That's a bit difficult when you have a two year rental agreement on a house, a rolling rental agreement on a car, utility bills in your own name, phone and broadband contracts and you actually live here full time,

@Peter *******

.

They won't let you in,

@Bry***

. No exceptions.

From the 8th December

@St***

...right up until you get to immigration once you've gotten off the plane. You cannot apply until 72 hours BEFORE arrival. It's a Digital Card - the D and the C in TDAC.

We moved here 2½ years ago. We flew from the UK to Bangkok with Eva Air. We were allowed 2 cases each weighing in at 25kg apiece and I paid for an extra case per person for another 25kg each. Total weight of 150kg and we managed to bring all what we needed to begin our lives here.

We've got a fair bit of clothing/goods still in the UK in storage and if we ever have a reason to go back we'll take minimal luggage with us in 2 cases apiece then come back to Thailand full again.

It's a real drag all these Asian airlines who don't talk/type English to accommodate non-Asians while flying all over Asia carrying Asians, isn't it

@Ja**

? Methinks there's a big ol' Universe out there and unfortunately, you're not the centre of it.

As I said, I did explain to the hotel reception that I already live here so as far as I'm aware no report was filed on our little trip away,

@Bra****

and nothing has come to light since.

I get domestic travel insurance when we go on trips within the Kingdom so we're covered for baggage, cancellations, etc and that's all reflected in my home address here in Bang Saray. That's probably irrelevant too but it all adds to the fact I live here but I'm visiting there all within the country.

I live in Chon Buri province and a couple of weeks ago we went to a hotel in Phetchaburi while away for a weekend.

I was asked for my passport but I gave them my Thai driving licence as ID and also explained I already live here. They were ok about that. I can't speak for anywhere else nor indeed any other hotel's policies but that's what I intend to continue to do unless otherwise asked.

Given my wife is also British and she wasn't the booking person, they didn't even ask for her credentials at all so I'd be a bit miffed if the person making the booking was the sole recipient of any policy like this.

There's an immigration office on Pattaya Beach in Koh Lipe as you arrive and yes, that's the name of the beach ⛱️🏖️

We've gotten the speedboat there from Koh Lanta before now so we walked straight past it but if you're sailing in from Langkawi, you will need to go through that immigration point similar to any passport control ...and yes, it's a 60 day visa exemption stamp.

I've had a couple of pairs of varifocals done with my UK prescription at

@Pattaya*******

and they've been spot on. Lots of choice, competitively priced and good customer service.

I'm long-sighted and can't see shit up close inc. phone, menus, ATMs, etc hence my need for varifocals. Lens for an existing frame cost me 7,500 baht and a separate lens with a quality frame cost me 10,000 baht. Any purchase has a one year warranty too.

That's a better deal than what I was paying for lens back in the UK before we moved here 2 years ago. I have what they call a 'complicated' prescription! 🙄

We live here full-time and I'd have to try on and test drive any glasses wherever I'd be so if you added flights, accommodation, etc to glasses costs I'm better off here at these prices even if they have gone up.

Can't you leave the returm flight date open-ended as per a flexi-ticket so you can confirm it at a later date?