jaizan

I wonder why the likes of TrueMove don't simply publish their USSD codes for phone packages. What could be simpler than landing at Suvarnabhumi, typing in my USSD code and having the package I want ? Instead, I have to navigate to the app, consuming data & then buy the package I want. If anyone knows where to get a list of up to date TrueMove USSD codes for each package, please share the link.

Well, after a little more testing I solved that problem: The Thai SIM does not receive incoming text messages (or show any sign of a connection) in my Nokia 1661 phone, but DOES receive them in on a newer Android phone My UK SIM receives incoming text messages in both phones. I don't quite know precisely why this fails, but suspect my 2018 Thai SIM is not compatible with the older phone, whilst my 2023 UK SIM is. I find the Nokia is very convenient for receiving 2FA text messages on my UK SIM in Thailand & other countries. It's small, has a long battery life and boots up quickly. Unfortunately, reversing that process and putting my Thai SIM in the Nokia in the UK fails. Naturally I use a smart phone for my main SIM, whatever the country. One day I must look into e-sims.

As usual, the New Year death rate was BELOW the daily average for the whole year.

I cannot currently receive TrueMoveH text messages when in the UK. I've tried with TrueMoveH web login and Kasikorn banking, both of which should send me a text message. On the TrueMoveH app, I have the roaming settings to receive calls and data ON. There is no separate setting for SMS. What is the likely cause of this problem ? [Without SMS messages, I cannot login to the TrueMoveH website or make payments from my bank account website. I can do both via the respective apps, still installed on my old phone. ]

On the TrueMove app, I can buy additional validity, cheaply. 180 days costs 14 baht. I can only buy up to 12 months. I go to Thailand every year so this is OK. If I didn't go to Thailand, I could set a google calendar reminder to check it every 50 weeks.

Thank you. I'm likely to do exactly the same. Using the app on my new phone will have to wait until I return to Thailand. In the meantime, I don't need it much, so I can get by with web based access or using my old phone.

I've been using the Kasikorn banking app on my old phone for years. I now install the app on my new phone and it insists I firstly log in using the cellular network rather than wifi. So I switch off wifi and it comes up with the same error message, telling me to use the cellular network. I am currently in the UK, using my UK SIM. Is the app somehow expecting me to use a cellular data connection from my Thai SIM registered with the bank account for the first login ? Or a Thai cellular network ?

What is the normal expectation for motorcycle insurance when renting ? I saw one company which offered insurance. However, the cover was for 100,000 baht, with a 20,000 excess. So just 80,000 baht cover. Like about £2000. So I'd better not run into anything expensive! Does anyone here do proper insurance? With decent cover for unexpected events. Please assume I will have all the correct licenses, so no need to discuss that.

At what cost though ? I hear some charge 3500 in Pattaya. Another quoted me about 1600, but that was as part of a much larger "fee" proposed for a retirement visa, bending a few rules. (I didn't go for it) My actual account was opened over 10 years ago. The first branch said no. The second said yes. If faced with a 3500 fee, I would at least try walking into half a dozen branches first.

Does anyone sell Sidegra in Pattaya at the correct price ? ie 100 baht for 4 x50mg or 180 baht for 4 x 100mg. I'm not interested in Kamagra or any number of alternatives.

There is potentially an app for the railway. This You Tube video shows it. However, they don't demonstrate ticket booking. I cannot find the app on the play store. I don't know what's wrong with building a station as close as they can to the city centre and having a ticket office that takes cash for tickets. That has worked for almost 200 years elsewhere.

I don't yet have experience, but hope to try it in a couple of months. From what I hear, the official ticket offices only take Union Pay or some odd Lao banking app. Nothing sensible, like cash or Visa/Mastercard. Then, in the age of computers, you have to buy tickets within 48 hours of travel. Anyone would think it was run by communists, rather than some practical business minded people who want to provide a good service in order to earn a return on their capital. The problem was solved by using a ticket agent.

Does anyone have any recent experience of LAO ATMs and cash withdrawal fees ? Last time, I think I mostly used cash taken with me (~4 years ago). The one thing I noticed was that it was cheaper to convert GBP to THB in BKK Airport Rail station (about 0.5% loss v mid-market at the time) and then convert the THB to LAK in Vientiane than it was to directly convert from GBP to LAK in Vientiane. Having noticed the difference in spread, I checked the live exchange rates online, so this was definitely down to a poor GBP spread and not exchange rate movements. If the ATM charges are reasonable, I think I prefer that to taking cash this time. As for the trains, there is a separate thread for that.

Thank you for the recommendations everyone. I probably get bitten by a mosquito about once a week, usually when I forgot to put any chemicals on my skin until noticing the mozzies. So I'm not going near a doctor unless I'm ill. I just want something to stop the itching.

What do people use for insect bite pain relief ? I have found the Hydrocortisone gels sold in the UK worked very well and some of the alternatives were of no use. Now most of the places near me don't stock Hydrocortisone. So I can either buy some unknown brand off Amazon, or buy something in Thailand, as long as there are some good recommendations.