dblaisde

Thanks to all. Yes, "it's a complex world". Normally I'd have tried to do a SWIFT transfer, but that's a lot of hassle in my experience (I've done 2) so I was willing to do 7 (x30K) or so ATM withdrawals at 200B a pop instead just to get things set up for my retirement visa. The 20K limit still applies within the bank (vs an ATM machine). I *think* there's the same withdrawal fee if you do it *that* way too, since they have to use the ATM card to do the transfer (at least I thought that's what the rep said). I'll double check though. Banks.... ("bank robber" takes on an ironic meaning)

But do you understand I'm talking about using a foreign ATM card, not a Kasikorn card. I'm trying to transfer money into my Kasikorn account from my US bank using the US bank's debit card, and Kasikorn has a 20K withdrawal limit on non Thai ATM debit cards.

If you've noticed, some Thai banks now have limited how much you can withdraw per withdrawal on your foreign debit card, no matter what the limit your home bank sets on the card, eg: Kasikorn sets a 20K limit even though my home bank allows 60K a day. I'd call this a scam since there's a 200B flat fee on each withdrawal so forcing more withdrawals increases Thai bank profits.

Is there a Thai bank that lets you withdraw above 20K per withdrawal? (perhaps 30-60K)

(footnote: I'm applying for a Thai retirement visa and have to have a ~250K balance in a Thai bank.)

10 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

For a hotel you don't need an agent, just walk in

Yeah, that's what I wondered. Some ads are for specific rooms, but when you look further it seems like they're advertising the hotel as a whole. If actually for a specific room, I wonder whether hotel management would show it, or whether they have a contract with the agent (or perhaps the owner does) that prohibits them? In any case, you'd think a big hotel would have a deal with owners who want to rent rooms to show them on demand (or so I'd think).

Thanks berybert,

Good points.

Also the communication would probably be easier with an agent: I always have to spend one night in any room before I sign a lease since I have allergies to all kinds of things: building materials, pollution, mold, leftover animal hair...you name it. It's hard to get that idea across without good communication. (of course I'll pay what they want for 1 night).

I want to rent month-to-month at first. I *don't* speak Thai.

But... I'm talking about the situation of a hotel with a number of units to rent who will show me what's available and for how much. There are many DD entries of this type, though sometimes they refer to specific units, but I was assuming the hotel knows which they are and doesn't need the renter or hotel's permission to show me. (As I say I'm a newbie at this). So far I've sent 10 agents notifications and 10 hours later (on a Sunday granted) no call backs.

>What will you do at the property alone?

Not sure what you mean by this.

Should I just go visit the property, or go through the agent listed on the DD site. I'm new to all of this.

Thanks to all. I may yet have my cake and be able to eat it.

Sent from my LG-D802 using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

Norway, great place. I just wish it were a little more expensive.

Thanks. I didn't see that. 

Thanks, I think I'll need luck. Or just a lot of shoe leather. Too bad hipflat doesn't speak English (natively, that is). Anyway, it won't be hard to know know how my lungs are doing in any particular area. :)

I'd rent by the month. Anyway, it looks like a nice neighborhood, and up in the clouds is further away from the pollution I suppose. I'll hunt for something in that neighborhood that's a bit cheaper :) using the DD website. Thanks again. I'm renting long term (once I find a place I like) and am retired so 30K a month would be my limit I think.

Thanks very much. How did 39 Boulevard Executive Residence cost you? I'm wondering if I could afford it.

42 minutes ago, shadowofacloud said:

The area between Phrom Phong and Thong Lo (Wattana side) is not bad. Quite green, not too many high rises.

Thanks. Could you recommend a hotel or some streets so I can look at a specific area on foot?

The reason I ask is that I've visited the "Dental Hospital, Bangkok" on Sukhumvit 49, which seems to be smack in that area and thought the area was polluted. I walked to it from Sukumvit and could feel it.

Well...25,000B and under *if* possible...

I'm in an apartment about 30 meters from busy Soi 77 on Soi On Nut. Two weeks here and my throat is raw. I need a less polluted area 20 min. or less from the BTS/MRT. The closer to Asok area the  better. Any suggestions?

On 2/20/2017 at 4:41 PM, Crossy said:

Does your current card look like the one I posted above? If so you can add value to it no problem, if it says something like 50 Trip Pass you need to get a Rabbit card first.

 

You can get a Senior card for the MRT with your passport as ID and proof of being over 60, IIRC the discount is 50%.

 

Sadly the BTS, whilst having a similar elder card require you to be both over 60 AND Thai

 

 

Oops! Becoming Thai will take more work than it took to become 60. Thanks for the heads up.

Thanks much SooKee!

thanks very much. I thought I might need a different card since what I have now is for "50 trips".

One more question: I'm 70 and I think they offer discounts for Senior Citizens. I suppose I wouldn't need a different card for that either. They'd somehow put the same value on the card but with a reduced price for it. (??)

There's a lot of image improvement efforts at the moment. <deleted>  Thailand into economic and political chaos, the stakes are large. You see this also in Prayuth's buying off the rebellious farmers in the North with huge rice subsides and real efforts to appease the separatists in the South (whose last bombs were for the first time in tourist areas).

You also see it with cleaning up the streets in the form of food, viagra and dildo salesmen.

Pattaya is a sort of Sodom and Gomorah-By-The-Sea, with bizarre stuff happening all the time, like the recent gang hit on the scammer Brit, and general sleaze. Not that I'm against sleaze mind you, but until Thailand is seen in the eyes of the world investment community as a safe place to put your money, we'll see a lot of "clean up"

Frankly I'd be more worried about the lack of grounding of electrical shower heaters. Many deaths and disfigurements from those. My ex German girlfriend burned off her entire hand in such a shower, and many of the BKK hotel showers aren't wired to prevent electrocution, especially the older buildings, where that wasn't even part of the original design spec. I don't turn on the heater in mine.

I got a Rabbit card but wanted the stored value type, and not the "50 trips for xxxx baht" type, since those trips expire at the end of 30 days. What's the right lingo to use to get a "stored value" card?
 

On 2/18/2017 at 3:58 PM, seancbk said:

> I was only 15 at the time...

A great terrorist disguise. 

On 2/16/2017 at 6:25 PM, oilinki said:

 

So, are all the countries and their leaders part of this conspiracy?

 

When you start using the word "conspiracy", it's another way to say "it's not true". It's a word commonly used by gullible people who spend too much time watching TV. If I'd told you 3 years ago that the US government keeps detailed spying information on all its citizen, you'd probably have call me a conspiracy nut. But then along came Snowden, and now you know it for a fact. Of course people like me knew it a long time ago courtesy of NSA leakers like Thomas Drake, William Binney and J. Kirk Wiebe. But you have to work a bit if you want to know what's going on. You won't get it staring at the boob tube.

What you don't know can hurt you.

On 2/16/2017 at 3:27 PM, Reigntax said:

A Newtonian bomb one would guess!

Followed by a Darwin Award.