Zpete

I don't think I have ever seen my bag come through in less than 30 minutes, and sometimes it's closer to an hour from the time I leave the aircraft.

......... over many of the airports in the world, particularly Bangkok. This pilferage and open bags on arrival thing is happening very consistently regardless of the departure airport.

on the contrary to your experience Ive more often than not received my bags in fairly short time...including getting through immigration in less than 10minutes.(including the long walk from whereever to the immigration counter)...and not much longer wait to get my bags.

on the latter...try going through Delhi Airport

Same here. I get through immigration very quickly going through the Thai Passport desks with my wife, and by the time I get a baggage cart our bags are starting to show up on the turnstile.

Yeah, Delhi is pretty bad, about 1 hour my last trip there. Another worst case airport for waiting for bags is Houston International Airport.

Hi Folks,

I have no idea as to why people HAVE to bad mouth SUVARNABHUMI.

I travel extensively and find the Thai immigration and the baggage retrievals are at the top of the airports list. There would be little opportunity for pilfering on arrival.

LAX has to be the worst in my experience.

I had a good laff, my mate would NOT open his case, summun mite put sumfin in it, LAX customs snipped the lock off......PMPL.

Why do people needs loads of moisturiser etc. I take an empty, cheap plastic atomiser and fill it with water once on board, cheapest moisturiser yet. My eyes tear ducts seem to dry out. I guess vanity says expensive cosmetics etc, a must.

Most everything other than valuables should be in the hold.

I used to use combo locks, but always missing at destination. Good key lock, NOT one of those with a key for customs, stuff that.

Happy travelling peeps.

Kiwi Pete

Is this is as good as this thread's going to get?

Okay, here's another question. Why is it inThailand that if a chair or small piece of furniture breaks, they put an 'Out Of Order' sign on it instead of putting it away? What is it with the Thai love of 'Out Of Order' signs.

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You ever thought to ask this to a Thai?

Hmmmmmmm......... I wonder................

Are there any genuine, dinky dory, real, actual, fair dinkum, honest to God, Thais in here?

..... just a bored lot of farangs

Cheers

Kiwi Pete

Thanks - that map is perfect

LOL.......Map perfect....... At 1st it was confusing.

For a regular user of : "THE MAGIC FOOD POINT"........ the name of the restaurant.

The map is not too bad.

Easiest way I tell ppl, it is adjacent to bus departure Gate 8, bottom floor level.

Big sign over the door.

I head there as soon as I land in BKK.

Grab a paper and go eat. Food is great, so CHEAP, huge turnover, sooo fresh.

Happy eating folks

Kwiw Pete

Where in BKK's new airport can I get this plastic wrapping done?

The wrapper station I used, is just to the right as you enter departure checkin area from the bus/taxi droppoff. Roughly the centre of the departure floor. TOP FLOOR

I reckon it will NOT STOP stuff being pinched. My usual way is to get my seat allocated, Thai happily does that for you. Then wait till the last minute to check in. That ensures minimal time for pilfering efforts. Also, my main reason, my baggage is last on, first off.

I hope this does NOT make for a last minute rush........LOL

I have practiced that for nigh on 30 years.

Cheers

Kiwi Pete

Thank you gentlemen for your advice.

My mistake about the re-entry permit requirement for 1 year multiple entry visa. As pointed out, the re-entry permit only applies if on an extension of a multiple entry visa. So many rules and regulations to get my head around.

I am pretty happy that I have my own visa options sorted out, -- that being a one year multiple entry visa renewed annually in Australia. Which brings me back to one of my origional questions. For my intermediate 90 day exit and re-entry requirements, -- is it OK to just go into Laos or Cambodia, pass through their immigration checkpoint and get a stamp in my passport, then turn straight around again and go back out to Thailand again?

Re my wife's situation, I am still a little confused. If she juggles passports, -- like using her Aussie passport to leave Thailand and enter Australia, and then, using her Thai passport to leave Australia and enter Thailand. I am a little aprehensive that it could cause some problems.

ANDO,

Dunno about OZ immigration, but NZ immigration DO NOT stamp NZ national's passports entering or leaving NZ. That means I could arrive in any country without a stamp saying from whence I came. A new passport, completely devoid of any stamps. Travelling often, I have never had any questions asked. The relevant immingrations know where you originated by your filling in the arrival caeds.

Just use woteva passport suits the country, that is one that has least restrictions.

Don't worry mate.

Enjoy Thailand like I do, with my Thai partner.

Cheers

Kiwi Pete.

I don't feel sorry for you in any way as there is no excuss for 6 months overstay and hopefully they fine you and stamp your passsport to stop you coming back in again.

You and similar people are to blame for the new and enforced regulations regarding visas which is effecting genuine long term tourists and others who are / were long term residents here (doing monthly border runs which in themselves is not idea but was tolerated) and who are now faced with all sorts of problem to stay with wives and family.

If you think this is a good way to answer, then it's up to you!! But next time first think and then answer... as long you don't know the facts of my overstay you should'nt judge me as well... i know, that my overstay is/was not a good way... dont think i did like it... but sometimes there are no other ways... it's sure a fact, that you can't imagine how happy i am to have also some good answers and at least also to have somebody cares about me... bye and i hope you stay as clean and proper as you like to judge and write

NEWBIE,

It is people like you who do NOT take resposiblity for their actions and expect others to get you out of the mire. You who have caused all the new regulations.

GETALIFE, you are the irresponsible one here, right from the start. NO EXCUSES, reasons, do things properly next time.

I have no sympathy for you and people like you, but do, for the many YOU and your ilk have caused law abiding tourist and wannabe residents.

Myself I stay just under 6 months here, then 6 months at home, summer all year, so the 90 days does not affect me.

Kiwi Pete

According to Visa & Mastercard International, and Amex, it is a breach of the merchant contract, for anybody to make hard copies of all the card data, especially the last 3 digits.

Anyone storing this information can be prosecuted to the fullest extent by the above companies and loose their entire merchant processing facilities.

Also it is also a breach of the Merchant Agreement to pass their processing fees to the customers. They can add it to the profit margin, but not charge 4% for slapping out your debit or credit card.

The way Visa and Mastercard describe surcharging, is that if anybody pays with cash, they should get a discount, and anyone who pays with their card should pay the displayed price. But anyone found to be surcharging can loose their merchant account.

Also be more alert with your payment cards, check your balances on a daily basis, or if super paranoid every hour (like me)!

Also be careful, there are skimmers trying loads of cards for small amounts using megabus.com merchant account for small amounts between 1GBP to 6GBP, then your account gets emptied a few days later. If you notice a charge from WP-STAGECOACH SERV, its advisable to cancel your card immediately.

According to the fraud research centre in the USA, and APACs in the UK. Thailand is currently the number one place where foreign criminals are using the cards to commit the crime.

Kayata, good info.

I use BNZ Visa Global Gold card.

Thailand has a tax, 3% on all credit card transactions. Guess there is nothing c/card issuers can do about that one.

On my return from Thailand , S/pore, Malasia and cambodia, last Dec, my bank put a hold on my c/card. Seems they thought it may have been compromised during my travels.

A new one was issued, having since, been back again to same countries, the bank has not issued any notice of concern this time.

Basically, I use the card for internet, airline bookings, as I travel around a lot.

I rarely, if ever use a credit card in these countries, Honkers included. I NEVER give the card to an assistant, always, "IN MY HANDS ONLY".

No one has ever taken offence to this, if they did, I would immediately refuse to do my business. I never thought of what I read in an earlier post, put some good sticky tape over the 3 digit security number, after memorising it.

BNZ has another security safety device, you sign up for it and have to put in another password for the transaction to finalise, "Verisign", it is a good idea. I guess other banks have it too.

I rarely enter my bank, all my banking, payments etc, are internet based.

Every day, usually first thing in the morning, I check my credit card transactions, whether I have used the card or not, one never knows.

Good luck Peple, and thanks all for the good oil.

Cheers

Kiwi Pete

How can a govt freeze assets outside the country? this sounds pretty dodgy to me.

Propagander at its finest.

It will indeed be very difficult for the AEC to try and freeze Offshore bank accounts. It's a long process.

Apart from that: tax fraud and/or corruption allegations are not exactly on the list of those Offshore Banks in order to cooperate with requests to freeze his accounts...(hard) drugs are.

LaoPo

Why doesn't the Military get a life.

A person as astute as Thaksin would surely have buried cash and secutities well away from any possibility of being confiscated or frozen.

I would say he could live a life of luxuty anywhere that he wishes.

No need to worry about returning to Thailand and the possible kangaroo courts.

Kiwi Pete

Why not take the AirAsia flight to Penang?

You would have to clear immigration and be really fast to check in again, as the turn round time is only 40 minutes.

Last few times I have been on AirAsia they have been curiously on time, a change from their past records but they won't allow connecting flights within a few hours of each other.

Maybe I'm just lucky, but on 10 flights so far with AirAsia every flight was exactly on time.

My last 2 flites with Air Asia were all delayed.

1st one from Phuket was delayed 2 hours. I had gone to sleep at YHA in Chalong, woke up about time flight was due to leave. Taxi to the airport, "WOW", lucky me, the flite was just checking in. I was looking at kipping till 1st flite in morning, lucky me.

2nd. Flite from Suvarnabhumi, 1700 hrs, was going to be 3 hours late. Gal at checkin desk told me to come back in 30 mins. (I was early, gunna fresh up and feed at "Magic Food Point". I came back and was rushed on to a 2 hour earlier flite.

I use Air Asia all the time for local and international flites from BKK or Phuket.

I LOVES AIR ASIA, they work for me LOL

Cheers

Kiwi Pete

Although people have reportedly done that in the past with the new checking of boarding pass for most arrivals in Bangkok, and the much closer checking of passport entries, I would not chance them believing you originated in a country not requiring an entry/exit stamp.

Dunno about having exit stamp.

All new passports from New Zealand would be virgins, clean and unblemished........LOL.

No stamping in NZers passports when entering or leaving NZ.

No problems entering BKK.

I have used LCC many times. No apparent transit area.

Hey after all, it is Low Cost, what ya expect?

If you have a long wait, get bus to KLIA, heaps of comfortable places to kip. Then bus back. Gofrit

Kiwi Pete

Just wanna add my lil bit.

I took bus via Aran to Siem Reap. (Neva again....sheeeeesh)

Did Cambodia went on to Vietnam.

Flew back to Bangers, all I did was put my flite number and date on the form.

Nobody asked for onward ticket to check.

Mite be possible to bluff, put what ever on the form.

Dunno if they have a computer system that checks the veracity of the info.

Mite just be a lax immigration officer, but same occurred when returning to Phuket from Kuala Lumpur.

I dunno, very inconsistent, but suited me going by what I have read here.

Wish yers all "Good Luck"

Kiwi Pete

might <not mite> be because you flew in and didn't do a land crossing ... showing you were not a poverty packer

LOL, djinasia.

Mite, rite, flite, nite, just being lazy. Neva care.

Poverty packer, dunno, I stayed on Pnom Phen for $US3 a nite, actually paid 6 bucks for a double.......LOL.

Cheers all.

This will be of interest to Kiwis and any people visiting New Zealand.

I am a NZer and gave up buying cameras and the like when o'seas. NZ shop prices are as good as anywhere. Booze too. Duty free at Suvarnabhumi is rip-off.

It is possible to bargain with most retailers of electronics, caneras etc in NZ.

Most importantly you get a valid warranty. Peace of mind.

MBK and Pantip are great for accessories, I buy there every trip. Ink for refilling cartridges and other consumerables.

If you are heading this way, go to DSE, Bond & Bond and Harvey Norman where you will get a deal, a good deal, better than duty free. All are in most malls.

Check out DF prices and start an offer somewhat less. Gofrit.

Happy shopping

Kiwi Pete

Just wanna add my lil bit.

I took bus via Aran to Siem Reap. (Neva again....sheeeeesh)

Did Cambodia went on to Vietnam.

Flew back to Bangers, all I did was put my flite number and date on the form.

Nobody asked for onward ticket to check.

Mite be possible to bluff, put what ever on the form.

Dunno if they have a computer system that checks the veracity of the info.

Mite just be a lax immigration officer, but same occurred when returning to Phuket from Kuala Lumpur.

I dunno, very inconsistent, but suited me going by what I have read here.

Wish yers all "Good Luck"

Kiwi Pete