Highlandman

Lol. Most tourists aren't even aware of that issue. Fixing scams, eliminating or at least reducing dual pricing and improving tourist safety would certainly increase tourist confidence enough to bring back visitors in large numbers.

Haha. Perhaps, though unlikely. Generally it's Thais who report activities they don't believe farang should be engaging in.

No they don't.. Thais aren't allowed to sleep on the beach either. Hobos and homeless people may have different experiences but your average Thai would certainly be moved on as well.

Excellent comment and I was about to say something similar. Indeed, camping on remote beaches in Australia is still very much a doable thing despite the country becoming a bit of a nanny state. That said, Thailand is more of a nanny state, at least if you're non-Thai. With Phuket being a tiny island and having 100-1000 times the population density of most parts of Australia, it's clear why it should be the last place anyone considers camping.

Phuket isn't so safe for foreigners wanting to sleep in tents, especially lone females.

So a "concerned" snitch aka busybody decided to rat out a foreigner staying in a tent. Why can't Thais just leave others alone?

That's because Thais are ignorant about the concept of an "expat". Their racism is so strong, they don't believe a foreigner can reside in their country. I bet you few Thais are aware of the 5 million migrant workers from neighboring countries working here. Because they look Thai, to a Thai, they are Thai. As for taxis trying to force me to use their services - barely happens anymore in Thailand. Unlike in Cambodia, where every minute there's a "want tuk tuk?" being shouted in every direction.

Although I have a slight fear of flying, I understand what goes on and thus don't freak out if something like moderate turbulence or a go around occurs. I don't like it but I understand what's going on. Thais are quite childlike and tend to react in more extreme ways.

Sadly and quite out of character for Thais (or at least I thought so at the time) but there wasn't the option given of "up to you" when it came to mask wearing during Covid. I still wonder why, when Thais seem to have such a cavalier attitude to everything else, including motorcycle helmets.

Thought that smoking was pretty much illegal in any indoor setting in Thailand, including most nightclubs even since 2007. I do understand that the legalization of cannabis and the increase in vaping (as opposed to the gradual decline in smoking of cigarettes) might play a major part in passing this law. I rarely see anyone smoking where they shouldn't be in Thailand, but I do see people vape here and there because it's quite easy to take a puff and quickly hide the vape. It isn't as obvious as smoking a cigarette.

Thai talent abroad? Is that an oxymoron? OK, sure, there are talented Thais abroad, but the vast majority of Thais working abroad are menial laborers or low to medium skilled workers, such as farm hands in Israel, massage therapists in Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea etc. Highly skilled Thais living abroad are far and few between, certainly when compared with Indians, Chinese and even Vietnamese. How many expat Thais does Sretta think he can win back? This guy is becoming even more a joke than Thaksin or his sister were.

They'll close the border very quickly IF they decide to. Then the TAT will be promoting the wonders of a 21 night quarantine, which will also feature a 51 day Thai visa free allowance: 30 days + 21 extra for the quarantine. They'll rub their hands together and use influencers and meet foreign ambassadors to try and promote the wonders of traveling in Thailand with mandatory muzzles 24/7 (which will be reimposed by then) and other joys that were experienced between 2020 and early 2022 and are now returning.

Many Thais never stopped wearing masks. I don't think the public health ministry needs to keep advising Thais to wear masks as they'll continue wearing masks forever regardless. I see plenty of people emerge from their homes wearing masks, meaning that masks are worn inside their homes. Many schools still have mask mandates it seems and even in those that don't, a large number of students wear them. Some workplaces still have mandatory mask policies in place.

Exactly. They're saying there are no new pathogens but that won't stop the WHO from declaring a pandemic, if they decide to do so. Keeping in mind, they're meeting next week to propose amendments to their pandemic treaty, which will be voted on in May 2024. Perfect timing I'd say!

Don't forget the north China pneumonia thing. Now they're reporting pneumonia cases in children out of Holland too. Edit: sorry, I think you were referring to that already. Good points you've raised. The globe is in a tinder box situation. We have multiple wars going on, the threat of a new "pandemic" (which I don't really believe will be one, but the risk is how governments will respond). Doesn't bode well for air travel. Imagine a war involving Iran and then it becomes much more time consuming and expensive to travel to Europe. Possible flight cancelations/suspensions due to potential measures governments might take to limit the spread of these viruses in China, depressed economy in China and western countries (and even Thailand) and its not looking good at all.

Not happening if countries decide to close their borders again due to the China pneumonia thing going on now (a lot of media outlets are fear mongering and suggesting this could become the next pandemic). A lot of noise being made about it. I'd be very cautious about making any travel plans for January onward, in case things heat up again. I'd say, wait a couple of weeks and if the propaganda dies down by then, it should be safe to make travel bookings. Of course, all of this is speculation and no one knows how the world might respond to it, but I suspect it won't be a case of "business as usual " going into 2024.

I don't understand why the school would lose face when it's their students who did this. I'm pretty sure the school itself doesn't condone this behavior. So the concept of "losing face" can't possibly apply to the school, unless the perpetrators are the sons of the principal or someone else high up in the schools administration.

No. You're being presumptuous. The 400K can be in any foreign bank account but since most applicants aren't exactly new to Thailand, they'll already have a Thai bank account. Anyone with the money in the bank gets the 12 month multiple entry visa. When I went recently, they weren't interested in the copy of my Lao entry stamp I provided. They simply gave me the paper back. This is a very minor issue; just ask your hotel to make a photocopy just in case. Or if you're coming directly from Thailand, get a photocopy done either at the Lao side of the bridge (at immigration), or any photocopy shop such as the one opposite the embassy. Better have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.

Yes. Or you can just deposit 400K once and keep it there. Can be used for future years.

It's no longer busy now with the rule change! Presumably there's only a trickle of applicants now

Nonsense. You use the family line together, which is in the priority entrance. Business class passengers, monks, the elderly and those with disabilities can also use the priority lane.

Funny, considering your only option even if traveling with young children is to use the automated channels in Australia. They'll only allow you to be processed manually on arrival or on departure if you're disabled. Everyone else must use the automated channels..manual processing is sadly, becoming a thing of the past at Australian airports.

That's why it's best to get an IDP.

That's not true. I have personal experience on numerous occasions having had trouble with the police in Cambodia and Vietnam just presenting a standalone Thai driver's license. You will get fined if you try that. You can get away with driving on a Thai license in the border areas of Cambodia adjacent to the Thai border no issue and are unlikely ever to be pulled over, but in Phnom Penh you need an IDP. You won't be allowed to rent a self drive vehicle in Cambodia without an IDP or Cambodian driver's license. For Cambodia, a Thailand issued 1949 IDP, which mentions Cambodia on the inside of the booklet as a party to the agreement will work. Although not required, a translation into Khmer of said booklet would be helpful, as the police in Phnom Penh are found on every street corner and will radio each other if they spot a foreign vehicle or foreigner driving a vehicle so that they ensure you will be pulled over to check your documents. For Vietnam, you'll basically need to convert your Thai license into a Vietnamese license. There is no longer car rental without a driver available for foreigners without a Vietnamese driver's license. AVIS Danang used to allow this, but now it's chauffeur drive only. However, apparently foreigners in tourist areas riding rental motorcycles who are being pulled over are being asked for their IDPs (suggesting they're acceptable there, which Vietnamese news sources confirm) but you need to check carefully whether the 1949 or 1968 IDP applies. Thailand issues both but for the 1968 IDP, it's a separate document for motorcycles. Inside the cover of the 1949 Thailand issued 1-year IDP, Vietnam is mentioned as a signatory country but after checking online, sources suggest Vietnam only recognizes the 1968 IDP! That is, in tourist areas only as police elsewhere will likely fine you and threaten to impound your vehicle if you can't present a Vietnamese license. Additionally, Vietnamese police are much stricter when it comes to transgressions or not following the law if you're driving a car vs riding a motorcycle. Keep in mind also whether your insurance will cover you in the event of an accident. For that reason alone, you'll want to have the correct license and unfortunately, the Cambodians or Vietnamese are NOT on board with accepting other Asean licenses (except Lao issued licenses in the case of Vietnam). Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar all accept Thai driver licenses. I have personal experience of this too. In fact for Myanmar, an IDP issued by any non-Asean country isn't currently accepted. Meanwhile, I had no issues presenting my Thai license in Yangon after being pulled over for an illegal u-turn (this was in 2019). Got fined for the u-turn, no issue with the Thai license, which was readily accepted.

You can get that done at the border or in advance by contacting one of the many agents that do this (they're all located right near the border). Thai officials don't check that though, it's the Malaysian side that does, but it doesn't seem to be enforced for travel in the immediate border area. The 20 Baht registration translation is never asked for, unless requested by the JPJ office for issuing the international circulation permit. I always contact an agent in Sadao a few days ahead of travel and he sends me the insurance document and JPJ paper in time for my trip. If there's not enough time, he'll place it in his mailbox and I would pick it up when I arrive at the border.