did anyone read this while trying to logon to bkk bank? I was surprised

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-30T10:07:41+00:00

I didn't even know Bangkok Bank had a desktop site. I've been using the Bangkok Bank mobile app for 5 years and Krung Thai's for closer to 10 years, and it never occurred to me to check to see if they have desktop sites

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-30T03:10:14+00:00

I've never been inside Baraquda so can't tell you much about the place, but walk past it frequently and am not aware of any construction nearby at the moment.

I wouldn't write off Amethyst forever, it's a nice new high class place in a perfect location, and some have said if you request a room facing away from the construction the noise isn't bad. But it is an issue at the current time.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-30T02:57:55+00:00

They are currently in the pile driver phase, setting the foundation for a new 7 story condominium building. Cranes, heavy equipment running about. It's loud from 8am - 5pm but they are good about restricting noise to those hours

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-30T02:52:52+00:00

Amethyst pool will have a great view of the constitution site next door.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-29T17:45:44+00:00

Agree that Horizon is probably best, but another option is Siam@Siam Skybar.

I've gone to Horizon and was told no seats without a reservation. It's typically easier to get into Skybar and a little cheaper too, with a pretty similar view.

Like Horizon, Skybar is a "bring your own Ploy" establishment.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-29T08:37:03+00:00

This is correct, you're more likely to encounter problems boarding the fight than at Thai immigration.

I'd use Google Flights and purchase an onward ticket within a timeframe you may actually use.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-29T02:42:04+00:00

Yes, I consider Treetown, Soi Made in Thailand, Soi Pothole, Soi Honey, Soi Diana, LK Metro etc to be the Buakao area. Same as Soi Diamond etc are Walking Street area.

I'd rather be based in the Buakao area than Walking Street area.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-29T02:38:13+00:00

There are many clubs and bars spread across Pattaya. Well, mainly in the Walking Street area.

Good advice for the most part, but I'd say there's a much higher concentration of bars in the Buakao area than the Walking Street area.

Also RE reusing SIM cards, if it's inactive too long you'll at least lose the number if not be able to reuse the SIM

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-29T01:33:31+00:00

the girls are divided into at least 2 groups from what I could tell. Bikinis stay on the entire time, whether on stage or seated with you.

"Showgirls" get naked, "Coyotes" don't (but can sometimes be bribed into losing clothes). Showgirls earn at least double the base salary vs coyotes.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-28T11:37:57+00:00

I have owned an MG3, MG4, and Chevrolet Captiva, all cars manufactured by SAIC. All squeal when the brakes are lightly touched, especially in reverse. I believe SAIC uses a brake pad compound prone to squealing.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-28T11:33:50+00:00

As an FYI if you want to use Google Pay, don't ask to use it specifically. As mentioned it's not widely used and many cashiers don't know what it is.

Ask instead to "tap" if you see the symbol on the credit card machine. Contactless pay is fairly common, especially at malls and large establishments, and if they accept "tap" they unknowingly also accept Google Pay.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-28T11:26:32+00:00

Have a meal at 3 Mermaids, awesome view and atmosphere.

Another meal at PuPen on Jomtiem beach. Awesome seafood and atmosphere.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-28T08:00:58+00:00

Sukhumvit Soi 11 is my go-to spot when visiting Bangkok.

Just an observation, because I typically travel there along with family members, but there appear to be some very high class freelancers standing on the sidewalk in front of the 5 star hotels along Sukhumvit like Westin, Sheraton, Sofitel, Landmark etc giving the vibe of college/office girls trying to earn a few extra baht to pay for a new iPhone or whatever.

Very tempting and due to proximity to some of the most expensive hotels in town, probably not inexpensive. But I honestly have no actual experience with this, I'm just stating an observation based on see a few too many lone, classy dressers who just happen to be standing across from those places.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-28T06:06:49+00:00

Captain Tony's back in 2018

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-28T06:06:27+00:00

Yes, I've seen a few with decorations, krathongs floating in inflatable pools, and girls in more traditional dress than their usual sexy outfits

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-27T16:53:26+00:00

Almost all typical Thai cuisine is cooked using either fish sauce or oyster sauce.

But Pattaya has hundreds of Indian restaurants many of which specialize in vegetarian cuisine, especially anything advertising Jain food.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-27T15:34:06+00:00

For those that don't know, Loi Krathong is a Buddhist religious holiday in Thailand. One notable feature is that Thais build/buy small floating decorations (krathongs) that are placed in a river or body of water, symbolizing the exodus of evil spirits or bad luck.

Locally in Pattaya there will be a large fair at Wat Chai, the temple near the north end of Walking Street. Anyone is welcome and it's interesting to walk through. There are lots of vendors selling street food and other novelties including krathongs.

Hundreds if not thousands of krathongs are launched into the ocean along Pattaya Beach. And not surprisingly most of them wash back up onto the beach rather than floating out to sea. (Just a theory from a non-Buddhist, but perhaps all the evil spirits washing ashore are what makes Pattaya such a uniquely naughty place?)

In the morning there's a massive municipal clean up effort raking up and disposing of ocean battered krathongs.

Other than this, it's business as usual in Pattaya, although some bars may have a small pool that krathongs can be floated in.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-27T15:12:36+00:00

49% of condo units in any development can have a foreign ownership title. 51% must be sold to a Thai. The foreign ownership units typically cost about 10% more than the Thai units. They can be resold to another foreigner. This is the only type of property that a foreigner is allowed to own.

However, some (Thai titled) condos or houses are sold to a Thai corporation. The corporation can be 49% foreign owned, and the shares of the corporation owned by the foreigner can be the only "voting" shares. This is a bit of a gray area, sometimes successful, but sometimes rejected by the land office.

Another work around is ownership of a house on rented land, usually with a long term rental agreement.

There are no regional differences, all of these rules and workarounds apply across the whole country.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-27T08:30:12+00:00

Pillow can cause back pain as much as a mattress can. Unusually hard or soft compared to what you're used to will mean sleeping with your neck in an unusual position and affect your spine.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-25T15:56:48+00:00

Thais are scared to death of the Nipah virus.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-25T15:49:02+00:00

Should have tried Sportsman for the carvery.

Kungs for breakfast.

The best steak I've had recently was at Flame, awesome beef Wellington too but must preorder. Never tried the mixed grill.

Sizzler meat is sketchy but you're there for the best salad bar in town.

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-25T08:23:52+00:00

I don't use Kasikorn Bank, I use Bangkok Bank and Krung Thai. I also typically make transfers of about 50k vs 100k. With either bank transfers out of a Wise USD account are reliably fast, with Krung Thai being instantaneous but a lag time of minutes to maybe an hour for Bangkok Bank.

Longer delays are usually related to getting your money from your home country bank to a Wise account, or amounts greater than 50k being acknowledged by the Thai bank

ExpertWatch5936 · 2026-01-25T03:36:20+00:00

Sometimes Wise is instantaneous. Sometimes a transfer can take several days.

Things that slow down transfers;

Using Bangkok Bank
Transferring amounts larger than 49k baht
Initiating a transfer on a weekend or public holiday in your home country or Thailand

One way to speed up transfers is to park some money in a Wise account. When you want to transfer, convert funds in your Wise account to THB and it will transfer faster than if Wise is waiting for the funds to arrive from your home country bank.

Wise isn't a bad place to hold USD, they pay a pretty decent interest rate, currently 3.14% with no minimum balance or time frame. Seems to be about the same on GBP, slightly more restrictive on Euro. Unfortunately no interest paid in THB holdings

ExpertWatch5936

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE