CWMcMurray

Took the kids to live with the in-laws in Packchong (Khao Yai) area until the flood situation is better in BKK, yesterday.

Took the below route ad no flooding on the roads below (although traffic was quite heavy)

- Chonburi Express Way (route 7)

- Exit Chachoensao Rd

- Take Route 314 to Route 304

- Follow Route 304 to Route 319

- Follow Route 319 to Route 33

- Follow Route 33 to Route 1

- Enter Route 1 just a few km south of Saraburi

If the hotels have so many empty rooms, where are all the evacuees from Bangkok staying. The town is more crowded than I've seen it in eight years. They must all own homes or condos or just stay in their cars driving the streets, which have bumper to bumper traffic now like Bangkok usually does.

I would guess that they are staying in places with more reasonable rates that the 5 star InterContinental Hua Hin Resort . It is one thing to treat your self and your family fora weekend stay, but I am guessing that most (even those fairly well off) would have trouble paying their monthly rates....

Holiday Inn on Silom road is offering a flood discount- there is a big banner out front by the Ice Bar advertising it. Sorry that's all I know, but wish you the best.

Thanks, I cant find anything on their website, may have to give them a call

OP..how much is your budget per night?

No set budget, but as little as possible would be nice...

Never heard about these discounts...

I have heard about some place outside BKK, but my wife heard from a friend that Amari had a special for THB 500... took a look at their website and called to double check.

Thai Citizen special ....

Daily rate = 1,600 per night

Weekly rate = 1,400 per night

Monthly rate = 1,200 per night

Google tat + tha flood promotions

Tried that before posting... no luck

We live out in the suburbs and the water is coming ever closer and closer and closer.... some of the side sois are starting to have a bit of water accumilate

I have heard the horror stories from those planning to "Tough it out" and are now trapped on the second floor with a river of Sh#T floating through and around their homes, so my wife and I are considering moving into the heart of the city to one of the downtown hotels offering promotions to be a bit safer.

Unfortunately, we both have jobs, so just picking up and leaving town is not an option as we both still need to make the daily commute into the city.

I know some of the hotel promotions stipulate for Thai Citizens only, but as my wife is Thai the booking can be made in her name, so this is also ok if you know any.

Would appreciate any input any can offer.

The re-entry permit was still going on 23 Oct when I was there...

Although it seemed to be moving very slowly, I was waitining in Immigration line for aprox 20 min and I only saw one person move through the re-entry permit queue, there were about 15 others still waiting in line... So would leave your self plenty of time at the airport.

But since you mentioned that you normally only do 5 months in Thailand ... Nov - Mar? If so, you could still make Jan-Mar with a tourist visa (60 days) and 30 day extension if any problems with getting a re-entry permit. .

I some how missed the first time around when you mentioned that you let the keys in it...

That could be a big problem, as I remember that the insurance made a very big point to ensure that we still had both sets of original keys...

They implied that if the keys were also missing it could lead to problems with getting insurance payout. We had both, so did not follow up on that issue as it did not applyto our situation.

Same thing happened to us about 4 yrs back...

Police were no help at all, in fact when we went to the local station one of the offiers made the comment... "Oh cars get stolen from that exact same spot every Sunday between 1-3pm..."

It may be just me, but with that type of regularity, one would think that the Police should have a pretty easy job in setting up a sting. Of course they probably did that a long time ago, so they could find the gang responsible in order to ensure they got their cut...

But the good news is that the insurance paid the full value of the car, we just had to wait a few months as they give the Police 3 months time to find the car. If the Police can not locate the car in that time, insurance pays out.

Here someone selling and RV...

http://thai-motorhome.com/

Thai language website...

http://thai-motorhome.com/

A google search also turned up the below company as well....

Siam Motor Home Co.,Ltd.

Company Name:Siam Motor Home Co.,Ltd.

Registered address:

478/1 Soi Sukumvit 16 Khlongtoei, .19/4 Moo7 Nongree Muangchonburi,

Number of Employees:51 - 100 People Product/Services:Camping car

About Us Vantect under the company named Siam Motor Home has started manufacturing and selling camping cars with export quality in Thailand for the first time. Moreover, models sold in Thailand have been equipped with extra special features to offer a higher level of driving comfort. This represents a new dimension of traveling at an unbelievable low price. We hope you have a pleasant journey with the new experience of traveling in the region.

Contact Person:

Mr. Norraboon Nannar

TelePhone: 66-038-476512

Mobile Phone:081-703-0999

Fax: 66-038-476512

Carry Boy Motor Home

Carry boy Mobile Home

Lies Lies Lies..

Good job to the Council of State for declaring this unconsitutional and good job on the Nation for printing this article.

Even though this was overturned, it is still important to inform the public, so that all can be aware.

In my opinion, freedom of speech is the most important of rights, otherwise no criticism or information on "mess ups" of the poweful would ever see the light of day.

If you have some details and/or pictures of the items you are looking to import let me know and I can give you a hand with the estimated import duties...

yes

You may want to advise the origin /. destination, as different airlines use different planes on long or short hall flights...

Magazines are exempt from both Duty and VAT....

Really, can you explain why they are so expensive compared to the Thai magazines and papers and 5 times the cost in the UK?

Part of it must be for the freight and distribution costs... as due to the time sensative nature, magazines and papers are all shipped via Airfreight

4901.991000 ----

- - - Educational, technical, scientific, historical or cultural books

Duty: Exempted

Duty rate for Printed matter is 10%, but there is a special Tariff code for Education Materials that is rated at 0%. You should not have refused it, but should have been able to push them to use correct tariff code for 0%

That being said, if they refused, you would have little recourse... you could have them turn over to your designated customs broker for clearance, but given the low value it wouldn't make sense as the charges for customs clearance and delivery would be higher that the duty amount that FedEx charged you.

3I think we are discussing the wrong issue. The point is - there should be no tax, duty, VAT or any type of government surcharge on knowledge, hence textbooks. But TIT is strongly for it, otherwise it wouldn't be what it is.

Australia has GST on textbooks as do many other countries. Maybe there shouldn't be but if the law is being applied fairly you hsve no complaint. The US and UK also apply tax escept under very limited conditions which do not apply to you.

GST or VAT are different that Import Duty... Only import goods are subject to Duty, GST or VAT are calculated on all goods imported or sold domestically...

I think the OP in this case is discussing the Duty, rather that VAT...

Education Material has a duty rate of 0%, but VAT of 7% would still be applicable.

A lot of companies are still working, so many people can not evacuate even if they wanted to...

The holiday is only for government employees, the private sector is not under any obligation to close.

For example, my wife has a store at one of the local shopping malls... the Mall is still open and if she did not open her store she would still be fined THB 2,000 per day. She has allowed the employees to leave and have evacuated, but now my wife has to be there all day to open and watch the store.

I am currently overseas, but will be back tomorrow and would be very surprised if our company is closing. I expect that I will also be working as normal on Fri and Sat. (baring any major flooding in our office or home area. Even if flooding, I will still be working from home.

Fedex is the problem. Always use EMS not one of the express delivery services.

Could you please explain why one of the express delivery services is a problem ?

Yes. because one of the ways they still manage to make it express is to charge taxes on every item whether tax is due or not. But hey if your happy keep having it delivered by express carriers.

On EMS deliveries they only check and charge on a small percentage of goods coming into the country.

Sort off correct... they generally are a bit lazy and simply do what is easiest...

There can some times be a question as to which tariff code that should be used. Customs brokers work with their customs and ask additional questions to try and use the best and most accurate tariff code, but most courier companies like FedEx, DHL and UPS make their money on volume, so they do not want to waste time on such things...

Usually if any question in the tariff code, rather than ask questions or for additional clarification, they just take the higher duty rate to protect themselves. There goal is to spend as little time as possible on each shipment, not to try and save duty and vat charges for consignee's.

Magazines are exempt from both Duty and VAT....

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