Any Thailand experience?
 

Yo, just curious, are there any GFYers who live in Thailand ?

Any pics, suggestions, reports and tips ?

Cheap place to live but I am not sure if it is an adult business friendly country.

I'm not in adult, so no fucks given. I'm interested more in getting used to a climate, how well is their medicine and schooling, how safe is that and so on... a family things and such, not ladyboys & crap, hope there is something left still... I may consider Goa too.

Been there and its not too bad. Pattaya is the place to be though,there or bangkok.

A family living with kids, where would you go?

I've never caught an STD... is that what you meant by a 'thailand experience'

There are forum members that live in Thailand. Have been there several times for a long time. Healthcare is good, just have a good Insurance. I prefer small islands with nice beaches.

Near Pattaya is nice when you want a big city with lots to do and good hospitals. But than you could also choose Koh Samui. I prefer islands like Koh Chang, Ko Lanta where it is more quiet. Except when the Russians invade, than most backpackers leave to Cambodia.

Only time when i stayed longer in Bangkok was when there was a big strike and cars wheren't allowed in the center. Than the quality of air was good. But with the smog and heat in the summer, no thanks.

PS, there is a lot going on regarding Visa's. So you must look into that.

Too bad lots of rooskies come over. Yeah, visa is the thing, I guess a student one would do, them sending kids to school would help.

people rave about how livable Chiang Mai is, in the north. cheap, relatively modern, good for family. just not a huge party scene or the craziness youll find in bangkok.

also read lots of old dudes with young thai girls there living out their retirement, so the creep factor could be high.

Whatever you do, don't get into the white Toyota pickup truck with the red tailgate.

I live in a quiet town in Phuket for 10 years.

Unless you're a whore monger, Pattaya is a total shithole.

Bangkok is ok, but dirty.

Samui is overcrowded.

Chiang Mai is cool, has a lot of Americans and fairly good transport.

If you want to maintain your quality of living it will probably cost more in Thailand overall.

Money is everything here, if you don't have much you're considered essentially worthless.

Yes you can live cheap, some foreign expats make by on $500/mo, but on that budget you will be miserable.

To live comfortable and do whatever you want as a single person you need at least $6,000usd in monthly income.

If you add in a proper international school etc, you're looking at $9,000usd a month.

Then you need to decide on a visa to live here. several options, none of them cheap.

As far as safety, no one will mess with you.

It's the road fatalities which would make Thailand unsafe. You can be killed in an accident and it is completely legal for the driver to leave the scene as long as they turn themselves in eventually, usually a small fine.

I could write a a diatribe about thailand, but I'll simply say you need to throw out all logic you are used to.

Up is down, left is right, and never ever insult in Thai.

My friend lives in thailand and only spends $2k a month and lives in a highrise loft.

so basically 60,000THB/mo ? lol.

Unless he works for a company that pays for his loft he is eating street food, can't go out for a decent meal, afford health insurance, or travel.

Is he trying to entice you to work in the time share and/or call center business?

this his doorman?

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...2832e3d09c.jpg

Spends 2k/month, in BKK especially, is not luxury living, if anyone says so, they are full of bullllllllllshtz

Pattaya is a shit hole filled with drunk English and Aussie guys looking to fuck hookers, snort cocaine and drink till 5am.

Bangkok is excellent but expensive for Thailand. There are so many great Islands to visit but stay away from Phuket, it's a tourist trap now for people to visit Maya Bay. I went to Koh Lanta, beautiful Island, not very busy, cheap as it comes ($5 meals, $1 beers) and very friendly people with natural beaches that are not ruined by tourists. Not sure if I'd be able to stay there long term, it's a bit isolated for now until they finish construction on the new bridge that connects it to the mainland but theres plenty boats to take you if you need to get off the Island.

Lets be fair, you could get a 32sqm room with a fan for around 12,000THB is some weird part of bangkok with asbestos ceiling. Do your laundry in your sink, and dry it on some 500thb laundry rack.

so it's entirely possible.

Oh wait, the Visa.

You paid $1 for a beer? That is 35 Baht, which is cheaper than makro or 7-11 sells them. So, bullshit on that.

You can however get a decent Thai meal for 40-60 Baht in Phuket.

Phuket is only a tourist trap if you go to the tourist traps. Its a large island and the hopping off point for most of the renowned island Thailand has to offer.

Phuket has several top international schools, the largest world class health and fitness facilities, top hospitals, and an international airport with convenient flights for world travellers.

I see, so cheap and nice Thailand story is bullshit. 9k!!! Fuck me, man, I can do much cheaper
in Spain or Italy. Why would I need Thailand, jeez, fuck it.

The thing about Thailand is people do not factor in auxiliary costs. It looks really cheap (and it can be if you want to live a non-existent life)

If you don't have some connections or a legit business here, you will inevitably lose.

Nothing is at it seems so you have to roll with it. If you can do that it's paradise.

I don't understand the 'lose' thing off that statement. Why would I need a legit business?

to get a visa to live there, requiring 4 Thai employees.

If you're old you could get a retirement visa which requires basically matured 800,000THB deposit in a Thai Bank account (24,000usd)

Or, a marriage visa to a Thai, 400,000THB with at least 40,000THB income.

Or, an elite visa, google it.

Auxiliary expenses :)

Ah that, yeah, i was concerned about visa thing, right. Read about the elite thing too - way expensive, long term student visa - no?

Yep I paid 35 baht for a beer during happy hour in Koh Lanta, I have a photo of the sign that was outside the pub. Happy Hour was from 4-7. My wife drank strawberry diaquaris for 99 baht per. Little bar right on the beach, we sat and watched the sunset, had dinner, chatted with other tourists, it was bliss.

I have also paid 60 baht a beer in Bangkok, not in a place I'd ever go again but I have paid that.

It use to be possible, but since the coup they will require you to show up at at immigration and speak Thai.

I've also heard of but never really tried to confirm you can also get a muay thai visa (Same as ED) you are studying muay thai.

But what is happening of late is instead of just re-issuing visa extensions for ED (still required to border run every 90 days) They are limiting the extensions to 6 months, than 30 days, etc.

If you want to live in Thailand long term you need a cash positive business (profitable)

Retirement Visa (800k THB that just sits in a thai bank account)

Marriage to a Thai (400k THB in a thai bank + 40k/m income)

Essentially, you need to have a legitimate reason for being here.

You can probably still cheat the system with some envelopes and and a good lawyer, but not a good long term plan :2 cents:

what year was this? because they certainly made the cost up on the meal :)

I see. Hm. no fun. Even if I had a retirement visa, again, it would not solve it for my family members, correct?

Thing is, you can be SUPER happy here living on $2k/month, if you are ok living Thai style. That is eating 40 baht pad kra pow, or kuay teaw, or 12 baht mama soups per meals.

If you want anything with french fries and steaks, and aircon, forget about it.

Thai style living can be good, but doing that for more than few days, as a foreigner, it'll turn into living hell really fast

Correct, you would need a work permit and a non-b visa covering both you and your wife.

But as I said anything is possible.

Hes a computer programmer I use his software. He owns a few juice carts but does't make him any money it's just a work visa loophole or something.

With 3-4k USD / mo it can be managed fairly fine in Italy with a family of 4, i dunno what happened to Thailand then. Consider I come from Ukraine and I lived in Soviet times. As far as I understand the main issue is making it legal long term.

If your money is in USD you could be ok, just don't expect to have your children in a top notch intl school. Since you are Ukrainian, Phuket is the best place. Tons of Ukrainians here and russians.

You could probably find a 3-4 bedroom house for around 1200usd/month of relatively high standard.

Best advice is to visit first, look at either the north or south of phuket. Speak with a reputable lawyer on the visa.

Lots of charter flights direct to Phuket daily.

:)

Now I know the place to stay the fuck out :))))

I don't understand those 'digital nomads' in Chiang Mai.
For 200 USD more per month you live at the beach.

And don't forget, there is burning season in Chiang Mai.
They burn down fields and during 3 months it is all smog.

Chiang Mai is overated.

Bruce from Adult B2B lives in BKK. Search for him here or the other board.

Good luck!

maybe they meant 2k for apartment and utilities...home food?

not counting going out...etc etc

Ты обратись к Джэйсону (Женьку из Краснодара). Тут на форуме у него на форуме ник MatureKing: Hell Thai | Jason X Life

Best site to know and understand everything about expats living in Thailand: ThaiVisa.com :thumbsup

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh
dont listen to him...apartment for 1-2 people to rent in some smaller Thai town is like 150-200 usd with bills...
Like he said before - you can make it with 500 usd monthly as a single guy if you stay in one place longer

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh
dont listen to him...other thing - I wouldnt consider this country while having children...
I spent there few months years ago, cheap country if you are not stupid or dont require villa with aircon and heated pool :-)
tip: beware of stray dogs

Avoid Thailand.

Just spent 10 days there end of last year.

HORRIBLE.

Every single place we went was FULL of tourists. It is nothing like the photos you see online or in travel sites.

All the small islands and most spots are all full of tourists. Tons of Russians and Muslims (no offense) but somebody in the middle east has declared Thailand a vacation haven for Muslims.

Sure, the strip clubs are fun. But that's it. Otherwise it's Disneyland traffic and insane crowds.

Seriously, worst trip ever.

You are much better off going to Bali or Singapore or Philippines.

Thailand has been blown apart by so much tourism I just wanted to puke. Those quiet stunning beaches you see online... picture them with about 10,000 tourists walking on them. I'm not kidding. 10,000.

The taxis and the 'tuk tuks' are a fucking rip off. Years ago the cabs were cheap, but now, they are mob owned and are the most expensive cabs in the entire planet. (not making that up, google it.) The prices are same if not higher than the States.

The food in the small outside vendors is priced cheap, but most restaurants are priced sky high same as USA. Gone are the days of the $10 lobster. A lobster meal will cost you about $ 70 to $90 for a big one. There are many places to eat that are affordable and the food is very good. But that's it.

OH, and I forgot. 1 person dies every 6 hours in Thailand because of motorcycle deaths. It's a fucking madhouse. The traffic is insane and out of control. So easy to get hurt or killed by the traffic. 1000 times worse than any city traffic you will ever experience. Google that one too... worst traffic in the world. Bangkok traffic death capital of the planet.

The country is one big wallet fuck. Scams around every corner from over priced rooms to over priced food and cabs.

Pattaya disgusting, dirty, filthy, only cold beer, hookers, some tiny crowded beaches.

Bangkok, filthy beyond belief. Bad air, crowded, ugly, insane traffic.

Phuket, over crowded, full of poverty and tourists. Same shops and stores on every block for miles.
Islands, all over crowded, from the smelly old boats packed with tourists, to the over crowded islands, all selling shit food and post cards.

Rent a motorcycle and risk your life. No joke. And I'm an seasoned city motorcycle rider w/25 years experience and I've never seen anything like what I saw in the streets of Thailand.

Bali was Heaven compared to Thailand.

I highly regretted the trip and will never go back.

I needed a vacation when I left Thailand.

Just writing all of us this gave me horrible memory flashbacks. I need a drink.

lots of cheap fun in Thailand :thumbsup

LovinNothin, did you aim to hit any locals type places? or was your aim to hit touristy spots?

Sounds to me like you experienced nothing of "real" Thailand, and you probably spent time in every shithole tourist spot, like anywhere in the world, aim for the real deal locals style, tourist shit anywhere sucks ass imo

i have been flirting with the idea of taking my boys 3 to Thailand...away from tourist areas. and getting a spot within walking distance to the ocean. So we can swim daily. Have wifi. A maid to help cook and sometimes watch the boys.

Now im starting to think it is not as affordable as i thought. :(

I stayed 1,5 year in Thailand. LovinNothin describes the places i Always avoid.
But that is what you get for a complete vacation on a tourist spot in high season.

So can be even the small Island Koh Chang depends on the village you stay.
The first beach is full of tourist, but another beach is only backpackers and more for long stay.
Never been to Phuket. Went to Phi Phi and if you stay near the center it is full of tourist.

I travel alone and basic cost:

- appartment / Hotel / Studio 300 - 650 euro per month
(i sat for 300 euro at the beach in a small villa)
- gym - 40 USD p monyh
- Phone - 15 USD p month
- Motobike - 100 USD a month
- International Insurance - 150 USD a month
- food / drink - 10 USD a day

And than you can live on the beach and relax.
If you go out more, it will cost more. But i hardly could spent 2000 USD a month without risk of liver damage.
I have friends that live with 500 USD a month, but prepared for no hot water, small place for just 1 bed. never take more than 2 beers.

If you have children and want good education at an international school you must stay the places where are more foreigners. But that is on most places the case. So you must look what that will cost per child.

Its been about 20 years since i last went to Thailand so things will have changed. I used to stop over there on the way to Penang in Malaysia. I love the people and the food and used to stay in the Oriental or Mandarin Hotels.

On one occasion just as i arrived in Bangkok i developed very bad toothache, i found a British expats dentist who drilled out the offending tooth and stuffed it with a temporary filling. The equipment they used was archaic, like something from the stone age, but after what seemed like a lifetime they managed to do a root canal. Dentists back in the UK could not believe what they did and how long it lasted. I was just happy to be out of there and with the codeine tablets without pain. Be prepared for a culture shock!

i just want a nice place..3 bedrooms or so. wifi..live in maid...away from tourists. i will hire a math tutor..or science tutor..or do myself if i have to.
near the ocean..beach.
just so i can show them another country..i dont drink daily, i drink 1 time a week or sometimes not at all for months...depends on what im focused on or who is in town

That's a good report! Jeez, fuck that shithole!

Michael Olsen is in Phuket.