costs

  • Retire in Thailand

    Things you should avoid doing after retirement in Thailand

    Dreaming about sipping fresh coconut water on the beautiful beaches of Thailand when you retire? You are not alone. Thailand is super popular among retirees because of its stunning landscapes, yearlong tropical weather, and affordable lifestyle. But we all know that retirement is not just about hammocks and sunrise swims, right? There can be a few bumps on the road…

  • Business News

    Post-pandemic airfares to remain high amid travel surge

    Despite a slight relief due to declining jet fuel prices and increased flight capacity, airfares are expected to remain high in the post-pandemic travel surge and are unlikely to revert to pre-pandemic levels soon. AirAsia Aviation’s CEO Bo Lingam spoke on the changes in travelling patterns post-pandemic in an interview. “[The aircraft] load factor is around 90%, this was unheard…

  • Business News

    Chinese tourists shift to local travel amid rising costs, visa woes

    A shift in Chinese travel preferences is reshaping the global tourism landscape. Rising costs and visa challenges are driving Chinese tourists to opt for local and short-haul destinations instead of international travel. The slower-than-expected revival of China’s outbound travel market, which was the world’s top spender on international tourism pre-pandemic, is impacting travel-related businesses, hotels, and retailers worldwide. Eighteen months…

  • Thailand News

    Fishy finale: Prachin Buri seafood restaurant closes due to rising costs

    The renowned seafood restaurant Soot Tiew Na Prachin Buri announced its closure due to rising costs, increased transportation expenses, and declining revenue. The restaurant’s last day of operation is this Sunday, June 16, and the owner is open to transferring the business to interested parties. The owner, Pak Kad, shared the news on Facebook today. “Hello, this is Pak Kad,…

  • Thailand News

    British family leaves UK for Thailand for cheaper living costs

    A young British family has swapped the grey skies of Cheshire for the sunny shores of Thailand, seeking refuge from the UK’s crippling cost of living crisis. Jess, her partner Harry (surnames withheld), and their two year old daughter Cece uprooted their lives in Congleton to start afresh in Southeast Asia. Their decision was driven by surging energy bills that…

  • Thailand News

    Sky-high costs: Why flying in Vietnam is becoming a luxury

    Flying to Vietnam has become increasingly costly for tourists, with airfares reaching unprecedented heights. But what’s driving these price hikes, and why are neighbouring countries like Thailand offering cheaper alternatives? Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Danh Huy highlighted the factors propelling Vietnam’s flight costs to stratospheric levels during a recent session of the National Assembly. According to Huy, Vietnam Airlines has…

  • Thailand News

    Chilli shoppers feel the heat as market prices surge amid dry spell

    Shoppers at Naklua Market were left stunned by an unexpected surge in veggie costs, particularly garden chilli peppers, driven by a relentless dry spell gripping the region. A survey yesterday revealed a dramatic spike in the cost of garden chilli peppers, which have skyrocketed from 200 to 400 baht per kilogramme. To cope with the steep prices, vendors have resorted…

  • Cannabis

    The importance of having a cannabis zipper

    Considering the investment in cannabis with prices for an ounce, or a zip, in legal markets, ensuring your stash remains top-notch is critical. A cannabis zipper comes to the rescue here, expertly sealing in that freshness and shielding your precious greens from any pesky external factors. It means that every single pound spent mirrors directly in the awesomeness of your…

  • Thailand News

    Custom Mercedes Maybach in 11.2 million baht crash goes viral

    A recent collision involving a customised two-tone Mercedes-Benz S580e Maybach and a pickup truck caused a stir online, with netizens reacting in shock to the estimated 11.2 million baht worth of damages to the luxury car. The incident was highlighted on TikTok by user Banknitikorn, who shared images of the aftermath. Amidst an outpouring of comments, concerns were raised regarding…

  • Business News

    Labour costs outpace revenue growth in Thai tourism sector

    Rising labour costs in the tourism sector are outpacing revenue growth, resulting in increased hotel expenses, as revealed by hospitality market analyst STR. Jesper Palmqvist, senior director for Asia-Pacific at STR, warned that the only risk for hotels this year is maintaining cost controls in light of the extraordinary growth of labour costs and room rates. Over the past one…

  • Business News

    Boxed milk prices set to rise due to increased raw milk costs

    The Internal Trade Department under the Commerce Ministry is poised to consider and approve a potential rise in boxed milk prices, following a request in alignment with increased raw milk production costs. The move comes on the heels of the Milk Board’s recent approval to hike the median ex-factory rates for raw cow’s milk by 2.25 baht (US$0.064) to reach…

  • Thailand News

    Thai train station offers refund after Facebook complaint over unexpected 100 baht fee

    A popular Facebook page shared a complaint about train station staff closing ticket booths and directing passengers to purchase tickets on-board, leading to an additional 100 baht fee. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has since clarified the situation and offered a refund. A local train passenger yesterday took to the famous Facebook page อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ รีเทริน์ part 6 to express…

  • Business News

    Thai AirAsia CEO urges government to curb rising travel costs

    Thai AirAsia‘s chief executive Santisuk Klongchaiya advocates for government intervention to mitigate escalating travel expenses for tourists, alongside the visa-free scheme for Chinese visitors. He justifies this by citing the disproportionate resumption of travel demand compared to the supply side, particularly in the airline industry, in the past year. Thai AirAsia’s capacity to serve China routes has notably reduced. Previously,…

  • Transport News

    Thailand braces for higher fuel and energy costs

    The full impact of international fuel price rises and inflation is about to arrive in Thailand. After many months of shielding the full impact of price rises, mostly with a diesel subsidy which capped the pump price at 30 baht a litre, the prices are now set to soar The government’s diesel subsidy has been in place since last October…

  • Property

    How to start hosting on Airbnb

    If you are a traveller, chances are you have checked out Airbnb. And, if you haven’t, it is a great site to find a house or apartment to stay in longer term than a hotel in Thailand or elsewhere. The experience is often favoured as you can feel more at home during your chosen place to stay. Today, Airbnb is…

  • Thailand News

    OPINION: Why restaurants are so f**ked

    Article by Guest Blogger Joelle Parenteau (This article contains some strong language that may offend some people) Covid 19 is about to kill restaurants by the thousands. This pandemic is the ultimate pressure test and restaurants are failing hard. Think about it: when we come out of this, your favourite food spots might not be there any more. Why are…

  • Tourism News

    Thai Air Asia returns to Suvarnabhumi in addition to its Don Mueang hub

    Thai AirAsia is spreading its Bangkok wings and opening up a secondary hub at the main Suvarnabhumi airport (BKK), to help broaden its attraction and bolster its bottomline. Thai Air Asia was the first airline to head back to the moth-balled Don Mueang in 2012 to re-establish the older airport after all the airlines moved across to the new Suvarnabhumi…

  • Environment News

    Report claims air pollution “kills thousands”, costs billions annually

    “In mere months, major cities around the world have lost tens of thousands of lives and well into the tens of billions of dollars in economic productivity.” New data released by environmental groups makes claims that air pollution in Bangkok alone has caused some 6,800 deaths and an economic loss of 81.4 billion baht so far this year. The data,…

  • Economy News

    Airlines offered drop in landing fees and fuel excise at Thai airports

    Airlines, international and domestic, have been hit hard with the impact on travel following the Coronavirus outbreak. Over the past month there’s been daily announcements of cancellations of flights and rescheduling to cope with border closures and daily changes in the coronavirus evolution. The Thai Cabinet yesterday approved a relief package which had been proposed by the Transport Ministry for…

  • World News

    Hanoi the cheapest overall, Bangkok the cheapest food – Backpacking in Asia

    Overall, Hanoi in Vietnam is the cheapest backpacker destination in Asia, whereas Bangkok offers the cheapest meals whilst on your journey. Alpha Travel Insurance has revealed the Asian cities offering the most affordable experience for backpacking based on the costs per day, of a hostel, transportation, meals, drinks and attractions. You can view the full graph HERE. The article looks…

  • Tourism News

    Thailand’s beaches now more expensive than European resorts – report

    PHOTO: Ministry of Villas The cost of a holiday in popular Thai beach resorts is now on par with, or even higher than those in Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and Egypt – all closer to home for Europeans with lower flight costs and less travel time. Diethelm Travel Group report that the cost of a five-star resort in Koh Samui,…

  • Tourism News

    Bangkok Airways announces ‘sale’ for fares to Samui

    Bangkok Airways has announced its ‘Samui Year-End Sale’ promotion, which commenced at the start of the November, offering discounted fares on its domestic and international routes to and from Samui. The flights to Samui cover Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi), Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi and U-Tapao in Pattaya. We’ll do them the courtesy of reporting that they’ve announced one-way fares start from 1,990 baht…

  • Transport News

    Thai transport minister backs down over mandatory GPS in private cars and motorbikes

    Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is backing down over plans for all private cars and motorcycles to be equipped with GPS devices. He now says that the issue needs “further study on real-time connectivity” with the database of the Land Transport Department and will measure the cost of that connectivity. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob says, initially, the installation of GPS systems…

  • World News

    Google moves manufacture of Pixel phone from China to Vietnam

    Google is shifting the manufacturer of their Pixel smartphone from China to Vietnam. The move is said to happen before the end of this year, as reported by Nikkei. Google cited increasing Chinese labour costs and added pressure from tariffs in the ongoing China-US trade spat. The US-based internet giant is reported to be moving both the manufacturer of its…

  • Health

    “Medical tourism is not making care for Thais more expensive”

    The Health Service Support Department is dismissing claims that Thai patients are having to pay more for medical treatments due to the government’s Medical Tourism Policy. HSSD director general Dr Nattawuth Prasertsiripong insist measures have been put in place to control prices charged at private and government hospitals. “Medical tourism does not affect the price that Thais have to pay.”…