Now That I Have My Thai Drivers License...

[MMR]

What perks am I entitled to?

I remember reading about tales of getting Thai prices at parks and the like.

Is there anywhere else we get the good end of the double-pricing system?

Are there any [unwritten] rules regarding our entitlements?

Cheers.

[Soutpeel]

What perks am I entitled to?

I remember reading about tales of getting Thai prices at parks and the like.

Is there anywhere else we get the good end of the double-pricing system?

Are there any [unwritten] rules regarding our entitlements?

Cheers.

First of all you are not entitled to anything.....some places will let you in at Thai prices if you produce a Thai license...but this not a given, it depends on the place you are visiting....I have been in places where they wouldnt entertain a Thai DL, but would let me in at the Thai price when I produced my work permit..

So for double pricing places..sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt and you need to produce are WP or sometimes they even refuse that and you get hit for the full farang price

[naboo]

So for double pricing places..sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt and you need to produce are WP or sometimes they even refuse that and you get hit for the full farang price

At which point I walk away. My wages are not inflated because I'm Farang, in fact some Thais, much older than me, are earning double what I earn. I'm on the Thai pay scale, so I pay the Thai price. I can understand the higher charges for tourists, the cost of maintaining many of these places to a Farang standard is too high to be funded by your average Thai entry price, but for working foreigners it should be no different.

The driving icence gets you most things, but make sure you're smiling and speak Thai when you show it and ask for the Thai price. Sometimes I've had to show the work permit and once or twice been rejected for that as well.

[kamalabob2]

With or without a Thai Drivers License there are plenty of "universal entitlements" in Thailand. You can buy beer at most any Mom and Pop shop at any open hour of most any day. You can find a decent Thai food stand or restaurant in most any neighborhood, most any village.

All but ONE park and all the Zoos that I went with my Thai family the past three years gave me the Thai price on admission. Something about the one sign in Thai stating:"Thai CITIZENS" when most all other places say "Thai RESIDENTS". At least that is the "translation" I received from my wife. The Thai Drivers License also makes you qualified for the so called "resident rates" advertised by many hotels in the local publications. Those rates are not always the lowest.

The same deal applies in Las Vegas, where holders of a real Nevada Drivers License or Nevada State Identification card can buy tickets to Casino shows and SOME hotel "Locals deal" at "locals rates", but have to show the Nevada Drivers License ? I.D. to qualify for the lower rate.

But besides getting you more smiles from Thai Police at random stops (unlike the extortion stops) you really will save a great deal of time and frustration attempting to tell a delivery person where to send a washing machine since your address in Thai is on the bi-lingual Thai Driver's License. When you sign up for any "membership card" or first time admission to a hospital or dentist office you can just hand your Thai drivers license to the clerk who really might not UNDERSTAND English, but she can READ Thai.

It is well worth the effort to obtain a Thai Drivers license in my opinion. Getting the five year license was even easier and faster. It works out to less money than some legal or otherwise "International Driving permit" and it sure would seem a safer legal position for you, in the event of a traffic accident if you live here more than 6 months.

[Soutpeel]

I can understand the higher charges for tourists, the cost of maintaining many of these places to a Farang standard is too high to be funded by your average Thai entry price, but for working foreigners it should be no different.

The driving icence gets you most things, but make sure you're smiling and speak Thai when you show it and ask for the Thai price. Sometimes I've had to show the work permit and once or twice been rejected for that as well.

A well written post until you started making statements like this...." I am a farang living in Thailand, but I am different to a tourist I want special treatment... ...absolute bollex..

My Thai is cr*p and have been in plenty of places on a Thai DL at the Thai price, so the ability to speak Thai has FA to do with it...

[naboo]

I can understand the higher charges for tourists, the cost of maintaining many of these places to a Farang standard is too high to be funded by your average Thai entry price, but for working foreigners it should be no different.

The driving icence gets you most things, but make sure you're smiling and speak Thai when you show it and ask for the Thai price. Sometimes I've had to show the work permit and once or twice been rejected for that as well.

A well written post until you started making statements like this...." I am a farang living in Thailand, but I am different to a tourist I want special treatment... ...absolute bollex..

My Thai is cr*p and have been in plenty of places on a Thai DL at the Thai price, so the ability to speak Thai has FA to do with it...

First, with regards to speaking Thai. I never said you have to speak Thai, what I was trying to say was that speaking Thai and smiling can get you more favours. The person charging you doesn't have to give you the Thai price, but they're more likely to if you smile and speak Thai. I acknowledge this may not have been clear from what I wrote.

Secondly, as a resident paying my taxes in this country, I expect equal treatment to Thais. Not special treatment, equal treatment. The special treatment is reserved for those who are not making a contribution to the Thai government.

I try to see things by reversing the situation. Imagine a Pakistani man walking into the NHS in the UK. He has cancer. He starts rabbiting away in Punjabi. Immediately, as pro equal opportunities and as anti racist as I can be, I'm going to resent this man. He's not bothered to learn the language and expects British tax payers to pick up the bill for his cancer treatment. He's not going to get very far and I might even go out of his way to stop him getting treatment.

Now consider the Pakistani who comes in, speaks English and explains he has cancer that requires treatment, he's on holiday visiting friends and is there anything I can do for him. I may still resent him as he's not made a contribution to the British tax system and is after a free ride, but he's spoken English, I understand his predicament and I want to help him out. Maybe I'll try to ensure he does get some treatment, I guess it depends on my mood.

Thirdly, a Pakistani walks in, speaks English, explains he has cancer and produces documents from the tax offiice showing he's been working here legally, paying his taxes and now requires treatment. Clearly, he's going to get the most favourable response from me and I'm going to make sure he gets the same treatment as a British person. hel_l, I might even think he's more entitled to it than half the worthless British layaboutsn. I am in this situation in Thailand, and would hope that the thais give me the same treatment as a working Thai person.

I thankyou for your initial comment about it being a well written post, though given the quality of your post I take it with a pinch of salt. I hope that you've taken the time to read my reply to your 'bollex' response, I'm sorry if I've come across as a bit of a cun_t, but I'd prefer reasoned discussion rather than 'bollex'.

[OxfordWill]

all its been good for for me, apart from driving of course, is a nod of respect from some bouncers in clubs when its used as ID. Also its accepted as ID instead of a passport in many situations, like apartments and hotels, which means you dont have to use or hand over your passport always.

[MMR]

I can understand the higher charges for tourists, the cost of maintaining many of these places to a Farang standard is too high to be funded by your average Thai entry price, but for working foreigners it should be no different.

The driving icence gets you most things, but make sure you're smiling and speak Thai when you show it and ask for the Thai price. Sometimes I've had to show the work permit and once or twice been rejected for that as well.

A well written post until you started making statements like this...." I am a farang living in Thailand, but I am different to a tourist I want special treatment... ...absolute bollex..

My Thai is cr*p and have been in plenty of places on a Thai DL at the Thai price, so the ability to speak Thai has FA to do with it...

Thanks for the info gents.

However, since I normally don't carry my work permit with me when I am visiting a park, I suppose I will pay whatever rate they ask for (and still smile)

Soutpeel - You are dam_n right I want special treatment. I am completely different than a tourist. I run a business in Thailand that brings in a regular stream of foreign capital. I live here year round and have done so for the past 7 years. And I have gotten the short end of the stick on the double pricing system for the entire time. The reason I don't mind and would happily pay the inflated prices for the rest of my life is that Thailand has given so, so, so much back. It is just nice to get a break and a little recognition every now and again.

[Soutpeel]

Soutpeel - You are dam_n right I want special treatment. I am completely different than a tourist. I run a business in Thailand that brings in a regular stream of foreign capital. I live here year round and have done so for the past 7 years. And I have gotten the short end of the stick on the double pricing system for the entire time. The reason I don't mind and would happily pay the inflated prices for the rest of my life is that Thailand has given so, so, so much back. It is just nice to get a break and a little recognition every now and again.

Its took you 7 years to get a Thai DL...

[TerryLH]

"I can understand the higher charges for tourists, the cost of maintaining many of these places to a Farang standard is too high to be funded by your average Thai entry price"

Almost too funny for words.

Naboo, if you are truly on a Thai salary, I suspect you really aren't paying much in the way of tax, if anything.

Did you really work long enough last year to owe anything?