eyup

18 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

So what can I expect to pay for taxy from the airport to Kata beach?

 

I'm thinking the best plan may be to rent a bike from near the airport.  Any options there?

See the topic you created and go on the Smart Bus!

6 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Thanks mate. Thought about it and I will just rent a bike from near the airport. Bag can easily go on the back

Its 100 baht only now on the smart bus!  You can pay in cash! Quite easily your best option!!!

15 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I just made my once every six months transfer via my banks self initiated Global Wire program from in the US to my K-Bank and it was in an amount that when exchanged from USD to THB was in the 7 figures.  It was sent via SWIFT in USD at 11pm from my bank last night, in the US through the fed, and was deposited at 9:53 am today into my K-Bank account.  33.72 Baht per $1 USD.  No issues with the amount.  Maybe it is an issue arising from the UK banking.

Current $US rate on wise is 33.8150baht per $1US It may have gone up since you did your transfer via global wire Don't know what your bank charges you but it's well worth comparing "Wise" versus your current method?   https://wise.com/invite/u/robertk160

The problem could be paying by credit or debit card I transfer funds to Wise bank account direct from my UK bank account . Never an issue doing that.

On 11/25/2021 at 3:14 PM, JustAnotherHun said:

I always wonder why people use Wise. Is it for saving a few THB?

Otherwise just transfer from the bank of your home country directly and never have a problem.

It's not just saving a "few baht"!  If one does regular transfers (In my case about £2k per month) the savings are considerable! Just transferred £2k today took 16 seconds to reach my Thai bank account. I have gone thru life saving a "few baht/pounds/dollars/rupees etc".  here and there. Also certainly wasted money along the way on various things. But on the whole I was always told a Baht or whatever is better in your pocket than someone elses!

Was in khao lak a couple of weeks ago . .Not much was open. Planning another trip up there soon.Has the situation changed since Nov 1st ref restaurants/bars and serving of alcohol?

Thanks for any local info.

36 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

what is so hard to believe about that.  50 new cases yesterday

https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-marks-50-new-covid-cases-no-new-deaths-81914.php

It's a virus, it's what it does, spreads.  Good luck trying to stop it. 

Better to learn to live with it.

Of course, I have seen the report from Phuket news and as they are the only "official" figures that are released it is what we all go by.

His post was "Got report. today. etc " Which sounds like " his sisters boyfriends uncle etc told me" sort of thing!

On 11/2/2021 at 8:38 PM, bchrisny said:

Got report today - Two swedes Pfizer jabbed got covid in Patong and now on hospital. A lot of people there at hosp. - three farang kids got covid  and ambulances come and go.

Swede asks how many farangs here - no answer.

 

About 10 massage workers there for test. At least one positive -  Sirijay hospital...

 

 

might help if you backed your story up with facts rather than unsubstantiated rumours?

compare rates etc with wise versus. MG.  https://wise.com/invite/u/robertk160

great service from this company I think visa  cost me about 32k https://thaivisacentre.com/

Quite a few comments here from people who either visited years ago (07/08?)  and/or made/make occasional visits.

The actual situation here is Kata/Karon are almost derelict ghost towns with others near the airport similar.  Patong is recovering but IMHO not suitable for the OP's situation. Kamala has a relatively safe beach particularly in high season when the monsoon fades. is easy to get around and multiple eating options. Rawaii, I understand is similar with ref to places open but beach not as good as Kamala and not easy to get around. Several establishments open in Laguna and Bangtao. But for ease of getting around I'd go for Kamala. Ref the poster who mentioned poor roads and potholes. Yes there are a few places with potholes but most of Phuket (including beach road Patong and almost all the way from Patong to the airport have had road resurfacing recently. that includes the main road that goes thru Kamala.

Just transferred some money to SCB  and same as OP In my account in seconds!!!

11 minutes ago, sapson said:

Could you use them to transfer from an Australian or New Zealand credit card to a friends Thai bank account.

 

I presume the credit card holder would have to open a wise account, funded via the credit card and then transfer from the wise account to the recipients Thai bank account having the swift code and name.

 

Is it a viable alternative to Western Union for someone wishing to use a credit card as source of funds.

Rates are certainly better.

much better than WU. Use this link to get your first transfer free    https://wise.com/invite/asd/robertk160

try Regent Kamala beach on booking dot com studio about 5-600 a night 2 bed apt. 1200 a night Novotel Kamala about 2300 a night

Not sure but maybe a wise account would help?  https://wise.com/invite/aeg/robertk160

2 minutes ago, Chivas said:

No idea what you've done there but what you've quoted wasn't me

No it was my reply to your post about your money arriving in seconds, quoting from an earlier post of mine. You will see from the actual, factual  timeline I have quoted, that my money took considerably longer. Which was the whole original point of the subject.

4 minutes ago, Chivas said:

"Wise" rcvd my transfer/money  at 0947/02 Aug but did not initiate the transfer until 0844/ 03 August I rcvd the money eventually at 1430/03 Aug . 

So that's not considerably slower than you experienced?  The above is the actual factual timeline of the the recent transfer. Previously, I bought and paid for a car in a few hours transfer amount was 380,000 baht!

4 minutes ago, userabcd said:

No pompousness or smugness implied, sorry if any feelings were injured.

 

It was just a comment made in jest.

If I want jokes I will follow the bad joke topic. Have a look at my post from Thursday? 

4 minutes ago, keithsimmonds said:

Transfer just now £2000gpb to Scb ..."should arrive in seconds"   make the transfer £2500  "should arrive on the 11th"

OP here . Indeed Keith, and that was what. happened to me  which is why I started the thread. Ref userabc can I suggest you read all the previous comments before making your IMHO  smug/pompous post?

18 hours ago, Chivas said:

Not trolling at all but I've always thought it utter lunacy that people are so desperate for money to arrive that a few hours makes any difference.

As Brits we're 6000 miles from home if people are that short frankly then they should be back at home in the first place

 

 

OP here .  I  wasn't desperate for the money nor am I "short"   FYFI.  I am worth about a million quid and have over a million baht in my Thai bank. I "trickle feed" my Thai bank account to hedge against possible currency fluctuations. In this modern electronic age being 6000 miles away should not make any difference IMVHO .If you read my posts on this thread, you will notice that previously , transfers have been almost instant!! I am commenting that they have slowed down considerably recently. To the point ,that you wonder if your money will actually arrive! Which is an understandable concern surely.  "Wise" rcvd my transfer/money  at 0947/02 Aug but did not initiate the transfer until 0844/ 03 August I rcvd the money eventually at 1430/03 Aug .