Robin

I hope to be arriving in BKK next week and travelling on to Chiang Rai. i do not really want to hang about in Bangkok. Is there still transport from Swampy to Don Muang? I seem to remember there used to be an Airport bus that ran between the two places, free if you could show flight res. from the other airport. Is this still running, or will I need to take a taxi? Not too worried about the cost, but I do not want to start my visit with the normal argument with a miserable Thai taxi driver if I can simply sit in a bus.

Marmite is a Vegan approved product, promoted as such on the label. made from yeast extract. I assume that Vegemite is the same

Thailand became a popular tourist destination just because entry was as easy as O/P states, ignoring that he flew J class. At the time when Thailand tourism was on the rise, anyone could get a cheap ticket to Bangkok and enter on a 30 day, no visa entry, and the have a good time during that 30 days, spending money as they wanted. Maybe, these people were not the "high quality" tourists that TAT is now dreaming of attracting, but many spent sizeable sums of hard cash in the major destinations. If TAT and the Junta really wanted to revive Tourism, this is where they should be looking, not dreaming up new entry requirements and confusing restrictions. Some of this who first came as back-packers clutching LP guides, are now well off in their home countries and might be looking to revisit LOS and revive memories of their youth, and would probably spend more than the Chinese/Indians that TAT is now hoping to attract. Thailand needs to make entry easy, and o publicise that it is easy. I am coming back to LOS next week, mainly because I am reassured by what i read here, that entry will be easy, and that as I am fully Vacced, I will be allowed in with no hassle. If I had relied on what is on RTE web-site and info on applying for a 'tourist Visa', I would not be travelling. It is very difficult to think that TAT actually wants tourism to go back to as it was 10yrs ago.

Thanks for this information. Always good to have some personal experience so as to know what is coming. if TAT was on the ball and waned tourists to flock back, they would be publicising these experiences and making sure that all potential tourist knew how easy it could be to enter Thailand, like it used to be with a civilian government.

Always best to go with your wife when doing this. She can explain things o I/O in Thai. My advice would be to go to Immigration and make an appointment in advance and get I/O to write down in Thai or English, exactly what documents you will need for your extension. Saves time when you make the extension.

Do not make my mistake and let your visa expire while you are away. past experience is that re-entry plus valid visa has always been OK at UK airports. I believe that if you know you are going to be away when your visa expires, you can ask for an early extension/renewal. I did this a BKK once, pre-Covid. Depend on your local I/O but worth asking.

"There is no inheritance tax to pay on anything left to a spouse, unless different rules apply to a foreign spouse, albeit one married in the UK." Care with this! I had my accountant in UK look into inheritance tax for my wife. seems that as she is not a UK citizen, she is liable for inheritance tax on UK assets, subject to normal UK law. I have been told by my bank in Singapore that all assets there are exempt from inheritance and capital gains tax as I am a non-resident. perhaps one of the attractions of Singapore as a business centre. Very grateful for all the advice given here, it has clarified my situation. Bottom line is:- Everything in Thailand is in wife's name and no concern of mine, I just live here on her tolerance. When I die, it is up to her what she does with it. Past experience suggests that she is not easily parted from her cash. What I have in Thailand is mainly bank account with visa funds (800,000 Baht + some reserve) which I will not care too much about. wife can argue that with Kbank. If she predeceases me, then after the funeral I would walk away and leave her family to fight over her estate. Probably with draw as much cash as Kbank will let me and change that on the way out. All my assets not in Thailand are accounted for in my UK will and I am assured by reputable solicitors/executors that will is water-tight. I am not going to be very interested at that time. I have no dependants in UK and no contact with any surviving family, so they get nothing. Wife has the Thai belief "If you talk or think about something, you will make it happen" and will only discuss these topics under great duress. I have done my best to provide for her, but it will finally be up to her. I know that she can comfortably live out her life in the village with what she owns, and if she is stupid ang gives too much away trying to impress her family that she is "Big Sister" that will be her problem, but 40 yrs experience suggests that she will hang on to her money. Unlikely that wife will make a will, she tells ne that her family will sort out her estate, as they have when other members died. Up to her and her family. I have learned not to interfere

"Doesn’t the TAT want tourists here in Thailand?" Short answer is No, they do not, and never have wanted mass tourism. The idea of hoards of disrespectful farangs in Thailand has always been hated by the elite. Sex tourism has never been wanted, but it made so much money it had to be tolerated. The pre-Covid tourism boom has given TAT the idea that the world wants to visit Thailand and will do almost anything to do so. Hence the nonsense restrictions for entry now and in the past year. When I first started visiting Thailand, I could get a 60 day entry visa at any embassy by simply filling in a paper form and paying a small fee. Now it has to be done on-line and requires copies of air tickets, passport pages and other stuff, so who is going to bother unless they really want or need to come to Thailand. I do not think that it is a coincidence that Thailand now has a military government, and i cannot see the situation improving until TAT is run by more pragmatic people. Those of us who have made our lives in Thailand will just have to put up with the current lot and make the best of it, or look for somewhere else where we might be more welcome.

Sparked by a discussion on this board, I have found something new to worry about. . I am not getting any younger or fitter (now 78) and fully expect Khun wife to survive me, and I want her to be provided for. We were legally married in UK, but not in Thailand. We have been together for nearly 40 yrs. I have made a will in UK, covering everything I own.:- Property in UK, Money in bank in UK and Singapore Everything we own in Thailand is in wife's name ( land, house, car..) I have on bank account at Kasikorn of my retirement visa, and another joint with wife. Wife assures me that when I die, all in Thailand will go to her, and has been instructed as to how to inform my solicitor (executor) in UK Can anyone with more knowledge of Thai legal system comment on this as I want everything to e as easy as possible for her when I go. Wife has not made a will, as her mother told her it would be 'bad luck' think about her death. Wife and I agree that if she should pre-decease me, everything in Thailand except my bank account would go to her family, and they can sort it out between themselves. I would not want to live on in the village, but would return to UK We do not have any children but wife has niece she has brought up a daughter, and expects that she should inherit everything in Thailand. To me, everything seems to be in place for easy procedures when either of us die. Am I living in a fool's paradise it will not be as easy as I hope? Wife and her family are typical country Thais with no knowledge of legal matters, as I suspect that many(most) Thais are Being cynical, I am sure that wife's family fully expect to get everything we own in Thailand, and i am not going to try to contest this. AFIK all our property, house. land, in Thailand is properly registered in wife's maiden name, as appears on her ID card and Thai passport. She has ll the paper-work stowed away in our house. I am not looking for a way to get possession of this property, I would probably just walk away after the funeral and leave i all to her family.

How to prove what was in the safe? Big insurance claim coming up to boost falling profits

I guess they are talking about thickness of pad left. I would consider replacing my brake pads at 2.5 mm if that was true. Presumably (dangerous assumption in Thailand!) they were referring to front disc brake pads; Manual for my car (rover) here in UK suggests that front pads are replaced when less than 1.5 mm thick. How much are they charging you to replace pads? Should be a 10 minute job; and expect to be given the old pads to show you they have changed them. IMHO they are trying it on a bit with a 'rich farang,' but, if you can afford it, why run to the limit. You often need your brake in Thailand.

I believe that the written test you are worried about is a multi-choice answer test. I thought th afternoon session on the Highway code was to prepare you for this test. When i took my test, at Phayao I was excused the written test as they could not find the English version I had to take. Hence, the examiner checked my UK licence and after I explained the UK vehicle classifications to her, (not many electric milk floats in Thailand) I was given Thai licence for car and motorcycle. There might also be some nonsense about medical and reaction test and colour vision. Is Thailand the only country in the world you can pass your driving test without needing to change gear as you drive; only need 1st. and reverse? At my test I did reaction/colour test next to "Old farmer Noi" who could not see the colour lights, or understand the reaction test. He passed despite his daughter begging the examiner not to pass him as he "could not see very well"

it is basic economics for the operator:- 1 Plenty of auto only drivers, not so many manual only. 2. Less chance of idiot drivers abusing and breaking auto only cars. And the basic, if unpalatable truth, that modern auto transmissions work better and are easier to drive.

I think that the limit is whatever K bank set when they issue the card. You have to ask to get information like that. if you pled, you might get the limit increased. I get the impression that k bank , and most others, are scared that you might actually want to spend money on your card. Only useful as an atm. card IMHO.

Can you imagine any circumstances in which a large bank like Kasikorn is unable to pay out? I think that if that was to happen, there would be more to worry about than money. If you are bringing the money in to fund a venture in Thailand, more likely that the venture would fail. My rule, only a personal one, is that what you bring into Thailand will most likely have to stay in Thailand, and to be prepared to lose any money invested in a Thai venture.

FWIW, I have been on Non O retirement visa for years and never asked for any health insurance. RTE London web-site is not the most helpful for visa applications; I gave up because of endless requirements, and following some advice from this forum, I intend to enter Thailand on 30 day visa exempt and convert to Non O when in Thailand, and then on to Non O retirement extension for 1 yr. I did this some year ago when in Thailand, and I hope o do the same again

I am soon to be returning to Thailand with no visa, after letting my Retirement visa expire while in UK, an shocked as to how difficult/ uncertain it is to get a visa to enter Thailand. When I first came o Thailand in the 1980's, it was a exotic destination with a reputation for being easy going an (relatively ) cheap. Basically, as I remember, anyone who shoed up at Don Muang or a land border was given 28 days entry, possible to extend once. If you wanted o stay longer, you got 1 or 2 entry 60 day at any embassy by filling in a 1 page from and paying £10. No nonsense about insurance, pre-booked accommodation, good behaviour declaration or anything else. This visa could be easily extended when in the country, or by 'visa run' to Laos, Cambodia, or Malaysia. Thousands or even millions of tourists/student/ back packers, came and had a great time, pending money... At that time, there were not many rivals. Vietnam and Indo-china were hardly open, Indonesia only gave 30 day entry with a visa, and Thailand enjoyed becoming a prime destination. Many of my friends in UK came to Thailand and enjoyed themselves. Now, things have changed. Thailand does not want 'ordinary' tourists; only 'high quality tourists' spending $500++ per day, and staying for 14 days. But in the meantime, Vietnam and Indonesia have opened up and become easier to visit, while Thailand appears to be closing. Thailand appears to think that everyone in the world wants or need o visit Thailand and will do or pay almost anything to do so, which might not be the case. How many people are going o jump through the hoops set up by the current Junta, when there are plenty of other destinations much easier to get into? Is there any reason to visit Thailand in preference o other SE Asia destinations? Will anyone, apart from Thais care? Does TAT have the ability and acumen to see what is happening and to try o reverse the trend?

I am UK pensioner living in Thailand. I can confirm that life certs are sent out. I missed one and only knew when my pension payments to UK bank were stopped. Phone call to DWP got a new life cert e-mailed to me. Local Dr. filled it in and I sent back to DWP. No more problems. Payment restarted and missed payments paid. I would imagine you could use this method while pretending o live in UK and actually living in Thailand. I believe that DWP requirement is you live more than 180 days in UK to get your annual increases. How does DWP check where you are as you do not get an entry stamp when coming into UK? Under the current financial climate in UK, I cannot see the rule being changed, or any support from your local MP. DWP will know if you are using the NHS services from your local GP and might use this as way to check if you are in UK. Grossly unfair, but we are not enough to influence government behaviour. The way inflation is heading in UK it si becoming more worthwhile o consider cheating the system.

I went to local DLT office with Khun wife after we bought our first car. I was put in the class with Thais applying for licence (yes some actually bother with this!) One afternoon's class on Thai High way code, and the medical at local Dr. I think 100 Baht for medical. Never took the test on High way code as local DLT could no find their English copy of multiple choice computer based test, so given an oral test in English by the instructor. Had to take a re-action test and colour blindness test, then explain the various 'groups' on my UK licence to the instructor. Then photo take and licence issued for both car and M/c. Not required to take the actual driving test. I think that in total it took 1 1/2 days at DLT to get this licence, which has not been any use since. When stopped at RTP checks, normally waved through so long as car licence in in date. Sometimes office asks wife if I have a licence.

Ideally, you could get a non-im O visa before you leave UK, which will se you up for getting a Thai bank account and then a marriage or retirement extension for 1 year. Get your re-entry permit when you get the visa, to save messing about later, and then you should be set for life in Thailand. My experiences have been that 1 yr visas are easy do get without using/paying for agent. Warning! Some UK banks will not accept you account if you have an overseas address. from experience I know that HSBC and Santander will allow a Thai address. I believe that Mastercard will not send a new/replacement card to Thailand. Consider this if you want to keep a UK bank credit card. Do not get a joint account with your wife in a Thai bank as some I/O will want double the money in that account for visa purposes. i.e. 1,600,000 baht for retirement visa Check Thai Embassy UK web-site for visa requirements. I found their requirement for Non IM visa to arduous and wil be trying the Non visa- change to non im when in Thailand route. Onward ticket? Expedia was offering a BKK- SIN ticket for £30

Suggest what ever punishment you like for Drunk Driving, it will not make any difference if the law is not enforced. Enforcing the law, as many here will know, is down to the RTP, so, of course, it is not enforced. it is not the penalty, but the certainly of being caught and punished that makes public obey any law.

And you think that makes a difference regarding his grossly exaggerated statement. "due to near impossibility of getting a Non O from RTE London. (so many conditions and requirement)" Apart from insurance, I find the requirement of 10,000 GBP in a bank for 3 months difficult to meet, and I would suspect that many other applicants would as well. Also why the ridiculous requirement of photo of self holding photo page of my passport? last time I applied for a Non Im O, it was a single page form at RTE London, 1 phots, and £25; com back in 2 days. But that was when Thailand welcomed tourists. What will happen if I simply upload a page saying "Not applicable, Not required" for insurance request, bank statement, self photo, etc... I have a kasikorn bank account with 800,000 + for my retirement visa, but bank book ahs not been updated in the last 6 months Would I find it easier to go for Non O based on marriage to Thai. I have valid UK marriage certificate and Thailand yellow book.

Next month I hope to be coming back to Thailand; entering on visa exempt, due to near impossibility of getting a Non O from RTE London. (so many conditions and requirement) I believe that once in LOS on visa exempt, I will be able to convert this to a Non O at my local I/O, Phayao, nd then move on to what I actually want; a Non O retirement extension for 12 months. Before thi visit to UK I have been living in Phayao for years on retirement extensions with no problems. I have two questions: Will there be any difficulty in getting on my TG flight at LHR with only a 1 way ticket? Anyone with actual recent experience of doing this? Will it still be possible to change to a Non O and on to retirement when I get to Phayao? I have seen postings here that say it is easy, and I think I have done this once before

Not tightening screws on electrical connectors is a common Thai 'electrician' fault. Can lead toa poor connection and overheating= fire or smoke from connector. O/P could you take your aircon supply from where the main cable enters your consumer unit? Always a good idea to have any appliance wired in with a main switch and fuse, if not a RCD. Was your aircon tapped into the supply cable o save on wiring? Sounds the sort of thing a Thai Sparks would do. False economy, , but typical of local village work, when the cheapest is considered the best. My observation of Thai electricians is that theri main skill is being able to tack cables to the wall in nice straight lines using he cheap local tags. Looks very nice, but.....

Just look at how successful the 'High Speed' Airport Rail Link has been.