cnkbud

Hi Gary, after I replied to your post I called Citibank again and tried to pin them down on this, alas got the usual non-definitive runaround but I did ask them them how many ATM do they issue and was told they have their own ATM card without the Mastercard logo for which they say they is no overide charge for currency coversion other than the "standard" conversion rate(whatever the hell that is), and they also issue the ATM/Debit card with the MasterCard logo for which there is an overide charge for which they say is currently still 1% for currency conversion, kind of confusing isn't it, go tell. Would be interesting to know which of these card ATM card you are using for taking funds from your accts. Don't know if I want to do business with these jokers or not, but what is the alternative, your guidance here please. Thanks and have a great day. Old Bud

Hi Gary, I looked at the Citibank e-savings(currently paying 4.5%) and companion checking accts, that I had looked at last year, and at that time the rake off was 1% like you say. They discontinued their offer for the e-savings for some time but are now promoting it again(take a look at bankrate.com). I called their customer service rep and he said the current rake off is still 1% but I was very suspicious that he really knew what the hell he was talking about as I know both VISA and MASTERCARD have raised their rates. A recent(15 Apr) article on kiplinger.com about best ATM cards for overseas travel also state the rate is 1%, go tell. As you have the e-savings and checking accts with them and are experiencing the 2% rakeoff just to take out your own funds, that just goes to show you how misleading these damn banks can be. As for one who still plans to get over there for future retirement(sooner or later), and who wants to keep their funds in a USA based bank for drawdown while there, it's damn difficult and frustrating to find the financial institution that won't put the screws to you, as they all seem to deal with VISA and MASTERCARD. Have a good one and enjoy.

If you could wait till Sep Cathay Pacific has a great deal, check out their website, think maybe Eva and China Air may have a good deal at that time also. Hope this helps. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi, for an old fart like me cash is still king, although if I was younger and had a sizeable gain in my portfolio at this time I would be looking to protect that my buying some "put" options, that would cost you some % of your gain but in a market turndown you sure won't get wiped out. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi guys and thanks for the input. However, neither of you addressed what the CURRERNCY conversion fee(the overide over and above the published wholesale currency conversion rate) is for the privilege of taking money out of savings acct using their straight ATM card(not their Debit Mastercard) I can live with the ATM USAGE fee of $1.50 for their non-owned ATM's(their rep did tell me this was not imposed for use of the ATM at their branch in Bangkok). For example if the pubished conversion rate is 100 baht for $1 and you convert $100 with a 1% overide rakeoff then then you get 9900, not 10000, that's highway robbery and and a great deal for the f........ banks, plus the little extra they get($1.50 or whatever) for use of the ATM machine each withdrawal, go tell. Maybe no big deal if you just there on holiday, but for expats living there permanently quess it's just got to be factored in for living in "paradise", maybe worth it at any cost. Have a great day guys and ejoy. Old Bud

Hi, anyone livng there have an experience with using an HSBC ATM to withdraw funds from their HSBC on-line savings acct(which currently pays 4.80% interest here in the US thru 30 April), they claim there is no currency coversion surcharge like Citibank currently charges(which is like highway robbery). I'm referring here only to their straigh ATM card, not their Master Card Debit card which has different terms. Appreciate your input here and have a great day. Old Bud P.S. Also need to verify what they tell me about ATM usage changes, they say none for their own ATM in Bangkok, and 1.50 for each use of a non-HSBC owned ATM.

Hi Guys and thanks very much for your input here, very good of you. Will put this place on my list once I get there. Don't know what you mean by just a little off the beaten path but I don't need to right next to the action, just within a reasonable distance. The only thing that looks doubtful about it is that it might not be all that quiet as one of the phots shows a lot of motorcycles parked out front but thay may be common to lots of places there. Thanks again and you guys have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi Guys, looking for a hotel with pool, TV w/English channels, decent clean room, quest friendly, and in a fairly quiet location. I did look at the reviews on this hotel and they all sound likes it might be a good candidate for an old fart like me to stay as seems close to several beer bars. Don't know if they have a website or not or what their current rate is for around the middle part of March. Appreciate it if anyone who has stayed there recently can take time out from their busy schedule to give me a detail review of the place. Thanks guys, you have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Thanks much for the input guys, sounds like it might be a candidate for an old man like me and the price is right, as for the construction noise do understand that's going on all over Pattaya so maybe just can't be avoided. I did send them an email but there reply didn't address my question about the kitchen or the noise level around there. Thanks again for taking time out from your busy schedule to help me out here. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi and thanks guys, sounds like it's place to stay away from and only reason I asked for your input was because on one of the hotel sites it looked like a good value and the photo's looked of it looked like it might be a decent place, however there were no reviews, quess that just goes to show how how those sites can be very misleading. You guys are great and thanks for giving the the real lowdown on this place, you saved me lot of grief. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi guys, can anyone there please take time out from their busy activities to give a review of this hotel, did a search but bring up anything on it. Thanks guys, have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi Guys, Tried to do a search on this place but somehow didn't work. Would like for any of you who have stayed there to give a detailed review if you have the time, sure would appreciate it. From the Hotel Reviews it seems to be a very good value and fairly new, just don't know if it is a quiet location or not and that is what I want, also want to know is the pool a good size and keep clean, and does the TV system have English channels, CNN, sports, movies, etc. Am not much of a bar or go-go club type but a do like to sit around the beer gardens and watch the birds go by, any of those in the near vacinity(hey, I'm and old guy and don't need all the constant action, will leave that to you younger bucks). Also, from the last review see where they now have an eating facility and would like to know if anyone has tried it. Thanks guys, have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi Ken, As one who is considering relocating somewhere outside to US where I can have a somewhat better lifestyle than here on my retirement income, I would like to thank you for your posting here. Like many others, have been trying to research world locations for my purposes but it's not easy and so much conflicting infomation from so many viewpoints it's unbelieveable, and not easy to get the straight facts. Now, I'm a coupla of years or so older than you and also don't drink nor am I one who needs the constant action, just want a quiet place to park myself and enjoy a laid back lifestyle. It sure sounds like your location is a prime candidate for doing that and would appreciate it if you could lay out some facts about the cost of living there in comparison to Pattaya(not on my list by the way) for example, you know, the basics such as housing, food, utilities, local transport, etc. I am retired civil service and have the Blue Cross/Shield gov plan for medical which would be primary there, and subj to their deductables as I know Medicare not good overseas(if you're retired military you probably have tri-care of life which is great and good anywhere from what I understand) so I will have at least coverage for the major medical stuff. Like you, I have lived overseas for several years in Japan/Okinawa and didn't get a chance to visit Thailand on a TDY trip until 1975, and really liked it; have been back a coupla of time since retiring and visited Bangkok and Pattaya, both of which are not for me. Thanks again for the lead about your location, and greetings from SV, AZ. Old Bud P.S. You know what the old saying is about buying property, location, location, location; well, with me it info, info, info.

Hi guys, OWEN: You made a very good analysis of my offerings and thoughts on this subj. I'm far from being an expert on it but when I contacted the AZ dept of revenue on my question about interest on a bank account I leave on record here the 1st agent I contacted said YES to the question, it would be taxable; after thinking it over like you did, I called back and asked the agent that answered to speak to her superviser who told me otherwise, it would not be taxable. I asked him to send me and email confirming this and to cite the revenue code, he did so. Living here in AZ, it would be a short trip to get up to Nevada for obtaining a drivers license, library card, etc., as proof of residence there by giving them the street address provided by the mail forwarding service there, at least that's what they told me. It can really get sticky and they don't make it easy for you do they. As for keeping property here I suspose that could, and probably would make it more complicated and I would like to know from permanent residents there in the LOS what their experiences have been by keeping property in the state they moved from. Also, I would like to know again, how those living there permanently and have no one they can trust in the US to forward mail to them, get their documents necessary for filing federal income tax. I will have some so called friends, and family members left here in the USA, but I sure don't want to depend on them, or get them involved in forwarding mail to me. Thanks guys, you have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi Guys, As one who plans to permanently live in the LOS, or elsewhere outside the US, did a little research on this subj and not easy to come up with a standard answer as like others have said here, it varies from state to state, and each state legislature can change to ground rules at their whim. I found that it is fairly easy to establish a permament address in Nevada by using one of the mail forwarding services up there, they will give you a street address for that purpose, and I believe those that live in the RV's permanently and just move around the country use their services extensively so worthwhile looking into before you leave the country. In my particular case not wanting to rely on friends or family to forward my mail to me this seem the way to go, just make sure the one you select is well establshed has been in business for a long time and plans to stay in business. I don't know how all you guys who live there permanently and file your taxes from there get all your tax documents together necessary for filing and that would be interesting to learn. I did check with the Arizona state tax people and asked them would I be subject to state tax if I lived overseas permanently and still maintained a residence here; their ruling was that that I would NOT but would still of course have to pay property taxes on it, and state income tax on any funds I received from renting it out which makes sense; I also asked them if I would be subj to state tax on any interest I earned from an Arizona based bank account and they said NO. Hope this helps, it's a very complicated subj and you got to do your research first, and hope you get the right answers to your questions. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi guys, Like some have said here, this subj has been beat to death over and over but it still goes on, and for one, I hope it all continues as for any of us who dreams of living there permanently it provides great data based on real life experiences which are invaluable for formulating a budget based on whatever financial resources one might have. All of you have some great points, and all of you are "the man", about money management for enjoyng life there. I quess what it boils down to is how much is how much do you have for sanuk after basic living expenses and take it from there, many others here have said it much better than I ever can. After all, isn't that really the one and only reason you're there. Being an old f...... whose sex drive is limited, that would be the only reason I would be there, and it don't take that much to make me happy, but I'd still be better off than staying in swampland here, enough said. Now, having said all that for whatever it's worth, probably not much. As for financial management, one can buy a currency future/option and X amount of $'s if you're smart enough to forecast which way the $ will go; interest rates are highly subject to which way the economy is going, power plays by world governments such as China, and of course terrorist attacks, natural disasters, etc., who knows what will happen in the future so just keep enough in reserve to enoy that next samuk. Thanks for viewing this bit of my nonsense guys. Have a good one and enjoy. The best to all of you in "06". Old Bud

HI Guys, Thanks for the replies here, seems if doesn't have much going for it and evne though I like the quieter life, being an old fart like I am, quess Pattaya has much, much, more to offer, one one can always find the quieter side of it as others have mentioned here. Thanks for your time and effort here. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud

Hi Guys, Please forgive me for posting this again but the one and only time I did really didn't get much feedback so must not be very popular for one reason or the other. Just though maybe there is enough there to make an old guy like me happy enough without being in the constant action location of Pattaya, as I can always run up there as need for "goods and services". Hear the beaches around there are much better than the general Pattaya area, and living expenses there might possibly be a little more reasonable. So, any of you guys that have experience and some in-depth knowledge of Sattahip willing to provide an in-depth review here and opinion as whether it's even worth considering for retirement as an alternative to Pattaya. Thank guys and have a great day/enjoy. Old Bud P.S. Just what is the travel time by public transport between there and "cental" Pattaya.

Hi Guys, Thanks much for that input and glad to find they are available there, you can do a lot of things with them and you sure don't have to be a chef to make some of those dishes you may miss back home. Thanks again, have a good one ane enjoy. Old Bud

Hi Guys, Suspose only long term residents there can properly answer this inquiry and can't imagine short term stayers even bothering with it. Would like to know if crock pots, commonly know as slow cookers, are available there and if so at what cost. Great for making beef stews, soup beans, and a whole host of stuff you might miss from back home(Personally, I like good old Navy beans with a ham hock cooked with it once in awhile). On this note, are dry Navy(white) beans, and other types such as Pinto, Lima, etc., also available there. Thanks in advance guys, not a very important matter but just curious here. Would probably be eating out most of the time anyway but with a crock pot one can easily make some of those back home dishes with hardly any effort at all. Have a good one and enjoy. P.S. Don't have a clue if one those rice cookers would serve the same purpose as just don't know how slow they cook.

Hi Guys, Maybe I'm just chicken, but with all the shit going on now with bombing of American name hotels, why take a chance staying at one and spoiling your holiday, plently of alternatives to them. And yes, I'm American but personally the last thing I want to do when in the LOS, or other overseas locations, is to stay at an American owned hotel. Just stay a nice Thai owned hotel and have a great time. Have a great one and enjoy. Old Bud in AZ

HI Guys, Tried to do my homework and did a search on this subj but with not much success. Anyone there have any experience with questhouses there that have a decent swimming pool, nice large clean rooms with plenty of English channels TV, and in aquiet, safe location but jet reasonably convenient to goods/services, and of course guest friendly. If any of these do exist, how much of a price spread between their rates and the next level up. Understand more and more questhouses are popping up there and one of them may be a good choice versus the larger hotels for one who likes smaller crowds. Thanks in advance to those having the time and effort to reply here, have a great day and enjoy. Old Bud in AZ

Hi Guys, anyone have any experience with this place that would care to give a good review of it, nothing on the hotel reviews for it. Thanks and have a good day/enjoy. Old Bud

Hi guys, Just got an answer back to my em from the Dynasty in BKK asking for details about the new place on Soi 13 , Pattaya. They said no pool, and no breakfast included in the price, they didn't answer about free transport from BKK which is included if you stay at the Resort up the hill. Hope this helps. Have a good one and enjoy. Old Bud in AZ

Thanks rabbitoh, you're a real gentleman for not flaming me for this stupid post as almost everthing I wanted to learn was already posted just down the page. Many regards and have a good one. Old Bud in AZ