54 minutes ago, Bobthegimp said:

 

Shirt off at the beach is fine.  Bloated, bald, tattooed slobs wandering the streets without their shirts on is what spurred my comment. Pattaya is crawling with them again. Time to cut the UK's generous benefits plans and keep those fellas back on the council estates.  Maybe the £ will drop down to 32 and keep them at home. 

Bobthebigot keyboard warrior ! 555

6 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Nice dig, second post too. So automatically every dude with his shirt off at the beach is British and a yob? Who’d have thunk it, people at the beach baring their chests!

We knew about loud Americans though..

4 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

We knew about loud Americans though..

Here we go................

would be nice if the airfares were to drop. maybe even direct flights to canada. damn expensive and takes forever... havent been back in 20 years... 

wonder how much has changed in my hometown

 

Thailand wants to see far more US and Canadian  t̶o̶u̶r̶i̶s̶t̶s̶ dollars (if necessary with the accompanying foreigners)...

 

9 hours ago, Bobthegimp said:

 

 

The number of shirtless yobs from the UK is quite disturbing. 

Funny you should say that? Seen a couple of shirtless yanks with goldie looking chains, strutting their stuff up Beach Road early yesterday evening.  Spotted them again still with shirts off long after the sun had gone down in Buakhao  They looked like they fitted carpets for a living?

9 hours ago, Trippy said:

Backpackers with a 500 baht daily budget love Songkran. 

Exactly. They can make one large Chang last all day while it is constantly being topped up by dirty water being chucked at them.

8 hours ago, Khyron said:

We (the wife and I) usually make the trip once every 2 or 3 years, since 94. As we are getting older the long flights are getting longer it seems. A non stop from the west coast would be great. I know there is one from Vancouver, but that is sketchy in the winter when we usually go. When I retire in a few years, it won't be that big of a deal.

 

Alot of people up in No-cal were excited when they saw Thai airlines land in San Francisco for the Asean conference, having them come back would really do something for the US market. They do have one of the best liveries.

 

I don't think Thai is worth a crap anymore, but if Thai were to make the nonstop trip, other carriers would probably do as well. 

A non-stop flight is the LAST thing I want. Call me old but I like walking around a bit after about 10 hours, before the next segment.

3 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

We knew about loud Americans though..

I guess you haven't been in a minibus with 9 Thais all related family members. I do wear a hearing aid but had to turn it off inside the van.

11 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Chicago is a cesspit. TAT employees will be lucky not be mugged or murdered.

 

You should say why it is a cesspool due to the liberal nutjobs that control the city.

7 hours ago, Isaan sailor said:

Good observations, thank you.  Ironic that in living here in Thailand, we find ourselves at the mercy of currency traders based halfway round the globe.  They have already priced in up to six rate reductions for next year.  After all, it will be an election year, and the Fed will happily accommodate the current administration. 

 

You are correct that USD based expats here in Thailand are at the mercy of the exchange rate. Any British citizen can tell you how disastrous a rapid and extreme exchange rate move can be for your retirement planning. They got seriously hurt after Brexit. It is important for every expat here to keep exchange rates in mind when planning.

 

But the truth is that "currency traders" have little to do with these exchange rates, except for short-lived movements. Large trends are affected mostly by international trade flows and large institutional investors moving large sums in and out of government bonds. This is why the "system" tends to self-correct. Except for the problem of the USD being the reserve currency, requiring the US to constantly run a trade deficit in order to supply the dollars the system desperately needs.

It seems that the penny (or rather cents) is starting to drop onto the minds of the TAT. Without a doubt, travellers from the USA must rank in the top 3 of global travel spenders. They expect service and convenience for their dollars. We work with mostly more senior, baby boomer U.S travellers to the UK in the summer season. Many of our clients are willing to spend $500-$1000 per night on a quality hotel in London and also pay top daily rates for our transport and tour services. They also spend big on dining too. What would be a problem, is getting Americans to Thailand on a long flight (many coming to London complain about 7-9 hour flights), hot humid weather and language barriers and just being so far away from home. Another factor for many Americans is the limited 2 weeks annual vacation time that many typically get. I did, about 20 years ago, have friends and former clients, come from the U.S. to Thailand and took them travelling around southern islands and northern hills. They absolutley loved it! Canadians on the other hand, in our experience, whilst being nice, are not such big spenders.

 

The arrogance of Thailand is quite astounding.  Rather than treat people properly, they think that by changing their tune and being friendly to some nationalities they are giving them some kind of privilege for being "invited" to thailand.  

 

Honestly if you want thailand of old go to Bali.  Thailand is second world run like a third world country.

Personally not seeing why Yanks or Canuks would bother coming the TH for holiday.  Especially repeat visits, as once would be enough.  Too far & expensive airfare, for a mediocre holiday experience.

 

Especially the HiSo travelers, and surely know better spots to visit in the Americas.  Unless the rest of the tourist world has turned to sh!t also.  TH would not make my top 10 or 20 destinations to visit.  Maybe once, then why bother again.

11 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

The other half north of the Fraser🤔

Think you mean SOUTH of the Fraser...

8 hours ago, Bobthegimp said:

Pattaya is crawling with them again.

What is Pattaya's major malfunction?  I mean, I keep reading about the street brawls, traffic accidents and shirtless yobs. Then there was the guy who took a dump in front of a minimart. Not having been there meself, I can't figure it out.

13 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

What is Pattaya's major malfunction?  I mean, I keep reading about the street brawls, traffic accidents and shirtless yobs. Then there was the guy who took a dump in front of a minimart. Not having been there meself, I can't figure it out.

 

There is just something about the mindset of a traveler who lands in Thailand. Not all, but a good number from all countries think since they are on vacation in Pattaya that laws don't apply to them.

 

 

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand aims to see more US and Canadian tourists in 2024, focusing on the long-haul market. Plans include cheaper flights, visa liberalisation and spreading the word about the new Songkran All Month festival, an international celebration of Thailand.

Please god no....

2 hours ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

What is Pattaya's major malfunction?  I mean, I keep reading about the street brawls, traffic accidents and shirtless yobs. Then there was the guy who took a dump in front of a minimart. Not having been there meself, I can't figure it out.

 

Mostly exaggerated by folk in the peanut gallery, who have never been there.

Pattaya is ok.

But you get problems just like any city.

No big deal. did 20 years there. was ok.

 

10 hours ago, Bobthegimp said:

bald

 

bald lives matter. stop the discrimination. :)

Canada has all sorts of economic problems as does the US.

 

Canada's housing problems worse than US if that even possible

 

Just read an article US 60% survey respondees stated they are living hand to mouth. These are working adults

 

Gooooooood luck

A plan to have 90 day visa free or visa for US and Canada on arrival could actually work for people wanting to visit 

different countries in SE Asia using Thailand as a base…. let’s wait and see what happens..

15 hours ago, stoner said:

canada sucks. eh.

 

We'll take your Trump for our Trudeau any day.....

1 minute ago, blazes said:

 

We'll take your Trump for our Trudeau any day.....

 

born in ontario here. 

That's "cos" they are charged twice as much 🤔

Then TAT should ask Thai immigration to grant a 90 visa exemption to citizens of the USA and Canada.  Malaysia already does that.

16 hours ago, Real Name Hidden said:

Songkran all month?  That’s supposed to attract tourists?

I wonder how much "thought" went into it, my guess, a long process, 5.... maybe 10 minutes (yes, I am aware that this is a very long time, for Thais to think, I am being generous). My personal thought,  a month long celebration would make the celebration boring, it just becomes another day, after day.

16 hours ago, Khyron said:

We (the wife and I) usually make the trip once every 2 or 3 years, since 94. As we are getting older the long flights are getting longer it seems. A non stop from the west coast would be great. I know there is one from Vancouver, but that is sketchy in the winter when we usually go. When I retire in a few years, it won't be that big of a deal.

 

There are Singapore Airline flights from several western USA cities and Newark that are nonstop to Singapore.  Also if you live near a Delta Hub - you can get a onestop on Delta or Korean Air to BKK via ICN.  I have flown the Delta/Korean Air flights several times.  But I think I would prefer Singapore Air because the final flight is so short.

In general, Westerners spend more than 95% of the Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Arab, and Russian tourists that comprise the vast majority of what Thailand is left with after 3 ugly years of the Prayuth Decimation. 

 

But, they won't come back, for a dozen good reasons. Including the distance. 

 

6 hours ago, DudleySquat said:

17 hours ago, John Drake said:

 

Chicago is a cesspit. TAT employees will be lucky not be mugged or murdered.

 

You should say why it is a cesspool due to the liberal nutjobs that control the city.

 

Chicago is one of the three main Thai embassies outside of the US capitol, so it would make sense for TAT to locate there. BTW back in the lockdown days it was much easier to get your documentation via the Chicago embassy than  LA, NY (or the Washington DC), embassies, no matter where in the US you were living. Thanks Chicago. 

 

You are ingesting too much 'Faux News opinions about the news'  into the brainpan. Always a danger. St Louis, Baltimore, Memphis, and the entire state of Louisiana are more a cesspit than Chicago, but as they are RED or nominally red, as such FOX doesn’t belch much in their direction.. 

Happy Holidays