jacko

Thanks Tom. I was about to switch to Qatar and take advantage of the competitive fares ex Bangkok in Biz class. (After a long association with KLM who keep squeezing up the fares ex UK). I have had some confusion looking at transit times, I basically couldn't believe them. A saving of a few hundred pounds does not justify a 7 hour layover so close to my old (much disliked) workplace, KSA. I may consider the KLM-China combination for my Manchester trips.

I certainly don't want to be sending my passport in the post to get a 1 week extension or a residence letter! Doesn't sound practical and hence would be a perfect move for LOS.

I would be surprised if Pattaya (Jomtiem) closed, that place is making money that Bill Gates would be proud of. Unless they would like that money to be going into the Bangkok coffers.

I did China Airlines Biz Class (I think it is the one with a big pink flower in the tail and flies on to Taipei). I went from Manchester on KLM and changed in Amsterdam. The flight was punctual and service pretty good. It isn't business class like BA, but it isn't their prices either. Wide seat that didn't recline fully, like Biz class was 10 years ago in the big carriers.I thought it was very good value at the time (£650 about 2 years ago), but they have come up some since.

Copy of my rental agreement (take the original along too), 2 photos, copies of passport (picture page, TM card/ stamp and visa...non-Imm-O in my case). Original passport. Completed form and of course 200 baht.That did it for me, had 3 residence letters in the last 2 months.

Converting to baht in the UK is madness! I do as you ask, also with the Bangkok bank, and the money is converted to Thai baht, in Thailand, at a very good rate (65.2 on Tuesday). If the account you are sending to (which must be specified) is indeed a Thai baht account, then it will be converted to Thai baht at the TT (Telex transfer) rate by Bangkok bank. No special arrangements.

Even my GPRS/EDGE has been bad (it's all relative, it was never good). If I get up any earlier to use it, there won't be any point going to bed.

Beware, one gets a sense of a double pricing structure. What you see advertised by the bigger agents, presumably looking at the tourist or uneducated market and what Expats pay. Sadly over Sukhumvit, or the 'darkside', is where prices can be more sensible. Check out the newspapers online, Pattaya mail classifieds etc. http://www.pattayamail.com/mailmarket/Prop...sesVillas.shtml

Try Air Asia for Northern Vietnam... Bangkok Airways to HCM. Nok Air for Hanoi.... Pacific Airlines http://www.attitudetravel.com/vietnam/lowc...rlines/#airasia

Upstairs in Tops.... same owner as Soi Buakao. Although it is a different one on Soi Buakhao than mentioned above. Turn right off Soi Diana, quite a walk, left hand side before the market.

Thought provoking and saddening thread. It certainly has me thinking. A couple of recent trips to a major hospital here for minor ailments, and seeing first hand the rip-off process they apply without remorse, has emphasized this. Those able to bring heath insurance from home to retirement in LOS surely are fortunate.

1) Get on the telephone to them. 2) Take your ticket into a Pattaya travel agent and let them get on the telephone to the Airline. (100-200 baht) 3) Find out where their office is in Bangkok, then get on an early bus from Rongruen bus station to Ekamai, you can be back in Pattaya by the afternoon.

Sell these old 'transport boxes' at home and have lots of cash for a good life over here. Find a new hobby, or might I say 'fetish' . For getting about, buy a nice pickup with 4 seats in Thailand, under 1,000,000 baht, and perhaps a little motorcycle for nipping to the 7-11 (50,000 baht). You might be able to buy a Jag here, but luxury imported cars are silly money and really an indicator of 'more money than sense' or pretentiousness..

http://www.jetairways.com/

Not for me, economy is a truly vile experience. I have budgeted for business class and hence it doesn't hurt me. I certainly don't budget or pay £3800 pounds though. If you can be flexible and book ahead, avoid peak times, it should be about half of that. There are other benefits like mileage bonuses that make the free upgrades or flight tickets come around more quickly too. No more snoring fat guy drooling on my shoulder and the noisy kids gawping at me over the back of their seat.

Is this a suggestion or a challenge?

What has that to do with a flight to Korea?

I have heard this idea mentioned before, and have no idea whether, if you do have a valid visa in your passport, you are required to utilise it. I have not heard of anyone successfully employing this method either, but I only read this board. I would be concerned about arousing the immigration official's curiousity or annoyance by trying to tell him/her (better a her) what to do. It might remind him/her to ask to see your outward flight ticket for within 30 days, or worse.

A multiple entry tourist visa has a validity of 6 months from the date of issue. It is clear on the visa under 'Entry Before' You would be permitted to stay for 60 days if you entered just 1 day before this. I believe an onward flight ticket is not required if you have this visa, but Joe may say what I believe has no validity, and anything is possible in LOS!

A bargain, my UK bank charges £30..... that must be hundreds of dollars by now... Well $60 actually. I transfer in £ and my Bangkok Bank converts at the better Telex Transfer rate. The £30 is covered if I transfer £4000+...over tha cash rate.

That's a fact!

Only 1 bid and still at 99p. The seller doesn't mention if the taxes are included! Interesting way to get a last minute flight.

Hey Bob, what is the status of your shop in the Carrefour food mall? I keep checking by.

Well I might consider Heathrow over Delhi,Dhaka, Karachi or Tehran.....might, just might....