theoldgit

Have seen some adverts for the New Holiday Inn, with some good offers.

I just wondered where it is actually located, say in comparison with The Hard Rock where I have stayed before?

Certainly seems like an attempt to pull in more families, has anybody had a look round yet?

I did it myself and the process was very easy and straight forward.

I had to go to the British Embassy, provide proof to them that I was free to marry they then gave me, or rather sold me a letter, it currently costs 3074 Baht, you then get this letter translated and then it needs to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who will certify it. I used the translation people to do all this and I think it cost me a tad under 2000 Baht, and it saved me a couple of trips to the MFA. It was pretty easy to do so the indicative price given by TVE, isn't too far off the mark. The whole thing, including registering a marriage in your local Amphur can take less than a week.

You might find this link helpful http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for...ister-marriage/

Just one more thing, and please don't take it the wrong way, you say the lady wants you to marry her and take her back to the UK, that is what you want isn't it?

Vie Hotel (New hotel on Phayathai -Opp. Asia Hotel) has a good buffet promotion thru Oct. (Thur./Fri./Sat. Only); 2 buffets for price of one (750b net for 2 people).

Or 1050, for two until the end of October, including three glasses of wine each.

Oh Boo Hoo you had something that you knew not to take on a plane taken away from you! It is done for security.

We all have had this experience and the old "I have kids" thing...contrary to popular opinion does not give you free reign to do as you like on an airplane!

Some choice banter of passengers with brats "We need upgrade for more room"

"We have to sit all together, can not be across from each other on the aisle"

"What do you mean my unpaid brat does not get a 30KG baggage allowance?"

Your kids are annoying to everyone else on the plane, and you do not pay for their tickets.

Wow, that was some outburst, I take you don't approve a families travelling with their children

The scheme is alive and kicking, well it was a couple of weeks ago.

You seem to have fallen foul of the Thai mentality that if they don't know they just say "cannot do".

Could I suggest that the Information Centre at the BTS station might not be too versed in the rules pertaining to the refunds of VAT, though I think they are correct in saying that the retailer needs to be in the scheme. I think that most retailers that sell expensive items probably are, could I suggest you ask in Siam Paragon or the store itself.

http://www.rd.go.th/vrt/index.html

What country are you referring to?

You can partially track applications for UK applications, but the system only tells you that the application has been forwarded to the The British Embassy or when the passport is ready for collection. A word of warning, the site is often unavailable, is it is at the time of posting the link.

https://www.vfs.org.in/UKG-PassportTracking...0FI8SOju2rNnQ==

Years ago when I was in Italy they often didnt have small change and used to give u a few sweets instead.

That's happened to me in Bangkok - in a bank.

yeah... they must have been snowed under with student applications... they processed a total of 4 during the whole of august!? just been reading through the last internal audit report of the bangkok embassy visa services department (will post the link if anyones interseted).

Yes, please.

I wanna go, anyone else up for it?

Sorry, I think you will find that you are two years too late.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/07...nt_30048122.php

Of course the police are famous for ensuring there are no scams so it should make the airport pretty safe and scam free - I have got that right haven't I?

I presume the 'Heathrow Express' is outside the main building? Is it signposted and easy enough to find?

Sounds a better prospect than the tube.

I'd rather be prepared than be searching on the day after long trip.

It's easy to get to, there are plenty of signs and it's below the terminal, there is a walkway and pretty sure a lift.

Certainly it's better and a lot quicker than the Underground, just one caveat there are two services on the route, The Heathrow Express which is non stop and takes about 15 mins, and Heathrow Connect, this is a stopper though a tad cheaper. You can book the Heathrow Express online and print you tickets meaning you can simply board the train.

https://www.heathrowexpress.com/index.asp?S...37-46914E6272E9}

I understand these are the rules. But I have never experienced this. I flew with Qatar this year having booked with ebookers and was not required to show my debit card on either flight.

Maybe its different if you book direct with the airline?

Yes, it is different if you book with some airlines rather than a travel agent.

Take the Heathrow Express to Paddington. The tube is too unreliable if you have a fixed connection. Taxi from there costs not much more than the tube anyway. Arriving at 9am I would book the 1200 or 1230 train to be on the safe side.

Yes the Heathrow Express is far quicker, the Underground takes forever and is nearly always busy.

Paddington has a shared taxi scheme to popular destinations, I'm sure Kings Cross or Euston will be one of these.

I was in the embassy at about 13:00hrs yesterday in the Visa section

I thought the visa section had moved to Regent House?

No, the visa application centre is at Regent House, UK Visas are still based at The Embassy, that's where the ECO's do their work.

£800 for a minivan? Agree that is a ridiculous price.

Yes expensive but that's for up to 20 passengers, so that's 20 quid each way per head.

All I know is that my pension gets me 25% less Baht to my Pounds than it did when I moved to Thailand two years ago.

On Monday, my wife went to British embassy to ask for further information and they don't let anyone in. They also said if she want to submit the document she can leave it with security at the gate...no record of delivery.

When you get to the British Embassy just say you are going to the Consular Section, anyone can go there for letters, new passports and the like, the visa section desk is upstairs, directly above the Consular Section - of course there is no guarantee that they will accept it.

The best I've found is AA Insurance Brokers - also involved with Thai Visa Web site : www.aainsure.net

I used them recently to re-insure my Honda, excellent service and a substantial saving from the quote given by the Honda dealers insurance.

I used it a while ago, and didn't really think it was worth the hassle.

It was poorly signposted and the cars are left in the open with little visible security. The shuttle bus is primarily used for airport workers and I had a problem finding the bus for the return journey and as I recall I had to change. This was my experience others may find it ok, but I wouldn't use it again.

If you are only going for a few days, and have to use your car, I would leave it in the short term car park as it wouldn't cost much more.

The BTS extension out to Bangna is well under construction. It will end a bit past the BITEC convention center. Looks like it will be ready late this year, early next.

Unfortunately whilst the line looks almost ready it will not be opening until late 2011, some civil servant responsible for the procurement of the signaling equipment hasn't done so yet. It would seem that he or she is due to retire shortly and didn't want to make the wrong decision so left it on hold - and none of his superiors noticed.

P.S. Forget the Airport Limosine... 3000 Baht for the 300 Baht fare, I don't do that even when the company is paying... That is 20 beers you are talking about... ...

Or five cases (120 cans) in the supermarket

I find that Dohop http://www.dohop.com/ is a pretty good search engine, it includes the low cost carriers as well as flight consolidators.

As others have suggested all of these search engines should be used as an indicitive guide, but their results normally take some beating.

I have to laugh when I read how smart farangs think they are: forms completed incorrectly, the inability to read simple instructions, and a refusal to get a recent photograph. "Gosh, the embassy is treating like I'm stupid, or something".

The OP made a small mistake and all you can do is post an abusive reply to "farangs" in general, really helpful.

Of course you have never made a mistake in your life, oh how I wish I was so perfect.

From what you have described I can see little evidence that your girlfriend used deception in her application for a tourist visa to enter the UK.

Yes she ticked the wrong box indicating this was her first passport but then gave details of her visas and subsequent travel. On what you have said it seems like an honest mistake as she would have everything to gain to providing proof of her previous travel history and little to gain by deceiving the ECO that it was her first passport.

The only caveat is if the first passport contains proof that her visas were not fully complied with, but if that was the case, and she was attempting to hide the fact, then why declare the trips?

As orchidofsiam states it would be better if you could post the full details of the refusal notice.

Whilst there is no right of appeal there should be no harm in writing to the ECM outing the facts that no deception was used in either application and actually ask that they review not only the ten year ban but the refusal itself. It's a long shot, but she has nothing to lose.

don't bother using an agent. They're a rip-off.

This statement is a generalisation and very misleading, for sure there are some people that call themselves agents and make outrageous claims, but there are a number of honest and reliable advisers who will give honest and practical advice and a number of people have used them and speak highly of them. They are of course businesses and will require a fee for their services, but the legitimate ones charge a reasonable fee and for some people this is a small price to pay.

I personally wouldn't use the services of an agent as I feel the system is pretty straightforward, but others have taken a different approach, it's their choice.

So please don't say that all agents are rip offs.

By the way barnanby666, well done you are a good example of how it can be done.