kinyara

Getting snobby and superior over choosing to take a taxi rather than a bus is laughable. Even worse that you think that somehow qualifies you to think of yourself as a quality tourist as a result.

Re the OP and the scenario you state, Jomtien to LK Metro is easy on a baht bus with minimal walking, off at Kiss on 2nd road and a short walk down Soi Diana, on the way back you take one along Buakow and change at the school right beside the ones heading back up the hill, don't know what is difficult about that. The same applies to any central location really using the baht bus. I can't ride a motorcycle and I hate being a passenger on them as I just find it a horrible experience, I doubt I've been on them more than 10 times reluctantly in 25 years. I've got a car which I use less and less due to the increase in traffic over the years, but since it's cheap to tax/insure and maintain it still serves its purpose of convenience for early morning supermarket runs and one off trips to the hospital, places off the main drags etc. I chose to live on the main baht bus route between Jomtien and Pattaya, most times I'm going into Pattaya for a drink so a motorbike wouldn't be an option anyway. If I want comfort or I know traffic is bad Bolt is a great inexpensive option. If I didn't have a car and wanted to travel further away for a break I'd probably just hire a car for the trip. Between walking around the main Jomtien beach area, baht buses when I need to go into Pattaya and Bolt for comfort and convenience for trickier locations or busy weekends I wouldn't find the lack of a motorcycle or car a problem. For me the most important decision for enjoyable long term living is getting your accomodation choice right, and it's location with regard to the transport options is a major part of that decision, get that wrong and you'll cause yourself unneccessary grief and hassle.

I live close walking distance to the bus station so it's pretty much a door to door service. The only time I'll take a taxi rather than the bus is when I'm flying in from overseas, I'm tired and just want to get out the airport and down the road as quick as possible. All other times I find the bus, airport rail link and MRT/BTS an easy option for a day trip, however the cost saving over a taxi means I'm able to spend a night in a hotel for the same money, so I get way more enjoyment and value out of a trip using the bus over a taxi. I actually view that bus service as a major plus of where I live.

Indeed, I've always earnt well but sadly never 1,000 baht a minute.

I went for my retirement extension renewal this week at Jomtien mid-morning, from joining the queue to get my ticket for desk 8 to walking back out after successful submission took all of 13 minutes, a personal record for me. Excellent.

Thanks

14.4 million wanted and voted for a systemic change to the old order but look at what they got, an anti-democratic coalition of the same old faces who represent no-one except their own economic self-interests. If I was in their shoes I think I'd feel robbed of hope for the future and more than a little downbeat given the tough economic environment they are experiencing.

Disregard my query, The Pattaya City Expats page had the answer to my question.

Can't help you with that as I haven't received my own bill yet, but the obvious approach is to attempt the 2 bank options immediately you receive yours.

Do you pick up your queue number for Desk 8 from inside the main building as before, or is it from the new building on the left opposite the new 90 day report building ? First time doing it since construction of the 2 new offices. Thanks.

I've done it by 3 different methods in the past, in person at City Hall, across the counter at Krungthai - that payment method was/is detailed on the bill, and using my Krungsri Bank App. However with both the Krungthai and Krungsri methods there is a deadline by which payment needs to be made, beyond that neither method works and you have to pay it in person at City Hall. I learnt this as I was out of the country when my bill was delivered, tried Krungsri when I got back and it didn't work - I couldn't understand it as it had worked previously, went to Krungthai and the helpful staff informed me of the deadline. That's just my personal experience, since I'm here this year I'll try Krungsri first, Krungthai second and City Hall if the first 2 don't work for some other reason. City hall was painless last year, the other options are just more convenient.

Pretty sure you can pay it across the counter at a Krungthai Bank, which may be more convenient than going to City Hall depending on your location.

There are no appointments as such, it is first come first served. I'd recommend getting there at 4.30 so you have a chance of getting the first number in the queue as is gets busy quick. Small waiting area inside and plastic chairs set up in the outside area beside the pavement.

You can say that as many times as you like but it will never be true. Western tourism to Thailand has risen over the last decade.

I'd normally expect a detailed analysis to be supported by statistical evidence to support the case being put forward, surprise surprise nothing provided by the Pattaya Mail. A case of Mr Kenyon trolling again for clickbait for his comic of a publication.

After Soi Naklua 18 on Naklua Road if anyone else like me was wondering :))

Evidence if it was needed that forum traffic high season is over. Captain Fiction in daily full flow.

Thanks for that, always helpful to hear what the actual situation is currently from someone who has experienced it first hand.

Why is it people with a heightened sense of their own importance always feel the need to announce their supposed departure, yet they are never the ones to actually leave ? Is it a trolling way to build up hope for others ? You see it in real life and online forums, facebook groups etc. The genuine people who are serious about it realise it's only important to themselves and quietly do it with no grandstanding fanfare.

It's currently much better than that, February 2024 tourist numbers were 3,352k compared to 3,601k in Feb 2019, so now recovered to 93% of 2019 even with the lower rate of Chinese. Interesting to see those high occupancy rates at hotels commanding 5k+ baht per night, seems like wealthier tourists are in fact visiting Pattaya and Thailand in their numbers contrary to what some on here believe.

What I'll never understand about his hyperbole such as this, is how that principle relates to successful American companies like Apple whose manufacturing base is China. Is he also going to impose a 100% tariff on an Apple product assembled in China, products so loved by the American voter. Where is the consistency ?

I've got no skin in the game, as an outsider it's just disappointing in a country as large as America for the last couple of elections they cannot find more able candidates to elect than a couple of guys who are clearly not up to the job for various reasons. While I'm not ageist I do think there should be an age limit on Prime Ministers/Presidents, I think 70 should be tops.

You need to get some mental help. Every news story you make a comment about Pattaya police, you're clearly unhinged even if you don't realise it. In the UK and any other country it's impossible to cover every kilometre of the motorway and road system, why on earth you think it should be any different in Thailand points to some underlying mental problem you have. Get some help.

TAT's forecast at the start of the year was 35 million - 27 million non-Chinese and 8 million Chinese. Kasikorn's 36 million backs up the original TAT number and seems realistic given the continuing improvement of monthly numbers.

Bummer that's a really annoying typo. All I would say is, and this may not apply to you, I use my driving licence as the easiest form of address I.D. proof accepted by Jomtien immigration when I do my annual retirement extension, so obviously having the correct address on it is essential. If your licences are 5 year validity if it was me I would go back and get them to reissue.