TucsonDavid

I have solved this problem of receiving texts with a U.S. telephone number by signing up for a Consumer Cellular account. $20/month. Can receive/send texts and receive/make phone calls. Consumer Cellular uses an eSIM and the directions for setting on up were straightforward and easy to implement. My Credit Union, as well as some other organizations, was unable to use my Thai phone number so having this US number is great. To access the Consumer Cellular website, (www.consumercellular.com) from here in Thailand a VPN set to the USA must be used. Using the VPN allows for a fully functional and useful website. The customer support, both online and with a human, was excellent and very helpful. 

2 hours ago, Pattaya57 said:

Why are people still asking about covid insurance for entering Thailand? It hasn't been a thing for 2 years now (in any country)

Because asking questions is how one learns. Better to check than to be caught by surprise. 

1 hour ago, bamnutsak said:

You're going to have to ask at HH Imm about the combo method: is it allowed, and does it cover your brief dip below 800k, with a 65k qualifying foreign transfer in that month.

I’ve been told by a Hua Hin and a Cha-am Immigration officer, and my Thai wife has also been told, that these Immigration Offices will not accept the 65K transfer/month, they both only accept the 800k deposit method. Good luck. 

Keep in mind that the monthly transfer method is not accepted at all Immigration Offices. You should check with your local IM Office before gathering your documentation. For example, Chaeng Wattana accepts it, Cha am Petchaburi does not. 

Great question SpiderMike????????. My friends and I have been talking about this topic too. It would be nice if HuaHin Today. did some investigative reporting as well as publishing the PR handouts from whomever. 

AuBon Pain has some decent bagels. I like their Jalapeño Cheese ones very much. Not all locations have all of the choices however. The Onion bagel is good too.  

Santa Esmeralda "Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood" The long version

The Cult "Fire Woman"

My experience at Cha-am IM office, and in conversation with Hua Hin IM office, is that only 800K in bank is accepted. I renewed my extension of stay-retirement last month and only the 800K was allowed. I deposit, via Wise, more than the 65K/month that should be accepted but is not. This has been my experience for 3 years.

Thanks Nigel for an informative and well written article. 

I use the Tha Yang Immigration Office in Petchaburi and they only accept the 800K in the bank and do not accept the 65K/month deposits. Each IO seems able to make/enforce their own rules so be sure to check what the IO that you will be using accepts. 

I’m a tennis player and have been for several decades. As others have said your injury sounds just like tennis elbow, which I’ve had. Besides the ice and ibuprofen, as others have also recommended, I use an elbow strap. Put on so that the pad is just below the elbow on the side of your arm facing away from your body and tighten just enough to provide support. Will help the tendon heal and prevent further injury. Good luck. 

The published entry requirements and what the Immigration Officer does at the airport are two different things. A medical doctor friend of mine returned last week from 3 months in Sweden and had a difficult experience at the Suvarnabhumi airport Immigration counter. He was never asked for his vaccination record but the officer demanded that he have insurance and a recent PCR test. The front line officer and the supervisor both said the same thing, unfortunately never of them had any English speaking skills. Fortunately my friend has a Thai wife whom he called and after a 40 minute conversation he was allowed to enter Thailand. So be prepared for either a smooth entry or a difficult entry.

Thanks for the excellent informative replies!!

Based on my recent experience, some Immigration Offices only accept the 800K in the bank and not the 65K/month transfers and not a combination of money in bank and monthly transfer. 
So the best answer to your question is "It depends."

Things that concern me here in Thailand:

1) The requirements for the yearly renewal for my Extension of Stay-Retirement that can change in the blink of an eye. 

2) The 90 Reporting requirement that asks me to verify the same address that I've had for 6+ years.

3) The rising cost of living while my pension income increases at a much lower rate.

I agree with Kenny202’s comment. I’m from Arizona and evaporative coolers work great when the humidity if 30% or less. Since that rarely happens here, good fans will move the damp air and help folks feel cooler, and should save you some money when purchasing compared to an evaporative cooler.

Here in Hua Hin you would take a copy of your Vaccination Certificate and Passport Picture page to Hua Hin Hospital. Go to the Cashier window and pay 50 Baht, then take your copies and cashier receipt to the Information desk. These papers will be taken, you give the nurse your phone number, you will be given a receipt and they will call you when the booklet is ready to be picked up. It took 2 weeks for me.

I’ve been using TransferWise (Wise) for the past 15 months to transfer money from the US to my BKK Bank account here in Thailand with zero problems.

Most transfers are completed within 3 hours, with many being completed in less than 20 minutes. 
When setting up the transfer, choosing the ACH method works best and is the fastest method. 

Fully vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine.

Thanks to MedPark Hospital in BKK.