DrPat

As I’m sure you know, I have absolutely no problem with anyone smoking – just as long as they don’t do it near me. Smoking room – no problem, but I won’t be accepting any invitation to pay a visit. Please pass this on to Messrs Benson, Hedges, Lambert, Butler, etc. etc… and their Camel.

I’m with you on this one! As a non-smoker I can’t stand those business lounges, with the comfortable surroundings, and all that free food and drink. I’d much rather be in a shed with a smelly, carcinogenic fug around me, chatting to the smokers about emphysema and lung cancer. Hang on a minute! It’s just possible that I may have got this the wrong way round.

You can always go into a bank with your card and passport to avoid the 150 baht fee. Make sure you ask to have the transaction in Thai Baht not the currency where the card was issued. Also, ask if it’s OK just to bring a photocopy of your passport next time.

Absolutely correct. Most credit cards have a cash advance fee and a loading for foreign currency – Halifax Clarity has neither. The only charge, as you say, is the interest payable from the time of the withdrawal until it is paid off. The interest rate I pay is 12% per annum – or about 1% per month. This means over a fortnight you will pay about 11p per 1,000 baht withdrawn – that’s about £4.40 for 40,000 baht. You can easily reduce this by setting timed payments to your account or use internet banking to pay off the amounts withdrawn. The maximum daily withdrawal is £500, (currently) about 22,500 baht. Also note that the Clarity card pays you £5 per month if you spend £300 or more on purchases, hotels, etc. I find it a very convenient and cost effective way of raising cash, but it’s best to have a back-up card, or some other way of getting money, in the unlikely event that you have a problem. To avoid the 150 baht ATM fee, use Citibank or Aeon machines (easier in BKK than Pattaya), or go into a bank with your card and passport. Actually paying the 150 on a 20,000 advance only represents a 0.75% charge – currently £3.33 for a £444 advance.

As threatened in #31, I used my Halifax Clarity credit card to get cash from ATMs in BKK at the weekend. I got a rate of 45.82/£ on 5 May and 45.73/£ on 6 May. On the 5th I used Citibank on the corner of Sukhumvit and Asok, and on the 6th I used Aeon, located on the lower ground floor of the Terminal 21 shopping mall on Sukhumvit. Neither of these banks have the 150 Baht ATM charge.

Python! Me being correct is virtually unheard of. Come to think of it, although I have stayed at Sabai Wing a number of times I have only had two different rooms, one on each side - or should it be 'wing'?. I usually request these by number, adding whichever is currently on the 'quiet' side. I just assumed, probably incorrectly, that all of the deluxe pool view rooms came with a bath. Whenever I make a booking, I still specify 'with a bath and air-con' just in case. OK, soon be time to use that bath and hit the town. Don't forget those fluids - and I don't mean the fluids in the bath. Dr.P. PS Sadly I fly out in the early hours of Tuesday, so I'm just heading out for 'one last one' in Soi Cowboy here in BKK.

Traditionally, it should be the Scotch bloke screaming, "Spit it oot, spit it oot!"

Python! This sounds slightly worrying! I always go for the 'deluxe pool view room' - I think they all have baths. I forgot to say that there was no mention of any deposit being payable on arrival and I just paid in full at check-out. Hope you have a good stay and, remember my prescription, 'plenty of fluids'! Dr.P. PS This may fall into the 'too much information category', but in my room the bed was well and truly tried and tested, so I suggested they give it a holiday to recover.

Strange you should mention it! You are quite right, they don't call me 'House', but I often hear myself referred to by a slang word meaning the same thing. 'Gaff'.

Give me a break - I was only 180° out! If that was the government, 'only 180° out' would be a good result. PS Good to talk to you tonight.

The rate at the exchange booths today in Pattaya was around 45.45 to 45.7 for cash £s, apparently with no commission. This is exactly as I predicted a few days back - except I said the rate would get worse not better. If I use my Halifax Clarity at the weekend, I'll post the rate I get when it gets to my account. There's something to look forward to!

I'm still here in Sabai Wing - just back from the excellent Ban Chang bar crawl (full report to follow). I handed over my ctedit card on arrival, but made it clear that I wanted to pay at the end of my stay - no problem There is still some construction noise, but nothing too bad, and I'm a light sleeper. Baht busses still running on Soi 2, but maybe not quite as many as in past years. Overall, I would say no problem. If you have half as good a time as me, then I've had twice as good a time as you. Sorry, just got back to base camp from the GoGos and bars. I leave on Sunday 5. Any more info required?

OK, but: 1) What was the rate on 25 & 26 April? 2) What is the commission on TCs? 3) Who won the Grand National in 1967?

I haven't taken a lot of notice, but I think the exchange places are quoting 44 point something (44.5 ish?) - one place a couple of days back was 45 even, but I'm not sure if there were commission or charges involved. I'll check again when I'm sober - could take some considerable time.

Just a quick update on the exchange rate using the Halifax Clarity. The rate improved slightly to 44.44 / £ on 26/04 from 44.27 on 25/04. Sadly, looking at the general rate, I'm guessing it was a short lived improvement. I too am an ex Nationwide Flex debit card user, Rico. Great minds, eh?

No problem. To me it's the only way, but don't forget the back-up cards. PS I've just had a good night out in Pattaya, but I'm not so think as you drunk I am.

Another thing! There was a story in the Bangkok post a couple of days back about the Baht finally ending its positive run on the US $. The $ had a slight gain over the Baht for the first time in many months - or is it years? Let's pray that the GB Pound follows suit. I can't understand why Britain has effectively printed another 375 billion pounds, when the pound was already weak. Why didn't Britain print a few billion Thai Baht? I would have happily shipped a good few over to Pattaya on their behalf for distribution to bar owners, farm girls, dodgy watch salesmen, etc.

I gave up on cash for foreign travel many years back - too risky for me. Check out the cash vs. credit cards story (#66) on: http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/topic/59687-cash-rates-airports-v-pattaya/page-3?hl=clarity&do=findComment&comment=991103 for a nuts and bolts explanation. I use the Halifax Clarity card all over the world and, whilst I have never had a problem to date (i.e. a card eaten by the ATM), I have a couple of back-up cards just in case. Santander Zero also has no cash advance fees, but has a slightly higher interest rate. If using an ATM (other than Citibank, AEON or HSBC) to avoid the 150 baht charge, go into the bank with your credit card and passport. I usually ask if I can just bring a photocopy of my passport next time. If you are drawing 20,000 baht you may think it worthwhile just to pay the 150 for convenience of using an ATM. Also, always remember to ask to pay (with your credit card) in the local curreny not in GB Pounds, for cash, hotels, purchases, etc - you will get a better exchange rate.

Using my Halifax Clarity (no ATM or cash advance charges) credit card at Citibank (no 150 Baht surcharge) in BKK on Thursday 25 April I got 44.27 to the Pound. Guess I'd get the same rate at a bank in Pattaya or slightly less at an ATM factoring in the 150 charge.

Teelack! As always, many thanks for the information. I'm in town at the weekend and will post any useful info I pick up. May report on other things I pick up too.

Many thanks for the information, Greg. I have had no problem with Sabai Wing until my last visit when, as reported, they took full up-front payment. If they ask for a credit card on arrival this time, I may consider using the credit card with the King’s picture on it.

Greg! I’m curious to know if Sabai Lodge still took the traditional swipe of your credit card on arrival.

I though it was rather bizarre of the hotel to ask a ‘regular’ for an up-front deposit, especially after they charged for the full stay on arrival the last time I was there. Maybe they have had a few refusing to stay or checking out after the first night because of the construction noise? It never really bothered me on my last stay (October ’12), but I don’t use the pool and tend to be off the premises all day. This time, as I’ve promised in my email to them, I’ll pay the two nights deposit on arrival - but only if they mention it and I’ll be paying in cash. (I’m guessing that they probably will mention it.) Python: On my first couple of visits there was no mention of any deposit or any up-front charging for the room – only a traditional swipe of my credit card on arrival. When they took payment at the end of the stay they even charged my card in Thai Baht. Generally foreign hotels, unless asked otherwise, charge me in GB£ which gives a poorer exchange rate. So I think I can summarise the above by saying: something seems to have changed at Sabai Wing / Lodge. PS In answer to the “how many fingers am I holding up?” question. Then it was one (US) or two (UK), now it’s my whole hand giving a cheery wave.

Equally harsh! What about accommodation at the Coconut Bar? There always seems to be some space there, and the sea views are breathtaking, although I must admit, I haven’t seen a recent price list. (PS Can I apologise in advance for this post?)

It looks like a happy ending (so to speak). SW have emailed to say that they don’t require a deposit, only my ETA. PS Hello? Is there anybody there? Or am I just talking to myself on this thread? How many fingers am I holding up?