Tell me about Thailand

[Flash]

I am considering various countries for retirement. Thailand is one of them. The last time I was in Thailand was in 1975 and I'm sure things have changed. I would like to learn as much as I can about it. Things like can I own property, what are the visa/immigration requirements, what is the cost of living like now, where is the best place to live etc.? Is there anyone out there who can help?

[LostAgain]

The last time that I was in Thailand was in 1995 and I suspect that it has changed abit since then. I was staying in a very ropey beach resort in Phuket. I enjoyed the time but I wouldn't want to stay in that particular part for any more than a week. Other parts of Phuket are beautiful and the surrounding countryside, waterways and islands are fantastic.

[synthia]

The regulations concerning visas has changed recently. Check the Thai consulate website for your home country for the latest information. But basically, it used to be possible to come to Thailand on a 30-day entry stamp, take a bus to the nearest border on the day the stamp expired, leave, get stamped in and out of the other country, and walk right back into Thailand, because they would give you another ninety days. Some people had been doing this for seven years. Now you can only get a total of ninety days in a 180 day period, so you have to go to a Thai consulate in another country and apply for a visitors visa.

You can't own property, although you can buy a condominium. Many men buy property in their Thai wife's name, but when they break up, she gets to keep everything because it is in her name. It's the only reasonably fair thing in Thai marriage law.

[LostAgain]

I remember having a huge number of visas from just a one-month stay in South East Asia. I went in to Malaysia, getting an entry visa, left for Singapore twice getting exits followed by entries for Singapore, who also gave me exit visas, likewise Thailand. I was completely genuine in my travelling and it looked great on my passport. Others were doing it to extend business contracts without legitimate business visas.

[Peterc]

Thailand would be a great place to retire if you can get around all of the red tape. Thailand hosts many beautiful places including mountains an beaches. I am not sure about the public services there though.

[keatlover]

Living in Thailand is great, especially for expats. Many westerners take a long stay after their retirement, or even live here forever. The cost of living is quite small. For you, even having dinner in good restaurants may not cost much, like 1000 baht a menu, but eating street vendor food even cost much smaller, only like 25 baht for noodle or 30 baht for rice with curry. Drinking costs you 10 baht for a bottle of water. I do not know much about owning a property. But if you want to travel around Thailand during your retirement stay here, try Exotissimo Travel. It is a reliable travel company based in Bangkok (and also in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Yangon, Vientiane and Luang Prabang)

And I believe that a retiree like you love to travel on private or a little more exclusive. Exotissimo Travel also has tailor-made luxury tours and hotels option for you. Just visit Exotissimo Luxury Travel Collection and contact any staff of each country.

[synthia]

You can only own condos as an expat, unless you are American. Apparently we have a treaty with Thailand stemming from the Viet Name era that allows us to buy land.

As far as services go, medical care is good to excellent (major medical tourism destination), electricity is pretty reliable, long distance bus service is good, there are a lot of budget airlinges, and there is high speed internet everywhere except the smaller islands.

The Muslim south has a separatist movement that is setting off bombs quite frequently. The group has announced that it is especially targetting, among other things, schools.

[ricardo blue]

Originally Posted by Flash

I am considering various countries for retirement. Thailand is one of them. The last time I was in Thailand was in 1975 and I'm sure things have changed. I would like to learn as much as I can about it. Things like can I own property, what are the visa/immigration requirements, what is the cost of living like now, where is the best place to live etc.? Is there anyone out there who can help?

You will love Thailand.... The island of smiles they call it... and indeed it is!!!
Probably my all time favorite place, it just doesn't get much better
Like one of the guys said, Phucket has some beautiful surrounding areas and is a great base to explore some of the islands that are just a quick (and cheap) boat ride away....The likes of Phi Phi etc.
The people are beautiful, their beliefs and ideology is spot on, the food is
great, the scenery takes your breath away.... Simply Awesome!!
However, buying houses...... forget it. Starting companies...... you need Thai partners to come into business with you which is easier said then done. And I tell you what... I totally agree with their policies!
Go and take a month's holiday there and see what you think? Go in the summer to make sure you can handle the heat....... gets incredible hot and humid which does not bother me but does others!!
I'm going again next year to hunt elephants........lol.... only joking... Elephant's rock!!

[retiredusn]

The wife and I have been retired in Thailand for 4 years and love it. If you are planning on Thailand the first thing too due is go to the nearest Thai embassey and apply for a retirement visa (OA) this grants you a one year stay which is renewable after one year. It is much easier to get this type of visa in your home country to start with and you will not need too as they say here border hop for visa's every 30-90 days.

[buzzer]

My experience in Amazing Thailand has not been to great. In fact, I'm miserable here. I don't find the people at all nice. Outwardly, yes, but deep down, no. Before I came here I was talking to someone about my intention of moving here. He said Thailand... violence with a smile. I was deeply offended then, now I can see what he meant. I'm thinking seriously about moving onward, it's difficult, because I brought everything from the US, and now I have to find another place and go through all the hassle again. If you look at some of the statistics at a site called nationmaster they will tell you weird stuff like that LOS (Land of Smiles) Thailand has the 3rd largest # of gun homicides in the world - after S.Africa and Colombia. A good source for information is the thaivisa website. You will hear a bit more negativity there maybe because it's got a lot of long-time expat posters. Good luck whatever you decide. See my other 2 posts (I just joined so I can look for info from expats from other countries as a prelude to getting out of here). I think the most successful people here find a good girlfriend who helps act as an interface to the society, and those that can learn this really really difficult language. Just one man's opinion - Buzzer