blacknight

I am currently looking to relocate to LOS and I am having difficulty in understanding the finer points of the Non immigrant 'O' visa system. I have been to LOS several times this year and have decided to base myself there next year, but still plan to work overseason a rotational basis. Until the new visa rules came in in October this would not have been a problem, however due to the uncertainty of how the new rule are interpreted I though of applying for a visa rather than just arriving each trip and recieving the standard 30 day permit. I have searched many sites for info and there still seems to be some confusion on whether or not the above entry method will be judged on the number of entries over a 180 day period or on the actual number of days in the same period. I have also researched the Non immigrant 'O' visa ( 1 year multiple entry) and was wondering what the exact pre-requisites are for obtaining one. I know that you can apply for one if you have a Thai partner or if you are over 50 but being neither myself does this rule me out? Finally are there any other options open to me that I have not already covered? Your help on this matter would be gratefully appreciated and could even result in a beer or 2.

Welcome to the board Jerry hope you have a good time on here and an even better one in LOS

I have also just checked ou of the Whitehouse yesterday and I can mirror alot of what has been said already. I had a deluxe suite on the second floor and was also made to pay in advance and because I had had a long flight and transfer to Pattaya I didn't argue. I paid for 1 week instead of 3 and after the second night I asked to be moved room. I was told that i could only be moved up 2 levels, but would still have the same view, noise etc. My room balcony overlooked the new hotel that is being built behind the Lek and they worked on it from approx 0630 until 2300 at night some times. The room was very dark at all times and you needed to have the lights on just to move around. 2 working tv's but the dish required moving as most of the channels had shit reception. Like already mentioned the lift was out of action until the night before I checked out. On joiners fee I returned to my room one night approx 1800 to shower and change along with my girl. Her friend accomponied us as we were all going out to eat afterwards. The hotel would not let second lady into room to waite until she handed over ID and I paid the additional joiners fee. In the end her friend sat in the lobby until we were ready to go. Only went to breakfast once and would not reccommend. All in all the place looks great but it is prevented from being a class hotel due to the way it is being run, ie some stupid rules. My lady also noted that on a least 1 occasion the sheets had not been replaced. I will not stay here again. For 2550 baht per night I can get way bettere value elsewhere

Hi Paul, just a quick note on the service you and Jan provide. I have tried various methods to travel to and from the airport and on this trip decided to give you a try. The service provided was excellent. Not only is Jan an excellent driver but she is also a very funny woman making the normally long trip just fly by. The service is certainly not the cheapest so might not suit cheap charlies, but as the saying goes you only get what you pay for. I will definately be using you again next month when I return and I would strongly urge boardmembers to give this service a try.

Hi Naughtyboy I can only speak for the Areca but it is a very good hotel situated in a good area about 10 minute from Walking street. I have stayed there and am staying there in a couple of weeks. The hotel is guest friendly and has all the facilities you need except for broadband access, it only has a small internet room next to the reception. If you book a deluxe room they have king bed,tv,reasonably priced mini-bar and electronic safe. If this is out of your budget the standard rooms don't have a safe but reception has safety deposit boxes but remeber to bring your own padlock. The hotel has 2 pools and the rooms are all clean and in good decor as it has been open approx. 4 years. Their booking facility isn't great as it requires you to e-mail/fax them your bank details. If you book through asiarooms.com or sawadee this is more secure although you will have to pay the full amount if you go through these website, although sometimes you can get a deal this way. The Residence Garden is also meant to be a great hotel, although it is a bit further out the way, maybe this suits you. Hope this has helped. P.S. if you do book Areca you can buy me a beer as I will probably be back there in mid October.

Thanks for the info gents, its given me a starter for when I arrive. I keep meaning to get allong to the Ex-Pats club as it is a good way of gain valuble info but as its early in morning I have always failed to date. Thanks again.

Hi all, on my next visit to LOS I intend opening a Thai bank account and keep money in it for emergencies etc. I was wondering if any of the Ex-pat BMs could advise me on the best way to go considering the following: 1. Ease of intial set up. What documentation do you require and does this differ from bank to bank? I have tried a couple of bank website and they seem to make out it is pretty complicated. 2. Best availability of ATMs, like for example the LINK system in the UK where you can use other banks ATM without charge. This should also take into account ease of use in other parts of Thailand not just Pattaya. 3. Highest daily withdrawal amount and if available built in visa transfer for use in supermarket/mall paying electronically. 4. Ease of transfering funds from UK bank account to Thai bank. 5. Quickness in issuing the relevant cards, although I do appreciate it is Thailand. 6. Finally best interest rate although this is not so important as there would only be up to maybe 150000thb in the account at most. I would be extremely grateful for any help on this matter. Graham

Gents I too am an Emirates Gold FF memeber and can confirm that 75000 miles will get you a free return flight in economy. I am flying from Glasgow and don't mind the couple of hours stop over in Dubia. I have looked at other airlines but by the time I cost in the travel to London, Manchester etc. it really doesn't make much difference and Emirates have never let me down so far. Also with Emirates if you book through the website well in advance you not only get extra points but are also more likely to get a free upgrade. Reference the Etihad FF program in my limited experience when this is introduced you'll probably find it harder to get the flights at rock bottom prices, as ultimately they have to recoup the money somehow. Remember nothing in life is free, someone always pays somehow.

Alanchar I've found the flyertalk website good for all types of flight information, I see CheshireTom has already answered your question but here is a link anyway. Flyertalk

Cheers for the info Pentire, eventually checked out their website as internet connection at work is real slow. I didn't realise that LK did such a good deal on LT lets. I will check them out next month when I am over as I am staying at the Areca which is close by. If your in town give me a shout and I'll buy you a beer.

Pentire just checked out LK website and agree it certainly looks good, could you confirm whether 17K is for a room or 1 bedroom suite? Also you say electric 7 baht per unit is this the only extra charge or do you also have to pay for maid service and water like some other places. I would appreciate your assistance

Ozboy I booked Areca while I was over in April and since I was a returning customer the manageress Nancy gave me a deluxe room for 15 nights in August for a 100bht per night with only a 3000bht deposit. If you ask to speak to her she will always work out a deal depending on the duration and how many times you've stayed. I have spoken to other guests who stay there everytime and have been told that she does this quite often. Asiarooms.com sometimes have deals with Areca, but I checked today and there is none at the moment.

I had a similar thing on my last trip to LOS. I booked Areca's sister hotel as Areca was fully booked, via Asiarooms.com and had to pay the full amount. If it is this site you booked through they are a good reliable site and you are saving 300bht per night on the hotel price. If you are paying by credit card, which I think you have to anyway you will be fully insured on both fraud and most companies also insure your holiday too, should you need to be moved hotel during your trip. The online booking is also secure. If you book via the hotel they do not have a secure booking facility on their website. This is a good hotel. You could always try another one though

dthomasss I have stayed at the Areca 3 times over the last 12 months and am booked in for my next 3 trips this year. The first couple of times I stayed in the executive suite @ 2500bht per night. The room was on the corner of the old building over looking the smaller pool. The small pool doesn't get the sun after about 1300 and as they are building the SOI DIANA INN extension across the road the site noise can be a pain.This part of the building unless I am wrong has mainly standard rooms with 1 executive on each floor. The new wing which has been open for approx. 3 1/2 years has a mixture of standard and deluxe rooms and they all overlook the new larger pool at the back which gets the sun until it sets. The hotel has excellent staff and is fully geust friendly, even allowing them to eat breakfast no extra charge.The minibar is also reasonably priced compared to other hotels and there are 2 7/11's right opposite. All in all there are cheaper hotels but I've always found this one to be fairly central and no hassle. If you book via Asiarooms you will usually get a better rate than via the hotel and you also get secure online booking which is something the hotel doesn't have.

Avidubai, I have used Bangkok Air in the past 6 months to fly Pattaya to Koh Samui and also Bangkok to Phuket and had no problem either time. Good inflight food and good standard of aircraft. Depends on budget and times cos i don't think they are necessarily the cheapest.

Hi I agree with python, but another tip I have noticed is that if you book your flight direct with the airline you will usually get treated better by them. For example I usually fly Emirates and am a frequent flyer member, however my last trip in April was a last minute decision and I booked through an agent and saved a little. When I arrived at the airport I tried to get a good seat which is normally no problem but the check in girl seemed reluctant to entertain my request. This flight also entailed a 7 hour stop over in Dubia, but I had already checked at the service desk and the girl there told me of a connecting flight to BKK with only a 2 hour stop over. I mentioned this to the check in girl but she said that as I had booked a cheap ticket via a travel agent there was absolutely no flexibility on ticket changes or seating. So to sum up for a measily £50 saving on my ticket via the agent based on a direct booking online with Emirates I ended up with not only a crap seat but also a long wait in Dubia, where the bear in £5 a pint. You have also got a far higher chance of being upgraded to business class if you book direct with the airline should they require extra seats in economy. Suppose it really depends on your budget

I would say no, I am a frequent flyer with Emirates and they only allow you to collect 1/4 milage for up to 8 family members that you register. I too have travelled with friends and have booked the tickets online via Emirates website and you are still not credited any milage for them.