DonniePeverley

I always tip. But come on, how can you commence the tipping relationship when she is cutting back ?

I've noticed last few weeks (as things have gotten busier), that the time keeping from some of these 'masseuses' is get a tad cheeky. Finished a massage the other day, and i thought to myself "that was quick", but as i didn't note the time down i shrugged and walked off (honestly felt like i had only a 40 minute massage). Today though, i went for a 60 minute massage and i felt ripped off. The lady in question only gave me a 48 minute massage as i fully checked my watch. She did take her time in bringing the bucket to clean my feet - IS THIS included in the massage timing? My point being is the timing of the massage beginning when she touches your skin, or when you walk into the premises? Sorry for being pedenatic, but worth keeping an eye out for lol

They are back. No one can tell me otherwise.

They're back. Bangkok and Pattaya, i've literally never seen this volume of Chinese tourists even before the pandemic. Absolutely insane numbers this week. We had a good few years, but it's over. They are back. The question is at what point does it become unsustainable?

Anyone go into Emsphere yesterday ? Had it's official opening.

Stupid beyond belief. Desperation too. What idiotic schemes will they think of next ? Why not extend Christmas till January ? Why not turn the clocks back at midnight by 6 hours, so you can have peak time all over again ? Why not pay tourists to come ?

It's not resolved. Wait and see. Same folk in India were saying the same thing. And they got hit.

Yeah i was in India. In Goa. Expats were saying the same thing. "Nah we have arragements, etc" - but they just took it at source at the bank. There's alot of wishful thinking going on here that is bordering on full on denial. Go research what happened in India.

I have seen this all play out in India. You are going to be taxed. All this talk of arrangements between countries will mean nothing. In India they are taking the money out at source in your bank accounts.

I am getting suspicious my condo is having some landlords sneakily doing the Airbnb route. New tennants suspiciously popping up on mass and changing weekly.

The bare feet is a hall mark of Australians. The worst still has to be the knobs who come with big back bags on their backs. Why not just get a suitcase, much easier to roll around too. But no .. they're back backers innit, and Thailand is cheap and they have to find themselves on some 'Leonardo The Beach' type scenario. Except Thailand isn't cheap and that era of 'finding undiscovered lands' has long gone. Now get behind the 1000000 other tourists.

At the risk of scouring 142 pages can someone give an up to date summary ? I remember India doing something similar a few years back - they just took at source at the banks.

You are rite - it from the Juristic. But in my agreement it is listed the times i can use common areas. It mentions nowhere (other than for repairs) that it can be used. No where does it say you cannot go into a common area due to a private function being held.

This is not a cheap condo. It's of the higher end condos, and one of the bigger condos around. The condo obviously has some form of committeee. I am not the owner of the condo, but rent it. So i am assuming the committee team in charge have decided to do this. It's just very poor.

Uttterly despicable behaviour from the condo. We have a great view of the River from our condo, that overlooks Icon Siam. We were looking forward to going on the roof and enjoying New Years Eve's festivities. However, got an email this morning saying no one is allowed on the roof top pool area as they are booking it out for a private party. How the effing hell is that even a thing ? We pay a premium to stay here and then this. Can they get away with this ? Can i do anything ? Nothing was ever mentioned in any of the contract or the bloody condo rules when i go through them.

Visted a condo, viewed 3 different rooms. All owned by Chinese. Not actively looking to rent it out either, happy to keep it empty.

The electricity won't be manufactured i on neighborhoods and sois in Bangkok. Pollution at local levels where we walk and live is horrific, and most of THAT is caused by car exhaust fumes. If we lived in Bangkok and even 30% of the vehicles were electric we would have less local pollution.

This thread has made me think is anyone using the EV charger on my condo car park spot. If so will it having a different bill or just dumped onto my electricity bill ?

If any of us are in Bangkok, we should be encouraging EV use. The pollution from vehicles is absolutely horrific. Those damn diesel busses are still around too.

At the risk of wafting through 132 pages .... can anyone give me an updated summary as to what is going on ?

I remember him from Covid times.

2000 x 10 million (or even 20 million) visitors is certainly a big investment. Now dropping the fee for the Indians too.

How much were Chinese paying for Visas before ? Times it by 20 million. It's a massive investment.

Nonsense AND misses the point. The pace of change of India is astonishing. Unlike China, the class divide is not as massive in India. They have a huge middle class, and a sector that is on the verge of middle class. Once that 100/200 million reach middle class, they like the rest of us will take vacations. However, and a problem for Thailand - Indians don't want to go to Thailand. They (like the Chinese) actually want to vacation in 'the west' - particularly Europe. It's only the increasingly difficult visa situation to get to Europe, and Thailand basically has always had an easy go approach to Indian tourism that means Thailand is sometimes the only choice.

QUANITY OF TOURISTS over QUALITY OF TOURISTS I thought after the pandemic they wanted quality high spending tourists? There is simply no way they will be able to start to charge Chinese tourists again, it simply won't be able to happen if you know how the politics work. They are going to want to see tourists number smash the horrific numbers pre pandemic and just inflict more misery on the local population (who don't benefit from tourists).