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thommy · 05-27-2017, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nectar

Haven't logged in here in a very long time. Thought I would chime in on this one. I've lived in Thailand for 21 years. You can live as cheap or as lavish as you want. There is a lot of wrong information in this thread.

1. Each city follows different rules for immigration. What immigration asks for in Phuket may be different than what is required in Chiang Mai, even though on paper the rules appear to be all the same. Interpretation is everything. The same applies for Thai embassies and consulates, they all interpret things differently. This can drive you crazy, as not only do they all follow different rules, but the rules are always changing. See #2 as this will be a huge help unless you go with #8.

2. You can work with a visa agent to find a solution. It's easy to stay long term if you don't mind paying a little money to an agent to help you. Don't let anyone tell you differently. You just have to search around to find the right agent in the city you're in.

3. Living on an island sucks. Don't waste your time. Not to mention they have a lot of power outages and you can get trapped there in bad weather, no power, food, water, etc. It happens.

4. What do you want to look at, beach, mountains, or city? Head south for beaches, north for mountains, or Bangkok for a big city. Mountains are the cheapest, with the most chill locals. The closer you get to water, the worst the locals and foreigners get. Bangkok is expensive, noisy, crowded, dirty, and full of desperate locals. Unless you love big dirty cities, avoid it. I personally prefer it up north, which is better for my family.

5. Don't even think about taking your family to Pattaya. Pattaya is the asshole of Asia. If there is ever a place that needs to be hit by a tsunami and rebuilt, it's this city.

6. Since you will be taking your family, I would look into safer areas like Chiang Mai. Less petty crime there, cheap, and you can get around ok without knowing the language. Chiang Rai is a slower version of Chiang Mai, and Chiang Mai is already pretty slow. Though, it's a good place for a family. Most of the tourists there are Americans and Chinese, very few Russians, Indians and Arabs. However, that could change.

7. You do not have to have a business or have connections. That's absolute nonsense. There are other ways to stay. See #8.

8. Each child can enroll in school. Each child can then have 1 parent visa. The international schools can help with this. It's very easy, lasts for 1 year each, and is renewed. For example, if you have 2 children, both of them would get education visas, and you and your wife would piggy back on theirs, your wife on one child, you on the other. This will be your best solution, and it will last until they graduate. By that time you may be of age to get a retirement visa.

9. Thailand is unforgiving. You're mostly on your own there. While crime against foreigners does happen, it happens mostly in Bangkok, the beach cities, and islands. It is rare up north, but it does happen. The police are all on the take, so if you drive any vehicle you want to make sure to get a proper license, but you can start with a international drivers permit from your home country. However, if you do get a ticket, it's only a few dollars to clear. There is no point system for a license here, which is a good and a bad thing. Thailand is NUMBER TWO in the world for road deaths. The roads are chaos and deadly. It may not be the craziest place you've ever seen, but it is the most (2nd) deadly.

10. Forget everything you think you know, Thailand is another planet. Nothing makes sense here and it never will. The longer you're here, the more it confuses you. There is no logic, just 65 million (mostly uneducated) people living for the moment, which can be good or bad depending on the situation.

I live in the north and spend around $2000 USD per month, sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. I own a condo in one of the nicest buildings in the city, eat western food or cook at home, and have a normal life. You can't live that cheap in Bangkok, but you can in the north with no problem. If you're spending more than that, you're drinking and whoring most of it away. Normal life generally isn't expensive here.

Good luck.

very correct and true except the information about Pattaya.

I don´t know when you have been there the last time but I can tell you always when i am for 2 or 3 month in Europe and go back the city have changed.

the tsunami you are waiting for is already on the way. Pattaya want to change and have to change because this city is growing that fast that all the infrastructure can not stand mass tourism.

they tried to compensate the missing europeans with russins - after the russians could not come anymore they changed to the chinese market but chinese come in such big groups and only driving in big busses and walking in groups it was a choas.

so last year i met some american guy near my house and we were talking a bit.
he told me that he is looking for a big piece of land his company want to buy what is empty since centuries.
than he told me that he is representing sands casinos from las vegas....ohohoh

3 weeks ago my lawyer told me about rumours that they will change the law after the next elections 2018 and Pattaya will get as the only city in Thailand a casino permit.

there is already a plan existing for the complete remodulation of walking street. all buildings at the sea side will go.

even the fresh made city harbour is closed again befor it was open because they are going to make it bigger even for big ships.

so yes - Pattaya have changed alot and will change faster than every other city in the world. and whatever happens - i can be happy because i own a highclass villa and 2 top condos in 5-star hotel building just 200-300 meters aways from the future sands pattaya - i think i can´t complain my desicion :-)