henrik2000

Hi all, thanks for more advice. Now I actually ordered an ultrasonic dog repeller for around 450 THB, so it's not one of the cheaper things for 150 or 200. I even got a "flashlight holder" which should fix the dog repeller to the bicycle's handlebar. I hope in a few days I can report whether it's any good or not. I don't want to fumble with a stick while cycling. Also splashing the beasts with something from bottle (acid?) might be too challenging for me and I might kill myself along the way.

Thanks. But have you actually tried the ultrasound? (As mentioned, I certainly don't want to create another audible racket, besides the barking, that will unnerve people even more.)

Hello, cycling the countryside, dogs bite me and tear stuff off my rack (no joke). Plus their mean barking and bullying demeanor unnerves me. Did you try ultrasonic "dog dazers" or "dog repellents"? They are on Lazada/Shopee from 160 THB, but I happily pay 300+ for a solid efficient model. Ideally I could fix it to the handlebar and charge by USB. Any specific model you recommend/discourage? I understand these ultrasonic devices almost can't be heard by humans. That's what I like. I do NOT need a "dog horn" that feels noisy for dogs and humans alike. Any real-life experience would be great. Thanks!

Hi all, thanks for input and for recommending payment via app store. One reason i had been wary of the app - it might be spying and blasting notifications (aware they can be turned off). Whatever, you convinced me to use the app (at least for payment anyway).

ThaiFriendly.com has a paid Premium tier. In the past, you could pay by credit card directly on the website, but that no longer works. Now they say you should pay either with Bitcoin or via the mobile app. On their website (https://www.thaifriendly.com/upgrade.php) they write: "We no longer accept credit cards directly on the website - please download our app to pay with your card. Payments in app upgrade your profile on desktop too." I want to upgrade to Premium for 3 months only — just pay once and cancel immediately afterward. I actually don’t want to use the ThaiFriendly app at all. I also don’t have Bitcoin. Until now, I’ve always used ThaiFriendly in the browser, even on my phone. Is it concerning that payment now has to be done through the app? (I’m on Android.) Does the TF app have a bad reputation? Can I delete the ThaiFriendly app right after paying for the 3-month upgrade and canceling immediately? After that, I’d like to continue using ThaiFriendly only in the browser, both on PC and on my phone. I could handle the immediate cancellation while I still have the app installed. I’ve heard the argument that paying via the app + app store is actually safer than paying directly on the TF website, and that subscription cancellation in the app store is straightforward. I don’t need a general assessment of ThaiFriendly.com, Thailand, Thai people, the TF app features and actual usefulness, or apps in general. Thanks for any well-informed advice!

Sorry, do you know if western credit cards, Google Pay or PayPal in the phone can be used to pay AIS online to get new credit on the phone?

TopGun and MSBkk - thanks for excellent suggestions! I will certainly follow them to get online quick for a start.

Thanks Superal. All evidence shows it's more difficult than that for a tourist who wants to pay at market stalls, not just 7-11.

Hello, question: I am in Europe now, going back to Thailand on Nov 19. From my last trip, I already have an active prepaid AIS SIM card with 400 THB credit on it, but no valid data package. (Last time in TH, I paid money to keep the SIM card active for 1 year.) How to get a new 3 months data package for my prepaid Thai SIM card at BKK airport smoothly? 10 Mbit speed are enough. I prefer to get 3 months validity immediately. Can you recommend a procedure and a package? Last time I TH, before flying back to the west, I paid money to AIS to keep the SIM card active for 1 year. Also i have the AIS app on the phone. I did not register on the AIS website. On the SIM card there is still 400 THB credit for talk time, but there is no data package any more. I need a data package to use internet in the phone. On the phone, I have Google Pay, 2 western credit cards and PayPal. If I buy a package now in Europe already, I guess it will be valid immediately, which would be useless. To buy a package *smooth + quickly* after arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport and after inserting the AIS SIM card, I see these options: Better? At BKK airport, use airport wifi, open my AIS app and search for a data package. I hope to pay with Google Pay, western credit card or PayPal – possible? My existing credit on the SIM card is 400 THB, which I need for talk time. At BKK airport, go to an AIS stall and buy a data package right at the airport. But I know my car will be waiting already to go on a long road trip. Also I have extra sports luggage (bulky/must be watched). Also sometimes there are queues at the phone shops at the airport. Also sometimes these airport stalls are not well informed. And maybe I can get the data package while I am still in Europe? I do have the AIS app in my phone, but currently I use the phone with a European SIM card. But I guess it makes no sense to buy in Europe, as the validity begins immedeately after activation. Sorry, I am inexperienced. To get a data package that costs more than my existing 400 THB credit, is it a 2-step-process like 1. top up credit 2. select data package? Or do I buy the data package in one swoop, even if the existing credit of 400 THB is not enough? I do NOT need superfast internet. 10 MBit would be enough. (Last time i had 6 Mbit, it was ok for me over 2 months, no problem. I am happy to save money.) Data volume should be unlimited, which is normally the case. Importantly, I'd prefer a data package valid for 3 months! If possible, I don't want to buy a new data package every month. So how to get a 3 months data package smoothly for my prepaid Thai SIM card? Thanks for your real-life-experiences!

Well, i have to. I'm resigned to. PromptPay on markets etc. WOULD be nice i know very well, but it seems out of reach for a simple tourist. (I don't need it for 7-11.) Thanks all for more input!

Going back soon, i want to ask you what is new since January 2025 in Jomtien (preferred) Pattaya, Na Jomtien, Sattahip, Bang Saré I believe to know most stuff within my interests that's been there BEFORE January 2025. Interested in New Places for: FOOD: good casual dining Thai, Viet, South Indian, Italian, good pizza, Middle-East, street food LIVE MUSIC: Thai-oriented live music (luuk thung, morlam, Carabao-style songs for life, jazz, blues - not rock, not beer bar bands, not disco (I do know the old Thai music haunts Khon La Fun, Sin Lapin Isaan; I still miss ZAC and Kum Punn) (I speak enough Thai to get along) CAFÉ: interesting atmospheric coffee shops, esp with good pastries (not crazy sweet) OUTDOOR: shops, individual activities, not tours, not maritime REMARKABLE otherwise and new Not Looking for: fine dining, show-offy, western fast food, standard western like steak burger red light venues crowded, over-run Thanks for your insights!

Hi all. Thanks for discussing in detail including screenshots! Sorry, but i lost track - now as a tourist without Thai bank account, could i use the TrueMoney app for payment at small market stalls (not just 7-11 and other biggies)? Of course i could just try it without too much risk i guess. Still there might be a risk of going down a tech rabbit hole, trying and trying stuff endlessly that seems to be promised but isn't actually available. I'd like to avoid that. Thanks. After some research, i won't try it.

Gaccha and scuba, thanks for input!

Hello, I would like to have PromptPay/"Pay by scan" in the phone, if easy and serious. I will be touristing in small town Thailand (not Bangkok, Phuket etc.) for 3 months. I will have a Thai SIM card. But I do not have a Thai bank account, I do not have crypto, and I do not have a registered Thai home or longstay permit – I'm a tourist. I don't want to get a Thai bank account. (I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T NEED/LIKE PromptPay/"Pay by scan", yet I would like it; I also have cash and credit card.) In the last years, it had been difficult or impossible to get usable PromptPay as a tourist without a Thai bank account. I researched some ways how a tourist could use PromptPay/"Pay by scan". PromptPay Merchant Accounts vs PromptPay Personal Accounts: Notably, on the vendors' side there seem to be PromptPay Merchant accounts – only used by 7-11, Lotus and other chain-stores - not interesting for me PromptPay Personal accounts – used by all the market stalls, taxi drivers etc – and that's where I want to pay upcountry. But I hear that some small PromptPay-shops won't accept PromptPay-payments from tourists because the tourists' PromptPay only works with "Merchant accounts", i.e. with big chain stores. I wanted to ask your experiences on the ground with the 3 following prepaid services (no bank-account needed), and maybe other serious, well-established services (not weird ones), if you know them. Here are my vague assumptions (not fact-checked on the ground): 1) TAGTHAi Easy Pay App with KASIKORNBANK, Kbank – best solution? REQUIRES: TagThai App; Pay&Tour Prepaid Card from Kasikorn Bank TOP-UP: any Kasikorn Bank, any Kasikorn Foreign Exchange booth – can that be true? User reports say that most Kasikorn Banks won't top it up. In November 2024, Kasikorn Staff at Suvarnabhumi Airport successfully talked me out of applying with so many words because it would be too complicated (even for a 1-time deposit of say 8000 THB, and in Nov 2024 they said, I could ONLY top-up my credit there at BKK airport and nowhere else in the Kingdom) PERSONAL ACCOUNTS: Some say TagThai App/Kasikorn only works with vendors having a "Merchant account" (i.e. 7-11, Lotus; see above), but not with vendors using a "Personal account" (i.e. market stalls, taxi drivers; but I would like to pay mostly market stalls and such) 2) TrueMoney Wallet: BAD: usable only with 7-11, Lotus's; NOT usable with small market vendors (because it's only for Merchant QR Code, not Personal QR Codes; thus it wouldn't be interesting for me) GOOD: register just with passport and Thai mobile number; top-up in 7-11 and other TrueMoney partners (where to register?) 3) DeepPocket App (Lotus, Bangkok Bank) Run by T2P Company Limited, supervised by Bank of Thailand (BoT). Claims to allow PromptPay use all over Thailand. BAD: bad user reports. Tourist fee 399 THB/30 days (no fee for longstaying expats) GOOD: supposedly accepts Merchant QR Codes (in big stores) and Personal QR Codes (market stalls). Top-up at Lotus's, Big C. (Topping up at Bangkok Bank more complicated/expensive.) - Those are my vague research results – not verified! What are your real experiences? Thanks!

Thanks, those links look good!