theoldgit

I've completely given up on Air Asia and since then have found plenty of alternatives - cheap and relatively hassle free. Nok Air, Thai (specials), Bangkok Air.

Save that this thread is about Air Asia flights to Hong Kong and Nok Air and Bangkok Airways don't fly there, well actually Bangkok Airways does but you have to fly via Koh Samui.

That said, I agree there are plenty of alternatives to Hong Kong, I flew there with Ethiopian Airways recently.

One thing puzzles me. You say

house in surin - rent book - with our names on

Does this mean you live together in Thailand? If so, this would count as a family visit, not a social one and she needs to complete form VAF1B. See also Spouse/Partner of British Citizen (Based in Thailand) going to the UK for a visit (family visit) – Check List

Just a small point, you would need to prove that you have been living together for two years or more to apply for a visa for a family visit, if this is the case.

Emirates often have good deals to Hong Kong.

Of course it's a policy of the individual banks whether to issue a credit card or not, they will look at your background and assess the risk.

If they see that you are applying making applications to all in sundry, and as I say I don't know if the Credit Bureau records such checks, they may think you are risk.

I am not a banker but I am aware that in many countries people making multiple applications are treated with caution.

I can tell you that after I had been in Thailand for 12 months I made one application for a credit card and it was approved with a credit limit sufficient for my needs, I am retired so don't work and don't have a work permit.

I wish you every success in your endeavours.

I would not know where to look for the nearest DHL office to me, Bangkok I suppose!

Would you be able to send it from the Thai post office EMS, they send stuff off world wide?

Look see http://ukinhongkong.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/17274209/dhl-locations-thailand.pdf

I don't know if credit card applications are recorded with the Credit Bureau in Thailand, they certainly would be in the UK and I suspect many other countries, but if so, the banks to which you are applying will note the number of previous applications and may well suspect it's an act of desperation on your part.

Think this will open up a lot of debate. Why doesn't she work now, what was her work, is she ill, is her ' brother ' her brother. Sorry to sound off but here lots of guys who have asked questions cos they are unsure of what they have let themselves in for and many posts open eyes.

Indeed, one could also ask why she/you need to support her parents, how did they support themselves before she worked in Pattaya and you came along, what would her parents do if you were not on the scene?

20,000 Baht is about twice what somebody might in earn in a store or a basic office job, and they would need to pay for all their food, rent, travel and other expenses out of that.

rubik101, whilst I think you are probably fighting a lost cause I wish you well, I thought you might be interested to read this email that I received from the CSPA (Civil Service Pensioners Alliance).

The email forwarded an email on behalf of International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICBP), I have cut and pasted as it may be of interest to you.

Dear Mr Amos,

I am contacting you on behalf of John Markham at the International Consortium of British Pensioners (ICBP) in the hope that the CSPA might be able to help us with a piece of work we are about to do.

You may be aware that the ICBP campaigns to ensure all British pensioners are entitled to receive their full state pension, regardless of where they choose to retire. Currently around 540,000 British pensioners that have retired to countries such as Canada, South Africa, Australia and the majority of the islands in the Caribbean find that their pensions are frozen at the rate at which is it first drawn, despite having made National Insurance contributions their whole lives. This would mean that if you leave in 2010, 10 years later your weekly pension would still be £97.65, while pensioners in the UK would receive between £120-130 a week.

We are currently undertaking a piece of work to assess the economic viability of the UK Government rectifying this situation, and as part of this we are doing a survey of the attitudes of pensioners to retiring abroad. The survey itself will be a very short questionnaire which will be available online at Survey Monkey, please see a link here: http://www.surveymon.../frozenpensions

The survey is being done in partnership with AgeUK and NCP, but we are looking to other key organisations and individuals to help us disseminate the survey as widely as possible. We were therefore wondering whether you might be able to help us to tell as many pensioners about the survey and encourage them to take part.

If you think you might be able to help, I would be very happy to discuss it with you in more detail, so please do call me on 020 7149 3705.

Many thanks and with best wishes,

Annie Bruzzone

Associate Consultant

This is the price list and a couple of pics from the Thonglor showroom.

I thought the bikes were nice, reminded me of my days as a Mod, though a tad expensive.

Suspect they might be a target for theives.

Vespa price list0001.pdf

Flights originating from Thailand are always more expensive, there are many theories but I really don't know why, and a one way ticket will always cost more pro rata.

Direct flights are always going to be more expensive as there are only four carriers that fly direct from BKK - LHR, Thai, BA, Qantas and Eva, most of the decent prices will come from the indirect carriers, and the stop over is not that arduous.

The best place to look for one way flights is the Thai papers, there are prices starting at a tad under 11,000 Baht, plus taxes and fuel surcharges, but you cannot book these on line. You could also try the travel agents that advertise on this forum, they are pretty good.

Don't forget that your girl friend could encounter a problem if you book a flight with a credit card and you are not travelling.

I presume that you are not going to book a flight until the the visa has been granted.

In Morchit

No, the Bus Station at Morchit is for buses to the North East.

The Southern Bus Terminal is at Boromratchchonnani Rd, and a bit out of the way.

I used to live in Ekkamai and got taxis home from the Southern Bus Terminal, used to cost me under 200 Baht. The 556 bus route connects the bus terminal to Suvarnabhumi via Yommarat - Democracy Monument - Thammasat University - Pata Department Store, I'm not sure if any of these are near the BTS or MRT.

Many months ago I booked one of the Air Asia offers to Bali, for the grand total of 800 Baht each, all in.

Yesterday I noticed that I had made a typo when entering my girlfriends name, I wondered whether I should take a chance and hope it wouldn't be noticed at Bangkok or Bali check-in and been denied boarding or made to by a new ticket, the price is now 14,000 Baht each, or call AA and explain.

I have read many stories of AA's lack of customer services but decided to call anyway, mainly to put my mind at rest but also I didn't want any hassle at the airport, especially at 05.30 in the morning.

I got through to a real person pretty quickly and explained the problem, the guy understood the issue and quickly retrieved our flight details, he said he would correct the typo on the ticket, there was no suggestion of payment.

The phone call lasted a couple of minutes and a new itinerary was emailed to me a couple of minutes later.

Well done Air Asia, thank you very much.

For the IO at the port to have refused your girlfriend entry they would have needed to convince a CIO that there had been a material change in circumstances since Entry Clearance was granted or indeed that the visa had been fraudulently obtained, If entry had been denied she would have an in-country right of appeal, though there would be an outside chance of Immigration Detention, it is extremely rare for a Thai to be detained. The arrangements for her return ticket are perfectly reasonable as would would her stating that she was going to purchase a ticket in the UK, where tickets are cheaper, providing she can prove she has sufficient funds to purchase a ticket.

The vast majority of IO's are perfectly reasonable people, carrying out a pretty difficult and tedious job under a lot of pressure to clear flights with the minimum of delay.

^^^^^

Still well below what they charge for filling in the UK template.

I don't really understand the working of these things but isn't there also a problem with the compatibility of the new trains. As I understand it the current trains are controlled via signals through the wheels, that's why there are no lights at the stations whereas the new trains rely on "normal" signaling.

This is only hearsay so could be bullsh*t, I believe there are some experts out there, any views?

Furthermore, it is common knowledge inside the British Legation in Bangkok that the level of English acquirement in the Kingdom is not noteworthy. By simple reasoning the application of these culturally insensitive rules are a de facto immigration barrier to the Thai wives of British subjects. It is an insult to Thai culture and the Thai people. It is ill advised.

Can I ask where you obtained the information about this common knowledge, do you work there?

Can I respectfully point out that there is not a British Legation in Bangkok, Thailand warrants an Embassy not a Legation.

Can I also point out that government policy is set centrally and not by an Embassy.

You indicate that you are American so I will forgive you for quoting the Daily Mail as a font of knowledge, The Daily Mail is no more to be relied on for accuratly reporting facts about the UK than The National Enquirer would be relied on for accurate reporting within the USA.

The Holiday Inn is nearer Cha-am than downtown Hua Hin, and you would either need to rent a car or rely on taxis to get into Hua Hin, that said it's a nice resort and they do have deals sometimes.

If you don't want to pay hotels prices and want to stay in the centre of things there are plenty of guest houses under 800 Baht a night though you wouldn't get a gym. I normally stay at Jings, it is pretty good.

By use of the term "Spouse/Civil Partner" you seem to be referring to a family visit, you state that the lady is your girlfriend and you don't seem to be living together so she needs to apply for a tourist visa.

Basically she needs to convince an ECO that the visit is genuine and affordable and, probably most importantly that she will leave the UK at the end of her trip.

With regard to the purpose of the trip point out if she is staying with you or you are travelling for the duration, you have already mentioned the length of the trip, but possibly include a draft itinerary.

Explain who is paying for the trip, if it's her then all well and good, she just needs to prove that she can afford it. If it's you then that's also ok, again you need to prove it's affordable and reasonable for you to do so, you need to prove that you can afford it, bank statements are the norm with evidence of a consistent income and in your sponsors letter include details of why you are paying for the trip, and possible your future plans.

Evidence of employment should be regarded as a reason to return, especially when you say it's only for a three week holiday, it's amazing how many Thai employers seem content to allow their staff to have a six month holiday.

Not sure why you need proof of your house, this is a tourist visa and not a settlement visa, though if she is going to stay there for the duration then maybe ok.

You seem to have prove of your relationship make sure the photos and hotel receipts match up to your flight tickets and passport stamps, MSN logs might be helpful so I'm not sure why you didn't want to include them. Make sure you do a detailed letter of sponsorship outlining your relationship, your plans for the holiday and for the future, but don't re-write "War and Peace" make your letter two or three pages and easily readable.

You have probably seen the list of supporting documents required, http://www.vfs-uk-th.com/images/VisitSocial.pdf

You will not need a new passport, when they mention the bio data page they mean the page with your photo and printed details on, remember you are only sending a copy so they couldn't read the chip anyway.

I think your girlfriend is right in not wanting to use an agent on such a straightforward application, proper agents would probably tell you the same.

LOL! OK. I want to hear this story!

It's going to be in his book which is due out in a few weeks, it's in the chapter just before the one about the giant killer flying cockroaches.

I asked Kasikorn recently, and this was their reply, hope it helps.

In case that you would like to buy draft, you can contact any branch to buy it that the fee 200 Baht and stamp duty 3 Baht. For documents to buy draft is your passpot and documents to show purpose of this money. Then, you can send draft to beneficiary by postal mail.

They have a small branch at Phrom Phong BTS Station, Asoke end, but there are more.

http://www.thebangkokshoppingguide.com/super_rich_money_exchange_bangkok

Seem to recall paying about 600 Baht a night.

I don't know of a Chang's Guest House, but I do know of a Jing's Guest House, it's centrally located and I have stayed there a few times and can say that Jings deserves it's rave reviews.

Doesn't mean there isn't a Chang's though, just that I have never heard of it.

Jing's Guesthouse, Salon and Spa Hua Hin

Soi Selakam, Hua Hin, Prachuap kiri khan

Tel/fax: 032-516594, 087-9220434 Thai 086-1089271 Eng

Email: [email protected]

Edit there is a review of Changs Guesthouse on Tripadvisor, but doesn't give contact details and the review is five years old.

I have never read such an awful thread with such callous boasts from the OP who seems to take great delight in boasting that he has benefited from somebody else's misfortune.

Enjoy your bargain, I suspect it will come back to haunt you.