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Mr. Hoffy,
I had a Capital One Visa, a little over a year ago and closed it because they the CC, interest was too high. The one time I used it they didn't say anything about the coversion but they called it something else, but it was nearly 5% for the usage. Account Closed!
My backup is Chase Bank Visa, 6.9%, never have used this account! Just a back up!
There is a Checking Account being offered with Charles Schwab, right now 4 % interest with no balance requirement. A friend that just retired from them told me about it that she heard from her co-worker it didn't charge you for ATM fee's domestic or internation. Hard to believe right. She just came back from a vacation in Asia. She got a Conversion charge from the ATM! but you can use any ATM, domestic Free!
I'm going to check on Capital One again. LBM
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Huh, you guys need to switch banks. I've got two credit cards Visa and Mastercard, can use in any ATM - no cost at all. I also got two debit cards, no cost either - and 75 days free credit. Most European banks offer this.
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Question
What is the going rate in Pattaya now for girls?
CC
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I am not using the CCs to carry a credit balance. Since Capital One advertises so much on TV their rates on outstanding balances must be fairly high. I only use the Capital One card for foreign purchases when I have to. I never carry a balance. The ATM cards I use never charge a fee and the exchange rate is very close the interbank rate. In Thailand the ATM rate was better than the best cash exchange rate that I could find. In Europe the ATM rate is very close to interbank rate and I've never found a rate even close to the ATM exchange rate. In the past 4 years, I've never converted cash from USD to Euros at a bank or exchange booth.
The last time I used a Chase card I figured I was charged at least a 2 percent exchange fee. That was in Bangkok where I put my Capital One card in my rollway and the bell hop had already taken it to the room. The front desk wanted me to pay for the room upfront so I just gave them my Chase bank card. The cost was around 2500 Bhat and I wasn't there to make a fuss.
The one scam people should be aware is that local travel agents in Thailand will attempt to convert the local currency in Bhat to USD at their poor exchange rate and bill the cost in USD. Always insist that the reservation to be billed in Bhat to you US based credit card.
I just used a Max-rate checking ATM card from E*TRADE that pays 3.3% >$5k with no ATM fee on two different ATMs I used in Europe. They say the charge a conversion fee of 1 percent but I can hardly tell.
[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]Mr. Hoffy,
I had a Capital One Visa, a little over a year ago and closed it because they the CC, interest was too high. The one time I used it they didn't say anything about the coversion but they called it something else, but it was nearly 5% for the usage. Account Closed!
My backup is Chase Bank Visa, 6.9%, never have used this account! Just a back up!
[/QUOTE]
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[QUOTE=Ckc 007]I was supposed to be in Pattaya this week but have had to postpone my trip. My main concern is racism towards Indians. – I am a British born Indian and pretty well of. My mate came back from Salvador Brazil and told me the women love colored ppl. I was about to book flights to Brazil and came across Pattaya which sounds a lot better but is the racisim really that bad? What are the work arounds? What bars allow Indians? Now planning to go in jan / feb[/QUOTE]Let me take this opportunity to make it clear for once and for all that Thailand (I mean the whole nation, not just Pattaya) is a 200% NO for people from India, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. It's unfortunate that I had to find it out myself without having read about it as part of my preparation. I did spend a considerable amount of time online (not on this site unfortunately), researching and discussing with people and I was shocked to see what was in store for me. I work in California, am originally from India and had decided to take a stop in Thailand for entertainment purposes. Because I had planned in advance I did end up spending about 4 weeks in total in Bangkok and Pattaya, so my experience is confirmed and reconfirmed.
Hatred for Indian community comes naturally to Thais. It's like they were born with it and like it's a religious doctrine to hate Indians. No debate, no questions, period - end of story.
It wasn't in my mind at all to expect this. I thought as a P4P destination, it's money that counts. But no, it's the natural instinct of filthy little bastards to stop Indian people right at the gate at go go bars. Those vermins can't speak a word of English but they no how to say no to Indians. And they know in their minds that it is not open to discussion. The cunts sitting at the beer bars have a natural instinct to turn their heads away as soon as they see an Indian soul approaching them. If however, you do manage to get in front of them, you will be reluctantly served by the worst looking girls. Every good looking girl that you buy drinks for, spend money on, try to entertain, will turn out to be on her period (haf men - or whatever the fuck they say in Thai).
Unbelievable. I could have turned around the lives of a few of them. All they had to was ask. All they had to do was to be a good a ****, work their charm. Money was their for the taking but they were not interested. They were on their periods or otherwise showing attitude.
I did spend considerable amount of money though. I didn't mind it at all. I was there to spend money. I only wanted to get my money's worth. But I was being made to spend for the wrong reason. I had to spend just to show that I had money. Then I would have to spend more to get the girl. Every day every outing was a challenge. I was guilty until proven innocent. This situation is beyond repair. It is fucked beyond recognition. The other alternative was to change two airline tickets and incur about $600 in damages. I figured I might just as well continue with the embarrassment and fuck a few more of them for a week. So I stayed.
To top it, I am one of the more aggressive kind of Indians. At one of the go gos around soi 7 I shred a 1000 bath bill into pieces. The little fucks manning the entrance were shocked. I went there the next day and did it again. But they were younger folks, only murmured. I did the same again AGAIN but this time at a different go go few steps away on the Beach road. They called out their gangsta looking boss from inside. Pretty entertaining scene was enacted. I was secretly hoping for a fist fight but it wasn't to be - for the benefit of all I must say. Policemen came. I walked with them to the headquarters two blocks away. There I explained the situation that I was a regular at that place few weeks ago and that these are new folks and they were stopping me from seeing my lady.
"You have lady?", that part he understood. "Yes, and I was there to give money to the lady and these people were stopping me". That struck a chord with him and off I went. Back to the same go go of course. Just to let them know I am also not an easy bastard. Mamasan and all the service girls were "soli soli" but how the fuck does it matter to me anymore. Thailand is fucked in my mind.
I was able to establish myself at super baby (or the one across, I don't remember exactly, they're both almost the same). 3000 baht take out but that's a flat price at least - priceless. Much better than patronizing random beer bar ladies while gambling on the prospects. I am not a gambler.
After the incident with cops I cut my Pattaya visit short and went back to Bangkok. Stayed at Novotel where I had heard you get "students" in their club. Ventured into the club at night, it was an all out **** scene. Sluts standing by themselves displaying their wares, sluts in pairs talking, Russian sluts sitting in the corner in a group seated separately. Decided to offer a drink to one not so slutty looking Thai one. She wanted 4000 baht for ST. I politely declined without negotiating. That's how much the imported talent from China makes in California. And that too by providing a delightful level of service. I didn't travel this distance to spend California price for a dead fish fuck. I ended up spending 10,000 on a Russian that night. Picked her up from Rama hotel close to Nana plaza. Now THAT'S what I can justify myself spending. If I were to pork a Russian in California for a night, it would cost me upwards of a $1000 bucks. It was a no brainer. Called a Thai escort one day. 7,500 for 24 hours. Looked like a steal. It was on my last day in Bangkok. I wanted to see something. So I took her out with me - boat ride, snake park, Chinese dinner, Chinatown, a lazy fuck and then sleep. I told her I needed a fuck in the morning. She said yes but forgot about it the next morning. I had paid her 8,000 in advance previous night just to make her feel comfortable. In the morning I asked for my extra 500 back without telling her why. She returned it without asking why. 500 baht - nothing for me and a lot for a poor lady, but she had earned the right to lose that extra money. I only obliged.
Other time spent a few nights at soi Cowboy and several massage parlors. Did not even think about Nana plaza. Overall, managed to spend money and get laid, but didn't enjoy and they sure as hell didn't enjoy it either.
I am not too surprised by their attitude. There is certain element in Indian personality that doesn't lend itself to being liked easily. That part I always knew. Hell even Indian people don't like Indians, just go to India to see. They are all fighting. But what I was completely aghast to find was why should it be part of P4P? I guess it has to do with your background, your education, your bringing up, your friend circle, the stories doing rounds, the precedents, etc.
At this point I am extremely pissed at Thailand. So much so that I would like to bring harm to Thailand, their establishments in USA, or any Thai bloke or girl in general who happens to cross my walk of life.
[size=-2][b][u]EDITOR'S NOTE[/u]:[/b] [blue]I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please [url=http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/announcement-reportsofdistinction.php?]Click Here[/url] for more information.[/blue][/size]
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[QUOTE=Mr_Hoffy]
The one scam people should be aware is that local travel agents in Thailand will attempt to convert the local currency in Bhat to USD at their poor exchange rate and bill the cost in USD. Always insist that the reservation to be billed in Bhat to you US based credit card. [/QUOTE]
The flip side of this scam is if a Thai agency tries to quote you a U.S. rate, already calculated at a bad FX rate, and then convert it back to Baht, at an equally bad FX rate - thus hitting you for a bad rate TWICE - and if you were to then pay with a CC, you'd get nailed for THREE conversion fees.
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Racism toward Indians??
Bayareapundit: Are you sure the girls avoided you because you are of Indian descent? Could it have been due to:
1)your aggresive personality,
2)willingness to spend lots of money to show complete strangers you are wealthy,
3)hoping for a fight with Thais,
4)disrespecting the King by tearing up money with his picture,
5)honestly believing you will better a girl's life if she only asks.
I think the girls were able to size you up as soon as you walked in the door...and not from the color of your skin.
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Alright. The reason I published this report is so that an Indian brother who is planning a Thailand adventure for the first time reads it and takes heed and possibly makes up his mind to shelve the idea.
Secondly, I figured somebody will take objection to the report and it happens to be you. So let me answer some of your objections with a request to not prolong this discussion because a lot of what I've said is factual and undebatable. Let me rule out those objections of yours that have to do with me personally and not with my nationality.
[QUOTE=Allover]Bayareapundit: Are you sure the girls avoided you because you are of Indian descent? Could it have been due to:
1)your aggresive personality.[/QUOTE]I am afraid I am not fuming all the time. I am just another regular bloke walking around thinking about little things in life who only reacts when a finger is unjustifiably pointed at him. Everybody does that.
[QUOTE=Allover]2)willingness to spend lots of money to show complete strangers you are wealthy.[/QUOTE]There was no other way they would talk to me if it wasn't for me to order 4-5 lady drinks as soon as I walked to the bar or otherwise just threw a bunch of 20 baht bills in the air before I said hello or unless I unloaded a full bucket of ping pong balls on the dancing floor at go gos. I tried the regular way first, it didn't work and it didn't work SEVERAL times. I also practiced revenge tipping where I would shower the non lookers with lady drinks and tip the ugliest girl who happened to wipe my sweat (it's a burning hell) 100 baht bills while the pretty ones and mamasan looked on. Yet another story for them to tell. Be my guest. I didn't light the fire, I only fueled it.
[QUOTE=Allover]3)hoping for a fight with Thais.[/QUOTE]Oh well. If you corner a rat and if the rat sees no escape even he is likely to fight back.
[QUOTE=Allover]4)disrespecting the King by tearing up money with his picture,
[/QUOTE]I only returned the favor like I always do. And I always return the favor in a higher proportion.
[QUOTE=Allover]5)honestly believing you will better a girl's life if she only asks.
[/QUOTE]Indeed. That WAS in fact my idea of going there. I wanted to change at least ONE life. Considering that the only expectation of one of the go go girls was to have a laundry shop it wasn't too far fetched. What would that kind of expectation level cost me, a few thousand dollars? A life would have been changed; a career, a life path, a revenue stream would have been set. She would be on her own rather than stripping in front of strangers at odd schedules and trying to get picked up. What price would you put on that? And I would have had a fuck buddy for life. I am not saying I would do this to every one of them - I was just hoping to do it for ONE.
[QUOTE=Allover]I think the girls were able to size you up as soon as you walked in the door...and not from the color of your skin.[/QUOTE]Wrong. The truth is lying everywhere, in every bar and every go go. And I don't have anything against it mind you. It's OK, I will just avoid Thailand, will leave them together with their hatred if that's what makes them happy. The more happy people on this Earth the better. I will search for other more hospitable abodes who will respect my dollars and skin.
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[QUOTE=Bayareapundit]Let me take this opportunity to make it clear for once and for all that Thailand (I mean the whole nation, not just Pattaya) is a 200% NO for people from India, NO QUESTIONS ASKED. ... [/QUOTE]
I don't blame you for being pissed off. I know I would be too if it happened to me. I believe you when you say you had a hard time here, and can understand why. Sometimes I talk to the girls I meet about this prejudice thing, and everyone of them without exception, p4p and non p4p, says she doesn't like Indians, Arabs, Blacks, and a few others. It's disgusting to me as I grew up believing that all people should be judged by their character -- not the color of their skin or their ethnicity.
That being said, there is no doubt in my mind that you made the situation far worse for yourself by becoming aggressive and confrontational with the Thais. It is a miracle that you didn't get the shit kicked out of you for tearing up Thai currencey -- 3 times no less -- and thereby desecrationg their king. You are lucky to be alive my friend. I'm surprised that the police didn't murder you.
Other persons on this forum of Indian descent have had good experiences here despite the initial prejudice. They apparently have learned how to overcome the problems you faced by being patient and showing a good attitude. Never-the-less, I do sympathize with you.
Best regards,
Daddy
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[QUOTE=Blunderer]I survive pretty much exclusively on the ATM, but usually keep a stash of dollars/pounds/euros in case the network goes down or something - never had to dip into said cash though.
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Two suggestions.
1. Backup should be Travellers Cheques e.g. AMEX for safety. Even though no intention to use them till emergency hits.
2. I opened a Thai Bank Account with Bangkok Bank Limited. I use internet to xfer large sums in Foreign Currency to my Thai Account and then pull it from ATM gradually. Make sure conversion occurs at Thai end so not to get ripped off. My own Country would definitely rip me off if asked them to send in Thai Baht.
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I do not think Thai's totally discriminate people who look Arab or Indian.
I look Arab and I have had a Thai gf for a long time. I have gone everywhere with her and people were always friendly.
yes, couple of times I went to a Go-Go bar in Pattaya i was refused entry. They said the club is full, in other words you are not welcome. I take it all with a grain of salt and i am non-confrontational. Travelling all over the world I have learned to be friendly and not draw attention to myself.
Well, the Indians must have done something for Thais to form an opinion.
But if you are reasonably well dressed, smell good act as a gentleman I think you should not have any problem.
Acting crazy and insulting the culture when you are a visitor is unwarranted in any country.
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Bayareapundit
Great report! Funniest I've read here for some time.
Apparent to all old hands why they continue to exclude Indian subcontinent blokes into the bars/gogos...and rightly so.
If I had seen your boorish behavior I'd have been the first to give you a Henekin hat, knowing full well the rest of the Thai's in the bar would have applauded and finished you off. You are a whinging pratt.
Bless the Thai's for their good judgement and consider yourself lucky you left alive.
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Something off topic.Not indian, but worked in indian restaurant back in student years. They never tip,they never happy. As soon as your remind about the tips,they stop understand english. So dear indian friend-tnink about.
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Atm
Thanks to all, great info enjoy and thanks again.
This will help for my trip planning.
Happy hunting
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I guess u went to the champagne go-go?...When I was in Pattaya and Bkk-I noticed quite a few indians having a good time. While I dont discount the fact that some idiot girl may have turned up her nose or some mgr did discriminate, there are over 3k bars in Pattaya..and perhaps 100K hookers working. If a bar or a hooker is acting up--go to the next one.
When I was there, we went to club boesche(sp?) and stood at the door deciding...the dude at the door motioned us to leave...we simply left and went to another bar that welcomed us