jbaldwin

Air Asia talked about buying some flights for long haul to Europe during 2014. so maybe one route would start late 2014 and some later in 2015/16.

Thai AirAsia X only has two aircraft - A330s - which will be used on Korean and Japanese routes. No more aircraft deliveries are scheduled in 2014 or 2015.

I did not think that AirAsia ever flew from Bangkok to the UK

They used to have a KL to stansted service, which I used once.

I have heard nothing about future plans for a Bangkok to UK service.

I think that if you are eatingThai food, the improvement you get from going somewhere expensive is much lower than with Western food. The longer I have stayed in Pattaya, I tend to go to cheaper Thai restaurants but more expensive Western restaurants.

The flight is on Qatar connecting to a flight to London.

I prefer a flight via the Middle East rather than a direct flight and flights that leave Bangkok close to midnight arrive in London at a time which means I would have to travel thought London at rush hour. The 2.40am flight means you got to London at around midday.

Actually booking to leave at 2.40pm the day after my depart by date meant a cost saving of more than 2,000 baht over any other reasonable option so I booked that knowing that even if a had to spend 1,900 baht on a 7 day extension it would still be better.

I think that I just arrive early and try to clear immigration before midnight.

SCB is offering 2.35% for 7 months fixed.

That is the rate for deposits of more than 10 million baht. 50,000 to 500,000 baht gets you 2.15%

Is this a problem? Should a try to check in and go though immigration before midnight?

Whats this place like now? Still worth a visit?

I last went there about 8 years ago. It was fairly good but not good enough to tempt me back.

Is there any possibility of the government defaulting in payment of the bond? For example upon maturity we are not able to withdraw out the principle sum. Any advice? Thank you.

It's always a possibility, albeit an exceedingly remote one.

Unless anyone has a better informed opinion, I think it's as safe as putting the money in a Thai bank, if not safer.

(Caveat, I haven't read the prospectus yet, so am not 100% sure it's backed by the full faith and credit of the Thai government.)

These are only available to Thai citizens or foreigners with permanent residency.

Yea, I've seen several posts where folks filed for their refund "after" the tax deadline...they had to pay something like a 200 baht fine for late filing but their refund was processed. I'm pretty sure if you wait until next year to file for previous years, you'll still get hit with the approx 200 baht fine for late filing.

This is correct. I always file late. The tax office is much quieter and staff are much more helpful. It's well worth a 200 baht fine.

Is Makro a membership only store? Did you need to show that you run a business to get a membership card?

At my condo, the Thai management has been unable to collect HOA fees from about 20% of the owners. some owe more than 600,000 Baht!

Guess what? someone else has to pay for these freeloaders. check out the default rate at your condo before you buy!

I live in Thabali a 10 year old condo development with 144 units in Jomtien. We have received 100% of condo fees for 2013 and all previous years and have received about 95% of 2013 fees - a 15% discount was given to owners paying 2014 fees in full by the end of December 2013.

Interestingly they were recommended by a friend who has a number of units in VT2! I believe they also manage (or did) Chataeu Dale.

There is no management company involved in Chateau Dale. In my opinion if you have an active and suitability qualified committee, a management company just increases costs and makes it more difficult for the Committee to effectively control the way the condo in run.

No you cannot obtain any visa inside Thailand. You may be any to extend your stay, if you have a Thai wife, are over 50 and are studying here. The only way to stay for 2-3 months is to leave Thai and get a visa at an embassy overseas.

The upward trend is certainly given. I am a trader and have been through all the political turmoils here in Thailand. Given that demonstrations had some impact on tourism and that grenades detonated almost daily in the capital, the SET has fared very well. The political drama is a never ending story...I think every trader knows that. If you dont like unstable countries for investment (which I would fully understand) then stay away from Thailand. However if you are like me, who got used to the political volatility, things are on the way back to normal. Your definition of "stable" has to be redefined when you deal with thai politics.

SET end of the year: 1450 Property funds like CPNRF, POPF or SPF are good for long term investments. They shaved off a lot of their past premiums.

BTS was my favourite stock pick last year and is still this year.

Interesting. I bought property funds today but different ones - TFUND, QHPF and CPNCG. I agree that they are good long term investment to current prices.

Have flown Scoot only two times Coolangatta-Singapore-Bangkok.

The first time flight arrived over 5 hrs late, missed my connection Singapore-Bangkok, had to stay overnight in Singapore hotel (my expense) many missed connections to Europe, so beware.

Yesterday changed flights at Singapore, but Scoot routed my baggage on to Bangkok. On arrival found baggage lost in transit !

Not real good, still waiting to hear if baggage found at 5pm next day.

I use low cost airlines most of the time....but never connecting flights. With the greater risk of delays and that fact that missed connections are that your risk it's not normally worth the cost saving. This is not just about Scoot it's a general point about when low cost airline are better value.....and in my opinion that is normally only on a single point to point flight.

Two weeks ago I received a double entry tourist visa from Thai consulate in Manila. No problems, no queues, easy peasy lemon squeasy !

Was an ticket out of Thailand required?

I think she would be able to find work, many expat companies who would pay a premium and accept legal hoops to jump through to get well educated, good English and self motivated employees who would appreciate the work.

Pm me her cv if you wish, I can forward to a few companies who are looking for English speakers.

Thank. I will arrange this soon.

Thanks for your help. I have sent a cv by pm today

Check the Thailand website for Western Union. It is adverting special promotional rate for 8 countries including India. I do not believe that it is true that WU transfers from Thailand to India are not possible.

Ok. Thanks for the comments. If we have of get on onward ticket then this is not a good plan.

Another idea would be to fly to Siem Reap then boat to Phnom Pehn. Get tourist visa there on go overland via Koh Kong to Pattaya. No onward ticket needed for a Cambodian visa on arrival, right? Is Phnom Pehn ok for tourist visa

Without a visa she needs to show a ticket leaving the country within 30 days, same as for Thailand.

Entering Malaysia for a girl alone from certain countries is difficult, not mentioning leaving the PI. itself.

I am planning to travel with her.

My filipina gf is coming to visit me in Thailand.

I am told it's very difficult to get a tourist visa in Manila so we were thinking about flying to KL and getting a Thai tourist visa either there or in Penang and then travelling over land though Southern Thailand.

Will she have any problem entering Malaysia without an air ticket out?

KTB has

5 months - 2.8%

14 month - 3.0%

60 month - 4.0%

It is possible to get the work permit application done with an exempt entry but in most cases there is not enough time to get it done.

You can only apply for the work permit without a non immigrant visa they will not issue it without one.

The work permit must of been issued already to a get a multiple entry non-b visa. That means getting a single entry B visa first in order to get the work permit and then making another trip for the multiple entry.

The single entry visa can be obtained at most locations but the multiple entry must be applied for in Penang.

Thanks again. Realistically what is the length of time between a job offer being made and having the receipt for the work permit application.

Penang is the only nearby location doing multiple entry B visas. It requires a work permit with at least 7 months remaining on it and company documents.

A single entry B for working (not teaching) cannot be obtained at any nearby location without a work permit application being done and proven by a letter of approval from the work permit office. A work permit can be applied for with a tourist visa.

Thanks. This is very helpful.

I understand that it is difficult to obtain a tourist visa in Manila.

So the plan could be:

Arrive in Thailand on a 30 day stamp with a air ticket out to Phnom Penh, Vientiane or Penang

Get a single entry tourist visa.

Apply for work permit with tourist visa

Go to Penang and apply for multi non-b

Does this work?

If earning less than 35k baht per month the only option is a multiple entry non-b visa.

The employer would have to make a false statement in order to pay the additional taxes to prove the income. An individual cannot just pay additional taxes on income only a company or business can do that.

Thanks. Is it easy to yet a multiple entry non-b visa? Where can they be obtained? Penang? Loas?

It is possible to get a single entry non-b based on a job offer (ie before a work permit is issued) right?