Not so sure about that. When I checked the rates at HK airport, the rates for CAD/HKD were less than 1% off the million dollar rate. Also, the rates for CNY/HKD were less than 0.5% (almost free)

find that very hard to believe...

i paid 10% juice exchanging baht to HKD at the hong kong airport

Perhaps it's different depending on currency. Next time you're in HK Airport take a photo of the currency board at a money booth. I was surprised exchanging HKD to CAD in Canada, and wished I'd done it at the HK Airport instead of at a money changer store in Richmond (which was slightly better than what a bank would offer, but not by much). Rates at the HK/Macau/SZ (Shenzhen Airport) ferry terminal are also very good.

actually it wasnt baht. i exchanged 100 euro bill there. i remember telling my friend we just paid 10% juice getting the HKD but we needed it to get to macau

So everyone agrees the best rates are in Bangkok city and not in the UK or the airport but still spends 30 posts arguing about 2nd place. ****ing pointless use of time.

And you are doing what with your time posting this?

Ranting about pointless ****. Should be obvious

U wasting time again?

let us waste our time ?

at least i dont have anything better to do!

I'm supposed to be working but whatever hehehe.

Best place in Bangkok is definitely SuperRich

http://www.superrich1965.com/app/our_rates.aspx

QuickQuestion
Has anybody used this websites to rent a house/villa in Phuket?
http://phuketrenthouse.com & http://www.siamrealestate.com/
Are they trustable?

Alright, you guys convinced me to completely change my trip. Just booked CM flights/hotel for a month (hitting up Laos afterward) and could use some advice on activities.

My itinerary, so far, is:

1. Elephant sanctuary where you can feed, bathe and ride the elephants. Any input on Elephant Nature Park (looks the best so far), Patara Elephant Farm or Baan Chang?

2. Jungle survival course: looking for a 1-day course like this that teaches how to make a fire, find/cook food in the jungle, make traps, etc. Google seems pointless as it seems there are SO many options. Any suggestions?

3. 5-day Thai massage course. The most popular schools seem to be: ITM, Sunshine and TMC. Any input on these or on other schools?

4. Feeding the animals at the Night Safari. Would appreciate if someone could recommend any other animal-related activities, especially if I can feed them up close and personal.

5. Mountain biking or ATVing. This site seems a bit pricey at ~1500 baht. This site offers ATVing amongst other cool things but their prices also look inflated. Any suggestions?

If anyone has any other suggestions for what I can do in CM, please let me know. I've been to CM before but only for a few days. Did an elephant trekking tour, visited the Monkey Centre, Tiger Kingdom and X-Centre - I have zero interest in doing any of these again.

what's the best way to get from BKK Suvarnabhumi airport to the city? is taxi expensive? how can i make sure i won't get ripped off? and last question... are the taxis in front of the airport authorized?

Yes follow the signs down to the taxi rank. Dunno how much, but maybe 4-500 max depending on where in Bkk.

The night safari is great, hit the zoo up also. You can feed and pet giraffes at head hight which is awesome and they have a snow dome which is fun watching all the Thai's amazed by the fake snow.

Tiger Kingdom is another animal must visit place, you can get some great photos taken laying on top of tigers etc

- taxi
- no, cheap, you can go ten miles for a few dollars
- make sure they put the meter on (same word in thai). orange numbers starting from 35, beeps when turned on. have to pay 50 baht extra for airport surcharge, and any tolls you pay as you go through or at the end, if driver doesn't ask. use taxi rank queues, tell ladies your destination and get a receipt
- authorised
- anywhere other than the airport, flag taxis down yourself from the road, stationary ones are more likely to rip you off (esp. in tourist areas)
- taxis are available if they have the bright red light, thai word thing in bottom corner of windscreen
- if you ever get asked 'highway?' just say ok, they're not trying to rip you off it's just quicker, ends up cheaper anyway despite small toll charge
- don't get tuk tuks

- You will have to say 'meter' about 5 times, theyll give you every excuse before turning it on. They might hide it under something and try and say they dont have one.

- Depending on time of day you arrive and where youre going, might be alot quicker and cheaper to get the new train.

train is faster any time of day if going from Makkasan(station next to Phechaburi MRT) express line to the airport. prices have varied I think, from 90-150b. its a good option if your staying on BTS line, because u can take it to the BTS, and bts to hotel.

imo you should try it as long as you know where you are going, the good thing about taxi line @ airport is you can speak english and they will instruct taxi where to go., and compared to anywhere else taxi is dirt cheap. Even if taxi takes you a longer way than he should, it might cost a extra $1usd at most.


I've been here a year and a half and only paid non-meter a handful of times since I moved here- I've even gotten taxis to go into flooded areas. toughest spot for taxis are in super tourist areas, and outside RCA when it closes- but easy way to get taxi there and alot of places is just cross the road.

this should be added to the sticky under BKK imo. good post about taxis in bkk for first time travellers

+1 - thanks for the info. Most of it seems common sense, except in China, they are almost always trying to rip you off if they want to take the highway

Hello,

Anyone interested to meet in Bangkok or Pattaya ?

I was living this year for like 5 months in Thailand, in most cities.

I am very profitable player, I now play HU cash, soon dropped SH SNG.

I would like to meet with other people to discuss about game, ex-pat life and other interests.

Coming to Thailand for 3 weeks, will be arriving on the 28th. Anyone know the best place in BKK, if any, to watch the Cotto/Margarito fight on Dec 3rd? Also, best places in BKK or Phuket to catch NFL games?

I would but I only meet with 6max players