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The measure is expected to be introduced by the end of August and will allow millions of travellers to avoid traditional immigration queues at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. But there is small a catch: Travellers arriving in Thailand in the coming months could soon have a considerably faster experience at immigration. Thai authorities are preparing a major expansion of the automated immigration gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, which will become available to citizens of 33 nationalities. Until now, automated gates for international arrivals have been available only to Thai citizens, Singaporeans and holders of Hong Kong travel documents. The plan, according to Thai media, is to add 31 more nationalities, with the expansion expected to become operational by the end of August, once the necessary administrative procedures have been completed. The nationalities expected to be included are: Australia Austria Belgium Canada Czech Republic Denmark Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Japan South Korea Latvia Luxembourg Malaysia Malta Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Hong Kong The selection of nationalities took into account factors such as entry refusal rates, countries’ positions in the Henley Passport Index and security assessments Despite the expansion, travellers entering Thailand for the first time will not be able to simply head to an automated gate. During their first trip, they will need to go through traditional immigration, where their biometric data will be collected. Source: https://www.fly4free.com/flight-deals/europe/thailand-to-expand-automated-immigration-access-to-33-nationalities-at-bangkoks-main-airport/

It’s not Christmas but I had the Sunday Roast today at The Red Lion. Chose the Roast Lamb option (NZ lamb). everyone always says my Mum or Dad does the best Sunday Roast, in my case my Dad but “wow” The Red Lion got close. Plate was huge and I got beaten, just in the end. Lamb was delicious, roasted veggies mostly too my liking. Dear old Dad probably got them on the veggies. price 429 baht. That’s about $18 in my currency AUD. In Australia compared would be about $35-$40 AUD at a pub near me. Would I repeat - yes I had never been into the Red Lion before but will make it a stop again if not just to give the roast another go. PS baht Buster breakfast 150baht as mentioned previously on this thread is still there. Cheers W

Just landed and am in my taxi to Soi 11. I never installed the app. I just did my TDAC as usual. And as usual they never asked to see it anyway. THIM definitely not mandatory yet, but I still don’t know about TRIM, haha

@CanadaVisitor - they are the same thing. One is a webform and one is an app. You’d get a QR code and your trip will be registered with immigration whichever option you choose.

Not sure this is a "seasonal fare" you're dealing with. Thanks to wars in Iran and Russia/Ukraine, jet fuel supplies are way down and fares are way up. You can thank Putin and Trump for this.

Thailand has officially published the regulations ending its 60-day visa exemption scheme. Starting September 15, 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, will be allowed to stay visa-free for up to 30 days. Citizens of two countries will receive a 15-day visa exemption, while three nationalities will remain eligible for a Visa on Arrival. Source: https://visasnews.com/en/thailand-to-officially-cut-visa-free-stay-to-30-days-on-september-15-2026/

I specifically booked the balcony suite with a lake view. After all, the ladyboys should have a great view, too :-)

Hahaha ... with the right girl, you can give away a nice show on the balcony for the construction workers

Like @Raul says I have stayed in "Our hotel is a totally non smoking hotel" places all through Thailand and if there isn't an ashtray on the balcony I just contact the front desk and ask them to bring one up. They always bring one. Or the safest way to ease your mind is to email the hotel directly ahead of time and clarify their smoking rules. Or do what @Denbosch1971 suggested. Don't say a word and just smoke on the balcony using an empty drink bottle or something to use as an ashtray so you don't make a mess. You might find the bottle gone the next day and it being replaced by an ashtray. Sounds good, but if it were me, they would probably give me a room on the backside of the hotel overlooking a construction zone, haha

hey there guys, after doing all and sundry (with clearing cache etc etc) i discovered that bangkokladyboys webmasters installed a security 'plug-in' that red flags VPN users specifically. even though our IP addresses may change they are somehow able to play 'catch-up' fast enough. however if when you apply a VPN IP address from say Cyprus, you might be able to gain access. i found this out from industry experts. cheers @SAGuy, leon

Have a google.

No problem with the cleanliness and getting a good sleep at the Mercure if that important. But do ask for a room at the back of the hotel to avoid the noise from Soi 11. The Hyatt is more central in terms of being close to CIB, Cindy's and WN. Mercure is barely 60-seconds from Cindy's and still an easy walk to the other bars. I've not stayed at the Hyatt Regency to given an opinion (I did stay at the Grand Hyatt Erawan), but it's your money and while you can expect better quality at the Hyatt, I would say its for you to decide if $150 a night is better spent on accommodation or entertainment.