Sep 19, 2013 |
Whenever I’m on the lookout for new places to eat I always try and find out where the locals go. So I figured why not find out where Thais go to get the best currency exchange rates. Thais love to travel especially to other parts of Asia, Europe and of course the good ol’ USA.
So where do Thais go to get the exchange rates that are way better than what Thai banks have to offer?
They head to Super Rich money exchange. What a funky name right?
The best place to exchange for Thai Baht…
Super Rich is not a bank but they are still one of the most recognized businesses in Thailand for getting the best rates.
Just recently $1US dollar was around 32THB which is really good. When I arrived into Thailand a few months ago it was around 29THB. Before that it was around 27THB. I know a few THB here and there doesn’t seem like a whole lot but the difference is certainly noticeable if you’re changing a lot of big bills.
Of course they are able to exchange major currencies from all the world from Yen to Euros.
There’s a Super Rich close to me at Central Ladprao Mall but they do have branches in Silom and Chidlom which are all convenient locations for tourists.
Just to remember to bring along your passport which is a new requirement for foreigners.
Sep 9, 2013 |
Not too many people in the office at the time…
Is a pulse and a measly 20THB. As you all may know by now the wifey and I opened up a small cafe. We got our lease/contract from our landlord so we made our merry way to the local Thai government business registry office. It’s a big office building but totally nondescript because it’s down a soi. Taxi drivers seem to not have a problem locating it because it’s such a well known government office.
Anyways getting our cafe registered took less than 10 minutes. And it only cost 20THB, less than a $1US. Well if you count the photo copies I had to make of the contract and my wife’s Thai ID card the cost is actually a little over $1US.
I remember about 5 years ago it cost me $200US just to register and incorporate a business. And I had to wait about a week.
Not that I was rushing at the time.
But it’s a bit amazing to me on how fast we could open up shop. Hell, we didn’t even have our legal papers the day we opened up until now. Back in the good ol’ USA that just wouldn’t fly with the authorities including Mr. Taxman.
Speaking of taxes, since we’re a small business we don’t even have to pay any taxes. I’m not knocking the US. I love my country. But sometimes the rules and regulations for the little guys can be overwhelming.
I remember a good buddy of mine who opened a bakery forgot to renew his business registration. The penalty for that tiny mistake was a little over a $1000US. That’s just plain nuts. And business was a little slow at the time for him so it was a big hefty chunk of change to hand over.
So far business for us is picking up slowly. We have our up and down days.
Part of my big challenge here in Bangkok is the bakery. I’m experimenting on a lot of different recipes and learning along the way that Thai people like their desserts to be soft.
What does that mean? Well, they don’t like chewy foods especially chewy desserts. So I’m looking into recipes for soft cakes and breads. Maybe they’ll like puddings too?
I’ll put up a pic of my shop after I pick up the painting we paid a painter to paint. I also want to buy some paper mach cats. But it cost about $35US for a big one and the smaller ones cost about $10US each. They’ll look good in my shop but man paying that much for paper art is not easy.
Apr 1, 2013 |
It can be cheap as chips ordering a meal out on the streets of Bangkok. That’s what most locals do too because most apartments or even condos don’t have full kitchens. But you’re still going to need groceries to stock your fridge and keep some non perishable foods tucked away in the cupboards.
Good news is that supermarkets in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, is that I can find a lot of my favorite brand name food items, like Doritos and Spam, yummmm… not eaten together of course.
Yummy Doritos imported from the US, cost $4 bucks which is not a bad price…
Bad news is prices can be more expensive and even though there are sales and discounts you don’t really save that much at all. There are of course substitutes but if you’ve eaten a lot of Spam in your lifetime you will know that Hormel, the original maker of Spam is king and all other brands are just cheap imitations.
And being and Asian dude finding my favorite Asian groceries is not a problem at all either. But again, some of the Asian grocery items I can’t live without are Nissin Ramen Noodles. I can’t live without my favorite packaged ramen and as much as I like it, I’m not going to spend a little over $1USD for one pack in Thailand. While a pack back in NYC cost .50¢ at a Chinese supermarket. So when I’m back in NYC I usually stuff around a dozen before my flight to Thailand.
Almost $1 for a pack…
Again, there are of course a lot of other different brands of ramen that are much cheaper in price. Not sure about taste though since I haven’t tasted them all. But I’m not going to risk going over an MSG overload just to find a new and cheaper ramen in Thailand. And old habits die hard so I prefer Nissan brands because I’ve been eating it since I was a kid.
Now in a past post I eluded that it if you are searching for an apartment in Bangkok it is a smart move to choose one near a supermarket. One that is ideally in easy walking distance or easily reached by local cheap transport like a bus or a motorbike taxi. Taxis are plenty and cheap in Bangkok too and I suppose you can use one every time you go grocery shopping. Personally I don’t mind taking a short stroll while carrying my newly bought goodies because that’s what I have always done in NYC.
All Central branded malls have a Tops Supermarket inside…
So there are quite a few large supermarkets in Bangkok. The ones I live in walking distance to are called Villa Market, Tesco Lotus and Tops Market.
Of the three mentioned Villa Market carries the most brand name products that would be familiar with Americans. Most of them are frozen foods though like TV dinners and such and even though the prices are higher they are reasonable given that most of the products traveled all the way from the US.
Even though I like Villa Market, I do about 90% of my grocery shopping in Tesco Lotus and Tops Market. The reason why is the latter 2 markets are in a busier location and closer to each other. I enjoy eating at the Ichiban Ramen Restaurant inside the same building as the Tesco Lotus. And Tops Market has an awesome food court in the basement level of the Central Ladprao Mall.
By the way, you should sign up with Tesco Lotus and Tops Market member cards. It’s free and if you’re going to be shopping at those two places, why not earn some points for future discounts. You should certainly sign up for the Tops One Spot Card. Those are great because you can earn points in any Central branded mall, Robinson’s Mall, Zen shopping centers and Power Sports. Believe me, those points add up fast. I always use up my points whenever there’s a big sale on clothes inside Central Malls. It’s way worth it and should be on your check list so remember, sign up for Tops One Spot Card.
A market I always go to in Central Ladprao Mall…
Since both are larger supermarkets I can find more choices and options plus since I have so much spare time I don’t mind strolling around the aisles and discovering new goodies much to the detriment of my diet.
Almost $3 bucks for little over half a gallon of milk…
One thing that I have noticed is that in Thailand, dairy products are expensive. Particularly milk and cheese. Half a gallon of milk in Thailand cost $2.88USD in today’s current exchange rate. Now in NYC I can buy a gallon for $3.50USD plus tax. I use a lot of milk for cereals and smoothies in NYC and I will never complain about prices here again. Though not quite sure why yogurt is more reasonably priced in Thailand, however it is still cheaper in the States. A small container cost me about .50¢ and the serving size is smaller than what I am used to in NYC.
Bologne and ham section in Tesco Lotus…
Sliced cheese is ridiculously expensive. Not sure what the current price is now because I stopped checking until someone at a Thai cheese factory comes to their senses and bring the prices down. Ham is equally just as expensive. This is bad news for a guy like me who loves and enjoy sandwiches way more than he should. I guess it would make sense though for ham and cheese to be a bit pricier since it’s not something you would find in an average ordinary Thai household.
About $35USD for 32ozs of steak, kinda pricey…
I miss cooking a lot while in Bangkok. Aside from cooking my ramen noodles with Spam and eggs with one of those induction stove tops. But I only make that meal as a treat. What I really miss is cooking a full on meal like grilling a steak. I love big juicy steaks especially those 160z USDA prime rib eyes I used to buy in BJs where a 5 pack cost $35USD. Here in Bangkok a 32 oz will set me back the same price. I also miss cooking up a pot of beef stew.
But as I mentioned elsewhere, residential buildings are not equipped with gas pipes so no gas stoves. And propane tanks no matter what size in general are not allowed in apartments and condos. So I picked up a induction stove top and an oven for baking, both running on electricity.
So you can bet when I get a home in the next few years I’m going to make sure I build up a nice big outdoor kitchen and getting myself one of those really nice Webster grills for cooking up some Flintstones sized steaks.
Mar 22, 2013 |
It cost 1900THB to get a 30 Visa extension…
On an older post I wrote about the Thai tourist visa I mentioned that you can extend each entry to 30 days for a total of 90 days. To get the 30 day extension you have to make your way to your nearest Thai immigration office. In Bangkok I head to the Chaeng Wattana office, which is about a 20 minute taxi ride if you’re coming from the Chatuchak area.
It’s a pretty straightforward process, as long as you have everything ready. You’ll need:
- 1 Passport sized photo
- A copy of your passport photo page, tourist visa page, departure card and entry date page.
- Tourist visa extension from which you can get at the office
- 1900THB which is the fee for extension. Kind of pricey don’t you think?
The Thai immigration building is huge and there are many government complexes nearby. You’re goal is to make it to Building B which is the immigration office. There are free buses withing the grounds that take you to building B or you can take one of the motobike taxis. They only charge 20THB which isn’t a bad deal at all.
As I said it’s a big building but there are many information kiosk all over the area so people can point you to the right way easily. There are photo copy and passport photo services on the floor below, just use the escalators. Photo copies cost 1 Baht each, don’t remember how much the passport photos cost but it I believe it’s around 200THB for 8 or 10 photos. Lots of coffee shops, stores and a big decent food court can be found there too.
The immigration office opens at 8:30am and closes from 12pm to 1pm for lunch. I believe the office closes at 4pm – 4:30pm. But as long as you have a numbered ticket on your hand they have to service you, even when the office officially closes.
So how long does it take to get the tourist visa extended? From my experience it takes about 2 hours, which is from the time I finish filling out the visa extension form, get my ticket number, get my application reviewed by the immigration officer and finally getting my passport back with a 30 day extension stamp.
But here are a few tips to avoid getting delayed and waiting longer at the immigration office.
Make sure you put down the address you are staying in Thailand clearly. And include your mobile telephone number. Avoid visiting the Thai immigration office before and after a major Thai national holiday where government offices are closed.
I once made made a visit to the immigration office after a big holiday and man, I had to wait like 4 to 5 hours. What made it even worse is that traffic is really bad in the area when 5pm rolls around.
Mar 7, 2013 |
Thaiapartment.com website
My Tips on Finding a Comfortable Place to Live in Bangkok
I know there are a lot of people moving moving to Bangkok for long term, whether it’s for retirement or simply for an extended vacation. Apartments are very affordable and the rents are a lot more manageable compared to other major cities.
If you’re planning on moving to Bangkok your first priority is obviously find a decent area to stay in a great location. Your best bet is to stay at an apartment within the city limits. It’s probably not the best idea to think about buying a condo but you can rent, just yet to pay more. No matter how nice and affordable Bangkok condos are, until you know a life in Thailand is what you truly want. Things are going to be different after all since it is a major change in lifestyle.
Thai homes are an even greater value. But there is a hitch if you’re planning to go that route eventually. Foreigners are not allowed to own land which is a big problem if you want your house on top of it. So the only way for a foreigner can chill out at their own humble abode is to marry a Thai national who’s name is the landholder. But that’s a whole different topic.
So what location is the best place to stay within central Bangkok? Or how much and what are the costs involved with renting and leasing and apartment in Bangkok for a few months or years? Even though there are a lot more questions I’m sure those few are the most important.
Most apartments are furnished, meaning there’s a bed with mattress (no linens and pillows), a television with some English but mostly Thai channels, refrigerator, clothes drawers and perhaps a writing desk and chair. There’s most likely Wi-Fi internet access for free but if you want stable internet access it’s best to subscribe to an Internet service provider like True Online. Though you might want to visit one of their service centers to speak with someone because their website is not helpful. You can find a True service center in every major mall. Or ask someone at the apartment management office who should have that info at the ready.
And if it’s a newer building there might even be a pool and or small workout gym. But the most important apartment feature you must have is air condition. Well, at least it’s important for me. The city can get really hot.
The cost of water and electricity is calculated separate from rent. Though typical cost of water is 20THB per unit and cost of electricity is 8THB per unit. I’m sorry to say, to this day, I still can’t figure out what Thailand’s standard unit of measurement is for utilities.
So the best I can do is give you an example. For water, I take showers 2 to 3 times a day. Wash a few dishes and water my plants daily. At the end of the month my water bill consistently comes out to $3USD a month about 90THB.
Speaking of water, is it safe to drink it? There are locals who do drink water straight from the tap and there are those that strictly drink from bottled or treated water.
Personally, I don’t drink the local water from the tap, even though I know it has been treated with chlorine. I do brush my teeth and rinse with it so a little bit of the water does go down my gut. So I guess that’s okay. But I’d try and avoid gulping down a giant mouthful. As far as showering, Bangkok’s water does the job just fine.
My electricity bill fluctuates because the biggest cost factor is running the air condition, which is a must use when it gets hot. I’m out most of the day but I keep a fan running if I am in during the day. I mostly turn on my air con when I’m sleeping, so I have it on for about 5 or 6 hours and program a shut off afterwards.
Just a side note, if you’re really concerned about the heat, which I’m not joking does get bad, do remember to ask for any available room that doesn’t get hit with a whole lot of sun during the day. Your room will be considerably comfortable so you won’t have to suck up so much electricity.
Other appliances that use up the juice is my oven I use for baking occasionally, an electric induction stove for cooking occasionally, my refrigerator (that is on 24 hours) a room fan, television and charging my laptop and iPad. On average my electric bill is between $30USD to $40USD.
Other extra cost is if I want someone to clean my room it’ll cost me $10USD or 300THB per cleaning. My parking space cost $30USD a month.
And my base rent is 8500THB. So every month I pay around 10500THB or with today’s currency exchange rates $350USD.
Most places offer some type of package called full service which means you get a fully furnished room with room cleaning, pillows, bed linen and towels which are changed twice a week. And you’ll get a set amount of electricity included along with unlimited usage of water. Those types of packages can run a minimum of 15000THB depending on where you go.
My tips on apartment hunting in Bangkok is mostly based on my experience. I have only 2 needs which I think most people are concerned about as I am:
- Safety and Cleanliness
- Location and Convenience
Okay you can consider the above as 4 needs. I just didn’t want to complicate things.
Starting off with safety. Most neighborhoods in Bangkok are quite safe and crime is relatively low compared to other major cities with a large population. Newer apartment buildings are well lit, employ a few security guards with closed circuit cameras recording and running around the clock. And all apartment buildings have electronic key cards provided for tenants only to access the front entrance and or elevators.
You should also take a look at the building management too since they are the folks who manage the building security and cleaning staff.
Which leads me to my next point on cleanliness. Most well managed buildings will without a doubt have a dedicated cleaning crew that sweep the floors on a daily basis and mop the floors on schedule. And you can also arrange room cleaning with the same crew through the office management.
Rent Cost in Bangkok
Here are the most expensive neighborhoods in Bangkok:
- Sukhumvit
- Silom/Sathorn
- Thong Lor
- Ekkamai
For a comfortable furnished apartment with at least 30 square meters of space including a balcony you can expect to spend a minimum of 15,000THB per month for a room in the areas listed above. You might even be charged a higher rate for utilities too. Because those are prime neighborhoods with ultra convenience to the BTS Sky Train line and or MRT Subway line. You can expect to pay a bit more for an apartment near any of the train station entrances.
Here are inexpensive to medium priced neighborhoods in Bangkok:
- Phaholyothin
- Ratchoyothin
- Ladprao
- Ratchadapisek
- Victory Monument
- Phayathai
The neighborhoods listed above are where you can find the most affordable apartments. That’s not to say you won’t find expensive places to live either. As I mentioned earlier the closer you are to a train line the costlier the apartment. But it’s safe to say you can find a lot of clean and modern apartments in those parts of Bangkok in the 8000THB range. Though the further you get into a soi (lane or alley in Thai) the cheaper and perhaps the older the accommodations will be.
I want to mention that it’s best to get an apartment that isn’t too old. Most older apartments are very cheap, about $100USD or 3000THB per month. Obviously I haven’t seen every apartment in Bangkok in the $100USD price range. But I’ve seen enough to know that not all of the floors are lit. There is no hot water.
And cheap $100USD per month apartments in Bangkok typically have small cramped bathrooms where the shower is directly or adjacent to the toilet so everything including your hanging roll of toilet tissue will get wet. I guess you can fashion a shower curtain but since the bathroom is so small, you might as well not waste your time.
When my wife was 17 years old she used to live in a cheap apartment that cost $50USD a month the first day she came to Bangkok and found a job at a hotel. Yeah, she hated it. It was small and crammed with no air con plus she had to share a bathroom with tenants. Unless that’s your cup of tea these types of apartment dwellings are not listed on the Internet so you’ll have to do a bit of walking.
In general you can sign a lease for a month at a time. Though you may get a better deal on rent if you sign a lease for 6 months to a year. Laying down 2 months of rent deposit is typical too once you’ve signed the dotted line on the lease.
After looking through a few prospects you should also take a look at the area surrounding the apartments. Check if it’s close to a mall or at least within walking distance to a big supermarket. Having a little 7 Eleven convenience nearby is a bonus too. I can’t tell you how many times 7 Elevens have saved me from a mid night munchies attack. Check out my Bangkok Supermarket Guide (coming soon) for places to stock up your fridge as well as well as cost of food.
If you’re curious as to where I stay, it’s a place called Prim Place Apartments, located on Phaholyothin Road by soi 26. As of writing I’ve been keeping an apartment there for the past 4 years. It’s a clean building that is kept that way on a daily basis. Security is good with key card access and friendly security guards.
Prim Place Apartments is in a safe area but to be frank most of Bangkok is safe though crime does happen so I never place myself into any false sense of security. Plus there are coin operated washers and dryers on premise.
The area Prim Place is located on is mostly residential with a large mix of locals that work in the city. There is also an increasing frequency of foreigners in the area I am staying at too. Plus lots of foreign exchange students also choose to stay in the area because it is close to a popular university called Kasetsart where they attend international business courses.
To me it’s a convenient location because there are a handful of big shopping malls in walking distance. Union Mall is a popular shopping center for Thai teens and has a loads of restaurants to check out or chill out. Central Ladprao which is just one of a chain of famous malls with brand name popular malls are just a 15 minute walking distance or a 2 minute bus ride. Tesco a large supermarket that doubles as a mini mall is also along the same route.
The closest mall from where I live is called Major Ratchayothin. Its got a bowling center, movie theaters, restaurants, shops plus a night market. All just a short 5 minute walk. And there are loads of hawker stands from noodle joints to packed restaurants providing affordable delights from Isaan. To me, it’s a great place to stay and suits my needs perfectly.
Finally, I recommend taking a few days to look at a couple of places before you decide on where you want to make your home away from home. Book a hotel for a few nights first instead of rushing ahead and moving into an apartment straight away.
And don’t hire some kind of broker working on commission. There is simply no need to spend frivolously.
Here are 2 really helpful Thai apartment websites:
Because most apartments in Bangkok, particularly in the central neighborhoods are ready for foreign tenants. And besides, it’s really not rocket science.
If the price is right you’ll get a good vibe if the location, building quality and room is just right for you fairly quickly. When the place is clean, close to places you want to go to and meet whatever criteria you have in mind then it’s probably a good place to start a life in Bangkok.
So to summarize, it’s best to pick an apartment on the main road or as close to the main road as possible. Though rooms for rent on those areas are slightly higher, its way more convenient than far down a soi.
In my observations Bangkok apartments in the $250 to $325 price range are an excellent value. Pay anything much less than that and the location may not be so convenient and taken care of.
Feb 16, 2013 |
Wat Arun in Bangkok
There’s a lot of reasons why one would choose to live in the Big Mango. Or even the Big Smoke as some would call it.
Thailand is a wonderful country to live in. Whether you want to teach, experience a different way and pace of life, or simply retiring. And maybe you’re working on that international thriller and you need an exotic location. Bangkok is not a bad choice at all to do all of that and more.
Right here in the next following posts, I’m going to show you a bit of the ropes. You’ll find out where to live. Places to eat and find healthy food at affordable prices. Medical care can be a real concern but luckily Bangkok has a lot of well trained international doctors. Whether you want to live in an area that is quiet or a place that is jammed packed with activity. Or perhaps an apartment in between. Which is what I prefer. I’ll point you out to certain sections of Bangkok that are suitable for those accustomed to western comforts and lifestyle.
The great thing about living in Bangkok is that many things which we are accustomed to back in our home countries are more affordable. Though the prices of food and other necessities are slightly creeping up.
But the most important thing is that apartments are very much affordable. And if you have the cash to spend and really plan on living in Bangkok, or anywhere else in Thailand as a matter of fact, you might benefit a lot by purchasing a condominium. Depending on your requirements and comfort level, a condo can be purchased for $65,000USD on the outskirts of central Bangkok.
Houses are affordable too. The only technicality is that foreigners cannot own Thai any piece of Thai soil. But we’ll get into that a little more later.
So stay tuned later on for more information on how you can ease into a life in Bangkok and get around like a true local!
