General Reports

So here's a topic I haven't seen raised yet

What jobs/professions provide regular (or frequent, or infrequent) travel to Thailand paid for by employer?

I'm always jealous when I hear reports of people here on business. If you took the cost of flight and hotel out of the equation, it would turn paradise into a nearly free paradise. And you don't even have to use up your vacation days!

So how did you guys find these gigs? I'm not talking about teaching English in Thailand for an extended period of time, or something similar. What I'm more interested in is a job/profession based out of the US which pays for trips to Thailand. What a life.

UOB bank and Goverment Savings bank are said to have no 150 baht charge!
Hope this helps!

[QUOTE=Fon Tok]The last couple of days I pulled money out of three different ATMs with my foreign bank card. I found one without the 150 baht fee.

UOB ATM at Nana BTS station right at the top of the escalator from Soi 7: [u]No fee[/u][/QUOTE]

I use 1-2-Call and I always use 009 prefix.

Been doing so for over 5 years non stop.

Never had a problem, always works and dirt cheap.

You can check the rates for each country using 009 at the link below :

[url]http://www.cattelecom.com/site/th/list_service.php?cat=181&subcat=248[/url]

EG USA is 4 baht per minute when you use 009.

Simple.

[QUOTE=Mong1225]There have been a lot of posts recently about best way to make overseas calls from Thailand, partly started by me because i was getting ready for my first real trip here. I did a lot of research and looked into everything people recommended. I hit some snags, but now I'm very happy with end results. And also happy that i can finally give back to the forum

Before i tell you what i ended up doing, you should know that it may not be best for you depending on your needs. But for me, this was the EASIEST/CHEAPEST way of doing things:

you need three things:
1) used phone from MBK
2) SIM card, also from MBK or elsewhere
3) CAT calling card from thaitel.com

Go to MBK shopping center (siam center stop on BTS), go to fourth floor. It might be a little tough finding a cheap used phone for 500 Baht, but i did it in 5 minutes. Ask for the Nokia 3100 or something like it (don't forget the charger which should come with it). Note, this is a low quality phone: people who i talk to can't tell the difference, but on my end the call quality is [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] poor. But i'm only here for a few nights so i don't care. You'll need to buy a SIM card too for 150 baht too. Whoever you buy it from, ask them to install and register the SIM card.

At this point you are only "enabled" to make calls, you now need to buy minutes. DO NOT make the same mistake i made and buy a "1-2 Call" calling card or other type of prepaid card that you can buy at a 7-11. They are only good for calling Thai phones, and they will charge you exorbitant rates for international calls (anywhere from 15-30 Baht per minute, yes, even with the 009 or 008 codes - and, btw, those codes only worked some of the time).

You will be much better off if you purchase a CAT calling card from thaitel.com. Don't even have to go to a store, easy to buy right from computer and it's only 1 Baht per minute. yep, 3 cents a minute to the US! And the instructions for dialing are easy and clear on the thaitel.com website/email. However, thaitel.com requires verification of your credit card by calling the phone associated with your credit card. So it's better to take care of this before you leave for Thailand. I guess if this is not possible (if you're already here or whatever) then the next option may work for you:

Others have raved about the True Move international SIM card. But i tried a bunch of 7-11s in Sukhumvit and couldn't find it. It needs to be "registered" which is probably easy if you know what you're doing, but if you need help from the clueless 7-11 clerk you'll be SOL in LOS. According to reports this is also 1 baht per minute but so is CAT and CAT is easier. Also, i don't know if this is true but i was told that when you go the True Move route, you need to put in that SIM card for international calls, and take it out and put in your regular SIM card when making calls within Thailand. Annoying. CAT card via thaitel.com gets rid of this annoyance and has just as big a savings.

when i was researching and getting ready for trip i spent a lot of time looking for a way to avoid purchasing a phone and SIM card. But it's a waste of time. It's really the only way to make easy/cheap calls in thailand. Totally worth the 500 Baht and trip to MBK. Also, MBK is overflowing with hotties, some girls in MBK are every bit as hot if not hotter than anything you'll see in Sukhumvit. I regret not trying to pick one up.

good luck, have fun, and be safe and considerate with the ladies.[/QUOTE]

The Pro,

I have a Thai phone and sim card, the minutes I load are purchased from 7/11, which is you 1 2 call card. When I call the U.S. my dialing process has been like this 001 1 415 2223333, the charges I get is 10 baht per minute. You suggestion is use the 009 sequence and the call would be reduced to 4 baht. If true, what would you dialing sequence be? if using the 009?

Thank you,

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]The Pro,

I have a Thai phone and sim card, the minutes I load are purchased from 7/11, which is you 1 2 call card. When I call the U.S. my dialing process has been like this 001 1 415 2223333, the charges I get is 10 baht per minute. You suggestion is use the 009 sequence and the call would be reduced to 4 baht. If true, what would you dialing sequence be? if using the 009?

Thank you,[/QUOTE]

009 1 415 2223333

Btw, 008 and 007 often also work well

The ringtone will be different, so unless you're extremely quick and they aren't very observant, they'll know.

[QUOTE=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![/QUOTE]

Unless you've got the skills and resume to hit a senior position with an international organization off the bat, your best bet would be drug courier :-)

Joking aside, other than senior sales or management people, the only jobs that offer this kind of travel are in the oil industry (rig workers).

[QUOTE=Mong1225]

What jobs/professions provide regular (or frequent, or infrequent) travel to Thailand paid for by employer?
[/QUOTE]

[quote=jd wordsmith]unless you've got the skills and resume to hit a senior position with an international organization off the bat, your best bet would be drug courier :-)

joking aside, other than senior sales or management people, the only jobs that offer this kind of travel are in the oil industry (rig workers).[/quote]how about call center trainer? think that would get you to the philippines or india.

i've also met some it people who get to travel to asia.

sourcing or purchasing is another good field that could lead to international travel.

on the phone, i see no reason to buy a calling card- as others have pointed out, just use the appropriate voip prefix for your carrier. i buy one sim when i arrive and 300 baht of airtime, and still have talk time left over when i go home. calls to the states are only 4 baht/min.

depending on your contract and carrier, you can often get your phone unlocked before you leave the states, eliminating the requirement to buy a new phone.

i was very pleased to note that on my last trip to thailand, all the data functions on my windows mobile phone worked great with my dtac sim card (have to enable gprs or 3g). surfing the internet, or checking the boards and my email is a great way to kill time in the bangkok traffic. checked the cost and it worked out to a couple of bucks a minute- no more expensive than the internet cafes (though slower speeds- i got ~150kb).

friendly

Add AEON to that list.

[QUOTE=Belmont]UOB bank and Goverment Savings bank are said to have no 150 baht charge!

Hope this helps![/QUOTE]

Stupid question but can't find a GOOD barber in the Suk Soi 4 to Suk Soi 39 range or even in one of the malls that can do a good old fashion close and good shave. I've tried lots of places but most think using a disposable razor and nicking you is a good shave. Any one Old enough to remember the old fashion barber shops and anyone find any in BKK area...

[QUOTE=Tansak KTV]Stupid question but can't find a GOOD barber in the Suk Soi 4 to Suk Soi 39 range or even in one of the malls that can do a good old fashion close and good shave. I've tried lots of places but most think using a disposable razor and nicking you is a good shave. Any one Old enough to remember the old fashion barber shops and anyone find any in BKK area...[/QUOTE]

I usually shave myself, but have been satisfied with hair cuts in a number
of places in that region, so perhaps they can offer acceptable service in
shaving as well. One of these is Ms Tan {Tanna Salon} on soi 11, where
the Villa Market is. M. 086-978 5837 T. 02-651 1833. Another is the NEP
intersection in the Burger King building, 2nd floor. Also on Sukhumvit,
between soi 3 and soi 7, but i can't recall the name of the place. I've
found Thai services much better than in my own cuntry, and cheaper.

[QUOTE=PinkPearl]I usually shave myself, [/QUOTE]

I'm extremely lazy :D

Actually I enjoy the old fashion shave with straight blades and such. In MNL there was a filipina lady that used to use almost like a scalpel but dang if it wasn't the closet shave I ever got in my life.

And seriously, I shave in the morning but by afternoon my TGF is asking me to shave again...

[QUOTE=Tansak KTV]Stupid question but can't find a GOOD barber in the Suk Soi 4 to Suk Soi 39 range or even in one of the malls that can do a good old fashion close and good shave. I've tried lots of places but most think using a disposable razor and nicking you is a good shave. Any one Old enough to remember the old fashion barber shops and anyone find any in BKK area...[/QUOTE]Have you tried August?

Tansak KTV,

As Pita123, just posted, August Salon which is on Sukhumvit, somewhere between maybe 7 and 7/1, on the odd side. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong. I have visited this place through the years, and gotten haircuts and a shaves, although I only have peach fuss on my face because they have great looking girls working there. Give foot massage and Thai massages too.

Instead of looking for a haircut at a salon, have you looked at finding a old time local Barber! Instead of a women, look for a guy that cut hair that cater to mostly or only men. Not knowing Bangkok very well, not sure where but maybe between the Soi's. Like in Pattaya, they will cut your hair for a flat rate of 60 baht, razor you around the ear, sideburns, and back of the neck and top it off with a nice cool towel and a short neck massage. A haircut and shave might run you 100 baht in Pattaya but not sure in Bangkok.

Their training is different from the ladies Salon, and oh, always watch when them replace the old razor blade with a new one. Some have try to some every penny and use the old blade when you are not looking!

LBM

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan]have you looked at finding a old time local Barber! Instead of a women, look for a guy that cut hair that cater to mostly or only men.[/QUOTE]

That's exactly what I'm trying to find. Maybe it is my little brain but I keep only finding places with extras or just foot massages or such. I want the old fashion real shave and haircut.