News Forum - Ukrainian and Russian tourists face problems with financial transactions, travel

[Thaiger]

Many Ukrainian and Russian tourists in Thailand have been facing problems with financial transactions and travel following measures launched by various countries banning and blocking services by Russian banks and close airspace to Russian aircraft. Having arrived in Thailand, in the thousands, during February, they’ve now found themselves somewhat stranded by both fallout from the international sanctions as well as a lack of flights back to Russia or Ukraine. On Koh Samui, many Russian and Ukrainian tourists have not been able to use their credit cards, according to the president of the island’s tourism association, Ratchaporn Poolsawat. Some Ukrainians have […]

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[Fundok]

No surprises here. Under the given circumstances the Thai tourism industry should not count on many Russians tourists to come until the sanctions will be lifted and the Ruble has regained some of its massive losses.

[Stardust]

Exactly that I watched 2 days ago, russians that tried to get money from the atms and their cards no more worked and on their phones, I guess to reach their banks and to figure out how they get money.

https://thepattayanews.com/2022/03/01/russian-and-ukrainian-tourists-in-thailand-beginning-to-face-financial-transaction-and-travel-problems-due-to-sanctions-invasion/

 

[PfizerModernaJohnson]

Cryptocurrency can be a life saver in such situations. Always keep some Bitcoins in your mobile and thai gold necklace for tickets fly back home. 
 

i always wear 1/2 baht, its my one way ticket back to germany and a few nights with food 

Edited March 2, 2022 by PfizerModernaJohnson

[Cabra]

SuperRich is still buying and selling rubles as of today. Problem is all the rubles tourist need are locked in Russian banks accounts with no way to withdraw using foreign (non Russian bank) ATMs. Their credit cards will also be worthless to them if Visa/MasterCard block all transactions processed through the VisaNet electronic payment network Not to mention rubles have lost nearly 30% of their value in the last 5 days. Would not want to a Russian tourist right now. When their cash on hand runs out, they will be out of luck it would appear.

[Stardust]

4 minutes ago, Cabra said:

SuperRich is still buying and selling rubles as of today. Problem is all the rubles tourist need are locked in Russian banks accounts with no way to withdraw using foreign (non Russian bank) ATMs. Their credit cards will also be worthless to them if Visa/MasterCard block all transactions processed through the VisaNet electronic payment network Not to mention rubles have lost nearly 30% of their value in the last 5 days. Would not want to a Russian tourist right now. When their cash on hand runs out, they will be out of luck it would appear.

2 days ago it was already 40% on the charts.

[Stardust]

12 minutes ago, Cabra said:

SuperRich is still buying and selling rubles as of today. Problem is all the rubles tourist need are locked in Russian banks accounts with no way to withdraw using foreign (non Russian bank) ATMs. Their credit cards will also be worthless to them if Visa/MasterCard block all transactions processed through the VisaNet electronic payment network Not to mention rubles have lost nearly 30% of their value in the last 5 days. Would not want to a Russian tourist right now. When their cash on hand runs out, they will be out of luck it would appear.

Yes the credit cards are done because they cut the swift to russian banks. Only credit cards over foreign banks and must be outside of Russia, because they also went on the Russian central bank, will work for them

[Sandbar]

Russian tourist and expats stranded without access to cash or flights out.

Get used to it...your 'Billionare' President could not give a stuff about you or anyone else except himself.

You all deserve better treatment and respect!

  

[Alavan]

2 hours ago, PfizerModernaJohnson said:

Cryptocurrency can be a life saver in such situations. Always keep some Bitcoins in your mobile and thai gold necklace for tickets fly back home. 
 

i always wear 1/2 baht, its my one way ticket back to germany and a few nights with food 

1/2 baht gold is about 15000 Baht.

You won’t fly far and eat a lot for that

[CamPat]

I will start a go fund me action to support both Ukrainian and Russians because they got cut off the f***ing Swift. The money collected will be handed over to the ambassador of each country because their embassies are in charge for the distribution of aid.................................and perhaps need help themself, too.

These are people like you and me, World Citizens that are taken hostage by some political arsonists. F...k them.

 

[Convert54]

6 minutes ago, CamPat said:

I will start a go fund me action to support both Ukrainian and Russians because they got cut off the f***ing Swift. The money collected will be handed over to the ambassador of each country because their embassies are in charge for the distribution of aid.................................and perhaps need help themself, too.

These are people like you and me, World Citizens that are taken hostage by some political arsonists. F...k them.

I  can understand your angst ! But I am not sure  donating to the  Embassies will assist those on the street you consider . Under most circumstances  Embassies  DO NOT provide financial support for  citizens. Check current policies  or  be prepared to stand at the gates long term  to evaluate  needs.

 

[harry1]

29 minutes ago, Sandbar said:

Russian tourist and expats stranded without access to cash or flights out.

Get used to it...your 'Billionare' President could not give a stuff about you or anyone else except himself.

You all deserve better treatment and respect!

putin has let down its people and country,taken Russia back 100 years and will become a pariah country,even Khrushchev grand daughter said yesterday putin is not savvy and the invasion was pointless and the people will have to pay the price of his action

[Poolie]

6 minutes ago, harry1 said:

putin has let down its people and country,taken Russia back 100 years and will become a pariah country,even Khrushchev grand daughter said yesterday putin is not savvy and the invasion was pointless and the people will have to pay the price of his action

Well, if Kruschev's grand daughter said so......

[Stardust]

1 hour ago, CamPat said:

I will start a go fund me action to support both Ukrainian and Russians because they got cut off the f***ing Swift. The money collected will be handed over to the ambassador of each country because their embassies are in charge for the distribution of aid.................................and perhaps need help themself, too.

These are people like you and me, World Citizens that are taken hostage by some political arsonists. F...k them.

Putin started that war and killing civilians including woman, babies and children. There is only one agressor and that is Putin there is no doubt about it! He want to kill Ukraine people and destroy Ukraine.

[Grant]

Question:

How can Thailand not take a stance and say they are Neutral?

So that’s saying Russia invaded Ukraine but we don’t want to condemn that because we make too much money fro Russia?

That is just poor and embarrassing  

It just proves that Thailand seems to have no scruples, and they just care about money !

 This seems to be how this country conducts its business in many ways !

Money is the only thing that talks here ,not what’s right and what’s wrong? 

Respect!!

 

[Stardust]

7 minutes ago, Grant said:

Question:

How can Thailand not take a stance and say they are Neutral?

So that’s saying Russia invaded Ukraine but we don’t want to condemn that because we make too much money fro Russia?

That is just poor and embarrassing  

It just proves that Thailand seems to have no scruples, and they just care about money !

 This seems to be how this country conducts its business in many ways !

Money is the only thing that talks here ,not what’s right and what’s wrong? 

Respect!!

But Russia is down and will not be able pay anything in Thailand. And soon there will be anyway no more planes from Russia in the air. Just in the european news the Russian airlines are cut of suppling spareparts for their planes. I think when they realize that their neutrality is very quick gone.

[Guest1]

1 hour ago, Alavan said:

1/2 baht gold is about 15000 Baht.

You won’t fly far and eat a lot for that

Yep, I think he needs to upgrade to 1 baht! at least if he wanna eat and drink before he flies.

15k would have gotten him one-way to Europe, last year. Just then the Baht price was only 27k. On the other hand, who hasn't a couple of thousand Baht bills somewhere in the house/apartment? 

[Stardust]

1 hour ago, CamPat said:

I will start a go fund me action to support both Ukrainian and Russians because they got cut off the f***ing Swift. The money collected will be handed over to the ambassador of each country because their embassies are in charge for the distribution of aid.................................and perhaps need help themself, too.

These are people like you and me, World Citizens that are taken hostage by some political arsonists. F...k them.

Don't forget the rich Russians in France, Monacco because they are seizing their yachts in Villas there on your fund me page . The bank accounts of them are already frozen. The ukraine people can fly back over europe and europe is helping them. They care already for almost 600 000 who fleeing from bombardments and mass murderer Putin.

[Guest1]

27 minutes ago, Grant said:

This seems to be how this country conducts its business in many ways !

Money is the only thing that talks here ,not what’s right and what’s wrong? 

Come on, that is NOT only the case in Thailand.

I hate it, but looking over to the US, which is the power behind the sanctions to Russia:

 

Seems not, that is any different, even in god's own country, isn't it? Isn't that the country, the world should adopt the democracy, moral plus follow their guiding?

Aside that we really have no idea how the Thai would deal with this, with no 2 years of pandemic before Putin marches into Ukraine!

Lets give 'em the benefit of the doubt, this time!

[HiuMak]

Cannot imagine travelling with credit card being rejected. It will be a nightmare for these Russians

[Soidog]

14 hours ago, CamPat said:

I will start a go fund me action to support both Ukrainian and Russians because they got cut off the f***ing Swift. The money collected will be handed over to the ambassador of each country because their embassies are in charge for the distribution of aid.................................and perhaps need help themself, too.

These are people like you and me, World Citizens that are taken hostage by some political arsonists. F...k them.

Ask yourself why they find themselves in this unfortunate mess. If Putin hadn’t invaded Ukraine then none of this would be happening. Mind you, being stuck on a tropical island like Phuket is more favourable than being stuck with your family in an underground bunker in Kiev. 

[Cabra]

13 hours ago, Stardust said:

Don't forget the rich Russians in France, Monacco because they are seizing their yachts in Villas there

Read today one of the oligarchs just parted his super yacht in the Maldives because they can't touch it there

[Manu]

1 hour ago, Soidog said:

Ask yourself why they find themselves in this unfortunate mess. If Putin hadn’t invaded Ukraine then none of this would be happening. Mind you, being stuck on a tropical island like Phuket is more favourable than being stuck with your family in an underground bunker in Kiev. 

Inapropriate comparaison here mate. You really think most russians want this war? Are not ashamed? Do they disserve it? They are just collateral victims of the Putin regime and not just a for a week now but for years. Journalists, human rights lawyers, etc... disapearing, killed or jailed, opposition muzzled, etc... many are in exile in the West fearing for their lives etc... 1000s more facing jail right now for having protested against the war all over Russia etc...

It seems, again, the western mainstream media propaganda in full power cut off all possibility of being objective. Again, nothing is either all white or all black.

Zelenskiy for a start... Nothing more than a corrupt greedy liar, who did not mind the help of the "russians" in order to hide his wealth and getting richer (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/revealed-anti-oligarch-ukrainian-president-offshore-connections-volodymyr-zelenskiy)

Secondly, I wonder if the Russians (I mean the Putin regime not the people) were to set up army bases and missiles in Mexico or in Cuba (that went down well back then) what would happen? Yes we all know and everyone would agree with that. NATO (the US) have been humiliating a psychopat dictator for years, Putin, what did they think would happen? What is happening now is also the result of that and has been hanging in the air for some years.

The thing is while our leaders are playing the game of who's got the bigger one, then eventually it is populations, people like you and me and the people of Ukraine now that will suffer, including russian people that have never backed up their own hateful Putin regime. There is NO good war, there is only another round of human desolation as the usual result of our leader's actions.

My point here Soidog, is that one should not compare people's misery, the one of the Ukrainian people under fire and the Russians in Phuket whom are not able to get a penny out of their own bank account they worked hard for all their lives in order to feed their familiies. It is not on. None of these people asked to be in this situation, the world leaders created it, the psychopath dictator Putin went for it. History repeats itself.

Edited March 3, 2022 by Manu

[Soidog]

5 minutes ago, Manu said:

My point here Soidog, is that one should not compare people's misery, the one of the Ukrainian people under fire and the Russians in Phuket whom are not able to get a penny out of their own bank account they worked hard for all their lives in order to feed their familiies. It is not on. None of these people asked to be in this situation, the world leaders created it, the psychopath dictator Putin went for it. History repeats itself.

I’m not comparing or rating misery, I’m simply saying that there are people who are suffering more as a result of Putin.
 

I have to be harsh and say that it is the Russian people who have to take some of this responsibility also. It is the same for ALL countries. No one made them go and vote for Putin. No one is stopping them from demonstrating against Putin other than other Russian people. The Russian people I’m afraid have to take the responsibility for this. Just as the German people had to take responsibility for what happened in WW2 and I have to accept responsibility for wars like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Of course it’s the madman Putin who ultimately carries the blame. But today you can not be Russian and detach yourself from what other Russians are doing. Putin isn’t a serial killer. He’s not pulling triggers or driving tanks over civilians. Other Russian are doing these things.  
 

At an individual level then of course I have sympathy for families stuck in a foreign country with no money. However we can not lose sight of the fact that these issues have been boiling in Russia for decades and the people have allowed it to continue. Too often people claim to be too busy getting on with their life and too busy raising a family to worry about political issues. Well, ignore politics in your country at your peril. The same is true in ALL countries. There is a saying: “People get the Government and the Police they deserve”.  That’s not a comment based on what they deserve as a person, but by the actions of the collective people. 
 

You may think it’s easy to say for someone like me who is from an open and democratic society. However, the UK wasn’t always like that. My ancestors fought hard and lost their liberty and life in order to create what they have today. I often say this when it comes to the development of a nation: We have all been around on this planet for more or less the same length of time. No one country has been given a helping hand by a devine power. It’s people are a country. 

[Fundok]

21 hours ago, PfizerModernaJohnson said:

Cryptocurrency can be a life saver in such situations. Always keep some Bitcoins in your mobile and thai gold necklace for tickets fly back home. 
 

i always wear 1/2 baht, its my one way ticket back to germany and a few nights with food 

But you still need to convert your fiat currency into cryptos by means of bank transfer - so too late now when you are abroad I would say.