paquito

I've heard that there are substantually lower rates possible when calling internationally from a thai mobile phone and using a prefix before the country code. Should be something like 008 + country code + phone number instead of just 00 + country code + phone number.

Can anyone please verify this, if possible with the price per minute in THB (to Europe or the US), using a 1-2-call prepaid sim card?

Which Thai telcos are offering this service? Websites?

Thanks a lot for filling me in - I usually use Skype but don't have a good internet connection right now in Nakhon Nowhere.

Here's my situation:

I've been travelling the world for several years, always used LOS as a base when in SE-Asia. Here, I only ever used 30 day visa exempt or tourist visas. The new visa rules will make that more difficult for me, especially since I'm a bit tired of moving around so much and would like to spend more time (6 to 8 months per year) in Thailand in the future. I'm 41, not married, don't work in Thailand, and have sufficient funds.

I will be back in Germany this summer and would like to get a 1 year multi-entry non-imm visa there. I'll come back to LOS in Oct and will visit my home country again about every 2 years. I hope to do the same thing during the next 9 years until I'm old enough to qualify for a retirement visa. (Which hopefully still exists by then )

Questions:

1. Which type of non-imm is appropriate/possible for me?

2. What are the requirements? (Money? Reason, e.g. 'visiting friends'? etc.)

3. Which embassy/consulate in Germany is known to handle such cases with a minimum of hassle?

4. Is the timing of the visa application improtant? (I'd like to have another entry just before the visa expires so I can get a total of 15months out of that visa.)

5. Can I apply for a Thai DL and own a vehicle once I'm in the country with this typw of visa?

Any help would be much appreciated.

I did the same thing last month. Cambodian visa on arrival in Phnom Penh, $20, takes about 15 min. No problem.

Went to the Thai embassy, handed over application form, 1 photo, $25. Picked up my passport the next day with the 60 day single entry tourist visa. The passport had a note attached with a paper clip saying 'Do not apply for Thai visa at this location again' or words to that effect. Next to the new visa is a stamp in red ink saying the same thing. I did not get an explanation on why they did this, nor a chance to talk to any Thai officials. I certainly did not feel welcome at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.

So I got my Thai visa in PP but I guess I don't need to try there again, at least until I have a new passport.

p.s. My last visits to Thailand were Nov/Dec 2005; Feb/March 2006 (on double entry TR Visa issued in Wash D.C.); May 2006 (30day); Sept/Oct (single entry TR issued in Phnom Penh). In between I travelled Singapore, Indonesia, Nepal, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Philippines. I'm backpacking on an extended vacation, I just use Thailand as a base between trips.

Thanks Guys. I'll try China Southern through my travel agent in BKK. Can't get the ticketing part of their website to speak english...

Which 'no frills' airlines fly from BKK or Chiang Mai to Kunming, Yunnan? I checked AirAsia but they don't fly that route.

It's 2 years since my last trip to China, 3 years since I've been to Kunming. There are lots of Banks and ATM's. I always used my ATM-card issued by a small German bank (Cirrus, Maestro). Never a problem, except that the maximum amount was 2000 Yuan only (about 200 Euro) per withdrawal.