jacko

Hmmm, it appears I am spending too much on rent and giving her a bit too much. I am finding I need an average of 70-75k. This is a recent thing. My rent is the same as last year but fuel and food have shot up. Many other items too. The above doesn't show some items like Cable TV Transport Fuel Medical Insurance and vehicle insurance. Car service and the odd repair (some thief breaks a window). Road trips and visa trips/expenses. I might need to move into the sticks to reduce this.

They taste great but an SOB to catch!

Does it taste like KFC only more filling?

EVEN in the USA eh.......sadly, my time over there, taught me to be careful dispensing trust too. But they weren't all bad.... here too....some good, some bad, some a bit of both. But you specifically used the 'phrase' BG... well yes I would be dubious of being handed a cigar and congratulated by a girl who works at a bar. Off to the DNA clinic or the airport! Hopefully, a wife deserves better.

I don't think the OP is discussing a BG here. Your girl was likely just trying to make a bit more money, or get her own back on farangs for giving her an STD.

I have often felt suspicious that the very act of making an enquiry may bump the price!

Midweek will normally offer better prices. Most people want to travel Fri-Mon. I always try Wednesdays on my search.....

Why do you say that, I know someone who pays 50K on the dark side, but it is palatial. I pay 15K and think that is reasonable. If you want to live in one of those grotty looking townhouses, sure, you can pay less.

You heard correctly, but didn't read very deeply. Where I bought the supplementary insurance, theft protection added a whopping 5000 bahts to the policy, but the dealer offered 2 years theft only cover, 80% returned if stolen in the 1st year, 40% in the second. I thought that was a good deal..... getting 40K back if it was stolen for the 2.5K outlay. (This was 16 months ago..and likely an incentive for those buying on credit!.... I paid cash) Of course if you rent off beach road for 200 baht/day, you are responsible for the full replacement value. Fortunately, as you have been, and touch wood, I have not yet had to test this insurance, although helmet theft, yes, this I am acquainted with. I also have had attempts to break into my back box, and yesterday some twat took a screwdriver to my car rear window and had a good rummage around inside.

Well you asked for options, not improvements. I live pretty close to you and use Edge on AIS. I pre-pay per month for 50hrs at only about 220 baht. It is truly useless and I expect it to bring on my first heart attack. Most of the day internet access outside Thailand just isn't there and it is slow slow slow... when I can connect. This board is often all I can get to....

Fair points, when I was travelling for work I always used BA as they went through the UK (my origin) and pretty much everywhere else in the world. Now I travel on my buck and despite travelling Biz Class, I look for best price. BA isn't going to offer that, nor Qantas. Domestic presence matters not for the little old UK, and we have quite a few alternatives to BA, but my important factor, is alternatives to LHR.

I guess you have your reasons to add the cost and dog-leg to Singapore. You avoid airlines because they are NOT in the One World Alliance ... For me it's a bit like saying I wouldn't be a member of a club that would have me as a member. The One world alliance has BA in it....!

Who is this guy with only 1500 posts telling us what to do?

I just flew round trip on KLM on tickets I purchased 7 months ago for the outward leg, and 4 months on the return. (I live in Thailand but purchased tickets ex-UK) No surcharges. Are these surcharges applied by BA when you purchase the ticket, or is it the heinous practice of hitting you at check-in when you can do nothing but get your wallet out?

I seem to have lost about 1,300 posts and have dropped to a 'Senior' from 'Elite'. I see Joe Kicker is still Elite but has only 2300 posts now.... must be wrong, he does that many daily!

I have been using KLM, they are no great shakes but the FF program is pretty good. I just tried to do a mileage booking and apparently Man-BKK can go via Nairobi...????? You need to consider whether you will just be doing UK-BKK or going elswehere before fixing on an airline. Beware of paying for expensive tickets just to accrue miles, a false saving. Some of the USA guys recommend United, yes American flyers offer great FF packages but that is to compensate for crap flights (in coach, they are good up front) and of no use if you will not go to the USA... I still have a shit load of Continental miles. I will need to look elsewhere soon, the KLM Biz class is getting too expensive and I will be trying Qatar or China. As to BA, well I would rather do a swamp than Heathrow.

Mine found their way!

Don't both Qantas and BA fly direct Bangkok-Sydney? Also Emirates...Ethiad....

No, I read some 'read me' file that said uninstall it using the Windows Program Removal Tool. I only removed Norton and some time later found a Semantics Update program (that claimed to be required by another unidentified program) but I went ahead and uninstalled that too. My computer seems to be working OK and I feel there could be a risk using the program at the above link

Maybe the place next to the Carrefour supermarket, and the one next to Big C (South Pattaya). One is called HomePro, one is HomeWorks, I always get the names mixed up. They also sell Thai style furniture near the Big C (South Pattaya, Sukhumvit/Pattaya Tai), infront of HomeWorks. Shopping around, as you seem to be doing, great idea.

The OP also said he would be here a little over 6 weeks, so a 15 day extension may not quite be enough. (Do they still issue 15 days?) He was really only looking for company on a visa run in the OP. What Joe posted seemed useful..... it may only be semantics but the confusion of calling a 30 day stamp a 'visa', when it is far from it, isn't a good starting point.

I think it would be more accurate to say that the insurance offered (perhaps 'freely' included) by the dealers is the minimal obligatory insurance. It is only about 500 baht/ year. They dealers may well offer theft insurance (as I purchased) at a price. The obligatory insurance must be purchased, it is required for vehicle registration, it is also available at the vehicle registration department near The School of the Regents and at any brokers. But you can buy it from wherever you wish, and with whichever insurance company you wish. If you decide you would like a more comprehensive insurance, you will still need to purchase the 'obligatory' one. It makes sense that these two policies are from the same supplier, to simplify any claim. Try putting a claim through 2 different companies and see who gets left in the middle holding the liability.

This might be an issue if it is going to be parked in the open for an extended period. I have one of those little locks for the front disc ..... short term parking. Also a big padlock and cable for those less secure places..... extended parking. When I go away for several days the bikes get locked together in the kitchen!...Long term....

Yes agreed, I am still finding bits of it. I got the AVG loaded (Hippo), and Spybot as well........had to go find me a better internet connection than what I use at home. Anything else that would make my notebook safe as houses?

I don't recommend taking any hasty action based on what the above know alls are saying. It might be a case of better the devil you know. I foolishly listened and downloaded AVG 8.0.100... took nearly an hour. But it won't install unless you uninstall Norton... then it still won't install and maybe you have to shut down your computer. Then you will have to wait another age and download AVG again because it isn't something you can save and try to install again (that I can figure out) you have to start from scratch and download the 45MB ,again, and this time connected without virus protection. By now my internet connection here in Pattaya is getting slow and the download has failed 3 times. I now have a no virus protection. Have wasted many hours and am beating my head on my keyboard.