Google Maps is like a double-edged sword, and I am strictly speaking as a business owner who is (currently level 8) local guide. In fact, speak to any business owner with a verified address on Google Maps, and they’ll have the same sentiment. Obviously, I am also a consumer, just one of the many users of Google Maps looking for the nearest pizza restaurant with NYC style pizzas.
Or reviews of pet hotels in Bangkok. Hopefully ones that won’t mix my sweet kitties with other sweet kitties in a small room. Yes, it’s happened to me before. And you bet I left a scathing review for said pet hotel.
It helps customers find businesses nearby, around, or miles away. Letting one know what to expect before stepping inside. There are photos of the inside and outside of establishments, and you’ll definitely know if the service stinks or not. Without it, potential customers might have a hard time knowing about or even finding you.
To put is short, Google Maps is awesome… but…
Negative online reviews to any businesses can have detrimental effects. Just as easy as anyone can make reviews on Tripadvisor.com anyone with Gmail accounts can write one as well. Though there are many kind hearted local guides whom genuinely want to share that great experience they had at a business they found through google maps.
Many are not motivated to write positive reviews and it could be for many reasons, such has they forget or they don’t have the time.
However, Google local guides are more motivated to write negative reviews. Such as if poor service by rude staff or unsanitary conditions is experienced. And just simply getting ripped off and scammed are strong motivations to quickly write scathing one star reviews. And rightfully so.
Thinking it Through… Before Leaving that Review
Before I go on and explain why. Let’s go back a little bit.
If you plan on starting a business someday you might be interested in this. Because you want to do a bit of research right? Well reading reviews from Google local guides is a great way to suss out gripes people have. You can filter out the 1 star reviews and just look through complaints. This way you can find what people are complaining about. Then you can avoid certain situations that might motivate reviewers complain about.
You can filter star reviews on Google Maps
So I was going through reviews on similar businesses that I plan on starting in the near future. And although many of the low star reviews are valid.There were bad reviews I personally feel are undeserving. And here’s where you, as a local guide making reviews can hopefully understand.Because there are valid reviews, whether good or bad. And then there are unfair reviews.
You Can’t Blame Everything on a Business
So I’m going to use a restaurant as an example here. I love cooking and I love eating! As a Google local guide myself I enjoy writing reviews to promote my favorite restaurants. Millions do the same, it’s kind of fun and supporting local hard working folks with restaurant businesses is worthy in my eyes.
That said I am fully aware that there are restaurant businesses that don’t have good intentions. And do not look at customers the same way.
Let’s dissect that review. Dirty unsanitary food is absolutely a valid poor review. But was the food served by staff. Or the owner? We don’t know 100%.
Though I have been to this restaurant numerous times I can say it’s most likely served by workers. And just speaking from experience, if you have a handful of workers you are bound to end up with a couple that don’t care whether or not your business gets a valid 1 star review.
Or a dirty plate of food in this case. But is it fair to blame an establishment for workers that don’t give a damn?
It’s a tricky debate.
Above is to me a classic example of unfair 1 star reviews. Especially when food is such a subjective subject so I get it. But comparing the food at your favorite local joint, in your home country to me doesn’t make sense.
Hainan chicken rice is served all over Southeast Asia. And different countries, no matter how near, use different ingredients. Or prepare foods differently. There’s a certain bias when you have your favorite local joint at home in mind. And if it don’t taste the way it taste or better then your hometown Hainan chicken is it fair to dish out a 1 star review?
Another review I came across for a popular coffee shop I frequent received low star rating because there was a group of noisy customers. I mean come on now. There was another low star review from another Google local guide that it was too cold inside the cafe.
Speaking from personal experience, this cafe has friendly people working inside. It has a lot of space where friends can hang out and chit chat. A lot of people talking inside a confined space is going not going to guarantee peace and quiet. And truly unfair to any business that have no control over customers’ behaviours.
Google maps is great and millions of people around the world find it useful and insightful. But the local guides that write up these reviews I think really have to put in more thought as to what they write.
Yeah so I started a food channel on YouTube back middle of 2019. At the time I was working on some ideas for a documentary. I had a computer and software to edit said documentary. But I was missing the most important piece.
Video footage for said documentary.
So I cobbled together some of my favorite easy food recipes and uploaded them to YouTube. I continued sparingly through the year just learning the art of editing. Then one day one of my videos about making Beef Chow Fun gave me a huge boost in subscribers.
I gotta admit. Hitting past 1000 subscribers was exhilarating to say the least. Yet nerve wracking at the same time. Because at the moment I’m just really an idiot, with an audience.
This blog is and always will be about TRAVEL
But food is forever intwined with travel. You still gotta eat where ever and which ever corner of the globe you end up on.
And my cooking channel is called Wally Cooks Everything and I’ve been working quite hard on it. Currently I am starting to integrate a bit of travel videos into that cooking channel since the world is opening back up for travel.
My most recent trip was to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Where I picked up some Indian spices and tried to pick apart the ingredients of some of my favorite dishes like the Nasi Lemak with fried chicken.
And I always visit the city’s Chinatown. If you love interesting Chinese foods with a touch of Malaysian flair you will love checking out the city’s Chinatown. Just be sure you pick up a nice cold bottle of soy bean milk. You can’t miss the soy bean milk vendor or the sweet old lady selling multi flavored mochi while strolling down Petaling Street!
I’m still in Thailand so I will be making some Thai centric travel videos also like these where I showcase one of my favorite spicy boat noodle restaurant.
As you can see from my blog posts on hotel reviews now I also make hotel reviews in video format like the short vacation we took to Pattaya and stayed at the Grande Center Point Hotel.
I’m not the greatest at video editing. But I like to think I’m getting better. Still a long way to go I know.
Regardless making videos to me is a lot of fun. And for those of you that follow this blog and enjoy the content please check out some of the videos on my channel.
I will still update this blog once in awhile when I have the time or something interesting to stay. So thank you all for coming along.
It’s a Great Time to Check Out 5 Star Family Friendly Hotels in Pattaya…
Especially if you’re in Thailand right now. The Thai government has worked out a tourism scheme where Thai nationals are offered discounts for hotel stays, to help the all important tourism industry afloat.
My wife and I decided since our baby girl is a little bit older it’s time to expand her travel horizons. We found a great deal for a night at Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien Pattaya, which means it’s time for another Thai hotel review.
Downside is we had to go right at the tail end of another long Thai holiday weekend. Which from my experience could be a bad thing.
So how was our room at Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien Pattaya? Did we have to fight through a vicious mob of tourists waiting to get their rooms?
How was the breakfast?
You’re about to find all that out.
Is it Expensive?
We booked a deluxe sea view room for 4500THB for one night with breakfast and taxes included through Agoda.com. Though room rates fluctuate according to time and room availability. Last I checked I saw a price for 3500THB on a weekday.
Where’s it at?
Mövenpick Pattaya is located on Jomtien Beach, which is 170km away from where we live in Bangkok. Driving time was about 2 hours plus 30 minutes because we ran into some road constructions. Why is there road construction going on during a long holiday weekend, when they know people will be using the roads is beyond me.
The easiest ways to get there is self drive. But if that’s not an option there are public buses that will take you Pattaya. Then you’ll need to find local private transport like a taxi. Or if you really want to rough it, figure out which Songthaew (public transport truck) will take you near it, cause it’ll never drive to the front of the hotel because it’s out of their route.
There are direct minvans going from Bangkok to Jomtien but again you’ll have to find a way to get in front of the hotel which is on the beach and away from the main road.
Then you will have to schlep your luggage down to the hotel which is built on high ground. Luckily there is a set of elevators by the hotel’s parking garage on ground level but you will have to search it out or a security guard could point the way.
The lobby the day after right before the day there was like a line going up to the glass doors…
First Impressions
I’ve stayed in a lot of hotels throughout Thailand. Most recently the Veranda Resort Hua Hin which I highly recommend if you’re going to Hua Hin.
And I must say, I could sense the 5 starness immediately that Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien oozes out.
The hotel’s lobby is a bit small and overlooked a cool little roundabout driveway. Or rather it’s not small, there’s just a lot of guests waiting to check in. Good thing is they were expecting lots of hotel guests so they had plenty of receptionist for crowd control.
Checking In
Standard check in time is 3pm. I don’t know if Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien is strict with the 3pm check in time. But usually from my experience hotels in Thailand are flexible and generally let you check in early. Provided that a room is ready and available.
But don’t take my word for it. I recommend calling or emailing them for early check in or late check out requests.
I can’t tell you from my experience because, like I mentioned, it’s a long holiday weekend and we showed up on the tail end. Which is still a busy time. Lots of guests were checking out which meant housekeeping is still busy keeping house.
We arrived around 3:30pm and could already tell from the line ahead of us people weren’t getting their room key at the moment. When it came to our turn we got the same message and were told we had to wait thirty minutes to an hour.
Which is not a big deal.
Especially when we asked for late check out of 3pm the following day which the receptionist quickly agreed.
Mövenpick Pattaya’s usual check out time is 12pm.
I was like damn it they agreed so fast. We should have asked for 5pm check out.
When they agree too fast it means we could have asked for more. Just kidding… don’t be greedy.
There were some minor construction but once everything is patched up this will be one good looking 5 star hotel…[/caption]
Exploring the Grounds
First thing we did was head out to take a look at the beach. Like the hotel name states, Mövenpick Siam is right on a nice quiet section of Jomtien beach. First we had to pass through two large swimming pools. There’s a nice little kiddie pool but our little one was just too small to have fun in it at the moment. There are some waterslides located around several parts of the main swimming pool. I really got the impression that Mövenpick is a fun family friendly hotel on Jomtien beach. I mean just looking at the families all the children playing in the pool you can’t help but feel that way. Passing the hotel’s beachside restaurant we found lots of lounge chairs and large sun beds. It’s a big hotel so good to know there are plenty of chairs and places for guests to hang out during peak travel times. When we got to the beach we found a nice long stretch of clean sand. There weren’t a lot of people out and about wandering or taking a stroll. It took about 5 minutes to walk from the hotel lobby down beachside. Most of the hotel guests were splashing around the pool and I noticed people were especially enjoying the pool’s water slide. And there were about 3 different water slides line along the main swim area. There are two main swimming pools and in the middle a pool bar, though that was under construction at the moment. This Siam Na Jomtien is a 35 floor building and the height of the building provided good shade coverage for those that don’t like to risk getting too much sun on one side of the pool. Here’s a top down view of the swimming pools and the beach from our room on the 21st floor. While the other swimming pool got plenty of sun coverage for those that don’t mind a bit of color on their skin. There’s a fitness center equipped with modern equipment, dumb bells, universal weight machines and treadmills. I’d work out but I’m satisfied at the moment with my dad bod. After taking in the location and lazing around on the some sun beds for 45 minutes we went back to the hotel lobby to pick up our room key.
First Look at Our Room
We booked a deluxe king sea view room on the 21st floor. We booked our room through Agoda.com and paid around 4500THB per night. That’s the price with taxes and breakfast included.
Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien rooms were renovated in 2020 so the rooms are expected to be in really good condition.
Our deluxe king sea view rooms are 42 square meter with a balcony looking out to the sea. It’s a lot of space for just the two of us and our baby.
Speaking of our baby, we requested a playard and one was sent up to our room. Including a small cover and blanket.
The bathroom was spacious with separate shower stall and a modern looking bathtub.
Didn’t try out the bathtub though but I should’ve. It’s got this cool little round shape and looked fun to have a bubble bath in.
The hot water was consistent as well as the water pressure.
Overall our room was clean and fresh. Our bed was super comfortable, like sleeping on a cloud. The air condition was frigid cold. The Wi-Fi was fast and plenty of channels to watch on the television. We were high up and had a terrific view of the sea in front of us.
We really, really liked our room.
The Breakfast
I gotta tell ya. I’ve been itching for an American breakfast for a long, long time. Sure I love to cook at home.
But having someone prepare a buttload of bacon, home fries and eggs to order, plus a bunch of different breads to toast, I am in heaven.
Mövenpick’s breakfast choices definitely did not disappoint my All-American hearty appetite.
My wife enjoyed their Thai breakfast options, some noodles, Khao tom rice porridge with shrimp was her favorite.
Their Thai breakfast looked so good I made some space for some rice noodles with fishballs.
During this pandemic my wife and I felt completely safe. There are hand sanitizers throughout the areas with many guests.
Our breakfast table had a bottle of alcohol spray.
There’s an infrared temperature camera checking guests’ temperatures and hotel staff are wearing masks.
Mövenpick Jomtien Pattaya is such a large hotel property you can most definitely find a quiet space all for yourself.
Was my Mövenpick Siam Na Jomtien review helpful to you? This is an affiliate link which means if you make a booking with either company I make a small commission.
With no added extra cost to you.
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Okay well, not I personally. Being a man, that would all be entirely impossible. My wife however I admit did all of the hard work. Of all the years of expat living here in Thailand I knew one day I would have a child born here. I’ve been married to my Thai wife for nearly 8 years after all.
Even to the point my wife was at the 10-month mark, yes 10 months my wife was carrying our child it was not until I waited until the ninth month to see what would I need to do as a foreigner. Because I’ve never had a baby in Thailand before. Nor anywhere else as a matter of fact.
As a foreigner living in Thailand, I didn’t know if I needed to bring any particular documents to the hospital, besides my US passport.
However, during our last prenatal check, I was asked to bring a translation of my passport. Which was an odd request. Which any case wasn’t needed in the end. More about that later on.
Choosing the Right Hospital
Pick the Best Hospital Near You – It’ll Make a Big Difference
We chose a hospital already called Synphaet Lumlukka which is a 5-minute drive from our house. It’s a newly opened JCI-accredited private hospital. My wife found it while doing hospital research in Bangkok for the birth of our firstborn.
Luckily, there are several really good private hospitals in our neck of the woods to pick and choose from.
Has English-speaking doctors and nurses. Even though my Thai language skills are getting up there, I’m not at the level of understanding Thai medical terminology.
It’s only a 5-minute drive.
As a side note, we looked for hospitals that did not handle COVID-19 patients, which is not difficult as most private hospitals in Bangkok do not.
Pre-Check Up
Under the advice of my wife’s obstetrician, we opted for a scheduled C-section. Originally we planned for a natural birth hoping the birth date would be around the 9-month mark.
That never happened and as we neared month number 10 and an ultrasound checkup our doctor noticed our baby’s weight was hovering around 4 kilograms (8.88 pounds). Our doctor, just doing her job, informed us of a list of birth complications that may arise from large-sized newborns.
Though I have to admit, we did get freaked out, even though it’s not the doctor’s intention.
Cost of giving birth at Synphaet Lumlukka Hospital…
So we chose birth by c-section and scheduled a date and time. That might’ve worked out better as my wife isn’t too keen on pushing out a 9-pound baby.
The cost for a natural birth at Synphaet Lumlukka is B32,000 which includes a two-night hospital stay. For a c-section, the price jumps to B44,000 and includes a three-night stay. The price you see below the birth package is for a hysterectomy.
The Big Day
We picked the first and earliest time available. We were advised to show up at 5:30 am and the c-section procedure promptly started around 9 am.
This is also the day to handle paperwork in preparation for a birth certificate. As I mentioned earlier, during our last prenatal examination I was asked to bring a translation of my passport. I was a bit confused about that.
Until I realized what they wanted was a translation of my first and last name into Thai. This makes absolute sense as the names that appear on a Thai birth certificate are only printed in Thai.
My English name was already translated to Thai when I went to get a Thai marriage certificate. So we gave them a copy of our Thai marriage certificate which has my name in Thai on it.
I also handed a marriage affidavit which states I was never married. Me, as a US citizen, I can download a form and get it notarized by the US Embassy in Thailand. In my case, I went to the US embassy in Bangkok and this service cost $50USD. On top of that my marriage affidavit must be translated into Thai. I used a translation service near the Bangkok US embassy, though I forgot how much it cost.
Never hurts to bring along as many documents as needed.
If You Don’t Have a Thai Marriage Certificate…
Then you will have to get the name on your passport translated. Your name must be translated into Thai so it can be added to the birth certificate.
As soon as my wife was prepped, 9 am crunch time was rolling in faster than a lightning storm. It’s time to meet my firstborn daughter.
I was shown a waiting room filled with chairs, magazines, and a big TV. I just stared at the wall. I tell you, early mornings inside a Thai private hospital feel like one of the loneliest places on earth.
There’s nothing to do but wait and try to get some quick shut-eye.
Childbirth Delivery Package in Thailand
Public Hospital VS. Private Hospital
The only experience that I had with a Thai government hospital regarding childbirth was when one of my employees who is a single mother went into labor.
Public hospitals in Thailand are full of patients. Due to the free to low-cost hospital care and treatment is the major factor.
Our employee stayed at the hospital for a total of 3 days in a maternity ward with 5 other new moms. Her total hospital bill was around B10,000 which included jaundice treatment for her newborn. Hospital service she said she was treated well.
You see, public hospitals in Thailand have a not-so-stellar reputation. I don’t think it’s all that bad. Though my wife’s sister who gave birth at a public hospital near her part of town had a horrible experience.
She had a c-section so had to have a urine drainage bag attached to her through a catheter. Which a family member had to dispose of. Which was supposed to be the nurses’ job. When she was discharged she was still in pain from the c-section. And she has a zig-zag scar from the incision.
There were other bits of stories about the nurses’ attitudes that left a bad impression, that I won’t get into. Let’s just say her sister wasn’t all too happy.
The cost of Quality Hospital Care is Higher in Thailand – Yet Lower Compared to the West
Thailand’s private healthcare system is one of the best in Southeast Asia. But I didn’t know what to expect. My only experience with a private hospital in Bangkok was for a serious case of gout.
All private hospitals in Thailand offer childbirth delivery packages. The closer you are to central Bangkok the higher the price tag for services and procedures.
The price of our package for a cesarean section set us back B44,000. But if we went to Bumrungrad Hospital in central Bangkok it’ll cost us B149,000. We could have three babies for that price.
Most private hospital childbirth packages include private rooms for a two-night stay for a natural birth and a three-night stay for a c-section procedure. And also included is a birth certificate filed for you, with the nearest governmental office of your instruction.
Not having to go into a government office is a huge bonus for us. We all know how much fun waiting around a government office is.
Ask Questions – It’s Free After All
You should go in and speak with hospital personnel about childbirth delivery package services. Ask for a tour of the private rooms as well as the nursery facility in all the hospitals you visit. We visited three different hospitals and chose Synphaet Lumlukka because we felt confident they could take care of our needs and do a good job on our important day.
Time Flies When You’re Waiting for Your Newborn
My daughter was officially out into the new world 10 minutes past 9 am. I saw her briefly along with a pediatrician assigned to her, where she was immediately taken to the nursery ward. I couldn’t accompany them yet because there were still checkups that needed to be done. Which meant more waiting for me.
But at least I could do so in the private room we’ll be staying in for 3 nights for my wife to rest and recuperate.
Synphaet Lumlukka Nursery Ward
When you’re paying for private hospital care in Thailand you’re paying for semi-personalized care. There’s an around-the-clock watch on newborns, while mom rests in her private room. The babies are fed, diapers changed and bathed by a squad of nurses.
A pediatrician comes in and does some routine check-ups to make sure babies are as healthy as can be. As well as look for warning signs and concerns. For instance, a pediatrician detected a heart murmur in our baby. A cardiologist was called in and an ultrasound was performed.
Fortunately, it’s a minor heart defect that could heal as our baby grows. But in any case, it was non-life threatening and required no treatment. That heart check-up added about $100 to our final bill though.
That’s our baby in the foreground!
Private Hospital Rooms
I’ve stayed inside quite a few hospital private rooms in Bangkok. To this day, I equate Thai private hospital rooms to Thai serviced apartments.
Minus the swimming pool and bar.
There’s a small kitchen with a mini-fridge stocked with a few cans of soda and boxes of juice. Which gets replenished daily. A microwave in the room with an electric kettle for making hot coffee and Ovaltine was also provided by the hospital. Even a small sink for dishwashing.
The bathroom has a large shower room. The entire bathroom is spacious. Plus a hygiene care kit is also supplied, even towels. So no need to bring stuff from home except clean clothes and undies.
Wi-Fi internet was fast and big screen television with plenty of channels.
I’ve done plenty of hotel reviews in Asia as part of my travels. I never thought I’d be making a review about a hospital room.
Holding My Baby for the Very First Time
I was super anxious to see my firstborn inside the nursery. My wife was resting and being that she’s tied to her catheter she couldn’t go with me.
Newborns are kept inside the nursery for 24-hour care. Where their heartbeats and breathing are checked.
And the security measures are really good. The hospital nursery requires fingerprint scans from authorized personnel to go in and out. It was the only way for me to get inside and exit.
I also had to take my shoes off but Crocs were handed to me and a hospital robe also. Plus I had to wash my hands thoroughly. It’s good to see they take cleanliness seriously.
The nursery is cozy with plenty of space for parents to get acquainted with their newborns. But the nursery at Synphaet Lumlukka also doubles as a space to educate first-time parents on newborn care.
A nurse giving instructions on bottle feeding with milk formula…
There’s a room where nurses show new parents hands-on care from breastfeeding to how to properly bathe a newborn.
The main reason why we chose a private hospital is because I can stay with my wife in a private room. A sofa which doubles as a bed is what I slept on for 3 nights. Blankets and pillows were provided when they knew I was staying over.
At a public government hospital that wouldn’t be possible. Unless you’re paying for a private room.
But it’s a hospital which means nurses have to make their rounds. So in the middle of the night while sleeping you will be woken by nurses coming in and out to administer blood pressure checks.
Private Hospital Care Has Its Advantages
There’s a reason why private hospitals charge more. The care provided is more personal. And a lot more comprehensive. I can’t compare it to my employee’s experience while giving birth at a public government-run hospital in Bangkok.
Most importantly there’s a private room where I can stay with my wife. No need to share with complete total strangers including people who visit.
Our daughter’s birth certificate was taken care of by the hospital as part of the childbirth delivery package. A photo is taken as well along with the certificate placed in a neat little portfolio.
Sure, a childbirth delivery package at a private hospital is more expensive than a public one. But I don’t think expecting parents can put a price tag on peace of mind.
1 response to “Having a Baby in Thailand as an Expat”
Dominic
This was a nice and informative post, Warren. Very detailed and a good read overall. Thanks for the insight you provided from a dad’s perspective.
Here’s What to Do If You’ve Got a Non-Immigrant O Visa Based on Marriage in Bangkok…
I have Thai Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage to a Thai wife. And April 15th, 2020 was the date I needed head to exit Thailand and return to reactivate another 90 days.
But… because there’s this COVID-19 mess going around and travel has semi-halted and borders have shut in and around Thailand.
As a result the first few weeks of April the Thai Government Immigration office in Bangkok saw a surge of panicked foreign tourists and Thai visa holders trying to get in to sort out things out. And I read people were turned away because staff couldn’t handle the unexpected workload.
On top of that, I have a baby due sometime near the end of this month or early May.
Which means traveling outside the country, even if I could, is not an option since going out and about increases my chances of getting infected with the disease, and bringing it home to my family.
Thai Visa Amnesty of April 2020
Lucky I waited a little while before heading to the Thai immigration office in Bangkok. The Thai government came out with a visa amnesty giving tourists some breathing room until April 30th. Before the amnesty went into effect, very long lines of foreign tourists could be seen waiting outside of immigration offices.
The Wayfaring Soul Tip #9 “It’s better to over-prepare than under-prepare.”
As most foreign tourists making their way to Thai immigration offices throughout the country were short term visitors but couldn’t get out of Thailand due to flight cancellations or border closures. A lot of foreign visitors got panicky. I wouldn’t blame them.
Because any foreign overstaying visitor would’ve been hit with a 500THB per day penalty fee at immigration checkpoints.
With the Thai visa amnesty in effect, this was great news for me as I could expect a lot less people inside Bangkok’s Thai immigration office.
Doing some research about what paperwork I needed to bring …
Here’s How My Experience Started…
It’s April 12th. My current visa stamp expires in 3 days. First thing I did was do a little google search and check what paperwork I needed to bring with me. You would think you’d only need to bring your passport.
But as a guy living here for a long while, I know things are not as simple. It is better to over-prepare than under-prepare and you will soon read why.
I could not find anyone sharing any experience about going to the Thai immigration office to reactivate a Non-immigrant O visa due to the fact that I can’t leave the country.
I could only find the information about Thai visa amnesty. But the information found there was not specific to my visa type.
So the next thing I did was call the phone number as listed in the photo for Bangkok’s Immigration Office and ask around.
Surprisingly, someone answered after three rings. I explained my situation. Which is I have a Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage. I was told to just come in with my passport.
I Wish It Was That Easy…
In a way she was partially right, you do need to bring your passport. But the other paperwork (which I list below) I brought was not mentioned. But I brought it anyways. That’s just the way I do things.
But, you have to make photocopies. Which you can do inside Thai immigration office. Since I didn’t know for sure if there would be lots of people inside I wanted to get all my photocopies done beforehand.
Here’s What I Photocopied and Brought With Me:
Passport photo page, including Thai visa page, last exit stamp page including TM 7 departure card.
1 Passport sized photo (obviously you don’t need to photocopy this)
Thai marriage certificate plus any paperwork regarding your relationship to spouse. **Also bring the original paperwork**
Spouse’s Thai national I.D. Card
Blue book or Tabien Baan (ทะเบียนบ้าน), which is a house registration book. Either with your name or spouses’ name.
A short letter written by your spouse stating you live with your spouse including current Thai home address.
I saw some photos days before Thai visa amnesty and saw lines right about this point…
Off to the Thai Immigration Office in Bangkok I Go…
I was confident that I got all my paperwork. My wife and I left our home at a little before 8am and reached the Thai Immigration Changewattana building B around 8:30am.
My wife is nearly 9 months pregnant and we felt prudent she stayed inside the car.
When I walked to the front entrance of the building I was pleasantly surprised not to find a long line of foreign tourists waiting to get in.
Normally, there would be people streaming in and out of that office…
When I made it past security I thought, okay, maybe there will be more people waiting inside to get their visas sorted out.
Nope.
The Thai visa amnesty worked its magic. I wouldn’t exactly say there’s no people inside. Which there are. But it’s just a lot, lot less people. Even less people than I remember when I had was visiting Thailand on Multi Entry Tourist Visas.
I also saw photos of this area last week where there were lines of people…
There’s a makeshift table near the entrance of Immigration Division 1 office. I explained to the immigration officer my situation. The officer asked where’s my wife and I told them she’s waiting outside, inside our car because she’s pregnant.
I was handed the visa extension form which I happily filled out and went to get my ticket number.
My ticket number…
I was surprised to see there’s 22 persons ahead of me. Which is not a lot. Numbers were called relatively quickly.
Only thing is there are not a lot of seating available, due to social distancing measures. I think previously before the visa amnesty went into effect lines of foreigners had to stand and sit a meter apart. Plus many seats were taped off to keep people away from each other.
I can see why the environment would be so inhospitable before the visa amnesty.
Social distancing at work…
My Number’s Up…
Overall I waited about 30 minutes before my number came up. I went to the cubicle I was directed to and laid out my paperwork like a proud schoolboy laying out his prized book report.
And then.
“Where’s your wife?” I was asked.
First, I assumed my wife didn’t need to accompany me. Also she being nine months pregnant I didn’t think this would be an ideal environment for her to be inside.
There’s no way I could talk myself out of this one even when I explained to them she was pregnant. But I didn’t want to be difficult. Seeing as there’s a lot less people inside I thought it should be fine. I called my wife and met her near the entrance.
When I brought my wife in, from then on everything was smooth sailing.
So if you have a Thai Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage, bring your spouse!
But as I said, she’s pregnant and I wanted to be on the safe side. And there are a lot less people inside the immigration office.
Waiting to get my passport back. Still not a lot of people inside…
I was never asked about TM 30, the reporting of foreigners requirement in Thailand. My wife has me registered already but this information was never asked.
Signing Paperwork and Taking Pictures…
Remember to bring your original Thai marriage certificate. The immigration officer handling me used her webcam to take a photo of my wife and I holding our Thai marriage certificate together.
I asked for 90 days and got laughed at. They gave me 60 days which is better than 30 days. The fee was 1900THB so I’ll take that.
After we signed the paperwork I waited for another 20 minutes and my passport was returned to me with a fresh 60 days.
Conclusion
Bring your wife! That is if you need to sort out your Thai Non-O Immigrant visa based on marriage in Bangkok when you can’t exit Thailand. I guess it makes sense. I mean a Thai marriage certificate is just a piece of paper and immigration officers don’t know if you got divorced.
And bring every piece of photocopied paperwork I mentioned above. Bring the originals also just in case.
Bangkok’s Thai Immigration office opens 8am to 5pm with a one hour break for lunch at 12pm.
I hope this information helped you out. I wish I found it online or wherever earlier.
The Quick Guide to Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market if You’re Short on Time…
If you want to check out Chatuchak (or Jatujak also JJ Market; Thai: จตุจักร) in Bangkok and you don’t have a lot of time, I’m going to show you where you should go to pick up unique Thai handmade souvenirs, eat delicious Thai street food and of course shop to your heart’s content.
There are an estimated 15,000 stalls within 27 zones as stated in Wikipedia. Chances are you don’t have time to go through all of them.
In this post, I’m going to save you some time by showing you the best parts of Chatuchak Weekend Market so you don’t need to walk the entire market.
Because JJ Market is such a huge sprawling weekend market you can easily run around like a headless chicken. Who wants to get lost and miss the good parts?
You’re not. Because you’re going to know the best parts of JJ Market and why it’s one of the best outdoor shopping experiences Bangkok has to offer.
Lots of local designers open shop in Zone #2…
Here’s the Breakdown
The biggest weekend market in Thailand is organized into 27 zones. Below you will find one of the best maps of Chatuchak Weekend Market I found on the internet.
But Here’s a Few Chatuchak Weekend Market Travel Tips from the Wayfaring Soul:
It’s best to visit Chatuchak around 10 am when most of the shop owners open their doors. Plus it’ll be a bit cooler and less crowded. There’s another reason why you want to get there early.
The best time to get a discount is when the shop just opened up for business. Thai business owners are very superstitious. They believe the first sale of the day is the most important. They will take the cash you gave them and brush it all over their products. In hopes that a day of good sales and profits are on the way.
Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate more. If you can’t visit Chatuchak early in the day it can get very hot. Walking around 35°C (95°F) with hordes of sweaty tourists is not fun. It’s only 10B for a small bottle of water so there is no reason to not take in plenty of fluids.
The Do Not Miss Areas Inside JJ Market
Remember, Chatuchak Weekend Market is divided into 27 zones. Each zone specializes in the items and goods sold. If you don’t know where you’re going it’s very easy to get lost. Because every nook and corner can look the same. You can find plenty of maps online or at Thai tourist info centers.
That said, here are the must-see zones I highly recommend if you don’t have a lot of time to explore JJ Market:
Zone #2 is the bohemian/hipster chic zone inside the market. Once you take a look at this section and a look at all the others you will not only see zone #2 is different, but also feels different!
Zone #5 and #6 are the used clothes section but you can also find some new clothing items too. You will see brand-name jeans for sale in that area. However, I can not confirm if the jeans are counterfeit or not. But they sure do look real and high quality also.
The best map of Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market I ever found on the internet…
As you can see on the map, zones #2, #5 and #6 are all on the same side of the market. If you walked from zone #2 to zone #6 it would only take 30 minutes. That is if you don’t stop and check out the goodies. Good luck with that.
The Closest Train Station to Chatuchak Weekend Market is Kamphaeng Phet MRT
I recommend starting off at zone #2 simply because the Kamphaeng Phet MRT subway station is practically right next to zone #2. Just be sure to use subway station Exit 2.
This is exit 2 of the Kamphaeng Phet subway station, very close to zone #2…
Get Ready to Shop and Drop in Bangkok
Zone #2 nearby has gone through a sort of transformation. It’s like a hipster’s paradise filled with small boutique shops started by enterprising Thai designers living in Bangkok.
Now if you take a good look at the map below, you will see many other sections also selling clothes and Thai handicrafts, particularly right in the center of Chatuchak.
Zone 2 has a different feel and vibe…
Zone #2 is the top spot for finding Thai handmade souvenirs in Chatuchak at reasonable prices. It’s also the best place to buy unique graphic t-shirts and even shoes, both brand new or second-hand.
I know a lot of Japanese tourists love searching for second items inside JJ Market, specifically vintage clothes and accessories. And some come to find stock to resell back in their home country.
The best map of Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend Market I ever found on the internet…Thai hand made items can be found in zone #2…Prices are higher in zone 2 but not by much…Lots of graphic t-shirts can be found in Chatuchak…Zone 2 has a lot of one of a kind boutique shops…Many smaller shops selling stone bracelets and necklaces too…My favorite t-shirt shops are in zone 2…Seems like white t-shirts are popular in Bankgok….Many boutique shops in Chatuchak follow fashion trends…
Now I’m not saying the rest of Chatuchak is not worth visiting. No way. I love the whole market. It’s just that if you don’t have a lot of time and you don’t want to sweat buckets when it’s hot you just want to see the best part.
Zone #2 is where you’ll want to go if you don’t have a lot of time to visit Chatuchak Market.
Lots of fusion grilled food found in zone 2Coffee and cakes are very popular in Bangkok…Many fruit drink stands are found as well along zone 2…And of course one of Bangkok’s famous dish is represented, sticky rice mango..
There are just so many unique little treasures located in Chatuchak’s Zone #2 that I don’t even know how I can ever list them all. So it’s best if you go there and check them out for yourself. You just might find something you’re going to fall in love with.
And I recommend that if you see it, it’s best to just buy it. As long as it fits in your budget of course. Because the worst thing you can do is get back on that plane and regretting you never bought it.
Finally, items in zone 2 are a bit more expensive compared to the rest of JJ Market because the items are a little more unique.
You are allowed to bargain but please don’t be so aggressive. And don’t try and lowball the shopkeepers because they do work hard and have bills to pay.
A Short Glimpse of Chatuchak Weekend Market
If You Love Denim You’ll love Zone #5 and #6
In this zone, you will find used clothing, particularly denim. You can also find stalls selling brand-name jeans as well with labels. Now I don’t know if it’s fake or genuine. But the prices are not so cheap. I think the jeans inside were probably overage stock, or didn’t pass quality control from jean-producing factories around Thailand.
Even though Bangkok is hot and humid throughout the year Thai locals love denim wear. New or used it doesn’t matter. If it looks good on them and the price is right they have to have a pair of jean pants or jacket.
Prices for clothes in this zone are reasonable though there is space to get discounts as long as you buy more items.
Zone #5 and #6 is a well known location inside Chatuchak for denim wear…You can spend hours inside looking at selections of new and used clothingsMany used shoes are repaired and sold…Even old used sneakers are cleaned for resale…There are a lot of military style clothing sold inside Chatuchak…Denim is always popular for Thai people…Military fashion is also popular with Thais…Local Thais love shopping in zone #5 and #6…Even used soccer jerseys are sold in zone #5…If it’s worn and used you’ll probably find it at Chatuchak…
But you’re also going to see a lot of military-style clothing, shoes (new and used), and all sorts of other second-hand clothing items. You might even find brand-name clothing too. But again, if they are fakes I honestly wouldn’t know.
Getting a Quick Bite inside Chatuchak Market
If you still have some time for a quick bite to eat, there’s a small shop selling to die for Chinese-style roast pork. It’s one of the best roast pork I’ve ever had. Even better than the ones I’ve had in Hong Kong! If you don’t like pork they also sell awesome fried chicken wings too!
Though there are many Thai restaurants within JJ Weekend Market it’s best to head over to Aor Tor Gor Farmer’s Market for their awesome food court. Aor Tor Gor is also the most popular fruit market in the city where you’ll find the best Durian money can buy in Bangkok.
This shop is located on zone #19, Soi 7/1, about a 5 minute walk from zone #2…These chunks of Chinese roast pork belly are melt in your mouth good!…I can’t believe Chatuchak Market has the best Chinese roast pork…
Chatuchak Weekend Market is an incredible place filled with lots to see, eat, and of course shop. But if you don’t have a lot of time to spend there then just checking out the areas I’ve mentioned on this blog is going to give you the full experience to remember in Bangkok.
There were some minor construction but once everything is patched up this will be one good looking 5 star hotel…[/caption]
I really got the impression that Mövenpick is a fun family friendly hotel on Jomtien beach. I mean just looking at the families all the children playing in the pool you can’t help but feel that way. Passing the hotel’s beachside restaurant we found lots of lounge chairs and large sun beds. It’s a big hotel so good to know there are plenty of chairs and places for guests to hang out during peak travel times. When we got to the beach we found a nice long stretch of clean sand. There weren’t a lot of people out and about wandering or taking a stroll. It took about 5 minutes to walk from the hotel lobby down beachside. 
Most of the hotel guests were splashing around the pool and I noticed people were especially enjoying the pool’s water slide. And there were about 3 different water slides line along the main swim area. 
There are two main swimming pools and in the middle a pool bar, though that was under construction at the moment. This Siam Na Jomtien is a 35 floor building and the height of the building provided good shade coverage for those that don’t like to risk getting too much sun on one side of the pool.
Here’s a top down view of the swimming pools and the beach from our room on the 21st floor. While the other swimming pool got plenty of sun coverage for those that don’t mind a bit of color on their skin. There’s a fitness center equipped with modern equipment, dumb bells, universal weight machines and treadmills. I’d work out but I’m satisfied at the moment with my dad bod. After taking in the location and lazing around on the some sun beds for 45 minutes we went back to the hotel lobby to pick up our room key. 
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