ctrunfree

Thanks everyone.  Will definitely check some of those suggestions out!

Hi everyone

We'll be coming back for another month in Chiang Mai in early January. We haven't been back since August 2015.  I was wondering if anyone had any info about what's new in the craft beer scene in Chiang Mai?

Cheers!

Thanks for you views everyone - very helpful!

We haven't been back to Thailand for a few months and one of us usually has bright multi-coloured hair (blue, green etc).  Due to the current period of mourning for the King would be more respectful to get rid of the colours for our upcoming trip to Thailand?

Happy to pay up to 100-150 baht per visit, but would need to be very local to where I'm staying off Singharat Rd.  My motivation has geographic limits.

Hi people

I'm coming back for another month long stay in the New Year.  I'll be renting a place near Wat Pra Singh, but it doesn't have a gym.  Anyone know of any gyms close by that might offer a one-month membership?  Don't need anything flash, just a bike and a treadmill would do.

Thanks.  From memory I think that flight only goes once a week at present  (and that's a Sunday, which doesn't suit).  And its still over an hour to PHS I understand.  

Thanks for both responses.

Hi people

I'm trying to find a reliable, sober and sane driver to take me from Old Sukothai to Chiang Mai early in the New Year.  So far I've only seen one company-Oriental Escape- that seem to offer this service.  Does anyone know of any other options (and no, I'm not interested in the bus, or the train from Phitsanlouk, and the timings for flying THS-BKK-CNX on the same day don't work for me.)  Not too worried about the price, but getting there in one piece without the white knuckles is important.

There are certain aspects of Thai culture that I just cannot get my head around

Ridiculous! calling this Thai culture, No it isn't!

In the same way that Jimmy Saville represents British culture?

One less Cure fan in Thailand, by the looks of it.

Even if they were trying some type of crackdown you would have to be the worlds unluckiest person to get caught up in it.

How the hell would they even go about performing a crackdown.

I can't think it would be too hard for the condo managers to know who is doing short term lets, so presumably they'd be the first point of call for the BiB.

It seems to be a bit more than that. It sounds like the hotel lobby trying to put a spoke in the wheel of Air BnB, VRBO etc.

Hi people

Over on the Phuket forum there's reports of a crackdown on short term (under 30 days) rental of apartments which aren't part of hotels. It seems its going to be a nationwide push, and one poster says his Bangkok condo has pictures in the lobby of one owner being arrested. Can people confirm what's happening in Bangkok? I'm coming to town on Friday, not staying in a condo this time, but I've done so many times in the past and would like to know what's going on.

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A likely work around would be to officially rent the place for 30+ days, but only actually stay the two weeks or whatever you want. As there will be plenty of empty rooms the price will have to be adjusted accordingly.

Yes, but remember that if there are two sets of tenants during that 30 days, then the owner would be in violation of the law.

To be in compliance, the unit would have to either be occupied only by the person(s) that contracted for the entire 30 days, or in the event that they vacate before the end of the rental period, the unit would have to remain vacant for the remainder of the period. No "double dipping".

To make it economically feasible for the owner, the rent would have to reflect the value of a full month's occupancy, regardless of how long the tenant is planning to stay.

The question for the owners would likely to be: is it better to get two weeks rent in the month, or to have it empty?

If this is applied across Thailand, it will have a big impact on how we travel. We use Air BnB (and before that VRBO) extensively not only in Thailand but all over the world, except in places where the authorities have cracked down under pressure from well connected hotel interests. (In New York we opted to stay in Jersey City, a ten minute subway ride from Manhattan, where Air BnB is legal, unlike in NYC itself).

We like to stay in condos/apartments as we enjoy the ability to eat what and when we want, and not be tied to a hotel routine. In Thailand we love hitting the local food markets and returning with our baggies for an evening feast with something nice to drink from the local Vila. Being apartment owners ourselves however we appreciate the comments of those who have had bad experiences with short term renters in party mode. What we like about Air BnB is that it provides the means of reviewing both the rental property and the person who rented it. Over time this should lead to those who establish a track record of being inconsiderate of neighbours not being able to rent.

Fortunately there are still some good hotel apartment rentals available in Thailand. We're heading back to the Anantara near Ratchadamari this week, and have previously enjoyed some of the Marriot properties (not to mention places like Kantary Hills in Chiang Mai). All more expensive, but still providing the facilities we look for. Air BnB did give us the opportunity to stay in different areas of Bangkok-like Ari-where such options weren't available.

I suspect if this policy is actually enforced there will be a significant drop in the value of condominiums. A likely work around would be to officially rent the place for 30+ days, but only actually stay the two weeks or whatever you want. As there will be plenty of empty rooms the price will have to be adjusted accordingly.

Don't know about most of the rest, but Mix is certainly in my top 5. But where is S&P Chicken?

Provided its within the duty free allowance, why would there be a problem?

Regardless of what arrangements are announced, there will still be lots of scooters driving down Nimman the wrong way. "Why not, is quicker this way!"

Ok, its the prawns then. Weird though, felt exactly like a smaller version of one I was in in Japan a year or two ago. That was 5.5, and no crustaceans were involved.

Did anyone else in Patong feel a short tremor early this morning, about 12.30am? I was asleep, and felt the bed shake, and the wardrobe shook enough to trigger the inside light. It lasted maybe 5 seconds.

Did it happen, or was I dreaming? (I did have quite a few of the prawns from the seafood buffet).

Supposed to be flying in from Chiang Mai tomorrow afternoon….not looking good.

No worries, the weather is improving fast, rain and wind far less, and tomorrow will be nice again.

Great, can you keep it like that for the next week?

Supposed to be flying in from Chiang Mai tomorrow afternoon….not looking good.

Persistent clicky frog sellers?

25.88 baht to the Aussie dollar..oh for the good old days of parity with the $US...