house516

This is my favourite Sukh hotel. Good combination of location, price and room. The washer/dryer is the lynch pin for me.

When using online translators, it's important to use proper grammar, non-jargon and unambiguous words. Use big words! It's easier for translating.

I maintain that higher class hotels are better at discretion as long as you are. If you and your guest look and like you belong then you will. If you want to see how the rich enjoy life, hang out at the Mandarin and watch the old boys with hot young busty play things draped on them. You can bet nobody from the hotel is going to challenge these guys.

I don't know a lot but yes - khrap/kah - khrap is also used at the end of most sentences and phrases to maintain a polite tone. Like most asian languages Thai uses tone for defining meaning and less so for expressions of intent or emotion. Khrap is used by male speakers and Kah is used by female speakers. If you find your self in a situation that calls for even more politeness or to express regret use 'nah khrap' at the end of your sentence. no - my Khrap/my - my (often spelled 'mai) is used to express a negative Taxi - everyone says taxi hello/goodbye - sawatdee khrap toilet - hong-nam The toilets are where? - Hong-nam yew tee-nigh khrap? The question word (tee-nigh/where) is usually placed where the answer would appear in the sentence eg: Hong-nam yew tee-nah kah. /The toilets are there. you - khun/coon thank you - khob khun khrap excuse me - koh tode khrap - can be used to get someone's attention or 'pardon me' one - nung Most food stalls sell only one sometimes two dishes. Point at what you want and say 'Nung khrap'. 2 - song, 3 - sam, 4 - see, 5 - ha, 6 - hoke, 7 - chet/jhet, 8 - baat, 9 - gow, 10 - sip the food stalls prices are often in multiples of ten, so knowing how to recognize these can be important. 20 - yeesip, 30 - samsip, 40 - seesip, 50 - hasip, 60 - hokesip etc The girls know how to say bigger numbers 5,000 baht ;) The number 5 is used instead of lol because it is pronounced ha - 555 = hahaha. You will see it on advertising everywhere and after you fall in love and are texting your new tgf My experience is limited, anyone can feel free to correct me.

If you are considering riverside, I have stayed at lebua at State Tower and Centre Point Silom. Both are nice, have good breakfasts included with the right reservation and are definitely GF. lebua is a step above Centre Point in condition but also in price. You should be able to find both on sale if you have the time to look. I go to lebua every couple of years for a few nights.

It's been six months since I've been in Bkk but as I remember, the Rabbit card is only good for the BTS. In my opinion, it's a good idea. Day passes are too expensive and having exact change to buy individual tokens is a major hassle. If you are planning to be there for more than a few days, I recommend buying a rabbit card. As I return at least once a year, I keep the card and bring it back to use the next time. You can buy the equivalent for the MRT but you will likely use it less.

>>Simagu I spoke to the CATSA guys at the airport I work at. They accept the tamper-proof bags from duty free shops and duty free purchases made on airplanes. Also, they thought the TSA tape to re-seal a bag was unusual but that they would accept it as CATSA has their own tape for doing the same thing. So, no problems making a connection in Canada with a duty-free purchase if it was sealed by the people who sold it to you. One caveat: You must not leave the airport. You must go through security soon after passing through Border Services. If you leave the airport or take too long to go through security, you will have to re-pack your purchase into checked luggage.

Thanks for the report. A fair amount of info to be gleaned for those thinking of staying in LOS.

It may have been lucky on the Canadian connection but the bag did exactly as intended for getting through US customs. My neighbour is a Canada Border agent. I'll ask her for clarification. However, I normally don't buy duty-free as I find the prices to be jacked up. My example is Santo Domingo coffee in Dom Rep. At the resorts, it's $15US/pound. At the duty-free, it's $10US/pound. At a local grocery store, its about 200 pesos ($4.60US)/pound. Also, what is the deal with duty-free in Thailand? You can buy duty-free after arrival - even downtown, as long as you have a foreign passport. Is this normal elsewhere?

Many if not most duty free shops can seal your purchase for connections. Recently, I bought some Brugal rum in Dom Rep. The duty free folks sealed it in Santo Domingo. In Newark (US), security decided they wanted to 'swab' inside the bag. They ripped open a hole and then sealed it again with their own TSA-labeled tape. Arrived in Toronto (Canada) for another connection and there were no problems. Two connections, two seals and 3 countries. Ask the clerk if they can seal your purchase before buying. As a matter of custom, KLM provides sealable bags for the 'jin houses' that they provide to executive passengers. This is to get your Danish jin onto a connecting flight.

Great post. Thanks!

I like topics like this and look forward to more responses. Thanks for the great pics Kopite and BKKSC. 1. Learn the BTS, MRT and ferries. Nothing will help you get around the city easier at a reasonable price. 2. Even if you aren't into flowers, its difficult not to be impressed by the mass on offer at the wholesale market in Chinatown. Pak Klong Talad. At the least, if you are going to Yaowarat, try to saunter by. 3. Try eating at one of the bigger roadside eating areas. There's one beside/under the overpass near Ploenchit BTS station that is good. And another area in Suk Soi 38 that is on my list for next trip. I recall an awesome breakfast at Ploenchit of Beef and Basil, rice and fried egg for 30 baht. 4. Stock up on sunglasses at MBK for 2 or 300 baht / pair 5. Chatuchak Market is a must. Be prepared for a long, hot day. Take water. 6. Go to a gold shop in Yaowarat or MBK, even if only to look around. I bought myself a baht of gold on the last trip. But before you buy, read up on the difference in purity and weight of Thai gold. Download one of the many Thai Gold Apps for your phone to monitor the price. 7. Foot massages are a great excuse to get out of the heat, have a cold water or hot tea and a relaxing rub. 8. Take a walk around Lumpini Park. Join in the Tai Chi or yoga groups. Watch the Monitor(?) Lizards. Jog. As an added bonus there is an elevated foot path from Suk Soi 10 to the NE corner of Lumpini. 9. Wat Pho and Wat Arun are a short ferry ride across the river from each other. Go to one in the morning, stop for lunch and a massage, then continue to the other in the afternoon. You can get a decent lunch, on the water, at the ferry station at Wat Pho. 10. Stay hydrated. In addition to the free water from the hotel, I go to 7/11 and buy the gallon(?) bottles of water for less than a dollar. I use that to refill smaller bottles for my day trips. Lumpini Park Flower market Eating at Ploenchit beside the overpass Ploenchit

I have the Pimsleur Thai course. It's 30 - 1/2 hour lessons. Just listen and repeat. It's a great starting point. Pretty sure we know each other, contact me on FB.

Most countries frown on a foreigner being in their country without a proper resident visa for half a year or more. It establishes residence for income tax and other reasons, even if you are in and out. A friend of mine ran into this problem in Canada with his British GF. Given the close relationship between the two countries (no visa required for tourist reasons) it wasn't even on their radar until Border Services was about to refuse her entry. She had to promise she was applying for permanent residency before she could return. It's worth a call before making any commitments.

I don't know about the hotel room or rentals, but given the tightening of measures on tourist visas, I suggest you check with the Thai consulate near you to see if you need a visa. The scuttlebutt on the Thaivisa forum is that visa runs are becoming a thing of the past. You are planning on being in Thailand for almost a 1/2 year, it would be a shame for it to work the first 3 times you enter and then the fourth time the immigration officer sends you home. Just send a quick email, tell them your travel plans and ask for their opinion.