HawaiianBlues

https://www.transferbkk.com/

We've used TransferBKK about 20x over the last five years.  Besides the mobile and website access, they also have WhatsApp and LINEID access.

Owner is Swedish-Thai, service conscious, and speaks Swedish, Thai and English fluently.  For our reservations, we've only experienced 100% reliability throughout and also safe drivers.

On Tripadvisor, they have 1200+ reviews (over 90% are five stars).  Can refer to the attached Tripadvisor link for additional background/insight.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293916-d8445400-Reviews-TransferBKK-Bangkok.html

I should add that for our reserved TransferBKK airport arrival pickup (and as we use them frequently), when we are about to clear baggage claim, we contact TransferBKK, given the vehicle plate number, and are then met curbside outside Door 7.  The airport baggage claim has complimentary luggage carts so there isn't any hassle to just continue to roll them out to the curb.  The driver will help load your bags into/out of the car too. 

On 2/13/2022 at 10:14 PM, ericthai said:

I'm not sure why you would switch to Medicap plan, this is increasing you health care cost. The G plan will have a monthly premium and depending on age and location that can be anywhere between $100 to $350 a month, then you still need to get a part D plan (medications) this ranges anywhere from $25-$70 per month. 

 

Also you will have to go through underwriting and pre-existing conditions can be an issue. The only time you are able to enroll in a Medicap also called a Medicare supplement plan without underwriting is when you first enroll in Medicare. 

 

I'm not saying a medigap or supplment plan is not a good thing, it's great but costly. If someone travels around the USA allot or has allot of medical issues, or just wants to the freedom to go where they want then this is a good plan. If someone is in generally good health and happy with the plans network of doctors then in my opinion an advantage plan is a better choice. 

 

 

Thanks for your feedback.  What you wrote in the last paragraph ("travels alot") applies to me (except I don't have medical issues).  With the travels, being able to pick your doctors anywhere in the US vs. having to be in-network was a big plus.   My one-off claims experiences have shown that my 20% deductible share in aggregate can still be high and I expect in time will readily exceed the Medigap premiums (which monthly for me are around $145, at least for now).   My Plan D is less than $9/mo.  I ran the total numbers and in my personal case anticipate being ahead in monthly costs (and risk/exposure) - particularly as I no longer qualify for Medicare Advantage coverage.    On qualifying for Medigap, in my case, I learned that being disenrolled from one's Medicare Advantage program due to change in their regional coverage (i.e., living overseas) does permit one only at time of disenrollment to enroll in a Medigap program without physician's review or being approved for pre-existing conditions.  So, felt best to do it now than having any surprises or potential roadblocks when pursuing a Medigap plan later.  In the end, it came down to planning ahead and just trying to minimize coverage issues in the US - particularly if/when I return fulltime (and for those later short visits outside the US).  

As another data point, I am a BKK resident 50%+ of the time each year and am momentarily moving away from a Medicare Advantage plan (which in the base case requires Parts A and B) and additionally subscribing to Plan G (Medigap Supplement Plan), Part D (prescription) and Dental.  My longer term plans recognize eventual greater presence in the US (vs Thailand).  I separately have local medical insurance coverage for Thailand which also provides emergency medivac and emergency coverage for most countries while travelling overseas including the US (the international coverage is a benefit as I do enjoy international travels).   In my process of researching US and Thailand insurance coverage, I've learned: (a) the overlooked value of having a Plan G Medicap Supplement Plan (vs going with a Medicare Advantage plan) but which also depends on each retiree's circumstance and time in the US, (b) the need to recognize the eligibility timing window to enroll in a Medigap Supplement Plan and bypass the recognition of pre-existing conditions should that be a consideration and (c) the importance to plan/purse early one's Thailand insurance coverage (i.e., the earlier the better before turning 65) acknowledging the greater cost exposure and lesser insurance coverage eligiblity once you have turned 65.  Also as shared by others, the Medigap Supplement Plan G does provide some overseas (non-US) travel coverage with limiting provisions (ref Medicare website:  https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/medigap-travel).  Am sure there are likely many lower cost approaches than my eventual choices but for myself, I wanted to ensure the flexibility in coverage and hopefully less stress too.   

JTXR, the following is my own experience.  I too had a similar situation returning from the US at end June.  Due to limiting personal logistics, I scheduled my PCR test four days before my US departure and received my PCR test results 24 hours later but within the 72 hours of my actual US departure date/time.  For me, I also pursued and received getting a signed "medical certificate" too from the testing clinic.  The PCR test requirements per Thailand's COE application website (https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/) states that after the COE is approved, the traveler should have a medical certificate attesting the traveler is covid free issued no more than 72 hours before travelling.  For myself, I made sure I had pre-typed and pre-printed a medical certificate (a letter) for the testing clinic's doctor to sign and stamp to which I attached the clinic's negative test results.  (I didn't anticipate that clinics typically would provide this so I typed one up myself.)  I then made sure I highlighted in yellow the date on the medical certificate and the date/time on the attached test result so that the < 72 hour timing was clear for airport/airline reviewers when I departed the US, for when I arrived in transit (Narita Airport), and for when I arrived to BKK.   I encountered no questions or issues.

4. Once Certificate of Entry (COE) is approved

• • Applicant requests to print Certificate of Entry (COE) from website via Check Application menu (in the menu on the next page)
  • Applicant shows (1) Certificate of Entry (COE), (2) Medical certificate attesting that the traveler is free from COVID-19, using RT-PCR method, issued no more than 72 hours before travelling, and (3) relevant documents prescribed in Guidelines based on Regulations issued under Section 9 of the emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation B.E.2548 (2005) (No.7) to Airline Officials and officials at point of Entry, otherwise might be rejected to enter the Kingdom
  • COE applicant for Sandbox programme shall prepare additional documents which are (1) an original copy of Certificate of Vaccination and (2) receipt or proof of payment for SHA Plus accommodation, specifying both accommodation fees and RT-PCR COVID-19 test fees. The SHA Plus booking confirmation shall be issued at least 14 nights, unless travellers have proof of return tickets leaving Thailand within 14 days after arrival.

Ubonjoe, thank you for the very quick response. A great relief to read. 

Appreciate any helpful advice on changing my spouse's dependent status on my Non-O retirement to having her own Non-O retirement visa/extension.   

We're both US citizens having retired in Thailand for several years and having had gone thru multiple Non-O retirement extensions at Chaengwattana too. Our next extension renewal is in four months. We're considering moving my wife to her own Non-O visa (no longer as a dependent on mine) largely to provide her flexibility to readily stay in-country should something happen to me.  Our questions are what are the steps and/or considerations to move her to her own independent Non-O retirement status.   We are aware of the requirement to have a min 800k THB balance in her own local bank account at least three months prior to application (she wouldn't qualify for the 65k monthly).   We do not know though if she needs to repeat her non-Imm Visa application (same as four years ago for our initial application) and, if so, does that still have to be sought offshore vs locally.  Hopefully achieving the above can be straightfoward ... or we may just renew this next time with her again as a dependent.  Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

Interesting to note that the Star of Siam store seen at the left of your picture was a well known and frequented Thai silk destination located at the earlier Ratchaprasong Shopping Center (around where Central is today).  The Star of Siam was also a location used for shooting foreign movies including "Panic in Bangkok", circa 1964.  If interested, here is a link to a clip from that movie inside and right outside the silk store:

To the OP, I hope your car purchase experience goes well.  For me, I followed a friend's advice that car purchase "deals" might be better found at the BKK auto show as they would include manufacturer-sponsored offers as well. I think there are at least two of these shows held each year, maybe more.  So it was at the Impact Center auto show that I bought (ordered) a new 2018 Honda CR-V in December 2017 via a BKK Honda dealership rep (there were many reps, all representing the same or similar following "deal").  Please note, that my criteria for selecting a car here was that it was easy to get local maintenance and parts.  It also helped that this Honda CR-V model is assembled in Thailand (and also for export). The offer I accepted provided a 50,000 baht list-price discount, front-and-rear rubber floor mats, mirror-mounted recording camera (wired and installed) < having this camera does offer a small reduction in one's annual auto insurance come time of renewal, a 19" Honda suitcase by Samsonite (an actually darn good suitcase too), first year Type 1 auto insurance - worth around 19k-20k baht, 3M tinted window film, and also a 10,000 baht petrol card. There were also slightly extended warranty coverages in kilometers or years (vs. standard provisions), dependent on the what was covered.  And after some to/fro, I also got an english manual at no additional cost ordered from overseas (a US instruction manual which I accepted covered more features than the Thai-manufactured model offered, but it was in english!)  I couldn't otherwise negotiate very much on the 50k discounted list price, same as others have described. I had also visited several dealers before the auto show and was pretty prepared on the limited add-ons offered.  Interestingly, several of the dealer reps when visiting in their own show rooms suggested I should finance the car (vs. paying full cash) to achieve their additional discount off the list and then to just pay off the whole loan in a few months with just little penalty but still net the greater discount.  (Something didn't sound right and anyways, it wasn't something that I wanted to pursue.)  For me, I also wanted to make sure that the car delivered was indeed a 2018 manufactured model and not a "2018 model" carryover from 2017.  Eventually, at time of picking up the car, they did show me documentation with the January XX 2018 manufacture date (I got no copy) but importantly, the car registration does record a 2018 model.  Then they showed another way to quickly find the model manufacture date by looking at the sewn tag on the seat belt.  And sure enough, it said January XX 2018. (Yes, they could've easily put newer seatbelts/tags on a 2017-manufactured 2018 model, but I doubt it.)  Sorry this is all TMI. But thought I'd share my experience for you and others interested.    I'd say that it is also beneficial to have some contact at the dealership who has some proficiency in english. That contact is helpful when arranging servicing and/or renewing your auto-insurance. (And there are alternatives like Roojai for auto insurance come time you have to renew after your first year of ownership.) Hope this helps.