jacko

And isn't that rather refreshing in the Pattaya environment!

Of course they do, they are in the business to make money, so why should they give away seats when there is a high demand. They also reduce the cheaper discounted economy class seats. Even if the airline 'claims' not to have blackout dates, they likely offer much reduced proportions of 'points' or 'mileage' seats. The booking software would automatically take care of this whenever a high demand for paying customers is seen. As you have enough mileage points for a return (nearly)....try booking a one way seat over the Christmas period. Try 2007, then 2008..etc etc. This will give you an idea. I have found it a struggle to utilize my airmiles when I wanted to....you have to await times of struggle or strife....namely threats of strike action. These cause cancellations and open up availability. My free seat last year came after a disasterous period for a particular airline....I got one for this month too...can anyone guess the airline?

As you say the taxes are a part of it, the airlines can't discount those. For one the new BKK airport now incorporates the 700 baht departure charge into the ticket price. Also I think LHR must be one of the most expensive places to fly out of for charges and taxes. My one way mileage ticket MAN-LHR-BKK had charges and taxes of £150.

Well I picked up their flyer at the Expats club meeting thinking this would be useful if I got involved in a traffic accident. (The card I got with my insurance has loads of telephone numbers, but everything is writen in Thai???). They seem to get promoted at the Expats club a lot. I sent off an Email, 6 days later no reply...not so FAST so far. Would they respond quickly to a problem if they are so lapse with their mails?

You have a point, plenty of fresh fruit available (cold pineapple on the beach..lovely). Fresh vegetables, flash cooked, are common...I would say Thailand is the best place to get all your vitamins without pills and supplements.

I got a free wallclock and scrounged a couple of placemats! Transfers from my UK Jersey account are fast.(total of £30 charge)..money there next working day. THe exchange rate is comparable to cash exchange in LOS. Sadly the £ is down recently.

That insurance does sound like a good deal, but make sure what you have got is as stated, it does sound like the obligatory, government 3rd party insurance. This covers little. Either the insurance is good and you paid for it in the price of the bike, or it is not what you believe. I recently bought a Nouvo for 50,000 baht. They only included the government insurance.This does not cover the bail bond you will need if you are involved in an accident. So I went off and got better insurance, but, the extra to cover theft was over 4000 baht. The Yamaha dealer offered me theft insurance at about 2200 baht/ 2 years. Pays back 85% first year and 45 % second year. I know of someone who has claimed and got his 85%. Yes, there is a lot of motorcycle theft in Pattaya, gangs come from surounding towns, but falangs on holiday make it easy for them! Mine gets locked.

I have an account with the Bangkok Bank, they just wanted my passport....but I believe you need to have a Non Imm visa in there rather than tourist or no visa. Quite pleased with the service and English abilities there, second Rd oposite Soi 6. Registering a motorcycle may be a little more complex than stated, not sure if you need a 'residence letter' I did for the driving license. Off to immigration with copies of all sorts of stuff....loads of photos..my house rental contract the most surprising one. This is a useful site.... Pattaya Expats Club

That's the word I was trying to remember Usufruct!

Index (on Sukhumvt) has good furniture but expensive, there is also a place across the road nearly opposite.

I think I have heard of this before...under a different name! Usurp or something similar. Well I need to think this over, but to be honest I have little faith in the Thai justice system supporting me in any dispute with a Thai....ie an ex gone sour. The 'company ownership' has always struck me as complex, and blatantly obvious circumvention of the land ownership law. The lease, well for the above reasons may also prove risky. But 30 years would suffice despite not being 75! If your option is so 'good' why do we not hear of it more often? A recent argument with the lady has leaned me towards even more caution..... I am sure a lot of guys out there have been 'burned'. Thanks for the meaningful input 'pappy' (from the film).

And by moving a few letters around we reach the more applicable phrase..... I don't think Thais do refunds.

A Thai lawyer will likely draw up any contract you like, whether it is legal and binding is another matter. For example I would wonder how a lease contract could include an option allowing you transfering the lease to full ownership to yourself , when as a foreigner, and as the law stands now, one cannot own the land. That said, in 30 years I will likely be under the land not on it!

They won't have that much for very long if going into business in LOS!

Well we have got the trailer park white trash running around already......

Well I have heard it has, and it hasn't, so am posting to get some clarity. Confusing place Thailand. I guess he is talking of the land being in a Thai name (the GF) and then getting her to sign a 30 year lease over to the mug who actually pays for the house and land. Although I suspect you know that Papillon. I would myself prefer this approach as the concept of 'putting it in a comany name' with 51% Thai majority shareholders etc seems complicated and probably an illegal way to own property, if the company is actually only set up to own the house and does no business. As a lot of wise people here say, only spend what you can afford to lose!

I am renting a house at the moment, and the temporary governments ineptidude has created a house buyers market. I live here full time and regard condos as blocks of flats better suited to frequent visitors. I also have a morbid fear of falling off a 112th floor balcony! A garden and a barbecue would be nice too! These big monstrosities are going up all over Pattaya and Jomtiem, sometimes right in the path of the sea view you bought 4-5 years ago. They are also being marketed at very high prices. Next year might just be too late to get a good house at a good price..... IF the rules change and make house ownership easier for falangs, there will be a house buying rush, and a glut of condos on the market. It is about time I did something mad in my life, buying a house might be a better move than opening a bar.

Thinking of buying a house here......now on top of all the concerns relating to company ownership, leases and loans and farangs cannot own land ... how about bringing in the money? Anything over $20,000 will have 30% retained for a year unless it is for condo (not house?) purchase or investment in a company! Now I don't like the idea of giving the (unelected) Thai government an interest free load of a few million baht for a year in the hope they might give it back to me when they choose to! Any knowledgeable feedback on how this works, or better, how NOT TO give over the money would be greatly appreciated.

Hope Casper doesn't mind me jumping in..... Price 2,400 baht, includes breakfast, late lunch on return, a bottle of water and a discount booklet and loyalty program. Yes a good deal and service. You can find runs at about 2000 but the difference in price is small, difference in comfort great. Tax free at the border, well beware, some things cost more than in Thailand (eg Thai liquor) so check local prices and haggle. Plenty to be saved on 'Viagra' and simlar medications. A cold can of Chang at 20baht at the border isn't a bad refresher!

It's a good price but highlights the excessive taxes......35% of the cost! I hope to fly Qatar back to UK in March.

Wise words Gary....I might only add that a Thai partner is obligatory rather than necessary....

Given that whatever ails you permits a trip back to the USA. A friend recently suffered a stroke here and paid a bill of 1.3 million baht at the hospital. Now at an annual insurance premium of 50k baht it would take 26 years of premuims before self assurance became financially advantageous.....but that said the guy had insurance and they weaseled out of 75% of the cost liability. At 65 you would obviously have to shop around for someone to even offer cover......hate that word cover, as if paying the insurance company 'protects' you against any bad fortune!

Sad tale, take note all. On the web site notice how many Thai employees he had and how many he had to fire for stealing. This is a high percentage. A friend of mine who owned a bar had similar results with the sweet girls he employed as cashiers. It's an ugly thing to condemn a whole nationality based on the actions of 'few', but a healthy dose of distrust might be a good thing!

Not sure I would go along with this 100%! The immigration at the airport (Bangkok) will be supporterd by a computerized system that will be able to show your days etc immediately. Some land borders might get this, others not. The land border I crossed recently did not even have an entry date stamp saying 2006...it said 2001 and he crossed the 1 out, wrote 6 and initialled it!