js007

Good fares, for sure. I wish I could go right now. Maybe by July.

Isn't there a Robin Hood tavern in Bangkok? I wonder if it's the same owner.

To be sure, online booking of a night or two, in advance, makes a lot of sense. Still, if you insist on just showing up, you can almost always find a place except, perhaps, over the big holiday periods like Christmas and New Years. Sometimes, hotels can be entirely booked. Usually, for a longer trip, I book a few days in Bangkok, in advance. I stay there for a while because of the jet lag. I'm totally worthless for about three or four days, at least, after a long flight and because of the change in time zones.

Nice beach, but not many people. For me, that's half the fun of the beach. Watching all the people.

As for the "walkable" to Soi 6? for me, that wouldn't be a very important criteria, if you don't mind taking a baht bus. The baht buses run continuously down Beach Road and down Second Road, so it can be easy enough to get to Soi 6. I normally stay in guest houses when I'm in Pattaya, but I once spent a month at the Sabai Lodge. The was good, and they have some nice pools. Check around on the pricing and you might find a deal.

I was under the impression that many of the airlines are getting into the "Premium Economy" game. The only ones I've ever taken were on the Thai Air non-stop flights from JFK and LAX to BKK. Both flights are now discontinued. Anyway, those were good seats, and the prices weren't too bad, considering. I think the R/T tickets were around $1800.

So Hooters didn't go over in England? You'd think the feminists would have more to worry about. As for the restaurant itself? Rather tame, all things considered. Here in the USA, I've seen entire families out for lunch at one, including old ladies. And there are at least two Hooters knock-offs. Twin Peaks and the Tilted Kilt. Anyway, if I were to avoid Hooters in Pattaya, it would be because of the prices and the fact that better entertainment is available elsewhere.

Here's the current BCBS list of inpatient hospital providers for Bangkok. Which place is best? 1 MISSION HOSPITAL Bangkok 2 YANHEE INTERNATIONALl HOSPITAL Bangkok 3 PIYAVATE HOSPITAL Bangkok 4 PHYATHAI 1 HOSPITAL Bangkok 5 CHAOPHYA HOSPITAL Bangkok 6 VICHAIYUT HOSPITAL Bangkok 7 THE BANGKOK CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL Bangkok 8 BANGKOK CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL Bangkok 9 VIBHAVADI HOSPITAL Bangkok 10 KING CHULALONGKORN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Bangkok

Last time I looked, which was a while ago, Bumrungrad in Bangkok was definitely on the list. I'll have to look again, I guess.

The last time I looked, the federal BCBS has a website that has links for just about every country in the world. Click on the Thailand link and you can download a PDF file listing all the "preferred providers" in Thailand as well as the phone number for a Thailand care coordinator. Supposedly, BCBS will pay directly to the preferred providers for any necessary care, although I've never tried it. I guess it would be a good idea to download that file to your phone along with the phone number of the Thailand coordinator.

If you're going to do it, why not do it right? Looks like the Hilton restaurants will be having Christmas meal specials: http://www3.hilton.com/resources/media/hi/BKKHPHI/en_US/pdf/en_BKKHPHI_Festive_Brochure_Nov2016.pdf

I think I remember seeing a safe deposit box rental business on Soi 6, of all places.

Normally, a rise in US interest rates would result in a strengthening dollar. And that may well be the case. Then again, maybe the market had already factored in that scenario? I don't follow it all that closely, but from what I read there's already been a bloodbath of sorts in the bond market over the past few days, with interest rates rising all along the yield curve. My guess is that the dollar will rise in the coming weeks and months, but do your own research. Sometimes, all a person would have to do would be to follow me around and do the opposite of everything I do and they could be

I guess it must depend on the store location. I read an article not too long ago about some city complaining that Walmart was taking up too many police resources. Every other phone call to the police in that city was about some problem at Walmart. Apparently, the city thought that Walmart ought to be providing more of its own security. I know one stripper girl who won't even shop at the Walmart in her area. She drives an extra 20 minutes, just to shop in a "better" Walmart store. You can probably find some YouTube videos about trouble in Walmart stores.

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com

If you poke around, you'll find that for Blue Cross, there's a benefit "co-ordinator" for each country. They have a toll free number, and you can download a file showing preferred providers and so on. Maybe you could print out a statement of what's covered? Or, maybe if enough people ask, they can come up with a statement setting out coverage limits in dollar terms. It's strange. They don't usually limit coverage to a specific dollar amount across all types of claims. For example, there may be limits to coverage for mental health issues that don't apply to physical problems.

Walmart is one of those places where the dregs of humanity go to shop. They do have good prices, though. No one wants to admit they go there.

I've never shopped for health insurance in Thailand. Is it simply a case of being uninsurable once you reach a certain age? Maybe you should investigate some of the US Medicare HMO type plans. Those are an alternative to Medicare and you can select such an option each year during open season. They have to provide coverage at least as extensive as the coverage provided by Medicare, but some offer additional coverage to entice people to join. I think I've seen where some may offer coverage outside the US. I haven't really looked into it, though, as my current plan will cover me anywhere in

People from the USA can get a letter from their embassy simply by going to the embassy and paying a fee. There's a form to fill out. You just fill it out however you want and "swear and affirm" that the information contained therein is correct. They don't ask you to prove anything. I've always had backup documentation in case the Thai immigration wanted to see it, but they've never asked.

If it "replaces" the current one year visa extension, that means there will be no more one year extensions for retirement? And that would mean an increase in the financial requirements. Then again, maybe I'm reading this too strictly. In any event, I should probably apply for one, when they're available. I can meet the 100,000 baht per month requirement, and I suppose I could put three million baht in the bank. Hopefully, the income would suffice. Anyway, I like the renewable five year aspect. A bit less of a hassle.

At least they were thorough. I've been in that situation twice. Once because of tachycardia that no one seemed to be able to explain, and the other time because I was feeling weird. On the second occasion, I ended up with a cardiac cathertization?, and the insurance company ended up with a bill for thousands of dollars. As it turned out, there wasn't anything wrong.

Since they knew of your plans in advance, it seems odd that they would up the price after you checked in.

NYC prices can be out of sight. I can remember paying the better part of $10 for a burger 40 years ago in SOHO. I'm not sure what that would equate to today, but I guess it would be a lot.

The good thing about Soi 2 is that it's very easy to catch a baht bus down to Walking Street. Anyway, I'd stay at the Sabai Lodge.

One time I tried Option 3. Girl with her own motorbike. Not the smartest move I ever made, but I survived.