Johnthplumb

8 hours ago, koratkarlos said:

I go back to the USA today.  Waiting for the COVID tests results are nerve racking.  I will miss Thailand.  I would like to thank all forum members for the useful advice, interesting reading and humor.  I am coming back for a full retirement sometime over the next two years.

I think you may be back quicker than you think, but enjoy your break, let us know your thoughts when you are back in the states. Have a safe journey.

7 hours ago, ozfarang said:

The question is why, is the USD50.000 compulsory insurance coverage required to enter Thailand.

Seems like a money grab by the insurance companies in collaboration with the Thai government. Just another way to fleece the unsuspecting tourist, who would have thought.......?

Shame on you Ozfarang, how could you have such thoughts.

I hate to disagree with Chuwit, but he is wrong, very wrong, very soapy last week in Bangkok., 

7 hours ago, Doctor Tom said:

You couldn't make this up. 

Oh yes you can, we are in Thailand.

I would stay in London, treatment is free, also you have the chance of a new kidney, again, free. 

You will not get that here in Thailand, If you do come, make sure you have excellent medical insurance for your condition, bankruptcy can come fast here, if hospitalised, also repatriation cover might also be a good thing.   

4 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

But alas no mention of which year ............................LOL

 Christ, I must be slow this afternoon, never thought of which year, thanks Geoffggi that woke me up.  

5 minutes ago, Golden Oldie said:

What rarely seems to get mentioned is the destructive effect of the $100,000 Covid insurance, plus the extra health insurance requirement simply to enter the country, on top of the extortionate amounts for quarantine hotels. For someone in the 61-65 year-old group it would be approximately 60,000 baht for covid insurance, 30,000 for health insurance, 36,000 quarantine hotel, total 126,000. (£3,062/$4,191). At my age, 72, it would total 209,000 baht (£5,097/$6,973) - just to enter the country. And these costs are jus to visit, it doesn't matter how long your visa is for. Thailand simply isn't worth it anymore. It's way past it's sell-by date, and visitors will simply go elsewhere if and when travel restrictions are finally lifted. If this government and elite weren't so determined to trouser enormous amounts of bent money, the country might have some tourist future, but as anyone who has lived here for longer than a fortnight knows, that will never, ever happen.

Plus the return flight costs, sounds like more than £6000.00 fo you.

18 hours ago, Leaver said:

Maybe God is a ladyboy.  ????

Thats a thought, best of both worlds.

Nice and quiet in Lam Plai Mat, I am all for keeping it that way, I like the figures for Thailand and do not want them to change, by allowing mass tourism yet.

As Brucec64 said, I quote:- "Nobody is "stuck" outside. There is a clear path for anyone who wants to work through the process and the quarantine and associated costs. I know of many who have done it. It's a choice to stay outside."

For a single person this is not hard to do, if he or she has a family or a loved one here and wants to return, also not very expensive. But I think the 14 days quarantine should be mandatory even for returning Thais.

On 11/12/2020 at 2:36 AM, webfact said:

Now TripAdvisor, the review website everyone loves to hate, is warning potential travellers to a particular Thai hotel that they could face severe consequences for sharing negative opinions about their experience.

 

Surely, Trip Advisor should also make clear that this applies to all hotels in Thailand, not just this hotel, should any one make a negative comment about the hotel they stay in they could face the same consequences 

21 hours ago, steven100 said:

this stuff is getting old and tiresome ......   I need another drink   ! 

I think you are correct, time for another Chang or two.

12 hours ago, bodga said:

did  the  phone  go dead and you hear the sound of  running feet half  way thru the conversation?????

I would have thought the smell of burning rubber, as the car accelerates to the cash point.

22 hours ago, johng said:

Sharp rise in infections because of a sharp rise in testing for infections ?   

lets hear about how many of those infections require hospitalisation or result in deaths  and how many have mild or no symptoms.

Good luck waiting for that resul.

"And a lonely farang looking at his phone."

Who said he was lonely? if that was me on Pattaya beach, I would be enjoying the peace and quiet, with no Chinese, no speed boats, a nice quiet beer and a snack with a leisurely peaceful swim, bliss and certainly not lonely. 

Oh! on the phone, just checking my pension had been transfered to my bank in thailand.

4 hours ago, Jimbo53 said:

As long as there ìs a quarantine requirement at a hotel upon entry,i wont be returning,i presume there will be many people of the same opinion.

If i could quarantine at my house or condo,then that wouĺd be a different scenario.

Out of curiosity, does any one know the cost ( say daily rate ), will be to stay in one of the government approved isolation hotels ? Also as they are all doing the same thing, will it be a same fixed rate at all the hotels.

12 minutes ago, Oldie said:

The Thai government is not responsible for the health care of foreigners. And honestly why should they care. Foreigners are either able to finance their stay here or not. If not they have to leave. If you know a country where it is not like this please let me know it so that I can move there in the worst case. We older Farangs are here based on a tourist visa. Nothing else. It is not a Green Card that gives you some rights. 

Probably the UK not much chance of being charged for anything.

9 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

Parting tourists from their funds before they start their holiday during or after ????

All three!

2 hours ago, Hi Tea said:

Not at BBL, you can't, even if you ask.  Credit card maybe but not a debit card, Union Pay or Mastercard debit cards only.

YES you can, I asked for one in Pattaya and they issued me with one, and that was Two years ago.

On 9/4/2020 at 10:47 AM, ubonjoe said:

They will issue a MasterCard if you ask for it. I have both of them.

I also have two Accounts in Bangkok Bank, ( I would recommend them ) my first account opened in about 45 minutes with my Lady to translate if needed, in Buriram and several weeks later one in Pattaya, Buriram was my first account it  gave me a Union Pay card witch I agree is pretty useless,

When in Pattaya I could hardly use it, so I went in to the Bangkok Bank to voice my concern about it, They there and then ( with my passport ) opened a second account and issued me with a Visa card for the account.

S0 Buriram has the 800,000 plus a bit, and the Pattaya one I use on a daily basis, also I can use it in the UK no problem shop and withdraw cash if needed, ( yes I know a bad exchange rate ) but at least If needed I can get my money out.

So only on my personal dealings I am very satisfied with B/bank. 

20 hours ago, NE1 said:

 

So the cleaning ladies don't get to go home to feed the kids at the end of their shift ?

and won't see the kids and the old man for weeks on end ?

 

 

I know some who would be quiet happy with that!

19 hours ago, Yankeesvsredsox said:

I keep the 400k and another 100k for emergencies here . The rest is in the states 4 days away, in bank transfer requirements

One of the more sensible answers, keep the 400k in a separate account and forget about it, as I do, very prudent, the rest is in the UK. In a emergency, Transfer Wise has been able to get the money in my Thai Bank Account is one day, from the UK.

21 hours ago, Upnotover said:

They don't.  Its only a lure, not something real.

Well those young firm breasts on the massage girls are real and they lure me in with no problem.

On 4/19/2020 at 6:51 AM, Lacessit said:

I'd say my monthly expenditure has gone down from about 55K baht/month to 35K baht/month, because I'm not travelling or golfing. My GF does the massages now.

Not quiet the same is it.?

Stay safe have a good day