Wintering in Thailand according to Khun Peter (2)
My visa for 2x 60 days
Preparations for hibernation Thailand Are in full swing.
As said before, I want to share this with you so that you know what to look out for if you have the same plans. In this article my experiences so far.
After the choice to hibernate, a number of things must be arranged, such as:
- housing
- airline ticket
- visum
- Travel Insurance
- local transport
Housing in Hua Hin
If you are going to spend the winter, you want decent facilities. That starts with housing. Now I'm not demanding, but a little comfort is nice. You can make it as expensive as you want, I just had a few wishes. The requirements that a home had to meet were: fully furnished including linen, the possibility to cook and a (Wi-Fi) internet connection. Preferably not too far from the center of Hua Hin. I also set my budget. The rent could not exceed 15.000 baht per month.
Hans, Jos and Pim were kind enough to look around for a suitable accommodation in Hua Hin. That was not easy because the floods had rented the Bangkokians all available houses. There was even scarcity. In the end it worked out. Hans tipped me off that there was a detached bungalow for rent not far from his house. After a short viewing by Hans, it turned out that it looked fine. With the advance payment of one month's rent and deposit, housing is now arranged.
Airline ticket
Now buying a plane ticket seems quite easy, but it is not. Of course I am a frugal Dutchman and I do not want to pay the main price. There are plenty of offers, but when you buy a return ticket, there can often only be a maximum of one month between the return flight. Not an option for me because I want to stay for three months. Another point of attention is the amount of luggage you can take with you. Almost everywhere 20 kg unless you pay a lot extra. Usually for one holiday 20 kg is sufficient, but for a stay of three months you want to take a little more with you.
In the end I booked a one-way ticket with Air Berlin. The advantage of this is that I am flexible when it comes to the return date. Unfortunately, I can only take 20 kg of luggage with Air Berlin. It is possible to pay extra per 5 kg, but the costs are quite high. It is better to buy the luggage that I cannot take with me Thailand, that's cheaper.
Visa
Of course, if you are going to spend the winter, you need a visa. When you go to Thailand for 30 days or more, you must apply for a visa. You can do this at the Thai consulate in Amsterdam. Because you don't get the visa right away, I decided to apply for a visa by mail. That saves me two trips to Amsterdam journey.
My choice was a so-called 2 entry Tourist visa. This allows you to stay in Thailand for a total of 2x 60 days. There is a small catch here. Harold told me that you have to leave Thailand after 60 days. After that you can re-enter Thailand for the next 60 days. If you don't do that, you will be fined for overstay and that can cost a lot of money. The annoying thing is that this is not on the website of the consulate. So a bit messy.
Travel Insurance
My ongoing travel– and cancellation insurance had to be adjusted for the winter. A comprehensive travel insurance policy has a maximum period during which you can stay abroad for a period of time. With my travel insurer, Mondial Assistance, that is 60 days. However, this can be extended to 180 days, which of course I did.
Transport on site
Because I am a bit removed from the center of Hua Hin, the choice fell on renting a motorbike for a period of three months. A problem, however, is the all-risk insurance, which I consider necessary. Although I do have a motorcycle license and an international driver's license, I don't want any trouble in case of damage. After all, you are a farang and that usually means; docks. We still have to figure out how we are going to solve this with the all-risk insurance. A rented motorbike is in the name of the lessor. The question is whether I can then take out an all-risk insurance policy. Perhaps Matthieu from AA insurance knows a solution? We're going to ask him.
So much for part 2. of 'Wintering in Thailand according to Khun Peter'
In any case, you are going to have a nice time. Thank you for explaining and have a very happy holidays there in hua-hin
@ Thank you Kick. However, it will take a while. At the end of January I get on the plane.
Can I enjoy the oil balls here for a while 😉
how do you fly back? because I'm also looking for February to go back and also cheap of course, haha
@ Back I see. Depends on many factors.
why don't you list prices. It doesn't have to be exact, but a little is interesting. hrt. thanks hank
@Dear Henk, prices of what?
well I'd rather go now than no oil balls hahahaah
but yeah i'm leaving in feb again
Yes, I'd rather go today than tomorrow. But I also have to work for a living... 😉
You can get another 60 days after those 30 days without leaving Thailand Khun Peter. Immigration a 1900 bht. And after that 2nd entry you can do it again!
@ Are you absolutely sure? We are talking about a tourist visa here.
I think you can do that once, that extension of 1 days (that was 30 years ago, maybe it has changed).
I'm very sure of that. Did it myself on a tourist visa. I have exactly the same stamp in my passport as pictured above. You can get 30 days extra per entry with a visa. Costs are as much as 1900 bht. But one does not have to do a visa run, for example.
Co 68 has that completely right and the immigration is in Hua Hin and you can take passport photos there
I did it last time too.
Okay Marcos and Hans, thanks for the tip. It's worth considering. Saves a visa run.
Emirates flight ticket end of January to end of April (3 months) 605,20 euros (round trip) and 30 kg of luggage. This is from Dusseldorf. That 30 kg is standard at Emirates, by the way.
@ Is with stopover. I don't feel like waiting six hours in Dubai.
It was announced this afternoon that Etihad is taking a 30% stake in Air Berlin.
Would there be a stopover in Abu Dhabi in the future if people want to fly to BKK because of the cost savings and a better connection to connection flights? Just as is the case with Emirates flights now, stopover in Dubai.
If I could choose between a stopover in Dubai with Emirates and Air Berlin, I would know.
There is quite a difference between those flights and airlines. Have flown with both, but after Air Berlin 1 time 3 years ago, only flew with Emirates (8 times). Honestly, the transfer is annoying when it is 6 o'clock, but if you search a bit and change per day, it is certainly possible to find something with a 2 to 4 hour wait at the most.
You can also win a lot in terms of price, so also do a search, be careful with cookies on your PC because they also make prices higher. And book directly on the emirates.com site
Certainly food / drink emirates is top, seating is more spacious and very important entertainment system for yourself with all the latest movies etc.
@ I assume directly from you that Emirates is fine flying. But after an hour I take a sleeping pill and by the time we are in Bangkok I wake up. So in my case that is not decisive.
Daniel. if you book ethihad airways you usually only have 2 hours waiting time and is comparable to emirates.
But to be fair, AB is a lot cheaper with a one-way ticket than other companies, which is an advantage that unfortunately I have not yet come across with
the other companies, so if anyone has a good tip I'd like to be recommended.
According to my information, a one-way ticket at AB is the cheapest.
Interesting tips all.
“… be careful with cookies on your PC because they also make prices higher. ”
How so?
Because airlines are very smart and after a while if you don't book directly but first surf around, the prices will artificially increase based on your cookie. I have already saved up to 100 eu several times with this!
The logic of this eludes me entirely. So you claim if you look again later the price may be higher? The stupidest thing a company can do, because then you go to someone else, right?
@It's true what Daniel says. That's called yield management.
Yield management is a form of pricing that uses price elasticity. The optimal number of products is offered to the right number of customers at the best price. The principle originates from the aviation sector, but is now also being applied in the hotel industry. The so-called last-minute offers are also a form of yield management.
Airlines used special software on their own reservation systems to do this, which offers the right number of seats to the right number of passengers, at the right price. This software uses historical and current reservation data and makes a prediction about future reservations and optimal use of seats. The current price of the flight ticket is also determined on the basis of this.
Source: Wikipedia
@Daniel, Peter – Peter and Daniel are talking about 2 different things here. Yield management is nothing more than optimal pricing, from a supplier's perspective, based on (expected) supply and demand. Naturally, yield management looks at total search behavior to get an idea of demand. However, the cookie story suggests that the price would be determined by historical search and booking behavior of the individual.
An example of the cookie theory: when I book a Singapore ticket for business, it is often at the last minute. I am willing to pay say $500. A cookie stores that. The next time I want to book a Singapore ticket privately, I am willing to pay a maximum of $300. However, the computer only shows me the more expensive flights… after all, the 'cookie' has registered that I have already been willing to pay $ 500 for a flight.
In my business contacts with various online travel agencies, including Expedia, the cookie theory is denied. It can even be illegal not to make a certain price (and that price fluctuates, see yield management) accessible to everyone. I've never been able to discover anything about the cookie theory myself (you can check this by requesting prices with different computers via different IP addresses, but at the same time of course). The skeptics can of course always remove the cookies… if it doesn't help, it won't hurt.
See also here for more info, it says IP addresses but I know that's not true in practice, there are also often intermediary cookies on your PC that drive up the price. I don't always benefit from it, but sometimes I see strange price differences and then I'm almost always right.
Also in the mind of the customer it sometimes works to order quickly, if you see that the price is going up you are afraid that the price will be even higher! This makes you order faster, they know exactly what amount is still acceptable to increase.
http://webwereld.nl/column/108591/je-vliegmaatschappij-is-gek-op-ip-adressen–column-.html
Now I kind of get the feeling that this happened to me in the spring with eva air, then I went wrong with it. I looked at the rates on June 30 and booked a lot more expensive on 01-07-2011.
I have now indicated on the browser history that it should not save the cookies
is that sufficient??
Outrageous that KLM dares to cheat us like this, I think this is also prohibited in Holland. Never again KLM for me! I wasn't planning to anyway because of the dirty old planes and bad service.
Now I don't know the price difference, but at both Eva Airways and China Airlines you can buy a 3-month or 1-year ticket with an open return date. I like to fly non-stop.
Regarding extension visa..... if you are in LOS on “visa free entry stamp” for 30 days you can only get an extension for 10 days I think (which also costs just 1900 Thai baht). As for extending a tourist visa, I would assume that the options differ per immigration office. If it is not strictly necessary I would avoid a visit to the immigration office and just get the right visa in NL.
Chang Noi
A tourist visa can be used to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days or up to 60 days and can be extended by 30 days at the nearest Immigration office. Normally there is a fee of 1,900 Baht (as per 2008-01-17) but until March 31st 2011 they are free.
Peter,
Don't you have to have a return ticket for such a visa?
Cor.
You do not need to present a return ticket for a tourist visa. For a “permission to stay at arrival” you must in principle be able to present a return ticket or a ticket for departure within that date.
And yes you can extend a tourist visa without further ado at Immigration for 30 days (indeed Hans normal costs 1900 Bht. but free until March 2012 (this would even be extended due to the floods in BKK)
what about the return journey if I apply for a visa for 3 months do I have to show the return ticket?
@ No, I also only showed one way.
Peter has an Air Berlin tip, take a TopBonus Card, then you can take 30 kilos with you.
But I already booked my ticket. Then it won't work, will it?
from Isaan, I will tell you the following, when you get to the airport in Bangkok you get like 30 days after those 30 days you have to leave Thailand, I always go to Laos capital Vientiane
at the Thai embassy you get two entrances, the price is 2000 bath, then you have 60 days twice, with the first 60 days you cross the border again, via Laos costs 30 dollars or 1500 bath, but look at the dates when you enter Thailand must go out? in all that time a return ticket has never been requested, I have been here for six years and it is still going well, as far as driving here with a scooter is concerned, I want to tell you the following because I have experienced it myself, your loss always here if you have an accident,no stories on them from who is entitled to a farang always loses,i had to pay 7000 baht for the damage and another 400 baht at the police office,you can ask for proof of the payment received me too, there was also a tourist police, together with the thai police because they don't understand you.
hope I have been clear. Greetings from Ban Phon Tak Richard
If you can show a Thai driver's license after an accident, the attitude of the police will change immediately.
In my case it was a driver of a car, no driver's license, not insured, no license plate. With the help of my lawyer, all costs such as hospital have been paid. So my advice in such a case ……. do not pay.
O visa multiple entry. 3 months and then out of the country for a while. Then again 3 months. 125 euros I believe
Had an accident on the scooter last month, another scooter had crossed the road without paying attention and there I was, the police was on the corner, asked my papers and where I came from, the girl was wrong and she said she had to do the damage pay, coincidentally we were opposite yamahashop, girl immediately asked what it could cost, police confiscated her keys and she got them back when she paid, maybe because I have a Thai driver's license, although it has expired, so not always true that as a farang you always have to pay.
“hope I've been clear. greetings from Ban phon tak richard”
Not quite you wrote “at the Thai embassy you get two entrances, the price is 2000 bath, then you have 60 days twice, with the first 60 days you cross the border again, via Laos it costs 30 dollars or 1500 bath, but look at the dates when you have to leave thailand? in all that time no return ticket has ever been requested, i've been here for six years and it's still going well”
The sketch gives the impression that you always have to get your visa via a very “crooked” road. 6 years you seem to do this the question is why in this way?.
I have an idea about this but it's irrelevant.
Cor: No, if you have a (tourist) visa, you do not need a return ticket
A tourist visa can be extended by 30 days at any immigration office.
Costs indeed 1900 baht.
If you are over 50 years old you can also apply for a non-immigrant O visa.
This visa is valid for 90 days.
With a double tourist visa (without the extension) you must make a visa run to the border after (or within) 60 days.
The easiest way to do this is from Hua Hin in Ranong. Just hop over by boat to Burma (Victoria Point)
A 3-month ticket at China Airlines hardly costs more than a month's ticket.
Usually around € 750 return. A single journey is always uneconomical.
China airways, one way half of a return. Well, that's how it was
Coincidentally looked yesterday, but unfortunately, one way much more expensive, unfortunately
Peter, if you regularly spend the winter in Thailand, wouldn't it be more convenient to leave some stuff with friends in Hua Hin so you don't have to travel with heavy suitcases? You may have to buy stuff twice, for here and there, but the consumption or wear out is only half as slow, so on balance you don't spend more. I have been doing this myself for years and only travel with hand luggage, which is very comfortable.
This is the first time. I don't know if I will do it again next year, it depends on many factors. Because I'm not a pensionado, but a wage slave 😉
I also have the same visa as Khun Peter. I had that last year too. After a 60-day stay, simply go to the immigration office in Hua Hin. You will receive an extension of 30 days after you have submitted a copy of your passport and 1 passport photo and completed a form.
If you are in Hua Hin for 90 days, you have to leave the country for an extension of the other 90 days. It all went very easy.
In 1 week I will also go to Hua Hin again and will do the same again after 60 days.
fri. gr..cora
@ Cora, sounds simple indeed. I think I will too.
KLM, 23 kilos, but up to 25 kilos they turn a blind eye. Platinum frequent flyer another suitcase, Business class another. That's 3 suitcases of 25kg, a hard case for golf clubs, up to 25 kg can also be taken along for free (and who's looking at what's in it?) and then another 20kg in your suitcase and you're on a roll.
hello everyone,
I am still collecting information to make a trip to Thailand, including through this site. who can give me an idea of the cost of a 1 month holiday there and which place would be best for your first visit? already covered.
Dear Khan Peter,
Concerns taking little (20kg) for wintering in Thailand.
At Egyptair you can take 2 suitcases with each 23 kg, hand luggage 8 kg.
Sometimes cheap tickets, but transfers.
Charlie
We flew with China Airlines in November and had 3-month tickets with 30 kg of luggage pp freedom = just increased on flights to Bangkok. Paid €660,00 per ticket.
Cheers,
Just checked in China, 3 months (standard) on all economy tickets. Be sure to book on the China airlines website yourself. Prices are also somewhat the same, around €700. You do have to pay on their site with a credit card or with Paypal (Paypal currently offers an extra €10,00 discount per ticket).
you can safely upgrade the 20 kg to 23 with KLM and China Airlines.
cabin luggage klm = 10 kg, china airlines 7 kg, which will be checked.
so you can take about 30 to 33 kg with you, especially if you have your boading card
If you still buy books and cheese or something heavy in the duty-free shops, you can top up your kg further without any problem, I do this every time... even a bottle of gin in a plastic bag causes no problems in BKK if I fly on to CNX.
you don't have to try in good old Europe!
Hi Peter,
Booked Egypt Air last week for a 4 month ticket. 533 euros, and I thought 23 kilos of luggage.
If I send everything to the embassy, in how many days will I have my 2 x 60 day entry visa? And what does that cost? I called the embassy, but it was all a bit unclear.
Thanks 🙂
@ Friso
Tourist Visa 2 entries *
Tourist Visa 2 entry: maximum stay of 2×60 days
Validity Passport: 9 months from the day of application
Visa validity: 6 months from the day of application
Costs: €60,= (from 01-04-2011 you have to pay again for the visa)
http://www.thaiconsulate-amsterdam.org/page3/page3.html
By post is very fast, only a few days, in my case three.
Thanks for the information! And have fun there 🙂
Have a look:
2 pieces of luggage:
23 kilos of luggage + a maximum of 8 kilos of hand luggage.
and the single tickets are relatively not much more expensive, but what about the inside of the aircraft, legroom, etc. do you know that
I just checked it for you.
It looks exactly like this:
Flight from Amsterdam to Cairo (Egypt)
In an Airbus 321, suitable for shortest distance flights with a maximum number of passengers of 220.
Arrive at Cairo, with a transfer time of 3 hours and 10 minutes.
From Cairo you fly to Bangkok with a 773.
Total travel time is: 16 hours and 25 minutes.
Back is just a little longer, you will be in Cairo for 4 hours.
I couldn't find the legroom so quickly, but thought it was 84 centimeters.
The tickets have now risen to 666 euros.
Peter, sorry, also meant more as a joke, you really go as a tourist, leave nothing to chance, do you dare to go to Thailand on spec? just go and see where i end up??
Regards,
Lex
Which is actually what I'm trying to say. do you leave anything to chance?
In 2010 I was not allowed to fly back [hospital admissions] paid for my return ticket with Eva Air elite classe 37,000 bath.
Nice what you can take with you in kilos to Thailand, but if you have to take a domestic flight in Thailand you can only take 15 kilos with you. Checkout.