jacko

I have a HSBC account in the UK and use their internet banking.... but after a bad experience some years back have never used them to transfer cash over to Thailand. Back then they transferred some money for me (not Thailand) and used a secondary clearing bank and I got hit by 2 charges. The second charge was another £30 on top or £25 I had already paid, it was not mentioned and I felt I had been cheated... or perhaps they were being 'economical' with the details. Recently, when on their web page I noticed they were touting cheap international transfers....... and as I needed a top-up, I was tempted. Anyhow, I gave it a go and was quite happy. I immediately saw there was NO option to send 'Sterling'..it was baht or 'Sterling Equivalent', aha, they will screw me on the rate I thought, but quoted rate looked reasonable. All Expats live by the rule.....send your home currency, not baht, as the rates here are better. But maybe that is becoming a thing of the past. Anyhow, a few days ago, Wednesday morning (Thai), initiated the transfer, that afternoon, alert that it was in my Thai account. No apparent deduction in Thailand, possibly because baht arrived. Rate was 54.65.(The same as Bangkok bank would give me for a TT with a 500 baht deduction). So a pretty fast transfer and a good rate I thought. UK Bank charge £4. Disadvantage, maximum single transaction amount £2000, but you can make multiple transfers up to £50k. Times are changing and the old 'rules' may no longer apply as local banks look to increase profits. This rate is the same as TT exchange were offering for cash. It was so straight-forward too.

James Cromwell

The Fast and the Furious.

I understand it to mean wait at the red light...... that scares me as I approach 10 years here.

Sylvester Stallone

I did, but this is not the place.

Emma Thompson

Yes, they actually like to see an active account. It sort of verifies things. But as you correctly say, keep it above the 800k amount, for the 3 month period before renewing a retirement extension. Sixty days for 1st time applications.

Josh Brolin

Interested on how this will say change the demographics of the night-life scene. Is the component of free young guys on back-to-back tourist visas (or exemptions) so appreciable? I have never seen any numbers, but what I see of night-life, I don't see many apparently young long-term guys? But of course you wouldn't get me in a 'disco' for a gold pig. I just thought near all of them were valid tourists, with perhaps a sprinkling of gap-year guys.

I was thinking the opposite..... looking at the players I thought they mostly looked, well, German. Unlike quite a few other European sides. Anyhow Wac, like The Bust, it is over and done with.

Nothing to do with retirees who have retirement extensions. Everything to do with retirees living here long-term using tourist visas and/or exemption stamps. Nothing to do with resources whatsoever! I have just spent an age reading about this on Thai-Visa, and of course all the ensuing hand-wringing, complaints and glee. The reasoning behind this is to get foreigners onto the correct visa types, and to stop those working here without permits. Not very good for the Visa run companies and their staff.

There is a number you can call and make a complaint too, presuming it to be an official meter taxi. It is normally listed inside the vehicle. My TGF got onto that number and had a right go at them. Waste of time but it makes you feel better.

So my VIP Expat card no longer gets me an 80 baht beer?

Well done Germany. I suppose now we will see them being arrogant, loud and acting superior around town. No change there then!

James Mason

A bit late to go back to bed now...... ............ No it isn't.

Don't you love those mini-bar fridges which seem to have a 'ker-ching' device, you pull out a £10 can of beer and it is registered and on the bill before you can get the top off!

Clint Eastwood

Well of course the tour groups were brought by coaches......... Dropped at the south end near Bali Hai and follow the flag or are given an hour to walk to the end and back! The large number of Thai visitors at the moment will want to see the famous Walking St. I didn't notice whether the street entertainers were working...the smoking cowboy magician, the contortionist little girl, the break dancing kids et al.... but the usual bottleneck, the writhing European girl in a fish bowl took a day off. With all the alcohol related entertainment off line, what was left of Walking St is it, until the football started. It must have been easier to enter WS from the North, without all those punks with the cards advertising rather sordid types of entertainment.

Coincidentally I was in one of the Flipper places and waiting behind an Indian guy who was trying to haggle down a price to extend his stay. He was complaining that the offered 'best' price there was more than he had paid using Agoda....... in fact he declined it, and went off to try and log onto Agoda and see if he could do better.

Tommy Lee Jones

Same as MM..... Agoda... for the few nights a year I want to stay in town. I use a particular place and always seem to get in, and for a night or so am not particularly price-sensitive. It seems expedient. Depends on when and how long for your pal.

It simply indicates what we knew all along. Most tourists are not using the bars! (Or without drinking there is nothing better to do).