12 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Well I for one knew the rules before I decided to live here, the reports of dual menu prices for farangs and Thais I have never seen personally during my few years of living here full time and long visits over 35 years.

I have read about them here but not personally see one, I have tested it by going into restaurants myself and the next day I let a Thai friend go in alone and join them after they have been given the same menu.

I went to the largest aquarium in Thailand which is here in Phuket and I paid Thai price as I am a long term resident, we just book via the web site, it is half price of the tourist price.

I never expect to be a resident but like 99% of all farangs, a long term visitor with the annual one year visa extension based on being over 50 which is dead easy to do, it only take half an hour each time in person.

We do not have any rights but we knew that in advance and the prices are dirt cheap anyway, after my visit back to England last year things are five to ten times cheaper here, the same cars are half the price here.

And most of the long term farangs probably do not go to the tourists attractions and so pay nothing if they do it cost peanuts anyway.

Thailand must be doing something right if it attracts 32 million tourists a year spending 5000 baht a day each, they are far more important than the few longterm farangs living here spending 2 pounds six shillings and sixpence a day.

The self importance of some farangs here makes me laugh, I don't find them annoying as I walk away when they moan.

I thought cars in the west were cheaper than in Thailand. Thai car prices, even locally manufactured, are way too expensive given the low salaries here.

On 3/1/2026 at 3:22 PM, ikke1959 said:

Dual pricing is in fact discrimination. What diffetence does it make if a seat is taken by a local or a foreigner? Same in restaurants or entrances. If dual pricing is a bit more at some places nobody complains, but sometimes it is far too much. Even in hospitals there is dual pricing, and again what is the difference betweem a local and a foreigner.. for expats it is difficult. Many pay more tax, but are not seen as a local. And to get a id is also a big challenge

You're not getting a Thai ID without Thai citizenship....just the way it is. It's called a "national ID card" for a reason. Same reason one can't get a Swiss citizen ID card if you're American and haven't been naturalized as Swiss. Once you are naturalized, you can hold both passports and it's the same if you become Thai.

Not all countries issue national ID cards...America and Australia don't...but most European countries as well as Asian countries mandate their use and don't always allow passports in lieu of citizen ID cards, due to the ID cards having microchips and being able to be inserted into ATMs and other government computers, something that can't be done with passports.

On 3/2/2026 at 9:30 AM, baansgr said:

This old chestnut, still debating and still the same outcome after 25 years I am aware of. Holding a WP and paying tax and SS, I made the decision to not even bother going anywhere that has dual pricing. This decision was made many years ago, after taking my wife and 3 half Thai kids to Kaen Krachang park...wife Thai price, me 10x and kids they couldn't decide what to charge them. Secondly, in Chonburi ( where I lived and my WP was registered) 10 x price of Thais for entrance to temple. Now all this about being local and US and other countries do it is not the same. Thailand discriminates against any foreigner, Why, when I was a tax payer and living in Chonburi province I was asked 10x of the Thai guy behind me registered in Chiang Rai and that didn't pay any tax??? That is not local taxes that is any foreigner will pay 10x what a Thai pays. No point in getting upset about it, it's the way it is so just avoid these places. Of course try saying it's only peanuts and US does the same...that simply isn't true and certainly isn't a good way to promote tourism

Bring along their ID cards. While you as a visitor (even as an expat) can't be expected to be granted the local price since signs clearly state "FOREIGNER PRICE" vs "THAI PRICE" your children have the same rights as your wife. As Thai citizens, they're charged the Thai price. If there's a problem, you call the manager or the police. For you, you have no rights.

For my son, I would simply say "1 Thai child" and no issues at national parks...however, I did bring along his Thai passport (before he was eligible to obtain an ID card) and now I bring the ID card, just in case. Never a question nor problem whatsoever and I've not had to show his ID card so far, either.

So, again, in Thailand, there is generally limited residency pricing. It's FOREIGNER vs LOCAL, so unless you become Thai, you remain a foreigner, even if you manage to hold permanent residency. Unlike in the USA (and many other western countries) permanent residency in Thailand does NOT confer basically the same rights as citizenship.

On 3/1/2026 at 11:57 AM, Georgealbert said:

Thailand welcomed 32.9 million foreign visitors in 2025, a 7.23% decline from the year before, as debate over dual pricing resurfaces in the tourism sector. The issue is examined in the second episode of the Bangkok Post’s Why Bangkok series, published on 28 February 2026. While no single factor explains the fall in arrivals, concerns over whether tourists feel fairly treated remain under scrutiny.

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Dual pricing is not unique to Thailand. Landmarks such as the Taj Mahal in India and Petra in Jordan charge foreign tourists higher entry fees, often described as maintenance contributions. In Thailand, public attractions including temples and national museums operate under ministerial regulations, while private operators fall under the Department of Internal Trade, though they are harder to regulate.

For some visitors, pricing differences are not the main concern. Caroline Purcell, a tourist from the United States, described entrance fees at Wat Arun as reasonable, noting high visitor numbers suggest affordability. She said she was “not totally opposed to native Thai people getting into these attractions for free considering this is your country”.

The issue becomes more complex for long-term residents. Pawarin Ramanwong, a travel agency director, said expatriates who have lived, worked and paid taxes in Thailand for years are still charged foreigner rates based on appearance. She argued that treating expats like locals in pricing would make them more comfortable spending money in the country.

Ms Pawarin also highlighted transparency as the core concern. She said clear communication about costs and how revenue is used, such as for clean restrooms and proper information signs, would help visitors feel charges are justified. She emphasised that openness from the outset is essential.

Beyond formal admission fees, informal transport scams have long affected Bangkok’s reputation. Taxis and tuk tuks operating outside fixed-rate systems have generated frequent complaints, with enforcement against individual drivers proving difficult. However, ride-hailing applications such as Grab and Bolt have shifted tourist behaviour towards fixed, transparent pricing.

Duengnapa Jarijitpaiboon, a local vendor, said tourists now avoid confusion by using these platforms instead of taxis and tuk tuks. The Department of Land Transport has introduced QR codes in taxis to allow passengers to identify drivers, verify fares and file reports directly. These measures aim to improve accountability.

Bangkokpost reported that industry observers note that tourism represents a significant share of national income. A Belgian tourist said other Southeast Asian destinations are sometimes cheaper with comparable or better service. Ms Pawarin warned that without serious attention to such concerns, the country risks losing its competitive edge.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Bangkokpost 1 Mar 2026

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I live here now and have had friends visit. They only comment on how cheap things are here for them, no complaints about duel pricing. This seems like a non-issue. What tourists are complaining????

22 hours ago, newnative said:

I doubt there is 1 tourist in a thousand who would forego visiting Thailand due to dual pricing. I travel a lot and I never give a thought to dual pricing wherever I am thinking of going. Paris has dual pricing to tour the Louvre. Would that stop me from going to Paris? No.

As the article points out, it's a bigger issue for local residents. And, of course it is, as they deal with it more. It's the same with road safety, pollution, traffic congestion, the state of the sidewalks, etc. Local issues. A tourist doesn't care about these things. They're just here for a week or two--then they leave and the uneven sidewalks, the dual pricing, the bad traffic, etc., are our problems, not theirs. As for the tourism drop, they can study all they want why the tourist numbers are down but the culprit is not dual pricing.

I'm not sure why this topic keeps cropping up.

Firstly, nothing is being done about it...it's just all noise and a chance for foreigners/expats to complain again. There's no political will and besides, why should Thailand abandon dual pricing when other countries are introducing it?

Secondly, dual pricing is EXPANDING. I know of at least a couple of venues which have either introduced dual pricing in 2025 or have made it more expensive for foreigners, while keeping the Thai price the same.

Thirdly, as you state, many countries are now introducing dual pricing themselves (or have done so in the last few years): France, USA, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan and these are all developed countries.

As such, a developing country like Thailand, where average salaries are still 7-10 times lower than in the west will NOT be abandoning dual pricing, probably ever.

Therefore, it might be time to just stop and accept this.

The only changes that should be made are that dual pricing venues SHOULD request ID cards or other proof of citizenship as a matter of course (I hear that this is now happening on Koh Samet and is common at the Grand Palace) to ascertain eligibility. Anyone who can't show proof of Thai citizenship should be made to pay the foreigner fee. This is how it's done in Malaysia. No ID = you pay the foreigner price, which they simply call the "normal" price.

For electronic ticketing, a Thai citizen ID number should be made mandatory when purchasing tickets at national park websites and such. Without one, you pay the foreigner fee.

More residency based pricing would be welcome...particularly at private establishments (I can't see government ones allowing it).

There should be days of the year when everyone can enter government establishments for free, particularly around vacation / holiday times (this is something the fine arts department usually does but some years it's for just 3 days other years for 15-20 days). This should include national parks...which had such a promotion in place for expats for around 2.5 months in late 2023-early 2024 for some national parks, allowing free entry! Unfortunately, this scheme was abandoned and has never been revived (sadly).

26 minutes ago, highrider said:

You're not getting a Thai ID without Thai citizenship....just the way it is. It's called a "national ID card" for a reason. Same reason one can't get a Swiss citizen ID card if you're American and haven't been naturalized as Swiss. Once you are naturalized, you can hold both passports and it's the same if you become Thai.

Not all countries issue national ID cards...America and Australia don't...but most European countries as well as Asian countries mandate their use and don't always allow passports in lieu of citizen ID cards, due to the ID cards having microchips and being able to be inserted into ATMs and other government computers, something that can't be done with passports.

poorly informed... Foreigners can apply for for an ID card and yellow booklet, without having a Thai Citizenship...

5 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

poorly informed... Foreigners can apply for for an ID card and yellow booklet, without having a Thai Citizenship...

Nonsense. That's not a Thai ID card. You clearly have trouble understanding the concept of citizenship.

1 hour ago, highrider said:

Nonsense. That's not a Thai ID card. You clearly have trouble understanding the concept of citizenship.

This is also a Thai ID card

A pink ID card, or non-Thai national identification card, is...A card issued by the Ministry of Interior to foreigners with long-term residency (Permanent Resident) or those permitted to stay in the Kingdom temporarily, to verify their identity and can be used in place of a passport in certain cases, such as for boarding domestic flights, applying for banking services, or receiving discounts on entrance fees to tourist attractions.

3 hours ago, highrider said:

I thought cars in the west were cheaper than in Thailand. Thai car prices, even locally manufactured, are way too expensive given the low salaries here.

I don't get a salary here, my income comes from England, I was talking about how cheap it is for us farangs to live here , I may have overestimated the price so I checked, a Toyota Yaris Cross for example costs 789,000 baht in Thailand and would cost 1,300,000 in the UK, so that means they are 65% more expensive in the UK.

But many other things are cheaper so if a farang has a pension of say £35,000 per year coming to Thailand then the buying power is like £60,000 which is easy to live on here especially with no kids for wife to support.

3 hours ago, highrider said:

Nonsense. That's not a Thai ID card. You clearly have trouble understanding the concept of citizenship.

What is a the yellow booklet thing and is it useful, how long do we have to live here to get one?

Last year we went to the largest an aquarium in Thailand here in Phuket, I paid the local price which was around 600 baht instead of the tourist price of 1300 as I have lived here for over three years and there is a so called expat price which is the same as the Thai price.

No proof was asked for.

22 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

3 hours ago, highrider said:

Nonsense. That's not a Thai ID card. You clearly have trouble understanding the concept of citizenship.

What is a the yellow booklet thing and is it useful, how long do we have to live here to get one?

Last year we went to the largest an aquarium in Thailand here in Phuket, I paid the local price which was around 600 baht instead of the tourist price of 1300 as I have lived here for over three years and there is a so called expat price which is the same as the Thai price.

No proof was asked for.

There has been lots of discussion and debate on the Pink Thai (non-Thai) ID Card and Yellow House book.

Ultimately - its useful for some, others find no need for it (often debated - individual experience varies).

I just used it instead of Proof of Address for renewal of my Driving License.

It is not accepted as proof of ID (in my experience) at Thai National Parks (Koh Samet) - I still have to pay the foreigner price.

How to get one ? plenty of information on that - Ultimately, a bit of legwork required to get MFA Verified, Embassy Notarised Copies of your Passport ID page - its processed at your local Amphur.

53 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

There has been lots of discussion and debate on the Pink Thai (non-Thai) ID Card and Yellow House book.

Ultimately - its useful for some, others find no need for it (often debated - individual experience varies).

I just used it instead of Proof of Address for renewal of my Driving License.

It is not accepted as proof of ID (in my experience) at Thai National Parks (Koh Samet) - I still have to pay the foreigner price.

How to get one ? plenty of information on that - Ultimately, a bit of legwork required to get MFA Verified, Embassy Notarised Copies of your Passport ID page - its processed at your local Amphur.

Except that it isn't a proof of citizenship and as such, those holding one can't expect to get into dual pricing venues where the qualifying factor is being a Thai citizen.

Such cards may be useful only in situations like renewing a driver's license...whereby you don't have to get a certificate of residency from immigration or your embassy if you possess a yellow book.

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

What is a the yellow booklet thing and is it useful, how long do we have to live here to get one?

Last year we went to the largest an aquarium in Thailand here in Phuket, I paid the local price which was around 600 baht instead of the tourist price of 1300 as I have lived here for over three years and there is a so called expat price which is the same as the Thai price.

No proof was asked for.

I've got a 3 year pass (technically, 3 year and 2 months) for Safari World, that only Thais and expats are allowed to hold. Officially, you need proof you hold a work permit. In practice, once you've purchased the pass online (on the Thai language page) you're done...you'll get in and won't need to present any additional proof of anything once you have it.

I'm sure many other private establishments are similar.

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

What is a the yellow booklet thing and is it useful, how long do we have to live here to get one?

Last year we went to the largest an aquarium in Thailand here in Phuket, I paid the local price which was around 600 baht instead of the tourist price of 1300 as I have lived here for over three years and there is a so called expat price which is the same as the Thai price.

No proof was asked for.

You can get it at the amphoe. It's useful only for interactions with banks and the DLT - whereby you won't need to obtain a certificate of residency. Other than that, can't think of much.

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

This is also a Thai ID card

A pink ID card, or non-Thai national identification card, is...A card issued by the Ministry of Interior to foreigners with long-term residency (Permanent Resident) or those permitted to stay in the Kingdom temporarily, to verify their identity and can be used in place of a passport in certain cases, such as for boarding domestic flights, applying for banking services, or receiving discounts on entrance fees to tourist attractions.

NO, it is not. It's called a NON-Thai ID card. It is NOT and never was intended to be a "Thai ID card".

It IS not generally intended nor does it generally confer discounts to foreigners when entering dual price attractions.

1 hour ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I don't get a salary here, my income comes from England, I was talking about how cheap it is for us farangs to live here , I may have overestimated the price so I checked, a Toyota Yaris Cross for example costs 789,000 baht in Thailand and would cost 1,300,000 in the UK, so that means they are 65% more expensive in the UK.

But many other things are cheaper so if a farang has a pension of say £35,000 per year coming to Thailand then the buying power is like £60,000 which is easy to live on here especially with no kids for wife to support.

Well, that is a fair bit cheaper in Thailand.

However, I know that cars are generally cheaper in Australia and the USA than in Thailand, though pickup trucks are often cheaper in Thailand compared to those two western countries.

1 minute ago, highrider said:

Except that it isn't a proof of citizenship and as such, those holding one can't expect to get into dual pricing venues where the qualifying factor is being a Thai citizen.

Such cards may be useful only in situations like renewing a driver's license...whereby you don't have to get a certificate of residency from immigration or your embassy if you possess a yellow book.

IMO the real question in the dual pricing debate is not whether a document proves Thai citizenship.

The question is what principle dual pricing is based on.

Is it based on nationality - or is it based on residency?

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

IMO the real question in the dual pricing debate is not whether a document proves Thai citizenship.

The question is what principle dual pricing is based on.

Is it based on nationality - or is it based on residency?

It's based on nationality in Thailand, unless it's a private attraction whereby expats are often included as well.

Therefore, for any government attraction - expect to pay the foreigner price if you don't hold Thai citizenship.

15 minutes ago, highrider said:

NO, it is not. It's called a NON-Thai ID card. It is NOT and never was intended to be a "Thai ID card".

It IS not generally intended nor does it generally confer discounts to foreigners when entering dual price attractions.

Its an ID Card for Non-Thai's, issued by a Thai Authority - Some places accept it, others, do not - that comes down to luck of the draw, in much the same way, some places will accept a Driving License others will not.

Mileage varies: Where it has helped me.

- Thai Banks (instead of using a passport)

- Driving License renewal (instead of obtaining CoR - Affirmation of Residence from Embassy)

- Getting on the Vaccine list (Covid)

- Getting an MRI at the Thai Price (at dedicated MRI facility)

- Carrying a general ID card - (so I don't have to carry my passport)

There are plenty of arguments, debates etc about the advantages, if they are worth the leg work of getting the card etc - IMO - thats just noise for the dual pricing debate - but the card does prove address here, and that in itself 'theoretically' proves someone is a 'long termer' with ties to Thailand.

Thus: on the Dual Pricing debate - Does someone with a Work Permit - receive the same price as Thais ? IMO they should, and when they do not, that is dual pricing based on nationality and not residency, which IMO is where dual pricing is wrong and distasteful.

11 minutes ago, highrider said:

It's based on nationality in Thailand, unless it's a private attraction whereby expats are often included as well.

Therefore, for any government attraction - expect to pay the foreigner price if you don't hold Thai citizenship.

Agreed - and this is where I argue against dual pricing.

If it were based solely on residency - i.e. a higher charge for tourists, there could be justification (as other countries justify dual pricing that way) - but, based on nationality alone is wrong IMO.

9 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Agreed - and this is where I argue against dual pricing.

If it were based solely on residency - i.e. a higher charge for tourists, there could be justification (as other countries justify dual pricing that way) - but, based on nationality alone is wrong IMO.

Last week had to renew my drivers licence and the normal charge for the Doctors certificate is ฿100 but the Doctor informed me that I had to pay the foreigner price of ฿300

22 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

This is also a Thai ID card

A pink ID card, or non-Thai national identification card, is...A card issued by the Ministry of Interior to foreigners with long-term residency (Permanent Resident) or those permitted to stay in the Kingdom temporarily, to verify their identity and can be used in place of a passport in certain cases, such as for boarding domestic flights, applying for banking services, or receiving discounts on entrance fees to tourist attractions.

It does not work that way. In order to get a pink card one needs a yellow book (house book for foreigners.) A yellow book and susiquent pink card are fairly easy to obtain if you are married to a Thai. My husband and I have a ten year visa, should be a verified reason to stay in the country, but because we are both foreigners and don't yet own a house, we cannot get a yellow book and a pink card.

1 hour ago, Issan girl said:

It does not work that way. In order to get a pink card one needs a yellow book (house book for foreigners.) A yellow book and susiquent pink card are fairly easy to obtain if you are married to a Thai. My husband and I have a ten year visa, should be a verified reason to stay in the country, but because we are both foreigners and don't yet own a house, we cannot get a yellow book and a pink card.

I am married with a Thai, we own an house, but still impossible to get a pink card.. They constantly change the requirements even after 20 years living here. I have Social Security, pay tax, had a workpermit they know me very well , but still latest was that I need 2 witnesses ..... so I gave up.. no yellow book, no pink Id card and not registered in my place....If they don't want me to count in the population, I don't care

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

I am married with a Thai, we own an house, but still impossible to get a pink card.. They constantly change the requirements even after 20 years living here. I have Social Security, pay tax, had a workpermit they know me very well , but still latest was that I need 2 witnesses ..... so I gave up.. no yellow book, no pink Id card and not registered in my place....If they don't want me to count in the population, I don't care

Sorry. That sounds like a pain. I knew that it was a still a bit of difficulty, but thought that being married to a Thai would make it easier. I have looked into the requirements fora yellow book and even if we bought a house there would be challenges as we can't own land, and I don't have an original birth certificate. I have never needed it as my first passport was me in my mother's arms at age 3 (they used to do that) and my subsequent passports were based on that first one. In the US I never needed it as I have always had a passport and it is all I have ever needed to show in the US. But, somehow Thailand wants an original birth certificate. I first came to Thailand at 17 and lived with a Thai family for a year. Since then I have returned and lived here many times (including with my Thai family 3 times.) We recently had our bank account frozen, then closed because we didn't have a yellow book or pink card even though we use my family's address for drivers license etc. I can't use their address for a yellow book as I am not related to them through marriage (even though they have been part of my life since I was 17.) We want to be part of this country and culture, but if we can't even maintain a bank account..... Your difficulty getting a yellow book makes it sound even more unattainable and difficult.

26 minutes ago, Issan girl said:

Sorry. That sounds like a pain. I knew that it was a still a bit of difficulty, but thought that being married to a Thai would make it easier. I have looked into the requirements fora yellow book and even if we bought a house there would be challenges as we can't own land, and I don't have an original birth certificate. I have never needed it as my first passport was me in my mother's arms at age 3 (they used to do that) and my subsequent passports were based on that first one. In the US I never needed it as I have always had a passport and it is all I have ever needed to show in the US. But, somehow Thailand wants an original birth certificate. I first came to Thailand at 17 and lived with a Thai family for a year. Since then I have returned and lived here many times (including with my Thai family 3 times.) We recently had our bank account frozen, then closed because we didn't have a yellow book or pink card even though we use my family's address for drivers license etc. I can't use their address for a yellow book as I am not related to them through marriage (even though they have been part of my life since I was 17.) We want to be part of this country and culture, but if we can't even maintain a bank account..... Your difficulty getting a yellow book makes it sound even more unattainable and difficult.

Unfortunately every amphur has its own regulations and ways to use the rules. Same for banks. Some are easy to open an account, but Bangkok Bank is very strict

Racism is at the core of "Thainess", that's all.

Take it or leave it.

17 hours ago, mlkik said:

Last week had to renew my drivers licence and the normal charge for the Doctors certificate is ฿100 but the Doctor informed me that I had to pay the foreigner price of ฿300

I had a so called medical check with a local doctor working in his own practice in Phuket in order to get my first 2 year car licence.

I was at the counter and received the bill from the receptionist, I gasped out loud and I said, "100 baht", she asked me if it was too much, I said it is so cheap, she said I can pay more if I like, what a bargain, it was funny.

On 3/2/2026 at 1:11 PM, baansgr said:

I'm afraid having a WP does not automatically get you Thai pricing, How can a foreigner get paid for a job that is restricted

If you work a job as a foreigner that is restricted to Thais only you won't get a work permit, therefore you won't have one to show and therefore you'll pay the tourist price...

On 3/3/2026 at 10:08 PM, mlkik said:

Last week had to renew my drivers licence and the normal charge for the Doctors certificate is ฿100 but the Doctor informed me that I had to pay the foreigner price of ฿300

We need to be careful about letting dual pricing wind us up too much. Most of us - I’m sure you included - overlook plenty of small things because they are simply part of the landscape and not worth getting worked up about. That doesn’t mean those examples disappear though; they are still valid points to draw on when discussions like this come up.

For example, my MCU in Bangkok cost 700 baht for two certificates - one for a motorcycle licence and one for a car licence. After all these years I’m still not entirely sure if two certificates are actually required, but I cover both options anyway.

So if someone pays 300 baht and is told the Thai price is 100 baht, should they really get upset when somewhere else might charge Thais 350 baht?

In my own case, I’m fairly certain I paid the foreigner price. But the hospital was very close to my home, it was quiet with no waiting, and the convenience outweighed the effort of arguing or going elsewhere.

So in my view, the discussion is worth having - just not necessarily the confrontation at the time.

I once managed to ruin a perfectly good family day out on principle.

We had cycled around the park (free), stopped at a couple of cafés, and generally had a very pleasant morning.

Then we spotted the little sailing boats for hire. The wind was light and, having sailed before, it seemed like a nice way to spend an hour on the lake. My wife asked about the price and it was very inexpensive (40 baht for membership). Then came the addition that foreigners had to pay a different rate (300 baht - 7.5x the price).

I don't know why at the time - usually I'm calm and cool with that stuff - but it was enough to push me over the edge. On principle I walked away - when instead we could have been sailing on a lake for an hour for less than 400 baht in total (for yearly membership) and continued a great day.

Even if every foreigner who went there had complained, nothing would have changed. This wasn’t a private business setting its own prices - it was an Amphur / district policy.

When I questioned the dual pricing, the staff actually showed me the rule book. It was clearly written there.

Even the pink ID card made no difference. The pricing wasn’t based on residency - it was based purely on nationality.

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

We need to be careful about letting dual pricing wind us up too much. Most of us - I’m sure you included - overlook plenty of small things because they are simply part of the landscape and not worth getting worked up about. That doesn’t mean those examples disappear though; they are still valid points to draw on when discussions like this come up.

For example, my MCU in Bangkok cost 700 baht for two certificates - one for a motorcycle licence and one for a car licence. After all these years I’m still not entirely sure if two certificates are actually required, but I cover both options anyway.

So if someone pays 300 baht and is told the Thai price is 100 baht, should they really get upset when somewhere else might charge Thais 350 baht?

In my own case, I’m fairly certain I paid the foreigner price. But the hospital was very close to my home, it was quiet with no waiting, and the convenience outweighed the effort of arguing or going elsewhere.

So in my view, the discussion is worth having - just not necessarily the confrontation at the time.

I once managed to ruin a perfectly good family day out on principle.

We had cycled around the park (free), stopped at a couple of cafés, and generally had a very pleasant morning.

Then we spotted the little sailing boats for hire. The wind was light and, having sailed before, it seemed like a nice way to spend an hour on the lake. My wife asked about the price and it was very inexpensive (40 baht for membership). Then came the addition that foreigners had to pay a different rate (300 baht - 7.5x the price).

I don't know why at the time - usually I'm calm and cool with that stuff - but it was enough to push me over the edge. On principle I walked away - when instead we could have been sailing on a lake for an hour for less than 400 baht in total (for yearly membership) and continued a great day.

Even if every foreigner who went there had complained, nothing would have changed. This wasn’t a private business setting its own prices - it was an Amphur / district policy.

When I questioned the dual pricing, the staff actually showed me the rule book. It was clearly written there.

Even the pink ID card made no difference. The pricing wasn’t based on residency - it was based purely on nationality.

Dual pricing is a fact of living in Thailand. It did not surprise me that I was charged 3 x the Thai price. I had to pay it previously when I have extended my licence and got my medical cerfificate from that particular clinic.

It did wind me up enough for my blood pressure reading to be high 555.

What is MCU an abreviation for ?