Cabradelmar

I did read the story, <snip> "On arrival, he found that the supposed one-bedroom house was in fact just a small roadside shop." Shared a similar experience somone had on Oyo. You self-important comment police are not only sad, but useless. And no one asked you to do it. Pissoff.

This happened to someone I know who used the Oyo platform to book a room... The hotel didn't exist. Seems like a new Thai scam... Put an address on the platform that isn't really a hotel and take reservations (paid in advance).

For sure, not the sharpest tool in the shed (but certainly a tool)... police record plate numbers when they lock up a motorbike... he's going to be caught, and regret, the now even steeper, fines and penalties. Let's hope he also gets deported 🤞

People asleep at the switch regarding their own finances.

Makes no difference. The car was at fault. It turned directly (right) into on coming traffic. End of story.

If you're caught off guard by this then you are not paying attention. No one but yourself to blame.

Car's at fault 💯% made a left turn right in front on the motorcycle (who had the right of way). This is undisputable. Even if the bike was over the limit. It wasn't by more than 10 kilo. Idiot foreigner rents a Merc and now is on the hook for damages. Good. Glad the motorcycle rider was not injured. Much to do about nothing. As the rider has not hurt.

The era of the "free shot" woman once enjoyed in the pre-combat sports trained, female MMA, female body building world is fastly closing. You want to throw hands, then be prepared to take a hit. You see these women taking closed fist, palm strikes or hammer fist shots at men, and thinking ain't nothing should happen to them are diluted. Everyone needs to show constraint, and not over react whenever things start to be physical (especially the men, when larger - which excludes most Thai men), but any "badass acting" women who is not a badass, might just end up on their ass when initiating assaults they can't close.

At 30+ million per year... There is in affect 1 new tourist landing in Thailand every second of every day of the year... If they cared about over tourism they'd have done something about it long ago. Their just mad the tourist don't spend more money, and are now destroying the environment and infrastructure. With little effort to repair or improve the situation. Until they stop building new hotels and resorts, this problem only gets bigger. Pattaya and Phuket are lost. It's too late now.

More interested is shrooms than opium.

Deportable offenses for sure... or will they just lock him up for a few years (months). The punishment never seems to fit the crime in Thailand. People get off too easy with simple apologies and a wai. I would be surprised if this Russian's restaurant ownership arrangement and visa are not also sketchy.

That's where we started (and might end up again) with ganja... just need to get a medical marijuana card... Can I get my medical shrooms and opium card too 😂

And got stuck... Because he was off road. In the sand. You'd be surprised what little infractions can void a car rental contract.

Sand has salt (from the sea water)... duh. Sand and salt is corrosive to the paint. Not hard to figure out why car rental companies don't want you off-roading on the beach.

If the rental company finds out the vehicle has a citation for driving on the beach (off-road), the Co. could change him (10,000 baht or more), and even claim more fees for damages (salt water damage). It would definitely void his contract.

Leave the drug dealing to the locals. Far too risky for foreigners. Because if there is one thing Thai authorities will arrest foreigners for, it's drug dealing.

These periodic renewals of Russian visa exemptions are like the old COVID extensions. Except the danger is not getting COVID (or hoping to avoid it), but rather getting scammed, robbed or assaulted by a drunk or surly Russian (because there are more of them). At least they reduced the latest "Russian COVID" visa exemption from 90 to 60 days, so there's that. Progress.

First it's we need 50m tourist a year, and now it's complaints about over tourism... talking out of both sides of their mouths. A 300 baht per person tax is not intended to address over tourism, nor will it. Thailand couldn't care less about over tourism. And the idea of promoting tourism in secondary cities just goes to show they have no idea that tourist do and expect from a trip to Thailand... But it ain't Khon Kaen 😂

Thailand seems to be the only country that does not recognize that a Russian's surly reputation always precedes them.

It's an IDP. An international standard. Not difficult to verify or interpret.

This will catch a lot of tourists by surprise... You also need a motorcycle endorsement included with your IDP if you want to ride a motorcycle in Thailand (legally). A lot of people get a car only IDP because they don't have a motorcycle endorsement to begin with.

Asking people for an IDP is going to come as a big surpise to a lot of western tourists (and probably hurt rental business). Fact is, you can't legally drive in Thailand with only a driver's license from your home country (except for some/most ASEAN countries who signed on to a special treaty). I suspect if the rental company is insured (for loss and damages to assets), renting to someone without a valid DL would presumably void any coverage they did have. Crazy to rent to anyone without a valid DL. And, if the tourist want that free healthcare insurance, if in event they crash, I suspect the rental will have had to be made with a valid DL.

Most everywhere (globally) is struggling with tourist on some level (over tourism, poor behavior, etc.), immigration, and migration due to war, flailing global economies, etc. And while many countries are looking to control, reign-in, or address the problems, Thailand has chosen to largely ignore them and fling open its doors even wider in pursuit of revenue. The areas of Thailand that where once relatively compelling (CM, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui - and most other islands - and even Hua Hin), and now increasing appalling (even to visit, let alone live), be it due to pollution, crime, over tourism, etc. It's sad really. I don't know the future, but at the moment it appears bleak.

Thailand will lose out in the long run if not careful.

Yes. Genius suggestion Mr. PM... arrest those people who continually break the law.