Frustrated W/ Thailand Trip...

[hl0m4n]

im going to thailand in the summer and im looking online to find if i need a visa if i stay 4 weeks +. all these sites lead me to canada requirements and philipines, etc. i plan on staying for 6 weeks, anybody know if i need one? i did call my travel agency and they have no clue as well.

[Zeeman]

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1040.html

Looks like you can only stay for 30 days w/o a visa.

[Zeeman]

btw...make sure you go to Ko Samui, and Ko Pi Pi when you go there. wicked islands.

[GuyOh]

thailand, known for their chicks with dicks lol

have fun!

[stimpy]

Originally Posted by GuyOh

thailand, know for their chicks with dicks lol

have fun!

Duh - why do you think he's going!
________
mac game
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R32
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Ford Courier history
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MEXICO CITY HOTELS

[hl0m4n]

^ you guys are funny. one of my best friends (from middle school) moved there. so i will be staying 6 weeks with him 6 weeks in korea to see my family and returning home for another semester of college .

anyhow thanks for the link. but it says this:
Thailand without a visa will be allowed to stay in Thailand for 30 days per visit. The total duration of stay in Thailand for persons who enter Thailand without a visa cannot exceed 90 days during any six-month period, counting from the date of first entry. Travelers must pay a Passenger Service Charge in Thai baht when departing from any of Thailand ’s international airports.

so are they saying without a visa i can stay maximum of 90 days?

[Zeeman]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

^ you guys are funny. one of my best friends (from middle school) moved there. so i will be staying 6 weeks with him 6 weeks in korea to see my family and returning home for another semester of college .

anyhow thanks for the link. but it says this:
Thailand without a visa will be allowed to stay in Thailand for 30 days per visit. The total duration of stay in Thailand for persons who enter Thailand without a visa cannot exceed 90 days during any six-month period, counting from the date of first entry. Travelers must pay a Passenger Service Charge in Thai baht when departing from any of Thailand ’s international airports.

so are they saying without a visa i can stay maximum of 90 days?

Not on one visit - i.e. you are limited to 30 days in the country per visit. The 90 day rule only applies for multiple visits during a period of 6 months. For example, during a period of 6 months you could go for one 30 day visit, leave, then come back for another 30 day visit, leave and then come back for another 30 day visit.

[badfish]

I overstayed in January for a day, they let me slide. There is a 30 day limit per visit. 90 days is for multiple visits, like 3 30 day visits or something. If you overstay by a few days, the fines are fairly minimal, I believe it's about 500 baht per day. 1 day overstay is waived. At 6 weeks, your overstay is about 14 days which is = 7000 baht. That's about $220 or so but you run the risk of being imprisoned if you get caught by the police for something. It's a small risk but a risk nonetheless. I've never been arrested in my many trips to Thailand. I probably spend about 40 days out of the year there just for vacation.

There is a way to get a 60 day Visa from the Thai Embassy. I've never done this before but I know it's possible and probably your best and safest option. Here is an article about it. I go to Thailand a lot, PM me if you have any questions about the country or places to go.

[tek818]

you will need to make a border run to cambodia or something if you want to stay for over 30 days; there are plenty of places in thailand to arrange that. Watch out for the ladyboys, and make sure you go to phuket, koh phi phi, koh samui, and hit up a half/full moon party in koh panyang(sp?) if u are a partier. Thailand makes Hawaii look like New Jersey... I've been there three times and look forward to going back.

[badfish]

Thailand has ladyboys, yes but it's not like they are all out to get you and trick you into the bedroom. The girls there are hot. The clubbing scene rocks. There are amazing attractions there. Golfing is awesome, restaurants and shopping is second to none. That's why they call it Amazing Thailand. Although the dollar is weak, it still goes a long way there. I go there up to 3 times a year and it's always a great time.

[nissan]

Thailand's a ton of fun, but it's hot/humid as hell there right now. I went there last yr around this time and was miserable during the day + the language barrier got me hella frustrated. Even the ppl at the hotel (Montien Riverside) didn't have great English and most couldn't understand me. Good thing you have a friend there. I went w/my cousins who were just as clueless as me when it came to speaking Thai haha

[badfish]

Originally Posted by cars4lyfe

badfish, heard the ladies are easy there too.

Depends on the girls. Professionals are easy as usual. But real Thai girls are tougher than most...

[hl0m4n]

2 years ago i got another passport b/c mine expired and i didn't use the new one yet. so i got my passport from my desk, looked inside to find my birthday is wrong . can i still use this passport or do i have to redo it? will i get it free b/c i didn't mess up. i wrote down my birthday is 5/2 not 5/21 and i had to show my birth certificate which also states 5/2.

i got my passport at a court house. i need to go back monday but might as well post here to possibly get answsers.

also will i be able to bring a cigars and a bong in my luggage (not carry on). the bong im skeptical on but the cigars shouldn't be a problem right? i can also bring diet pills and protein powder for my friend?

[tek818]

Originally Posted by badfish

Depends on the girls. Professionals are easy as usual. But real Thai girls are tougher than most...

so true... the second time I went to Phuket, I totally fell for this girl that worked at the hotel I was staying at. Took me 2 days to even get her to go out with me, and 3 to get her in bed. Found myself back in Phuket 3 months later

[hl0m4n]

whats the best way to use money when i get to thailand? i will be bringing $1000 US dollars for my stay and don't wan to keep the 33k baht in a wallet or something. can i charge it on like a card or something at a bank, airport?

[badfish]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

whats the best way to use money when i get to thailand? i will be bringing $1000 US dollars for my stay and don't wan to keep the 33k baht in a wallet or something. can i charge it on like a card or something at a bank, airport?

Credit cards will charge you cash advance fees plus maybe some international transaction fees. The best way is to go with large size travelers checks, $500 or larger. AAA used to provide them free though I heard a rumor they stopped doing that. Travelers checks give you the highest exchange rate, usually about .1 baht more per dollar or thereabouts. You use the large size checks because there is a stamp fee per check which is about 33 baht. So with a $500 check, you will come out ahead vs using cash. However, if you use smaller denominations, you end up with significantly less than going cash.

The best way is either cash or travelers checks if you want the best rate. You have to be careful with credit cards or ATM because they have exchange fees usually. If you use a credit card, check to see what your international usage charges are. Credit cards like Capital One do not charge a foreign convenience fee, so it's just like using your card here in the states. But most do charge a fee. Here is a good thread on what to use for cash in Thailand. Here is a good writeup on what cards charge what when used internationally.

There are exchange places EVERYWHERE in Thailand and they all accept travelers checks. Most prefer American Express, but 90% of them also take Visa checks. HTH

[hl0m4n]

i guess cash is the way to go. do you happen to know if the airport exchanges there in bangkok (bkk)?

[nissan]

Yeh BKK has a place where you can get $s exchanged. Rates are generally better outside of the airport though.

[badfish]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

i guess cash is the way to go. do you happen to know if the airport exchanges there in bangkok (bkk)?

Yes, there are several exchanges just as you are leaving the arrivals. As soon as you see them, use them as there will not be any others after you leave that area. All the exchanges at the airport have the exact same rate. There are higher rates outside but it is really marginal, won't amount to more than a few baht difference for several hundred dollars.

[MCS]

dude - why don't you take a side trip to another country in between. Got o thailand, check out Phuket for a month, then go to Vietnam for a week, then Fly back to Thailand - Ko Samui is a good spot.

Careful riding the motorbikes and watch out for the girly boys.

enjoy the beaches, "full moon parties", and incredibly laid back atmosphere

[BMW_TT]

going to learn muay thai while you're there?

[ejheverest]

thailand is definately one of the places i want to visit, i know a lot of people who work in the U.S. but, live in thailand. They live like a king.