| |
dotcom
|
Gentlemen. Brace yourself for price hikes.
I followed the link for r24.org & decided to check out what various hotels were charging. Many of them are planning to raise their rates by 25 to 30% commencing in Oct this year.
Here is an example:
http://www.r24.org/bkkx.com/bangkok/taipan/
Thailand used to be a great place to retire. A fixed income went a long way. No longer.
Last night I went into Ton Krueng in 55. Told my waiter to bring me crab fried rice for 2 persons "60 or 80 baht". Big grin. He opened the menu to show me that crab fried rice for one person is 75 baht. Whoa!!! Sticker shock.
The Esoteric D-50S DVD player will run you US$ 13,000.00 mmmmmmmmmm
The Linn Universal is 175,000 baht. Ouch !!!
The government is rumored (at Thai Visa.com) to want to stop subsidizing the price of diesel. I paid 22 baht a liter today so I think most of the real world price is already there. Post your (inflationary) shopping experiences here.
|
Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 12:04 pm on July 9, 2005
|
|
BigDUSA
|
United Airline kicked their r/t PHL-BKK from $695USD to $1K plus. Gas is $2.16 per gallon and rising here in Philly. Even my local has kicked up the price of beer from 50 baht to 60 for a pint.
Two weeks ago, I did manage to buy a top of the line Mitsubishi 65" Diamond series HDTV for $1450 delivered. Leftover from 2004 with slight cabinet damage in the rear. Bargains are available but you have to hunt them down.
|
Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 12:15 pm on July 9, 2005
|
|
scobie
|
Interesting thread.
As a relative newbie, I still have memories of A$40 (Th B1200) taxi fares from Sydney airport to my home, compared the 200 baht I pay here (including tolls and tip) for a longer journey. I remember being in a taxi at Sydney airport and the meter had hit A$8 before even getting out of the bloody terminal.
So I still think it's ludicrously cheap here.
I know it's a cliche but I still believe you can choose to live as cheaply or as expensively as you like here. Consider Bangkok (prices elsewhere in Thailand will be less obviously). There aren't many major cities in the world where you can rent an apartment for US$200 a month or less, or - if you so wish - spend US$4000 a month on something palatial. You can choose to eat on the street for well under a couple of bucks, or you can blow a fortune on a steak.
Isnt it a truism that the only things that cost a lot are those that are imported - farang stuff? Dotcom mentions some electrical luxury goods. I agree that they are probably marginally more expensive here than in many farang countries - certainly my Apple Mac cost me more here than it would in the states, but less than in Oz.
As for generally rising costs. Well, fuel is one of course, but it's still laughably cheap compared to Europe, America or Australia. I paid 65 baht for a Singha in Soi 7 Beergarden last week, the same price I paid two years ago on my first ever trip. My morning fruit fix still costs me 20 baht for melon and pineapple. I buy 12 bottles of water at the supermarket for 35 baht. I wouldn't get a single bottle of water in Sydney for twice that price.
Having said that, my weekly supermarket bill is always 2500 plus. That in itself is indicative of what I mean. The meats, veggies, spices etc that TGF buys to make meals represents no more than 15-20% of the total bill. The bulk of it is in those western luxuries that I choose to buy... nice cheeses, biscuits, pate, quality bread, western sausages etc.
|
Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 10:44 pm on July 10, 2005
|
|
DrLove
|
I remember the first time I came to Thailand (around 20 years ago) I received 6 baht for a Dutch guilder, while lady drinks were 35 baht (so roughly 6 guilders).
Now a Euro (around 2.5 guilders) exchanges for 50 baht, so all in all the current LD price (90-100 baht) is not too bad.
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 11:04 pm on July 10, 2005
|
|
dotcom
|
On the topic of shopping Villa Market has opened a new store in Thong Lor (Suk 55). Further along fron Ton Krueng, on the same side of the street. New strip mall targetting the Japanese expat crowd I would guess.
|
Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 12:16 am on July 11, 2005
|
|
UK Shaga
|
I am sure all people from the UK will think about this and realize that the prices anywhere but in Tokyo are cheaper than where we come from.
Last trip back to the UK in December I went into a Supermarket and took some pictures of products prices on the shelf to show my Thai friends.
These are the 4 that killed them
1 Pot noodle spicy flavor, UK price 99p/73bt. Thai price for equivalent, 20p/15bt.
2 1 Piece of chicken from KFC UK Price 1.40/103bt Thai price 30bt
3 Local bottle of beer in a bar in the city, not top range but your local.
UK Price 3.00/222bt Thai price 100bt.
4 Bowl of boiled rice from a city centre Thai restaurant 1.10/81.40 Thai price 10bt.
I had a range of about 30 pictures my thai friends reply’s where all similar to, “If I lived in the UK I would not eat”.
I understand that the cost of living around the world for the most is going up so those on fixed income in any part of the world, this fact would be scary.
Disclaimer
I am sure that you can get beer, rice, noodles etc cheaper and more expensive than the price I took pictures ok in the UK and those I listed here but this was the norm I found when I went back and this was the snap shot of the prices I found when I was looking the other day in BKK. This dose not mean this is a 100% the only prices to be found in Birmingham UK or BKK Thailand.
Ok that should cover that one
Who’s buying the beers
|
Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:10 am on July 11, 2005
|
|
Black Jaques Chirac
|
Mais oui,
The increase in fuel prices is very inflationary.
Expensive for Thailand and expensive for Europe also.
So, flight prices will increase because of fuel surcharge.
Fish in Thailand will increase because the fisherman have to pay more for the diesel. etc etc.
Prices will go up in your country as well as Thailand.
But does your pay and pensions increase ? 2.5% if you are lucky. The people they travel the less. Not so much disposable income. Less tourists, less income. Higher prices = empty hotel rooms and flight seats.
And what ?
A damn great recession that is what !
Merde !
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:20 am on July 11, 2005
|
|
Yurune
|
First time I visited the baht was 44 to £1
Now it is 70 odd.
In 1997 I send over a large amount of cash after the crash, when it dropped from 38B to 93B. Live on that for some time. So although prices are increasing as they are all over the world, some items are almost the same as pre 97, but in real terms are a lot cheaper.
|
Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 3:35 am on July 11, 2005
|
|
scobie
|
I might have this wrong, but my understanding is that until 1997, the baht was pegged by the BoT to around 22-23 baht to the dollar. Then frenzied pressure on the (unrealistically overvalued) baht by foreign investors/banks almost bankrupt Thailand as they exhausted their foreign reserves trying to prop up the currency.
The end result - floating and - from memory - a collapse to around 55 baht to the buck in early 1998.
I doubt we'll ever see those days again, but I'm personally backing the Baht to continue its recent slide (from 38.5 to 42 baht since March this year) and wouldn't be too surprised to see it hit 45 baht within twelve months. Good news if you have money coming into Thailand from overseas (military pensions etc), but less good news if you're sending money out of the country.
And, of course, disastrous for the poor Thai's so heavily reliant on imports for oil, consumer goods etc.
It can only mean one thing. Dotcom was right and prices here in Thailand will rise.
|
Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 4:35 am on July 11, 2005
|
|
richie rev
|
Quote: from scobie on 4:47 pm on July 11, 2005
Dotcom was right and prices here in Thailand will rise.
I can't figure out who the genius is.
Scobie for spotting such an economic expert as DotCom.
Or DotCOm for his profoundly air filled observation.
Its not about prices rising.
Its about purchasing power in Thailand relative to your home income..from peanuts to pussy, we always have the power....here in LoS.
|
Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:02 am on July 11, 2005
|
|
| |
|
