tm_nyc

Can you exchange the old USD bills for euro in Poland? You probably would get a better rate w/USD in Bangkok but euro are accepted at currency exchanges. It sounds like trying exchange those old USD notes is going to be a big, time-consuming hassle if you wait until you get to BKK.

Green Massage is open until 1 AM. Not sure how 'fresh' a masseur would be late at night, if he started working at (maybe) 5 pm.

Not for the first time in Thai journalism. According to Thairath, the victim stated that he was given the spiked drink by a 35 year old male in a white T-shirt 'looking like an LGBTQ' whatever that means. So, yes, a lot of questions left unanswered. Thairath article: https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/2845487

Is Urban Thai a mixed shop or just female? Happy landings on your next trip!

Turkish Airlines has something similar in their Business Class (on their JFK-IST & IST-BKK flights). They generally have good fares, very good service & excellent food but the 2-3-2 seat layout offers good legroom but very little privacy.

My experience is that the Priority Lanes are never really crowded. I suspect that many Business Class passengers are unaware of this particular perk so they queue up in the regular Immigration line.

Very nice pics, thanks! I think that Hue is my favorite, w/Hoi An a close second. Da Nang is great (& affordable) beach, hang out destination. Have you been to Da Lat? I liked that a lot, too!

Works the same w/departures. The Priority Lane is down at the end of the terminal, past the regular Immigration entrance. Just show yor biz class ticket & they will let you in. Same-same for passengers +70. I just did it &, with the new automated Immigration kiosks, Security & Immigration checks take about 5 minutes. It's great!

I like Chiang Mai & think that touristically it makes a nice change from BKK. However, the gay scene needs a major infusion of energy (& money) as better bars, clubs & massage can be found in BKK, Pattaya or even Phuket. Shamelessmack, hard-working as ever, posted a number of reports on Chiang Mai at the end of January on his website: https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/ Unfortunately, i'd have to say that the reports are not encouraging.

Yes, I took the Airport Rail Link at rush hour from Suvarnabhumi to Phayathai about a month ago. 'Seemed like there were a lot of Thai commuters getting on & off at every stop on that line too.

It used to be that cab drivers at Suvarnabhumi would ask for 500 THB as an all-inclusive number for the trip into town but the last couple of times, in Fall 2024 & January '25, I have been quoted 600 THB instead. Also, going back more than 10 years, it seems like every Bangkok taxi was a Toyota Camry. On my last trip from BKK, I realized that the cab was an anonymous Chinese sedan which sort of looked like a Camry.

Sounds like Thai Immigration may be copying the Digital Arrival Card which Malaysia now requires of international visitors. With the Malaysian DAC, visitors must fill out an online application within 3 days prior to arrival & then wait (24+ hrs in my case) to print out the DAC. I think it is possible to fill it out the application in the Kuala Lumpur airport before queuing up for Immigration.

Thanks for being honest! It's difficult to know what to do if you are in a new place for the first time, if you don't speak the language & don't know the local rules are. I visited Sousse 10+ years ago & my luck was no better than yours.

Totally agree. The local currency is the Thai baht so why complicate things for such a small sum? I once observed a Korean customer offer a masseur in Soi 6 some S Korean won as a tip & the masseur refused to take it.

Don't know specifically about perio treatment but you could try the Dental Dept of Bumrungrad Hospital. I broke a tooth in BKK back in September & their treatment (on 4 visits) was excellent.

Interesting! That problem would never have occured to me.

My impression is that eyeglasses & frames are not much cheaper in Thailand than in the US, because of the import duties, I guess. I bought lenses in Phnom Penh from Owndays, a Japanese-based eyeware chain. They have several branches around PP. Good value & satisfactory service.

Excellent post! Hope that your diet situation improves soon.

Yes, Thai Airways used to use a wide-body for their 1 hour BKK - CNX service. Madness indeed! Business class wasn't that expensive (pre-Covid) so I would treat myself.

I trust that the opening won't be too soft!

Really good questions! Back in March, I got sick w/food poisoning at the end of my trip & ended up overstaying on my METV by 5 days. When I departed at BKK, I was directed by the Immigration officer to the overstay desk where I paid a fine in cash ($50 US) & was allowed to go on my way. What would happen with the automated system? Would the software pick it up?

Shamelessmack posted a number of detailed reports on his experiences in Bali in 2023: https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/category/bali/

Yes, the shops, like Maha, where the boys cannot or choose to not sit outside are really at a disadvantage. Also glad to hear that Soi 6 is busy.

I also stayed at the Royal Crown Hotel on the recommendation of @vinapu & liked it a lot. It's close to everything in the center but a bit removed from the Pub Street scene which I don't particularly care for.

Thanks, @macaroni21, for the lucid, fact-based comments! There is one additional variable regarding travel between Europe & China & that is travel which originates in China. My understanding is that overseas travel out of China has not rebounded to its pre-Covid levels so that would also be an incentive for airlines to cut back. What I get from the original post is that airlines seem less willing to compete with one another on less profitable routes just to get 'market share'. Now they are trying to fly where they can make the most money. Not great news for those of us traveling from Europe or North America but here we are!