zink

Which has better 3G coverage on Koh Chang? DTAC or AIS?

Pardon my ignorance, but under what conditions can an American own 100% of a small business in Thailand. This would be news to at least a couple of hundred Americans that I know of.

Any business that is not on the "Restricted Business Activities" list can be 100% owned by foreigners: http://www.boi.go.th/index.php?page=legal_issues_for_investors_01_foreign_business_act

some Thai companies bought businesses in my country and got 100% of shares , what the government has to say about that ?....... Should be the same here ....

We have Thai friends (husband/wife) who own a Thai restaurant in Melbourne Aust and they own 100% they didn't have to give 51% of their business to an Aussie. The even own the building and the "LAND" it sits on.

That's the same in the U.S., of course, not just for people from Thailand, but from any country.

As long as you're in the country legally in terms of Immigration, you can operate and own any business you like. No rules that this or that sector is reserved only for native Americans, etc etc.

LOTS of Thai small business owners in the U.S.

Remember Dubai Ports deal? That was canceled because of foreign ownership issues, even thought the law didn't explicitly disallow the deal.

Airline business is another sector that is reserved only for Americans. Foreigners can only have minority ownership. Same applies for EU.

All countries have a long list of sectors where the foreign ownership is limited. Only difference is that this list is longer in Thailand.

Why do some cyclists insist on riding out in the traffic lane, instead of the bike lane ?

For one thing, you are going 10 times slower than the traffic and cause traffic to slow to a near stop without reason....and you do not have any insurance to cover accidents, nor pay registration to cover 3rd party.

What bike lane? This is Thailand, I don't think I have ever seen a bike lane here. They may exist and maybe I just haven't noticed one. I am sure if they had bike lanes they would be as safe as the pedestrian crossings are!

Looks extremely safe...

Sai Tai Mai is now operating normally: http://www.thailandtourismupdate.com/OfficialStatementInfo/47/914/Situation-Update-Flooding-in-Thailand

I had taxi drivers refuse to take me to the real Sai Tai Mai station, because they didn't know the way. So I doubt that any driver in the current situation can find this temporary station.

Since the amount of buses have decreased, it would be nice to know the phone number to I could check schedules beforehand.

Any update on the southern bus station?

quote name='duncanb' timestamp='1319212808'

wrong. The blue bus number 556 has been discontinued. the orange bus number 556 which replaced it is going strong. perhaps your thorough update was not thorough enough?

WRONG again-thats why I once decided not to post on TV again-those endless furhter questions and sometimes people who just post to pass time- all those expats claiming to know it all better-and in the end they do not and anything has to be translated by mrs. Thaiwife.

Clearly you were confused to route 555-runs ev 40/45 mins, a tiny differecne in nr, but a big one in destination: to Don Muang and Rangsit. In NORMAL times-as Rangsit-depot is flooded now.

556 has indeed changed its temporary blue/cream buses for the slightly newer all-orange. AFTER it has -on /1/11/10- a year ago, changed its inner city terminus to Makkasan.

It is of no need at all to- and ALSO to be so blatant impatient and Un-Thai pointing out assumed ''deficiencies'' as JayBlake does to people who spend time to help, in asking what is closest by. Sai Thai is some 20 kms away from the nearest BTS/MRT-and in BKK roads and traffic far outweigh a few km.

And this posting for those who might even read it; since the odd day the SaiThai has been moved to flooding to a temporary place along Ram II-at Holland beergarden, near to Central/BigC. That is not on any normal tourist mapo. Useless to ask about Bts etc-though Wong Wien Yai is closest by-and you then have to brave flooding.

FROM Swampy to THIS- TEMPORARY-terminal there is a direct citybus, nr 558, fairly often even, but an awful long ride via Bang Na and the ex-way, from Swampy's BUSterminal. at least 80-90 mins.

Also citybuses 140/141/142 pass it, as does 76 (Silom). 140 runs via exway from Vic Monument and passes Phyyathai on its way. BMTA says it also provides some free buses, but does not say to where

What is the current status of this bus terminal. Is there an address in Thai that can be given to the taxi driver? Are all buses operating normally? Is there a phone number that can be used to check schedules?

Was reported last year that only 2.4% of Thais pay tax on their earnings.

The tax threshold is usually around 150,000thb p/a. 12,500thb p/m.

So 97.6% of Thais report their salaries to be less than that.

The real tax threshold is at least 240,000 thb per year, or 20,000 thb per month.

Thanks for the tips.

I checked the BBQ place near Pinklao bridge, but the seafood selection was very limited. That wasn't very surprising considering that the price is only 109B (or 139B if you come alone).

What are the good and affordable seafood restaurants in Bangkok?

I already know chains like Kung Pao and Somboon seafood. Thai friends have mentioned going to Chonburi to eat seafood, but certainly there must be something good also in Bangkok?

Is there a list somewhere of DTAC promotions and their codes?

I recall there is unlimited calls for 3 days (excluding peak hours) to DTAC numbers for 25B.

Are there malls/markets where could buy and sell general second-hand computer stuff (I'm interested in a display)?

Thanks for the help.

Yes, I have looked at some ads here and on other sites and I think my budget is more than enough, since I'm not looking at central tourist areas.

I would like hear more of experiences of living in various areas

Which area would be good for one month stay? My requirements area:

- good transportation and BTS or MRT nearby

- nice surroundings with local restaurants

- not many tourists nearby

- price max. 15000B for a studio in a serviced apartment, including TV/fridge, Internet and cleaning

I am thinking about Victory monument/Ari area, or the area near Lat Phrao/Phahonyothin MRT stations, any experiences about those?

Any other suggestions? Or serviced apartment recommendations?

Thanks!

It's not about low/high season or the competition. The amount of seats offered is the same in both direction.

It's about price elasticity of demand.

Large amount of people traveling from UK to Thailand are tourists, and most of tourists are not so picky about their destination. If airline would raise prices to Thailand by £150, many tourists would choose alternative destinations (other SEA countries, India, middle east, Caribbean, South America, Florida, Africa, there are plenty of places to choose from) and planes to Bangkok would be partially empty.

Now, who buys Thailand-UK tickets? The list is something like:

1. Business travelers and Thais going to study abroad

2. UK expats wanting to visit their home

3. Rich Thais going for a holiday to England

What happens when airlines charges £150 extra for Thailand-UK flights? Mostly nothing, those in first two categories must travel anyway, so they will pay the extra price. And the amount is insignificant for third category, one day in London would cost much more for them.

I live next to Asoke BTS / Sukhumvit MRT. A taxi would cost me Bht 220 + 70 toll charges and takes about 40 minutes. It's not worth the effort to make my way to Makkasan as it would probably take the same amount of time, just to save Bht 100 or so (presuming that I take a taxi from Asoke to Makksan). At least in a direct taxi, I don't have to contend with crowds and heat and rain and luggage.

If you live near Asoke BTS, then you can easily reach the airport using only one expressway. Then the cost should be around 200B + 25B for toll charges. Tell the driver to go north along Asoke and then enter the expressway at Rama IX.

Thanks for the information.

Where exactly I can find Golden Herb Body Care shops in Bangkok? Their website didn't have much information.

Where to find a good facial treatment in Bangkok at a reasonable price (around 500B)?

I know there places in MBK, but recently the quality has gone down and prices up. Any other options, preferably outside tourist areas?

My company has started the procedure with the OCPB after purchasing 150+ polo shirts with embroidered logos only to discover that on 90% of them, the logos are so crooked they are unusable. We supplied docs/logos to the OCPB together with a sample of the shirt. Next step is that we and the supplier meet at the OCPB to try to discuss an amicable solution. For us, the only solution is for them to do the entire job again, as it is the most shoddy job I have ever seen. The meeting is in 2 weeks.

Consumer protection boards and laws apply to consumers. Your company is not a consumer.

2. If someone see those numbers (especially the expats) it's hard to believe that more than 55% of the total tourism to Thailand is coming from East Asia: meaning: 7,981,025 tourists (from 2007 numbers when Thailand had 14,464,228 tourists).

25,5% is from Europe and the rest is divided by The Americas -just 5,65%- South Asia -4,74%- Oceania -5,06%- Middle East -3,14%- and a few from Africa.

This number contains also more than 3,2 million so called "tourists" from countries like Malaysia, Burma, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam; hardly the kind of tourist the western expat has in mind when he thinks of tourists.....

Huh? Do you mean that a westerner living in Germany doesn't think he is a tourist when we visits France or Poland!?

There is nothing strange or confusing in those number. Thailand is a Asian country, it's natural that most of tourist come from Asia. Similarly, world's most popular tourist country is France in Europe, and most of tourists coming to France come from Europe, instead of Americas, Asia, or Africa.

When making those statistics, I guess that everyone who says that he is a tourist in the immigration card is counted as one. There is no way to easily get an accurate number otherwise.

Counting immigration cards is probably the least accurate way there is of accounting for people who have come into the country for tourism. Every businessman coming to Thailand for one day of meetings also fills out that he is a tourist.

They have the sections on the cards, which no one ever bothers to fill out or calculate. Knowing whether a person is a genuine holidaymaker, businessman, visa runner, or transit person is extremely important when people are trying to invest in tourism businesses. One of the most obvious screw ups is the enormous investment in 5 star hotels that has gone on in Chiangmai which are operating at way below capacity trying to sell a very premium product that no-one wants nor will many people want for a considerable time. These investments trying to sell rooms at 10k per night were dubious before the crash. Just look at the Amari and Holiday Inn about to or just come online in Pattaya. I wouldn't want to be holding the bills for those right now. The profiling of tourists drives these decisions and I don't see that relying on overland tourists from Malaysia drove those types of investment decisions.

Not many people invest in hotels in Thailand simply for business traffic, so knowing how many genuine holiday makers come to the country, how long they stay, where they go and how much they spend is much more important than knowing how many people enter from Singapore for a one day trip to have a meeting. One type of traveller is much more sensitive to his travel needs than another. Surveys of the beach resorts and cities outside Bangkok would be much more accurate in evaluating true tourists than one agglomerated figure from immigration cards.

True tourists into Thailand 8mn approx probably.

Anybody for another spa/health resort with sparse furnishing and expensive back rubs and over priced club sandwiches running at 30% occupancy?

As I said before: "There is no way to easily get an accurate number otherwise". What else the TAT could do? How to distinguish the person coming for 3 day business meeting from person coming to three day holiday?

There are also statistics about international arrivals to Thai airports, and TAT has tourism statistics for different regions. Using this data and some common sense, one could make easily an educated guess regarding the amount of rich/long term/etc. tourists. If someone has build a too expensive hotel, it's not because of TAT statistics, but because of own stupidity.

2. If someone see those numbers (especially the expats) it's hard to believe that more than 55% of the total tourism to Thailand is coming from East Asia: meaning: 7,981,025 tourists (from 2007 numbers when Thailand had 14,464,228 tourists).

25,5% is from Europe and the rest is divided by The Americas -just 5,65%- South Asia -4,74%- Oceania -5,06%- Middle East -3,14%- and a few from Africa.

This number contains also more than 3,2 million so called "tourists" from countries like Malaysia, Burma, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam; hardly the kind of tourist the western expat has in mind when he thinks of tourists.....

Huh? Do you mean that a westerner living in Germany doesn't think he is a tourist when we visits France or Poland!?

There is nothing strange or confusing in those number. Thailand is a Asian country, it's natural that most of tourist come from Asia. Similarly, world's most popular tourist country is France in Europe, and most of tourists coming to France come from Europe, instead of Americas, Asia, or Africa.

When making those statistics, I guess that everyone who says that he is a tourist in the immigration card is counted as one. There is no way to easily get an accurate number otherwise.

Not to mention the thousands of young Malaysians who cross the boarder every weekend to get drunk, laid etc in the Karaokes and Massage parlors located near the border.. Yes they are tourists.. sex tourists But counting the same guy over and over again every weekend does tend to cook the books a bit. Likewise the thousands of border runners and travellers heading thru .. Once again it's all down to face.. Thailand would never admit they have cooked their golden goose.. Turned lovely beach paradises into over developed slums.. poluted the water, stacked the roadsides with trash and pissed alot of visitors off with doube pricing, scams, tailors, traffic jams, rudeness and violence... The internet and communication has made many of their traditional customer base aware...

My own ancedotal evidence is the lack of shirtless pissed farangs in the beach side bars of Pattaya when I go for my morning run.. It's December but the bars are still empty.. In the past they were full of all night and early morning revellers... No more.. High season will only be a week long this year.. 24th Dec to 2nd Jan.. enjoy !

Counting the same guy over and over again is a standard practice. That's why France is the most popular tourist destination in the world (lot of people are making weekend trips from England, Germany, Spain, etc.). Why some people think that short holiday trips shouldn't be counted as tourism?

2. If someone see those numbers (especially the expats) it's hard to believe that more than 55% of the total tourism to Thailand is coming from East Asia: meaning: 7,981,025 tourists (from 2007 numbers when Thailand had 14,464,228 tourists).

25,5% is from Europe and the rest is divided by The Americas -just 5,65%- South Asia -4,74%- Oceania -5,06%- Middle East -3,14%- and a few from Africa.

This number contains also more than 3,2 million so called "tourists" from countries like Malaysia, Burma, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam; hardly the kind of tourist the western expat has in mind when he thinks of tourists.....

Huh? Do you mean that a westerner living in Germany doesn't think he is a tourist when we visits France or Poland!?

There is nothing strange or confusing in those number. Thailand is a Asian country, it's natural that most of tourist come from Asia. Similarly, world's most popular tourist country is France in Europe, and most of tourists coming to France come from Europe, instead of Americas, Asia, or Africa.

When making those statistics, I guess that everyone who says that he is a tourist in the immigration card is counted as one. There is no way to easily get an accurate number otherwise.

Comparing a German tourist, visiting another European country, driving in his Benz or BMW with a Malaysian, Burmese or Laotian and Cambodian "tourist" is a bit odd, don't you think

Maybe you've never heard of Thailand's neighboring country-"tourists" who indeed cross the borders but not exactly as a tourist but just for any other reason ?

That's why I wrote: "...hardly the kind of tourist the western expat has in mind when he thinks of tourists....."

Personally, I never met a tourist from one of those countries, relaxing on a beach in Thailand or visiting one of the thousands of temples....let alone driving in a nice Toyota or other Japanese car.

LaoPo

I still don't understand why calling Malaysian, Burmese or Laotian and Cambodian is odd in any way. Tourism is tourism, it doesn't matter if one visits temple, shopping mall, beach or karaoke bar on his trip. I also fail to see how the brand of the car effects if the person is tourist or not.

By the way, TAT statistics have also figures for the average length of stay, which was about 9 days in 2007. So clearly, most of tourist do not come only for a weekend.

2. If someone see those numbers (especially the expats) it's hard to believe that more than 55% of the total tourism to Thailand is coming from East Asia: meaning: 7,981,025 tourists (from 2007 numbers when Thailand had 14,464,228 tourists).

25,5% is from Europe and the rest is divided by The Americas -just 5,65%- South Asia -4,74%- Oceania -5,06%- Middle East -3,14%- and a few from Africa.

This number contains also more than 3,2 million so called "tourists" from countries like Malaysia, Burma, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam; hardly the kind of tourist the western expat has in mind when he thinks of tourists.....

Huh? Do you mean that a westerner living in Germany doesn't think he is a tourist when we visits France or Poland!?

There is nothing strange or confusing in those number. Thailand is a Asian country, it's natural that most of tourist come from Asia. Similarly, world's most popular tourist country is France in Europe, and most of tourists coming to France come from Europe, instead of Americas, Asia, or Africa.

When making those statistics, I guess that everyone who says that he is a tourist in the immigration card is counted as one. There is no way to easily get an accurate number otherwise.

Come on Lads - there's not much Thai content is this project; mainly labour and of course the usual commissions. This is German designed and built. Don't jump to conclusions. How do you know that the software was not supplied by SAP?

In any case there is still some Thai (mis)managing the project.

It's really hilarious. Airport was delayed by several years, this airport link has been delayed several times and now it's more than three years since the opening of the airport. One could assume that they would have a plenty of time to hire and train all the necessary staff. Still, they manage to introduce additional delay by not preparing staff on time.

I guess someone in charge found a better use for money allocated to training drivers....