Report from the Ground at Swampy Immigration

[Nyezhov]

Hey last night at Swampy, my kid strolled in on her 11th (? I have to ask when she rouses herself) Visa Exempt over the past 30 months. With $50 in her pocket looking like a drowned rat. Literally she got off the plane and was passed through, no questions asked. Picture, stamp stamp.

 

I figured that a non horror story would be appropriate at Christmas.

 

[thedemon]

That's great and as it should be. It's also the experience that thousands of tourists arriving in Thailand have every day. Only reading Thaivisa threads every day can give you a distorted view that doesn't match reality.

 

Slightly off-topic but another example of this, a couple of days ago a friend from VN asked me to help book 4 hotel rooms in BKK for the period 28-31 Dec. I tried my usual hotels. All full. Go online, Agoda, Booking.com etc. There is very little availability and the prices are high whereas any TV thread putting a positive spin on tourism is met with a slew of sarcastic posts suggesting that tourism in Thailand is dead.

[Pilotman]

23 minutes ago, thedemon said:

That's great and as it should be. It's also the experience that thousands of tourists arriving in Thailand have every day. Only reading Thaivisa threads every day can give you a distorted view that doesn't match reality.

 

Slightly off-topic but another example of this, a couple of days ago a friend from VN asked me to help book 4 hotel rooms in BKK for the period 28-31 Dec. I tried my usual hotels. All full. Go online, Agoda, Booking.com etc. There is very little availability and the prices are high whereas any TV thread putting a positive spin on tourism is met with a slew of sarcastic posts suggesting that tourism in Thailand is dead.

TVF is the last place you should come to for up to date and true story and advice and its getting worse, bar what Ubon Joe has to tell us. Over the last 3 years it seems to have mainly become a repository for misinformation, whinging, moaning, bias and down right lies.  

[khwaibah]

4 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

TVF is the last place you should come to for up to date and true story and advice and its getting worse, bar what Ubon Joe has to tell us. Over the last 3 years it seems to have mainly become a repository for misinformation, whinging, moaning, bias and down right lies.  

Not new. TVF has always been this way going back to its conception.????

[Denim]

29 minutes ago, thedemon said:

That's great and as it should be. It's also the experience that thousands of tourists arriving in Thailand have every day. Only reading Thaivisa threads every day can give you a distorted view that doesn't match reality.

 

Slightly off-topic but another example of this, a couple of days ago a friend from VN asked me to help book 4 hotel rooms in BKK for the period 28-31 Dec. I tried my usual hotels. All full. Go online, Agoda, Booking.com etc. There is very little availability and the prices are high whereas any TV thread putting a positive spin on tourism is met with a slew of sarcastic posts suggesting that tourism in Thailand is dead.

Those online booking agents have a certain quota and you often find ' no room available ' if you book late.

 

I have found this often in Thailand.

To get around this I just phone the hotel direct and reserve a room. Always turns out they have rooms available.

 

Back in the UK this didn't work. If an online site said no rooms then this was nearly always the case even if I called the hotel myself.

[Creasy]

51 minutes ago, thedemon said:

That's great and as it should be. It's also the experience that thousands of tourists arriving in Thailand have every day. Only reading Thaivisa threads every day can give you a distorted view that doesn't match reality.

 

Slightly off-topic but another example of this, a couple of days ago a friend from VN asked me to help book 4 hotel rooms in BKK for the period 28-31 Dec. I tried my usual hotels. All full. Go online, Agoda, Booking.com etc. There is very little availability and the prices are high whereas any TV thread putting a positive spin on tourism is met with a slew of sarcastic posts suggesting that tourism in Thailand is dead.

Out of curiosity I did an online search on TripAdvisor for the dates you mentioned.

 

There is literally hundred of hotels and rooms available on those dates in the 4 star and above category.

 

Not a Thai hater . Just found your claims odd

[taninthai]

58 minutes ago, thedemon said:

for the period 28-31 Dec. I tried my usual hotels. All full.

Lol ....yes it’s holiday time and probably the busiest 2 weeks of the season ,you would expect most popular hotels to be full,,,,,it’s the 3 months either side of this 2 week period where there are problems for tourism.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, khwaibah said:

Not new. TVF has always been this way going back to its conception.????

 

The quality of posts and information here is only as good, or bad, as those who choose to contribute.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I think the recent round of complaints about Immigration at the airports may have gotten some results.

 

I flew in internationally to Swampy last week, arriving about midnight on Saturday night. I was off the plane and out the door in less than an hour all inclusive.

 

Upon arriving in the Immigration hall, unlike in the past, I found most of the counters were staffed, and the time to wait to be stamped by an officer wasn't much more than 10-15 minutes.

 

I actually had to wait longer for my luggage to make it down onto the luggage carousel than I did at the Immigration counters.

 

At the Immigration counters, meanwhile, it seemed like they had some different officers working there than the types I'm used to seeing, generally middle aged guys and women. The officer who stamped me out was a young woman who didn't have the often surly countenance of many of her peers.

 

It would have been even quicker if they weren't still doing their digital fingerprinting. Even though they got me outbound for all 10 digits, upon my return, they still wanted a single scan of my right hand four fingers.

 

And then, on the way out about 1 am Sunday morning, one bored looking soul sitting at the Customs red/green gates seemingly not doing much of anything, with everyone passing thru unmolested.

 

All in all, it was one of the most hassle-free, quickest international arrivals to Swampy I've ever had.

 

Obviously, YMMV. I have no idea what level of international arrivals was occurring at that point about midnight on Saturday. I do know, however, that I've taken similarly timed arriving flights in the past and the arrival delays and queues have been MUCH worse.

Edited December 21, 2019 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[elviajero]

8 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

I figured that a non horror story would be appropriate at Christmas.

I have a friend — works in Cambodia during the week, lives in Bangkok — that makes 40+ VE entries every year. He’s being doing so for 10+ years.

 

It’s not about the number of entries, but long stays — especially back to back — in the country as a ‘tourist’.

[dick turpin]

8 hours ago, thedemon said:

That's great and as it should be. It's also the experience that thousands of tourists arriving in Thailand have every day. Only reading Thaivisa threads every day can give you a distorted view that doesn't match reality.

 

Slightly off-topic but another example of this, a couple of days ago a friend from VN asked me to help book 4 hotel rooms in BKK for the period 28-31 Dec. I tried my usual hotels. All full. Go online, Agoda, Booking.com etc. There is very little availability and the prices are high whereas any TV thread putting a positive spin on tourism is met with a slew of sarcastic posts suggesting that tourism in Thailand is dead.

Check the prices a couple of days after New Year and they are going through the floor.

[allenberg]

9 hours ago, Pilotman said:

TVF is the last place you should come to for up to date and true story and advice and its getting worse, bar what Ubon Joe has to tell us. Over the last 3 years it seems to have mainly become a repository for misinformation, whinging, moaning, bias and down right lies.  

Sheryl, and Crossey are in the same league with UbonJoe for accurate information.

[URMySunshine]

10 hours ago, Pilotman said:

TVF is the last place you should come to for up to date and true story and advice and its getting worse, bar what Ubon Joe has to tell us. Over the last 3 years it seems to have mainly become a repository for misinformation, whinging, moaning, bias and down right lies.  

But apart from that it's all good right ?

[Leaver]

10 hours ago, thedemon said:

a couple of days ago a friend from VN asked me to help book 4 hotel rooms in BKK for the period 28-31 Dec. I tried my usual hotels. All full. Go online, Agoda, Booking.com etc. There is very little availability

That's not what I see online. 

[Ron jeremy]

11 hours ago, thedemon said:

That's great and as it should be. It's also the experience that thousands of tourists arriving in Thailand have every day. Only reading Thaivisa threads every day can give you a distorted view that doesn't match reality.

 

Slightly off-topic but another example of this, a couple of days ago a friend from VN asked me to help book 4 hotel rooms in BKK for the period 28-31 Dec. I tried my usual hotels. All full. Go online, Agoda, Booking.com etc. There is very little availability and the prices are high whereas any TV thread putting a positive spin on tourism is met with a slew of sarcastic posts suggesting that tourism in Thailand is dead.

I don't know what kind of BS your talking, I just checked, tons of rooms, thousands.

just rechecked the chain that I use in Bangkok, they have 6-8 different locations around the city.

EVERY hotel has vacancy during this period.

Edited December 21, 2019 by Ron jeremy

[RickG16]

@Nyezhov which country was she coming in from if you don't mind me asking

[Pilotman]

1 hour ago, allenberg said:

Sheryl, and Crossey are in the same league with UbonJoe for accurate information.

true 

 

[Pilotman]

1 hour ago, URMySunshine said:

But apart from that it's all good right ?

well it's often entertaining, in a way.

[Nyezhov]

1 hour ago, RickG16 said:

@Nyezhov which country was she coming in from if you don't mind me asking

China Work Visa on a US passport coming from China

[RickG16]

1 hour ago, Nyezhov said:

China Work Visa on a US passport coming from China

Well China is apparently favoured in a few ways so perhaps this extends to Visa exempts

[Denim]

14 hours ago, Denim said:

Those online booking agents have a certain quota and you often find ' no room available ' if you book late.

 

I have found this often in Thailand.

To get around this I just phone the hotel direct and reserve a room. Always turns out they have rooms available.

 

Back in the UK this didn't work. If an online site said no rooms then this was nearly always the case even if I called the hotel myself.

 

Can't understand why two people are confused ?? There is no law obliging you to book online. Look at the pictures of the place you are considering then find the phone number of the place and call them direct and ask about room availability and price.

 

I frequently do this. Sometimes its more expensive sometimes cheaper and sometimes the same.

Some places quote a cheaper price for Thais so if the wife is around I get her to speak.

Nothing at all confusing.

 

Don't be conned by booking.com etc. ....check the facts for yourself.

Edited December 21, 2019 by Denim

[Elkski]

I have never found a hotel that will match or beat the agoda price in person.   Many times I have sat in the lobby and booked the room on Agoda to save a couple hundred baht and then go back to the check-in counter. One clerk told me they can get in trouble and lose their listing on Agoda if they are caught booking at a lower price.   five trips ago I said screw this and use Airbnb 90% and I hope I'm staying in some of you old grumps condos.  I will be the  fit guy swimming a mile in your totally empty pool.   I hardly see another person on the floors of the condos I stay at.  Great value, size, laundry, kitchen.  

Any reports on if the  airport exit door xray machines  are up and running  and manned 100%?

Edited December 21, 2019 by Elkski

[Maestro]

The x-ray machines on arrival are operational but not all bags are put through them.

[White Christmas13]

2 hours ago, Denim said:

 

Can't understand why two people are confused ?? There is no law obliging you to book online. Look at the pictures of the place you are considering then find the phone number of the place and call them direct and ask about room availability and price.

 

I frequently do this. Sometimes its more expensive sometimes cheaper and sometimes the same.

Some places quote a cheaper price for Thais so if the wife is around I get her to speak.

Nothing at all confusing.

 

Don't be conned by booking.com etc. ....check the facts for yourself.

I never been conned by Booking.Com I always had a great deal for the price I ask for.

 

[White Christmas13]

wgdanson what can't you understand I answered to the post of Demin

[shy coconut]

15 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I think the recent round of complaints about Immigration at the airports may have gotten some results.

 

I flew in internationally to Swampy last week, arriving about midnight on Saturday night. I was off the plane and out the door in less than an hour all inclusive.

 

Upon arriving in the Immigration hall, unlike in the past, I found most of the counters were staffed, and the time to wait to be stamped by an officer wasn't much more than 10-15 minutes.

 

I actually had to wait longer for my luggage to make it down onto the luggage carousel than I did at the Immigration counters.

 

At the Immigration counters, meanwhile, it seemed like they had some different officers working there than the types I'm used to seeing, generally middle aged guys and women. The officer who stamped me out was a young woman who didn't have the often surly countenance of many of her peers.

 

It would have been even quicker if they weren't still doing their digital fingerprinting. Even though they got me outbound for all 10 digits, upon my return, they still wanted a single scan of my right hand four fingers.

 

And then, on the way out about 1 am Sunday morning, one bored looking soul sitting at the Customs red/green gates seemingly not doing much of anything, with everyone passing thru unmolested.

 

All in all, it was one of the most hassle-free, quickest international arrivals to Swampy I've ever had.

 

Obviously, YMMV. I have no idea what level of international arrivals was occurring at that point about midnight on Saturday. I do know, however, that I've taken similarly timed arriving flights in the past and the arrival delays and queues have been MUCH worse.

That is my experience every time I fly in, there are often queues for immigration, but I always

get through long before my luggage, have never had any attitude when presenting my

passport, asked for money or any questions.

 

I often think I'm visiting a different country to many of the posters here.

 

 

[wgdanson]

18 minutes ago, White Christmas13 said:

wgdanson what can't you understand I answered to the post of Demin

I didn't know that the customer asked hotels.com for a price.

Surely, they offer a price and it's up to you to take it or not.

[shy coconut]

22 minutes ago, White Christmas13 said:

wgdanson what can't you understand I answered to the post of Demin

You can ask for a price on booking.com?

 

I thought you looked for a hotel in the area that you're intending to visit and they

give you a list of hotels and the price for the room on the appropriate date.

 

Sorry, already mentioned.

Edited December 21, 2019 by shy coconut
Addition

[White Christmas13]

1 minute ago, wgdanson said:

I didn't know that the customer asked hotels.com for a price.

Surely, they offer a price and it's up to you to take it or not.

Yes of course but so do all the other ones. I use booking .com all the time

because I can book hotels with no credit card since I don't have one.

[NCC1701A]

Agoda just told me half the earths population is looking at the same room I am and I had better book it fast.