Thai Elite

[Firefan]

Check out this page for DETAILED info on all the perks. There is no limit on spa treatments (well; 1 per day) or golf(again; 1 round per day).

So if one is a golf+spa freak anyway, and travel business class with a partner it might make fine financial sense.

You can also check out the other perks in detail:

http://www.thailandelites.com/index.html (note that it is not the same as their normal homepage thaielite.com).

Cheers!

[sriracha john]

Check out this page for DETAILED info on all the perks. There is no limit on spa treatments (well; 1 per day) or golf(again; 1 round per day).

So if one is a golf+spa freak anyway, and travel business class with a partner it might make fine financial sense.

You can also check out the other perks in detail:

http://www.thailandelites.com/index.html (note that it is not the same as their normal homepage thaielite.com).

Cheers!

Kinda makes one wonder who exactly is in charge and who is providing the reliable information.

Is it the website with:

"Copyright © 2005 Thailand Privileges Card Co., Ltd. All rights reserved"

or is it the website with:

"Copyright © 2004 AKTIV COMPANY LIMITED. All Rights Reserved"

???

Who's running this carnival sideshow known as the Thai Elite Card?

Edited July 30, 2006 by sriracha john

[Meerkat]

Kinda makes one wonder who exactly is in charge and who is providing the reliable information.

Is it the website with:

"Copyright © 2005 Thailand Privileges Card Co., Ltd. All rights reserved"

or is it the website with:

"Copyright © 2004 AKTIV COMPANY LIMITED. All Rights Reserved"

???

Who's running this carnival sideshow known as the Thai Elite Card?

No need to wonder, SRJ, just look at the "About Us" page...the web is a wonderous thing.

In a nutshell, TPC is the company set up by the TAT to run the scheme, and Aktiv is one of the sales companies.

[Charma]

The golf could be a big incentive alone. I read somehwre about them adding courses to the free golf package. Do you know where these are?

I don't know which courses (if any - remember...it could be a promotional fable) are being added. There are about 40 courses signed up so far - all on the website. Bear in mind that some of them have limitations. Navatnee and Alpine cannot be booked at weekends for example (well Alpine can, but you have to play with a full member).

Had a look through the site and it looks a better deal than most commentary on TV indicates.

Most scams and boiler-room operations are built on that exact premise. To look or sound better than they really are.

As some have stated before, there is always the risk that a new government may withdraw its support for this card. However, bearing in mind the type of people that may sign up to it, I would find it difficult to believe that any new government would want to immediately p**s off several thousand reasonably (or not) wealthy and influential people all at once!

There aren't "several thousand" Elite Card purchasers... only several hundred. Secondly, a change of government would have no qualms whatsoever in changing a previous government's programs. History bears that truth.

Would not do the image of the country much good. But I suppose anything is possible in Thailand, so you have to accept the risk that's there. If it is still going when my plans allow me to spend more time in LOS then I will seriously be looking at this.

Good luck. Feel free to join the if you wish. As previously stated, anyone that is foolhardy enough and has a million to throw away on this program should feel obligated to throw an additional million to the Thai orphanage or senior citizen home of their choice. Obviously, for someone so well off, it's a trivial amount... putting an equal amount of money to a cause that will actually do some good should be obligatory.

Well sriracha john, I appreciate that you may feel the need to stop me foolishly throwing away my money and can see that you have a firm view of the Thai government and business world. But what makes it your job to tell me how to spend my cash? You do not know me. You have no idea what I have to throw away or what I give to good causes! Perhaps you wander the streets during the day, looking out for any farang that is spending money on something silly? You could carry a collection tin into the bars and cough loudly as people go for their wallets.

Back to topic, it seems that they have 1600 members and are processing 800 applications. They could be lying but we just don't know. The whole thing could be a scam and meerkat could have dreamt that he got the benefits that he did. As I said in my post, nothing is risk free and I certainly will hang on a bit before making a decision. But the main interest for me, as I stated, is the golf. I have followed Firefan's link and they have the excel downloads that give the details of the golf packages. Basically, free golf at every course, plus additional benefits at many. If someone can tell me of any credit card that would give me that, I will sign tommorrow. For a serious golfer, this is a strong reason to get the card, considering the visa, spa and all the other smaller benefits already mentioned.

Yes it may have problems in the future and that is one of the things I will be thinking about. Advice and warnings from posters are very much appreciated. Judgements about my philanthropy are a little irksome.

[percy2]

Well sriracha john, I appreciate that you may feel the need to stop me foolishly throwing away my money and can see that you have a firm view of the Thai government and business world. But what makes it your job to tell me how to spend my cash? You do not know me. You have no idea what I have to throw away or what I give to good causes! Perhaps you wander the streets during the day, looking out for any farang that is spending money on something silly? You could carry a collection tin into the bars and cough loudly as people go for their wallets.

[Maestro]

...normal homepage thaielite.com).

This link brings me to a hotel reservation site.

---------------

Maestro

[sriracha john]

The golf could be a big incentive alone. I read somehwre about them adding courses to the free golf package. Do you know where these are?

I don't know which courses (if any - remember...it could be a promotional fable) are being added. There are about 40 courses signed up so far - all on the website. Bear in mind that some of them have limitations. Navatnee and Alpine cannot be booked at weekends for example (well Alpine can, but you have to play with a full member).

Had a look through the site and it looks a better deal than most commentary on TV indicates.

Most scams and boiler-room operations are built on that exact premise. To look or sound better than they really are.

As some have stated before, there is always the risk that a new government may withdraw its support for this card. However, bearing in mind the type of people that may sign up to it, I would find it difficult to believe that any new government would want to immediately p**s off several thousand reasonably (or not) wealthy and influential people all at once!

There aren't "several thousand" Elite Card purchasers... only several hundred. Secondly, a change of government would have no qualms whatsoever in changing a previous government's programs. History bears that truth.

Would not do the image of the country much good. But I suppose anything is possible in Thailand, so you have to accept the risk that's there. If it is still going when my plans allow me to spend more time in LOS then I will seriously be looking at this.

Good luck. Feel free to join the if you wish. As previously stated, anyone that is foolhardy enough and has a million to throw away on this program should feel obligated to throw an additional million to the Thai orphanage or senior citizen home of their choice. Obviously, for someone so well off, it's a trivial amount... putting an equal amount of money to a cause that will actually do some good should be obligatory.

Well sriracha john, I appreciate that you may feel the need to stop me foolishly throwing away my money and can see that you have a firm view of the Thai government and business world. But what makes it your job to tell me how to spend my cash? You do not know me. You have no idea what I have to throw away or what I give to good causes! Perhaps you wander the streets during the day, looking out for any farang that is spending money on something silly? You could carry a collection tin into the bars and cough loudly as people go for their wallets.

Back to topic, it seems that they have 1600 members and are processing 800 applications. They could be lying but we just don't know. The whole thing could be a scam and meerkat could have dreamt that he got the benefits that he did. As I said in my post, nothing is risk free and I certainly will hang on a bit before making a decision. But the main interest for me, as I stated, is the golf. I have followed Firefan's link and they have the excel downloads that give the details of the golf packages. Basically, free golf at every course, plus additional benefits at many. If someone can tell me of any credit card that would give me that, I will sign tommorrow. For a serious golfer, this is a strong reason to get the card, considering the visa, spa and all the other smaller benefits already mentioned.

Yes it may have problems in the future and that is one of the things I will be thinking about. Advice and warnings from posters are very much appreciated. Judgements about my philanthropy are a little irksome.

Just to reiterate:

But, of course, in the end, if one STILL persists to defy logic and obtain one, that's their business. I'm just trying to save people from foolishly parting with their money. If they insist, then I won't "disagree" with them and wish them well.

Good luck.

[Firefan]

And you are not smart enough to find the site yourself with a quick google?

Ok then: thailandelite.com Cheers!

...normal homepage thaielite.com).

This link brings me to a hotel reservation site.

---------------

Maestro

Edited July 30, 2006 by Firefan

[Maestro]

And you are not smart enough to find the site yourself with a quick google?

Ok then: thailandelite.com Cheers!

I am one of those old-fashioned people who click on a link if it is live, or copy and paste it if it is not.

I did make an exception in this particular case and googled for <thailand “elite card”> and this didn’t give me the desired link on the fist page (first 10 results). Perhaps I am not sufficiently computer-literate.

So now I see:

http://www.thailandelite.com is the official site

http://www.thailandelites.com is the site of one of the sales agents of the elite card.

I live and learn.

--------------

Maestro

[Meerkat]

But, of course, in the end, if one STILL persists to defy logic and obtain one, that's their business. I'm just trying to save people from foolishly parting with their money. If they insist, then I won't "disagree" with them and wish them well.

Sigh...John, really I think this is why some on this thread - myself included - feel umbrage at your comments. Just because it doesn't suit you doesn't mean that anybody who buys it is a fool.

To give you my personal perspective: the fee is about a month's salary after tax and before bonus (gotta love that HK tax regime). Well...strictly speaking, it was that - I jacked the job in last week. Hmm...maybe those golf benefits are looking more attractive...

Now for me, the risk/reward ratio makes sense. Not well-off/well connected enough that I could get some of these benefits seperately, but well-off enough that it's worth taking the punt. If I were forced to pay another mio to the local orphanage at the same time (or the price was 2m), I probably wouldn't have gone for it. Ironic really, as the missus and I regularly help out at our local orphanage up the road in Tanyaburi...

Now if it goes belly-up, the blame lies fairly on me and my risk analysis. I won't lose sleep over it though - my (previous) line of work demands that one can take the occasional loss. Does it make me a fool? No, of course not; it simply means I have a higher appetite for risk than some others, including yourself. As far as the actual benefits of the scheme go (ie without the risk it might all end), it's a no-brainer (ugly expression - sorry) for me.

Anyway, I'm happy to take this up (or anything else - no fists allowed) over a beer if you fancy - we're often down in Bang Saen for the seafood.

Nick

[Firefan]

Maestro; sorry - was just kidding my friend! Cheers!

And you are not smart enough to find the site yourself with a quick google?

Ok then: thailandelite.com Cheers!

I am one of those old-fashioned people who click on a link if it is live, or copy and paste it if it is not.

I did make an exception in this particular case and googled for <thailand “elite card”> and this didn’t give me the desired link on the fist page (first 10 results). Perhaps I am not sufficiently computer-literate.

So now I see:

http://www.thailandelite.com is the official site

http://www.thailandelites.com is the site of one of the sales agents of the elite card.

I live and learn.

--------------

Maestro

[calibanjr.]

To give you my personal perspective: the fee is about a month's salary after tax and before bonus (gotta love that HK tax regime). Well...strictly speaking, it was that - I jacked the job in last week. Hmm...maybe those golf benefits are looking more attractive...

Nick

Good on you, if that were my pay-grade, I be in Bumrungrad 90% of the time.

DD

[Kerryd]

I tried emailing the ThaiLongStay outfit a couple of times after it was mentioned in another thread here.

Never got an answer. I even mentioned that I was very intersted in a specific "package" they listed on their site:

Package: Platinum TLM Privilege Card:

» Smart Card

» Multi-Entry Visa for 1 year

» Mobile SIM card valued ฿3,000

» Fast Track at Don muang Airport, Suvarnabhumi » Airport, Chiang Mai International

Airport, Chiang Rai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, and Samui

International Airport

» 1- TimeLiaison at Don muang Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Chiang Mai International

Airport, Chiang Rai International Airport, Phuket International Airport, and Samui

International Airport

» 24-hour Call Center (1188)

» Discount at TLM Partners Services (5-50%)

» Special Rate for Voice Over IP

(last update in March 2006)

There is an article about a meeting on 12 July 2006, about signing a Memorandum of Understanding with 1,000 strategic alliances in residential and recreational services such as hotels, resorts, golf courts and spas to provide, to serve and giving discount for the tourists both Thai and foreigners who would like to stay in Thailand longer than average period.

For the Thai tourists that would like to stay longer than the average period ?

Not sure if it's worth trying to contact them again.

[tt61]

First I'd like to thanks you all for posting in this thread. Some of it was very informative and some the same old slandering that I've seen in other posts regarding this topic. The good part is that I got a good foundation upon which to base my decision whether to go ahead and purchase the Thai Elite card.

I think I will, but will most likely wait until after the elections in the hope of being able to foresee a possible change in the governments policies towards non-thais and its immigration policies too.

I, as one other poster, sent an inquiry to Thai Longstay asking about benefits costs etc. As I had already seen this from info from another poster in ths thread there was not much new info provided to me.

There was one thing, however, that immediately excludes Thai Longstay as an option for people like myself under 50. It seems this company is nothing more than a regular visa agent that assists in getting non-o visas for +50 foreigners, and not providers of a special visa like Thai Elite... Read the reply below:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for your enquiry. A price and its validation for each package are shown in the attached file. It is one time payment (but only the Platinum Package that we exclude the visa fees which you will have to pay at TLM’s privilege track upon your arrival in Thailand). However as mentioned, the membership and visa provided valid only one year and it is not automatically renewed upon expiry.

The criteria and documentary required for application are as following:

Criteria:

1. Must be 50 years old or over

2. Holding a guarantor letter from the Embassy or Consulate, proving the monthly pension of the applicant not less than 65,000 Baht per month OR

3. A bank statement from a bank in Thailand showing that the applicant has an account of not less than 800,000 Baht OR

4. Evidence proving that the total amount of money from the pension and bank account amounts to the sum stated above (800,000 Baht).

Required document:

1. Copy of passport entries.

2. one 4x6 cm. photograph

3. A guarantor-letter from the Embassy or Consulate, proving the monthly pension of the applicant not less than 65,000 Baht per month. Or a bank statement from a bank in Thailand showing that the applicant has an account of not less than 800,000 Baht. Or evidence proving that the total amount of money from the pension and the bank account amounts to the sum stated above (800,000 Baht).

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Yours sincerely,

Ms. Jittima Srivoranrt

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Having read this it seems to me the only feasible option for anyone wanting to go the "fast track" to a long time visa is still Thai Elite. Please correct me if I'm wrong..

Cheers, Tony

[Orion76]

I've had the Thailand Elite card for around 3 years now. I have nothing but good things to say about their service and couldn't be happier with my purchase. I just renewed my passport a few months ago and got a new 5 year visa which is now valid until 2011.

The same person slandering the card in this thread also slandered it when it was first announced, and in every thread following it, and said the card would never last, but against his wise predicitions it still exists. Don't pay attention to him, he slanders people who use airconditioning in other threads and urges them to take cold showers and use a fan instead to save money on electricity. You don't need advise on how to spend $25K from someone like that

Edited August 2, 2006 by Orion76

[kiakaha]

sounds like it has its uses, as do amex centurion cards, marquis netjets cards etc...

hey, if the shoe fits, wear it

[Inspector 2211]

I just renewed my passport a few months ago and got a new 5 year visa which is now valid until 2011.

Thanks for clarifying that the 5 year visa is, in fact, renewable with the Thailand Elite card.

There was some doubt about it, I think.

This is very important for people who are significantly under 45, like me. (I'm 41.)

If one's main reason for getting the Elite card is the visa, this also allows you to amortize the cost of the card over more years (9 in my case) and not just 5.

I'm considering the Thailand Elite card as an alternative to the 3 million Baht investor visa.

The 3 million baht investor visa is, on the surface, the better deal, however the risk of devaluation over the course of 9 years is significant. (For starters, I don't see the Thai economy taking off like China's economy.)

Comparatively, the Thailand Elite card costs 1 million Baht and that money is gone, but your loss is capped at 1 million baht and you can keep your entire net worth offshore.

[Firefan]

I checked with Thai Elite - and the visa cover 5 years at a time but one needs to extend every 3 months (at 1900 Baht per extension) - unless one travels of course. Just a minor point to add (more for the hassle than the money). Cheers!

[lopburi3]

Well it may only be 8k or so a year but when you have the option of a 3 million baht investment one year at a time extension of stay and earning interest on your money it may have less charm - only if you have business reasons or intend to heavily use the gulf and such would it make much sense in my view.

[sriracha john]

not "make much sense" to get one??

careful now, that's getting very close to the slander orion was alluding to...

[kdf]

Hello gang,

There has been much said here re the Thai Elite card, but little re the longstay program. Has anyone gone this route? I do not need the visa, but am interested in the airport assistance and the health care. Any thoughts? We have more luggage this time than we can conveniently handle ourselves, esp after the long flight.

Thanks

kdf

[number6]

Now for me, the risk/reward ratio makes sense. Not well-off/well connected enough that I could get some of these benefits seperately, but well-off enough that it's worth taking the punt.

agree totally theirs a lot of folk here who can afford 1m baht not to much trouble - myself its a lot of money since i dont earn anymore but put against 10mill + baht ive put into our homes here its just affordable - if i had no other option id go for it instead of monthly visa runs but then i have no problem since ive been on retirement visa for last few years

?? i tohught you still had to leave the country every 90 days much like old 1 year visa i used ot have many years ago

[Meerkat]

?? i tohught you still had to leave the country every 90 days much like old 1 year visa i used ot have many years ago

You mean for the TE visa? It needs to be stamped every 90 days, but you don't have to leave the country for it to be done. Any immigration office can do it (apart from Don Muang and I presume Suvarna once it opens). For people staying in BKK, there's an office in town.

[number6]

[

You mean for the TE visa? It needs to be stamped every 90 days, but you don't have to leave the country for it to be done. Any immigration office can do it (apart from Don Muang and I presume Suvarna once it opens). For people staying in BKK, there's an office in town.

Im still sceptical and as i said have no problem so far being on 1 year visas - i dont play golf - dont go to spars ?? jsut to keep debate alive what could it offer me - as i said 1m i can afford against 10m or os ive already inverted here and id pay it gladly if no more 90 day reporting hazzle etc ie if like a pr status - ?? any comments

[sriracha john]

just to keep debate alive what could it offer me

there's really no need to continue...as this and countless other threads on this program have shown that it has miserably flopped from it's unrealistic, lofty goal. That is testament enough to the fact that except for very, very, very, very few people... the program doesn't offer anywhere near enough for the overwhelming vast majority of people to utilize it.

[Charma]

Im still sceptical and as i said have no problem so far being on 1 year visas - i dont play golf - dont go to spars ?? jsut to keep debate alive what could it offer me - as i said 1m i can afford against 10m or os ive already inverted here and id pay it gladly if no more 90 day reporting hazzle etc ie if like a pr status - ?? any comments

If you do not want the golf or spa's then I do not think the card is good value for you.

there's really no need to continue...as this and countless other threads on this program have shown that it has miserably flopped from it's unrealistic, lofty goal. That is testament enough to the fact that except for very, very, very, very few people... the program doesn't offer anywhere near enough for the overwhelming vast majority of people to utilize it.

I don't think that this thread has shown this at all. The negative comments have come from those who do not have the card. The one's that do seemed happy with it. I do not think the card is aimed at the "over whelming vast majority". That is perhaps why they called it "Elite"

[sriracha john]

Im still sceptical and as i said have no problem so far being on 1 year visas - i dont play golf - dont go to spars ?? jsut to keep debate alive what could it offer me - as i said 1m i can afford against 10m or os ive already inverted here and id pay it gladly if no more 90 day reporting hazzle etc ie if like a pr status - ?? any comments

If you do not want the golf or spa's then I do not think the card is good value for you.

there's really no need to continue...as this and countless other threads on this program have shown that it has miserably flopped from it's unrealistic, lofty goal. That is testament enough to the fact that except for very, very, very, very few people... the program doesn't offer anywhere near enough for the overwhelming vast majority of people to utilize it.

I don't think that this thread has shown this at all. The negative comments have come from those who do not have the card. The one's that do seemed happy with it. I do not think the card is aimed at the "over whelming vast majority". That is perhaps why they called it "Elite"

When your stated sales target is 1,000,000 cards... I hardly consider that "elite." In that regard, it's been misnamed since the beginning.

There's probably a very good reason for people on TV and around the world to "not have the card."...

It doesn't suit their needs or desires.

[Charma]

Well I suppose I would have to agree that one measurement of whether it is a flop would be the number of sales acheived. However, for people who purchased it, it is more to do with whether it is giving them what they wanted. That was also what number6 was asking in his post - "what could it offer him". I just thought your reply did not truly represent the posts on the thread in relation to that question.

[sriracha john]

well then, by all means... lets hear it all again.

[Arsenal]

not "make much sense" to get one??

careful now, that's getting very close to the slander orion was alluding to...

Sriracha John,

I long ago accepted there are people out there cleverer, wealthier,better looking and more charming than myself.Good luck to them all.You however seem to have a lot of difficulty in accepting there are people much richer than yourself, and for whom the Elite card might be useful.It's almost as we Brits say as though you have a bee in your bonnet and quite frankly your continued comments on the subject make you sound like a crazy old man.

In fact I think the business case, from the Thai Government point of view, for the Elite card is a bit flawed and certainly some of the very modest uptake represents a wannabe element.But there will be some -like Orion - for whom it makes perfect sense.I think also, if we are honest, that Elite card will always get a bad press in this forum with its strong blue collar element.