Hello! We are thinking of spending a year abroad in Thailand with our three children (2, 6 and 9). We don't plan to work there, will home school our kids, and will be on a budget of about $2,000 month.
Questions:
Which areas do you recommend where we could rent a small house or two bedroom apartment for $400/month or less, low crime (safe for children), not too far from good medical care, and some expat presence? We may like to spend a few months in several different areas.
Will it be difficult or costly for a family of 5 to obtain visas for roughly 10 months?
Thanks, folks! Any advise is appreciated!
Melissa
Melissa:
Some quick questions and comments.
Questions; 1) Why Thailand, have you visited before? And 2) Why ten months?
Without having first-hand experience with a multi-entry tourist visa but having read the sticky thread "Thailand - visits and Tourist Visas" you should be able to schedule/arrange a six month stay legally.
You're in Philly, so call the Royal Thai consulate in New York City, 351 E 52nd St New York, NY 10022 (212) 754-1770, this is where you will apply for your tourist visas, explain to them your plans and see what they say. From my first hand experience with them they are very professional and accommodating. No communications problem as there are Thai-American employees who speak both languages fluently. You qualify as tourists, but as Song Si posts, there is no ten month tourist visa option.
From my personal experiences and spending habits, you need to increase your budget numbers. $2k for a family of five is tight, it is doable but very tight.
The biggest question is medical insurance. God forbid one of the family gets seriously sick, disease or accident, how will you fund medical care. You may be able to cover your family with travel insurance although I would request quotes from insurance companies for a short term expat insurance policy to cover the family.
What you want to do is an achievable adventure abroad with proper planning. Do your research. Anticipate problems and devise solutions. Read through this forum for the experiences provided from many expats who have lived on the Thailand economy.
Good luck and Plan, Plan, Plan.
You may be able to achieve legal permission to stay for a year through enrollment in school and using an educational visa route.