General Reports

[The Pro]

I did a check again today on the Bank of Ayudhya ATM (the yellow ones with Krung Siri on them).

I am glad I did as I came across a very interesting twist.

I took out 15,000 baht from a UK account (Visa Debit and not Visa Credit) and then immediatly went to my own on line banking and also the B of A website.

http://www.krungsri.com/en/foreign-exchange-rates.aspx

The amount worked out at 56.615 baht to the pound after charges at the UK end (checking how much sterling my account was reduced by, divided by the 15,000 baht received)

So the interesting thing for me was not that the BofA is still not charging the 150baht, but the fact that they give you the "Sight Bill" exchange rate (same as travellers cheques) which is higher than the exchange rate you would get for cash, and without having to pay service charges to get travellers cheques issued.

All in all taking money out via ATM from Bank Of Ayudhya is the most cost effective way of getting cash, better exchange rate than cash, and no service charge and hassle like TC's.

I will check sometime whether UOB also gives you the rate of "Sight Bill" when taking money out of their ATM's.

[ThaiLearner]

http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.ph...e=news&id=6866

Hummm ... I wonder whether this will get rid of all the taxi touts and hustlers, or simply remove the cheaper taxi options.

Hopefully the touts and the hustlers.

On one trip I went through customs then went to change some cash to baht.

I turned around and there were 6 taxi touts all wanting my business.

I just said a friend is comming to pick me up and they all left me alone.

I had already had booked a taxi.

[PinkPearl]

I read this today re the Aug. 8 paper. Another big hit to Thai tourism?

On the front page of today Singapore Straits Times.

"Travellers alerted to Bangkok airport scam."

800,000 Singaporean are said to has visited Thailand last year.

This issue isn't going away. Though many travellers will be staying away, as far as LOS is concerned.

[Jeff46]

Jeff,

Do you have a link? I would like to check that out if you can provide a link to it.

Please keep us info.

Sorry no link I just saw the report on tv and not in full only the end. But I found this in internet. Apparently this story have already start in April.

Hhttp://www.fernsehen.ch/blog/archives/2343-Rundschau-u.a.-mit-Sex-mit-Kindern-Schweizer-Reiseveranstalter-schockiert.htmlotelplan Switzerland

[Betong]

Hummm ... I wonder whether this will get rid of all the taxi touts and hustlers, or simply remove the cheaper taxi options.

It will probably do absolutely nothing. I came through Swampypoom the last time they had one of these 'crackdowns' and my driver -- from the regular AOT public taxi stand, the best and safest place to catch a cab there -- was laughing at the absurdity of all. 'They speak English and I don't,' he said, referring to the 'ghost taxis'. 'They wear sportsjackets and I wear a plain blue shirt. They pay the police more than I ever could. How can I expect to get any passengers when they're around?' He'd waited 2 hours for his first fare that day, me.

[The Pro]

In general what it will mean is the dark influence will now make tourists suffer in other ways.

Have you noticed there is now no trolleys available at the taxi drop off area's? Only if you are very lucky will you get one.

Its the strange way the Thai mind works, but someone will link this lack of trollies to there being no hustlers and scammers, and perhaps the hustlers and scammers were actuallty putting trollies out for drop off passangers, so in fact the scammers and hustlers are good, and so they should be allowed back.

http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.ph...e=news&id=6866

Hummm ... I wonder whether this will get rid of all the taxi touts and hustlers, or simply remove the cheaper taxi options.

[Daddy07]

http://www.pattayatoday.net/index.ph...e=news&id=6866

Hummm ... I wonder whether this will get rid of all the taxi touts and hustlers, or simply remove the cheaper taxi options.

[AndyBKK]

Jeff,

Do you have a link? I would like to check that out if you can provide a link to it.

Please keep us info.

[Jeff46]

no, you will find that the girls are still where they are suppose to be. just less tourists means you can use your bargaining skills. pty is pretty quiet as far as the tourist crowd is concern, but i was there last week and the girls are still there. as for bkk, this is probably a really good time because i went to nana a few days ago and there were many stunners there even though it was after 10pm when i got there. this can only mean that the recession is taking it's toll.

i see mostly arabic and indian (from india) tourist here now. also the petty crimes is on the rises because of the slow down in business, so becareful when you are moving about.

pattaya low. like to tell this here. yesterday at the main news time at german tv chanel sat3 was a report that some tv channel journalist posed and acting as ****hile and sex tourist in pattaya and bangkok (testing if its possible to get **** sex in hotel). all was filmed with hiden camera.

they asked from concierge and room boy if they can provide with boy and girl young one. test and action was taken in 8 hotels 4 and 5 star hotel in pattaya

and yes all of them delivered this service. boy and girl **** all filmed with hiden camera.(they have not mentioned name of hotel not sure. but i recongnize in tv. amari. royal cliff nova lodge)

result large tour operator in switerland immediately (kuoni hotelplan) deleted all concerned hotel in pattaya from sales and feature in brochure programm and consider to ban pattaya on theier programm.

story to follow.

[AndyBKK]

I will be going to LOS for 2 weeks in late sept, home early oct.. 3 days in BKK, 8 days in PTY and then back up to BKK again...

I know the rain and crappy weather that might happen.. But I wonder how everything is moving at that time? Do the "establishments" close down as the girls go home during off season or is it normal action as always?

And how is it with this effing swineflu?? Read in the news that people should not go to places where people are.. like to dinner, cinemas, clubs.

Is it noticable ?

No, you will find that the girls are still where they are suppose to be. Just less tourists means you can use your bargaining skills. PTY is pretty quiet as far as the tourist crowd is concern, but I was there last week and the girls are still there. As for Bkk, this is probably a really good time because I went to Nana a few days ago and there were many stunners there even though it was after 10pm when I got there. This can only mean that the recession is taking it's toll.

I see mostly Arabic and Indian (from India) tourist here now. Also the petty crimes is on the rises because of the slow down in business, so becareful when you are moving about.

[Divine Baal]

I will be going to LOS for 2 weeks in late sept, home early oct.. 3 days in BKK, 8 days in PTY and then back up to BKK again...

I know the rain and crappy weather that might happen.. But I wonder how everything is moving at that time? Do the "establishments" close down as the girls go home during off season or is it normal action as always?

And how is it with this effing swineflu?? Read in the news that people should not go to places where people are.. like to dinner, cinemas, clubs...
Is it noticable ?

[ThaiLearner]

In looking online for an October 23 flight to Bkk with a return Nov. 8, it appears I can get an EVA flight for $738 via Orbitz vs. $783 through the EVA web site.

Generally, it seems the web site is cheaper. Any reason I should book the higher cost through the EVA web site instead of booking through the Orbitz site?

Thanks,

Guys

If you collect Eva air miles check what each price offers on the air miles.

If not then just go for the cheapest.

[Redfield10]

In looking online for an October 23 flight to Bkk with a return Nov. 8, it appears I can get an EVA flight for $738 via Orbitz vs. $783 through the EVA web site.

Generally, it seems the web site is cheaper. Any reason I should book the higher cost through the EVA web site instead of booking through the Orbitz site?

Thanks,

Guys

[Jeff46]

What's been happening in LOS {Land Of Scams} lately:

Good luck I am not alone in thinking that something wrong in land of smile.

Costs rise for tourist to go there. And yes you still see thais in new cars new motorbike. Even upcountry new cars new motorbike. LooKing carefully.

Look like they have still good buying power. But from where the moneys comes as average salary up country is only around 8000 to 12000 Baht. A new motorbike is easy 50.000 baht and a new car over 600.000 baht. Damm how they can buy? Lately we told to a ISG member teacher upcountry that may be 30.000 salary is not enouth. So how then you buy with wage 8 to 12.

Lately my daughter thai called me. Papa technic scool now very expensive. Food gazoline for motorbike and fees Baht 6000 per month.

How then thais do with 8000 baht salary for a all family. Oh yes may be all of them have a sponsor farang. Sometime I believe this. Each family upcountry have one or two girl in Pattaya or Bangkok prostitution. Or looking for sponsors.

I am leaving near nakon sawan. Have count once two hundred family having girls in Pattaya. Checking around from where the money of thai owning new nice house in my area comes from. With no exeptions all of them have someone working in Pattaya phuket or Bangkok. Or have farang.

I just write down what I am thingking right now. Because tomorow my daughter need a note book 20.000 TO 30.000 as a farang I pay cash. Do thai pay cash? Don't think so. But friend of daughter have new note book and no farang in family. THEY ARE SIMPLY RICE FARMER. End of the story for today.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[PinkPearl]

What's been happening in LOS {Land Of Scams} lately:

ThailAnd as a tourist destiation has never really recovered since the tsunami in 2004.
Just as it started to pick up we had the coup with tanks on the streets.
At the same time the stand in government changed the rules overnight about Expats dealing with Thais, they they did a complete U turn the next day causing utter confusion,

Then we have had the red shirts & yelow shirts with their two bahts worth. yet more tanks on the streets
Bombs in Bangkok over the New years,
Cancelled sean summit which was broadacast worldwide,
Closing the main airport & stranding passengers. Also over the past 18 months the Baht has gone from 70 to 52/53 thats a 25% rise for tourists, at the same time the high cost of fuel, has caused the prices for everything including bowls of rice to go up. All this means that Thailand is no longer a cheap place to live or visit compared to other Asian destinations

Others of highlighted the visa requirements, and now the scammers are more brazen
Instead of the shop / bar owners critsing the visitors for not coming or been stingy, maybe they should look at the reasons why & blame people closer to home.