LAKRA

Have used in the past Avis, Hertz, Budget and most recently Q cars in January. Of primary concern has always been validity of car insurance and hence sticking with international brands. If you got an offer of 10k from Avis then I would suggest you visit their offices in Bangkok, review the details (particularly on collision, damage waiver) and go for it as the figure does seem low but Avis is an International brand.

I know Bupa do travel insurance. Here's the link http://www.bupa.co.th/en/individuals/travel-insurance/.

I would suggest that your parents use online Bangkok Bank in London to remit funds into your account which would arrive the following working day. Its also a good idea to carry some 50's as they could get a better rate for them at places like Super Rich ( Central Department store Pattaya) or Bangkok.

You will need to consider the time of your flight if using the airport link. I believe it operates from 6am so allowing at least 2.5 hrs for check in your flight would need to be after 0830hrs. If it is you can get on the airport link at Phyathai and get off at Ramkhamhaeng. Opposite the station is a cheap hotel called Nasa Vegas. From Ramkhamhaeng to the airport via the airport link is about 20 minutes and cost 30 baht. You can Google Nasa Vegas and book or get their rates.

You need to be at the domestic terminal 2 hours before leaving you then have 5 hours. Take 2 hours for going into town and returning to the airport you will have 3 hours. Mahseers suggestion is the best and you could also possibly get a good head massage in Park Street. Curious are you going to Kaziranga? or tea plantations? Have a good trip.

I plan to take a bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Is Bell Service the only service provider at the Airport ? Do I have better choices at the Airport ?

There is another hourly service on the same desk as Bell Travel. This service just drops you off at the intersection of Pattaya Nua, Klang and Tai which means you will have to find a baht bus or motocyc taxi to take you to the hotel. I think the cost is 150 baht for the bus service but frankly much better to use Bell for 250 baht which takes you to the main Bus station and then seamless transfer to minibuses to your hotel. Is it worth the hassle for a couple of quid?

I always fly Emirates, they give 30kgs + 7kg cabin allowance, even in economy class, you used to have to enrol to their frequent flyer for this, but it may be standard now. If you do need to you can easily do it when you book your flight. They have a lot of offers on from the UK, so you may be lucky with a good price. I enjoy the break in Dubai as it splits the journey from the UK more or less in the middle making each flight around 6 to 7 hours.

I have a question about these Arab airlines - do they let you drink alcohol in flight? There's no way I'm flying to the other side of the world without a drink! (not a fan of flying)

Also, the stop-overs, do you actually get off the plane and stay in Dubai for a few days or do you just mean touching down and stretching your legs in the airport for a few hours?

I've read the thread about taking medication into the UAE but stories of 4 year imprisonments for having poppy seeds on clothing from a sandwich at Heathrow, 4 years for having 0.0003 grams of cannabis stuck to the tread of a man's shoes by accident. I've a good mind to boycot all Arab airlines until they upg.rade their thought paterns to the 21st (even the 20th) century!

Travelled with Emirates 6 months ago and had the same concerns as you. UAE has a website listing disallowed medicines but unless you're a chemist you could get confused. As I was on prescribed medicine I took the precaution of getting a letter from my GP and on the advice of their embassy packed the medicine in my hold baggage and not cabin baggage. I was transiting Dubai so my suggestion would be for you to contact the UAE embassy.

India has been negotiating with Bangladesh to have direct access through it to connect to its Northeastern states and thereby saving a huge amount in transport costs. The Indian government is aware of the importance of the north eastern states complaint that they are being left behind in the economic progress and politically if they are ignored; could be disastrous for them. To forestall any negativity from Bangladesh; I see this as an opportunity to use the narrow corridor north of Bangladesh through to Upper Assam (already serviced by broad gauge trains) and thence to Myanamar. The roads are there, albeit narrow but could be broadened into a highway and would provide massive employment for the northeasterners. The only problem is going through Nagaland, where the question of security arises. If India manages to create this highway through Myanamar and through to Thailand it would be fantastic but I think 2016 is a bit optimistic.

A lot of UK athletes have been funded by the lottery and maybe this is an idea the Thais can adopt. Provided the process of allocation is transparent; lottery funding can be applied to athletes who have a genuine chance of clinching a medal. It can also be used to employ foreign coaches with expertise. Thai pride shouldn't be dented by this, if, in the long term the nation achieves glory. Look at us in the UK; now having surpassed its Beijing medals total and with every medal the games have become addictive. The feel good factor is immense and in a time of economic mess it is uplifting.

Thailand can succeed and I for one sincerely hope they do!

The Malaysian border is at Pedang Besar. You get off the train with your luggage; exit Thai immigration and proceed to Malaysian immigration and customs (all in the same building) then get back on the same train. The train gets a Malaysian engine and Malaysian crew and then proceeds to Butterworth. There are trains to KL in the evening and if the train from Bangkok is on time you have enough time to pay a quick visit to Penang (much better than Butterworth which is a dump!) but be sure to buy your ticket to KL first and note Malaysian time! They have first class sleepers to KL.

If you can, try and avoid travel Friday through to Monday as fares are always highest on these days. Fares rise steeply after 10th July so suggest you do a skyscanner search which should give you a competitive fare.

I think many of the emirate countries employ immigrant labour as employees, such as cashiers (reasons; cheap labour and low status), and, while not casting aspersions and, if you can be bothered, it may be an idea to refer the matter to the Emirati airport chief who can then take up the matter with the franchisee. I am assuming that a commission is paid when a franchise is granted!

Personally I would be wary in taking the yeast and the cleaning tablets unless you are fluent in Thai to explain their use.

If you don't manage to get a tennis opponent for your daughter; you might like to consider an alternative suggestion. In Ramkhamhaeng soi 13 there are 6 tennis courts which one can book with or without a coach. There are many youngsters who play there and some of a very high standard. By going there on a weekend when it's busy, and, if you can speak a bit of Thai you may be able to enquire from the coaches or reception if they knew anyone who could play with your daughter. Sorry I don't have the telephone number. Hope this helps.

Sorry I didn't fully answer the query. Although I have no idea what the actual times are you might try phoning Bell Travel service whose counter is next to the one you seek and you might then get them to ask the ones who are operating the Aranyaprathet counter. Bell number is 0844274606.

Yes there is a counter on level 1 (the level above the city link). Its just next to the counter where buses go to Pattaya and is I think nearer exit 7.

Personally in the Indian cities I wouldn't stay in under 4 star accommodation as in my opinion their 4 star is equivalent to 2/3 star in Thailand. As India is vast; a good way of getting around is by train and there are Indrail passes which are useful if you are going to quite a few areas. Information on this on http://www.indianrail.gov.in/international_Tourist.html

As for where to go, it all depends on what appeals to you and your wife. Northern India is completely different from the south as is the east from the west. On the west coast you have Goa an ex Portugease colony with many foreign tourists and the sea; Move southwards you have Kerala with the Periyar sanctuary for wildlife; going further south is Trivandrum with its many temples and if you move up the east coast is Chennai which is the major city of south India. In southern India the people are more polite than the northerners and you will get superb and very cheap vegetarian food. Bangalore is another pliace; originally the computer hub of India and has many pubs. Then there is Kolkata! This is possibly Indias' largest city, vibrant with culture and contrasted against a mix of mass poverty and extreme wealth. I personally love the place but like many Indian cities the filth may not appeal. Kolkata is also the hub for travel to eastern India to the states of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunchal Pradesh. Arunachal is beautiful and has many tribes but I think a special permit is required to enter this state. In Assam you have the Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary and which is famous for rhinos. Assam also has the massive Brahmaputra river which during the monsoon season is a sight to behold. Weather varies in different parts of India and the monsoon months may have a large bearing on travel.. India has hill stations which were areas in higher land created by the Brits as a retreat from the heat of the plains. Look up Simla, Ootacamund and Darjeeling. I am very familiar with Darjeeling and if you fancy it there is a miniature train which goes fthere from the plains (Siliguri). A short distance away from Darjeeling is a place called Tiger Hill where you may be able to see Everest. Try the Windermere hotel in Darjeeling; a very old and established hotel from the days of the raj! Your wife is quite right in thinking the hygiene is not up to much and you should take hand sanitisers, wet tissues and plenty of Immodium. Don't forget the visas.

Hello fellow Marmite lover. Here in Chiang Mai we can find it in most (but not all) branches of Tops. We can also find it in Rimping which is another western style supermarket but I am not sure if you have them there? Also, can be found in smaller health food style shops.

When I investigated it, I worked out that to get 2000 grams of Marmite sent here (four of the biggest size jars) would only cost 100 BAHT more than buying it from the shops (the problem being that the shops don't always have it!) Luckily I have not had to resort to such measures yet. I believe that they have a distributor in Malaysia which is not too far (I found it easily and cheap when I was there.)

When I am in England I am going in search in one of those big buckets that you can get of it, I am not sure if they sell them in England or not, but where else could sell such a big size of it. I am thinking of trying Makro. You might want to try to do the same daftpunker, and one of them should hopefully last you out a year or two! But hide it in your suitcase as I'm not sure it's allowed.

Cheers Marmite on toast all round.

As I look at a just emptied jar and as another marmite lover you could when in the UK ring 08000323656 (Marmite loveline) and get any info from them. I didn't know they produced them in buckets.

For those who are travelling tomorrow the 17th March on 9W61; should be aware that they have brought the flight departure time forward. Flight now leaves Bangkok 0710hrs and the flight 9W118 now leaves Mumbai at 1100hrs arriving Heathrow at 1510hrs. I received a text only advising me of the Mumbai -LHR about 1400hrs and if I hadn't hot footed it to Jet Offices I would have missed my Bkk-Mumbai flights. They just do not answer their phones. Hope this helps for anyone travelling tomorrow.

Kingfisher, according to newspapers, have had their bank accounts frozen by the Indian tax authorities and have cancelled many flights with the result that they are required to submit immediately to the Indian Government their viability status. I now use Jet Airways and although the Mumbai transit is as stated by many 'a disgrace; the turnaround is only a couple of hours so to save money I put up with it. Used Air India many years ago...never again!

I last saw it at Villa Market Phrompong but that was sometime ago. You may be interested to know that Marmite has produced a stronger version called Marmite X.O Extra Old and I bought this in the UK and have not seen this in Thailand. Glad I'm going back home soon to replenish!

Yep add another person to the list.

Happenend to me in Ramkhamheang, the amount was 7000 baht and had to wait one week while they "investigated", got the funds back but still a right pain in the arse.

Yeah it happened to me as well in Ramkhamhaeng. Was it the ATM just outside the Mall before you get to the car park? As you say it took a week for the repayment. I don't use that ATM anymore.

Who cares about Clarkson? Yes his comments on the toilets and trains are valid and who can forget the embarrassment of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi but for millions of us who have visited India know that it is a country rich in culture and whose hospitality is second to none. The Indian Government shouldn't have condescended to raise such a minor issue.

If you can stomach the flight times, the food, the disgraceful transit via Mumbai - give Kingfisher Airlines a check - I would make sure you are of low blood pressure, strong stomach and don't carry a lighter, people complain about Bangkok Airport - go try Mumbai......it is another planet!

Are you not aware of the current financial problems with Kingfisher? With this in mind and bearing in mind the numerous cancellations they have made my recommendation would be Jetairways via Delhi and totally agree with you that Mumbai is a s...hole!

If you're not too fussy and require basic accommodation there is the Swan hotel just at the back of the Oriental. Certainly the closest you will get..