songhklasid

I paid for a three year policy of "Safety Insurance Public Company Limited" through my insurance broker Eric Dohlon who has an office in Phuket. I did the entire transaction by phone and e-mail after Eric sent me via e-mail the details and prices of several different companies policies to consider. Each Thailand Insurance policy for a home offered slightly different policy coverage limits, but most of the companies would give a very generous discount if I paid for three years in advance. The US Dollar buys less baht today, I was able to use a Capital One Visa card which has no "foreign transaction fee" and Safety Public Company Limited did not charge any extra if I paid in Thai baht through my broker with that Visa card. I certainly had the option to pay one year at a time, to pay in a bank transfer OR use a credit card. However it was well worth the discount for paying three years in advance and if I considered the direction of the US Dollar I would have considered the five year policy discount they offered.

The broker advised me to make a list of what contents we had in the home and I used a free on line service third-drawer.com I had a good idea of what the home cost to build, minus the foundation, and exactly what the contents cost. Eric advised me that the "Electric Injury" was a crucial aspect to consider when comparing Home owner policies.

I paid a nominal sum for renters insurance (less than 2500 baht a year) when we lived three years in a rental home in Thailand. I pay more for a home owners policy with much higher coverage than the renter's policy. I can say the 500,000 for "Electric Injury" was a wise move as one small "electric surge" with a small fire at a 290 baht surge suppressor caused considerably more damage than the policy premium cost for three years. I witnessed the surge on a Sunday afternoon, phoned my insurance broker and he advised me to take photos and make a list of what was damaged. He arranged for a "Insurance Surveyor" to arrive the very next day. While Eric Dohlon is bi-lingual the insurance "Surveyor" was not. However, Eric guided me through the simple claims process, the form I signed I was able to write in English what happened and the company authorized us purchasing all new items to replace what was damaged in two days.

Once we mailed the original receipts for the items and labor and e-mailed a copy of what bank account in Thailand to deposit the insurance payment for the claim the process took two weeks. No "run around", no depreciation, no hassles, but Eric was very clear on the receipts showing model numbers of what we bought and the tax identification number of the vendor. Frankly I hope we never have to make another claim, but I sure have little control over the voltage of electricity in our home, even with all sorts of "proper" electric supply items.

It was interesting to note which surge suppressors survived, which UPS battery backups survived and protected electrical items and which surge suppressors and battery backups failed. The insurance company allowed us to replace poorly performing items with more expensive surge suppressors that

proved they protected electrical items.

The policy was in plain English so I knew what was covered and what would be excluded. It is worth checking with a broker such as Thai Visa or Eric Dohlon for renter's insurance or home owners insurance as while our "brick house with cement roof tiles" might not be in grave fire danger, the damage due to poor electricity from the PEA is real in my personal experience.

Eric had stated that "Safety Insurance" would pay a legitimate claim without a run around and he was correct in my recent experience. I've attached a photo of some of the less expensive items destroyed due to a voltage surge.

And how much was a 3 yr policy, both my quotes are around 3500 baht for 1 year.

regards songhklasid.

My thai wife & myself have a 2 bedroom brick/rendered tile roof house in sankhaenphang district of chiang-mai, previously my wife's best friend would look after yearly payment &we would re-pay her next visit, but sadly she has passed on, since we both still work in AUS, I was looking for an alternative for same cover $1.5 million (house) 250,000 for contents, also ease of payment, B-PAY or C.Card.House is 4yr old, excellent condition on a built up 500 sq metre block.

regards songhklasid.

They look a fine product, but, being a aussie also, all I need is a 2 burner flat plate, no hood ,do big C or home-pro sell something on those lines, I'm in the chiang-mai area, I read in earlier post a store called rimping, where is this,

thanking you all for info.

regards songhklasid.

not sure, but he does read this (isaan) site now & then, probably busy with his yorkshire pudding, as I mention earlier if you can't reach lance, try the accom. websites, they are deffinetly cheaper than walk in rates.

regards songhklasid.

To far out of town? Where do you consider 'town' to be?

Book by email? Yeah sure, you need to call them.

What about laitong, for around 1200baht /nite, you get air con room, with all amenities, swim pool, breakfast, close to restaurants, market, and of course close to lance's new bar 4 ice cold leo's.

regards songhklasid. P. S. try agoda or hotels2 thailand on internet.

Paradise ubon,Yes to me I luv it , I been travelling to thailand for 32yrs, owned a bar, minibuses phuket, married ( 23yrs) house in C.M, I am well & truly OVER THE PHUKET'S of this world, drunken falangs, rip off prices, katoey, kamoeys crowds. I can rent a nice room, pushbike for under $20aus per day, explore Laos, bus trips exploring the greater isaan, all in ubon, accompianied with my lovely mia-noi, & being able to speak thai is a big bonus conversing with these genuine good hearted people of isaan.

regards songhklasid, B)

When I've got a throbbing boner for #2, & finished my duties @ house in CM, It's gunna be the fastest way to paradise ubon, bring it on.

regards songhklasid. B)

I 'de go to nong khai, the large markets on the mekong river,then follow route212 along the mekong, you will see " vientiane restaruant" excellent seafood on the banks of the mekong.

regards songhklasid (rte 212 takes you to tha-bo, sri chiang-mai)

Sounds like a good side trip from ubon for #2 & family ,What other attractions are there besides the zoo, recommend any good isaan restaurants in the area,any info appreciated.

regards songhklasid

I've tried to book, but no luck, the innaugrial first flight would suite me, if not wed 2/11, I wonder if they will have opening specials? anyone any idea of prices ?

regards songhklasid.

Great news, Last time I did this leg, CM-UBON I caught a early morning flight CM-BKK ( air asia) then taxi to don muang, then nok-air to ubon. In the past I have flown thai, they have convenient connections via suvarnabhum, but @ 5000 baht all up, it's pricey. I'm back in LOS in oct, hopefully this new service will be up & running by then.

regards songhklasid.

Just tried to log on bangkok post, no go ? sounds suspect considering election in 2 days ?

I hope I'm wrong

regards songhklasid.

Really if your here over 30 days at a time you sould get one.

First a quick mecdical exam that cost 100B and only checks if you have 100B nothing more.

Then yes a house book. letter from Imm. or Work permit or Thai DL

I only had to take a quick eye test. A computer test in English that is poorly translated and I failed and could retake that very instant.

and I pointless driving test of 10m turn around and return.

It was easy.

Having a Thai D/L has helped a few times when I was stopped. And they just let me go. I guess the Raod Pirates were just out for foreigners

HI, Dont worry about licence, Im in australia & BKK post website is down, I could not post breaking news thia visa, july 1 , Doesn't bade well for coming elections.

regards songhklasid.

Hi, Lance & Tom, Phil, (songhklasid) here, I'm back in oz working my butt off, be back november, look forward to enjoying a yen yen Leo, will have #2 in tow. Hope all's well with bar/restaurant.

regards songhklasid.

I am a regular visitor to LOS, with a house & motorbike east of chiang-mai, my wife says you don't have to, but I would like to get my motorbike license, Is it a multiple choice + practical test , any sample questions sheets, any info appreciated.

regards songhklasid.

Was there for the 2nd roast dinner nite,(fridays) was roast pork & vege's with gravy, very nice, judging by the no. of customers, all seems to be going well, He,s got 1 thai girl staff now, so things are settling down,

best regards songhklasid

I'll be in Laos 4 next 12 days, I know the telephone system is not as good as thai, but is there a cheap way to ring o'seas from there,

any info appreciated.

regards songhklasid

YES, there is a new bar in ubon, called T.C. bar,restaraunt ,Lance & thai partner are the new owners of this neat, & tidy establishment, although he's still finishing things off, It had a opening 4 nites ago, ICE COLD BEERS, & farang & thai food, Lance & partner seem nice people & Myself & # 2 wish them the very best .

cheers songhklasid.

P.S. I,ll see you june2 after our lao adventure, I'll be tounging for a western feed by then.B)

Many times from Chaing Khan it's about 3 hours...Tha Bo ,even Sri Chiang Mai is hardly a full day trip..AfterSri Chiang Mai head to Pak Chom then Chiang Khan..Beautiful ride along the Mekong,quiet roads,small villages..CKhan is a great little town too if youv never visited..Thomas

thankyou will do,

regards songhklasid recommend anywhere for lunch?

I'll be in nong khai shortly, staying @ pantawee, What I would like to do is a day trip east along route 211 by motorbike to tha bo or even sri- chaingmai, has anyone done this trip, ( scenic trip alongside mekong river).

regards Songhklasid

I have stayed @ both, billabong is nice , safe , relaxing, good pool (about 20metres) &great food, you can short time outside, OR the flamingo is the centre of action in the street (forget #) shanghai bar across the road, walkabout round the corner, heart of darkness just up the road, & the riverfront 5 min walk, flamingo is guest friendly.

regards songhklasid.

assuming you mean Koh Chang in Trat province, and not the smaller, but charming Koh Chang just opposite Ranong.

Go to ehkamai (eastern bus terminal) daily govt bus, cheap, good service, look @ going to koh maak if you like quieter holiday.

regards songhklasid. Bus leaves early, best go book day before

I am travelling to laos next month, I was wondering with $aus 1.05 to 1 $us what would be better currency to take, or is the laos kip at a fixed rate to $us or what about thai baht, does kip fluctuate against the baht ?

thankyou for your assistance

regards songhklasid

2 years ago did Det Udom, Ubon Nong Khai. From Ubon the shortest route is about 470km via KK and Udon. Via Mukdahan & Nakhom Phanom following the river which is what I did it is about 600km. It was a pleasant drive with some stretches almpost empty of traffic in places, cruised along at 80km/h, that of course makes it a full day travel.

Thanks for your reply, Were' decided to bus it with a overnite stop in khon khaen @ the kosa hotel, I have the time this trip, then onward to nong khai for 2 days .

what are the logistics of the bus trip. Might need to get from Nong Khai to Mukdahan, which is a similar journey. Is there a bus which travels between the two?

Ubon to khon-khaen is highway, therefore less painfull bus rides, I;ll check out nakon chai air , if there buses from ubon go via khon khaen, after o/nite pit stop in K.K it's only 3.5 hours to nong khai.

rgds songhklasid.

2 years ago did Det Udom, Ubon Nong Khai. From Ubon the shortest route is about 470km via KK and Udon. Via Mukdahan & Nakhom Phanom following the river which is what I did it is about 600km. It was a pleasant drive with some stretches almpost empty of traffic in places, cruised along at 80km/h, that of course makes it a full day travel.

Thanks for your reply, Were' decided to bus it with a overnite stop in khon khaen @ the kosa hotel, I have the time this trip, then onward to nong khai for 2 days .

what are the logistics of the bus trip. Might need to get from Nong Khai to Mukdahan, which is a similar journey. Is there a bus which travels between the two?