gerryBScot

Well thanks for the advice in relation to my previous post about driving in Thailand without a licence. Some of the responses were very helpful, some were amusing and some were ... well you know what I mean. I am now here and it is awesome to be back. Caught up in a food orgy, real Thai food is undoubtedly the best food in the world; the drinks and fruit are equally aroi . Unbeknownst to me, since my last trip here about five years ago, Grab has gone local. Previously I think it was only available in BKK so this has solved all our travel issues. I got a Grab to a remote place this morning and then got stranded as there were no Grab drivers to bring me back. However a very helpful local person offered me a lift to within range of the city from where I was able to get a Grab to my home. Why did we ever leave? So at the moment I am not expecting a jail sentence, fine or other penalty for anything. Au contraire having a blast! Good luck to you all.

Plus ca change ... 'twas much the same before, Impulse, but yeah, there were some real experts on here who offered critical, authoritative advice. I think we'll use Uber for those trips to more out of the way places. For instance, I need to check out Huai Mai Teng Reservoir in Ratchaburi province, on the main road to Chombeung from Ratchaburi ... I need to get there for about 6:00 am ... in order to check out if a certain species of bird, River Lapwing, fly in for their morning feed on the gravel there! Back in the day I had my own wheels so no major issue. There are a few other trips I would like to make involving brds for which wheeis wheels will be essential so I suspect I will indulge myself and hire a car with a driver. Thanks for your help.

On the subject of the recent history of Northern Ireland, it is to AA's eternal credit that at the height of The Troubles AA provided one of the few interfaces between the conflicted communities. I believe this was instrumental in lowering the sectarian kill and easing tensions. I am an AA and have little truck with its critics - it is clearly not for all, and there are other ways to get sober, but AA is authentic and works.

Rest assured I won't do it: I have driven legally for almost 50 years, I have never had a single violation anywhere or anytime. I fully understand from past experience of living in LOS and in Asia that sometimes the laws can be loosely interpreted/applied. It is quite explicit thanks to MIke Lister's post that it is expressly prohibited to drive without a valid license. I won't do it and am grateful for members' inputs.

No worries JB I am just really checking if it is an absolute no-no and of course, it is! I am not sure I can renew my THai drivers license as I no longer have a resident visa.

Thanks I like the sound of this, especially if they have a 24 hour pick up service.

between 2-3,000. Thanks.

Thanks for this, Mike, flashbacks of getting stopped everytime I joined the motorway at Klong Toey/Lumphini, every time even with a license, I had to pay the same cop 200 THB due to some imaginary infringement, and it certainly helped in those cirucmstances that I could produce a valid Thai licence.

Hello again very much looking forward to returning to Thailand in June for a family holiday. Two adults and two teenage kids, 15 and 12 respectively .... how they grow. We are on the ground just after midnight and wonder if any folks here could recommend a decent hotel with a family room for us, possibly in the Lat Krabang area, somewhere we can crash into so to speak. We are not undULy interested in facilities as we will travel onwards to the the provinces the next day, just an easy to access place with 24 hour reception as we might not be checking in until after 1:00 am.

Hello everybody, it's been a wee while. The great news is we survived COVID and are heading to LOS for a family holiday in June. The bad news is my drivers licences have expired. I had both a British and a Thai license. I wonder what the position would be if I drive in Thaoland wthout a valid license? I recall reading a few years back something about the Mayor of Bangkok expressing surprise that as many as 60% of the bus drivers in BKK had driving licenses. Just wondering if it is an absolute no-no for me, Johnny Faraing, or if it is generally ok. I should add that I have had any endorsements, points, penalties or bans in either license or in the history of my driving 'career'. Currently resident in The Philippines and not sure there is adequate time for the powers that be here to issue a license. Many thanks.