Q&A on Thailand

[Doughbelly]

I find it's better to take out as much as possible when you use the atm, it saves you from having to go back and paying another 150 baht, plus whatever your bank charges you...mine is 5 dollars. most atms here have a limit of 20,000 baht. But i also have a room i'm staying in by myself....you might not want to carry 650 bucks around in your suitcase.

It depends on your bank. For example, I use USAA and I get any withdrawal side ATM fee refunded back to me, regardless of country. No ATM transaction fee, and only a 1% fee on the foreign withdrawal.

On the other hand, with my other, less foreign transaction friendly bank, I get hit with the withdrawal side ATM fee, my bank's ATM fee and a 2% fee on the foreign withdrawal.

The following advice, I would have considered paranoid until it actually happened to me, TWICE. Use only major ATMs that are inside major banks. Whatever you do, do not hit a seedy ATM just outside a entertainment district. I used one of my cards once and ONLY once at a seedy ATM and my card details AND my PIN were skimmed. Within a week, people were withdrawing money from my account in Hong Kong and Vancouver using my PIN. This also happened to me once in Cambodia. Now in SE Asia, I will not use an ATM unless I can see that there is no possibility of there being a card skimmer.

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

^good advice

 

[sfortune85]

It depends on your bank. For example, I use USAA and I get any withdrawal side ATM fee refunded back to me, regardless of country. No ATM transaction fee, and only a 1% fee on the foreign withdrawal.

On the other hand, with my other, less foreign transaction friendly bank, I get hit with the withdrawal side ATM fee, my bank's ATM fee and a 2% fee on the foreign withdrawal.

The following advice, I would have considered paranoid until it actually happened to me, TWICE. Use only major ATMs that are inside major banks. Whatever you do, do not hit a seedy ATM just outside a entertainment district. I used one of my cards once and ONLY once at a seedy ATM and my card details AND my PIN were skimmed. Within a week, people were withdrawing money from my account in Hong Kong and Vancouver using my PIN. This also happened to me once in Cambodia. Now in SE Asia, I will not use an ATM unless I can see that there is no possibility of there being a card skimmer.

Hmm, didn't know that about USAA (Did you serve?). Thanks for the tip. You wouldn't happen to know how a citibank or chase card would fare out there would you?

 

[Doughbelly]

Hmm, didn't know that about USAA (Did you serve?). Thanks for the tip. You wouldn't happen to know how a citibank or chase card would fare out there would you?

Yes to your first question. The only drawback to USAA is that it's on the MasterCard/Maestro network, which in my experience, is not nearly as widespread as the VISA network. There have been places in the world where I have not been able to use my USAA MC debit/ATM card. OTOH, there is no major city in the world with international ATM access that you will not be able to find a VISA networked ATM.

I don't know about Citi or Chase. You can ask the bank and/or your bank will have online FAQS. If you travel extensively, then it might be worth changing your account to one that doesn't carry as many fees on foreign transactions.

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

I used Chevy Chase Bank and they refund all my transaction fees.

 

[mschatz]

Schwab refunds ATM transactions as well.

 

[sfortune85]

Yes to your first question. The only drawback to USAA is that it's on the MasterCard/Maestro network, which in my experience, is not nearly as widespread as the VISA network. There have been places in the world where I have not been able to use my USAA MC debit/ATM card. OTOH, there is no major city in the world with international ATM access that you will not be able to find a VISA networked ATM.

I don't know about Citi or Chase. You can ask the bank and/or your bank will have online FAQS. If you travel extensively, then it might be worth changing your account to one that doesn't carry as many fees on foreign transactions.

Great, thanks! I have a credit account with USAA, guess I'll open up a checking account with them before I go.

Semper Fi.

 

[KoSubDntMttr]

I'm sure BKK has more stadiums but does phuket have any good ones? and just to be 100% sure who has more/better/bigger stadiums?

and I'm 17 will i be allowed to have a beer with my 21+ year old buddys after a fight?

and if im going to spend a month in either BKK or Phuket would it be smarter to take the motorbike taxis or just rent a bike for a month?

thanks

 

[GBlutador]

just a word of advice for anyone spending their birthday in thailand. only go out with a couple friends and dont let anyone know its your birthday.

in the states usually people buy you a drink on your birthday, but in thailand you buy everyone else drinks. i went out with about 7 people and had to pay for all of them. not only that, but one of the bars i was out and rang a bell and gave everyone in the bar a shot of sambuca (withought asking me of course) and put it on my tab, and then half of the stupid mother fuckers didnt even drink them and they got pured out. anyways... i spend around 7,000 baht that night. what a mistake that was.

 

[Sok Ti]

I'm sure BKK has more stadiums but does phuket have any good ones? and just to be 100% sure who has more/better/bigger stadiums?

and I'm 17 will i be allowed to have a beer with my 21+ year old buddys after a fight?

and if im going to spend a month in either BKK or Phuket would it be smarter to take the motorbike taxis or just rent a bike for a month?

thanks

Yeah that's a good question, i'm going to phuket....how much is scooter rental there?? in chiang mai it's a 100 baht a day. Although i just bought a nsr 150 rr here for 10,000 since i spent more than 3 months here...ends up being the same a renting a scooter and i don't look like a tool driving around on a scooter haha

Edit: Has anyone got good advice on avoiding mosquto bites? Any good anti mosquito products? Do they only come out at night or in particular seasons?

long pants and long sleeved shirt. Anything with deet in it. You don't really have to worry in the cities i don't think. Just in the mountains or outside the major urban areas.

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

I'm sure BKK has more stadiums but does phuket have any good ones? and just to be 100% sure who has more/better/bigger stadiums?

and I'm 17 will i be allowed to have a beer with my 21+ year old buddys after a fight?

and if im going to spend a month in either BKK or Phuket would it be smarter to take the motorbike taxis or just rent a bike for a month?

thanks

Phuket has Bangla and Patong stadiums in Patong and Suwit near Chalong. Bangla is famous for having bullshit fights where the Thai's take a dive after the first hard punch. Patong is a little better, but I have seen some questionable fights there too. Suwit is a legit stadium.


If you want a legit fight, as the trainers to make sure you fight another Falang.

At 17 you will be able to drink beer pretty much anywhere in Thailand.

I have rented a motorbike for as little as 80 baht a day for a month in Phuket.

 

[radman]

Phuket has Bangla and Patong stadiums in Patong and Suwit near Chalong. Bangla is famous for having bullshit fights where the Thai's take a dive after the first hard punch. Patong is a little better, but I have seen some questionable fights there too. Suwit is a legit stadium.


If you want a legit fight, as the trainers to make sure you fight another Falang.

At 17 you will be able to drink beer pretty much anywhere in Thailand.

I have rented a motorbike for as little as 80 baht a day for a month in Phuket.

I jsut got back from Thailand, visited Phuket and Bangkok. Whether its Patong or Bangla there's plenty of B.S. decisions to go around.

 

[mschatz]

For those of you who stay in Bangkok, where do you stay?

If I go back, I would have to get away from Khao San road. That place sucks...

 

[KoSubDntMttr]

thanks guys very helpful

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

For those of you who stay in Bangkok, where do you stay?

If I go back, I would have to get away from Khao San road. That place sucks...

In Bangkok I stay at the Ambassator on Sukhumvit Soi 11. It is a block from the Nana BTS station.

The Ambassador Hotel Bangkok,Sukumvit soi 11,Nana Station, Good Location near sky train, Business Hotel, good service, Hotel and Convention in BKK city Thailand, Luxury accommodations in Bangkok, near center point, Siam, Spa hotel

 

[mschatz]

In Bangkok I stay at the Ambassator on Sukhumvit Soi 11. It is a block from the Nana BTS station.

The Ambassador Hotel Bangkok,Sukumvit soi 11,Nana Station, Good Location near sky train, Business Hotel, good service, Hotel and Convention in BKK city Thailand, Luxury accommodations in Bangkok, near center point, Siam, Spa hotel

Thanks for the suggestion. $63 for the cheapest room would be tough to swing for an extended stay, no? Is it much cheaper if you show up in person then?

 

[Zuskan]

just a word of advice for anyone spending their birthday in thailand. only go out with a couple friends and dont let anyone know its your birthday.

in the states usually people buy you a drink on your birthday, but in thailand you buy everyone else drinks. i went out with about 7 people and had to pay for all of them. not only that, but one of the bars i was out and rang a bell and gave everyone in the bar a shot of sambuca (withought asking me of course) and put it on my tab, and then half of the stupid mother fuckers didnt even drink them and they got pured out. anyways... i spend around 7,000 baht that night. what a mistake that was.

SOB, when i go to Thailand it will be around my birthday (July 14th, Bastille day for anyone that cares. Thanks for the heads up lol.

 

[Ryukyu Damashi]

Thanks for the suggestion. $63 for the cheapest room would be tough to swing for an extended stay, no? Is it much cheaper if you show up in person then?

Yeah, I only stay there for 1 or 2 days max. I don't like BKK that much so I normally get the hell out of there.

 

[mschatz]

Yeah, I only stay there for 1 or 2 days max. I don't like BKK that much so I normally get the hell out of there.

Thats basically the conclusion that I came to.

 

[owai]

Take a flight from BKK to Phuket on Air Asia Airlines, give the taxi outside of the airport the gym address.

Email Sinbi and ask for a letter for a 90 day educational visa. Then you will not need to do a visa run.

Thanks for the advice on the visa situation that solves that issue

On regarding the Flight from BKK to Phuket is it best to book online or just try and get a flight to phuket once i've landed in BKK at the airport?

I'm just getting more and more exicted to be getting out of the UK! just need to do a bit more reading up on the Injections before i take the plunge!