flipflops

Is there any chance of a hotel review, for old time's sake?

As mardhi said ... pay as you go. I get 4.5 GB of 4G (with 3 bars of 4 it ran at 20mbs) for 399THB plus VAT... 430THB or something per month. I use dtac as that was the cell system that matched my hotspot the best. My phone would have worked with True and AIS but not my hotspot.

What do you use to test speed? I've tested many computers but never thought to test my phone. I have had (or at least the bar across the top says I have) 4G LTE since I came here on year ago. I have dtac in CM.

Actually I don't think you are getting a visa. You are getting permission to stay for 30 days. If you look at the link I posted earlier the title is: "List of Countries - Allowed 30-Day Stay Without a Visa ( For Tourism Only) - Passport MUST be valid for at least six more months." Of course it is referred to as 'visa on arrival' by just about everybody, so many people think this is a visa. It is permission to enter and stay for 30 days. In DeepnHard's link to ThaiVisa a couple of responses are made by UbonJoe. I trust his knowledge. But for clarification, I would certainly write to the Embassy/ Consulate in your area. Be sure to request information on the 'visa waiver program' or '30 day stay without a visa'. If you are citizen of a G7 country you might have different rules and regulations than say someone from a non G7 country. There are plenty of differences between visas, extensions of stay and permission to stay in Thai immigration laws.

From the Los Angeles Consulate webpage: - A valid passport from one of the countries listed below (passport MUST NOT expire within 6-months at time of travel and MUST have some empty visa pages) - A proof of confirmed air tickets showing 30 days or less in Thailand. I assume (makes an ass of u and me haha) 'at time of travel' means entering. Maybe another Consulate has better wording like P&G pointed out. Full page: http://www.thaiconsulatela.org/service_visa_detail.aspx?link_id=28 Send your Embassy/Consulate an email requesting clarification and keep it available on your phone or laptop.

Bangkok Bank offers accident and health insurance. I looked into them but do not qualify by age or residence status. I don't remember it being much of a value, but could be better than nothing.

First question is: what is SO? (something obvious I'm sure and I am on my first cup of coffee.) Bupa seems to be a favorite among expats. However if the LB is Thai, that will change the game. Example: The Bupa rep told me that expat health insurance must cover repatriation expenses. This would not apply if the LB is Thai. So be sure if you are online shopping that you are not looking at expat insurance.

I used a regular bus to Hua Hin: http://airporthuahinbus.com/

I spent 1 night in Hua Hin and 1 night in Cha-Am. Not doing much research before we left I booked a fairly cheap hotel in Hua Hin that I didn't much care for, although you could tell that in some point in history this might have been one of Hua-Hin's best. The hotel is called Hua Hin Loft. The next night we stayed in Cha-Am. Much different than HH. The accommodations were on the beach road. I did a review here: http://www.bangkokladyboys.net/forum/index.php?/topic/6752-ban-lan-suan-cha-am/ I went for relaxation with a LB so night life was not important. neo24 could steer you better on where the action is if that is what you seek.

I guess I have to recant my post in another thread where I said locals tell me Chiang Mai isn't cheap anymore. Compared to BKK CM is a cheap charlie heaven.

50,000?

I'm looking for a decent hotel in Bali. Priorities are beach, cost, relaxing atmosphere. The girl I'm taking is one to lay around on her days off... Thai lifestyle! We are not bar goers but do enjoy good food, not necessarily expensive or high style dining. Maybe do some local shopping but I doubt we'd do anything really touristy. Any info on taxis or transportation from DPS to hotels would be appreciated.

Thanks for the info. Am I better off going down the west coast south of the airport? That is where the Intercontinental is at 9000+ per night. 55555 I had though of taking a ferry to Nusa Lembongan too but we might be short on time. @bkkladyboy thanks for the heads up. I won't spend hours looking for good food. Just eat what is necessary to sustain me. It was odd I went to Koh Samet and had some of the best Thai food at a tiny little resort on the west coast. You just never know. Nice pics too. :-)

I'm trying to access google.com store to purchase a phone. The first few pages are in English and then when I actually push the buy button it goes to Thai. I want to access the google.com store USA page to place the order. I want this phone shipped to my USA address. I tried Hola as I had an account, but it appears Hola works on 'blocked sites' and this is not blocked. Ideas?

@ john john ... Blender probably is not geared to your needs. It is more animation.

Would blender suit your purposes? It is free and always has been, but they do ask for a donation. What's $50 for good software? https://www.blender.org/

I never thought of Red Cross. I will look up the local chapter here in CM

Thanks vincent law tunnel bear seems to work. I will order the phone tonight. @ shelover I use Linux ... I think what google does is sees a Thai IP address and stops there. google store is not available in Thailand.

Last Dec I was booking a flight to the US and started with matrix.ita.software and I thought geeez these prices seem high. Sure enough when I went to Expedia, Kayak and Orbitz the prices were very different. Of course one cannot book through matrix but I was always a good research tool as it gave a lot more information over a 30 day stretch.

I'm looking for a transit bus or other way to get from Don Muang airport to the Mor Chit BTS. I know the northern trains from CM have a stop at Don Muang and fairly close to the Transit Center. Are there shuttles or buses that run between the two? And don't suggest a taxi.

The return trip to DMK was about the same. Roughly 1 hour from BTS Nana to DMK. Leaving Nana around 11am on a Sunday morning. The A-1 bus had 4 people on it including myself.

I finally got to take this shuttle from the airport to Mo Chit. Excellent. Saturday mid afternoon with 4 people standing and the seats were full. 30B. Pay after you board the bus. One point to make. The A-1 goes to Mo Chit (and possibly beyong I did not ask) and the A-2 goes to Victory Monument and I'm not sure if A-2 stops at Mo Chit BTS. From Mo Chit to Nana was 40B.

@mikel I did read the same article the other day. Around two weeks ago I was eating with my LB friend here in CM, and asked her if cars did not have airbags as the death rate seemed high. What I find even more appalling is that no one pulls over to let an ambulance pass when the ambulance has lights and siren blaring. I would venture to say in the 6 months I have lived here I have seen this 10 times.

Yes take three. Position one at the door, one at the window for security. The other on the bed for fun. Rotate as necessary.

I have stayed a few times at the Furama Silom. A bit more than your price range. The lowest I've ever seen it was 1500 and is generally 1800 and up. It has very large and nice rooms but they are dated. Roof top pool and one hell of a breakfast layout. When I brought someone to my room I could easily bypass the front desk, but the porter usually positions himself to see what is going on but he never said anything. He just smiled. Report here: http://www.bangkokladyboys.net/forum/index.php?/topic/6071-furama-silom/?hl=furama