TravelerEastWest

3 hours ago, dick turpin said:

Cash is king, Queen and Holy Mother Fxxxxx here.

My fathers favorite expression was Cash is king!

54 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Niether...

 

Open a local Bank Account and transfer money to that from overseas. 

 

Make local payment digitally via mBanking transfer to avoid any 3% Mastercard or Visa charges. 

Yes, I have a local bank account and do transfer money to it for just under 1%.

My wife uses her phone to pay for everything - maybe I need to start doing the same for large purchases. otherwise I am fine for cash up to around 30,000 baht.

Should I pay cash or use my American visa card (THB to USD) at a large store or hospital?

I ask as I was told that there would be no extra charge but I always seem to get a 3% charge.

My rate for transferring money is probably just under 1%

22 hours ago, bang saen guy said:

I have seen one Thai person parallel park and I taught her. She can also back into a parking space on 1 or 2 attempts. Far below the national; average of probably 6 or 8

I understand- backing in to a space is easy but tight parallel parking in a city can be a challenge - good to get lessons!

My question is can new cars with auto park really safely do tight parallel parking?

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

if my subjective truth through personal experience is negative then so be it! I can't help that, can I?

You do know that many people disagree with you...

I have lived here a long time and find Thais to be similar to people anywhere some good - some bad...

Who you hang out with will have a lot to do with it.

10 hours ago, brianthainess said:

That is the whole point of the school, they test you, They take you to the office, after they have passed you, and they are with you, i never saw any certificate, its just what my wife told me, you have already passed the test.'' we go get license today'' there is no more testing. I have never been so impressed by a Thai  business, no rip offs, they even took/showed us to a cheap motel nearby.  The school has vending machines/pot noodles, a lunch break. They have about 7 staff.

I agree with you good service and a good price!

As a side note there are good business people and lots of honest kind people in Thailand- sometimes I think that I don't live in the same Thailand as some of the posters on this forum...

8 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

It depends upon the state.  I know of at least one state that allows foreign students to drive on their foreign licenses for the duration of their studies. Getting a car registered and insured might be a challenge without the relevant state license, however.

 

Other states will require both the written and driving test in spite of an applicant having a foreign license. Some states will keep your foreign license if you tell them you have one when you apply for a state license. 

 

I am aware of this because I have four children who have gone off to university in the US with Thai licenses in their wallets.

You are the perfect person to ask - thank you!

So if a state will issue a license without a test show the Thai license.

Again thank you.

On 8/21/2023 at 1:15 PM, brianthainess said:

Jeez nearly  the same price as Chanthaburi and half the time, ( although that was 5 yrs ago)there is no set time either for any part of the test, keep trying till you get it right. I was amazed my missus past the computer questions, first time, she told me you just keep doing it over and over, I asked her what if you still don't get it right after a day "go back tomorrow'' 

Sounds like Chanthaburi is a bargain if 20 hours for almost the same price (unless I misunderstood you?) - curiuos do they also give you a certificate when you pass so you don't need to take the test at the driving office?

"Car lessons can begin before 18, possibly the month before as they only take 4 or 5 of them. Then at 18 they can apply for a 2 year licence."

Lessons can start much earlier they just won't give you your certificate until you are 18 - with the certificate no test at the driving office...

My wife started calling this morning:

The closest school is too small - another school about 35 minutes away will teach my teenagers before 18 but won't give them a certificate until they 18.

4,000 baht for 10 hours of lessons on the road in a car with dual brakes and steering wheels. 5 hours of computer study. My kids will end up with a certificate when they are 18 and they don't need to take a test at the driving office. Note the computer video is in Thai with English subtitles. but the test should be in English. The instructors don't speak English but my kids can speak Thai so thats OK.

It seems like under 18 they can drive on the road with these licensed instructors - but maybe it is not correct but they do it anyway? Not sure and not concerned.

Now I need to budget for a small Toyota for my daughter too drive to school in for the last six months of the school year...

Next year off to America for college -will she be able to exchange her Thai license for an American one or does she need to take a test again?

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

the school has about ten computers, 2 duel control auto cars + 2 stick pick ups, they take them on the road through Chanthaburi, so I'd say about 15+ people, they are all doing different parts of the test, you can practice parking all day, on site, shown how to check oil and water, date on tyres they also take them all for the medicals 115b then,   when everybody  has passed, off to the transport office for their license. 20hrs over a few days. They do M/C tests on other days was 1 k

I understand - low cost so group activities - if busy better to pay a bit more I think my wife paid 4,000.

5 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

I found very vague statements in the biggest Thai forum that say yes you can learn at the driving school if the instructor agrees.

 

Multiple "yes you can", "I studied at 17" on another Thai site.

Helpful thank you!

Best answer yet. 

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

I'd stay clear of schools at all times, in my area there are supermarket car parks with no gates, or 'waste' ground where markets are some times held.

I live in a hilly area not sure where would be a good area to practice hence the school idea 

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

What is the point as the schools IME take you to the transport office for your license (as a group) if your not 18 then you can't be given the license. I can't see someone turning up say six months later and produce the schools documents expecting their license. How can the school teach you as they do, on the road in their duel control cars? 

Very simple - even if you can't go on the roads - learning to parallel park expertly on their site is great start!

Not sure why they would take you as a group? Other than to save money my wife got her Thai drivers license after a class and went with just her teacher...

I know some people who after 20 years of daily driving can't park in a big city.

5 hours ago, bbko said:

Why not go and ask the driving schools? 

I will but when I get great idea at night or the weekends I like to consult the experience folk on this forum...

How young can a young person take driving lessons legally?

Example I have two teenagers in high school can they go to licensed driving school before they are 18?

If they can't drive on the public road can they drive at the school and learn to park?

Thank you!

In Mae Rim on the main road just outside of Mae Rim plaza is a new vegetarian restaurant that makes them fresh and gives you a choice as to how much sugar

12 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

I understand. A friend of mine from Maine advises me to stock up on warm clothes and firewood.... 

 

please don't cut your beautiful trees. But, if you do, we can use the firewood. 

Actually i have about twenty piles of firewood from cutting back longan trees a year ago they are probably dry now and a small fire hazard...

15 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Then move there or elsewhere.  I chose to live here in TH, nobody forced me, or is forcing me to stay.  The system was here before I got here, and has changed very little, actually none that affects me.

 

You have choices.

Agreed.

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Sure, maybe not - - That would not be on my list of worries - 

I agree - I started this thread because a friend from California has been advising me to create clear areas around my house as fire breaks, but my family loves our trees and the shade they provide!

4 hours ago, roo860 said:

So not in the city, your post said in the city.

Actually, I didn't say I was in the city you may be thinking about someone else. I did ask about the city but then made it clear I was on a farm with lots of trees. Anyway the point is do we have to be concerned about the general Chiang mai area in terms of fires?

I am going to guess maybe not but perhaps once in hundred years? Very recently we had a hail storm with high winds that blew down a heavy front gate and knocked over many trees I am still making repairs...

20 minutes ago, CMBob said:

Have read several historical articles regarding the city of Chiangmai and have never once read about any wildfire in the city itself.  I've seen some photos of a big fire by and/or involving Kad Luang (Worarot area) which occurred (if my memory is correct) 70-80 years ago but have seen no historical photos or historical notations of other fire issues.  Of course, the city itself was pretty much devastated and leveled by the wars by the time the Burmese were booted out in 1776.

Sounds like the area is fairly safe. The fire in Hawaii was in a town with bone dry 200 year old buildings. Chiang Mai is not like that normally...

26 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

I would be more worried about flooding. Location or live in a high rise condo

We had a fire in ours though some years back when some frang did a drunk barbecue (not allowed at all)bon his balcony then fell asleep. Fortunately it was contained.

I am on a hill so no flooding but I used to live in the Chang Klan area - wow seems like almost every year flooding.