Steve Vincent

39 minutes ago, Maha Sarakham said:

I have to say, what did you expect? 

 

You chose to fly at this time, you chose what class you wanted to book, and you rejected the opportunity to upgrade if you were that concerned about the virus distancing. 

 

Don't expect someone else to shoulder the cost for your penny pinching.

Only blame the airline ... previously had flight cancelled awaiting return of funds and at time booking was the only available flight !  Still thought as some previous returnees stated seat person blah blah only told of update on plane ... suppose som na na me ???????????? at least arrived - not the money it’s about safety and social distancing 

1 minute ago, Enoon said:

 

Looks like I timed it just right:

 

£330 to UK with EVA on 1st May.

 

My row and rows in front/behind me, 1 seat gap between each passenger.

 

.............."which was nice".

 

 

Happy days that’s what I thought reading previous posts “. Seat person and so forth - still you can’t win them all and returning was important due family reasons ????

2 hours ago, robblok said:

What a strange remark, OP wants social distancing but expects to pay the same price ????

 

Either you pay more and get your distance, did you really expect the airline to take the hit ?

economy class “ was the only available ticket,.not about the money as have terminal Ill family member.. Just wanted to return,. Was only offered upgrade when on the flight - previously paid for a flight and got cancelled - still waiting for the 30,000 baht refund 

26 minutes ago, madmen said:

A mate who is a leisure globe trotter just reported exactly the same , not a single seat empty.

 

OP were duty free open? What food and drinks on board , heard just snacks ?

Duty free open although 90% shops closed in airport and 2 meals served on board 

Depends on the retiree,. Being retired you would like to think a will and instructions were left behind in the case of death. who to contact blah blah / person of death embassy would also be notified. Who’s job would be to contact the persons relatives as majority of people have written in there passport at the back 2 persons to contact in the event of death. 

what’s going on with k.f.c ? Had a right argument with staff in ubon ratchathani yesterday before leaving for Bangkok after trying to order the colonels original k.f.c ( photo enclosed ) clearly the recipe has been changed ! Tastes nothing like k.f.c. When asking why the recipe has changed they looked at me like i had 2 heads and when i asked for a refund was basically ignored ! That’s when i told them i wouldn’t be calling back again as they were conning the public,. Looks more like the spicy version ... surely that’s false advertising trading under the k.f.c banner yet it seems there making there own recipe instead of the banners that stats colonels original chicken. If this was the u.k or the states there would be huge consequences - seems only in Thailand they can do what they want when they want ! 

14 hours ago, webfact said:

MPs voted 274 in favour of the first decree enabling the Finance Ministry to borrow Bt1 trillion in order to provide support to people adversely affected by the virus outbreak, while 204 MPs abstained.

 

The second emergency decree, authorising the Bank of Thailand to provide Bt500 billion soft loans to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) hit by the Covid-19 fallout, sailed through with 275 voting in favour and 205 abstaining.

 

The third emergency decree to support bond market liquidity via the Corporate Bond Stabilisation Fund (BSF), established by the Finance Ministry and the Bank of Thailand, prevailed with the backing of 274 MPs and 195 abstaining. There were 487 MPs in attendance for the voting session -- 276 from the coalition government and 211 from the opposition.

Clearly these m.ps don’t have children ..... I’ve seen some strokes in my time and the amount of borrowing will have its implications ! Finance minister 1 trillion baht 500 billion for soft loans as for bonds I’m dumbfounded as there’s no common sense and no real plan in process for any of the above mentioned. Maybe I’m just a stupid foreigner who don’t understand the business world ~ what’s been proposed will cripple Thailand ~ it’s like me opening a 5* restaurant without customers GL Thailand 

Why would you put all your assets in a Thai ladies name ? Stupidity if you ask me ! The only thing my lady has in her name is the house and car ....... makes a change from reading farang jumps from 8th floor 

Why is this man still in charge ? Complete Neanderthal ! Sacks his back room staff if they don’t agree with his policy’s ~ makes false allegations about immigrants “. Let’s not forget about his missus past life Oh & Harvey Weinstein’s sex buddy ! just another Walter Mitty with a bad hair cut if you ask me 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Tourism accounts for 12 per cent of his country’s GDP (up to 20 per cent when ancillary services are included) and provides jobs for almost one in 10 Thais, according to the International Labour Organisation.

 

But with borders closed and planes grounded across the world, this pillar of the Thai economy faces an uncertain future. The TAT’s best-case scenariois that 14-16 million people will visit this year, more than the 8.5 million projected by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, but far fewer than last year’s record of 39.8 million, a figure that made it far and away Southeast Asia’s most popular tourism destination.

This is the result of putting all your eggs in one basket,. Showed contempt for the western world tourists “. Those living here have to have 800,000 baht in the bank without those foreigners living here the banks would collapse. As for wanting to get into bed with the Chinese it’s madness - more job losses will follow as Thai airways expected to go bankrupt and that will kill tourism off completely as people will lose trust ! In turn they will look for value holidays nearer to home,.as covid19 virus will leave nations struggling financially and unable to have luxury holidays abroad. Small example cost of flight into Thailand the same as 2wk all inclusive in say grand canaria - plenty sunshine and only few hours by plane

With no new reported cases and still under curfew it’s time for departure “. Yesterday they wanted me to sign my name and leave phone number ( k.f.c ) beyond the joke as didn’t have phone with me and I’m fed up with being monitored ... Big brother ???? sadly I’m returning to the u.k next month - not just down virus but have a sick relative who’s not long left. Also have my mother who’s in her late 70s and she’s so independent after getting over cancer she thinks she’s invincible and of course we know the stats for the u.k being the 2nd highest country ! If Thailand was being true about deaths and reported cases then there’s no reason to continue with the 10pm curfew. Would have been loverly to catch up with old friends,. Sadly we’ve had the virus and I’m sure when returning later in the year things will be different love travel sadly it’s not happened on this visit. However it’s allowed me to work on the family home however with the restrictions in place it’s been a difficult time for everybody who enjoy socializing ! Stay safe people ????????

7 hours ago, webfact said:

 

For anyone who doesn’t have a smartphone, people could register by entering their name and telephone number on sheets of paper placed outside the entrance to the malls. 

Don’t bother me as long as they don’t ring me when back in the u.k as there will be no answer ! Next they will be giving us a rope measuring 2 meters apart ‘. Singles will be paired with security ????

4 hours ago, Paul DS said:

Well here is the latest issues;

The EU and the UK have recently cut interest rates to virtually zero.

They are paying for millions to stay home rather than work.

They are lending / giving millions to industry to keep them afloat.

They have debt running into 100s of billions of currency.

They are still in a live Covid 19 issue.

 

The USA and Russia have mass deaths and virus issues which are not resolved.

Sub Continents are now seeing mass virus expansion.

 

Now we come to Thailand:

Interest rates still higher than many countries.

Thailand has given here and there 1000-5000 baht to the poor.

They allow "farangs" etc to organise free food to the starving.

They have no new debt arising from Covid 19

They "have" no Covid 19 (so they state)

They do / did have massive rise in Pneumonia and Dengue though!

The "rich" Chinese will be back in a few weeks time.

 

So as the rest of the World have financial and health problems, Thailand does not...locals can lose there cars, go broke, have no jobs, have no money, starve, they can go back to the villages and farm!....but none of that effects or bothers the Junta government so poor exchange rates are here for many years to come!

 

I live in a village in the sticks, everyone is poor and many starving, my Thai Wife cooks rice etc non stop every day to help others.  As I've stated in the past, Pattaya etc is not a true reflection of Thai Life.

 

Thailand is great ...if you have money, 3rd World if not.

Agree with yourself,. I’m Well and truly done with pattaya and Bangkok,. Love my Thai family and wouldn’t change that for all the money in the world,. Living in ubon I've realized just how important family and the future is ( children ) big congratulations for your wife for looking after many people ( serving food all day ) many people doing the same and they don’t look for recognition .. applaud you thailand a rich nation I’m not rich nor poor - just want the best for the people and those living here... 

4 hours ago, tweedledee2 said:

   If the current exchange rate makes living in Thailand to expensive for you, how much do you expect you'll save, flying your family back and living in the UK? 

   I've been sending the same amount of USD's from my SS payment each month to Thailand for the past 5 years to support our family of four. Since paying off our car loan in Dec, 11,00 baht carries over into the next month. I know for a fact that it would cost more to live in the US. 

 

Good question,in truth I’m not sure,all I can tell you the missus will earn good money and I’m probably likely to catch covid19 ... joking aside I’m in a catch 24 whilst in Thailand I’m living on savings whilst back in the u.k I’d have a reasonably well paid job,apart from that there’s not much difference ....hope everything works out for you and the family ????

Thanks for reply’s guys,. appreciate Brexit been a major financial headache for many and I’m sure it will get worse before it gets better.Maybe a slight exaggeration regards to the dollar plummeting but then it’s been in free fall with the pound for time - today’s rate 1.22 good old days 2 dollars to the pound well and truly gone.

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suppose i was spoilt when first arriving in Thailand 72 baht to £ back then was a partygoer and just lived life to the max. Today still enjoy life and love Thailand especially since moving to ubon which is laid back with friendly people and less bars ( only couple ) unlike pattaya and Bangkok ... ringing the bell & drinking the bar dry ( sound like a alcoholic ????????  suppose the good old days are over,. But i wouldn’t change anything as love my Thai family and the people I’ve become friends with... now that is priceless regardless of the exchange rates. Enjoy guys and stay safe ???????? 

Today we live in uncertain times with the u.s dollar in free fall along with sterling and other currencies around the world,.yet the Thai baht remains as strong as ever ! Current accounts are holding the baht strong according to several reports. Yet tourism and trade are struggling - went into several exchange booths earlier today sterling 38.10 with Thai exchange in ubon and the best being 38.80 with twelve victory / shopping mall. I’m confused and disappointed when i change my money of late and don’t understand why the baht has gathered momentum. Clearly the trade war between China and the u.s has played a huge part in this and if things don’t change i cannot see myself living comfortably as i once did here in Thailand or maybe it’s time for change. Maybe I need to move my family back to the u.k until the exchange rates return to some normality,.Would be interested in hearing from people who understand the markets to explain why this is happening when the rest of the world is struggling,. Kind regards Steve V

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai tourist authority this week announced its plan to subject all visitors to a premium charge to pay for travel insurance. The sum per person would not be higher than 300 baht per visit which could bring in revenue as high as 12 billion baht annually if the number of visitors ever reaches the 40 million targeted by the government before the Coronavirus outbreak.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Details are sketchy at the moment but the fee, if approved by the Thai Cabinet, would likely be added to the cost of the air ticket as a supplement. Visitors by sea and land would likely have to pay at the border or port. A government spokesman spoke mainly of the threat posed by the virus and the need to reduce the problem of foreigners seeking medical treatment in Thailand without proper financial cover.

Whenever travel Thailand it costs myself just over £100 in insurance had a bad accident here over 5yrs ago and costed myself 2k in hospital bills,.Paying just 300 baht wouldn’t allow foreigners free medical care as Thailand would lose millions... sketchy to say the least !

2 hours ago, webfact said:

A large haul of drugs were found, reported Siam Chon News. There was a bag of "ice", 15 bags of ketamine, 15 heart and bear shaped ecstasy and 200 valium.

That’s some party “. And jack D nowhere to be found !  

Can’t help with regards to road checks “. If the missus worried about her family would simply suggest using the phone ! Certainly quicker and you wouldn’t have to worry about breaking any curfews difficult times for everybody,.