PLANNING TO VISIT BANGKOK PLEASE SUGGEST

1] both on-line and off-line agents give comparable bargains. Just check if any bank or airline specific offers are ON on some of these on-line agent sites. Many LCCs (Low Cost Carriers) give offers only on their own, so check with airlines’ site / customer care.

2] both bookings will any way be treated seperately, even if you book at a master portal (say goibibo). Do check up specialised sites like expedia too. Unless you get any benefit from a bulk purchase of both things at single place, book as per choice separately.

3] Carrying plastic money (cards) is the easiest, but takes higher exchange rate hit. Travellers Cheque require similar caution or risk as carrying currency. (as in, need to be kept safely).

Just check with the official (like western union) and unofficial (got to be practical) remmitance options that you can use with help of someone in India after you reach Thai. (the latter may give better rate but one has to manage any remaining forex, assuming it is not spent and brought back while entering India again.)

Some good advice is already posted by @chopchop!

1. should i book air tickets via agents or sites like makemytrip,cleartrip etc
Explore both options and go with the cheaper one. As hinted by @chopchop, some airlines (e.g. Thai Airways) give special rates if you book directly with them. For Bangkok, you will get the best rates if you fly from Kolkata.

2. should i book tickets and hotels together or seperalety
Again, explore both options and go with the cheaper one. For Thailand, Expedia often has better hotel rates.

3. what is best way to take money approx 3 laks to bkk via forex cards or credit card/international debit card /travel cheques etc
Forex card is the most convenient. However, if you want to get the best exchange rate, one fact known only to frequent travelers is that you should carry USD currency and get it converted to Baht at one of the many kiosks operated by Arabs once you arrive in Bangkok. Not sure about the legality of their operation. YMMV.

By the way, are you going alone?

Well as you can see that @DealSeeker and @chopchop have already posted the required information but my question is that why do you need to carry so much of amount unless you are planning to be there for very long.

@BUTTERFLYBOY wrote:

Well as you can see that @DealSeeker and @chopchop have already posted the required information but my question is that why do you need to carry so much of amount unless you are planning to be there for very long.

Perhaps, electronics shopping? Or, perhaps, this is a business trip.

@tanyarohira24, please clarify.

Here is another fact known mostly to frequent travelers, if somebody is willing to go through the hassle, one can recover the cost of the entire trip (and make some profit) by importing electronic items like TVs and then reselling them upon arrival in India.

By the way, there is nothing illegal in this and a lot of traders already do this on their weekly/monthly trips to places like Guangzhou and Bangkok.

By the way, are you going alone?

DealSeeker bro.. i’ll hold my thoughts on the above for later. Lets just say you are terribly busy next quarter, so dont even think about it.

@DealSeeker wrote:

Not sure about the legality of their operation. YMMV.

DS ..in such ‘operations’ (Kerlaites in Singapore or as you say Arabs in) the law is taken care of, one just has to be cautious.

Problem is not outside India. Its damn Immigration and I..T. Dept. Better to take some forex entry on passport, otherwise bringing any leftover forex is lot khitpit and now all you IT whizkids have given them easy tools to scan master databases of PAN versus financial transaction versus bank complainces to India or the U.S. Patriot act. Too much khitpit for foreign travelling assesse who file returns. (3 in 10 returns go in scruitiny, and … … if the traced PAN has not filed a return, they send a love letter by Regd. A.D.)

Tanya, in-fact DealSeeker is right in asking. If there are three four of you, take forex in all names, so that it becomes easy if you bring back the hawala’ed forex.

and @DealSeeker bro’s addition is very true. Best far east connections are usually from CCU. Only few carriers (Air Asia etcetera) offer matching rates ex-Bengaluru or south of Vindhya’s

Laptops/Mobiles/TV

If you are comfortable, you can book the room/Service apartment through AirBnb as you get to have whole Apartment with full privacy at your disposal and it is damn cheap. I stayed at the following place in Bangkok, it is a bit far but the apartment was lovely and the host was very helpful (We went to shopping on our last day and the host was gracious enough to deliver our luggages to Airport in Taxi and he paid the fare himself!)

https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/...77

Have also used AirBnB in Europe as well and it was safe and comfortable (though Paris area was a bit creepy)

Isn’t bangkok famous infamous for prostitution if I am not wrong ??

@ishandon wrote:

Isn’t bangkok famous infamous for prostitution if I am not wrong ??

You are not wrong. It’s also famous for a lot of other things. But what are you implying?

@DealSeeker wrote:

@BUTTERFLYBOY wrote:

@tanyarohira24 please clarify.

aap dono (BB, DS) bhi na [space left to add smiley after asking for DimePicture’s help]

pichey hi pad gaye!

Butterfly bhai, its known to be a shopping destination and any way hub of manufacturing and close to Taiwan etc. 3 4 laakh tou kuch bhi nahi hai.
Be it business travel or leisure.
Halliburton, Louis Vuitton Macbook, top end labels.. though i dont know > http://www.metacritic.com/movie/what-a-girl...ts OR http://www.metacritic.com/movie/what-wome...nt

DS bro, that cost recovery thing. ann aa no, not reco’ed for a regular person out to have a good time. (besides .. .. .. like the elite, blue bloods dont need to).

even late 90s and early last decade was about Thai trips to and fro, pocket full of RAM DIMMs, an odd electronic item and 2 3 dog chains or bracelet (24 carat).

But now:

1] for one the psychoanalysts at immigration just detect any nervous returning non NRI and do the usual.

2] at the end of the day electronics, TVs etc are rendered low margin meaningless imports (if duty paid) or smuggles, that anyway the Indian office of the brand doesnt support. We bringing it to sell it to grey market retailer or on-line (olx) ..loopy chain.

3] the intention to cross subsidise is good. But then the sense of joy, fun, relaxation is replaced with a commodification of sorts.. Of the trip.

Corrections and counter-views appreciated. (if the first four letters of your display handle are not = dime)

I am not implying anything

Only reasons i have heard the name bangkok is whenever it is about prostitution and chineese girls

It feels awkward when someone talks about a trip and that too a 10 day long trip to bangkok

Btw what others things is bangkok famous for ???

@DealSeeker wrote:

@ishandon wrote:

Isn’t bangkok famous infamous for prostitution if I am not wrong ??

You are not wrong. It’s also famous for a lot of other things. But what are you implying?

@ishandon wrote:

I am not implying anything

Only reasons i have heard the name bangkok is whenever it is about prostitution and chineese girls

It feels awkward when someone talks about a trip and that too a 10 day long trip to bangkok

Btw what others things is bangkok famous for ???

@DealSeeker wrote:

@ishandon wrote:

Isn’t bangkok famous infamous for prostitution if I am not wrong ??

You are not wrong. It’s also famous for a lot of other things. But what are you implying?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangkok#E...my

Kya Ishan Kumar! tsch.. Rajeev Bhatia ko dekh kar bhi nahi seekhey? Khao piyo, marshal arts karo, mast raho! Even if you forget street food and martial arts, Thailand has the most scenic locales.. Not the kachra crowd places in brochures. The true snorkellng spots, the best trekking spots, the wildlife is all spread across various islands. Its also a seat of Buddhist philosophy so all those places.

Arey! The oldest profession in the world just gets first mover advantage. But you can do a hell lot more. (err i mean , apart from that. Also apne jaise ghas phus wallo ke liye khana bhi thoda dekh kar. But i can eat rambutaan, blenkang, dragonfruit and stuff all day long and still not get bored of it)

Wow, I am impressed by your general knowledge dude. You must be so intelligent. But, you missed somethings I would like to remind. Per se,

1. The OP’s name starts with TANYA. So, by your intelligence ‘she’ is out for what?

2. Someone asked for a little info and on a ‘forum’ and your contribution is?

3. Where are your sensibilities?

P.S. I refrain from confrontation on public forums but this is outrageous by any standards.

@ishandon wrote:

I am not implying anything

Only reasons i have heard the name bangkok is whenever it is about prostitution and chineese girls

It feels awkward when someone talks about a trip and that too a 10 day long trip to bangkok

Btw what others things is bangkok famous for ???

@DealSeeker wrote:

@ishandon wrote:

Isn’t bangkok famous infamous for prostitution if I am not wrong ??

You are not wrong. It’s also famous for a lot of other things. But what are you implying?

@chopchop wrote:

Kya Ishan Kumar! tsch.. Rajeev Bhatia ko dekh kar bhi nahi seekhey? Khao piyo, marshal arts karo, mast raho! Forget street food and martial arts, Thailand has the most scenic locales.. Not the kachra crowd places in brochures. The true snorkellng spots, the best trekking spots, the wildlife is all spread across various islands. Its also a seat of Buddhist philosophy so all those places.

Arey! The oldest profession in the world just gets first mover advantage. But you can do a hell lot more. (err i mean , apart from that. Also apne jaise ghas phus wallo ke liye khana bhi thoda dekh kar. But i can eat rambutaan, blenkang, dragonfruit and stuff all day long and still not get bored of it)

are you a travel agent or travel guider ?

@cashif wrote:

If you are comfortable, you can book the room/Service apartment through AirBnb as you get to have whole Apartment with full privacy at your disposal and it is damn cheap. I stayed at the following place in Bangkok, it is a bit far but the apartment was lovely and the host was very helpful (We went to shopping on our last day and the host was gracious enough to deliver our luggages to Airport in Taxi and he paid the fare himself!)

https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/...77

Have also used AirBnB in Europe as well and it was safe and comfortable (though Paris area was a bit creepy)

+1 and karma for live first person experience advice. Which suburb in Paris, just curious?

@tanyarohira24 By the way, what ended up happening with this? http://www.desidime.com/forums/dost-and-dimes/t...

@DealSeeker wrote:

@tanyarohira24 By the way, what ended up happening with this? http://www.desidime.com/forums/dost-and-dimes/t...

DS its off-topic and may fan a wave of another 50 60 posts topic (this topic) eventually getting archived.

I remembered it, thats why somewhere i dropped an innocuous line about ‘blue bloods’

Bhaiyu what are you exactly expecting from a poor man like me who hasn’t even been to nepal

@thrifty_indian wrote:

Wow, I am impressed by your general knowledge dude. You must be so intelligent. But, you missed somethings I would like to remind. Per se,

1. The OP’s name starts with TANYA. So, by your intelligence ‘she’ is out for what?

2. Someone asked for a little info and on a ‘forum’ and your contribution is?

3. Where are your sensibilities?

P.S. I refrain from confrontation on public forums but this is outrageous by any standards.

@ishandon wrote:

I am not implying anything

Only reasons i have heard the name bangkok is whenever it is about prostitution and chineese girls

It feels awkward when someone talks about a trip and that too a 10 day long trip to bangkok

Btw what others things is bangkok famous for ???

@DealSeeker wrote:

@ishandon wrote:

Isn’t bangkok famous infamous for prostitution if I am not wrong ??

You are not wrong. It’s also famous for a lot of other things. But what are you implying?

Feels like tanya didi ko property ka addha hissa mil gaya and she is spending that in her bangkok trip (assuming this isn’t just another fake id trolling us)

@chopchop How much I might spend if I go there and stay for 10 days? Suppose I stay in a 3 star hotel and see the nearby places. Wanted to go from very long.
@DealSeeker Is it a good business to buy the electronics from there and sale here? I want to start my own business next year so may be this would also help.

@BUTTERFLYBOY wrote:

@chopchop How much I might spend if I go there and stay for 10 days? Suppose I stay in a 3 star hotel and see the nearby places. Wanted to go from very long.
@DealSeeker Is it a good business to buy the electronics from there and sale here? I want to start my own business next year so may be this would also help.

you business partner is here

@chopchop wrote:

@cashif wrote:

If you are comfortable, you can book the room/Service apartment through AirBnb as you get to have whole Apartment with full privacy at your disposal and it is damn cheap. I stayed at the following place in Bangkok, it is a bit far but the apartment was lovely and the host was very helpful (We went to shopping on our last day and the host was gracious enough to deliver our luggages to Airport in Taxi and he paid the fare himself!)

https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/...77

Have also used AirBnB in Europe as well and it was safe and comfortable (though Paris area was a bit creepy)

+1 and karma for live first person experience advice. Which suburb in Paris, just curious?

Porte de Clichy.

@BUTTERFLYBOY Like I mentioned in my earlier post, we paid only Rs. 10k for a week stay; we were a group of 4 and the studio apartment was very nice with free wifi/snacks and a very helpful host-guide.

@BUTTERFLYBOY wrote:

@chopchop How much I might spend if I go there and stay for 10 days? Suppose I stay in a 3 star hotel and see the nearby places. Wanted to go from very long.
@DealSeeker Is it a good business to buy the electronics from there and sale sell here? I want to start my own business next year so may be this would also help.

From Bangkok: Maybe.

From Guangzhou: YES — based on the experience of some people I know. But they keep telling me how corrupt the Chinese traders are and how they can’t do anything about it if the Chinese traders send them even a shipping container full of the wrong variants of the ordered items. When an Indian trader talks about how much more corrupt some other people are, you have got to take it seriously.

So it’s a risky business that you should enter only if you have the capacity to absorb that kind of loss and the ability to hustle through such situations.

@DealSeeker wrote:

@BUTTERFLYBOY wrote:

@chopchop How much I might spend if I go there and stay for 10 days? Suppose I stay in a 3 star hotel and see the nearby places. Wanted to go from very long.
@DealSeeker Is it a good business to buy the electronics from there and sale sell here? I want to start my own business next year so may be this would also help.

From Bangkok: Maybe.

From Guangzhou: YES — based on the experience of some people I know. But they keep telling me how corrupt the Chinese traders are and how they can’t do anything about it if the Chinese traders send them even a shipping container full of the wrong variants of the ordered items. When an Indian trader talks about how much more corrupt some other people are, you have got to take it seriously.

So it’s a risky business that you should enter only if you have the capacity to absorb that kind of loss and the ability to hustle through such situations.

Thanks for the info.
And thanks @ishandon . Will certainly think about it.

@cashif wrote:

@chopchop wrote:

@cashif wrote:

If you are comfortable, you can book the room/Service apartment through AirBnb as you get to have whole Apartment with full privacy at your disposal and it is damn cheap. I stayed at the following place in Bangkok, it is a bit far but the apartment was lovely and the host was very helpful (We went to shopping on our last day and the host was gracious enough to deliver our luggages to Airport in Taxi and he paid the fare himself!)

https://www.airbnb.co.in/rooms/...77

Have also used AirBnB in Europe as well and it was safe and comfortable (though Paris area was a bit creepy)

+1 and karma for live first person experience advice. Which suburb in Paris, just curious?

Porte de Clichy.

@BUTTERFLYBOY Like I mentioned in my earlier post, we paid only Rs. 10k for a week stay; we were a group of 4 and the studio apartment was very nice with free wifi/snacks and a very helpful host-guide.

So I can cover my 10 days stay in around 40K including visa and tickets. Right?

What can I say? You defeated the whole purpose of my post.

@ishandon wrote:

Bhaiyu what are you exactly expecting from a poor man like me who hasn’t even been to nepal

@thrifty_indian wrote:

Wow, I am impressed by your general knowledge dude. You must be so intelligent. But, you missed somethings I would like to remind. Per se,

1. The OP’s name starts with TANYA. So, by your intelligence ‘she’ is out for what?

2. Someone asked for a little info and on a ‘forum’ and your contribution is?

3. Where are your sensibilities?

P.S. I refrain from confrontation on public forums but this is outrageous by any standards.

@ishandon wrote:

I am not implying anything

Only reasons i have heard the name bangkok is whenever it is about prostitution and chineese girls

It feels awkward when someone talks about a trip and that too a 10 day long trip to bangkok

Btw what others things is bangkok famous for ???

@DealSeeker wrote:

@ishandon wrote:

Isn’t bangkok famous infamous for prostitution if I am not wrong ??

You are not wrong. It’s also famous for a lot of other things. But what are you implying?