The Fugitive

Thank you. What are you using to dial the toll free number with please?

Recently went with Thai wife for her promotional breast cancer and thin prep screening at Khon Kaen Bangkok Hospital. I did see one farang being wheeled about. As you say, everyone else was Thai. Our Thai lady neighbour was in the same queue as us, apparently she was having a full body check. I had assumed that everyone would have been paying cash for screening not (yet) available under Thai National Health Service. From what you were told it sounds as if they may well have had private healthcare plans also providing treatment!

Same here, Thai wife is eleven years younger than I. However, things can change. In October 2024 she was diagnosed with stage 2-3 breast cancer. Read that chemotherapy ages you by 10-15 years. Plus, leaves you more susceptible to leukaemia.

Hate paying for things and never using them. Total waste. Mrs took out Life Insurance upon me over two years ago. I was worried in case I died within the first two years because they wouldn't pay out. Dying between year three and ten you make a profit upon a sliding reducing scale. Between eleven and nineteen you make a loss upon a sliding increasing scale. If survive twenty years all monthly premiums paid are refunded plus a bonus. That is, of course, a long term loss. From my own experience I believe I would have a better chance of receiving appropriate pain relief when the time came in Thailand rather than in United Kingdom.

It all depends. I have known a couple of young people (20 years of age) who were decapitated in RTA's. Apparently, you're gone after four seconds.

It isn't clear at all. I use 'Vyke'. Have done so for 4 years. Incoming mobile (only) numbers are available for; US, UK, Canada, Australia, Israel, Finland and Mexico. OTP's work perfectly for me with a UK number. However, I know that US banks and other financial institutions are nervous of sending OTP's via VOIP services so you might not be as lucky.

LocalPhone only supports SMS for United Kingdom numbers. https://www.localphone.com/help/global_sms

I found it odd that, for some time, the Skype website said; 'Skype supports SMS however, only for US numbers when sent from either a US or Canadian number. Skype does not support identification verification services (2FA, OTP's). However, several people claimed that they received OTP's without any problem. Others said it was 'hit and miss', they received OTP's from some organisations but not from others.

Agree. Online travel agents almost always offer flights for less (as you've already discovered) than booking directly with the airlines. Their websites/mobile apps are more user friendly too in my experience. The terms and conditions are set by the airlines and the agents have to abide by them.

Copied this now from Trip.com; Passenger Information Passport or ID information is not required at the time of booking. However, please ensure that you have a passport or ID valid for travel when you check in.

The basics are the most important for me. Continuous availability of water and electricity. Water pressure remains excellent all day (at least where I live). Internet is incredibly fast and so cheap. Roads are either tarmacadum (asphalt) or concrete. That means you can travel even when it rains. New international terminal recently built at my local (previously domestic only) airport. Roads widened, footpaths constructed and surface water drains of massive proportions installed. Railway now flies over our town instead of through it with platforms designed with future proofing in mind. Our local community hospital is now being extended for the second time. There appears to be money available for improvements in infrastructure and healthcare. Things that are very much lacking in UK, and completely non-existent where I lived previously (Paraguay).

Should cover not commence from the moment you book your flights/hotel? In case accident or illness prevents you taking your holiday.

So sorry to hear this. I know that our local community Government Hospital only has GP's but patients are regularly ferried by ambulance to the Regional Hospital. In their defence, I have heard consultants on ward rounds saying; 'It's all down to the antibiotics. We can't do anything else at the moment'.

You may already have checked this out but LocalPhone provides both geographical and mobile numbers. Incoming SMS only works for UK numbers but that would be OK for you. Ideally, you don't want to have to change your Skype geograpical landline number. I believe it is possible to port it to LocalPhone. Otherwise, Vyke is most reliable in my experience and also accepts number porting. They only offer mobile numbers for rent.

I haven't looked any further. I only used Skype for calling 0800 numbers and, occasionally, subscribing to an unlimited minutes package when having difficulties with various organisations. Therefore, I never had a credit balance with Skype.