tygerstar

Desi

Have you received the books your ordered?

Is Speaking Thai for Advanced Learners a continuation of Speaking Thai 2?

And what is Reading to Learn Thai about?

Not if you don't want to.

However you most likely need to pick up your check in bags (if you have any) and check them in again in AA desk. I don't believe JS will forward you bags direct to Phuket.

Thanks MJo. Do AA take early check-ins? or would I have to wait until 2 hours before?

Hi toytime,

You can do a Web Check-in from 48 hours and up to 4 hours before the scheduled time of departure.

Provided that you have no check-in luggage, if I'm not mistaken.

Hi All.

I'm going on my second visa run to Kota Bharu next month. Any updates on obtaining a tourist visa in KB?

One more question: if I had overstayed by one day, could I still get the 30-day extension or would I have to leave the country and come back?

Thanks. How long does the tourist visa extension process take?

Is the Suan Phlu office busy between 2 and 3 pm? How do I get there from Saladaeng BTS or Lumpini MRT?

Thanks, ubonjoe and Lite Beer!

Hi All.

What documents would I need to take to Immigration in order to renew my 60-day tourist visa which is expiring on 10 March? If I go on 5 March, when does the 30-day extension take effect; on that date or on the expiry date of the visa?

Thank you.

Do you mean the permit to stay stamp or the use before date of your visa?

The extension (not renewal of visa) will be from the date of your permit to stay.

The stamp says I can stay until 10 March. If I go on 5 March, will the extension take effect on 5 March or 10 March?

Hi All.

What documents would I need to take to Immigration in order to renew my 60-day tourist visa which is expiring on 10 March? If I go on 5 March, when does the 30-day extension take effect; on that date or on the expiry date of the visa?

Thank you.

I got my double entry tourist visa from Kota Bharu two weeks ago. The info provided here is pretty much spot on (thanks again, guys!). I submitted my application at 10 am and was told to pick up my passport at 10 the next morning. But I believe the early pick up was possible because they were having a lull; normal collection time is after 2 pm the next working day (so don't presume that an early pick up is always possible!). All they asked for were two photographs and the visa application fee, which is to to be paid in Malaysian Ringgit (they did reluctantly accept Baht but advised those who did so to pay in Ringgit the next time). Consulate staff were pleasant.

Kota Bharu is a sleepy town with a couple of smallish shopping malls, all the major fast food outlets (24-hour KFC and McDonald's) and plenty of Malay and Chinese coffee shops serving yummy local dishes. People were friendly and helpful but didn't approach, which was a relief - nice to be able to walk around town without being harrassed by touts on every street corner. I wore cotton blouses and slacks/jeans and no one stared or spat at me, as someone claimed above. I felt completely safe. Unfortunately, it rained most of the time I was there so I didn't get to hit the beaches. Mydin Wholesale Mart near the bus station is a good place to stock up on ladies' items. Prices were VERY reasonable.

By the way, Bus No 29 runs only every hour either way so, if you're in a rush to get to the consulate or you have to make a connection in Sungai Kolok, you might want to factor that in. Also beware of the afterschool rush hour - my ride from Kota Bharu to the Sungai Kolok border took 1.5 hours but thankfully I didn't have to make a connection. The fare is now RM 5.10. Motorcycle taxis on the Thai side were asking for 30Bt but I told them I always paid 20Bt and they were OK with that.

I don't see a problem for me with a Multi entry Visa, however I seem to remember that a Thai Citizen needs some form of document, as well as their Passport to do the cross.

If your wife has a passport, get her to use that instead of her ID card. No other requirement required, I believe.

Just to let everyone know that Monday 29 December 2008 is a public holiday in Malaysia.

Only the Penang consulate is closed that day.

Kota Bharu and KL will be open.

Kota Bharu will be open at the start of the Muslim New Year? I'm going after New Year's anyway; thank God I bought my tickets early as all the trains going down south are fully booked until the first week of January.

Just to let everyone know that Monday 29 December 2008 is a public holiday in Malaysia.

Excellent detail, relayer! I'm not too concerned about the timeline as I intend to spend a few days in Sungai Kolok and KB. Any recommendations for hotels in the 500 to 800Bt range in SK?

You only need copy of passport photo page and 2 photos for visa.

You can find office hours and holiday schedule for the consulate here: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2849.php?depid=221

You will see that they are open Sunday to Thursday.There is not much more info than that on website.

Have a good trip and give us a report back on how it went.

So, only photocopy of the personal particulars page of the passport?

I think I might hang in Hat Yai first then take a bus down to Sungai Kolok.

Any idea how long is the bus journey from Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok?

Hi there. I've been going through the chocful of info on this thread - very helpful indeed! I'm planning to make the trip to Kota Bharu after New Year's for a double-entry tourist visa.

I'm thinking of taking the Bangkok-Sungai Kolok train - have they got second class, airconditioned sleeping berths on that route?

How much is the bus fare from Sungai Kolok to Kota Bharu - is the bus airconditioned?

What docs are required for a double-entry tourist visa? Do I have to show 20,000Bt and return tickets in and out of Thailand?

Is there a direct bus to Hat Yai from Kota Bharu? I plan to have a short holiday in Hat Yai for a few days after my visa run.

Thanks in advance!

I tried out Pansy's recently. The cleansing, massage and extraction was very good but their product range was limited and suited for more mature skins. The standard facial does not come with a masque and you have to pay extra for that - which is fine, it was only 150B - but it was a paraffin masque which would have been to rich for my skin (I'm 26). I would like to go again for the service but the products used made my skin greasy for a week. Wish they had facials suited for combination/oily skin types.

Hi there. I opened a Bangkok Bank savings account in Chiang Mai last year - it was as easy as pie.

I wonder if it's possible to get the account transferred to a Bangkok branch now that I've moved here to avoid inter-province charges for transactions made.

Other schools that use the Union system/were started by ex-Union teachers:

http://www.aaathai.com/

http://www.piammitrschool.com/

http://www.utl-school.com/english/home.php

Any updates on Piammitr? I'm planning to start their Book 4 soon. Will I be missing a lot if I am to join the class one-day late?

Any updates on where I can get a good facial in Silom or Sukumvit, or any place near a BTS/MRT? Interested in the full works: cleansing, scrubbing, steaming, massage, extraction and masque. Beauty salon, not some overpriced spa. Thanks.

Sumaa language school

Miss Luisparis went there this morning, it's in YWCA building on Sathorn,quite convenient to us as a few steps from our apartment but the asking price is 18000 per course (2 to 3 hours daily) It seems more than double what they charge in Piamitr. It comes to 250TBH an hour for 3 hours daily and a possibly a little more for 2 hours daily. It might end up as 1 to 1 class though as they say they can start the class when Missus wishes.

This is probably the rate for one-to-one classes; 250Bt an hour is very reasonable for a qualified teacher in BKK. Two hours per day is the maximum I would suggest for one-to-one classes; you can't take in anymore than that in a day.

hi

does anyone have a number for piammitr?,, i have been calling the number on their website for the last couple of days, with no answer (026617767). i have also emailed them with no reply !

Hi Matt

Piammitr have moved or are in the process of moving to Sukhumvit Soi 13 near Nana Station. The latest no. I have for them is 02 168 7060. If you call or head down there, could you do me the favour of asking them whether they run courses beyond Book 5? I'm not in Thailand right now. Thanks.

Can one study beyond Book 5 at Piammitr? Someone here said they studied Books 7 and 8 but these are not advertised on their website. Are Books 7 and 8 run as one-to-one classes?

What about the advanced modules in Thai culture, history and newspaper reading that are offered at Piammitr, UTL and AAA? Are these group or one-to-one classes?

When does the Prathom 6 intensive prep class usually start? Early or mid September?

Thanks.