StayinThailand2much

Let me get this straight, there were 1.9 million international visitors, incl. 240,000 from the U.S., but all they seem to care about are the tourists from China, even though they accounted for only about 4% of visitors..

And most of these former employees have a new career now, so why should they return?

Happened to me with Thai Airways (well, not really 'low-cost') from Hong Kong.

Such passport checks when paying into accounts are random, only at some branches, heaven knows why.

Yes, everyone is just talking about that e-cigarette...

Doesn't make sense at all! Why are there Myanmar authorities in Mae Sot, and why did he get a 'fake stamp'? - This story is incomprehensible, but I guess, he was unable to either leave Myanmar, or enter Thailand, so his company organised (a) fake stamp(s)... Are journalists these days unable to write comprehensive news reports?

They have to make Thai officialdom look good again, after Bangkok cops' shakedown shenanigans were exposed on social media.

Is that him?? - If a husband tied up his wife because she gambled, people would call for the police to step in...

If she's harbouring such thoughts, then she has probably made up her mind already to return to her mother's home, for whatever reason, her husband gambling or not...

Or, "Could you tell me whether you accept a couple (Laotian/whatever) when booking a double room...?" - If the hotel thinks you'd break the law they will probably tell you. Also, they may ask if you're married to clarify. (Not everyone in the world knows about such a law or regulation in Laos.)

3. Thai police (sometimes) plant evidence. 4. Thai police (sometimes) use extortion methods to obtain money for their personal benefit. 5. Thai police on all levels will lie about, and manipulate (even in public) the truth of their corruption to protect themselves. IMHO, if they had been smart, they should have just fired and prosecuted the seven involved, claiming the incident on 'bad apples'. But now, after the media farce, repercussions might be much bigger...

"Actress bribe claim borne out by officers' confessions: source" (Headline in the online edition of a Thai English-language newspaper, published 31 Jan. at 04:06.)

If she had vaping gear. What happend to the original story about the 'wrong visa'?

Send the one who can do the lowest and most beautiful 'wai'...

LOL. The web of lies gets sillier by the day! The actress was released without charge, but, supposedly, after paying cash. This is now called a "bribe" instead of extortion, no doubt in order to blame the person paying the 'bribe', rather than police extorting money from the victim. Also, no explanation why a "charge for illegal possession of an electronic cigarette" is a whopping 27,000 baht.

Wait till the Chinese show up in large numbers. The thing they like to buy all up when away from the mainland is powdered milk. In other places, e.g. Hong Kong, they had to restrict the quantity one can buy, as Chinese travellers always buy powdered milk in bulk.

Why not messaging the hotel to find out? I don't see any other 'problems', at least in Vientiane, but it might be against the hotel's policy, so I would contact them, if I were you.

And Thai (cops) will go through great lengths to 'save face', so their denials, or trips don't prove anything.

Hope, the trip is paid for by extorted money, not taxpayers'...

Phuket must be the Thai language education centre of Thailand now...

And CCTV from the Chinese embassy of all places... Thailand, China, Taiwan - do I need to say more?

The RTP may get away with fairy tales in the eyes of the Thai public, but not in international social media. This might damage Thailand's reputation as a tourist destination in Taiwan.

Just read here recently that 'TAT celebrates higher tourist number than expected'... 11 million tourists isn't bad for an Asian country of Thailand's size, but I guess all those Malaysian, Laotian, and Indian tourists are no big fans of Mr. Heinecke's pizza and hotels...

Copying Chinese gigantomania, where railway stations are excessively large, and it takes you a long time to walk from one end to the other? (Same for lack of toilets, luggage trolleys, sign boards, etc.)

When a million-dollar signboard creates a problem and political repercussions...