KhunLA

Good .. hope they keep self destructing. Less GDP, they be spending more of that reserve, and win win for us. No sympathies. Sh!t will hit the fan, when they implement that 10% VAT. Then the populous might wake up & take notice.

A tourist tax is understandable, and simply compensates for the cost associated with 'processing' tourists. General public not in the tourist industry really shouldn't be paying for that, as not really profiting from, abet a bit more customers & tax base, if doing busing is tourist area. But rest of the country don't see the benefit. Dual pricing is just wrong, and no justification for it. Apparently will be the new normal, eventually ... as so many things are now. I like it myself. Maybe the ding dong tourist will realize there are better place to holiday at. Wife makes reservations, and easy enough to simply walk away if price changes when whitey is spotted. Done it before in the past. As with all of this new normal BS, you can cower & comply, or simply walk away and take you business elsewhere. All easy enough. Plenty of vendors that aren't A-holes. Certainly nothing new, except now it may be govt endorsed & encouraged. That pretty sad & telling.

Since the powers to be, seem to like & keep it between 30-35, last 15 yrs anyway, I can't see it going much further, unless they truly have lost control. Good for us (non Thais), bad for Thai importer.

Not sure what is grim about it, for expats anyway. Only grim if you are Thai, and importing, then all a bit more expensive. Live local, work & buy local, then nothing changes.

If you watched the vid, then query answered. Eating wouldn't be my choice, as I'd prefer an instant buzz, not wait for. Although if you have respiratory issues, eating may be the way to go.

Not sure if any changes: https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011976

oops ... 2000 looks a bit better ????

No more smoke screen, and now people see the real Kamala. They're done with her, she served her purpose, the black & female vote for Biden. All she was good for.

The way the economy is going, Biden won't be running again. Even if he managed to recover any part of his administration, he's a loser in 2024. Vote time, that's all people care about, what's in their pocket. Trump is done, if he keeps harping about stolen election & 2nd Amendment along with pro-life. Desantis now would be a good frontrunner for the GOP. Anti left BS, and not too far right. Nobody else shines for either party, just the same ol' same ol' losers of the past.

Not sure what would be worse at a presser, him stumbling though while reading his notes, or her giggling all the time.

If the baht does get near or beyond 40, I think that would be a sure sign, Thailand has lost control of it economy. Maybe they've dwindled away that huge USD reserve already. As I was quite surprised they borrowed more than a few billion baht from Japan couple months back. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2304786/govt-accepts-japan-loan-of-b13-2bn Maybe some trade concession forth coming for Japan's auto industry, so they can complete in TH against the now dominant Chinese EV influx. Banks already moved to protect themselves, JIC, as no longer required to insure account deposits above 1 mill.

or even close to the 53 mark

I'm hoping for an entire lock down again, as in early 2020 ... ... but that's just me, being selfish ... ME ME ME Although, have to ditch the vax'd/test requirement to visit Phuket, as I want to go back again with no tourist there. That was awesome ????

Back to 40 would be nice, as that's where it was when I arrived 2020. I'm not greedy, and don't need the Apr/May 2001's high of ฿45/46 to $1 Can't see that happening, as last 15 yr, TH has kept it between ฿30-35 / $1

If you trade currencies, here's a trend that hard to ignore. A winning play most months ????????

That's what the topic is, NOT being charged/reimbursed for the 220 Thai bank fee. Cards mentioned already, do NOT charge Thai bank use fee. Though it does seem to be mostly USA financial institutions. Any UK or EU 'branches' not charging ?

So true, as you don't know who is providing the labor for the product or services you are using. Even USA airlines, will subcontract out to company paying way below the 'airline's' pay scale. Saw it at DL @ PHL, the ramp was subbed out @ $6 or 7 USD an hr, when the DL employee got $18ish an hour. Some 'unionized' employees priced themselves out of a job; coal, steel, auto, airlines for example.

Not a Thai thing, as same worldwide. Supply & demand, and as long as they are paying the countries minimum wage, so be it. Exploitation, NO ... job is offered, take it or leave it. I've worked my share of low paying jobs till finding something else, and happy they were available, at the time. One reason I live here, anything labor related price wise, is inexpensive compared to labor cost in the mother land. Lowers the COL substantially. Any home / auto service calls are ฿500 a visit / hour, if that, vs ฿2000+ an hour, just to look at back in the USA.

Yes, as long as bank is assoc w/Visa or what ever icon on you card, and all seem to be. My FID card works in all Thai ATMs, and never been charged a fee. Buddy has CS, and also never been charged fees.

That was part of the last ferry failure, as I understand it, they didn't offer refunds for cancelled trips, simply a credit. The service was very iffy, and lots of cancellations. Some suspect simply for low sales, and always seemed to be rough seas an excuse. Price and total, all-in travel time, drive to/from pier, or taxis to/from, check in time, and hope it actually departs, and not having own transport at either end, relying on taxi service from piers and getting around, especially HH, along with the always possible, cancelled return trip, didn't inspire much confidence in the service. 2 hr on boat, so at best, 3ish hr vs 4-5 hr drive, if all operating on time. Great of goes as plan ... but .... TIT Along with weather dependent ????

Phuket is lovely, when tourist numbers are low. Never encountered issues in OP, as the simplest of research makes it easy to avoid.

I'm here for the mangos, and bbq'd coconut rice in bamboo stalks. America & Burma ... lands far far away of no interests. Honey, where's the rolling papers at ?

The charge & reimbursement doesn't show on Fid accounts any more. Was a bit strange, though not really. If doing exchange rate for your 'withdrawal' vs 'fee', the bank to bank rate was always better ???? Maybe that's why they stopped posting on your account, as a bit embarrassing, knowing they charge themselves different rates, and for less amounts at that. Pet peeves; banks insurance companies govts

Can't blame everything on covid, as it was operating, and I'm being generous, but in business, poorly, 2 years prior to covid. Extreme mixed reviews.