SunSeek01

Alot of rooms down in Naklua around Soi 12 and 14. About 4000 per month for the room and 3000 for Elec/Water (yes, it's 8 baht a unit, a rip because I stayed at once at another that charged 4.2 and was assured it was the real rate). I saw bill from last month where they run the AC about 1/2 the time, the Elec was 2500 and the water was 300.

These rooms are about 80% Thai and 20% Farang. No lift but they have washing machines on the ground, water machines, and I've seen some different rooms and they are all OK, with a balcony, not deluxe but for $ 120 a month what do you want! Clean and no bugs. Baht bus to Beach Road = 10 baht.

Nacho - I have the same visa as you. Mine says "Enter Before" June 13, so I am thinking I have to come back into TH by June 12. When you say yours expires June 13, if it says Enter Before June 13 like mine, maybe you have to come back to TH by June 12. That's what I'm going to be doing anyway, come back into TH June 12.

Yes, the Thais would do well to listen to him. I read something last week, I think from the Sovereign Man guy, who visited Vietnam and said it's the next big thing, due to work ethic, emphasis on education, organization and things like that. Of course they have kind of a handicap being commies but it has not seemed to hurt China too much.

I'm sure you found out by now that apparently there are no double entry tourist visas from Cambo, that's what I was told.

I went to Lao in March. From Pattaya took the bus to Ekamai (actually got out early at BTS Udon Suk), BTS to Asok, MRT to Hua Lampong train station. About 980 baht for 2nd class Air Con lower bunk (recommend lower, only about 100 baht more). The whole train thing was nice, about 12 hours, got about 8 hours sleep, very clean all things considered. From Nong Kai (train lets you out there), I got a 3 wheeler taxi thing to the border, about 50 baht. Get your Lao visa (bring $ 35 USD if you can, or else pay 1500 baht). Then shared a minivan to the Embassy, very cheap, 200 or 300 baht each. Got to the Embassy around 9:30 or 10 am. took about 90 minutes to wait in line and submit the passport. Picked up next day at 1 pm.

Vientiane is pretty nice, small town, cheap beer. Took the night train back the same day, gets back to BKK around 7 am, back in Pattaya by about 1 PM.

The return ticket deal happened to me on United in 2010 and I was totally unprepared. We ended up with me buying a refundable return for like $ 1700, no worries though, I refunded it. The next long term trip which I am here on now, I bought an Air Asia ticket to P Phen for about 1500 baht, ended up not using and also did not need it, coming over from the States on an Asian based airline. Better to spend the little money up front though because they don't tell you until you are at the counter, like 2 hours before takeoff !

I'm not an owner in Thailand but I have lived in VT 2 before and I used to go to the other VT's alot looking at prices. If it was me, I'd rent and keep your eyes out and make friends and contacts. I saw some nice units. I know VT 2 is not your interest but like I said, I used to go to the others alot to look at the bulletin boards and try to meet people. The risk in my view at this time is much higher to buy than rent. The is a counter risk of prices rising but I'd say the risk is lower to rent. If your going to live there then who really cares, just be sure to get what you like.

Lite Beer is right, you can get a 30 day extension for 1900 baht at the Immigration office, Jomtien in your in Pattaya, not sure about BKK where it is, Bang Na BTS area possibly.

Lopburi3 is right, at least in my case. No air reservations/ticked or hotel reservations were asked for. There is a place on the visa form for where you are staying in TH. I did bring a copy of my air reservations back just in case though, just printed it out from the airline site. For going into Lao, it cost either $ 35 USD or 1500 baht so if you have 35 bucks you save a bit. Also baht spends in Lao, I only spent baht, they give you back change in Lao Kip which I don't think is spendable outside Lao, not sure.

Boy I am impressed by you guys! I expected to see a couple Commodore 64's and an IBM PC or maybe even an XT !

I'm 53 and I got my first computer in 1989, a 286 with 40 MB drive, 2 floppies and I guess 640K or maybe 1 MB even though DOS could not use it all. Cost about $ 1800 USD in the US. This post is a great trip down memory lane!

Just need your passport, 2 pictures, and probably your arrival slip from the airport needs to be in your passport. I did it in Vientiane 2 months ago, no worries, got a double entry. Just extended for 30 days at Jomtien. Took the train up to Nong Khai from BKK, it was nice. Oh, cost for visa was 2000 baht.

I'm on day 7 doing the Easy Way to Quit Smoking. Only slightly rough day was day 3. I've been out a few times, drank a bit, seems to be going OK. Of course I started to feel significantly better right away, the first day.

The whole notion of "On-line learning" is ridiculous. I've taken dozens of Microsoft and Cisco tests and believe me, most of them are pretty darn hard. If I had to go the reading on some kind of on-line training, I'd never get through it. There is a reason that books (and I include EBooks, EReaders, etc.) are popular, it's the fastest way to learn!!!

I gave my GF a notebook 2 years ago. It's only used for photo's and music and a few games. I brought back a tablet and even I play more games on it than I ever have in my life. But that's it. She looks at the English courses sometimes, and their not bad but for the most part, games and more games.

And one more thing, what is tablet designed now going to be worth in 2 years ?

Just a quick tale on my experience. Went to an HT back in the midwest of the U.S. in 1992. Cost about $ 70 USD I think, would be like $ 120 now. Anyway, the guy layed me down, did some relaxation exercises (verbal...), then went through a fairly short canned story about relaxation fluid through my body and tossing the smokes in a hole I dug on a dessert island.

I left my smokes in his office and stayed off for 7 years. Just my stupidity of trying a couple cigars during the cigar craze brought me back to the trap. He did give me a cassette of the session which I loved to listen to but I lost it after I started up again.

Now on Day 2 after reading Carr's Easy Way, the first day was easier! But all in all not too bad.

Yep, agree with Steely Dan. While never advisable to be in any picture in a combat zone if you can help it, and not too smart to take pics of dead bodies, all that being said, dogs should have more rights than these criminal terrorists. Their only goal is to make money and they do so by terror and extortion. If you knew the kinds of things they do to woman and children, if you really knew, I think you would agree.

And apologizing! What has the world come to?

I was in Vientiane the week before last. My last visa was from Cambo in 2010, a double entry. Anyway, when you get to the Consulate itself, there are guys outside the little gate, I mean right outside, who will process the whole visa for I think 1000 baht. That means you don't wait in line to turn it in (took us only about less than 2 hours), and when you come back the next day, they hand it over. I've heard they are trustworthy, read it somewhere here on TV. And maybe they can give you a better chance. Anybody you give it to before you reach the Consulate will probably just hand it to these guys anyway and charge another 500 baht.

We stayed at Thawee Guest house which was fine, there are many but some did not look so good. Good luck Bro.

You know, I don't think Pattaya is that bad. It has lots of things to do and sure it does have loads of bars, but most are in South Pattaya and Walking Street. There are plenty of others but no so concentrated.

As for the beach, I like it, it's very lively and not tawdry, especially at the north end, I am talking Pattaya Beach itself. There is always Wongamat and Jomtien both of which I think are nice. Agree, not as pristine and quiet as the Koh Chang and others but it's always a trade off. I've seen plenty of families in Pattaya and it looked like they were all having fun (except sometimes when Dad is peeling off the 1000 baht notes!).

There is Pattaya Park water park, go carts, Gardens, Tiger and Crocodile farms, small attractions all over the place. Bring money but it's still one of the least expensive tourist areas here I think.

I went to Vientiane last week. I got to Thailand around Feb. 16 and used up the 30 day exemption. I had a double entry from Cambodia in 2010. I got a double entry this time in Vientiane. Everything was pretty easy, no proof of money or address required. I just put the Soi number and town where I stay.

Cost was $ 35 USD (or 1500 baht if you don't have USD), and 1000 for single or 2000 for double entry. By the way I stayed at Thawee guest house, about $ 15 per night with AC. I took the night train 69 from Hua Lampong station, 2nd class lower bunk for about 800 baht, not bad at all. I don't like Minivans ! Train back is 70. We arrived in Nong Khai around 9:30 am (one hour late) but still had time to get our passports in, we got to the Consulate about 11 am. All went well, good luck to you too.

There is another one, eztv.it - quite good.

Great info Heat. Was the mini-van just waiting there for takers or did you get it arranged before hand?

Darn, I really didn't know but I began to get the idea when all the talk was of Laos and almost none of Cambodia. I guess my first trip to Laos is in the cards now! Thanks !

I did go to the consulate in Miami, basically an American lawyer working for Thailand part time (like 4 hours a day, 3 days a week or something). She was nice but basically she could only get me a double entry, she knew nothing of the 30 day/1900 baht extension, and she wanted air tickets which I did not have yet.

Had I been able to go to a bigger embassy I probably could have done better. I originally thought I could get a non-imm O without any sponsor but soon found out I could not.

So really my only concern now is, must I go to somewhere other than Cambo. I'm close to Pattaya so that would be easiest plus my gf's village is fairly close. I'm going to go over to the place I did it with in 2010 (Inter Cambodia) and see what they say. I would like to go to Lao though, always heard good things. Thanks to all and if anymore info double entry in Cambodia comes up, please let me know.

I bought an open ticket to make sure I didn't get stopped at the counter flying over here since my R/T is for 6 months. It does coordinate with my 30 day exemption but if I don't use it that's OK too. I'd still have to stay in Phnom Penh and get back, which might be OK. One time United Air stopped at the counter in the U.S. because I did not have a 6 month visa. me and I had to buy a one way refundable ticket right then and there! I did refund it of course. I just flew Asiana last week from the U.S. and no mention of it!

I meant passing on the right, it's crazy in those mini-vans. Anyway, does this mean at least for now, no double entry visa's from Cambodia? Leaving me with going to Laos or Malaysia or other ? Thanks !

I already bought an Asian Air ticket for Phnom Pehn in case I needed it at the US airport. I took a visa run by minivan last time and it was fine except for passing on the left, not worth it for me.

So if I want to do it myself, do I have to fly to to PPehn? Or can I just get it at the border? Seems like they took my passport to PPehn last time while we stayed at the hotel. Thanks

Last time I was here I did a visa run for the double entry. We mini-vanned from Pattaya, were just supposed to have to stay in Cambo 1 night (we left very early from Ptty, 3 am) but we ended up staying 2 nights as the guy did not get back in time. It was OK, a casino hotel. I guess the guy took our passports to Phnom Penh, got the visa's and returned them back to us. I mean we stayed at the border in the hotel. Got the double entry and the 180 days (had to go back after 90 just for an hour).

Now I am wondering, if I was to fly to PPenh myself, how do I go about getting myself a double entry? I just go to the Thai Embassy and ask/pay for it? I already have an Air ticket that I bought in case I needed to show a ticket coming over from the U.S. (I did not as it turns out but it did happen to me once before).

My main concern is, I need to know as good as possible that I can get the double entry on my own. Otherwise I'll have to use the visa man again and take the mini van trip (which is terrifying, believe me, about passing on the right on 2 lane!).

Anyone done it on their own in Phnom Penh? Thanks to all.

Hey Bud7 - I just ordered a Fire here in the States and I'll be over there in Thailand next week. I'd be interested to hear if you go with the Fire. I already had Prime and I wanted to get it here at my home address. I do tend to agree with the guy before this post, get a different Android Tab, I didn't even know there is a Kindle App for Andoid. I have the kindle app on my notebook so that should have tipped me off.

Anyway, let me know or if you hold off buying it, I'll let you know. I'll be in Naklua/ N. Pattaya. - SS