californiabeachboy

Now I am hooked on this -I posted earlier (posting #54). I just checked the flight I booked about a month ago. For a San Diego to Los Angeles to Hong Kong (two day layover) and then to Bangkok, and a return, I paid $1175 USD about 7 weeks before departure on Cathay Pacific. I just checked the exact same flights (same day same time, now about 3 weeks before the flight) and it is around $1,450, so about $275 more.

I probably could have knocked some of that difference off by selecting less popular flights. For example, I am now leaving HK at 1:00 in the afternoon, which is perfect for me because I can get up have a leisurely breakfast, check out of the hotel and make my way to the airport, and it gets me in to LA at a good time for a connecting flight. I may have been able to knock something off by taking the midnight flight, but I hate midnight flights when I am in a hotel because I have to check out, wander around the city all day, figure out how to get a shower before my flight (consideration for my seatmates), etc.

Bottom line - If you don't care about timing, maybe not a huge deal, but if you do, I think it is a big difference.

Ditto on the California connection. I visit Thailand several times a year, but I cannot cut the umbilical cord to my home of California (San Diego). They are not the same (I cannot leave my lover - Mexican food). The Internet (connection with friends in California) is your friend.

The other thing you have to be careful about, is that airlines are very good at selling you a changeable ticket, but not so good at actually allowing you to change it. I flew Cathay Pacific with a changeable ticket. I wanted to change my return flight, so I checked with Cathay Pacific. Every date I gave them = no seats available, no seats available, etc etc. When I got on the Internet, I discovered there were many seats available on those flights, just not for me. Along with banks, airlines are the trickiest organizations out there. So they will only have a few seats available on a flight for a changeable (i.e. someone who has already given them money)ticket vs. a new passenger. So you need to be really really flexible on your return dates.

I recently returned from my first visit to HH. I don't live in Thailand but I visit often. I have looked at HH as a place to spend a few weeks each year, so I wanted to check it out.

The beaches are ok, and it is a relatively clean town. BUT, what is it with the dogs? I like dogs, and when there is a problem dog it is usually the owner that is the problem.

But as I am walking along the beach I see all the scruffy, obviously homeless dogs wandering the beach. Then I decide to get up early one morning and go for a walk. As I am walking along one of the sois near the beach this dog is sitting on the steps of a house and comes out to me growling. I am a bike rider, so I have learned over the years to distinguish between dogs that come toward you, but don't bite, and those that come toward you to bite. After a few seconds I determined that this one was all bark and no bite, but it was a scary few seconds.

Is there some reason why the people who are in charge of Hua Hin cannot do something about this? It is hitting their pocketbook big time, because I think that is a big negative of Hua Hin!

Did I really say "dongs" instead of "dogs". That has to be one of the worst typos ever.

Just a quick note on the issue of a lawyer being obligated to report criminal activity/immigration violations. I am not an immigration lawyer, but I am a lawyer in California (retired) and if a client came to me with this kind of problem, I would NEVER report him. As I remember from law school (some 30 years ago), a lawyer may have an obligation to report if the client tells him/her he is ABOUT to commit a crime, but not if the event has already occurred. But please don';t sue me for malpractice if things have changed.

I tend to agree with prior posts - let sleeping dongs lie.

Thanks for the additional info. I will check it out.

The video is interesting. Of course, if I am trying that in Thailand, I will start out driving on the left side of the road, and then I will start playing around with the stations and the music, drift over to the right side of the road, and within a few minutes I will have no need for a reader with music.

Cheers.

Thank you for the responses.

I checked into the kindle a few days ago but the salesman said the wi-fi is very limited in that you only connect to Amazon to download books or music - no Internet radio. Seemed odd to me but that is what he said. I don't think the jet book has wi-fi?

The problem with iphones/smartphones is that, as I understand it, streaming music uses a lot of data, so to sit in a hotel room and listen to streaming music would be prohibitively expensive.

The logitech looks interesting, even though no reader. I called them and they said as far as they know it would work in an overseas hotel wi-fi system, although they have never been asked that before. It is a bit heavy to carry in luggage (around 4 pounds), I may check into buying one in Thailand if it is available.

I agree that my price limitation is probably the killer. I will be there in March and I will probably just do, as one poster suggested, what I did a few months ago - load up my MP3 with songs, buy some used English language books while there, and do it the old fashioned way.

Thanks again

I live in the US but spend a few months each year in Thailand. The number one thing I miss when I travel there is music. I take my mp3 but I get tired of the same music and I would really like Internet radio (I subscribe to Sirious/XM here in the US, and they now have a streaming Internet based radio. The number two thing I miss is something to read while hanging out by the pool or the beach. So I am looking at devices that I could buy here in the US that would help. I am thinking about buying an Ereader that has access to Internet radio. Does that really exist? Although I am not sure, it looks like some Ereaders run on Android, and there are apps that allow me to get Internet radio (not sure about that). So my questions are:

1. Has anyone here tried an Ereader at the pool or the beach, under an umbrella? Is it readable in the sharp contrast? I am curious as to how it compares to reading a hard copy book in that situation.

2. Does Internet radio work in Thailand? I have had some video calls with friends in Thailand that were constantly having connectivity problems. I will be in Bkk, Jomtien Beach and/or Kata Beach in Phuket. Does anyone listen to Internet radio in Thailand?

The kicker is that I don't want to spend more that $150 US. I will only use this in Thailand, not here in the US, and I don't want to worry about getting it damaged or stolen. They now have Ereaders here in the US for under $150. I know I could bring my laptop, but I don't like traveling with it.

Thanks.

I cannot compare the minivan from Bkk to Pattaya, but I can compare the minivan from Bkk to Hua Hin vs. the bus to Pattaya. The minivan back from Hua Hin to Bkk was a horror ride. The driver stopped several places to load people and luggage on the van, to the point where the luggage was packed so high in the rear that if he had to slam on the brakes, it would all have shot forward at the speed of light. On the other hand, I took the bus from Bkk (mo chit) to Pattaya, and it was a wonderful, safe trip. To top it off, the woman across the isle from me immediately got on her cell, and was jabbering away from the moment we left the station in a loud voice, and the attendant (not the driver) came back and told her no cell phone conversations on the bus. I wanted to give the attendant A hug (but I didn't). In my opinion these minivans are an accident waiting to happen.

Thanks for the responses. Jomtien Beach Residence/Penthouse looks pretty good. I have seen info on the View Talays, but I assume they are all individually owned so it depends on the quality of the landlord. I am a little concerned about giving a big deposit to someone I don't know. I was burned on that once (not in Thailand), so I am reluctant to do that unless I have a good relationship with the owner.

Thanks again for your help.

I am retired and looking for a place to spend a couple of months per year in Thailand, and Jomtien Beach is at the top of my list. I will be coming over there in a few weeks to scout some places (I have driven through in the past). I am looking for a studio apartment with a kitchen/kitchenette that I could rent week to week, within about 500 meters from the beach. I have done an Internet search but really didn't find much, so I thought I would check in here. My questions are:

1. I love to cook but don't want to drive, so I am looking for a place that is near some food markets to buy food, has a pool, and costs about 10,000 baht per week or 30,000 baht per month anytime other than June to August. I prefer a hotel/aparttment rather than a private residence so I can get a sense of the reviews, etc. Any specific suggestions?

2. I plan to walk around while I am there, and try to find some places. Any suggestions as to where I should walk around?

Thanks.

Another tip I came across was to always clear your cookies before returning to the same site as multiple visits could trigger a price rise.

I tried it out on the Etihad site and it eventually came back £40 more expensive.

Not sure if this is always the case but I now clear my cookies out.

I forgot all about that. And you are sooooo right. It does make a difference. Smart buggers...

For me the price is not the only issue, but the timing of the flights. I hate arriving at an airport late at night - it makes getting to your destination more difficult. I also don't like leaving very early in the morning as transport to the airport may be difficult.

I am in the process of booking my third flight from LA to Bangkok on Cathay Pacific. I use CP because they give me a free stopover in Hong Kong on the way over and the way back, and I like spending a couple of days in HK. In my experience the price of their flights does not change that much assuming you are 3 months to two weeks before the flight, but the availability of the "good" flights on certain days does.

I also agree that waiting until the last minute has more risks than benefits. The price may go down 5% if you are really lucky, but if you bet wrong, the price will go way way up.

Can you share with me what you normally pay? I would love a stopover in HKK. I've done a few in Tokyo, but it always raises the price...and it ain't a cheap place to hangout. We just got back from Vegas. Left on December 7 and returned today (very early AM). I got a great deal for $1175. But looks like I will have to go back in May. Bummer! That long flight sucks.

I am in the process of booking a flight to Bangkok on Cathay Pacific for March from San Diego. I am stopping over in HK for two days on the way over and two days on the way back. The total cost is $1175 USD, but that includes the San Diego to LA leg, which is usually around $150 to $200 (so annoying), so the LA to HK to Bkk to HK TO LA portion is around $1000 (the ticket doesn't break it out). The nice thing is that on CP it only costs $100 or $150 to change or cancel the ticket.

I love HK - it is one of my favorite cities in the world. Plus I really like the HK and Bkk combo - you get the formal efficiency of HK and the smiling chaos of Bkk in one trip. I have a recommendation on a mid-priced HK hotel that is good for a short trip if you need one. I have been to Tokyo, and HK is expensive, but not that expensive. Good luck.

For me the price is not the only issue, but the timing of the flights. I hate arriving at an airport late at night - it makes getting to your destination more difficult. I also don't like leaving very early in the morning as transport to the airport may be difficult.

I am in the process of booking my third flight from LA to Bangkok on Cathay Pacific. I use CP because they give me a free stopover in Hong Kong on the way over and the way back, and I like spending a couple of days in HK. In my experience the price of their flights does not change that much assuming you are 3 months to two weeks before the flight, but the availability of the "good" flights on certain days does.

I also agree that waiting until the last minute has more risks than benefits. The price may go down 5% if you are really lucky, but if you bet wrong, the price will go way way up.

Thanks to all for the good info. Now I have something to check out when I am over there.

The big issue for me is transportation. I hate taking taxis under the best of circumstances, and I have heard so any horror stories about the taxis/tuk-tuks in Phuket that I didn't even bother to go there when I was in Thailand a couple of months ago. Driving in Thailand? I don't think so - I once took a motorcycle taxi in Bangkok, weaving along a soi, no clue as to what was around the corner. If something HAD been coming around the corner, the driver and I both would have been roadkill. I don't know why the tourist industry in Phuket can't do something about the dishonest taxi situation there - I think it is costing them big bucks, because it has become so well known even here here in California. I loved the baht buses in the Pattaya area.

As for the beach, I live a few blocks from, in my opinion, some of the best beaches in the world here in San Diego, and very clean, I just wish the water was not so <deleted>' COLD. What we don't have is the nice warm mornings/evenings for a walk on the beach, massages on the beach, beer on the beach (now banned in San Diego)etc. So that is probably what I am looking for in a beach.

The market at Somjin looks really good - I will check that out.

Thanks GOM, a good chat with some tv'ers sounds good when I am there. After a few beers, I will find out what it is REALLY like in K/K.

I have read a lot of posts here comparing Phuket to Pattaya, but that seems a bit inaccurate - comparing a town (Pattaya) with an island that has many different towns. So I would like any information on a more specific comparison of Jomtien Beach vs. the Karon/Kata area.

I am a retired American and looking for a place to stay for a few months a year. I have done some research and narrowed it down to an area in Chon Buri outside of Pattaya - probably Jomtien - and the Karon/Kata area. I have been to Jomtien briefly, but not to K/K - I will be going there in a few weeks to check things out but would like some advance info. I already have a picture of the more obvious differences - K/K is probably more expensive, but with nicer beaches, but it is the "intangibles" I am trying to figure out, so if anyone has experience spending time in both places it would be helpful:

1. I like to cook, so having nice grocery markets nearby is important - any difference there? How about availability of serviced apartments for a month to month stay?

2. Friendliness of the people. This is very subjective I know. But it seems that K/K is more of a temporary stop for people, whereas Jomtien has more long term residents, but I could be wrong about that. Where am I more likely to get to know people that I deal with (at the cafe, the street food vendor, etc.), or maybe even get to know my neighbors?

3. Which place is more "farang-friendly" - good for expats in terms of emergency medical care, finding a bank that will open an account for a non-resident, etc.

Thanks for any info.

(P.S. - I wasn't sure where to post this, but I did it on the Phuket forum because I know less about that area - if the mod wants to move it to another forum that is fine)

I have flown from SF to Bangkok on Cathay Pacific. Not too bad, and they give you a free stopover in Hong Kong if you want it. The one thing I liked is that they had a pretty good selection of movies/tv shows etc. on the seatback entertainment screen in economy - makes the flight go quicker.

I have flown to Thailand twice on Cathay Pacific. They have the same notice on their website when you book. In neither case did they check. I think this is one of those "do you feel lucky" decisions.

Thanks for all the responses. I think I will initially come in on a 30 day entry stamp with a flexible airline ticket out within 30 days. Then I can extend it by leaving the country and getting another 30 days, or get a tourist visa for 60 days. Just a couple of questions:

1 Everyone talks about going to Laos for extensions etc. but few talk about Kuala Lumpur. Is that strictly for cost/geographic reasons, or is the Thai embassy in KL difficult to deal with? If I decide to get a tourist visa in while I am in KL, how long does that usually take?

2. The reason I said the retirement visa seems complicated has to do with the financial requirements. I still don't understand when I need to have the 800,000 baht in Thailand as opposed to just having it available here in the US (I do not yet draw a pension). That is a big issue with me because I don't want the hassle of bringing the money over to Thailand (which also triggers certain reporting requirements with the IRS about overseas accounts, money flows etc.), and then decide after one year I prefer to come back here and live. Then I have to try to get it back here. Is there a way to keep it here in the US at least for the first year of a Non-O visa?

Thanks again for the info.

I am really interested in a couple of the replies above.

I am a 59 year old American and would like to spend part of the year in Thailand, maybe as one poster above said, three months twice a year. I used to live in Australia and I still have an account with Suncorp Bank, and a debit card with them (VISA). So if I use that card, maybe that will solve my problem?? I want to keep my health insurance here in the US, and I am just looking for something that will cover me if I have a problem in Thailand. Not small things (a couple of hundred US dollars) but big problems.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks to all of you for your responses. Very useful information, and a whole lot cheaper than going to an immigration lawyer.

After giving it some thought - it is raining here in San Diego which almost never happens - I have decided to use the KISS method - keep it simple, stupid.

I will book a 30 day trip to Thailand. According to the postings, I can either leave for a few days and get another 30 days (as one poster commented, I have plenty of pages left in my passport), or if I want to stay for more than 30 days go to Vientiane and get a 60 day tourist visa (can I do the same in Luala Lumpur?). I have never been to Laos, so that might be a good trip. The only issue is dealing with the airlines. In my experience, airlines are second only to banks in terms of their ability to "trick" you. Last year I bought a "changeable" ticket on Cathay Pacific. When I got to Thailand I decided I want to stay another week. I went to the CP office to get a new flight. To my surprise, every flight was booked!! So when I got back to my hotel room I checked. There were plenty of seats on my requested flights, just not for ME!(they already had my money - they wanted new money) For airlines, changeable tickets are like frequent fligher miles - they are really good at giving them out, but if you want to actually use them, they get really annoyed. But I will deal with that.

My other comments:

The retirement visa seems horribly complictad to me, and I have many years of education (too many, some might say). Sadly, I am not yet drawing my pension, so I cannnot go the monthy income route. On the plus side, I am a natural saver, so I can get by until I reach 65. I looked at the website for the Thai Embassy in LA and it mentioned needing 800,000 baht, but it did not specificaly say that I needed to bring that to Thailand, just have it??? How does the monthly income requrement work when your income is from investimens, not pension (i.e. stocks, bonds, and interest). But I will deal with that later as I have no interest at the moment of living in Thailand all year - I like where I live and I just want to spend a vew months each year in Thailand.

Editorial comment - As we all know, immigrations laws are driven by politics, not logic. I would be a perfect candidate for Thailand - I will spend money there, never need any benefits (education, welfare, etc.), no criminal record (however, I am a big fan of Obama, which as of yet, is not a crime - that is a JOKE people)

But thanks again for the info. I will post if I get in trouble.

I am a 59 year old retired American citizan and just returned from my second short stay in Thailand. I would like to spend part of the year there, maybe 4-6 months divided into two or three stays, and do it every year. I am eligible for the retirement visa, but I don't want to live there year around, and not yet willing to make the 800,000 baht commitment. My head is spinning from trying to get all the details right, but it seems I have two options. I am posting this to see if I have my options right and/or there are other possibilities for me.

Option 1: Come there on a 30 day entry permit, then take a trip out of the country for a few days, then come back and get another 30 days. Is that automatic? i.e. you show up on your return and they give you another 30 days, no visa involved. How many times can you do that? At some point in time do you get red flagged because you keep doing it? This seems like the easiest option. The only thing I would have to deal with is the airline tickets. I know that the airlines may stop me when I start my trip if I don't already have my onward ticket within 30 days of arrival, so it locks me in a bit as to time and place, but I can deal with that. There are other cities in Asia I would like to visit, so no big deal there.

Option 2: Apply for a tourist visa. this is a bit of a hassle, since I have to gather the docs, mail it in (I live in San Diego), etc. Plus I have to already have bought my ticket (which again locks me in on a few months in advance on dates). And as I read it, that only gives me 60 days, with the possibility of another 30. And I would have to do it every time I go over there. I read something about a multiple entry tourist visa, but when I looked at the website for the Royal Thailand Consulate in Los Angelses I didn't see this mentioned.

I am sure many others are doing this - is there anything I am missing? Any problems or pitfalls? I want to do this strictly legal - I don't want to mess up future visits by getting tricky, and I like to relax when I go through immigration.

Thanks for your help.

I believe things have changed with the advent of computers. They have these complicated programs to set the prices. Too far in advance and they think you need to be there for a specific date (i.e a wedding) and will charge the most. Wait too late and they will think you had something come up and and will pay whatever it takes.

I have flown many times over the last few years across the Pacific from USA. As with a prior post, I have found that from four weeks to eight weeks before your flight you will get the best price - they want to make sure they fill up the plane.

Thanks for the info. I have done some more research. The satellite radio app from XM looked good (I have XM here in the US) until I called my mobile phone service (T-Mobile) and she told me that to listen to Internet radio on a smart phone would cost about $200US per hour because they charge for audio streaming.

My conclusion is "back to the future". I will bring my MP3 and maybe find some external speakers. Also, I will buy a cheap cd player (as one of the posters suggested), pick up some cds, and go from there.

Thanks for the responses.

I am sure you didn't mean it this way, but when I read your post I thought "he is blaming the death, at least in part, on the wife!!!!". I hope she doesn't read this post as it will haunt her for the rest of her life. His death in not because of the wife's lack of English or ability to communicate.