StayinThailand2much

"Leg lost in transit" A holiday in Thailand doesn't have to cost you an arm or a leg, but it might.

Thank you, lopburi3, for the great info. As for Manila, I figured as much, but asked about it because I thought of Manila as the point of arrival before heading to other places.

I am considering visiting the Philippines for a while. As I've never been there, perhaps someone can guide me: 1. What is the best area in Manila to stay, for the average tourist, and get a 'feel' of the city? 2. Is there any 'entertainment' nearby for big boys? 3. What months should I avoid if I don't want to get there during the rainy season? 4. What are nice places, besides Manila, to travel to? (I am looking for nature, hiking, beaches, perhaps national parks.) 5. What local food should I try? 6. Is it easy to get to know someone for long-term relationships?

LOL. You think, he'd go for that? I'd have to prove otherwise that I transferred the rent. And as for the other thread, I already had to pay a fine, as, unaware, I had not done a TM.30 instead of my landlord on the first day of the lease... TiT!

Immigrants from neighbouring countries, who speak English.

I did this as late as mid 2022. Has it changed?

My landlord wants a payslip.

Yeah, I was lucky that both times I had my passport on me. Will just presume that for any transaction I may need it.

I'm just reporting my experience at the TM.30 counter. I don't see why the IO should have had a grudge against me. I am following this board regularly, so, yes, everything was a big surprise for me. Who knows, maybe it is a new development since the beginning of July. Looking forward to see other reports about this issue. (Reading a reply further up, however, it seems to have been like this in the past.)

Yes, maybe just unprofessionalism. Same never happened to me at Bangkok Bank, which, IMHO, is the only Thai bank that I would call a 'real bank'.

1. Paid cash (small amount) into my own bank account at SCB counter, and asked for passport. 2. Paid into someone else's bank account (invoice over about 4,000 baht) at K-Bank counter, and, once again, asked for my passport. Why?? I mean, these were tiny amounts... Is that really about money-laundering? And if so, why don't they ask every Thai who deposits (such a small amount) for their ID?

I observed similar things too. Imagine tourists knew about this; there would be boycotts and cancellations...

My general observation of Filipinos in Thailand (don't know about their home country, though) is 'yes', genuinely friendlier, polite, easier to be around with, not mental like some Thais...

Whether the driver picked up the tourists at Phuket Airport, or in Hat Yai is here irrelevant...

Of course he was, and in some other countries he would have had to explain himself to the police, lose his job, or both. And such an incident is neither the first, nor will it be the last...

The old 'we help you rent (an overpriced) room' scam... Even if people already have bookings, the obligatory stop at the tour company office. - Guess, the foreign tourist didn't have a need for such a room, which upset the driver, as he didn't get a commission... Remember that scam vividly from past trips to Phuket. No wonder the industry is vying for first-timers rather than trying to welcome tourists back.

Yes, even people coming for a holiday to Thailand not spending much. Many lugging their suitcases from one end of Pattaya to the other, or in Bangkok along half of Sukhumvit. No money for taxis, it seems...

Same here. Spent a small fortune in Oz, NZ, Singapore, and Malaysia over 6 months. Now back in Thailand; the odd visit to Pattaya from time to time, but otherwise trying to keep a lid on expenses, at least for the rest of the year.

True. Seems, Thailand in 2023 even has to compete with Myanmar for tourists... Myanmar!

Found this OP just a few posts above: https://aseannow.com/topic/1299571-thai-tourism-surge-25-million-visitors-forecasted-boosting-economy/ Quite a roller-coaster ride of optimistic and pessimistic headlines every couple hours...

He either must be very convincing, or the women he dates must be very *^+=...

I did, and it was accepted by the online system.

The same I paid, 800 baht.

They had a form that I had to sign 3 times. I received a receipt, nothing in the passport.

I did a TM.30 online by myself, which was accepted by the system. However, visiting Chaengwattana today, they threw it out (not accepted at '90-day counter', then cancelled by 'TM.30 official'), but asked me to re-do it by filling out the form. Still I was fined for 'reporting late'! And no, there was no personality conflict between me and the official.