Alwaysright

Please tell me why they should need extra money for driving 'far' to the airport as oppose to driving the exact same distance [with me] if I go from the office and home. The meter already covers their 'hardship' of having to work.

It does not cover 2-3 hours wait time at the airport. They are not allowed to pick up passengers at drop off although some do. To avoid waiting in the queue and missing on work, some simply storm back empty.

Singapore has that surcharge too. To ensure that public is not left without taxis and avoid bad name for otherwise world'd best airport.

There is no such thing as a 2-3h wait-time during normal hours of operations.

Every time I land at the airport from abroad I walk to the taxi-stand and see between 10 and 20 guys waiting and a line that is constantly moving. 30min I can believe...

There are 100s of taxis that you don't see (neither did I).

Over years, several taxi drivers (maybe 10) told me about that waiting time after drop off. One, still at Don Muang, told me that an official records their numbers as they come in to check if they have stormed empty without passengers (they can tell by time seen at exit, if shorter than 2 hours or whatever then they do something to them, can't remember what).

Someone could approximate what is 50 baht worth of net earning . 1 hour? 2 hours?

It should be meter plus 200 baht.

Thats exactly how the airlines say it, yet when you look for this rule, it is nowhere to be found?!

it is not mentioned on the MFA's website :

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2490

but for the Visa on Arrivals it is specifically mentioned:

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2491

and on your site it is also not mentioned:

http://www.thaivisa.com/313.0.html

i checked also with a visa run agent, that now also on the border entries, proof of onward travel is no longer required (so they had to give up that cash cow).

What if you bus,train or walk out?

Bombs and missles will strike Iran,you can take this to the bank.

I really hope you are wrong.

Check out Robert Baer's book: "See No Evil". Very enlightening.

If Iran gets attacked by BO and friends, the US will be really bankrupt, financially.

The US must change tack and work on serious dialogue with Iran. The nuclear bomb thing is just a smoke screen.

Iran is the major player in the ME and the US must recognize this.

As for Thailand, I stand by my previous statement. And I see others concur. I shudder to think what will happen.

I watched RAN last night. The Kurosawa masterpiece based on Lear. Might the prelude to this kind of action be happening under our (large) noses?

Why assume it will be the US?

The coming decade:

I'm waiting for someone in the US to come up with a "buy back the vote" movement. Since it is legal to buy off politicians in that country I could see a grass-roots movement emerging addressing particular senators on certain issues. Eg, Joe Lieberman, in this health care issue: Hey Joe, whatever they're paying you we'll offer more. Bake sales and car washes with the banner "Help Us Buy Off Our Senator!"

Taksin is finished. Methinks his latest tomfoolery was canceled due to lack of interest.

Christian suicide bombers. It's just a matter of time.

From the beginning, I've been saying that if Obama were to initiate a military confrontation (as opposed to acting on one he inherited) it would be with Venezuela for harboring terrorists. I expand that now, it might be due to trafficking in nuclear materials. The way Chavez makes buddy-buddy with Iran etc he's just building the case against himself. The US shoves a copy of the Monroe Doctrine down his throat while giving him a combat boot in the arse.

Argentina's economy collapses. Again. Then recovers. Then collapses yet again.

Afghanistan will remain a quagmire. Karzai has a long relationship with US oil interests and the Cheney crowd, and I assume Obama knows what he's up against.

Obama gets re-elected in 2012.

A yet even newer pandemic will emerge.

When Fidel dies the revolution will be over, smiles and handshakes all around with the Yanks.

Something or other disastrous happens in Brazil and the stench lingers long enough to affect the Olympics, maybe even having to cancel or change countries.

India fooks up and their economy is devastated.

Sarkozy doesn't run for re-election. He and his wife start an international escort service. Their motto: if you have to ask how much then you can't afford it.

Gordon Brown is forced to step down after being charged with murder when several people die of boredom during one of his speeches.

W Bush is back in the headlines when he's arrested for stalking Angela Merkel: the mama's boy is smitten!

Sarah Palin goes all the way and appears before the media relaying direct messages from God.

Thailand: nothing much happens.

Bombs and missles will strike Iran,you can take this to the bank.

Arrgh, I hate coins.

They still going to make the notes?Coins make holes in my pockets.

Nope, and not any time soon although there was a closed pilot scheme (I have no idea how successful it was though).

BTS / MRT / SRT are embroiled in the legalities of setting up the required Central Clearing System, seems to keep being placed on the 'too hard' list

Even India are considering a country wide travel card (like T-money in Korea).

Maybe it would be harder to rip off the system?

I have noticed over the last two years a steady trend towards only showing anything new / good as far as movies is concerned only the the plat movie channels.

The Star / HBO channels in the Gold Package are rubbish and I could not tell you the last time I watched a movie on either of these.

Don't worry though, we have American and Asia's Fattest Losers on all day and night for your viewing enjoyment.

That is what DVD players are for,TV movies are from the stone age.

Yep.....I Just got a free 60 day visa from the Thai Consulate in Perth Oz as well.

They introduced this to try and increase tourism as the numbers were down during the Financial mess recently.

Anybody that comes here because the visa is free isn't going to be a big spender.

A couple of bottles is probably over the duty free limit. Hide it well.

India DF limit is 2 litres

DUTY Free Does not mean PROFIT FREE>

It's 4,5 weeks to the start of Christmas/New Year Holidays....

People who are planning to go on long distance holidays should have booked by now, apart from some last minute travelers but they're mostly singles and young couples, not couples with children.

We'll see.

LaoPo

Why do I hear this Crapoola every year???

Need a Thai painter to paint my condo doors.Lower Sukhumvit

They say everyone's ancestors are from Africa..

...."they"? Who dat? They.

Everybody is a racist,normal.

Gold prices do vary shop by shop but only a little. I just walked past three different gold shops on Sukhumvit and they were all very close on the "buy gold" price. Finely done jewelry brands which sell for prices way over the weight of actual gold (i.e.: Prima Gold) are worth only their gold weight. The workmanship is of little value to any shop because it is usually melted down to recast.

The "chop mark" inside a ring or on the necklace clasp will say where it was made. Usually returning there will garner you the best price in selling it. It is my experience that most of the gold shops in Bangkok know the "chop marks" of the big gold retail shops located in China Town.

I concur with a poster who mentioned the security is tighter now that gold is so high. One of the shops had a shotgun lying in plain sight on the table behind the gold counter, as well as two armed security guys prominently standing at the door.

The Chinatown shops wouldn't buy my gold,I had to wait for the shop I bought it at(10 yrs ago) to open.25 baht chain,too expensive to wear.Nice profit

You will need current visa/entry stamps from old passport and data pages (at least) and data pages from new passport and arrival card (there is a copy shop in same building as Immigration if you want to use them). You will fill out a short form at Immigration (no charge) with entry information and such.

I would take a taxi as it is a long distance from any sky/subway service so not need to make it complex - perhaps 150-200 baht fare and there is an expressway that can be used from town. Building is quite nice and has places to eat (immigration closed for lunch). Last report says many taxi now available - if not take shuttle bus to main road.

Taxi no, problem.

I just did this with a US passport last week... If you are prepared with all the photocopies and the letter the US Embassy gave you when you got the new passport, this should be a painless 30 minute exercise.

Enjoy....

CS

I did it the same time I renewed my retirement extension.

I can give my highest endorsement to Dr Amorn Poomee at Bumrungrad.

DR greechart at Yanhee did my friend's eyelids,she is very happy and looks younger.

Did you obtain a new formal letter from bank on ground floor or just an ATM receipt? If people can depend on being able to obtain there it will help there plans.

I deposited 1000 into my Kasikorn account and they accepted that,they also have an atm to update your book,I didn't use that.I don't know if they will give you a letter there,someone else should ask.

....they told him to forget about it.....

Do you mean 'forget about the date of the letter' or 'forget about trying to apply with an outdated letter'?

What bank do you use (downstairs)? Can you really run in and get a letter within 10-20 minutes? Great!!

My letter was from the day before,not good enough.

Not heard a thing.

But maybe it's the first whispers of Thailand becoming an "Alchohol Duty Free Hub"!

If they did why would they pass the savings on to you?I wouldn't.

Not heard a thing.

But maybe it's the first whispers of Thailand becoming an "Alchohol Duty Free Hub"!

If they did why would they pass the savings on to you?I wouldn't.

Just some bigotry going around, that doesnt mean they hate you. Why do allot of the girls want farangs and want a half farang kid if they hate us ?

Do you like them?Nobody can get to you unless you let them.