CroBiker

I have seen the pic few days ago on social media. It's been shared 100's of times. It depicts young woman with pants down sitting on the cube-shaped structure and relieving herself. Disgraceful...only seriously mentally disturbed person would come up with something like that.

As someone mentioned 'checkout the EP program'. Do that carefully. I know a couple of schools that have started EP programs and they have no idea what they are doing. The staff is reasonably good and competent, but they keep changing the job description and it has a negative impact on the staff, and that affects learning. They do know how to collect the additional money, however.

I have a feeling the schools will get their act together, but it is going to take some time. The main advantage right now is that the students do get a lot of English and it has a good student to staff ratio.

The Thai admin, however, think that they can wave a magic wand and make a new program happen. It really doesn't happen quite that way.

Very true. I had my son enrolled in bilingual school back in 2006 (Kajonkiat ) and it was absolute disaster.

10 months later we moved him to International School and 7 years later he speaks perfect English, even using American accent. And it is not just his English that improved; he is very confident now and quite good in math and science too.

Neither me or my wife are native English speakers by the way.

Bottom line, I would not hesitate to spend my last baht (US$ in this case) to secure proper education for my kids. I have seen around parents who spent more on status symbols such as yachts, expensive cars and big houses but send their kids to Thai Government or Bilingual schools to save a buck. Really strange list of priorities.

Remember this case?

http://www.phuketgazette.net/articles/articles/get_article_detail/4818

PE = Privilege Entry

Friended at Facebook the guy who is handling my application. Last night he tells me this past week they received unusually high number of applications for easy access 500k THB card. Wonder if this thread has anything to do with it

It probably has something to do with everyone starting to consider Thailand Elite as a serious option since we hear about the crackdown on visa exempt entries.

A friend of mine, banker in Singapore, comes to his (very big) house in Phuket very regularly.

He does not need a visa because he never stay long in Thailand, and he is totally the opposite of a visa runner when it comes to lifestyle.

But he also sent an application to Thailand Elite, to stay on the "comfortable side".

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

A little bit overkill don't you think? If the fella is a business executive from Singapore with a villa in Phuket he should have no problem entering on visa-exempt entries, especially as he's an ASEAN national. I'm sure being a big-shot, he might also avail himself of the express meet and greet immigration services, if he doesn't already fly business or first class, so either of those services would surely get him across the finish line without a 500k outlay. If he's that cavalier with money, I'm glad he's not my banker.

I can see the PE visa making sense in some circumstances but this doesn't seem one of them.

There are quite a few bankers in Singapore who aren't Singaporean citizens

Friended at Facebook the guy who is handling my application. Last night he tells me this past week they received unusually high number of applications for easy access 500k THB card. Wonder if this thread has anything to do with it

I already have 5 years license which expires in 2019. But to get Thai IDP I am afraid NON-O visa has to be shown too? I really need IDP for my rides in Europe.

Out of curiosity I filled their online form last night. Immediately received this message in my inbox.

[email protected]

------ This is a copy of the message, including all the headers. ------

Return-path: <XXXXX>

Received: from apache by catXXX-22.hostname.com with local (Exim 4.80)

This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed: [email protected]

PS : This morning it seemed to work but haven't received anything back from them. all very elite isn't it....

Send an email to any of these 3, they reply instantly within office hours:

pattarachok.t@thailandelite.com

Chayanit Maphansu <[email protected]>,

Sucheera Noisumran <[email protected]

^{There is already a separate thread running about the Thailand Elite Easy Access card.}

 

^{Some (probably those who can't afford it), dismiss it as a scam.  Yet even though the original Elite card organization had a chequered history, the long-stay visa benefits were never taken away from card holders.}

 

^{Now the new option for a 500,000 baht card which provides a 5-year visa might not be of interest to many, but it is certainly a viable, longstay visa solution for the affluent under 50's who abound on this forum.} 

 

 

No matter what you say Simon, the non-believer brigade will stick to their guns. At least it makes this topic rather amusing after reading all those cynical remarks

Question for existing holders of Thailand Elite easy access 500k THB card:

this is essentially 5 years multiple entry TOURIST visa, right?

How is that going to affect my Thai Driving License Renewal and IDP application? To best of my knowledge you need to have at least Non-O / Work Permit visa to get these things done. Thanks in advance.

Greetings from Thailand Elite

Firstly, thank you very much for taking a time to contact us and interest in our program.

According to your mail. Thailand Easy Access, this program member will acquire 5 years multiple entry visa (Tourist Visa). This visa allow you stay in Thailand as Thai citizen. You can travel in and out as much as you wish without doing permit entry. Moreover, If you have permanence residence in Bangkok you do not need to do 90 days report we have staff do it instead you but you must prepare document and send to us. Not only visa that we issue to you but we also provide unlimited airport service and limousine 24 time per calendar year transfer you to airport – residence – airport.

The document which we required are;

- Copy of passport (send by mail. I will pass it to immigration office to check record this process take not over 3 working days)

- Application form (send by mail first then you get approval letter please kindly sign in every page and send the original one to me)

- Current picture

Totally process is not over 10 working days. Please kindly find the full detail and application form in the attached file herewith. Should you have any question please do not hesitate to contact me any time. We look forward to welcoming you as Elite member soon.

Best regards,

Pattarachok Tangcharoenworakul

Sales Channel Manager

Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd.

Tel: +662 353 4130/ +668 4930 3292

Straight to the point.Easy Access Application Form.pdfEASY ACCESS - Fact Sheet.pdfvisa.jpg

so you get a visa only with a passport copy? wow,

so why all people have to give their original passport to the Embassy and have to shop up personally for Visa in Europe?

Passport copy is for Immigration blacklist check only. Once you get green light original passport is to be submitted to Immigration. Can't believe this has to be explained

Greetings from Thailand Elite

Firstly, thank you very much for taking a time to contact us and interest in our program.

According to your mail. Thailand Easy Access, this program member will acquire 5 years multiple entry visa (Tourist Visa). This visa allow you stay in Thailand as Thai citizen. You can travel in and out as much as you wish without doing permit entry. Moreover, If you have permanence residence in Bangkok you do not need to do 90 days report we have staff do it instead you but you must prepare document and send to us. Not only visa that we issue to you but we also provide unlimited airport service and limousine 24 time per calendar year transfer you to airport – residence – airport.

The document which we required are;

- Copy of passport (send by mail. I will pass it to immigration office to check record this process take not over 3 working days)

- Application form (send by mail first then you get approval letter please kindly sign in every page and send the original one to me)

- Current picture

Totally process is not over 10 working days. Please kindly find the full detail and application form in the attached file herewith. Should you have any question please do not hesitate to contact me any time. We look forward to welcoming you as Elite member soon.

Best regards,

Pattarachok Tangcharoenworakul

Sales Channel Manager

Thailand Privilege Card Co., Ltd.

Tel: +662 353 4130/ +668 4930 3292

Straight to the point.Easy Access Application Form.pdfEASY ACCESS - Fact Sheet.pdf

Good stuff, thanks OP. I am applying for one as we speak. Sick and tired of annual non-immigrant visas, rude immigration officials etc. For me it's worth the money and 5 years peace of mind.

Non-O collection is next day afternoon. I was there mid May and they gave me 3 months single entry because I forgot to bring proof of financial status.

Like to know too about 1 year multiple entry in Penang. Also, I keep money in Singapore HSBC account, want to know if this is accepted by consulate officials.

May I know what time in the next afternoon available for collection? Would like to plan the trip if able to catch bus to Hatyai. Thanks

If memory serves me well it was around 1-2pm. But crowds are enormous so it may take a while for you to actually collect the passport.

Non-O collection is next day afternoon. I was there mid May and they gave me 3 months single entry because I forgot to bring proof of financial status.

Like to know too about 1 year multiple entry in Penang. Also, I keep money in Singapore HSBC account, want to know if this is accepted by consulate officials.

I bought new Hilux 2009 for 640.000 thb (new limited edition). So, because of problems in my family back at home I had to sell it. I got 500.000 thb for 1.5 year old car with 30.000 km . There is no way I could get that in Croatia.

Now I have New Mirage for 2 years now. Before purchase of Mirage I was looking at second hand cars in the same class. New Nissan was (just an example, don't know exact price) 500.000 thb and 1 year old same car with 10.000 km was 490.000 thb

By some logic it is better to add little and get brand new car. My opinion.

500k is great deal indeed. Used car dealer would offer no more than 450k. Pozdrav zemljak

I was there 3-4 months ago. There are couple of resorts but very isolated and difficult to find. You can jog down the beach 10km and hardly see 10 people even in high season.

Few of you you obviously don't get out much. There are some amazing beaches in Thailand and you know it. Get a life, quit old lonely men sarcasm and anti-Thai rhetoric and try to enjoy what this beautiful country has to offer. Otherwise just leave and spare us from immature and inferioty complex ridden remarks.

You are right there are much more nice and real not over crowded beaches in Thailand as the standarts Like Phuket, Samui, Phi Phi, Khao Lak or Hua Hin.

Anyway I will not publish here the hidden pearls.

Thailand having much more offfer as only beaches.

I made about 10 years ago a ride with my new 125 ccm Honda Wave most of the time alone.

The Story in short:

Phuket - Surat, by Bike

Surat - Bangkok by Night train 2 class + my Bike

Bangkok - Srisaket by day train 3 class over Khorat, Burirum, Surin + my Bike

Srisaket - Khao Phra Viharn, Emerald triangle, by Bike

Then Ubon floating Restaurants, but not were the tourists go, thai style, 2 colour river, by Bike

Along the Mekong Mukdahan - Nakhon Phanom - That Phanom, by Bike

Sakon Nakhon - Seka - Phu Tok, by Bike

Udon - Nong Bua Lamphu - Loei, by Bike

Lom Sak - Phitsanulok - Sukothai Historical cities(Khmer Style), by Bike

Sukothai - Tak - Mae Sot, by Bike

Then for a while along the Burma Border, Mae Sot - Mae Sariang

along the Karen Camps refugees from Burma.

Mae Sariang - Doi Inthanon - Chiang Mai was too crowed I was going thru.

Chiang Mai - Ban Thaton(Mae Nam Kok), by Bike

Wat Prathat Doi Tung with an incredible View over the river plains(Mae Nam Kok)

a long stairway to walk up.

Mae Sai, Tachilek, Mae Nam Mae Sai, Golden Triangle by Bike.

Chiang Rai - Phu Chi Fa top of the Hill with also an incredible view into Laos, by Bike.

Then along the Laos Border total country side direction Nan, Mae Nam Nan, by Bike.

Nan - Phrae - Uttaradit by Bike

From Uttaradit (a short cut by air), but a long ride over small roads to Loei, by Bike

Loei - Khon Kaen - Roi Et - Yasothon - Ubon - Khong Chiam, by Bike

then Road No .24 and No. 2 to Bangkok by Bike

Bangkok - Hua Hin - Ranong - Phuket by Bike

With a lot of nice landscapes, Mountains and ppl by the way.

In 1.5 month over 10,000 km on the bike.

I will never forget it, I kept this Story a short a possible, but I could write a book only about Journey.

I would never say, I know Thailand or the Thai ppl.

In general Thai ppl as 1 Type don't exist a lot of Tribes and I mean not only the hill tribes.

The same like in the most of other countries.

If I read a lot comments and I don't mean explicit this forum in general, then I getting sick.

When a lot of ppl talking about their Holiday main subject.

Airport stress, beaches, bars and complaining about the bad service.

This is why I will never tell in Thaivisa or in another forum about still nice and unknown places, caused I will not meet the crowd over there.

Carpe Diem

Since we talk about bike touring....did all of above and more...fantastic way to explore the country. Wish some of these old grumpy men get of their bar stools and instill basic sense of adventure and follow your suit.

However, here is one fantastic beach....barely 90 minutes ride/drive north of Phuket. Simply paradise....Hapla & Hula Beaches at Koh Kho Khao. 20km long and I have never seen more than 10 people at any time.

He won't retire until breaks Beckham's caps record. Two more games to go.

You might get a multiple entry non-o based upon marriage to a Thai in Penang if you are willing to show 400k baht in the bank.

Ubonjoe, are the conditions same in KL Thai Embassy? And is there a rule how long THB 400,000 has to be on bank account?

In Phuket they told me 60 days. 3 months is good news.

Yeah baby!!!b

Croatia are clearly underdogs but as Croatian coach Niko Kovac said "we will leave our heart on the field". It is not the shame losing to world cup host and 5 time winners as long as we do our best and make country proud.