Philippine resident coming to Thailand

[Philippinesliving]

First post here, long time Philippine resident from U.S.

I hate traveling. I'm an old guy, been around and tired of all hassles of travel, ripoffs, etc.

But I have to go to Thailand for a few days on business. I will land in Bangkok and try to get out to Pattaya soon as I can. I hate big cities (not coming for the girls)

Is this a welcoming place to get information for a newbie to Thailand?

[Puchaiyank]

It can be a good source of information.  It would be best if you expressed specific concerns...????

[Mavideol]

if you're ready to accept some criticism and some negative comments this is the place, but should tell what you're looking for before any of the above starts 555

[mogandave]

If you’re an old guy only here for a few days, I would just focus on getting a nice hotel close to where my business was.

What do you want to try to do after work if you’re only here a few days?

Will you spend any days here not working?

[Philippinesliving]

Sorry late reply, busy preparing things for trip.

Ok, I give a try here.

 

My first choice was Thailand and was learning Thai until I learned of the bad immigration policies for long termers.

 

Here are some of the things I need to know, any help is welcomed.

 

I need a simple, clean, relatively cheap room for two close to the action.

I am not coming for the girls but I am curious about Pattaya which I have read so much about and I want to be close to restaurants, hotels, etc. I rarely pay anything about $20 USD a night for a room and usually less. I don't do BUGS,rats, no water, bad security, dirty linen, or scam places with bad staff. Has to have air cond that works and not noisy-I always check this stuff b4 handing over money.

Recommendations on places you have stayed recently would be great.

 

Any immigration/customs scams I have to watch out for on arrival? U.S. Citizen, current passport, enough funds. Only need approval for a couple weeks stay.

 

What is BKK airport like, I have an early morning arrival and a long layover on return, so I will need to camp out at the airport. Cold? Uncomfortable? Noisy? Problems with cops? (I don't do anything illegal) Recommendations on food, should I try to bring snacks with me?

 

Best place to change money on arrival, will get there b4 most places are open my guess.

 

Early morning transport to Pattaya-I don't like big cities and want to get out of BKK soon as I can. Comfortable option, cheap and does not require a lot of changing routes, possible? Has to run reasonably early so I don't have to wait too long at the airport before leaving. Also I have some problems with walking distances over 300meters, so no long walks.

 

I speak NO Thai. Should I bring some pre-printed Thai phrases? Will try to load a thai-english translator on my cp, but not sure I have time to do it. Best place to get a Thai sim so I can call back to Philippines if I need to.

 

Best smaller city with good beach and not too touristy-someplace I can find a decent cheap room near clean beach/restaurants, unspoiled, not a tourist trap. Won't spend that much time in Pattaya if possible.

 

If anyone knows an honest attorney there that speaks English and can possibly work around some of their long term visa problems for me without trying to rip me off, that would be a bonus. I am not going to deposit a big amount for retirement visa, has to be something else. I am retired educator with special skills/degree. I also would love to volunteer at one of their animal sanctuaries. Also if I move there I will learn Thai, seriously.

 

I have one or two Thai women contacts made online but not counting on them, even when they say they are willing to be my guide (hahahahha). But would be great to meet a normal, not crazy girl to spend some time with there, especially if she speaks some English.

 

Thanks for any useful replies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lancashirelad]

You will find that in Thailand you will get a better standard of accommodation for the same money than you do in the PI. US$25 - 30 will give you much more choice.  No scams at immigration, you will get a 30-day visa waiver stamp.  (includes day of entry). You will need a return or onward ticket. The walk from the plane to immigration is much more than 300mts. (some travelators)

Google 'Bell Travel Service' for a pre-booked bus to Pattaya - direct to your chosen hotel. 

Plenty of rooms for all budgets on hotel booking sites such as Agoda.

Staying just off Soi Buakaew might be a good bet as convenient for baht bus transport. (Lots of rooms ON Soi Buakaew but can be noisy due to 24hr m/bike traffic).

[balo]

Most rooms in Pattaya are better than where you came from. 800 baht and up plenty of options, with AC.

[mogandave]

All this for a few days on business?

[Lancashirelad]

15 minutes ago, mogandave said:

All this for a few days on business?

His post jumps around all over the place. Seems he is coming to scope out Thailand with a view to moving ........ just at a time when many are leaving Thailand and moving TO the PI/ Cambodia/Vietnam because Thailand is becoming too expensive and clamping down on financial status benchmarks. 

Is not coming for the girls but wants to be close to the action. Hmmmm.

OP. There is no 'work around' long stay immigration financial requirements.

If not married to a Thai you will either have to put 800,000bht into a Thai bank account and as good as forget about it OR have a proveable regular monthly foreign income of at least 65,000bht per month. 

Edited June 5, 2019 by Lancashirelad

[Philippinesliving]

On 6/5/2019 at 2:45 AM, Lancashirelad said:

You will find that in Thailand you will get a better standard of accommodation for the same money than you do in the PI. US$25 - 30 will give you much more choice.  No scams at immigration, you will get a 30-day visa waiver stamp.  (includes day of entry). You will need a return or onward ticket. The walk from the plane to immigration is much more than 300mts. (some travelators)

Google 'Bell Travel Service' for a pre-booked bus to Pattaya - direct to your chosen hotel. 

Plenty of rooms for all budgets on hotel booking sites such as Agoda.

Staying just off Soi Buakaew might be a good bet as convenient for baht bus transport. (Lots of rooms ON Soi Buakaew but can be noisy due to 24hr m/bike traffic).

Best reply of the bunch, thanks.  Lancashireland. Accomodations here in the P.I. are overpriced and run down. And Filipinas are WAY overated.

 

 

Edited June 6, 2019 by Philippinesliving
mistake

[Philippinesliving]

13 hours ago, Lancashirelad said:

His post jumps around all over the place. Seems he is coming to scope out Thailand with a view to moving ........ just at a time when many are leaving Thailand and moving TO the PI/ Cambodia/Vietnam because Thailand is becoming too expensive and clamping down on financial status benchmarks. 

Is not coming for the girls but wants to be close to the action. Hmmmm.

OP. There is no 'work around' long stay immigration financial requirements.

If not married to a Thai you will either have to put 800,000bht into a Thai bank account and as good as forget about it OR have a proveable regular monthly foreign income of at least 65,000bht per month. 

You're wrong, many other immigration options for long time stays.

Just need an attorney to handle it for me, hard to find honest attorneys no matter if they speak English or not. No reason to lie about my girly intentions, been there done that, no special attraction any more, just wondering how they do it in Pattaya, my guess is same as other similar places I have been to. WIll migrate to smaller town for most of the stay. Also pattaya has many English speaking, good selection of restaurants and accomodations.

[balo]

6 hours ago, Philippinesliving said:

Also pattaya has many English speaking, good selection of restaurants and accomodations.

This is true , must have been hard to find anything eatable for Westerners in the Phils. 

[mogandave]

WIll migrate to smaller town for most of the stay. Also pattaya has many English speaking, good selection of restaurants and accomodations.

You’ll migrate to a smaller town for most of the few days you’re here on business...