General Reports

[Tratnguyen1]

Gents; I presently have my Great time in BKK. Lower soi Sukhumvit and staying comfy at the Majestic suites with all friendly faces I have known in the past few years. IMO. Bangkok is Not a really bargain city to visit in SEA by a long shot. The Bangkok advantage is this amazing city provides an Easy atmosphere to spend and enjoy. For the political demonstrations and social unrest. I just Don't see it can make a repeat like the November, 2008. The PAD yellow shirts have far more power than the RED shirts in Bangkok city. I Don't mind people doing their demonstration as long as the Airports shall remain open for foreingners travel.

[The Pro]

What city is this in?

All Thailand, however, its being implemented on a machine by machine basis. So you will find some at 150 baht and some changed to 15 baht.

So far I have seen only SCB (Siam Commercial Bank) and BoA (Bank of Ayudhaya. KrungSiri) implement the change to 15 baht. But like I said, its only "some of their machines so far".

If you want to use an SCB one near you, but its still charging 150 baht, then print the following link and pop it on to the managers desk.

http://www.scb.co.th/img/th/rate/fees-atm-en.pdf

.

[Opebo]

The ATM fee of a couple of banks has been reduced from 150 baht to 15 baht for a couple of banks, and hopefully all the others will follow..

Damn it, I just paid 150 today.

I'll look for that next time I take out money from overseas - maybe next month.

[The Scout]

If you have AIS (12call) you can activate international roaming online here

http://www.12call.ais.co.th/en/Conte...ce/index2.html

And. Here's what I'm doing which might work with other companies. I have a Cambodia sim with roaming activated but I just never call with it.

Negative: $1. 99 a min to call Cambodia

Negative: Can't send SMS

Positive: Can receive SMS

I then use Skype. I put in my mobile number for SMS, and I then verify through Skype when they send me a text for the cost of $0. 10. Now I can SMS from Skype and the Sim # comes up on the caller ID, and people reply and SMS at their local rate (I think) and it goes to my phone. If I call from Skype I send an SMS saying I'm calling, then call from Skype with no caller ID available. Saves a lot of money.

Has anyone been able to use their Thai prepaid phone line (please specify which provider) abroad to make/receive calls/sms in either Cambodia, Phillipines or Indonesia? If so, how do you activate it or is it automatic?

Thanks.

[The Scout]

The ATM fee of a couple of banks has been reduced from 150 baht to 15 baht for a couple of banks, and hopefully all the others will follow.

Presently BofA and SCB are putting their machines down from 150 to 15, some are done and others not.

So if you get a machine wanting 150 baht then keep trying the others until you get one thats got the 15 baht fee.

A lot of BofA machines (the yellow ones) are still not charging anything, some will say 150 baht and others 15 baht.

SCB is 15 baht, but the SCB machines in prominant tourist area's (like the airport) are still at 150 baht.

What city is this in?

[The Scout]

those in need of internet because you have none or bad internet or the hotel charges daily... i bought a truemove sim card from 7-11 for 49 baht. then activated and topped up for 600 baht to get the 599 unlimited 3g for a month (for 799 the wifi spots will be included). works in bkk and patong. when in pattaya you'll probably get the 2g network. you can tether your phone as a modem or buy a dongle at an it place for about 3000 baht.

speeds are decent. 1-2mbps down, 300kbps up. i've been using it for a solid 10 hours and haven't been disconnected.

see coverage areas here
http://www.truemove.com/en/05_service_3g_3.html

my speed tests
http://speedtest.ookla.com/result/682775219.png
http://speedtest.ookla.com/result/682796085.png
http://www.speedtest.net/result/625383169.png
http://www.speedtest.net/result/627225958.png

[Lowkey1]

So I was at Rainbow 4 and barfined a real stunner. About 18 and looked great. Well we did our business and the condom broke! She did not seem worried and said she was just done with her time and not to worry. I insisted on getting her info where she only gave or had an email. I gave her mine as well just so she could contact me. I sent an email a day ago and no response? SO my questions are here. 1) If a bar girl gets preg what do they do? Just have it and single mother? Try to contact person it may belong to? Abortion? Or do these girls take birth control? I am a responsible person and do care to know if she did get preg so not caring is not an option for me. I know her first name and not her bar numer! I have a few pictures with her so I know that helps. What would you guys do or a little insight please. I planned on returning to BKK because it was so fun, but not until like Feb/March. This little issue makes me want to return in like a month or so just so I know.

[Jeff46]

For the Fifth consecutive overseas trips. BKK is still my port of Call. I was at angry mode last year when I was trapped in Bangkok during a closed of airports saga. The BKK escape via Phuket was expensive, but is was a necessary thing to Do under circumstances.

This November 2009 trip is consider a great trip with all activities normal in Bangkok and I do Not see any problem cause by political demonstrations.

I have visited Pattaya and Phuket.

I have visited Bangkok manytimes and still want to come back in the future.

You lucky. The red shirts plan to rally and demonstrate with a million people this time from nov 29 to dec 04 if the gov is not gone they come back after dec 6 after the k. Birthday.

Is nov 29 your traveling date. Watch carefully the news and have a travel plan be ready.

[Tratnguyen1]

For the Fifth consecutive overseas trips. BKK is still my port of Call. I was at angry mode last year when I was trapped in Bangkok during a closed of airports saga. The BKK escape via Phuket was expensive, but is was a necessary thing to Do under circumstances.

This November 2009 trip is consider a great trip with all activities normal in Bangkok and I do Not see any problem cause by political demonstrations.

I have visited Pattaya and Phuket.

I have visited Bangkok manytimes and still want to come back in the future.

[Run Mann]

The last person who did this died in Thailand now Mr. Butts face the same fate.
________________________________________________________________


BANGKOK - Thai customs officials said Wednesday they had arrested a Pakistani man at Bangkok's main international airport with 54 condoms in his stomach containing half a kilo of heroin.

Kamran Pervaiz Butt, 24, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Tuesday morning on a Thai Airways flight from Islamabad, customs authorities said in a statement.

Thai authorities received a tip-off that there would be a drug smuggler on the flight and stopped Butt because of his suspicious manner as he came through the nothing-to-declare channel at customs, they said.

An initial search of his body and his bags revealed nothing but X-rays later showed that he had swallowed 54 condoms packed full of heroin, the statement said.

The total weight of the drugs was 570 grams (1.2 pounds) with a street value in Thailand of approximately 1.7 million baht ($50,000), customs said.

Butt was charged with possession and trafficking of class A drugs, which carries a possible death sentence in Thailand.

[ThaiLearner]

Anyone stayed in the expat hotel in patong beach?

Phuket?

Is it girl friendly?

Hi

I haven't stayed there but it is girl friendly as I have read this on another forum

[Cadjan]

Thanks, but any prior arrangements before to activate roaming?

No, just key in those numbers. And add credit.

[The Pro]

The ATM fee of a couple of banks has been reduced from 150 baht to 15 baht for a couple of banks, and hopefully all the others will follow.

Presently BofA and SCB are putting their machines down from 150 to 15, some are done and others not.

So if you get a machine wanting 150 baht then keep trying the others until you get one thats got the 15 baht fee.

A lot of BofA machines (the yellow ones) are still not charging anything, some will say 150 baht and others 15 baht.

SCB is 15 baht, but the SCB machines in prominant tourist area's (like the airport) are still at 150 baht.

[JohnnyBraz]

Anyone stayed in the expat hotel in patong beach?

Phuket?

Is it girl friendly?

[Member #4537]

DTAC happy dial *118*9# then dial.

Works for me in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam

Thanks, but any prior arrangements before to activate roaming???