ballbreaker

Nakhon Ratchasima, or Korat as everyone calls it, is a huge province. My wife lives in the Chalermprakert area, and would like to buy property there. For me, the area is a little remote (20km from "The Mall").

The best way is to rent in or near to the city and get a feeling for the place first. Do not buy anything till you know what you are doing.

Agree about renting first.

I lived in a town 30 km north of Korat and although a nice little town it got old after a few months. After a few months I found myself going to Korat more and more just to get away from the boredom and so I could talk with another farang. Some people can live that type of lifestyle but I like an option of things I can do everyday.

I now live in Bangkok.

I highly recommend a place over hear on Ratchada Road near Huay Kwang MRT, it's called "Kuang" or "Kwang" seafood, it's open late til about 4am and it's freaking delicious!!!!! I live near here so I go about twice/week, if you'd like anymore info about this place just reply here or pm me

Can you give a little more detail on location.

Go with a top tire brand you know because in the end you will pay for the money you save today.

I have taken meter taxi's, bargained price, many times for 1800-2000 baht. I paid the expressway tolls.

Are you penalizing the messenger for the bad message?

Yes you can get discounts but it requires good negotiating skills on your part. The amount of discount you can get will depend on cost of model you wish to buy, how many of that model are sitting on the lot and your skill at negotiating. Remember you have nothing to lose by walking if you can't get the deal you want but if its doable they won't let you leave.

A couple simple things to remember. Don't buy into the line that dealers will not discount. Also, if salesman says cannot sell for price you offer insist offer be taken to sales manager.

I purchased two cars in the last couple years for cash and at price cheaper than what they first quoted so it is possible. I also received the normal 1 class insurance and other cheap stuff they throw in like window tint film, undercoat, etc when trying to make deal.

In my opinion you will find no better than the Nissan NV. It is basically a car but taxed like a truck thus the cheap price. Some years back I bought a new one and found it to be a great little vehicle, nimble, quick and never a problem. I don't know the price now but I paid less than 400,000 baht.

Agree with comments on Nissan NV.

Whats your age?

I'm not planning to bring lots of money to Thailand anytime soon but it would be great if anyone has some background information on what bank is considered "safe".

All Thai banks are protected by the Government's deposit insurance scheme which provides 100% protection for deposits & will do so for at least the next 3 years.

Banks took write-offs in Q3 for any exposures they had to Lehman and CDO's etc, so that's done and out of the way. The large Thai banks, including Bangkok Bank, have capital ratios well in excess of the international standards, as much as 17% in some cases, and have a very strong ratio of deposits to loans due to the large provincial networks and strong deposit base. Stability of the major Thai banks is not a concern.

Out of interest....are you aware if there is any limit to that govt backing of thai banks.....have you got a link or somewhere you know where i may be able to read about it??

Check the following link.

http://thailawforum.com/news/2008/news-June3-08.html

My Thai wife always gets 10 percent off the rate hotel charges falangs.

can anyone tell me why the thai baht has been pretty much unaffected by the past political turmoil? (especially that the airport was blockaded for a week) the baht barely dropped!!! (i'm comparing it to the pound and the dollar).

i heard somewhere that thailand has MASSIVE gold reserves or surplus cash. (does this have any baring on the situation).

i am just suprised that after 6 months of political uncertainty and especially the past airport siege AND world-wide economic depression, that the thai baht has pretty much kept its value!!!

can anyone explain this?

and also any predictions for the baht?

BOT has been using its large US dollar reserves to control the value of baht against the dollar. That is one reason some of the other currencies have taken a bit hit in recent months against the baht.

Mr Google came up blank.

Mr Google is still your friend. Try the hotel name as V-One.

I think the Sima Thani is better choice. I find the V-One Hotel Korat and Dusit a bit isolated from everything.

Also the K.S. Pavilion a block from the mall. Was a bit dated but someone said they have updated everything. Anyone stay recently?

I also noticed what appears to be new hotel almost directly opposite the mall on my last trip. Anyone know the name?

If the scratches are not deep you might want to try one of the scratch removing compounds like McGuire's. It sure would be cheaper than paint job if it works.

A friend wants to use his I-Mobile 625 as a modem in the battery compartment it says that it covers GSM 900/1800/1900 I tried to connect to the Internet it showed as a "G" connection where as mine connected on a "E" connection he is using D-Tac as a provider

I assume you are trying to access internet. I-Mobile 625 is not Edge capable so that is why he shows "G". It will work but at quarter speed of phone that is Edge ("E") capable.

HI all; I live in Thailand. Currently I'm in Italy but need to go back to phuket asap. No way about changing my original ticket. I'd like to buy a new one and to go to phuket (from KL or Singapore or dunno). Is here somebody who can recommends me the best route and the best airline to do this bypass (I'd like to travel on this weekend).

Tks a bunch in advance

IKO

You have already mentioned your best two options.

If the radius of the rim with tire mounted are the same on both then no problem.

Usually when they go from 14 to 15 inch rim they also go to a low profile 15 inch tire which gives you pretty much the same radius.

Would not bother with Fortuner. Crap interior, crap ride, crap brakes, (rear brakes are drum brakes for fok sake!!), crap engine, crap quality, crap wear 'n' tear. Just crap.

Buy a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.

These are no problems for roads outside of Bangkok.

Driving Benz for 25 years and coming down to a Fortuner is one heck of a long fall...What happend you got hitched with a Thai?

If you want reasonable space, flexibility and quality try the BMW X3, gas or diesel. Pricey but fantasic

Agree about the BMW X3 and would also recommend the Lexus RX300.

Let him fret.

Your a pessimist, so bite me!

You may not like it but Einstein gave you the best advice in his first post.

Why don't you settle down and not over react to the current situation in Thailand.

Fly into Singapore or KL then take train to Bangkok.

I think the feds should guarantee the depositors money and nothing more. If the bank then fails let the stock holders and executives take the hit.

The most important thing you can do is don't calculate your money needs on current exchange rates and don't forget to factor in inflation over your expected life.

When I moved to Thailand the rate was 44 baht to the US dollar but dropped to a low around 30 baht to the dollar. As you can imagine a number of expats were hit hard by this fact.

Lucky for me I did my move planning using a rate of 20 baht to the dollar so my life style has been unaffected thus far.

Why don't you install a reverse osmosis filter between main and fridge.

What is this type of filter? Would it make the water drinkable? Are they large or expensive?

Thanks

Its a membrane filter that passes only pure water. Just google reverse osmosis for detail info.

They come in different sizes and price will be dependent on size. You can find them at Home Pro for sure.

Forget the gift from the UK and take her shopping for cloths on your dime when you arrive. You will score bit points from my experience.

Why don't you install a reverse osmosis filter between main and fridge.

I assume you are married to a Thai. If that is the case you and the wife go down to local amphor office and have them generate such a letter. If worked for me two different times.