hotgeekus

It wouldn't be Thai Visa without the complaining....

Several posters mention Tokyo, London, Paris..... now mention Bangkok....

Tokyo, Narita anyhow, anywhere costs 40 usd, and that gets you to Tokyo station from Narita, five stories down in the basement. After going five stories up, you can then connect to a train going somewhere else or a taxi if you can find your way out of the station (over one hour train). When you get to whereever you are going, you get to carry your luggage down a flight of stairs, and don't expect ANYONE to help you...

London, yes I have lived there too, used that one too. You have to take a taxi to the station and then use the subway, and it takes in excess of an hour depending on which airport... and the cost makes you remember it...

Bangkok, has newer, cleaner (MUCH CLEANER) trains and fully airconditioned and working (MRT or BTS) and now they open a link to the airport and it ain't good enough, at a cost of less than 10 usd....

TIT with THAIVISA.....

Hello,

I need your help. I used to live in LOS and now live in Tokyo. My wifes braces were done in BNH and the dentist here in Tokyo is a complete rip off. She has about 1 year left and I was wondering what the cheapest way to get to NRT - BKK return would be. She would just go to BNH and return, so say 3 day total, every six weeks, a total of 8 trips.

Any suggestions for the cheapest flight?

Great! Thanks ThNiner and Crossy. I admit that makes it a lot simpler to use but still if travelling from Satorn I will opt for a taxi as long as they still remain cheap. In Hong Kong and KL and of course in Germany, Amsterdam and London I always take the train as the cost comparison is so different.

I believe one benefit to using the train if you are a passenger, versus a working crew member (which I assume you are) who is not checking luggage, is that there are to be airline check-in counters in the train station (Makkasan), so no need to be dragging along anything more than carryon luggage and boarding passes from that point on to the airport.

The downtown check-in *is* still part of the plan, isn't it?

Not so many years ago, the downtown Tokyo City Air Terminal even had a Immigrations official to clear that formality before boarding the bus to the airport. You arrived at TCAT, checked-in with the airline (giving them your luggage and getting your boarding pass), then bought the bus ticket, then cleared Immigrations. You were given a card that you turned in at Narita airport itself. There was a special Immigrations line -- no queueing at all -- to simply breeze through the airport and turn in the card. Now, wouldn't THAT be nice for the new Bangkok train system?

While that sounds like a great system, it is no longer available. But the TCAT is great, I used it Friday. From Tokyo Narita to the TCAT by bus is 29 bucks, and they handle the luggage. That is great if you are close to the area... But that is where the Japanese and the Thai's differ... organization...

The skytrain is an excellent method of transportation, in Bangkok.

If the train is full, take the next one? Adding two cars because it is full from 7 - 8 and 5 - 6 doesn't work financially.

Why not try to go to work one hour early (actually 15 minutes) or one hour (actually 15 minutes) later?

Regarding the Tokyo subway, I would much rather take the skytrain..... I just loaded 5,000 yen on my pasmo and it will not last long....

I use usabox.com , same thing, you get an email when the mail comes in, it is in Miami...

Viva Bar, Inside Chatuchat Market, Saturday and Sunday only, 5 pm-11pm (or so)... live band, mix of Farang and Thai..... best, by far....

yipee....

duh, just wire the money, costs 25 bucks and there tomorrow. just need to provide the info...which will be a struggle...

1) Cyan - Metropolitan

2) Bann Kaniita - Sathorn road

3) Harveys - Tonglor

4) Either NY Steakhouse or the one in Hilton

5) Angelini - Shangri-la

(in no particular order), but drinks in either vertigo (banyan tree) after Cyan or 360 (hilton) after steakhouse.

I too have the same problem with gmail.

Actually I woke up a few days ago, my wireless was not working, so I unhooked it, put the modem into the ethernet and got internet.

Then about two days ago, I tried for gmail.com and it says server busy (true adsl). I tried a few different combinations and sneeking up on it, ie through a search engine and still did not work....

hmmm....

Lopburi, thanks twice....

Have you ever done a money wire/transfer, I didn't think about that, as it takes two days for the money to get there from here, so I assume from USA here it would go about the same...

time to investigate that one...

sorry, MOD can you move this to the banking forum....

Dear All,

As I sent all my money home (USA) last month, now situations have changed, and I will be leaving Thailand for good. I now need to have enough money to pay off all my credit cards, flight ticket, etc, which will be in the thousands of dollars, once all is added up.

Has anyone have experience writing a USA check from their checking account, putting it into their Thai bank account? Can you advise the time it takes to clear the check to actually use the money? I am looking at about 25 days until departure and I want to make sure it will clear by then?

Any factual help appreciated..

my bank is UOB, I am working, have a work permit, etc.

As a general FYI, this seems a little skewed or 'Thaivisa'-d......

The new airport in Bangkok has nothing to do with the taxis outside or the customs lines.... You are comparing apples to oranges....

As the OP said, the new airport here had its share of issues, however, it ain't that bad. You need to seperate the management of the airport from the opening of the airport.

No matter what you say, I, too have flown from and to both airports, but 12 years ago when I was 25 and landed in Heathrow, it cost me 45 pounds to get to Bond Street. I am not complaining, just showing that 12 years later, my 45 pounds would get me to Chiangmai in a TG flight......

I am not a hater or a liker, but when I have been in and out of the airport so many times, I see that it is simply mismanaged, no worse than the police who control the traffic lights between 7:30 and 9:00 am here in bangkok. Traffic fast one way, still means slow the other....

Only gripe I have is the immigration lines, however, if you walk an extra 30 seconds to the bank directly inside international baggage claim 1-8, you see, never, ever, have there been more than 2 people in line, while the other side has minimum 60 people in line. Also with the passport control leaving, 1/3 of all people don't fill out their immigration cards and hold up everything. If AOT had a person to control these two things, it would go lots smoother, but they don't, so it doesn't.....

but hey, if everything here worked, I wouldn't have a job....

I would pay for the 2 seats, so I can be more comfortable and keep my bag next to me, 212 baht will not break the bank

My friend, welcome to Thaivisa, where everything is a rip off and everyone is out to screw you, and don't even bring up the new airport......

I use expattaxes.com for my returns.

Be forewarned, my taxes are straightforward, not huge burden. While I was hesitant to give someone my entire information after looking on the web, I asked them for recommendation and spoke with another person who also would recommend them, thus why I am putting them here. I recently got offered another job in a different country and asked for tax advice regarding the need to pay US taxes and they gave me exactly what I needed to know, with in 24 hours, which let me negotiate in a 5% raise based on their information.

Obviously, I am not affiliated with this company, but if the mods feel necessary, delete it, and PM me and I can give you web address.

Mostly I took them as they are cheap. I don't need someone to charge me 1000 USD for a simple service, as I was quoted by quite a few already.....

All of these, of course, are not in Thailand, you just email them the information, on a spreadsheet....

I just did what all of you are discussing.....

Flew out on one passport at the end of a Tourist Visa. Changed passports when landing in Macau. Macau immigration official did some serious head scratching and asked where the exit stamp from Bangkok was (went though every passport page in second passport). He knew we came from Bangkok as our immigration paperwork said Bangkok and the flight number. Once second passport was shown, the guy let a sigh of relief and then just needed to tell him to stamp entry into the second passport. That was it, no more questions, from tourist visa to entry back into LOS.

For the record, I would never cheat, lie (etc) the immigration of any country, and since it is easy to stay in Thailand indifinetely with a tourist visa (on

#7 now), might as well just learn to play by the rules.

This is one of the many reasons why Thai Immigration are now enforcing, and changing the rules with regards to Toursts! You would be extremely foolish to think you can continue abusing the system in this way, they know all the tricks in the trade, its just that they don't have the infastructure or recources to combat it. You are also going to make it more difficult for genuine tourists visiting Thailand, and they will be treated unfairly.

For the record I am long-term expatriate in Thailand and get annoyed when I see rubbish like this posted! If this message upsets some people then I think its about time that we had seperate forums, expatriates, tourists, and overstays, instead of tourists hijacking the forum all the time posting from their armchairs in England and other countries on domestic and current affairs in Thailand that really don't effect them on a daily basis like us genuine expatriates.

While I typically do not respond to 'Thaivisa finger pointing', I will defend my position with this one post only. Please note:

first, I post the information, so it can be useful to other people, as it was EXTREMELY helpful to me when I entered the country

second, I am in a unique position where I am unable to get a visa unless I get married, perhaps .5% of all other people on this forum share my situation, so be careful as you may break your back when you fall off your high horse...

third, I break no laws, I follow the law 100%, including going to immigration if I have questions.

fourth, on my tourist visas, I have been to Singapore, Hong Kong (twice), Shanghai, Penang, home country. This obviously shows I have money and would like to stay in Thailand and spend my vacation time in LOS, however, every 90 days I leave to get a visa instead. Instead of complaining about the system, I have to live in the system, as i am a guest in their country, so I abide by their rules, thankfully.

fifth, I live in Thailand, pay for items in Thailand and support the economy in Thailand. I have never asked for the VAT refund for the many items I buy in Thailand (easily over xxx,xxx baht), as I am not trying to cheat the system.

Thank you and please reply as you will, however, regarding finger pointing and flaming attempts, I will not respond.

Respectfully....

been there and looked, but I am always skeptical when I pay an arm and two legs for anything in LOS.

Just looking for the proverbial 'bad opinion' from good ol Thaivisa... also the flame about why I need furnature...

you can go to the university here in Bangkok where they are associated with (can't remember the name, anyone?). They have a shop and sell a nice book, quite a nice read....

http://www.doikham.com/home/

and our Thaivisa info here....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=66957

Go up to Chiangmai, the packing plant is spotless. Here in bkk the packing plant is ok-la.

Great stuff, with good connections you can get anything from them, local articokes right now are top...

Came across Absolutely Fabulous furnature shop off Sathorn road in Guru.....

anyone been there or bought anything from them? Supposed to be teak wood.... Looks expensive...

any comments on service, quality, etc

oh ya, consulate in HK said they can only put the tourist visa in the passport where the entry stamp into Hong Kong was.... (he asked if we were hk citizen, so maybe if you are hk citizen you could have chosen passport, but not sure)

did not care, all was fine. Hong Kong consulate was a 15 minute affair, 7 minutes to drop off, 7 minutes to pick up next day.

500 x better and easier than singapore... This was for tv

I just did what all of you are discussing.....

Flew out on one passport at the end of a Tourist Visa. Changed passports when landing in Macau. Macau immigration official did some serious head scratching and asked where the exit stamp from Bangkok was (went though every passport page in second passport). He knew we came from Bangkok as our immigration paperwork said Bangkok and the flight number. Once second passport was shown, the guy let a sigh of relief and then just needed to tell him to stamp entry into the second passport. That was it, no more questions, from tourist visa to entry back into LOS.

For the record, I would never cheat, lie (etc) the immigration of any country, and since it is easy to stay in Thailand indifinetely with a tourist visa (on

#7 now), might as well just learn to play by the rules.

I am in the same situation as you...

I am a chef, and my finance came with me. Since I am not married, I was only offered a single contract. I tried quite hard to find anything that would allow for her to stay here continous, regardless of cost, as that is not an issue. As you will learn, Thailand is quite full of 'red tape'. Being that we are not married, in Thailand you are viewed as single, that is it.

As I stated above, i would have easily paid for a visa, but there is no option. My finance did not work for the past 1 1/2 years.

So, she is a visa runner. We have left every three months and she is here using a tourist visa. Since October 2006 when they changed the law, we have gotten tourist visas in HK, Shanghai, Penang, Singapore, home country (2 consecutive), extending it 30 days each time. Obviously, this adds up financially, but that means I am not able to vacation in Thailand, and instead need to spend my money outside the country. Except for two weeks in home country, she has been here with me in Thailand the entire time.

Long have I given up questioning the Thai systems and have learned to accept it, and it has been fun. We have seen Asia, and have lots of memories, but sadly none of Thailand other than Bangkok.

2 years wiser, maybe this board is getting to me, but I would recommend getting married before you come, as that paper makes life simplier to the one person in immigration who would have issued a dependant visa on the spot have we been married....

Hi heading next week to HK for Tourist Visa, any feedback from anyone RECENTLY?

It is probably your neighbor checking your bill on your connection....