crickie

For a single person:-

Rented fully-furnished studio condo in Hua Hin Soi 7 8,500

Electricity (averaged over a year) 2,000

Internet and mobile phone usage 1,000

Monthly laundry package 600

Groceries and household consumables, including food for make-your-own breakfast and lunch 8,000

Dine-out evening meals 9,000

M/cycle maintenance, rego and insurance 300

M/cycle fuel 800

BUPA sickness and accident insurance (Thailand only cover) 1,300

Monthly allowance for clothes bits and pieces 2,500

Total 34,000

Without rent (own the condo) but with a (less than) monthly condo fee of 1,000 = 26,500

Maybe consider Chiang Mai as it appears to be much cheaper. We're here only for three months so we have no car/motorcycle costs and our travel insurance covers medical costs but I've been keeping a tally on our spending as we too would like to live here, if only for 6 months a year and want to know that we can actually afford it. The spending so far has averaged monthly for two persons:

Monthly condo rental: 12,000 baht

Electricity and water: 1700 baht

Food and household goods for daily breakfast/lunch and dinner 4-5 nights a week plus wine and beers: 8000 baht

Lunch, dinner and drinks in restaurant 2-3 nights a week, daily coffees out and occasionally drinks in bar: 9000 baht

Transport (songtaews): 1000 baht

Miscellaneous, eg clothing, manicures/pedicures, massages, clothing, phone credit: 5500 baht

Total: 37,200

I feel that we're living very comfortably and not missing out on any luxuries. If we wanted to cut back, we could by shopping more at local markets rather than supermarkets, less massages/manicures.

Interesting ..... thanks.

2. Multi entry non immigrant O visa showing income of about 1200 pounds issued by Hull or other Honorary Consulate to those over age 50. Entry every 3 months but each entry for 90 days.

Can this visa run be over land or must it be by air? How much does this visa cost?

3. Single entry non immigrant O visa which you extend for retirement here in Thailand for one year during the last 30 days of 90 day entry. No exit required and you can continue to do each year. Requirement of 65k per month income (Embassy letter) or 800k in Thai bank account 2 (3 later) months prior to application.

I presume that you can use this 800k for living expenses after the regulated 2 (3) months? What is necessary to open a Thai bank account? What is the cost of this visa?

We're a British couple in our fifties and we'd like to escape the worst of the British weather and make our home in Thailand for 6-9 months each year. We have the financial necessities for a retirement visa but wondered what the alternatives are. We don't want to be making monthly visa runs. If the retirement visa is our only option, is it better to apply at home or in Thailand?

This form isn't quite the same as the one we were given at the Embassy. To the right of the box to tick for 'tourist visa' there was another box to which you had to tick 'one month' or 'three months'.

Have just looked at our departure cards - mine has been stamped as departure by 25th August but the departure date on my husband's has been left blank!

Many thanks.

Apologies if I'm posting in the wrong place. My husband needs to see a doctor, not emergency but consultation. Can anyone recommend a doctor who speaks good English in central Chiang Mai (we're in the Chang Klan area) and what should he expect to pay? Thanks.

Yes, it was a strange one. He had the same product in two different boxes at two different prices (about a £20 difference). The more expensive one had a sticker (very official looking) on the box stating that it had an international guarantee. The guy said you went to their website and keyed in the serial number which gave the guarantee. He said we could take the phone back for a refund if we had any problems. Seemed genuine but who knows - we didn't buy!

I want to buy a Samsung smartphone in Chiang Mai but having problems finding a store which will offer an international guarantee. We've just come back from KL where this wasn't a problem and now wish I'd bought one there but I didn't ... Does anyone know if I will be able to get one in Chiang Mai?

We've just been to KL for a tourist visa expecting to get a 60 day which we knew we can extend by a further 30 days. However, the form offered either one month or three month tourist visas so obviously we chose the three month which cost 110RM each. No mention was made in writing or verbally that it was necessary to extend after 60 days and the stamp in our passport simply says that it's a tourist visa. What's the score? Thanks.

The outward flight is already booked I'm afraid and there's also a $35 visa fee for Laos, isn't there?

One further question, will the visa date be stamped for the day of application or can we specify a start date?

Is it a Thai holiday every Monday? We have to leave Thailand on our current entry on June 22nd which is a Friday, the Monday then being the 25th. Do you have an idea of how much the 60 day visa costs? Thanks.

Thanks Lopburi. We're scheduled to land in KL at 1pm on a Friday. What are the possibilities of getting to the Embassy on that afternoon?!! If we could do it, when would it be ready?

We're a British couple in Chiang Mai at the moment on a 30 day visa exempt entry. We want to stay an extra 3 months and understand that we can apply for a 60 day tourist visa which can be extended by a further 30 days. Being in Chiang Mai the best place for us to do this will be KL. Can anyone give us an idea of how long the process takes, ie can we apply and pick up on the same day or does it take 24/48/72 hours?I did email the Consulate in KL but haven't received a reply. Need a rough idea so that we can book our return flights. Thanks.