henrik2000

Marcus, thanks for a lot of good advice!

Opensignal may have a larger data base (or not). As far as i can see, they don't show coverage maps on their website, only (perhaps) in their app. Anyway the website has lots of rankings for mobile providers' competition in TH, with a bit of regional differentiation: https://www.opensignal.com/reports/2022/05/thailand/mobile-network-experience

Thanks for that. It inspired me to check nperf website (below) for the north AND the north of north-east TH that claims to display mobile coverage (don't know if legit). Below is mobile coverage per provider and a comparison. Source Nperf: https://www.nperf.com/en/map/TH/-/1885.dtac/signal/?ll=17.465952690145564&lg=99.77783203125&zoom=7

Thanks, i will ASK staff to give me 3 months right away.

Thanks Khun B. To all, would you say AIS is just as easily as DTAC usable FOR A NEWBIE who cant read Thai? Years ago i had troubles getting my way around possibilites with AIS, while i found DTAC comfortable. Does everything go as expected with AIS?

Take a test picture in good daylight with the sun rather from behind (not glaring into the lens) steadying the phone by squeezing it against a lamp post, onto a wall etc. If that pic comes out blurred, something may be broken. Otherwise, as has been suggested, reset the camera settings.

Woodworker, thanks.

Hello, what is the best PRE-PAID SIM card for tourists for North-EAST Thailand? (I mean Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Uttaradit; not Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai; not Isarn.) I need the SIM card 59-89 days (aware of visa requirements). I will be 2 weeks in Bkk and Jomtien, then 4-8 weeks in Nan etc. I need mainly some domestic calls and lots of mobile data. NOT many international calls, no gaming, no streaming, no outrageous downloads. Expect to have wifi in accommodations. In remote areas, I might feed internet from phone to laptop for internet searches if no wifi is available. I'd love easy top-ups without scratch-cards or typing endless numbers into the message app (maybe at 7-11 just telling them my phone number). I'd also love easy operation, esp easy checking on remaining credit and easy voice mails with rational English menu. I'd appreciate logging into Wifi hotspots they might offer. On previous trips to Thailand I often had DTAC. I thought it was easier to handle for foreigners (more service messages in English, and more more easy to understand, etc.) than AIS. Anything other than DTAC would scare me, but I'll listen to your reasoning. (Also in Bangladesh DTAC was a very good option.) I will get the Thai SIM card in the arrival hall of Suvarnabhumi airport, if not totally overcrowded, otherwise in a phone company's brand store in Pattaya. Or would you recommend another place to buy the the SIM card? I will ask staff to change all my phone settings as required, and will get a lot of credit ("top-up"). If there is any useful way to purchase it already from the west, you could tell me. I guess that after 29 days I need to buy some more credit ("top-up") to keep the SIM card active. I don't need the cheapest, but also not the superfastest. Mainly it should be very reliable and smooth. I might return as a tourist to TH 1 year later, but who knows. I won't pay to keep the SIM card active for a year. If you are an expat in Thailand and have a POST-PAID SIM card (monthly billing), it might get a better signal than a PRE-PAID SIM card from the very same company. At least that's what Thai people told me. And sometimes Thai people (with POST-PAID) had a signal somewhere where I had not (with a PRE-PAID SIM card from the same company). Thanks for your advice!

Thanks Chalawaan, good advice!

Hello, for my upcoming Thai vacation which bottles should I get for the accommodation (not in the bar). Could you recommend local Thai dark rum (not white rum) – relatively not sweet, but with character and flavours local Thai whiskey – not smokey, not firy, rather smooth but with character and flavours shops to get them: first choice Jomtien, 2nd Pattaya, 3rd Bkk Sukhumvit/Asok or even online from within TH (aware Google Maps points out liquor stores)? 0,7 liters of rum/whiskey are enough, and I will consume the drinks inside Thailand, no plan to bring out. 1000 THB are ok for a good local 0,7l bottle. I want to sip those drinks pure, slowly, at room temperature without ice, not in mixed drinks About rums: Again, not a "sweet cloud", some internat. rums i like include Copalli Barrel Rested, HSE Black Sheriff Rhum Vieux Agricole, Dictador 20 anos Solera Colombian ????, Don Pancho Origines Reserva 8 years, Havana Club Anejo 7 years. The famous Brugal is way too sweet for me, also some other Havana Clubs. Some Thai rums I saw online: Phraya Deep Matured Gold Rum – "the rum smells like Coconut, Vanilla and Woody, and on the palate there is Caramel, Vanilla and Fruity"; 7-12 yo – bad reviews here – here good Forbes.com review Phraya Elements Rum – (Malays. shop site) Sangsom Special Rum – from rice? "not recomm. to drink pure" Mekhong – "with traces of rice" Cane Island Thailand 5 years (from Pathum Thani province) (in web shop) About whiskey: not smokey, not firey, rather smooth but with character and flavours. Could pay THB 1000 for a good local bottle. Some internat. whiskeys i enjoy in the west include Auchentoshan 12yo, Kilkerran Glengyle 12yo, Highland Park 12yo. Not looking for Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker etc. Your recommendations for liquors + sources? Thanks! PS. If you happened to know that a certain Thai shop stocks one of the internat. brands mentioned above, it'd be nice to know also. If there is a chance to taste the Thai liquors in stores or bars or to buy tiny tasting bottles, that'd be interesting as well.

Hello, soon on my Thai vacation I would like to buy a lot of music ???????? by Thai artists. What I finally need are MP3 music files locally stored in my personal laptop, hopefully with 196+ kBit. The laptop will be with me in Thailand (incl. ext. hard disk, Cloud storage and ext. DVD player). I was last in Thailand late 2015 (when "Labanoon" and "Sai Vassi Baw Tim Kann" were smash hits; YouTube at your own risk, toramaan maak-maak). I bought lots of "pleng Thai" (Thai music). Of my preferred recording artists, I'd like to get the albums from 2016 till today. I'm interested in general Thai artists like Carabao, Thongchai, Tai Orathai and many others, but also some morlam singers in Isaan-Lao language like Jintara or Siriporn. I can write them all into a list (in Roman script). Very best solution: Download and save legal MP3 in high quality straight onto my laptop hard-disk (not streaming) Second best solution: Buy safe MP3 CDs Third best solution: buy original Audio-CDs from online stores in Thailand (I'd convert them into MP3s in Thailand, then give away the discs) Not desired: buy original Audio-CDs in brick+mortar stores (see below) Only emergency: download torrents (don't know the offerings, quality, availability) NOT wanted: Spotify etc., Youtube audio downloads Buying original CDs in store or online: I already bought many original CDs in Thai stores. There are severe disadvantages: In some place I was systematically lied at, when the CD covers contained Thai script only. I do speak a bit of Thai ("ao CD pleng Thai khrap!"), but can't read. Anyway the shop won't store all I need. And you still have to manually convert the original Audio CDs into MP3, which is a drag and requires an external DVD drive. So best solution: Buy legal MP3s by download to my laptop hard disk (not streaming). Second best solution: Buy CDs online, preferrably full of MP3s, not Audio-CD-format. Practicalities: Is there a website that would deliver Thai music files or Thai audio CDs to me in the west? I can't read Thai though. I will be in Thailand soon for several weeks on end and will spend 5-7 consecutive days in various locations, including far from the tourist track where Thais are very supportive (and happy about interest in their culture and might help with ordering). I know the postal addresses of my pre-booked places, but still haven't made a personal connection. I will have an international visa card from the west (that requires 3DS security on the store-end) and a Thai SIM card, but not a Thai-specific visa card. So, how to best get Thai music MP3s for my hard-disk? Thanks ????????!

Hello, I will be based in Nan, N-Thailand (because I want to). There are the car-renters Hertz and Avis, plus several local car-renters. For car-rental world-wide, I have my preferred European agencies (with best prices and very transparent insurances in my native language, good experiences so far); but they don't offer cars from those companies in Nan (while they do offer other upcountry smalltown). So where should I book or rent: online straight with Hertz or Avis? online with some agency like rentalcars.com? You recommend a another/better online agency? go to small local renters and shop around? What I want: I need good worry-free insurance. I'd love reliable assistance in case of puncture etc. I want a small car like Toyota Yaris or even smaller. No off-roading at all. 3 – 6 weeks. A deductible is ok if it brings down the daily price. Hertz in Nan offer a small car i'd like, and not only a uselessly big ship. Avis says, "sold out". Herz also offers one-way rentals without mark-up – good. They say I could/should buy additional insurance locally. What does that mean? Or would you recommend using a small local renter? (Link to Google Map Search for Nan car-renters) I had local renters already a few times in Nakhon Si Th. and Chiang Mai. Good experience, but I was a more worriless guy back then. I speak basic Thai, but I couldn't say "loose rear mirror" or "broken indicator front left" in Thai. Renting from small local car-renter - pros In my experience, return day is very flexible; return about anytime and pay the exact days of actual use (I dislike the totally unflexible timing with the big companies) Can take a look at the car, maybe get "insider information" about vehicle, perhaps arrange extras etc. Renting from small local car-renter - cons Don't understand all insurance and procedures Not sure about quick emergency assistance on a remote mountain road Maybe I have not enough Thai language (it's ok for small talk and tourist things) Not sure if cars are availaible when I arrive 4 days before car needed; not totally sure if car will be kept for me as promised Some seem to operate through Facebook only, which I loathe So what do you think? Thanks!

Hi all, thanks for all suggestions! Now i did some price comparisons on Google Flights and Skyscanner for 1 specific day. Invariably, Air Asia is cheapest - Vietjet, Skoot and Nok always more expensive (at least when looking at those comparison sites). Surprised that Chiang Mai and Hat Yai have no cheap hops across the borders. The cheapest thing seemed to be Bkk - Phnom Penh with Air Asia for 30 Euro (about 1100 THB, not yet tried to actually book). If interested, here's my research priced in Euro (1:36): Flights acc. to Google Flights: Phuket – KUL Air Asia 39 Euro Phuket – Sing Air Asia 33 (54 on Skyscanner) Hat Yai – south (nothing cheap) Chiang Mai (nothing cheap) Bkk – Sing Air Asia 44 Bkk – HKG Air Asia 80 Bkk – PNH Air Asia 30 (32 on Skyscanner) Bkk – HCMC Air Asia 39 Bkk – Vientiane Air Asia 41 Well i'm a pauper.

Hello, How can I find the cheapest one-way ticket out of Thailand for January 2023? Are there certain routes, dates, weekdays, keywords or airlines to search for? Any other tricks? (Will make sure to book without any luggage.) Backgrounds: I'm having trouble finding the cheapest outbound one-way flight. Air Asia's site partly doesn't even react to my queries. Are there other cheapo companies than Air Asia (only aware of Nok)? To apply online at the Thai embassy for a 60-days-tourist-visa, I need to upload an exit flight ticket (i already have a one-way inbound ticket). So I want to buy online the cheapest outbound ticket available and will not use it, because my real exit ticket I will only buy later within Thailand. Note: I do not want to buy any "fake", "tricky" exit ticket (no "borrowed" outbound tickets for 12 Euro or somesuch). Thanks for all useful tips!

Sparktrader and Foreman, thanks for new input! It's nice to know that Nan is small and basic! I love out of the way places. But then i perhaps should find a bicycle in Bkk already and have them deliver it to my accom. in Nan. I would like to stay between Phayao, Nan and Uttaradit. Been to Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and the northern border before.

Richard and Stefan, thanks for some good ideas! I will only use the bicycle for 3 - 6 weeks, and only leasurely. In that case for me 8.000 THB is enough. Would i buy the bicycle for several years of regular use, i would take something more upmarket certainly. On previous trips from small Thai upcountry lodges, i always got half-broken 24" wrecks for rent, and they were ok for a while (even if Thais looked down on me and i had to visit a workshop first) (sometimes the renters waived the rental fee when they noted that i had their bikes fixed). I will bring a bicycle-seat-cushion from the west, cause i can't stand/sit the typical hard bicycle seats. I wouldn't mind sending a bicycle from Bkk to Nan and then ask a bicycle shop in Nan for help, if needed, and pay accordingly. At least then i have enjoyed perhaps better selection (and English language) in Bangkok, compared to Nan. I guess with a brandnew bike after some bouncing about you need to at least re-adjust spokes and maybe brakes- and gear-cables . I might be able to do that myself, but the workshop would do it better. As for locating a bicycle shop in Nan, Google Maps might even be more useful than bicyclethailand.com, because on Google Maps you get several photos from outside and inside and sometimes a self-description and user-reviews, translated (aware they may be fake or overtly friendly) (link to Nan's bicycle shops on G Maps). By the number of user reviews you might draw conclusions about size and popularity (of course not fully reliable). As for a rental car (posted separate question about it), i'd hope to get "wagon style" (?), which could be more easily loaded with a bicycle, like a Yaris or maybe Stefan's Honda Jazz. Unfortunately some renters only offer bigger "sedans" (?) with a separat, flatter luggage compartment (back-seats might still be droppable there, but it's not convenient like a "wagon"). Even for driving and parking i'd always like something very small, but more difficult to get as a rental in TH. I also in the west drop the back-seats of my car to easily store the bicycle, but the interior might get scratched or dirty which i would like to avoid on a rental car.

NoDisplayName, SparkTrader and Richard, thanks for more input! Again, this is not about sporty, ambitious bicycling. It's about "bumbling around the fields". I also won't wear colourful hi-end sportsgear. Thanks for mentioning the free delivery by Decathlon. It might be an idea to visit Decathlon in Bkk and have them send it for free to Nan - much nicer than carrying it on VIP coach or plane, even if also free.

Hello, as a holiday-maker, would you rent a small street car out of Nan from an international company booked online from company or agency or from a local renter? If from a local renter, what's your experience and cost? Pondering to rent a *small* street car like Toyota Yaris or smaller out of Nan for about 3-4 weeks (not sure for how long). No off-roading. No pick-up car. Automatic preferred. I wonder if I should pre-book Hertz or Avis via Hertz.com or Avis.com pre-book Hertz or Avis via internat. agency like rentalcars.com shop around local rental stations in Nan (will be in Nan 4 days before car needed) Here are some prices I found: Hertz in Nan via Rentalcars.com: Toyota Yaris or so (small): 940 THB = 26 Euro/day (car small as preferred by me, could even be smaller) Hertz in Nan via Hertz.com: Yaris 1200 THB/day (insurance unclear, obv. not best, upgradable locally) (so, more expensive than via agency above) Avis in Nan via Avis.com: "sold out" -- Hertz in Nan via Rentalcars.com: Honda City or so (medium): 1100 THB = 30,5 Euro/day (car larger than preferred) Hertz in Nan via Hertz.com: Honda City: 1420 THB/day ((insurance unclear, obv. not best, upgradable locally) My preferred Europ. agencies (good assistence in damage-cases) do not rent out of Nan, but offer these: Avis in Phitsanoluk or Chiang Rai via preferred Europ. agency, good insurance: Toyota Vios or so: 1050 THB = 29 Euro/day (car larger than preferred) Avis oneway-rental Chiang Rai to Phitsanoluk via prefered Europ. agency, good insurance: Toyota Vios or so: 1050 THB = 29 Euro/day (car larger than preferred) Would you recommend using a small local renter? (Link to Google Map Search for Nan car-renters) I had local renters already a few times in Nakhon Si Th. and Chiang Mai. Good experience, but I was a more worriless guy back then. I speak basic Thai, but I couldn't say "loose rear mirror" or "broken indicator front left" in Thai. Pro renting from local dealer In my experience, return day is very flexible; return about anytime and pay the exact days of actual use (dislike very unflexible timing with the big companies) Can take a look at the car, maybe get "insider information" about vehicle etc. Contra renting from local dealer Don't understand all insurance and procedures Not sure about quick emergency assistance on a remote mountain road Maybe I have not enough Thai language (it's ok for small talk and tourist things) Not sure if cars are availaible when I arrive 4 days before car needed; not totally sure if car will be kept for me as promised Some seem to operate through Facebook only, which I loathe (I am usually "hidden" there.) So what do you think? Thanks!

Falang, thanks. Adding 15 kilograms to my domestic Nok flight would cost 780 THB, and it would be enough for a small bike. Maybe "sportsgear" is even free, not sure now.

Hello, coming to Nan + NE Thailand as a plain tourist for about 4 weeks and also getting a rental car hopefully. Should I rent a bicycle in Nan + other places buy a bicycle in Nan? bring a bicycle freshly bought in Bkk or Pattaya (possible on Nok Air, I checked) Background: After a few initial days in Bkk and Jomtien, I hope to stay 4+ weeks around Nan, Phayao, Uttaradit, also very small places (aware of visa requirements). I love walking around and *slowly* bicycling around rural areas + nature, very untouristy and basic. I need a basic bicycle. I already did this happily in other areas like Khmer Isaan, Nakhon Si Thammarat etc., also with rental car + bicycle. I might get a rental car after some days in Nan that could carry a small bicycle (at least after taking off front wheel). I speak enough basic Thai and know to use GPS. For the bicycle, I will bring from the west seat cushion, lock, repair kit. I don't mind taking a rented bicycle to the workshop first for 2 hours to get gears etc. fixed. Renting a bicycle Aware that most lodges in Nan, Phayao etc. rent or provide bicycles, and a simple 3-gear-thing would be enough. But so far, upcountry I often got terrible wrecks, sometimes only with 2 days delay and still broken. Because of that, my dream came up to OWN a simple bicycle and carry it from town to town by rental car or maybe bus. I wondered if it would be easy to rent a usable bicycle in small places around NE Thailand. Certainly renting a different bicycle in each place would save one the hassle of buying and transporting one, but then you have the trouble of finding a decent rental bicycle in each place. Buying a bicycle in Nan – good? Google Maps mentions several perhaps big bicycle stores in Nan, including one for "used Japanese bikes". Again, I'd like a simple thing, ideally with mudcatchers, a few gears and front basket. It would be ok up to 8.000 THB. 2nd hand would be very fine. Would that be doable? Which shop would you recommend? (While I do speak enough Thai for numbers, food, small talk, an Anglophone clerk might be good.) I'd been dreaming about a foldable bike, even if 20" only. In Bkk or Pattaya that's available at Decathlon shops etc. Also available in Nan? Hopefully there would also be a dedicated bag available, for clean+easy transport by bus or car. I could also buy a regular smaller bicycle and put it into a carton provided by the dealer, but it's more hassle if you have maybe 4 or 5 transports between various towns. I would sell/give away that bicycle in Nan before flying out. Bringing a bicycle from Bkk Bringing a bicycle from the west is not an option. I have a Nok Air booking DMK-Nan and it seems online I could add more luggage that allows to bring a bicycle from Bkk. Did you ever do that? So in Bkk or Pattaya I could get the foldable bike that would gel well with a rental car. But I'd happily save me the hassle, if a decent bicycle can be bought in Nan or rented in Nan and later destinations as well So what are your thoughts? Thanks!

Hello, in early December as a tourist i would like to stay about 7 days in Nan town relatively centrally – maybe later come back for 3 more days. I checked 100 websites, 3 guidebooks and didn't find something really delightful. A lot was booked up already (is there a fair?). These are some requirements: relatively central, yet not very noisy (and not cosily in the fields 5 kms out) under 1700 THB/day – something gorgeous could be a bit higher, but then I hope to be out+about mostly, not sitting indoors a whole apartment/house is best. Otherwise at least a mid-sized room with good daylight + private bathroom + water kettle (or the hosts fill my thermos with hot water daily) NOT wanted: dormitory, room w shared bathroom, a place 5 kms out in the fields some daylight! (Many places seem to have small or no windows; this might be useful in the climate, but I need daylight). And the window should not open to a public external corridor/terrace/balcony (it should have a minimum of privacy) not so noisy, especially not sensitive to noise from neighbours or from stairs (many houses seem traditional, wooden, without insulation) place provides bicycles OR has safe space for a bicycle rented by me from outside car parking might be needed (might take a rental car for some days) I speak basic tourist Thai (but can't read Thai) and am happy to deal with a local non-anglophone family, if I also have my full private space; I am happy to rent a place from private people if they are totally reliable; I don't need breakfast service place doesn't lock me out at midnight or so, my room always accessible by myself If you have any suggestions, I'd inquire them. Please bear with me if I come back here with another 100 questions about the region later. Thanks!

MJCM, thanks for the links. In Thailand, of course i would stay off the main roads, i hope to be mainly on field roads sixth grade sealed roads. I cycled a lot in Thailand already, and compared to India it feels very sleepy. Anything like an inter-province road or downtown roads are not at all tempting.

Hi, pondering a 60 days holiday in Thailand. I'm based in the west. 1. What's your experience buying a foldable bicycle around 5000 – 8000 THB in Bkk or Pattaya? (shops, quality of bicycle, bag available?) 2. did you ever transport that bicycle in a long-distance bus in TH or on a minibus, together with your regular travel-bag of another 20 kilograms? Google shows several shops for foldable bicycles in Bkk (Link Google-search). I would then fly Bkk-Nan with bicycle + regular baggage (or maybe bus). From Nan, I would find other bases such as Phayao, Pizzanoluck, Uttaradit (going there by bus or perhaps rental car, I MIGHT use rental car AND bicycle). Only my first few days would be in Bkk and Pattaya. Whole length of trip about 60 days, aware of visa requirements. I know that I can carry say 40 kilograms in 2 bags on Nok Air if I buy the kilograms online ahead of flight. Bkk also has expensive foldable bicycles like Brompton, which I don't want. I would perhaps leave the bicycle in TH after 60 days, as it seems to be very expensive to carry it on a long-distance flight to Europe. I love exploring of rural countryside by walking or bicylcle – slow and un-unambitious, no sports, including snapping, sitting down for rice soup etc. I did that a lot in TH (several Isaan areas, chanwat Chiang Mai, Nakhon Si etc.) and other hot countries. I would wear relatively normal street dress (but "no sweat" synthetics sports T-shirts looking NOT like sports), and I wouldn't bicycle at noon or after dark. No sporty ambitions and no long day trips under time pressure, it's about "lazy strolls on bicycle". I do speak enough Thai for that, thanks to GPS never get lost and don't mind starting at 5.30 a.m. I would carry almost no luggage on the bicycle. I know N-TH is mountainous. I can live for a good while without the Bkk-Pattaya-lifestyle, even without western food, no problem. There are small lodges all around N-Thailand, and many do provide bicycles cheaply, even free for lodgers. I often had that, usually dilapidated 24" mountain bikes. But those bicycles mostly had to be taken to a workshop first. Several times I received the promised bike days late, and maybe broken, so that I lost days. I already experienced that a westerner on a cheap small bicycle (not a cool sports bicycle and not cool sports attire) may be despised by Thais. (I dress "politely" always.) After the first week with the new bicycle, I would take it to a workshop to re-tune the spokes. From the west I would bring a small repair kit, lock and a seat cushion. I'd love a foldable bike with mudguards and front-basket, but it may not be possible. I wouldn't require lights. Do you find the ideas above doable? What would you consider? Where did you get the foldable bike? Or is it foolish? Thanks!

Even Keel, thanks.

Hi, I might want to fly domestically with Nok Air in Thailand. I would have TWO checked bags, in total: Checked bag 1, 20 kg Checked bag 2, 20 or 15 kg Hand-held bag Now I wonder: Does Nok Air allow TWO checked bags at check-in? Online they let me buy oodles of kilograms – also beyond the allowance of 30 kg per bag. (Nok Baggage Rules in English.) But Nok doesn't seem to say explicitly that you can check in 2 bags, not just 1. According to the rules, I may bring 40+ kgs, but only 30 kg per bag; but they never mention more than 1 checked bag. What are your experiences with TWO bags with Nok? (Nok, the airline) While at it: Did you book Nok from abroad and did it work? Long time ago there were problems with international credit cards. I'd even prefer to not use a credit card. I guess in Thailand I could book and immediately pay at 7/11 or so – but I want to book from abroad. Thanks! PS. Of course it's debatable if one should carry 2x20 kg of luggage fly to Nok domestic destinations but that'd be another topic.