Up2u

His Majesty.

This is what happens when you have an independent military that does not swear allegiance to the people,the people's government or the constitution. We know where their allegiance lies.

Everybody's situation might be a little different. All my cards have no foreign transaction fees, I buy big ticket items so I can double the manufacturer's warranty and/or have VISA or MC intercede on my behalf if there is a dispute with the vendor. Some people get cash rebates or other perks and then simply pay off the balances within the grace period. Some people don't like carrying a lot of cash on their person.

I was at Central here in Pattaya and bought a nice watch on sale. I told the cashier Thai Baht but I checked the exchange rate immediately when I got home, and sure enough she had used the DCC rate and dumb me didn't look at the sales receipt. The difference was about $50.00. I jumped into the car and returned to Central. Of course, a new cashier was on duty and it was ordeal to get things sorted. Morale - always check your receipt before leaving. Good advice from TJ.

Always instruct the cashier, Thai baht, if you see USD anywhere on the receipt it means they have done an unfavorable DCC (dynamic currency conversion). I have had to tell cashiers to back out the transaction and do it properly using, Thai baht. If you are in Thailand and hand your card to the cashier, always say Thai baht. If you are at an ATM and are asked any question like "home currency" conversion, always decline.

No problem so far here in Pattaya. Personally I prefer Pepsi Max.

And that is because there is no national sales tax or VAT; there are sales taxes at the state, county or local level. Some states such as Texas have no sales tax. Sales taxes are usually not applied to the food basics such as milk, butter, bread. There is no tax on labor, so if you get your car repaired only the parts are taxed not the labor. Americans take these sales tax rates very seriously as they must be voted upon and most citizens know exactly what the rate for where they live. The rate can not be hidden in the "total" price and an advertised price is for the cost of the item, no taxes included. It would be near impossible for retailers to advertise the "total" cost of an item since taxes could vary from locale to locale.

I eat at Zen and Fuji and they include a 10% service charge. Restaurant workers in Japan receive a decent salary and benefits, much like the nanny states of Europe. In America restaurant employers in some states can legally reduce compensation to below minimum wage with no benefits. These workers are often on government subsidies. The situation is much the same here in Thailand with the workers paid like shit. It makes me feel good to help people and I have no problem with tipping.

I have seen 5% service charge for a few restaurants here in Pattaya although 10% or no charge is the norm. The new upmarket place is called Davinci's opposite the Rompo market near soi 5 immigration office. 10% is pretty standard in Bangkok.

Given as you described; No, no, no.

That doesn't make sense, a coup is military force. Things have changed since the last coup. YL and the red shirts have military sympathetic to their cause. Remember the vast majority of the grunts, the soldiers, were drafted and come from red shirt land. Many are the boys from bars, our friends, our sweethearts. Do you really think they will fire on their own family, relatives and friends(rhetorical question). It will be funny when the top heavy bureaucratic army generals turn around and say "where did everybody go?". I have heard it said this one reason there hasn't been a coup, it would not be like the last coup, it would be civil war. Let's hope common sense prevails.

That's no solution, the last military government was a disaster and they have no expertise or desire to run a country thank god. The burmese have just been liberated from the military generals. I would favor UN intervention to get these two sides talking but I doubt the yellow shirts would agree.

Come on, did you really expect a yellow shirt to be appointed? IF Thaksin himself could return he would be reelected resoundingly.

A very good question and all we can can do is speculate. The red shirts start their counter protests this Saturday and the following Wednesday (14th) with calls for 100000 marchers. You could be walking in to a fire storm. I would avoid Bangkok and deadhead straight to Chiang Mai or Pattaya. the situation has become very serious and unstable. This comes from someone who lives here and not the occasional visitor.

The terms of the Treaty of Amity between the USA and Thailand is not applicable here. The OP has done is homework and should have no problems. His problem will be finding someone with the desired English skills.

I would also inquire about a foreign currency deposit account. Bangkok bank has them and I am sure all the major Thai banks do also. If the hubby can access the funds via an ATM in America then there would be savings on exchange rate fees. No experience though on how this might work but perhaps it is worth asking more questions at a Thai bank.

A good read for Americans: http://www.justice.gov/criminal/ceos/subjectareas/child-sex-tourism.html "situational abuser" can hit home for some of us. You don't have to be a pedophile or be prosecuted or even charged with a crime in the foreign country to be arrested when you return. Remember, the boy who said he was 18 in the bar is actually under 18 and you could have a big problem. BKK is the starting point for many trips to SE Asian countries so therefore the additional scrutiny.

My view is one of total cooperation with CBP. I don't need some agent using me to prove a point by me being impolite or dodging questions. If my travel plans were interrupted I would not be happy. In the period from 2003 to about 2007 we(my American friends) were continually harassed by customs when returning from Thailand. We managed to get in the government computers and the agent entered a code on our custom's declaration form which meant more questions and going through every piece of luggage. That practice ended in recent years but I was asked questions in boarding my EVA flight to BKK a year or so ago. I thought nothing of it until Michael's story and post.

Doesn't make sense to me either, but it is not illegal, it's called profiling and protected by the courts. Under law being single doesn't grant you special protections.

You are wrong, this started under Bush and in particular the Protect Act of 2003<?>. There are threads on the forums a few years back of gay American men getting hassled by immigration when returning from Thailand. Happened to me many times over the years but not in recent years. Michael's experience is a new twist since it took place upon departure.

Fitz(Royal Cliff) is around 30k, less if you join their wine club. Fairtex is about 10k for just the fitness gym membership. The former owner of California WOW is/was being sued by members and staff. In Pattaya, they tried selling me a membership a week before they closed.

Fairtex. It specializes as Muay Thai training facility. Cute gym training staff, hotel guests sign up for training packages so there is a nice blend of Asian and European tourists. They sell just the gym package at reduced cost.

If in fact, he is referring to Tony's then this place would not meet the OP's standard. My sense is the OP is a hi-so guy and Tony's is a lo-so gym full of tattooed steroid Mary's.

Where is it?.... and I thought I knew all the gyms here! I personally like Fairtex in north Pattaya, but friends have used Fitz (on pratumnak hill) or the fitness club at the Marriott (both very expensive). I would avoid Tony's.

It's a supposition, a fact not in evidence. Does anyone know who bought the Gay Thailand website? Now do we get it?