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Gympy

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Posts posted by Gympy

  2. Posted

    The 1600 baht fine refers to the immigration department requirement that all visiting foreigners be registered on a TM30 form. It has nothing to do with any locals you may have staying with you for the night

    The bigger issue might be the fact the condo owner is not allowed do short term rentals so you have to pretend to be staying long term if anyone asks you. That applies to most Airbnb lettings and most condos turn a blind eye because most of the condo owners are doing it. Some condos may be more strict and the Hyde stuck me as one of them. Many permanent residents of the more exclusive condos do not want hoards of short stay tourists coming in and out of the condo building. I stayed in an Airbnb in the Hyde a couple of years ago when it first opened and there were signs in the lift saying short stay rental was not permitted. I had to meet the condo "owner" in a bar nearby to get the key cards.

    Sent from my CLT-L29 using Tapatalk

  3. Posted

    On 3/2/2019 at 9:48 PM, Boomerang said:

    Most likely you can top it up again . However for a few minutes of your time , getting a new one for 299baht seems a much better deal to me 

    I've found it cheaper to keep the same sim and top it up online and then just buy a data package. You can get 5GB for a week for 149 baht from DTAC which was plenty for me and I found the 4G coverage in both Bangkok and Pattaya from DTAC was excellent with very good speeds. I used it as a hotspot for my other devices (laptop and tablet) and it was perfect. There is a DTAC app for the phone which makes adding a data package and checking usage very easy and it's all in English .

    I've had the same "tourist" sim for 5 years now. Actually I did have to have it changed at one stage to a nano Sim when I got a newer phone and I had to visit a DTAC shop to do that where they also took my passport details as it was not required when I got the sim originally. But I kept the original number.

    The big advantage of keeping your number is that you don't have to reinstall Line, Wechat, whatsapp etc. I know you can transfer your IDs when you change phone number but it's much easier to keep the same number all the time.

    Thanks and Boomerang reacted to this

  4. Posted

    I know most pharmacies are lax about things like prescriptions but are they really handing out ARVs over the counter?

    I'm assuming you do test for hiv on a regular basis. If not then do yourself a favour and go test. Taking Truvada on its own if you were hiv positive would be a bad mistake.

    In silom pulse, if you come armed with a couple of recent hiv tests showing you are negative and you take a quick pin prick test they will give you Truvada there and then. They will take a blood sample and email the results of your liver function test within a day. It's not exactly as rigorous as the red cross I suspect but it's better then nothing.

    Sent from my SGP712 using Tapatalk

    lbshagger, Geronimo42, 360 and 2 others reacted to this

  5. Posted

    Hi All,

     

    I have visited Bangkok and Pattaya a few times but have been out of the scene for a few months due to a few issues.

     

    Anyway I am a UK Passport Holder and in May I will be entering using the 30 day visa exception. Now my situation is that I will be entering Thailand for only one day/night and then I have to fly to a nearby country for a one week business trip, then I fly back and will stay in Thai for two weeks, is this kind of re-entry allowed? The whole trip comprising two entries will be less than 30 days.

     

    Thanks.

    I think you already have your answer but just to clarify. The fact your whole trip is less then 30 days is not relevant. Each entry will be done under the Visa Exemption scheme and you get 30 days each time. There is no issue coming back a week after you left and entering under a Visa Exemption again, lots of tourists who travel around South East Asia do that as Bangkok tends to be a gateway airport.

     

    I'm not sure wikipedia is accurate when they say the Visa Exemption can be used an unlimited number of times as long as you arrive by air. I think they will look at your travel history and if it looks like you are using repeated Visa Exemptions as a way to stay for an extended time in Thailand you will be challenged. I forget what the final conclusion was but there was a discussion on PLB about this very subject. For guys who just come a few trips a year it isn't an issue for sure.

  6. Posted

    Landmark does not charge for ONE guest. But as already mentioned it's a quite long 'walk of shame', passing several employees in dark suits, one of them asking for the ID, bringing it to the front desk. When the girl leaves you get a phone call, if everything is okay.

     

    The most convenient from the better hotels is JW Marriott, torn or not, as they are not interested al all in what you're doing as long as you or your guest behave adequately. You can bring two, they don't care.

     

    I take only LB and GG I know and trust to my hotel (never LT by the way); and I'm definitely not keen their ID being registered together with my name, and later passed to the authorities. All hotels have to pass crucial info about guests (and their guests) to the respective government department. Think about it.

    I'd agree about the JW Marriott. As long as you are discreet they don't care and they don't want ID of your guests. You can bring back 2 no problem as their official policy is 3 can sleep in a room.

     

    Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

    franky62 reacted to this

  7. Posted

    I just checked in here and i must say im extremely disappointed so far. Check in took a good half hour for no apparent reason, no bell boy took my bags or escorted me to my room. I had to pay 3k deposit which is absurd, and worst of all the elevator works only with room key. Does this mean if i invite a girl over i have to go down to lobby to get her?

    Not only will you have to go down and get her but the last time I stayed there I had to sign a sheet acknowledging my visitor was my responsibility if there was any issues ! I have not stayed there again. Most new hotels require you to use your room card to use the lift though. It's a reasonable security measure I think.

     

    I've never had to pay a deposit though ..did you pay for your room in cash ? I think if you pay by card or have already paid via Agoda then they don't ask for any deposit.

  8. Posted

    Well I replied because I wanted to help if any other BMs were interested in this hotel. Helping brothers out! not really strange!

    Exactly, I wish more guys who ask questions about hotels would come back with an update after they stayed in a place .

    Payneless and Boomerang reacted to this

  9. Posted

    Are you referring to the JW Marriott? I can't seem to find the entrance you are referring to. There is a door facing Soi 2 (closer to Sukhumvit) that appears to be cordoned off. Or are you referring to the restaurant entrance towards Sukhumvit?

     

     

    The Marriott on Soi 2 doesn't take a girls ID and after 11PM the door on the left can only be opened by keycard and you can walk to the lifts quite discretely.....

     

     

    Yes. JW Marriott. The main entrance on Soi 2 has a door at the left and a door at the right. The door on the left is closed and unmanned after 11 but guests can open it with their keycard. The door on the right is always manned and brings you right in front of the concierge desk.

     

    Sent from my SGP712 using Tapatalk

  11. Posted

    Lohas Suites on Soi 2 has a back entrance leading to Soi 4 and you can walk to the lifts without passing the lobby or reception if you are in the building nearest Soi 4. Even if you are in the main block you can walk to the lifts without too much attention if thats whats you want.

    I think many 5* hotels also offer discretion. The Marriott on Soi 2 doesn't take a girls ID and after 11PM the door on the left can only be opened by keycard and you can walk to the lifts quite discretely.

     

    Up to you if you want discretion. Personally I don't think the hotel taking a girls ID card really protects me from anything and I prefer hotels where it's optional. I usually only barfine from Bars or contact girls I already know on LIne so I don't brink back freelancers I meet on the street.

    crillwill reacted to this

  12. Posted

    The latest cracking idea from the Ministry of Madness is to install SIM cards that will track foreigners so that their movements can be tracked at anytime.Includes resident "aliens".The spokesman assures us that the police will not abuse the system. That's a relief! All starts in six months (presumably a Thai six months so could be anytime or never).

    Will they offer a choice of colours for the collar ?

     

    https://tractive.com/shop/en/pet-wearables/1-gps-pet-tracker-9120056450015.html?gclid=CPfko9WmtM4CFUNM2wodHWAMtQ

  13. Posted

    Not a fight, but given the atmosphere generated by the OP, I feel authorized to post such comments.

    I do feel amazed by the concept of "cheap charlies". It's a kind of snobbery to post that one can afford expensive hotels or drinks in expensive bars with expensive bar fines etc ... But I just point out that the same ones get food that is worse than cheap charlie's food. Yes, I prefer to go and have rest in places with empty beaches in an old hotel and get a room without AC, but I take care not to eat dog food.

    I had thought of initiating a thread on the subject, but this pic was such a strong temptation. :)

    We all have our own brand of snobbery P&G. You're clearly a food snob :)

     

    By the way Citrus is about 1500 baht so a bad choice if you're trying make a point.

     

    I've stayed in the Marriott (5k a night) but have eaten Thai food at roadside food stalls for 40 baht .... is that a better example ?

    scottie1954 reacted to this

  16. Posted

     

     

    Did you take advantage of the suite to organize a ladyboy orgy in it ?

    No, given I am top only (well mostly ) I wouldn't have the stamina ... and I'm not going to pay them to fuck each other !

     

    Actually, I barfined a third of Chaos9 but only one by one :-)

    P&G reacted to this

  17. Posted

    I stayed for a few nights in Lohas suites in January 2016. I booked it about 4 days in advance directly on their website as it was a bit cheaper then agoda. Room was 2,400 Baht per night including all taxes and when I arrived I was upgraded to a one bed suite. In the past my hotels have always been paid for by my company but now I operate independently so I am more concerned about price. I'm sure not staying in the JW Marriott and paying non-corporate rates out of my own pocket.. that's for sure :-)

     

    Overall impression was OK. Reception was friendly and efficient. It clearly caters to a Japanese clientele and most guests I saw were from Japan as far as I could tell. I did not avail of the breakfast so can't comment. As Siam Man has detailed above, it has a main entrance on Soi 2 and it also has a walkway to Soi 4 (it comes out opposite Omni Towers) which was handy when bringing back a guest from Nana or Chaos 9. It's located a few hundred meters down Soi2/Soi4, but it's very walkable even for a LB in heels. Chaos 9 is about 5 minutes walk at LB speed.

     

    There are two blocks and as I was staying in the block nearest Soi 4 I was able to walk in via Soi 4 entrance and into the block I was staying in without coming near reception. In fact I think you could avoid reception even if you stayed in the other block by coming in the same entrance. I usually never bother with getting them to leave IDs if I know the LB I am bringing back. There is a security guard at the Soi 4 entrance but they just wave you through with you guest.

     

    Anyway, some pictures of room. As I said I was upgraded to a one bed suite but it was on 3rd floor so had a crappy view and was quite dark as well. Picture of room.

    20160125_115146.jpg

     

    Decent kitchen area, (there was a washer drier in the bathroom also)

    20160125_115157.jpg

     

    Very little natural light in bedroom but good size and nice bed.

    20160125_115219.jpg

     

    Nice bathroom even though shower was in bath which I hate. Give me a nice walk in shower over a bath any day.

    20160125_115244.jpg

     

    OK pool area on roof. Not a great day (it was actually bloody cold for Bangkok !) so people were wrapped up sitting out by the pool.

    20160125_154652.jpg

     

     

    So would I stay there again. Yes, if I got the 2400 price I think I would. I noticed that on checkin you can request an upgrade to a room with a balcony (I think they look out on Soi 2) for a small enough extra charge but I was happy to have a 1 bed suite so I didn't ask to look at the other options. Next time I think I would as I like having a balcony and it's useful if you have a LB who wants to smoke staying with you.

     

     

    oliver17, HilbertSpace, P&G and 1 other reacted to this

  18. Posted

    Nice to see it was so smooth. By the sounds of things Thailand is clamping down on people who stay for extended periods on multiple Tourist Visas and/or Visa Waivers and so on. The new Multiple Entry Tourist Visa seems to have much more stringent requirements then the old double or triple entry Tourist visas.

     

    Half a million baht is not cheap, but if you value your time and have the cash then I can see how it makes sense. Not having to do Visa runs, deal with immigration and so on, is worth a lot in my book. I'm sure there are guys who will choke on their cornflakes reading your post and be thinking "But that's the equivalent of 500 STs !!"

    Youngone reacted to this

  19. Posted

    I checked this out before my last trip but was put off by the owners parents "would be around every day to check everything ok etc" Fuck that....

    I think the whole 'guest friendly' thing is a bit more uncertain with Airbnb. I was looking at Airbnb out of interest and I see some listings are very clear that they don't want guys to bring back girls to the apartment even if they are renting out the entire apartment to you. I can understand why, given many of them are in condos where the residents probably don't want guys coming back at 2AM with a couple of LBs.

     

    If you were planning on just using ST rooms (or a LBs room) then it's not an issue but I reckon you'd need to ask the owner about 'guests' if you plan to bring girls back.

     

    At least with hotels you will usually know before hand what their policy is.

  23. Posted

    Unless you are pretty IT literate I would not use your work computer at all.

     

    I use a tablet for casual browsing when I am in LOS. If I need to do stuff on windows I can connect to my machine at home from my work laptop using a VPN. The only trace left on my work computer is that I connected to a VPN. I run a VPN server on my home router to enable me to do this but that's not something most people would do although it's not that hard if you have the right router.

  24. Posted

    There has been many long and heated debates on the sister forum on this subject and there are lots of BMs who think a bar is responsible for their safety.

     

    While I think it's good if a bar trys to look after it's staff by insisting they get HIV and STD testing I would not use that as a reason to think you are safer taking a LB from that bar then from anywhere else.

     

    Assume any P4P LB you go with may have HIV and act accordingly. If you think that's too much of a risk then don't play the game, but don't delude yourself that if you choose them from certain bars who claim to do HIV testing then they are clean.

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