@Nigel *************

I've been on the train a few times from Nong khai ฿11, takes about 40 mins to udon thani, an old fashioned diesel train, it was good fun, it's only about 10 mins to UD airport from the train station, you can get a tuk tuk outside the station, or get the grab application and book a taxi.

@Steve *******

I haven't had any personal experience with the poipet border myself, I just see regular posts on these expat pages, stating that it should be avoided altogether if possible, because it is one of the more difficult borders to come into Thailand through, as far as I'm aware, we don't know his history to suggest he would be okay to bounce there solo anyway, I believe the border bounce companies are a safe bet. But I didn't know it's mainly people with a history of trying to live in Thailand on free stamps etc, that are having the most problems.

@Steve *******

I'm not having a go, I'm just pointing out it could cause someone a big problem, the ones suggesting pogo sticks and soft mattress are obviously joking, you're a regular on these expat pages, someone could take your response seriously thinking you're knowledgeable.

@Steve *******

It's not good advising someone to use the poipet border (for a laugh and a joke I presume) you could send that person unknowingly to that border and they get denied entry trying to bounce back into Thailand, people are here for serious advice, it could cause them big problems.

If you have a METV visa?? It's easy enough to do it yourself, just going by bus, and cheaper than a border bounce company, you shouldn't have any problems, just make sure the border you choose you can bounce in and out the same day, if you want to use a border bounce service, just ask one of the many visa agents in Pattaya, I've always found they can sort it out for you.

@Ruth ******

yes there are lots of agents in Pattaya, but be careful, make sure you check they are genuine, I prefer an agent that has an actual long standing business, and a physical office you can visit in person, i contacted some agents about opening an account and they said can't do it anymore on a short term visa, I had one agent wanted to meet in a coffee shop, and take away my passport, and meet a few days later, not a chance!! let me know if you want the details of the agent I used in Pattaya.

@Ruth ******

I think "sometimes" the Thais just inflate the price for all us farangs male or female, they just think everyone from western countries are rich!! It annoys me when they think everyone is on holiday, and money is no object, they must realise some people live in Thailand full time, It might be more difficult to open an account in Bangkok, hence the inflated price, I don't know, if you're struggling in Bangkok for whatever reason, just jump on a bus to Pattaya, and spend a few days there, or go and come back the same day that is also possible, (contact the agent in advance) that's what I did, I opened a bank account, and converted my IDP into full thai car and motorcycle driving licenses, the agent did everything, they will accompany you to the bank and the DLT it's so easy, you don't even queue up, (appointment at DLT needed) agent will sort it.

@Ruth ******

where are the agents based in Thailand giving them quotes?? That's ridiculous!! And a massively inflated farang price, I paid ฿4000 agent fee, ฿700 to the bank if you want the physical ATM MasterCard, no need to purchase the banks accident insurance, and I was advised to deposit in the account ฿2000, because apparently they will never close your account, if the balance drops below ฿2000 and there are no transactions over a certain period of time, a fee will be deducted every month or every quarter, until the balance is zero, then they will close the account, this is Bangkok bank.

You can open a bank account on an METV with the assistance of an agent, I did it a couple of weeks ago.

@Cliff ********

you can do all those formal ceremonies, whilst being smartly dressed and also being accompanied by your Thai friend, and you will probably spend days and days walking from bank to bank and achieve nothing, because you don't meet the criteria, or just pay an agent, and turn up in your Bermuda shorts and football shirt, it is free to open an account, there is no actual fee to the bank to open an account, there are some fee's for everyday banking, a lot of the rules and regulations have recently changed with regards to opening a bank account, they are now insisting you have a long term visa, I'm told it is very difficult or impossible to do it yourself on a short term visa, even going through that formal professional routine you mentioned above. I personally when I opened an account with the assistance of an agent, i didn't buy the banks useless accident insurance, i think if you're wrongly persuaded into buying it, you can cancel it within the first 14 days, and receive a refund, like you said, it's just a commission based product, that the staff make money on, and I believe they need to meet certain sales targets. The moral of the story is, just pay an agent and save yourself a headache.