JimTripper

Yeah, locksmith 15 minute job. Op could have stuff on the laptop. Sounds like the Op is just kind of stressed out. It's pretty stressful being denied at the border with nowhere to go. That's why I suggested booking in a place like Siem Reap where there are no visa pressures and relax a couple weeks before digging in and an easy solution may arise. Sounds like he is rushing around trying to figure out what to do in a hurry. The Op could also ask his gf to take a picture of the credit/debit card and email it. Then he uses that to reserve a room online or buy what he needs delivered without needing the physical card. He must have internet access to post here.

Only if they make it their problem.

I hate balconies without screens. Quality of life suffers. Only thing that would really work is running fans all the time and the good old mosquito racket by your side. They are weak flyers. Keep the bedroom doors shut at dusk so they don't get trapped in the bedroom and bite later on. Mosquito nets on the bed. Many landlords rent out their place continually and the screens get damaged easily and are not ever replaced if there is indeed a track for them. You need to get them put on before you move in and pay the deposit or they tend to just not get replaced. Many agents do the home inspection after you pay the deposit so it's much harder to get them done. Some of those stick on screens may work, but they tend to be piddly and not really work well over time, or the velcro wears off, they become a hassle to go in and out easily, etc.

Do you have an empty property to go back to in Europe? Where are you going to live or find a job with a large employment black hole.

If the Op is just going back for material things I would call it a loss. Ask the Gf to mail important documents and start fresh from home country. Much ado about nothing. Thai's don't like long goodbye's anyway.

I don't think that eliminates all the hassles enough to make it worth it, but I could be wrong.

Bad air quality at Chang Nobyl, not sure about Chiang Mai.

Can you add Hawaii?

Hi Jack . How are you this evening?

Thoughts & prayers. Expat stuck in Cambodia in need of assistance.

Wrong! My balcony gets extremely slippery when I wash down the tiles. So much, that I very carefully scoot around without lifting my feet much and stay near the wall. We don't need it, you do. Go look in a mirror.

I used to do tourism for a year. Many Thai's don't understand that people can have money saved up and don't need to work at a fruit stand somewhere. They are also in a rush and want people scuttering about on that good old minivan going from place as quickly as possible. They think it's still the old school two week vacation thing from the 1980's, or they just like people scuttering about and not setting down roots because they are impatient children themselves. "Are we there yet?" People from well off countries have money and time for tourism. They don't need to rush about. They like to relax a bit and enjoy the scenery.

Or that the immigration officials themselves can't interpret things in a balanced manner. It's either a hard yes or no, with little ability to make a judgement call. A lot if things are like that in thailand, meaning they are extremes. It's either overly nice or real nasty, they pull your tooth rather then treat it, etc etc. but there is rarely any compromise or middle ground.

in your own mind

I can tell the philippines is not for me without even visiting. I never bothered to make that test trip.

I never use agents. The best price is booking directly with the airline.

Hi Jack

Some of of those vloggers there only say positive stuff, only interview people that seem happy and positive. You don't get a realistic view of the place because they don't interview people who make them feel like they chose the wrong location. Also, people would unsubscribe because they are feeding a dream mostly to guys stuck in the USA. I almost never see someone saying the place sucks on a vlog, except for the 'vlogging a dead horse guy' who seems honest. The guy who was attacked on soi pothole. I talked to a guy on Jomtein Beach who went to philippines after hearing about it and he gave a thumbs down to Philippines. He said Bali would be his target location in the area.

They could have bounced him at the land border crossing also??

I tried it and did not care for it. I was in an Airbnb by the airport in a working class neighborhood though, so maybe was not in the best area. I could see it being Ok if I had a nice condo in the historic downtown area, like Condesa. Felt like a dirty and kind of unsafe New York City. Very crowded. Shops with security bars where you point to something and they hand it through the grate. Nice city parks all over. People grabbing arse and smooching in public everywhere you go. Problems with the plumbing and toilets in the infrastructure. The younger guys a bit immature with giggling or being di@kheads. Women were aloof.

Entry was denied and he's stuck in Vietnam. What does your GF have to do with it?

Is it just a monetary judgement or is there possible jail time?

Siem Reap is my fallback in any situation like this as it's so close to Thailand. I'm assuming you have an ATM card with you with access to money. If you don't have an ATM card or credit card with you (never travel like that) hole up and ask your bank to express one to you in Cambodia using the guesthouse address. Often sites like Airbnb or Agoda will hold your credit card info in the system so you could book a month anywhere in an emergency even if you don't have your card. If you have no money take a bath in the river and check into a guesthouse where you pay at the end and have the ATM card expressed over Asap. If you have no phone ask to use the guesthouse phone, or if not sneak down and use it while people are sleeping or tell them to put calls on your tab. If you have no passport go directly to your embassy, declare an emergency loss of passport and get a letter that the new one is on the way and use that to check in to the guesthouse.

The last time I was there years ago there was no age requirement. Just went to a travel agent paid the $300 or so and got the passport with the year visa back in several days.

The problem with that funnyness is that the thai's are so over-sensitive about criticism that no matter how you word it, it can be construed by a court as defamation. That's why most people just say nothing without constructive dialog.