ballbreaker

I apologise in advance, as I'm sure that this must have been asked before - but recommendations (1-2000 tb) fairly nearby to drive would be appreciated. Cheers

Queen's Garden Resort

9-11 Soi 38 Lat Krabang

phone: 66 (0)2-327-4118

I wouldn't call it a resort but not another hotel this close except for the Novotel at airport. Its a new building and rooms are 1200 THB but not much else near hotel.

I expect all my questions have been answered in some other topics but I would like to get some latest info. and advice if possible please.

We are travelling (hopefully airport still open) in March for 1st time to and from new BKK airport.

We generally have loads of luggage + the children and from Don Muang normally took 2 x taxis each way.

Can some members please advice about the following.

A)I have heard of some difficulties with strange bus/taxi system now going. Could be really bad for us after long intl flight with 2 or 3 young kids and all luggage etc. Can you still get a taxi from the departures area as we used to do in Don Muang? Or any other suggestions such as a large mini van at a reasonable cost? We go to central BKK.

How long does the journey generally take from airport to somewhere like Grand Hyatt area in Rajdamri at say 10.30pm from airport?

C) How much might taxis cost for this trip and are there toll ways to pay?

D) When subsequently departing and needing to get to airport at about 5.30pm on a weekday how much time would you suggest for travelling from Grand Hyatt/Rajdamri area to airport?

E) Anyone know of a good mini bus or mini van type with driver we can book in BKK to go to airport for large family and lots of luggage? Any contact info. would be welcome.

F) A Query not connected to airport. Can anyone suggest/recommend a good value and good service hire car firm for hiring a car for between 2 & 4 days at a time from central BKK. Maybe a company that will drop the vehicle off at our condo and collect when hire completed. Maybe a company that can also offer some sort of mini van also?

Thanks and best wishes to all members.

A. Google search for Bangkok airport transfer and pick one of the companies. You usually can book service both ways. I've used service offered by World Travel Idea with no problems. Email address is: [email protected]

Another option is to talk with one of the touts at arrivals area or AOT Limo/Taxi also in arrivals area. I would think 1500 THB or less would be cost of van for either option. Make sure tolls are included in price.

B. Traffic not a problem unless Friday or Saturday night but still not big problem at that hour. Would guess 30-45 minutes.

C. Screw using 2 taxis. After all its a vacation and with 3 kids.

D. Same as A above.

E. Same as A above.

F. Any of the major rental companies offer what you want.

Agree with jas, they are not only acceptable but appreciated by some who want a little bit of luxury (really just a bit better than a tired Toyota Corolla with half a trunk) and don't mind paying a bit more for a lot more room. How you get a family of four in one of those Corollas with luggage from a long haul trip I'll never know, or even three for that matter. The cabs are best for one or two people. It would be such a shame to ban them when they provide a better service. Of course, banning all motor vehicles and going back to bicycle rickshaws would be cheaper, but you really have to allow for modern convenience sometimes...

I thought the whole purpose of the AOT Limo Taxi was to provide what you say.

Yes there is a left luggage office on the second floor. If you plan on leaving a bag make sure nothing of value is left in the bag because people have been reporting items of value missing when they pick up the bag at a later date.

Another topic has already addressed this issue.

I travel lots throughout the world and never encounter the number of touts that confront you at the Bangkok airport. One would think that AOT, public taxi service and meet and greet companies would be up in arms because of the revenue lose to these touts.

Not the first time I've stories like this. My GF works for Travel Agent and greets people that have booked transport to their hotel from airport. A couple days ago just after she left the airport a Limo driver picking up someone for one of hotels was sitting in his car on the arrivals level waiting for the greet person to bring out customer when AOT security ask him to move along. I guess words were exchanged and soon a fight begins. The Thai police are summoned but on arriving just stand and the watch fight.

Hi ,

My elderly mother will be coming to Vietnam with my wife and daughter this year for the first time.We will be stopping of in BKK for a few days on the way there(as we always do,love the place!!)however my mother will be returning on her own and thus has to negotiate the airport on her own,she is very concerned about this and thus i was wondering if anyone is aware of any kind of meet and greet service where someone will help her arrive safely to her departure lounge!!I would of course be happy to pay if such a service was available.

Thanks!

Meet and greet services usually assist people traveling between airport and hotel. Many companies can assist in that respect but they generally just drop passengers on the departure level of airport unless arrangements have been made to assist her to the check in counter. Assisting her to the departure lounge from the check in counter will need to be arranged with the airline.

I imagined in my mind someone putting a child on top of some luggage, putting them on the WRONG escalator, with NO SIGNS, and the whole thing immediately tipping over, and flying down about forty feet. What kind of idiot wouldn't put a sign there? And as I indicated, the STEEP escalator was RIGHT next to the arrival exit area, that most people would immediately head for.

Awful.

Signs would still not solve the problem because the world is full of people lacking in common sense. The only way to solve this problem is to place a pole or two in front of escalator access to block trolleys not people.

Should have asked their old friends Japan for advice perhaps?

That might not be a good idea. I remember the 1995 Kobe earthquake knocked down one their freeways.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand warns international tourists of duty free allowance for tobacco and alcoholic beverage products while advising Thai travelers to choose registered tour operators.

TAT deputy governor Surapol Sawetseranee said the Excise Department has seized many tobacco products and alcoholic drinks from foreign travelers, and they have also faced considerable fines since the new duty free allowance requires them to carry a restricted amount of those items. As a result, complaints have been made to foreign embassies, and the image of Thailand is also affected.

Blah, so what is the duty free allowance for spirits, wine and tobacco? Funny that they go out with a 'warning' without including that little piece of information.

You are allowed 1 Litre of spirits and 200 cigarettes duty free.

Happy new year,

need advice please,bought land already,now last year of hard saving before coming from u.k to build house.My question is do i use brother in law x2 to help with house build,or find company to help design then build everything ? My in laws are builders by trade and they can help us buy materiels etc to stop us getting ripped off,could they work alongside company to see everything goes straight ? I really need to build this place at the right price as im not loaded and been saving for too long.Thanks.

My number one rule in life is never go into business or lend money to family. Building a house fits that rule. Using a family member to help you monitor construction and quality would be okay though.

I would not custom design a house but rather use one of the existing Thai house plans found in any book store. I learned the hard way but in the end all turned out okay. Builder was always complaining about plan not being standard Thai.

Get bids from a couple companies giving you a price for them providing everything and one if you provide the material. Make sure any constract includes time lines and payment schedules. No money should be paid up front because you could get ripped off. Many Thais get ripped off by builders who want money up front so be careful.

Also make sure you specify grade of material you want used. Items like doors, windows etc come in different qualities and price.

Although I designed the house, my wife was in charge of getting it constructed while I was in the USA. She ended up using a local who was building skills teacher at trade school. The contract called for him providing all the building materials and her the fixtures, lighting, bathroom, ceiling fans, etc. Payment was made in four seperate payments in different amounts. First payment was made after foundation and slab were done. Second after walls and roof were done. Third after finish work like painting, tile, etc. were complete and house ready to move in. Four was a small amount just so could get builder back if problems came up like roof leaking or whatever.

She thought most of the workers were students from school putting in practice what they learned in school. I thought the worst when I heard this but she said all would be okay. She had looked at a number of houses done by this contractor and people were happy. Most of all he was local and it would kill his business if he built a turkey. The other contractors were not local she had talked with.

Wife said it was a nightmare of a job but she had the help of in-law who keep an eye on construction. We also spent lots of time on phone as house progressed. She lived on site in existing small house on property and never left site without an in-law being on site. House was completed in less than 4 months and to my surprise was okay. A few things I would have done different but she did a great job in my opinion for someone who didn't know a thing about building. She did say never again.

Best of all it came in 200,000 THB less than I was willing to spend.

Best of luck.

I am telecommuting from Thailand for companies in the US. I will have to look at my tax situation soon and am wondering if there is any tax professional available in LOS that I can talk to about this.

I know there is a foreign earned income exclusion for up to $82,XXX for US citizens who have been out of the country for most of (in my case all of) the tax year. I am trying to find out if I am eligible for this. In which case I would owe no taxes this year, but that seems way too easy for me to accept.

Any ideas of where I can go to get professional advice?

It appears from your statements you would be considered self employed and should file as self employed operating a business under your name unless you have a business name. This assumes you receive a 1099 at years end from your clients. I would also use the physical presence method when you file.

Your take on the foreign earned exclusion is correct for personal income tax liabilities, but as a self employed person you will be responsible for self employment tax, which is both halves of Social Security (employer/employee). This amounts to something less than 15% of you net income.

Make sure you keep records of all expenses spent to operate your business, phone, office space, internet, etc. This info will be helpful in lowering your self employment tax liability.

I would also suggest you download a copy of TaxCut or one of the other tax prep software programs. Its an easy step by step procedure for your tax return. I've been using this method for the last three years without problems.

There are lots of people who would use the BTS. Many have no luggage. Airport staff, friends meeting passangers on arrival. Domestic passangers etc. Anything that keeps cars off the road has to be a long term advantage

I heard the cost was going to be 150 baht. If thats the case how many people will use?