent in BKK.  not long ago, he complained that he can't open bank accounts in BKK anymore, has to go to pattaya to open them.  that is also where he does his 'work' with immigration (his clients don't go to CW).  

john wayne in mcclintock (to his lady):  are you going to believe what you see or what i tell you ?  will never forget that one.

i saw his yacht hundreds of times in newport harbor.

OP - were there 10 seats across in econ ?  i've read alot of complaints about that configuration.  try to avoid those when possible. 

in the past i've asked true visions about temporary suspensions.  as i recall, the rule was no more than 60 days and could only do that twice a year.  i did 60 days a few times and it worked fine, you tell them when you want to turn off and back on and that is it.  service resumes w/o you having to do anything else.

my service was shut off when i left during covid.  when i got back and got it turned back on, i was given a promotional rate for six months, half price.  if you shut it down for 4 months, you might get a  chance to do something like that.

On 4/20/2023 at 9:23 AM, Lemsta69 said:

How so? Since the rule change in June 2020 it is no longer necessary for "long-stayers" to submit a new TM30 when they come back from a trip either domestically or internationally. It's only required if you come back in on a new visa.

the TM 30 seems to confuse people at times (based on what i read on this forum) so i called it an 'odd exercise'.  is that ok ? 

the TM30 exercise is an odd one.  i'm at a hotel outside bkk (but in thailand) for a few days every month. my apartment manager has no idea when i return from these trips so does not do a new TM30.  but whatever she prints off for me before i go to CW each year seems to do the job.  

i'm not sure but a member of this site, thaivisacentre, might be able to help.  here is a link to a thread where they have posted and they list their line ID.

7 hours ago, UKPaul67 said:

Siam Legal are the ones that never answered my email, I'll try a more direct approach to them next time, but they quoted 5000 baht+17% VAT.

maybe it was a songkran holiday thing ?  available staff focused on bigger ticket items ?

41 minutes ago, UKPaul67 said:

Update **

 

The visa Agent I tried never even responded ????, maybe its more difficult now in Bkk, I'll give up for this trip and try again next time,thanks for all the answers guys ????

law firms can also assist in opening bank accounts.  you could try siam legal in bkk if you are having trouble finding a good agent.  you'll have to pay a fee, maybe 4,000thb. 

i was not asked for 'proof of funds from abroad' when i applied for a Non O at CW (from visa exempt entry).  i had been on extension (retirement) but was out of country for a year so couldn't renew.  i had the bank account from before, used money in the bank method.  i kept paying rent on my apartment while i was gone so it was also not an issue to produce the last three months of rental receipts.  i did this in august of 2021 so it was before they started asking for 12 month bank statements.  i only got the usual bank letter.

never had a problem.  living around asoke/sukumvit for 15+ yrs

i don't think the pool at benjasiri (next to emporium) has reopened since the closure a few years ago.  definitely not open earlier this year, i was in the park often.

bamboo bar used to be popular but i haven't been in a few years.  there are some bar/restaurants near the big circle with the Rama I monument.  two are across from the green hotel buriram.  one is kind of upscale and the one next door is less so and has a larger outdoor area.  lots of tables outside, hard to miss as you drive by.  back to the side of the street where green hotel is, on one side of green hotel is another little complex that has a place called 'lighthouse'.  and on the other side of green hotel is an open area that has a 'walking street' type thing set up a couple nights a week.  i can't remember which nights.  i think monday is one. 

i did my extension based on retirement in early Oct 2022.  i did a 90 day report in Sept 2022 and was not asked for it when i did the extension in Oct 2022. 

23 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

BKK has a revolving gate on the 4th/Departure floor so no one can walk out and flag a taxi that has just dropped off passengers.

it is easy to walk right through that 'gate'.

your thai broker should have something that allows you to make 'bets' on the exchange rate for THB/USD.  you made need to sign paperwork to get approval for foreign exchange trading.  talk to your broker.