General Reports

[Traveler1234]

If people could give their experiences, especially with AT&T, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

With TMO, if you leave phone on and phone call goes into voicemail, you are charged @ international roaming, i.e. $1.49/minute. I'm "assuming" ATT works the same way so the best thing is keep your phone turned off and then periodically call in to check voicemails.

I use skype for most international calls, either via my computer or if a hotspot is available, via my iPhone. I also have a skype-in number which I give as contact which then forwards to a prepaid sim card for the country I happen to be in. In your case, since you want people to think you're still stateside, the skype-in number isn't viable. But using skype to check voicemail, or a local calling card and/or prepaid sim card should work just fine.

[Mong1225]

I use it all the time, and it works exactly as you stated. To avoid this, I forward all of my calls to my home voice mail, and retrieve the messages and return the calls.

All the responses have been very helpful and are starting to take the stress out of my trip. Here's a few follow up questions:

Why forward all calls to home voice mail if you can just turn the AT&T cell off and then (hopefully) it goes straight to VoiceMail. Are you worried it won't go straight to Voicemail? If not, then you can just check your AT&T voicemail (with calling card or Skype) without dealing with home phone, and without paying for AT&T forwarding.

I'm tempted to go the home-VM-forwarding route (pretty crafty solution), but I'm a little concerned that it would start to look weird if calls are forwarded ALL the time.

Do the rings still sound funky even when the phone is off? That's a dead give-away, if someone's phone savvy.

Thanks again so much for your feedback!

[Andy Abs]

100,000 Baht is nothing, but i would never trust that she wouldn't ditch me a few days after the wedding. I'd counter offer with 10,000 Baht a year, to be paid at the end of each year, for life, if she stayed with me.

Why bother! Far too many beautiful creatures in Thailand to buy one...and I don't believe in helping the lazy!

[Lord Farquard]

I have AT&T. For the most part, I get the caller I'd of the person calling me from the States when I am in BKK. Sometimes, however, people do mention that when they call me, and I am in BKK (or other countries) it does not ring normally and sounds like you are dialing a foriegn country. Sometimes VM works well, sometimes it doesn't. If I know I am not going to answer the phone for a while, then I typically turn off, in hopes of sending the calls direct to VM, so people do not get confused.

Anyone else have any experience here?

I use ATT, I leave my phone off. Turn it back on when I get back to my room and see if there are any messages. If I have messages, I get the messszge, turn the phone back off. I have a calling card that allows calls from LOS to the states for $0.024/ minute, so i use my Thai phone to call the states.
$0.014 for the thai call. so the total/ minute is 1.4+2.4 or $0.038/ minute.
Works for me, i have very few calls, but when I do call to check in with my partner, he has no idea I am gone, the calling card does not leave any number.

[David 2]

Does anyone use their AT&T cell phone in Bangkok, after activating international roaming?

It's very important to me that callers from the US can reach me with caller I'd and voicemail working exactly as if I am still in the states. So that there is no indication that I am in Thailand.

I've read somewhere that, if the call is not answered, then it is transfered via some Thai phone agency and the caller hears Thai voice prompts. This can be avoided by turning the phone off completely and then it goes straight to voicemail.

If people could give their experiences, especially with AT&T, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

I use it all the time, and it works exactly as you stated. To avoid this, I forward all of my calls to my home voice mail, and retrieve the messages and return the calls. The person I call then has no way of knowing where I am. In fact, on my last trip several months ago I returned a call to a friend who left me a voicemail, and the connection was so good that she thought I was joking when I said I was in Thailand. If your caller wonders why you were unavailable, blame it on spotty service or the monsoonal rains or the time difference.

Be sure to CALL AT&T before you leave to confirm that you have international roaming turned on...they won't let you do it online because they look at your payment history to assure themselves that you will be good for any charges.

Also be SURE to sign up for AT&T World Traveler. I think it costs $6.00 per month, and you don't have to pay every month...you can turn it on for the duration of your trip only. Your per minute charge drops from $1.99/minute to $1.29/minute. One of the great bargains available today. It pays for itself if you use 9 minutes a month!!!!

Hope this is helpful.

[Professor 1]

Does anyone use their AT&T cell phone in Bangkok, after activating international roaming?

I actually found it more economical to do the following:

1. Go to MBK and purchase a cell phone and minutes;
2. Turn my U.S. AT&T off, so that calls roll to voice mail;
3. Use my Thai cell phone to check my messages every few hours; and
4. Block the Thai cell number and return the call.

If the person does not answer, I leave a message that I am in meetings, e.g, contract negotiations or having dinner with a client, all day and will return the call at a specific time.

This worked for me.

[Duniawala]

Does anyone use their AT&T cell phone in Bangkok, after activating international roaming?

It's very important to me that callers from the US can reach me with caller I'd and voicemail working exactly as if I am still in the states. So that there is no indication that I am in Thailand.

I've read somewhere that, if the call is not answered, then it is transfered via some Thai phone agency and the caller hears Thai voice prompts. This can be avoided by turning the phone off completely and then it goes straight to voicemail.

If people could give their experiences, especially with AT&T, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

Service on International roaming is good, though expensive at $2.00/minute. However, I just got a mailer that you can subscribe and get cheaper rates. If you don't answer, it just goes to your regular voice mail. So you have to dial that number to retrieve it. Pressing 1 will not do it as international codes need to be dialed.

[Jgm005]

I have T-Mobile here in the States and I can not see why AT&T would work any differently. As long as you do not call them when you receive a call they will not know where you are. Just be prepared for hefty per minute rates. And if you are sitting in Tilac in Soi Cowboy when you take a call they might pick up on something.

Also know if your phone is on and it goes to voice mail you will get notified you have voice mail and be charged one minute for it. Least this is how TMobile works. Which is why I keep my mobile phone, bought in MBK but with my USA TMobile SIM Card in it, turned OFF. Also there is NO routing of a unanswered call to some Thai phone agency. If there was I'd be dead by now.

Does anyone use their AT&T cell phone in Bangkok, after activating international roaming?

It's very important to me that callers from the US can reach me with caller I'd and voicemail working exactly as if I am still in the states. So that there is no indication that I am in Thailand.

I've read somewhere that, if the call is not answered, then it is transfered via some Thai phone agency and the caller hears Thai voice prompts. This can be avoided by turning the phone off completely and then it goes straight to voicemail.

If people could give their experiences, especially with AT&T, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

[PinkPearl]

DErking72 I stayed at Nana hotel. It like a motel six. But with better service 2or 3 dollar tip or gets you everything you can ask for even at 2oam in the morn. I had a room cleaning twice at that time. While there. As far as cabs at the hotel do not take them go to street in front and get a metered taxis. Never take a taxis to a message place just walk there are plenty. Get map at http://www.anglefire.com/super/sanu...s/Sukhumvit.com . Right across the street or even at the beer garden at the hotel is a very good selection of girls. Why it took me five days to figure out that at most or all beer gardens all girls are available is beyond me I'm stupid. Bar fines are from 350-600 bht. Girls 1000-2500 includind bar fine. Or should I say I had girls 18-28 for 25-60 dollars short and long time. One good thing to note is ask for toilet not mens room bathroom or other about pissed my pants off before hitting the right phrase. Outside of the Nana area I walked around also and never felt threatening. It is hard to brush off some girls but be persistent. The ones who you pick and do kiss and fondle you at the bar are the ones who will do the most kinky stuff and and your request at your room. With me I only had 1 bad session she got me in the room mine we showered she did the bbj a little too long and after 5 minutes in side I exploded was ther less than 40 minutes. Seen her the next nite I had to try it again. When she got thur dancing and came over she said u bar fine I said no. She asked why not I said your too rushed. And she said the obvious I do good. I didn't no if I trusted her but after she had to dance again and she gave me the show took here. She was great even knowing it was short time gave me another go.37$ you can't go wrong. My trip cost less than $3000. Inclundinding trips to TJ before and after which the after sucked. Hotel the nite before in LA by the airport. Most days with three girls aday with two overnighters and no extra charge with the hotel. Just keep this in mind exchange your money there. and 1000bht is 25$ more or less. Got a bad rate here in the US at Lax like 36-1 when the rate was 42.5 over there. Take a metered taxis to your hotel.

It seems not much has changed since seven years ago on Canada Day.

[Thepfu]

Does anyone use their AT&T cell phone in Bangkok, after activating international roaming?

It's very important to me that callers from the US can reach me with caller I'd and voicemail working exactly as if I am still in the states. So that there is no indication that I am in Thailand.

I've read somewhere that, if the call is not answered, then it is transfered via some Thai phone agency and the caller hears Thai voice prompts. This can be avoided by turning the phone off completely and then it goes straight to voicemail.

If people could give their experiences, especially with AT&T, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

I have AT&T. For the most part, I get the caller I'd of the person calling me from the States when I am in BKK. Sometimes, however, people do mention that when they call me, and I am in BKK (or other countries) it does not ring normally and sounds like you are dialing a foriegn country. Sometimes VM works well, sometimes it doesn't. If I know I am not going to answer the phone for a while, then I typically turn off, in hopes of sending the calls direct to VM, so people do not get confused.

Anyone else have any experience here?

[Mong1225]

Does anyone use their AT&T cell phone in Bangkok, after activating international roaming?

It's very important to me that callers from the US can reach me with caller I'd and voicemail working exactly as if I am still in the states. So that there is no indication that I am in Thailand.

I've read somewhere that, if the call is not answered, then it is transfered via some Thai phone agency and the caller hears Thai voice prompts. This can be avoided by turning the phone off completely and then it goes straight to voicemail.

If people could give their experiences, especially with AT&T, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

[West Coast]

Recently I got this documentary. If you didn`t get a chance to see it you can find it now on a youtube (I just uploaded it).

Enter "Bangkok Girl Documentary 1" into the search (it is divided into 5 parts).
I hope you will like it. It is all about us, western falangs and girls of Thailand.

[PinkPearl]

if it wasn't for all those lazy Thai men we wouldn't get to f their young women.

Exactly. Those single moms who've been abandoned by the fathers of the kids need our help!

[PinkPearl]

Oh I almost forgot…for anyone wanting to marry this lovely creature (really is lovely) they have to give the (clampets) family 100,000baht!

100,000 Baht is nothing, but i would never trust that she wouldn't ditch me a few days after the wedding. I'd counter offer with 10,000 Baht a year, to be paid at the end of each year, for life, if she stayed with me.

[Daddy07]

Last week Rathnayaka admitted in a telephone interview that he had received cash and money transfers amounting to more than 7,000 pounds from the Britons. He said the money was for police bail and for a payment to a figure he called "Little Big Man" who could withdraw the case against them...

Yeah, we all know that guy, LBM. He hangs out on this forum!

I knew he had a lot of pull in Thailand, but this is a surprize.