MartinBKK

I have also experienced this many times - I always insist on the transaction being made in Baht. In almost all cases eventually the staff in the shop/restaurant have managed to do this for me although it is a real pain sometimes.

It is yet another example of trying to rip off tourists in Thailand - i sometimes wonder why they are continuing to holiday here.

I have lived here for 2 years and until recently i was very happy and loved Thailand and the Thai people.

In the last few weeks i have slowly started to consider my situation here also. Firstly we had the change in the visa rules. I am under 50 and not married to a Thai but i didn't find obtaining a non-immigrant visa so difficult so this isn't really having a big impact on my own situation. Im fairly convinced there will always be a solution to the visa issue if you have the money to pay for it.

However, the other factors which are influencing my thinking are:-

1. The coup. Whilst it may not affect me directly it certainly prevents me from wanting to make any substantial investment in a business here.

2. The bomb attacks on New Years Eve. Now i feel a little uneasy whenever i visit large public places such as MBK or Siam Paragon. Yes, it is true this sort of thing can happen anywhere nowadays but the political situation makes further attacks likely IMO.

3. The strength of the Baht. It has really got a lot more expensive for me to live here in the last year. The cheaper cost of living was a major reson for me coming here in the first place.

4. Thai economy. I think that Thailand has quite a few economic and political problems ahead.

5. The ever changing foreign property ownership rules. These really put me off wanting to buy a house or condo here. Im only young and don't want to rent a place forever.

6. Increase in violence in BKK. I suffered a particularly nasty incident in Sukhumvit a month ago. I have also got to hear about many other incidents involving either friends or friends of friends recently.

7. Increase in anti farang feeling. It is only my personal experience but I don't feel farang are made as welcome any longer. I have noticed an increase in unfriendly Thai people whereas 2 years ago, i thought these people were some of the most friendly in the world.

8. Thai people's obsession with money and lies. I have many Thai friends of different social status and i have come to realise that almost all Thai people are obsessed with money. I have also caught the majority of them in a lie at some point. Im now not sure i wish to persue a long term relationship with a Thai.

As a result of all these im now considering my long term future in Thailand. I'd be interested to hear the thoughts of other members, and whether they agree with the points i've made.

Cheers.

So how am I receiving a rate of 69.9741 TODAY, inside Thailand, when withdrawing funds out from a UK bank via an ATM in Thailand? This is an online UK account with an ATM associated card for withdrawing currency worldwide from my UK, GBP account.

Surely the UK Bank should be giving me the offshore rate of 65/66 and not 69/70 as they are?

Does anyone really know what is going on as it seems not.

Which bank is that with? Has anyone withdrawn using the Nationwide ATM card today and if so can you publish the rate you got.

Thanks.

This kind of volatility is not normal.

If i had any Baht (which i don't) i would get it out right now as i fear Thailand has big problems ahead.

I dont know if anyone else has noticed but about 19.00 every evening the valets at bed supper club use cones to reserve half the parking spaces in Sukhumvit Soi 11.

This has started to irritate me as it leaves no spaces for anyone else. Im pretty sure that bed supper club has no legal right to do this seeing it is a public street.

Has anyone else noticed this? Is there anything that can be done?

I have a nationwide debit and card and i have been told that i can withdraw a maximum of £300 per 24 hr period or currency equivilent. I have actually tested this out at the ATM and sometimetimes i have been able to withdraw $20000 in a day and other times ive only been able to get $18000. This has depended on the exchange rate as to whether it has exceeded the limit of £300.

I also asked for this to be increased and was told that this limit is fixed for all customers regardless of their financial standing with the bank. If someone else has a different limit (for certain) i would be very interested to hear about it.

What would happen to any cash kept outside Thailand (in my sole name) and any property outside Thailand (in my sole name) if i were to divorce in Thailand (after being married in Thailand) then?

What exactly is my wife entitled to? For example if i had no assets at all within Thailand does this mean legally she would be able to get nothing from me?

My internet is a joke today also (and yesterday). I found it better 3 or 4 days ago so i find the earthquake a flimsy excuse.

Im on True highspeed.

Its been discussed many times before but with the changes in the visa rules, what do people think is it worth considering, whats the up and downs

Seems like a good deal to me now. I like to play golf, i go for a daily massage anyway and i need a visa (28 yrs old). Seems to meet my requirements however the only "question" is how long will the programme run for and is it really a visa for life. I know the government has recently decided to continue with the program but this isn't a permanent government. In less than 1 yr things could dramatically change.

If it was cast iron guaranteed i think i would be inclined to go for it.

Can someone explain to me what is going on. 7 bombings around Bangkok, Thailand in political turmoil and i check out the Baht's rate today and see it has actually strenghtened against both the USD and the GBP.

Does anyone understand what is going on?

Thanks for the reply. I have actually tried a few pet stores but they stock the same brands as the supermarkets. If you know of one specifically that has a wider range id be grateful if you could let me know.

Thanks.

Hi

As fellow cat owners might appreciate for some reason only fish flavoured cat food appears to be stocked by the supermarkets in BKK. My kitten is tired of it and id like to buy her some meat flavours. I know i can feed her actual meats (eg. not cat food) but this doesnt give her a balanced diet.

Does anyone have any idea where i could buy some non-fish cat food in BKK?

Thanks.

Im having the same problems and i am also with TRUE.

Hi.

I've done the Shangri - La one a few times and it's very nice but perhaps not such a good price. Last time i went i think it was 2200 Baht per head. Everything is obviously of a very good standard though.

I've also done the Chao Phya Princess. This was 1200 Baht if i remember rightly but much louder. Much more of a party atmosphere and it wasn't particularly to my taste. If you want to have a romantic meal with someone then i would personally go for the Shangri-La (or another hotel) cruise. You can book directly with the hotel.

To book the other cruises either use a travel agent or respond to one of many advertisements in the free tourist magazines.

Hope this helps.

I would like to know how Thailand is number 1 for tourism? Do you mean they ranked number 1 in a survey of satisfied tourists?

If you are talking volume then Thailand ranks way below the United States. You may be interested to know the state of Florida alone recieves well over 1 million visitors per annum.

NB. I see now you mention value for money - my appologies for misreading. It is the volume that is the most important to an economy however it is true to say that satisfied tourists will likely return.

You might have degree in economics, but you sure flunk research. Florida had some 83 million tourists in 2005, over 4 million of them from overseas.

TH

Hmmmm - i think the majority of members here will consider posts such as yours unhelpful and irrelevant to this thread. If they will excuse me for a moment though whilst i point out to thaihome that this topic is about visas. I was obviously referring to international tourists seeing domestic visitors do not need a visa to travel to Florida and i would think 4 million would be considered by most to be "well over a million". I actually got my information from a tourist magazine that i had retained from a visit in 2002. Appologies for not keeping upto date however like most of the members here I have better things to do than look up that sort of thing on the internet.

Kind of pedantic don't you think?

I would like to know how Thailand is number 1 for tourism? Do you mean they ranked number 1 in a survey of satisfied tourists?

If you are talking volume then Thailand ranks way below the United States. You may be interested to know the state of Florida alone recieves well over 1 million visitors per annum.

NB. I see now you mention value for money - my appologies for misreading. It is the volume that is the most important to an economy however it is true to say that satisfied tourists will likely return.

I forgot to mention...

Some forum members think that others are not economically minded so as i have a university degree in economics let me try to help.

Fewer numbers of visitors/residents is not a good thing for the Thai economy!!!!

I think we can safely say that the impact is being felt already. I have been coming to Thailand for a few years now and i have never seen it as quiet in Bangkok at this time of the year before. Quite a few of my friends have been noticing the same thing.

I have just got a 1 year non immigrant visa so this isn't going to affect me short term at least however it appears that it is going to have a big impact on both the number of "residents" as well as the number of "tourists".

I am 28 and am one of these people who are financially secure but too young to obtain a retirement visa. I do not work illegally and wish to live and spend money in Thailand.

I have managed to get a 1 year non - immigrant visa in the last couple of weeks however according to the regulations i am not sure im really entitled to one. The intention of immigration is fine wanting every long stayer to obtain a visa but they have rushed thru a system that is not possible to implement IMHO. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the current visa categories so people can stay legally if they benefit Thailand.

Thanks for the reply Andy. If anyone else could confirm this that would be really helpful.

I have searched around the net and can't find anything about it but thats maybe because its new.

I am going on vacation for 16 days very soon and i have a 2 month old kitten. I could get someone to come into my apartment to feed her everyday but im worried she will get bored and lonely on her own. I think i prefer to leave her at a good cattery or pet hotel.

I would like to find one where perhaps the staff will spend some time giving her the attention she deserves. If someone could let me know of such a place i would be extremely grateful.

Thanks

Most will use the meter however the occasional one will not. If one refuses to use the meter I just don't get out for at least 5 mins and just generally annoy him. Somtimes i call up the taxi centre to report the incident whilst sitting in the taxi. It might not get him to use the meter but he might think twice before trying to pull the stunt again next time.

This is surely a troll.

When choosing a break away from BKK i have often opted for Pukhet over Koh Samui purely because the air fares are much better value.

Im sure many others have done the same.

Thanks simcity i will check it out.