terryofcrete

So a few weeks ago we were suddenly  told that the entry rules were being changed and all arrivals had to produce a vaccination certificate..people were refused boarding by multiple airlines ! Then almost overnight , that was revoked and it was all systems go again. 
We know it was solely to appease China so that they were not alone in being refused entry without a vaccination certificate ... but the impression given was that covid was an escalating danger again  ... 

Now it's gonna all but disappear by year end ... The Daily Duh ! 

9 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

and your (strangely unnamed) well-known outlet example of one place in Pattaya

Not strangely unnamed , it would be more strange to name any business in Thailand when criticising them in print . 

5 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Complete nonsense.

Read what I said again, you left an important part out.. Last week in Pattaya I was asked to pay cash for an electronics purchase at a well known outlet. Last month I was asked for a surcharge using my CC in Chiang checking in to a guest house.

also the "machine is not working" is another familiar tactic.

17 hours ago, Xanthe said:

PIN for credit cards never heard of that. All my transactions (even for $1 transactions) whenever possible (mostly outside USA, e.g. Thailand) are done using credit cards. Never heard anybody asking for PIN. 

Never bought anything over €50 WITHOUT having to punch in a pin number

12 hours ago, madmitch said:

Is Thailand still in the 20th century when it comes to credit card use? (I've been back in the UK for a while, hence the non-rhetorical question).

 

I haven't used a signature to pay by card in years and I have never shown a passport to use a card. Everywhere requires a PIN.

 

Along with the previous comments regarding non-cancellation this does seem a bit odd for 2023.

 

 

So many outlets in Thailand don't accept cards , or try to charge a fee to cover their fees. Now , if I use my card for any substantial purchase ir service I get a text from my bank ... was this you Y ot N .... pain at times cos might now gave phone or switched off ... 

7 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Why do you come here if it is so disgusting and abhorrent? Genuine question.

(And maybe stay in a nicer hotel next time)

I have a non tourist interest. 

i have stayed in all classes of hotels in Thailand over many years . There are problems at all levels , but yes, if you pay more you are less likely to encounter difficulties, but I have only once had to have antibiotics intravenously administered in a clinic from food poisoning and that was contracted at  a 4 star hotel in Pattaya.  
It's not "disgusting and abhorrent", those are your words . I love it and spend at least 4 months a year in Thailand , but I recognise and identify its shortcomings and drawbacks. I didn't even mention dangerous or non existent pathways or crossing roads .... 

And that's just getting in ..... Leaving is a nightmare too on many days and nights . 

8 hours ago, rabang said:

The country is going to need some solutions or it is going to become a huge dump.

Well most tourists areas are already wafting in sewage drain smells and last week I could smell sewage from the SINK in my hotel bathroom ! 
Not to mention the state of the toilets in crowded bars and the proximity of the ONE mixed gender mini cubicle toilet located slap bang beside the kitchen in many restaurants.  

On 2/12/2023 at 8:13 AM, Seppius said:

My friend flew Friday night also, 2 almost hours passport control, queuing right out the door

As i said the ONLY reason for the mess was not enough staff on duty... Im sure there are more than enough staff , but where are they ? 

On 2/9/2023 at 11:30 PM, HappyExpat57 said:

You beat me to it.  They are gonna try cramming 5 kilo of sh!t into a 2 kilo sack.

 

It is actually a HUGE consideration for me to fly only business class any more. I don't fly frequently so when I do, I don't want to do combat at the passport control booths. 

That means you are paying a lot of money because they wont do their jobs. Send them a bill ! 

2 hours ago, Tropposurfer said:

I just checked the highest figures recorded.

Maybe I misread the numbers (?) but it seemed to say to me under 40 million was the highest total .... ever!

200 million sounds like someones smoking way too much of the green goddess lol ????????????

 

If all the girls in Pattaya go on a diet there's a chance that might attract an extra 100 million or so... "if you build it ... they will "come"."

6 hours ago, Xanthe said:

desperate foreigners rejected by their own kind

Just arrived back "home" from Thailand for a little while and judging by what I see every time I do I would think it's more a case of "no thanks... I'll go to Thailand for my sins .... or sinning " 

15 hours ago, vandeventer said:

It would be nice if all these tourist had something to do when they arrive. Like things that are different here than back at home. A reason to come here? Bad roads and air pollution and rip-offs need to change first.

Go Go dancing by nude women .... and temples.... of course ! 

Gotta be a massive gain for someone very high up the chain to keep the tobacco companies happy.... either have shares in them or get massive "political" donations ..

4 hours ago, roo860 said:

Get yaself a few more beers in!

Pattaya today according to Accuweather ... but looking out the balcony it's "bleedin' obvious" to quote Basil Fawlty.

2 hours ago, Bundooman said:

Don't forget your wallet when you go out .............!

Especially if you think you might be killed, Lord Rest Him.

Obviously the finger printing that now happens on arrival is only  used for criminals or overstayers...not for identification of deceased foreign nationals. 

3 hours ago, JWRC said:

The stranger who was visiting a friend found out about the John Doe, and decided to help, well, how did he know who he was?

 

You tell us ... you seem to be the detective...lol

This piece should be circulated widely to Tourist Organisations worldwide together with the original news stories regarding the Taiwanese Actress./Celeb. CC to TAT of course ! 

the Dept. Of Foreign Affairs in every decent country would already know about most scams that are common in most popular tourist destinations around the globe , but it's no harm to update them .

For my part a relative has a senior position within the diplomatic service and I have already passed copies of the relevant news items to him. 

6 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

e cigarettes should be allowed, and alcohol sales ban lifted during daytime too... Attrack tourists instead of scaring them off with fines and corruption....

if you can smoke and ingest drugs legally now its ridiculous that you cannot vape nicotine

1 hour ago, robblok said:

Not where I am from

You have said that a good few times... give us a clue will you , so that i may know what  country not to die suddenly in that's not up to accepted normal medical procedure. 

7 hours ago, norbra said:

Some time back I ventured to Kunming for a look around. Come time to eat went to an easting house near the hotel had to wait for seating,staff member came , went to a now vacant table removed the plates and returned with a floor mop and used the mop to clean the table of partially eaten and discarded scraps. Went back to hotel for meals after watching others spitting food scraps onto their table. Table manners like Pigs

And toilet manners ...