KED

Some of the comments here already are quite gormless.

Do you people not realise that Thailand has a tourist industry and that anything criminal, of any nature (however bad) affects the desire of people to visit?

Sitting in your ivory towers you must feel very self-satisfied.

Regardless of Thailand's tourist industry - the government and police should be transparent. Rather than worring about how arrests affect the tourist industry, why not start changing the actual environemnt where it is more tourist friendly rather than worrying about the truth being told. If the Thailand tourism industry is so important - use the energy to make it safe and attractive in reality - don't just worry about the media representation.

how does one look English?? please tell do Aussies look Australian do Canadians look Canadian

pale skin that glows in the dark - always a giveaway

"Kobkarn attributed the decline in tourist arrivals and revenues to the political crisis in Thailand during "the first half of 2014," in which parts of Bangkok were paralyzed by street protests that aimed to topple the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra." Quote

Of course it has nothing to do with the fact that delivering a third class product and charging for first class??

Tourists are not stupid, and have finally started to vote with their feet!!

Must be hard for the Thais to realize, that there are better and cheaper options to LOS!!

Such as?

Vietnam Beaches - Phu Quoc / Da Nang

Phillipine Beaches - Boracay / Cebu

Indonesia Beaches - Bali - Nusa Dua / Sanur / Seminyak-Legian-Seminyak

Malaysia Beaches - Langkawi / Penang / Tioman Island

I have done my retirement extensions at Bangkok for the last five years - and have never been asked for additional documentation of finances beyond the U.S. notarized letter - I do understand that they might ask and I do bring my bankbook just in case - but they have never asked. From reading numerous accounts of smaller offices asking for additional documentation, it just seems that they are putting up barriers looking for tea money. If some people use handling agents ("fixers") - that is their choice but I do wonder if that also involves bribes to Thai officials. I am not a crusader - but I do my best to not support the corruption machine that exists in Thailand. However, sometimes it just isn't possible to avoid a small contribution without a major inconvenience or a denial of extension - eventually, I want to move outside of Thailand but dread the problems associated with these smaller offices causing unjustified obsticles.

As long as you have a tourist visa - no return ticket necessary to show the airline or Thai immigration.

It amazes me that so many Filipinos/Filipinas come to Thailand for work. I understand that the Philippine economy is bad - but why come to Thailand where the entry level salaries are so low . I think much better to send out resumes for jobs in Australia/Europe/U.S. Although the hurdles are much higher, the payoff is much better. Thailand is a horrible place to seek entry level employment - Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong have much better earning potential - Thailand is just not the place. IMO

around 20 motorbikes were being driven at-speed

I am not being sarcastic - but I don't understand what "at-speed" means. Does that mean at full speed or what?

Why not turn his message around and rather than advising Thai women what not to do - he should reinforce that woman should find beauty that they already possess. However, this is a difficult message in any culture since the money is in having women use comsetics and surgeries to change their looks. Commercialsim has a strong voice -

thanks for posting this thread. i have his pics.

the taxi guy got mad because you would not take the toll road and tried to save some money. they snatch the paper like that with me also, actually the kiosk attendant now just gives it directly to the driver when i reach for it.

With the new automated system, the kiosk attendant gives you a slip of paper that tells you in which parking spot your taxi is waiting for you. Taxi drivers don't even have to get out of their cars, except to help with luggage.

3 trips with the new system and my waiting times have been 8 minutes on one trip, 30 seconds on the next, and walk right out to my waiting taxi- no queuing at all.

I haven't yet used the new automated taxi system at Suvarnabhumi but it does seem to be an increase in the number of taxis refusing to use meters from there under this new system. If my flight arrives within the operation of the airport link and I don't have too many bags - I always use that - but sometimes a taxi is required - it worries me that under the new system taxi drivers feel more emporwered to refuse the meter.

An example of what the EU will be in for if Ukraine ever becomes a member .

1, Belarus is NOT the Ukraine.

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest

2. The actions of 2 people cannot be expanded to include the entire country; otherwise, using your logic every European/American/Australan pedafile would mean that all Europeans/Americans/Australians are pedafiles.

Sure, what they did is a crime and they should be prosecuted - but be careful when you make broad (incorrect) assumptions.

You know what ... instead of being rude and defeatist in your postings how about this ... Give them a chance.

Anyone actually living here should know what a mess General Prayuth took on, did you expect him to fix every thing in a few short months ??? If you did your delusional or don't actually live here.

This place will take years to fix and I for one think he has done a very commendable job so far under hard opposition

There will be a lot of starts and stops as they try something finds it doesn't work and tries something else.

Have some faith and support a man who has the conviction to try and do the best for his Country and people, try giving some support for a change, will the 10% on beaches change ? who knows but I suspect probably and actually think it should be higher and im sure it will soon as the details of how to manage it are worked out and in place with a lower manageable amount

I for one am quiet happy with how things are going, I would hope for higher Tourist numbers but re building a Country takes time and it will get better ... I am sure none of you naysayers could do a better quicker job

regardless of how the NCPO appears to be doing - any government for the citizens should be open for opinions via a free press - a free citizenship to gather and voice their opinions - and through elections. Until these freedoms are provided, those in power are not legitimate.

While a majority of Thai's would not react this way, I do feel that the rampant corruption within the police does cause a lack of respect for their authority. Also, I think the wealthy Thais feel they are above the law - That said, I think this guy was either mentally unstable or on some drug.

I booked a flight this week to visit my parents in Gulf Shores. My plan was to fly Bangkok to Pensacola and spend some time in Gulf Shores prior to driving them by car to Indianapolis and spending some time there also. So what I intended was to price two one way tickets, Bangkok/Pensacola - Indianapolis / Bangkok. I figured it would be astronomically pricy but found that I could buy the two one way tickets cheaper than I could fly Bangkok / Indianapolis round trip. I asked the Delta Travel agent why and she told me there was a large special fare at this time for Pensacola fares. At any rate it worked out great for me, I did not get as good as fare as you but the two one way tickets ended up being around $1,400 which I thought was a good fare and good connections as going there a total of 22 hours and return just under 24 hours. It would have cost me $250 more dollars to fly round trip from Bangkok to Indianapolis.

Good to see Delta offer reasonable fares BKK to central U.S. especially since only Delta, United and American offer fares (UA / AA as codeshare). Usually when it comes to NY or CA - there is stiff competition but in the past, the interior U.S. is much higher due to lack of competition. I hope the tend continues. Merry Xmas !!

Would you mind sharing which airline as I need to go back around the same time.

Fond memories of Pensacola; spent a year at Corey Field in the late '60's.

I found it on Delta - using Kayak but then booked directly with Delta.

Usually, I buy a BKK-LAX ticket on China Eastern for USD 859 or so and then a separate ticket LAX-FL on the lowest airline - but this time it worked out to be lower as one ticket.

As trafic accidents seem to be public enemy #1 I welcome the initiatives. But much more needs to be done. Frequent alcohol tests all through the year and not just temporary crackdowns. Much more checking of drivers obeying traffic rules, safety tests of vehicles and abolishing the horror u-turns would certainly help and save lifes.

i fully agree

just as a question does anybody know what the procedure is after one has failed the breath test

my wife has suggested that if one is completely legless you get carted off the the cop shop to sober up then released with a fine end of

a little inebriation = on the spot fine and off you go after a period of time

any one clarify this theory ??(please don't purger yourself

Of the people i know who failed the test all, except one, paid on the spot and were allowed to drive on. The exception was one who became argumentative as he was willing to pay but not what was asked so he spent the night in a cell and in the morning was fined the maximum Bt.20,000 !

He had been asked for Bt.4,000 so there's a lesson there.

Here again corruption is a major cause of reckless and drunk driving. Thais drive drunk, drive the wrong way on motorbikes, make all sorts of illegal vehicle manuvers - all because they know they can simply pay a bribe and be let go. If the actualy laws were enforced and people knew there would be severe condequences - then they would be far less likely to commit this unsafe acts.

If a driver is stopped and tests positive for being drunk - he should not be allowed to continue driving after paying a bribe.

I travel from Thailand to the U.S. once a year around Feb/Mar/Apr. to visit my elderly parents. The biggest challenge with fares is they live in Pensacola, FL (near New Orleans) and there isn't much competition with fares (especially now that UA only has codeshare Bangkok to Tokyo).

Usually, I book a roundtrip fare Bangkok to LAX since I can get many options around USD 900 and then purchase another ticket LAX onward roundtrip. By booking two separate roundtrips, I usually save about USD 500-700. The biggest drawback is if the BKK-LAX flight is late then I have a big problem with separate tickets - luckily, i always give myself 5-7 hours in LAX and have not had a problem.

Anyway, I was checking fares from Bangkok and found a complete fare from Bangkok to Florida for USD 1180 - which is even lower than separate tickets and the lowest I have seen in 5 years or more.

I don't know if the lower fuel prices are kicking in or what happened - but really great to find a reasonable fare.

Bali no question. It's the best I've been to in Asia and I've been to many of the name destinations. After Maui, it's the most beautiful tropical island I've been to.

I totally agree with Bali. All my Thai friends get angry when I tell them that Bali is so much more enjoyable than Thailand beaches. Of course,Bali has the touristy area around Kuta beach but there are quieter and less tourist areas around Bali which are easy to find. Even in the heavy tourist areas, there is Bluebird taxi who uses meter - so you don't have the same prblem as Phuket/Koh Samui mafia taxis/transport.

Also after living in Thailand for 8 years - it's nice to get a cultural breather every now ad again. If the beaches get boring - a ride up to UBUD and the rice fields and nature can re-energize the spirit.

Interesting that the hotel would suggest a web booking at such an incredible mark-up. If booking a new property where you are uncertain of a good price - it is always best to suggest a few websites and contact the hotel directly - then book the best option.

I did my one year extension last month and took a taxi from Mo Chit to Chaeng Wattana but then took the 166 bus back to Victory Monument - fairly a straight shot. But, two days ago, I had to do the 90 day report - so I took the 166 from Victory Monument but ended up having to change busses (#356) to get to the Chaneg Wattana entrance and then walk or motorcycle taxi for the 1.7 km. Not sure why the 166 bus didn't go straight there like the return trip.

Sad that the man's jealousy was more powerful than the will to let his mistress go and he could live for his children. There was an earlier post about another policeman shooting his ex-gf who was 3 months pregnant before shooting himself - Why must a broken heart mean revenge and murder/suicide?

A retirement visa is always issued overseas - suspect you mean you have a one year extension of a non immigrant O visa entry for retirement and that this will be ending while you are outside Thailand. You can normally renew extensions up to 45 days early if that will help you. You can obtain a real non immigrant O-A visa in your home country with financial and medical documents (which can cover up to 2 years stay before extension needed) or you can obtain a non immigrant O visa for return from some Consulates or do the conversion in Bangkok after return for an extra 2,000 baht fee.

You can not renew an extension of stay while outside Thailand.

A great response. Clear and comprehensive - thanks for the details.

That trick has been happening for years. In my experience about 50% of drivers who pick you up at the airport try and chance their luck with not putting the meter on (sometimes if it's been a long flight and you're tired you might not notice till you're out on the express way) but will put on when requested.

Usually to make sure there's no complaint against them they'll ask for your ticket on exit.

With the airport rail link now in use I don't bother with taxis. Quicker and easier to take the rail link in most instances and no chance of being ripped off.

I totally agree - if you arrive within the operational times of the airport link and don't have much luggage - the airport link is definitely the way to go.

Even if I do get an honest cabbie who uses the meter without protest, they still drive 2 cm behind the car in front at 80 kph... I never feel safe with their lack of concern for unexpected stops by other vehicles ahead.

I tried to go from Asok station to airport in afternoon. Only 8th taxi car driver agreed to take me there for non-ridiculous price and still- it was no meter on .

To me - it looks like less order in taxi service now than before.

I know it is not aways convenient with luggage - but best to get away from the taxis and just take the airport link.

So sad that while many countries are giving their gay citizens equal rights so many other countries still persecute and arrest some of their citizens simply for who they love.