General Reports

[Franciscass]

I wouldn't bet the farm on Thailand opening up with just a vaccination cert no matter where you originate from.

I get the buzz around vaccines but this country is so paranoid of even a single infection it's hard to know if even they will be sufficient to change the mindset here.

So you get vaccinated, Moderna 95% effective Pfizer 90% none are projected to be 100% which means a percentage of people vaccinated could still be infected and become transmitters.

Will they still require 72 hours before you fly negative PCR test, a straight into 14 day quarantine where you have to test negative twice again plus insurance, fit to fly certificates yada yada.

[Member #4698]

Let's face it, Americans aren't getting into Thailand. I am now predicting 2023, if that. Key to article is that people from any country can APPLY.

BB, That is a rather dark forecast. While I concede that the Thai Government might choose to keep Thailand in lockdown mode, I think there is much higher degree of probability that they will allow certified vaccinated North Americans, Australians, and Europeans in dropping the 14 day quarantine and other prohibitive restrictions. I could be wrong, but as I keep saying, There are plenty of extremely viable alternatives, it will be Thailand's loss if they act against their own interests as other Asian countries will most definitely open for certified vaccinated travelers and add to the growing list of some very nice countries that are already open (no quarantine).

BTW, there are some great pay later / free cancellation BKK hotel deals available for March, April, May. For example, I saw the JW Marriott for $35/ night, the Sofitel Sukhumvit for $60/ night, and the Grand Hyatt for $60/ night. Normally I am not a big fan of these hotels, but those rates are real deals.

[Flak3]

Forbes is an American publication so it wants to give hope to Americans. Let's face it, Americans aren't getting in to Thailand. I am now predicting 2023, if that. Key to article is that people from any country can APPLY. Reality is China only for the foreseeable future. I have yet to read any Thai publication that gives any glimmer of hope that US citizens are even on the radar, with good reason.

Thai embassies and most of the travel websites have the same story. Forbes was the easiest to read and understand. They left out the prison like quarantine rules though.

Diplomats, business visa, retirement visa, and married to Thais are being allowed back into Thailand from the US. So why would the Thai government stop regular American tourists from joining them with all the hoops (safety precautions) people have to jump through.

It's good business. Maximize profit and minimize risk. 15 k baht in Covid testing. 100 k to 200 k baht for hotels. And each person volunteers to be locked up, checked twice per day, and monitored on their cell phones for 15 days. And if they get sick, they have a minimum 500 k baht in the bank plus a $100 k USD insurance policy.

Not for your casual traveler but die hard mongers Thailand is open for your money.

[Banana Boi]

$100,000 medical insurance, 14 day quarantine, and proof of 500,000 baht in assets during the last 6 months to apply. If approved, before your flight you'll need a PCR Test.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johanna...h=6d561300369a

Forbes is an American publication so it wants to give hope to Americans. Let's face it, Americans aren't getting in to Thailand. I am now predicting 2023, if that. Key to article is that people from any country can APPLY. Reality is China only for the foreseeable future. I have yet to read any Thai publication that gives any glimmer of hope that US citizens are even on the radar, with good reason.

[Berrys66]

What would Thailand be like if the King was forced to divest half his wealth with 20 b going to his citizens / subjects?. He would still be one of the richest men in the world and perhaps then would enjoy a certain amount of respect in his country. Just saying.

There are 70 mm Thais so do the math.

Despite all his moolah the king has borrowings from city of London investment funds and banks, in the millions for investments somewhere, which is surprising. Another greedy thai billionaire which owns 50% of everything thai and promotes a feudal system which keeps Thais poor.

[PedroMorales]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfF3CGVwrs4

60 Minutes have a spicy piece on the Thai King, his live-in mistress and 4 legged the poodle he appointed to head up the Thai air force.

[Franciscass]

Tripadvisor takes action regarding Thai hotel responsible for jailing American who posted harsh review of the hotel. https://www.yahoo.com/news/thai-hote...153324553.html.

Good for you Tripadvisor. While this guy's online rant was hard to take for any establishment the way to deal with him was either ignoring him or simply explaining their side of the story. Bad reviews whether true or not are part of doing business nowadays. Using the police and locking him up is sadly just one more nail in the coffin in Thailand losing its Land Of Smiles appeal which charmed and enchanted us when we first arrived.

[Kerrstar]

What would Thailand be like if the King was forced to divest half his wealth with 20 b going to his citizens / subjects?. He would still be one of the richest men in the world and perhaps then would enjoy a certain amount of respect in his country. Just saying.

There are 70 mm Thais so do the math.

Thailand wouldn't be any different. $20 be spread to every Thai would be $285 each. Absolutely nothing. His wealth would be held in property and other assets, not just cash in the bank.

[Turgid]

Tripadvisor takes action regarding Thai hotel responsible for jailing American who posted harsh review of the hotel. https://www.yahoo.com/news/thai-hote...153324553.html.

[Tomasb]

What would Thailand be like if the King was forced to divest half his wealth with 20 b going to his citizens / subjects?. He would still be one of the richest men in the world and perhaps then would enjoy a certain amount of respect in his country. Just saying.

There are 70 mm Thais so do the math.

https://www.ft.com/content/251d8aea-...6-2df0176e0f8f

The king's money: Thailand divided over the $40 bn question.

The role and wealth of the Germany-based king is under unprecedented scrutiny amid national protests.

[PedroMorales]

Chinese tour / Triad gangs control the Chinese tour buses, bring them into Chinese shops etc.

All countries have to adopt a tourist model. The USA has cheap shopping, Disneyland stuff, rock / Hollywood tours, Las Vegas and so on. Different strokes for different folks.

Bhutan has two: very rich folk like Liz Taylor and Queen Elizabeth (who spends zilch and does not monger), and poor NGO volunteers. Next to no one else. Nepal has Everest "climbers" and riff raff.

Thailand has beaches, food, lots of shopping. I still use watches I bought thee in the last century.

You are saying they should ditch that so a handful of rich Chinese can walk Pattaya and Nana Plaza on their own, and that their Chinese women can have entire shopping malls all to themselves. One thing then is for sure. We will have plenty more love struck clowns writing here about the love of their life they left behind in an Isaan knocking shop.

On the upside, there should be a great rice harvest this year, with all the extra hands returning from the brothels.

My last trip to Thailand was 32 days and total expenses were about 320,000 baht, which included everything. There was absolutely nothing I wanted that I didn't get. Spending an extra 80,000 baht would not have increased my enjoyment. I have simple tastes. Im not the target tourist. But, if it was required to spend 400,000 baht to gain entry, I would do it.

In February I met a Chinese business owner who rented a beautiful villa for his wife, young daughter, and babysitter. He also rented a beachfront room in a fancy resort so he had a place to escape family and bring as many as 5 bar girls for evening recreation while the family stayed at the villa. Everything first class. I'm sure that he spent over 2,000,000 baht per month for the family and babysitter. He is the target tourist.

Two of my non-P4P Thai girlfriends worked in fancy hotels and resorts (4,000 to 8,000 baht per night places). Both of them commented that their Chinese customers were the big spenders. These are target tourists.

I also see a good number of Chinese who do bus tours and stay in simple hotels. I doubt those people spend much money. Clearly not the target tourists.

This is so ironic that the Chinese have become the rich tourists Thailand is hoping to revive their economy. All I ever heard in my years of living in Thailand are how cheap the Chinese from China are and how they don't spend anything.

[HorseTrader]

The Chinese tourists are expected to spend 400 k in their 1 month stay in Thailand. I'm not too impressed if they are not including the 14 day quarantine in the 1 month stay because that's about how much I used to spend as a weekend millionaire tourist before. Now if they are spending 400 k baht in 16 days then I'm impressed. That would work out to 25k baht per day. At 500 baht per Beach Road FL in Pattaya that's 50 sessions per day! That would be 8 gogo girls per day at 3k each. I only maxed out at 4 gogo girls at the same time, 8000 baht bar tab at Sapphire, and a couple of Kinnaree sessions during the day. These Chinese are making me look like chump change.

This is so ironic that the Chinese have become the rich tourists Thailand is hoping to revive their economy. All I ever heard in my years of living in Thailand are how cheap the Chinese from China are and how they don't spend anything.

My last trip to Thailand was 32 days and total expenses were about 320,000 baht, which included everything. There was absolutely nothing I wanted that I didn't get. Spending an extra 80,000 baht would not have increased my enjoyment. I have simple tastes. I’m not the target tourist. But, if it was required to spend 400,000 baht to gain entry, I would do it.

In February I met a Chinese business owner who rented a beautiful villa for his wife, young daughter, and babysitter. He also rented a beachfront room in a fancy resort so he had a place to escape family and bring as many as 5 bar girls for evening recreation while the family stayed at the villa. Everything first class. I'm sure that he spent over 2,000,000 baht per month for the family and babysitter. He is the target tourist.

Two of my non-P4P Thai girlfriends worked in fancy hotels and resorts (4,000 to 8,000 baht per night places). Both of them commented that their Chinese customers were the big spenders. These are target tourists.

I also see a good number of Chinese who do bus tours and stay in simple hotels. I doubt those people spend much money. Clearly not the target tourists.

[Banana Boi]

The Chinese tourists are expected to spend 400 k in their 1 month stay in Thailand. I'm not too impressed if they are not including the 14 day quarantine in the 1 month stay because that's about how much I used to spend as a weekend millionaire tourist before. Now if they are spending 400 k baht in 16 days then I'm impressed. That would work out to 25k baht per day. At 500 baht per Beach Road FL in Pattaya that's 50 sessions per day! That would be 8 gogo girls per day at 3k each. I only maxed out at 4 gogo girls at the same time, 8000 baht bar tab at Sapphire, and a couple of Kinnaree sessions during the day. These Chinese are making me look like chump change.

This is so ironic that the Chinese have become the rich tourists Thailand is hoping to revive their economy. All I ever heard in my years of living in Thailand are how cheap the Chinese from China are and how they don't spend anything.

[Sky Ryder]

Having accelerated China's punishment before elections he now takes aim at Thailand.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-sus...022212941.html

How is this going to impact US mongers'relations with personnel in their favorite destination?

My suspicion is that IF it actually goes into effect, it will be reversed in less than a month or so.

I hope everyone who has an interest has lots of popcorn, the next 60-90 days will be quite the show I expect.

[Berrys66]

https://www.ft.com/content/251d8aea-...6-2df0176e0f8f

The king's money: Thailand divided over the $40 bn question.

The role and wealth of the Germany-based king is under unprecedented scrutiny amid national protests.