General Reports

[QUOTE=Brain666]1 Ball, according to your reports you come around in the world. However budget planning seems not to be your strengh. As Retired Army said, the direct cash exchange is a rippoff.

I thgought it is common praxis to pick the local currency from ATM's. If you have to much currency of a country you might not go back soon, then you should pay part of your hotel bill by such cash (and only keep what you need for Taxi etc.) before leaving the country. Never change back.

Thought this was common praxis.

regards

Brain666

who would never rechange his remaining baht as I will ome back for sure.[/QUOTE]I find direct cash exchange at a very good rate the best I have always found is at Bangkok airport it was better than my bank atm rate.

[QUOTE=Brain666]1 Ball, according to your reports you come around in the world. However budget planning seems not to be your strengh. [/QUOTE]
Brain, I am one of the lucky ones. I don't have a budget!.
So, I just stuck the money back into my pocket, and will use it next time in DXB, as I take out Wildcat for a romantic dinner, while Piper is in BKK, or Oz !
;)
But just to clarify, I had already paid for my hotel, when I was given the cash. So I really had no choice. I had actually asked for payment in US$, but the gentleman didn't have any. So I took the AED. Not a big deal really. Even though I don't have a budget, I am not 100% stupid!

Tiger, the rate you show is very similar to the one on XE.com. However, it just doesn't work out that way when you are in front of the exchange booth. They offered only about 7.85 or so.

[QUOTE=1Ball]Brain, I am one of the lucky ones. I don't have a budget!.
So, I just stuck the money back into my pocket, and will use it next time in DXB, as I take out Wildcat for a romantic dinner, while Piper is in BKK, or Oz !
;)
But just to clarify, I had already paid for my hotel, when I was given the cash. So I really had no choice. I had actually asked for payment in US$, but the gentleman didn't have any. So I took the AED. Not a big deal really. Even though I don't have a budget, I am not 100% stupid!

Tiger, the rate you show is very similar to the one on XE.com. However, it just doesn't work out that way when you are in front of the exchange booth. They offered only about 7.85 or so.[/QUOTE]
Since you don't seem to believe me, I just called Superrich for you and they give 9.8
They are located in the back alleys opposite of the World Trade Centre. For a small amount a bit too far, but in your case well worth it.
The Oanda page just shows how much the interbank real rate is, so that you can work out their markup.

Tiger

First report ever, will do my best:

-Oct 11-17 Pattaya. Jasmine Hotel on Soi BJ off of Walking St. Good place to stay. Thought I saw Lily Thai on motorbike. Mongering good: bar fines 200-500BHT, LT 1000-1500.

-Oct 18-25 Patong. As always, stay at C and N Hotel (Great location, $, staff, clean, girl friendly). Best special massage: Wanida MP near Starbucks. Best daytime bar: the Shipwreck on Soi Bangla. Best burger: Aussie Burger at the Aussie Bar. Mongering very good. Fines 200-500BHT, LT 1000-2000. Great selection of beautiful ladies.

-Oct 26-Nov 1 Koh Samui. Green Guest House good. Best Music: Coco Blues Sexiest Girl in Thailand: Blonde #21 at the go go bar just west of Moby Dick (she finshed me off in less than 15 minutes including 2 showers). Mongering poor, girls not hungry. Will stay away from Samui.

To put a close to my little problem, I did call Super Rich. They indeed gave me a rate of 9.8. The little alley they are in, is behind the Bangkok City Inn hotel.
I went in there, and they gave me a rate of 8.3 !!!
I told them I had called earlier, and had been given a rate of 9.8.
They then gave me a rate of 9.8.

Moral of the story, if you are not 100% sure of all the facts, you will get screwed.

Thanks Tiger, for the tip.

[QUOTE=1Ball]To put a close to my little problem, I did call Super Rich. They indeed gave me a rate of 9.8. The little alley they are in, is behind the Bangkok City Inn hotel.
I went in there, and they gave me a rate of 8.3 !!!
I told them I had called earlier, and had been given a rate of 9.8.
They then gave me a rate of 9.8.

Moral of the story, if you are not 100% sure of all the facts, you will get screwed.

Thanks Tiger, for the tip.[/QUOTE]That is where the importance of the spread comes in. I never ask only for one rate, always what is buying and selling. Then you can hardly get the wrong rate.

thanks tiger, I got an extra 4,500 BHT.
of course, as I said earlier, I had already decided to keep the money, and use it at a later date. I need the AED for my romantic date with Mrs Piper1 ;)

But, I changed the money, and plan on blowing it tonight!

[QUOTE=1Ball] I need the AED for my romantic date with Mrs Piper1 ;) [/QUOTE]In your dreams buddy! :D (although she did mention you last night. I'm starting to get worried!)

Last night out on the town, a work/mongering pal asked me the same question you asked me in Dubai: With such a honey of a wife, why would I ever want to go mongering? When you have caviar at home every day, sometimes you feel like going out for fish'n'chips. And whenever travelling, one should always try the local exotic cuisine. ;)

[QUOTE=Piper1]In your dreams buddy! :D (although she did mention you last night. I'm starting to get worried!)
[/QUOTE]
Piper, I am curious. What was the context of her mentionning me? Was it in the throes of passion, as she whispered....... " oh yes 1ball, you bad boy you"?
;)

[QUOTE=1Ball]Piper, I am curious. What was the context of her mentionning me? Was it in the throes of passion, as she whispered....... " oh yes 1ball, you bad boy you"?
;)[/QUOTE]Guys, please don't carry the Giotto's Lodge thread chit chat over here.

Tiger, all this happened in Dubai, not Livingstone's, so this is not Giotto chit chat ! this is Dubai chit chat, which is why it is in the Thailand thread ;)

Question for you cell phone people. I have an "orange" SIM card, and just realized it has an expiry date of november 17. I was going to top it up so it remain valid until my next trip, but forgot. When I return in January, after it has expired, can I top it up again, or will it be dead? Will I still have my address book intact, or will everything be gone? I am taking it out of the phone to install the SIM card I use in Indonesia.
thanks

[QUOTE=1Ball]

Question for you cell phone people. I have an "orange" SIM card, and just realized it has an expiry date of november 17. I was going to top it up so it remain valid until my next trip, but forgot. When I return in January, after it has expired, can I top it up again, or will it be dead? Will I still have my address book intact, or will everything be gone? I am taking it out of the phone to install the SIM card I use in Indonesia.
thanks[/QUOTE]

If you top off your Orange card, it should extend term; at least in most other countries that is how prepaids works.

Ask G or someone to buy top off card (rub off to get pin number), pm your number to him and he'll top off for you.

If you wait till Jan, again depends on carrier; in most cases, it's dead but address book should still be intact. I would back up sim card address to your phone just to make sure!

You should be able to do the same from overseas but I assume you don't have customer service contact, etc.

Tuned in just now for my weekly dose of Stick, and it appears the entire site has been taken off air - and evidently not for technical reasons.

1Ball,

Don't know if all the networks have the same policies in Thailand, but I've never had any probs with my Cheap Charlie DTAC sim card. On arrival, I just 'fill her up' and she's good to drive :).

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