Thailand Lounge and Chat area

[EihTooms]

Will be looking to get some tests. This place seems a safe bet.

It seems the HIV clinic has different hours (07:30 to 16:30) to the other tests service (8.30-14:30).

How does it work? Do you get one ticket for everything and get tested within those hours? Do you get two separate tickets? It seems to be the same building and entrance from what I can make out.

Any input?

Thanks.

There is a sort of "new patient" registration or "old patient" process when you enter. Then they give you a queue ticket. They call you up to confirm which tests you want done and then you are directed to go up a flight of stairs to pay for the tests when they call your queue number up there. After you pay they send you to another nearby area where they call your queue number to step into a cubicle to get your blood drawn. All of these steps have been taking me less than 30-40 minutes lately, been doing it every 1-2 months for years.

If you have agreed to get your result by email or on Line you are then free to leave. If you want a paper results document on site you will have to wait an hour for it. The email or Line message arrives in about an hour as well.

I usually get the 200 baht HIV test and the 200 baht STD / Syphillis test. Some of the other tests will take longer to get results, perhaps days. One blood sample is taken for both and it all takes place in the same building location. I print out my emailed test result document.

[Miss MaryHinge]

Will be looking to get some tests. This place seems a safe bet.

It seems the HIV clinic has different hours (07:30 to 16:30) to the other tests service (8.30-14:30).

How does it work? Do you get one ticket for everything and get tested within those hours? Do you get two separate tickets? It seems to be the same building and entrance from what I can make out.

Any input?

Thanks.

[TheSatellite]

Anyone have any good place reccomendations to get a Brazilian wax in Bangkok, Sukhumvit area?

[GrapeMan]

Hi,

I am planning to spend two weeks in Asia later in the year. I am going mostly for holiday but I would like to meet some local girls as well. I am 30 but I am not super attractive. What is the best country to have some hopes with girls for free but where there are also options to pay?

For free with locals? Haha, good luck buddy on that one, unless you waving around money that you're rich and looking to take care of some girl they don't care. These local girls ain't looking for love, they are looking for some moron white boy with money to give them to buy shoes, etc.

Anyways, vacation wise, Thailand and Vietnam are both great. The sex scene in Bangkok is the best, Philippines has a sex scene, absolutley and its cheap but different. The scene in Vietnam really isn't there yet, Thailand its a big part of tourist activities and lots to choose from in all aspects.

[MarkLondon]

Hi,

I am planning to spend two weeks in Asia later in the year. I am going mostly for holiday but I would like to meet some local girls as well. I am 30 but I am not super attractive. What is the best country to have some hopes with girls for free but where there are also options to pay?

[Allover]

Have read the previous on SIMs. Many tourist targeted offers seem to be 15 days and then 30.

I fall in between- 18 days. My needs are the chat apps, email, audio streaming (spotify, radio.). In hotels will use the wifi. Of course.

Calling, audio or video, almost zero. I'd rather get a SIM ready to go for all my needs, preferring not to have to do top ups (unless it could work out better, cheaper to do it easily.) Any input welcome on what on the current market might do me?

I can only speak for AIS but I'm guessing DTAC and True are similar. Buy a 14 day package preferable at a shopping mall. The airport kiosk will cost more. Download the AIS app. On the app you will have the opportunity to buy extra days at the lowest prices. Even lower than in-store prices. It's super easy to do on the app. It's best to add a few hundred baht to the Sim for phones calls and to pay for adding extra days or other services like 5 G. I chose not to pay extra for 5 G when I git my internet package at AIS store. 4 G speeds here are excellent IMHO. No problem watching youtube videos, talking, and texting.

[Miss MaryHinge]

Have read the previous on SIMs. Many tourist targeted offers seem to be 15 days and then 30.

I fall in between- 18 days. My needs are the chat apps, email, audio streaming (spotify, radio.). In hotels will use the wifi. Of course.

Calling, audio or video, almost zero. I'd rather get a SIM ready to go for all my needs, preferring not to have to do top ups (unless it could work out better, cheaper to do it easily.) Any input welcome on what on the current market might do me?

[Zam007]

Actually, I think I paid a little less for unlimited 3-month service from DTAC in February.

Perhaps there are better deals, but the one you mention is not expensive and very easy to get. Right in the baggage claim area of BKK airport are a money exchange booth, a small bank of ATMs, and a DTAC booth where you can buy the SIM card, either you or they install it, and you are finished in less than 10 minutes. Those cards come with very few telephone minutes, but you can buy more from any 7-11 cashier. DTAC works well wherever Ive been in Thailand, including the semi-remote drives between Phuket, Anong, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Perhaps searching all the cell carriers will save a small amount of money. For me, I wont consider them because DTAC is so easy.

Thanks for the reply.

I couldn't acknowledge on time because I had kinda forgot the password.

I took DTAC from the airport itself. I know I would have saved a few bhaths if I went to mbk, but I didn't have the time.

Thanks once again.

[Allover]

My first card was was an AIS and I have used that Sim for over 10 years. Starting about a year ago I found out I need to keep adding talk time to keep that same Sim and Thai phone number. Thru the AIS app I add 10 baht per month to keep the same phone number. I might add a Senior member here generously went out of his way to try to help by visiting an AIS office in Pattaya for me. Unfortunately I had to find another way to keep my Thai number. I'll respect his privacy and not mention his name. But I am grateful he tried to help me.

[Member #4753]

Any decent size mall will have little kiosk type shops that sell sim cards from the big companies very cheaply.

Data is usually 4 meg per sec (mbs) and goes up from there.

4 mbs with unlimited data is usually 200 to purchase card then 200 per month. Card is valid for 6 or 12 months.

I have a post paid permanent sim but always have a second burner sim. Current burner is 8 mbs, unlimited data 400 per month, 200 to purchase. Got mine from Terminal 21 second floor but these same little kiosks are everywhere. You do need your passport to get once and they will take a photo of you.

[Bunky]

I was wondering if anyone could opine on traveling from the East Coast of the USA to BKK, and whether they preferred to go east through Dubai on Emirates or West on Korean Air through Seoul.

Starting at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC (IAD) I've flown to BKK both eastbound and westbound, connecting in Frankfurt, Istanbul, Doha and Tokyo.

An itinerary with only one stop and a total time under 25 hours is about the best you can do. Assuming the fares are equal, there are a few variables.

Departure & Arrival Time: I like to leave in the evening and arrive in the morning, the better to head straight for Pattaya. That gives me all day to get settled and take a nap before going out that night. In my view the evening arrival is sub-optimal. If you're headed for Pattaya, you'll arrive in the middle of the night when only the hardest of the hardcore are still up. Bangkok is closer and you'll arrive earlier, but the scene (especially these days) will still be relatively slow. If you choose an evening arrival 6:40 p.m. would be preferable.

Connection Length & Lounge: Any connection shorter than two hours makes me nervous. It's possible to book them, and lots of guys fly thru the airport no problem. But I'm willing to spend another hour or two on the ground to ensure that my connection is not rushed. I don't mind taking a break between flights. If I'm flying business class I can take a shower and enjoy a nice lounge. If I'm flying coach, I've been known to spend some of the money I saved to purchase a pass to a lounge. And let's remember that the global airline system is under strain these days, and it's probably prudent to plan conservatively.

More Research? There are dozens of web sites where international road warriors discuss long haul trips. Check them out.

Bunky

[Mr Enternational]

I searched online, and I found dtac 15-day Unlimited Internet 30 GB at Max Speed for 599 bht.

Are there better options?

My AIS was 30 days 30 GB for 599 the other day.

[MichaelSamuel]

I second this. I am sure you can get it cheaper outside the airport, but even at half the cost is saving 300 thb worth it for any amount of hassle? Last time through I used exactly the same booth HorseTrader mentioned in baggage claim while waiting for bags. By the time my bags came, and it was not busy and I had flown business so they were first out, I already had my mobile sorted and was out the door and in a taxi in minutes. Honestly it was probably the 2nd quickest pass through from plane to hotel through BKK ever in over 10 years. I have almost never used regular phone minutes, call the girls on Line if you need to talk.

Actually, I think I paid a little less for unlimited 3-month service from DTAC in February.

Perhaps there are better deals, but the one you mention is not expensive and very easy to get. Right in the baggage claim area of BKK airport are a money exchange booth, a small bank of ATMs, and a DTAC booth where you can buy the SIM card, either you or they install it, and you are finished in less than 10 minutes. Those cards come with very few telephone minutes, but you can buy more from any 7-11 cashier. DTAC works well wherever Ive been in Thailand, including the semi-remote drives between Phuket, Anong, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Perhaps searching all the cell carriers will save a small amount of money. For me, I wont consider them because DTAC is so easy.

[Nite_Runner]

Actually, I think I paid a little less for unlimited 3-month service from DTAC in February.

Perhaps there are better deals, but the one you mention is not expensive and very easy to get. Right in the baggage claim area of BKK airport are a money exchange booth, a small bank of ATMs, and a DTAC booth where you can buy the SIM card, either you or they install it, and you are finished in less than 10 minutes. Those cards come with very few telephone minutes, but you can buy more from any 7-11 cashier. DTAC works well wherever Ive been in Thailand, including the semi-remote drives between Phuket, Anong, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Perhaps searching all the cell carriers will save a small amount of money. For me, I wont consider them because DTAC is so easy.

Don't forget about the vendors at MBK on the 3rd /4th floor. I'll bet they're cheaper than BKK.

[HorseTrader]

Hi Everyone,

I would like to know which SIM card or even a dongle I can purchase to use lots of data during my 2 weeks of stay in Thailand.

The hotel wifi signals are are not enough. I can barely watch netflix with VPN without being interrupted. I use at least 8 gb data everyday, either uploading or downloading files for my work.

I searched online, and I found dtac 15-day Unlimited Internet 30 GB at Max Speed for 599 bht.

Are there better options?

Actually, I think I paid a little less for unlimited 3-month service from DTAC in February.

Perhaps there are better deals, but the one you mention is not expensive and very easy to get. Right in the baggage claim area of BKK airport are a money exchange booth, a small bank of ATMs, and a DTAC booth where you can buy the SIM card, either you or they install it, and you are finished in less than 10 minutes. Those cards come with very few telephone minutes, but you can buy more from any 7-11 cashier. DTAC works well wherever Ive been in Thailand, including the semi-remote drives between Phuket, Anong, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Perhaps searching all the cell carriers will save a small amount of money. For me, I wont consider them because DTAC is so easy.