ASEANTraveler

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Diamond Pharmacy seemed a good place to start, so I went there. They had both of the meds I needed, prices seemed reasonable, and staff helpful. I did also ask at Diamond if they had a toenail fungus drug (topical lacquer) called efinaconazole — brand name Jublia. They did not have it, nor another similar drug kavaborole — brand name Kerydin. They did have another anti-fungal lacquer by Galderma called Loceryl. This is approved in Europe, but not in the USA, so I am less familiar with it. Anyone used Loceryl with any success? The big problem with all these medications is penetration of the thickened nail bed, but anyone with comments on using Loceryl would be appreciated. Thanks

Hopefully digbeth will reply and let us know if he/she can give a personal endorsement using “Dolfin.” For me: 1) I can probably switch my iPhone App Store location to Thailand, but am reluctant as it might disable some of the USA apps I critically must have 2) I’d like to know if digbeth can tell us if you also need the Thailand DL, pink ID card, House Book, etc. to verify as a foreigner to use “Dolfin.” I will have a Thailand DL in the future, but don’t have it yet. I don’t have the other items…House Book, Pink ID, etc.

Yeah…I’d really like to have a separate wallet to load baht and pay using the QR PromptPay codes. I read about your suggestion: Dolfin. Went to the App Store (iPhone) and got error message trying to download it. I am an American. iPhone from USA but I am here in Bangkok now. Anyone seen this message/having this problem/been able to successfully download “Dolfin” and use it?

For me, it’s more along the lines of just not having my bank account all “mucked up” with every little 70 and 90 baht transaction. If the TrueMoney Wallet thing would work, then you just load a couple thousand baht on to it each month and forget about it. But, I do not think it will work to scan the general QR codes you see the street vendors using. Scubascuba3 helped me to understand how it works with his “I use it at Otteri” example. Apparently…you have to see the “TrueMoney Wallet” placard/sign like in the picture on the washing machine.

“Cash is still king here.” I would be fully okay with that ???? Actually, I much prefer cash. But, I seem to be seeming a lot of food vendors only taking the “scan.” Maybe my fault..perhaps they have a basket of small baht notes and coins down below the cart. You are not seeing the “scan only” trend in your area? Are you in BKK or somewhere else in Thailand?

My mistake. I apologize. I travel quite a bit, but Bangkok would be the best location, I guess. And…I could always get a smallish supply (while in Bangkok) to take with me when out of the city. So yes, for now, how about “true,” full service pharmacies in metro Bangkok?

I think you have hit the nail on the head in terms of what I have been told by others already. I asked some English speaking staff (Thais) at a hotel about the “scan” feature in TrueMoney Wallet. Like you, they seemed to tell me that TrueMoney’s scan feature is not universally accepted like the scan feature embedded in mobile banking apps (i.e. Bangkok Bank app). Can you elaborate a little more on this? Basically, my understanding is something like this: 1) If a food vendor displays a QR code, basically ALL the mobile banking apps (Bangkok Bank, K-Bank, Krungthai, etc.) can be used. I guess this is right because I see the Thais all paying that way and they must be using a variety of banks amongst themselves. 2) But for whatever reason, you cannot just scan that same QR code with the TrueMoney Wallet “scan” feature and click pay. The vendor has to somehow accept TrueMoney specifically? Do they have a different QR code for TrueMoney Wallet users or something? Is there a sign they put up to let you know they accept it?

I am newish to Thailand on a long-stay visa. I take 2 medications: 1) propranolol 40 mg twice daily 2) spironolactone 25 mg daily I will need to begin obtaining these in Thailand. I imagine both are OTC here. They are just basic cardiac drugs. The small pharmacies everywhere in Thailand are great for quick items, and I use them myself if I need something on the run. However, I would like to find a bigger, full service pharmacy to begin doing business with (i.e. full time pharmacists on staff if I have a medication question, the ability to order a specialty drug, if needed, at some point in the future, etc.) Can someone point me in the direction of such a pharmacy?

I am finding than an increasing number of small food vendors, etc. in Thailand are now only accepting “scan to pay” QR codes and not cash. I would like to find a mobile app (independent of my main bank account app) that I could load with some “prepaid” funds to make small “scan to pay” payments. This would be just for food items, small purchases, etc. when out and about in Bangkok. I would imagine I probably wouldn’t load it with more that a few thousand baht a month for these small purchases here and there. The TrueMoney Wallet app has an icon labeled “Scan” (see photo). Anyone know if this feature can be used to “scan” QR codes and make a payment directly out of the prepaid funds already in your TrueMoney Wallet?

Great advice and help from everyone with a lot more experience than me! Appreciate all the replies. I will keep it in a safe place.

Thanks to all for the replies. So..it sounds like my book will just have a “starting deposit” in it and then I can put it away in a suitcase or whatever. I will just use the mobile banking app to see my balance and transactions. But to be clear, I DO need to keep the “passbook,” correct? I cannot simply throw it out? It is an important document from the bank’s perspective and I may need to present it in-person for account service items (new ATM card, phone number update, etc.). Is that right?

I am newish to Thailand on a long-stay visa. I went to 2 banks yesterday to inquire about opening an account. I was offered a “savings” account at both, with a linked debit card. All that part was familiar to me…..but then they discussed this concept of a “passbook.” I am a bit confused on the “passbook.” Couple of questions: 1) The opening cash deposit gets physically printed as the starting line in the “passbook,” correct? That is basically the first entry? 2) Then…life goes on…and you go and make a bunch of debit card transactions, withdraw some money at the ATM, etc., etc. Those are obviously subtractions. But do those somehow get printed in the “passbook”? Are you required to bring the book into the bank periodically to have all these line items printed in it?

Solid advice and much appreciated. I will plan to obtain. For scubascuba3, when you say “worth getting both licenses,” do you mean both automobile and motorbike for Thailand? I do have a “motorcycle endorsement” (unrestricted cc engine size) on my USA license in addition to the usual passenger car privilege. So, you are saying to get both automobile and motorbike for Thailand?

I am in Thailand now on a long-stay visa with plans to spend a significant amount of time here over the next 5-10 years. I meet all the requirements to get a Thai Driver’s license. I went to the Department of Land Transport to learn about the process just for information sake. But SHOULD I get one? I don’t plan to (or want to) drive in Thailand — I just use taxis, MRT/BTS, other public transport. I get along fine that way. Only exception might be what to do if visiting a rural area/island if public transport unavailable. But driving aside, is it wise to get a Thai Driver’s License for other reasons if I am going to be spending a lot of time in Thailand and other ASEAN countries? From the long-stay residents with more knowledge than me, what advice can you give me? Will having a Thailand Driver’s license be helpful as a form of ID, helpful in other ways just to have in your wallet? Big thanks in advance.