Trip Planning

[QUOTE=Hinode]Brothers,

Thanks for the responses both PM and on this thread, I will try em all out and get a lot of 411.

Just today though, a co-worker said that I might need a VISA (tourist?!?) when I go to Thailand. Please tell me this is NOT so. If it IS TRUE, how much does a (tourist) VISA cost? How long does it take to get it? WHERE do I get it? Can someone please clarify? I thought just being in a foreign country for 1 week (or so) I didnt need a VISA.

I thought this would be more like Vacations Hawaii, just book, pay, and fly to Vegas. :confused:[/QUOTE]
Sometimes VISA is a fancy word for passport.

[QUOTE=Hinode]Brothers,

Thanks for the responses both PM and on this thread, I will try em all out and get a lot of 411.

Just today though, a co-worker said that I might need a VISA (tourist?!?) when I go to Thailand. Please tell me this is NOT so. If it IS TRUE, how much does a (tourist) VISA cost? How long does it take to get it? WHERE do I get it? Can someone please clarify? I thought just being in a foreign country for 1 week (or so) I didnt need a VISA.

I thought this would be more like Vacations Hawaii, just book, pay, and fly to Vegas. :confused:[/QUOTE]For 1 week, you don't need a visa. You do need a passport. Make sure you keep enough money to pay the airport tax at BKK when you leave Thailand and any customs charges when you re-enter the U.S.

[QUOTE=Hinode]

Just today though, a co-worker said that I might need a VISA (tourist?!?) when I go to Thailand. Please tell me this is NOT so. [/QUOTE]
United States nationals visiting Thailand under the category of tourism, for thirty days or less, don't need to obtain a visa. Here's a link to the Thailand Embassy website verifying that information:

[url]http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/visa.htm#list%20no%20visa[/url]


By the way, I passed by Emerson Travel yesterday and they were advertising a round-trip airfare of $652 for Bangkok, Thailand.

[QUOTE=Kapalua]United States nationals visiting Thailand under the category of tourism, for thirty days or less, don't need to obtain a visa. Here's a link to the Thailand Embassy website verifying that information:

[url]http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/visa.htm#list%20no%20visa[/url]


By the way, I passed by Emerson Travel yesterday and they were advertising a round-trip airfare of $652 for Bangkok, Thailand.[/QUOTE]


Im calling them as I finish this post!!! Thanks for the OG post- and VISA info- Ill be sure to give my co-worker an ear full. Dumbass prob never travelled in his life- either that, or he's just jealous of the fun I'll be havin! LOL!

AT2; are ya sayin its better just to book the hotel when I arrive there?

Thanks in advance,
Hinode

[QUOTE=Hypo Luxa]Sometimes VISA is a fancy word for passport.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I think that they stamp your passport, and that stamp is considered a tourist VISA isn't it?

I'm sure the travel agency can clear that up for you, too.

I'd rather ask them, because those passport-related websites can be hard to follow sometimes.

Primal Needs

OG Mongers,

I'll have a brew (or 23) for you when I hit Thailand in the winter. Thanks for all those who have made it easy for me. The only question is where I am going to stay, hotel wise.

I have up until Sept/Oct to make up a decision, so once again, if you speak from personal experience of a 3 star/3 and a half star hotel, Id like ta hear from ya.

Basically Im looking for something in the 40-65/night USD range. According to the travel agent, Bangkok is all about HOTELS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. The agent told me: "what. you make like only hawaii people go to bangkok! There are japanese nationals, austrailians, europeans, everybody from all over the world comes to Thailand, its one of the best destination locations in the world!!! Their hotels are TOP NOTCH, asia hotels are way better than american ones!"

Well. With that said, Im up for any suggestions then! 3 stars sounds good to me. Total cost for flight: $850. (I figure roughly up to $1100) Total with hotel. Sounds pretty good! The agent also said its WAY CHEAPER in the summer (like what Kapalua said) but of course during the summer (95 degrees, 90% humidity) its super hot YIKES! January and February being the best months to go, but its still kinda hot.

To clear up one other thing: There is no need for a VISA, since I am only going there for 1 week. The agent said VISAs vary from country to country, but THAILAND only requires a VISA if you plan on staying there for MORE THAN 30 DAYS.

So, whats the best hotel to stay in again?

MUAY THAI HINODE! TIGER KNEE! TIGER UPPERCUT! :D

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeKUkCFmVWA&mode=related&search=[/url]

[QUOTE=Hinode]

According to the travel agent, Bangkok is all about HOTELS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.[/QUOTE]
You might also want to consider staying in Pattaya, which some visitors prefer to Bangkok.

[QUOTE=Primal Needs]Yeah, I think that they stamp your passport, and that stamp is considered a tourist VISA isn't it?

I'm sure the travel agency can clear that up for you, too.

I'd rather ask them, because those passport-related websites can be hard to follow sometimes.

Primal Needs[/QUOTE]
European countries state that you need a visa to enter as well. You're right PN. The stamp on the passport serves as the visa and it usually has a dial on the rubber stamp that puts the date on there, and you usually have 30 days to get out!

[QUOTE=Hinode]Brothers,

Thanks for the responses both PM and on this thread, I will try em all out and get a lot of 411.

Just today though, a co-worker said that I might need a VISA (tourist?!?) when I go to Thailand. Please tell me this is NOT so. If it IS TRUE, how much does a (tourist) VISA cost? How long does it take to get it? WHERE do I get it? Can someone please clarify? I thought just being in a foreign country for 1 week (or so) I didnt need a VISA.

I thought this would be more like Vacations Hawaii, just book, pay, and fly to Vegas. :confused:[/QUOTE]

Hinode,

You don't need a Visa. Your stay is less than 30 days. Once you have your Passport, you are good to go! It's an additional level of travel restriction, which requires a specific purpose and time frame for traveling. It's used to restrict travel out of places like Thailand and the Phillipines, so they don't all jump ship! LOL!

Rest easy! Once you get your passport .. heaven awaits!

AT2

[QUOTE=Kapalua]You might also want to consider staying in Pattaya, which some visitors prefer to Bangkok.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it's a little like the old song .. A little bit country and a little bit Rock-n-Roll. Pattaya's a laid back beach resort area. Cheaper, but not as good a selection (not many high end lookers). Bangkok is pure big city, with lots of traffic but lots of venues. Different strokes for different folks.

Guys who like Pattaya generally don't like Bangkok and visa versa. I'm a BKK guy.

AT2

[QUOTE=Hinode]
Basically Im looking for something in the 40-65/night USD range. According to the travel agent, Bangkok is all about HOTELS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. The agent told me: "what. you make like only hawaii people go to bangkok! There are japanese nationals, austrailians, europeans, everybody from all over the world comes to Thailand, its one of the best destination locations in the world!!! Their hotels are TOP NOTCH, asia hotels are way better than american ones!"

Well. With that said, Im up for any suggestions then! 3 stars sounds good to me. Total cost for flight: $850. (I figure roughly up to $1100) Total with hotel. Sounds pretty good! The agent also said its WAY CHEAPER in the summer (like what Kapalua said) but of course during the summer (95 degrees, 90% humidity) its super hot YIKES! January and February being the best months to go, but its still kinda hot.

To clear up one other thing: There is no need for a VISA, since I am only going there for 1 week. The agent said VISAs vary from country to country, but THAILAND only requires a VISA if you plan on staying there for MORE THAN 30 DAYS.

So, whats the best hotel to stay in again?

MUAY THAI HINODE! TIGER KNEE! TIGER UPPERCUT! :D
[/QUOTE]

Hinode,

Just got back and yes it's Hot during the summer months. The advantage is you have a buyers market. June is usually low season in BKK and you have a choice of rooms and just ball parking it, but I'd say about 100,000 woman! LOL!

Book your room in advance. One less thing to worry about and the popular hotels sell out during peak season. The 3 hotels I mentioned all fit in your price range.

[url]http://www.dynastyinn.com/[/url]

[url]http://www.grandpresident.com/[/url]

Trip Advisor has some good hotel reviews by travelers:
[url]http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293916-d308754-Reviews-Majestic_Suites-Bangkok.html[/url]

Peace!
AT2

European countries state that you need a visa to enter as well. You're right PN. The stamp on the passport serves as the visa and it usually has a dial on the rubber stamp that puts the date on there, and you usually have 30 days to get out! (quote)

I travel to Amsterdam all the time for my mongering and i can say the time allowed in Holland and all EU countries is 90 days for a US passport

[QUOTE=Vicgoo]European countries state that you need a visa to enter as well. You're right PN. The stamp on the passport serves as the visa and it usually has a dial on the rubber stamp that puts the date on there, and you usually have 30 days to get out! (quote)

I travel to Amsterdam all the time for my mongering and i can say the time allowed in Holland and all EU countries is 90 days for a US passport[/QUOTE]I'm guessing there are 2 types of VISAs.

1. (Instant and Free) The USA friendly countries, like Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Thailand, many European countries, don't require you to pay or pre-apply for a visa ahead of time. You just fill out your form on arrival to the country and you get stamped an instant visa.

2. (Pre-apply and pay) Such countries like Vietnam and China, requires you to get a visa ahead of time, and there is a fee of around $85 for China (Vietnam it may be included in the airfare price). The travel agent usually arranges for your visa to these countries. You need to get these visas before you fly or the airlines will not let you board the plane; they get fined.

Going to China, Dong Guan, ChangPing town this July 12 to the 19, then off to Macau till July 23. Going with 3 other buddies, anyone going to be there, send me a PM.

[QUOTE=AliasDonkey]
There are three reasons why I wouldn’t take a trip to the PI as someone mentioned!

2. One of my friends temporarily lived in the PI and said if he had to choose between the PI or Thailand he said that Thailand is better.

3. I you happen to be of the Japanese persuasion (hapun) I wouldn’t think the local population has of yet forgotten the atrocities the Jpn army did there during WW II .. LOL [/QUOTE]

Hypo Luxa, Kapalua, AT2,

For those who have travelled to the PI, can anyone confirm this? This is an old post by AliasDonkey but it seems to have no merit. Based more on assumption than anything else.

The reason why I ask, is, after telling friends about my upcoming trip to Thailand, they told me PI is just as good if not better too. I wouldnt mind going to PI-- since most local PIs (and all other ethinicities as well) here got the "high maka maka" 'tudes. A good GFE is what they wanna give you over there in search of the American dream sounds good to me. :D

One night in Bangkok Hinode :cool: