peter48

Covid hits the elderly far more seriously than others. Brits over 75 have had a Spring booster earlier this year. It seems down to so many factors like your immunity, respiratory system, possibly weight, vitamin D etc., But one thing for sure its serious. Never forget it was under Trump ( 1,219,487 to date) and Johnson ( up to 230,000 deaths) that some of the highest deaths figures globally were recorded because they were late to take it seriously. India and Peru and Mexico too. Generally what happens is that at its height the hospitals never have enough intensive care facilities ( that's why Germany came out far better) . Advanced Covid more or less 'drowns the lungs' in the most worst cases. How come? Fluid builds up in the lungs Airflow is restricted The person can't get enough oxygen

Just down from Hua Hin and in Hua Hin there is lot of infrastructure appearing over last 2 years or so such as the new Railway now overhead, better and newer roads, further down big changes on the coast side, brand new dual carriageways taking you quickly to places like Pran Buri, Sam Roi Yot coastine, and lovely little quiet country park beeches like Samphraya beach and then further down to beaches close to Prachup Khirikhan. Brand new fast roads - impressive. You can avoid the very busy main road going southwards

I think your correct on that, noticed this year service can be variable with some restaurant lady staff looking quite miserable at times ( by know means all). Of course the best places are where you are made to feel welcome, plenty of smiles, attentive bright staff, food suggestions, reasonable English, and those are the busier places, making more money, where visitors will return.

But there are loads of places to go in Thailand where what you describe is not true, loads of gorgeous beaches, loads of historic places, family places, student places, walking areas, country parks, sea sport places ….maybe you just go where there are lady bars no problem with that, but don't assume all lovely Thailand is like mad Phuket or the wild west of Pattaya

I guess compared to UK/Europe not as expensive but that's just 2 Thai drinks with an early night. But I think if you are not on some 2 week splurge yes prices in Thailand have crept up after all its not a first world country. If your here for longer several weeks or month or so etc its noticeable and taxi trips in and around at 200 baht for 1 short trip.

Not sure on that, kids or students on gap year are not the poor of Europe. Generally middle class kids before or after university from wealthier parts of UK or Europe and whose parents can afford for their off spring to travel for some months often not just Thailand but Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia which as we know are cheaper and reportedly some say friendly too.

In the earlier 2000s Farang / Europeans/ Aussies flocked to Thailand because you got for example 55 baht to £. Now its too expensive often in tourist places well over 550+ baht for just two drinks and a basic meal for two. You can be charged 100 baht for a Leo in some bars. Decrease the Baht's value and tourists would flock back. Even now as Trump threatens the Thai economy and Thai exports with massive tariffs on its goods exported to USA ( where poor Trump voters will pay a lot more for everything imported) we only get circa 43 baht to £, lower rates at most Thai ATMs and ATM charge on Tourists every time is 230 baht ( circa £5.30)

Come on any of us can have an accident. As we age we are more careful but we may slip, fall or stumble. Our senses are less astute, our eyesight less focused, hearing too. Insurance companies need charge more for Thailand visits like US. Sorry that's reality. All age groups too. Would UK hospitals charge so much for our visitors from SE Asia. Are Thai hospitals over charging ? It's time UK authorities and Thai authorities sorted out these huge bills. Holiday insurance is all about things like accidents. Journalists should follow up the Holiday Insurance companies abandoning tourists in LOS

Lads are lads but this is sad. Be interested to know which insurance company this is. Often things happen to any age group. Motor insurance will cover our mistakes when driving surely. Accidents happen. It's time these holiday insurance companies are exposed and must surely know if customers go to Thailand you could face big bills. Something seems not correct with his insurance company.

They are not in a worst position. UK has more inequality in the regions than most of EU. Our economy has declined most of G7 as measured by exports. Labour is struggling to increase growth but deep damage has been done by Tories 14 yrs to our public sector, our infrastructure, healthcare, transport, universities , technology etc . 9 months ago Tories were sent back to 1830 in MP numbers - its that bad.

You forget after 14 yrs of Tory government and the self harm of Brexit which has hit the UK economy very hard...Brits have less money. We became by 2023 the 2nd most unequal country in Europe. Its like Thailand gets more prosperous Scandi , German, Austrian, Australian visitors than poor Brits.

Goodness me you're likely just talking about 'the wild west' - just Pattaya & parts of Phuket where actually most Farang dont go especially families, gap year students, over 35s, the better off, discerning seniors. Yes we may have all tried Pattaya in our hard drinking 20s/30s etc but really the rest of Thailand has masses of lovely beaches, scenery or calmer urban places

Would not go anywhere near Pattaya or Phuket. They have a shocking image and reputation of brawls, drunkenness, accidents,mental strife, extreme behaviour. Kind of like the Wild West must have been. That's may construction from all the stuff appearing on news sites. Maybe they are not the wild west.

Recent trip to Thailand noticed the service is variable. Some bars, businesses and restaurants are very welcoming and smiles and staff keen to help. Others are indifferent, little English, too young staff or not fully trained or older impatient ones. Its like being anywhere else sometimes. LOS is no longer as keen to embrace tourists or it tries too hard to extract maximum baht per person. Clearly welcoming and happy staff help the business do well & the Farangs will return to that place. Also would like more baht to £ and hate those charges at ATM of 230 baht per transaction.

Hospital waits in Tory Britain could be as long as 12 hours often all night at A&E or more but now with more doctors, nurses, specialists, scans things are moving along quicker with the new Labour government. Things got so bad in Tory Britain cancer survival for women got to be 20 yrs behind, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Remember Johnson had highest Covid deaths in Europe and UK life expectancy by 2023 was dropping quicker than almost all Europe. UK Tory decline was significant with Brexit trade crumbling, foreign companies not coming to a country outside Single Market , long border hold ups of lorries etc. Tories and Farage did self harm. However must say general practice is good in South East ...any Red Flags and you get seen quickly, blood tests, scans done very quick as longer hours now be given by the new government

So many UK people strongly hate what he is doing to America and to world trade making poorer countries poorer, making poor poorer, cutting support for veterans, sick, elderly, being bigoted to anyone except billionaires, but he is going to crash economies as ppl now sell off US shares, but most important sell off US bonds which drives up US government borrowing costs. US pension pots are declining as $ trillions disappear. Awful problems to come. Many ppl will go to London to protest because too we are frightened of Brexit crazy Farage who made UK poorer too.

Its not that very simple my friend. Economics is 'Macro' not just about you a single consumer. Millions were not sold off globally for two days, every national leader in meetings this weekend, massive economies like EU, Japan, China etc preparing responses, like Covid , like 2008 this will hit all our prices, inflation, interest rates, property demand, jobs, wages, production, shares, pension pots, tourism. Its not just what Thailand trades to America, hit with tariffs of 72% yes 72% its responses of China or Japan too. They will affect Thailand too, car production for example could move to cheaper locations, less demand leads to lay offs, You can hide away but like those many Covid closed bars/amenities, falling property prices, stunted businesses, soaring health costs - this is not going away for any of us.

Even it reaches 45baht per £ it helps - there are many diverse types of tourists from Europe/UK gap year, youngsters, couples, guys, seniors, family contacts etc. Fares of course are very high for most. But over here in UK, Trumps global trade shock is serious & its effects on SE Asia getting coverage especially Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand with crippling Tariffs being imposed Make no mistake and it maybe in Thailand it has been understated. Not in the West. FT yesterday was calling it one of greatest acts of 'self harm on USA in history'. It will slow global trade, increase inflation, leave American business shell shocked. Here's your bit " decades of progress in poverty reduction across SE Asia ...is at risk" Sluggish growth in major economies including EU Japan and China will be compounded" What happened in America the other day is a gigantic game changer , our economies face massive changes. Thailand is highly likely to suffer the impacts on its exports and production. China and Japan will become even more important to Thailand. Maybe the Baht will weaken helping tourists and ex-pats, we shall see. But like 2008, Covid in 2021 do not dismiss these events they will have profound effects and thats why trillions of stock market dollars have melted away in last two days or so.

You try getting a policy on a state pension,even worst. Yes that's tough but I think we all know that Thailand healthcare is now one of most expensive after USA. Years ago it was less apparent but now its very evident. Its even more vital to get high insurance cover when your older, have underlying conditions or appreciate in Thailand there are more risks through road accidents, motor bikes , high heat, city pollution, viruses, alcohol, less developed country with possibly more crime etc., Actually no matter what age ... so gap year and youngsters need best cover too. The old Scout Motto 'Be Prepared' then enjoy LOS.

This is a Prime Minister with the shortest time in office ever. Tories dropped her. She tried to pass a budget based on lower taxation & it was rejected on the global bond/gilt markets with interest soaring to rates UK govt would not have been able to pay for long. Private pension systems were close to collapse & BOE intervened to save UK finance. She appeared on a stage this week supporting Trump after he called Ukraine pesident a dictator. She is raving bonkers. Fortunately the adults are back running the economy and saving the collapsed Tory smashed public services with economic growth, more house building, decent pay and wages increasing, quicker cancer appointments, more nurses, medics, teachers, police, more foreign investment into our economy, increased green technology, etc., It will take time but UK internationally wirh closer ties to EU is on the up. This is seen by Bloomberg or the FT and top economists so do not take the hate Daily Mail or Daily Depress as your sources - those right wing rags supported 14 yrs of Tory disaster incuding austerity, highest Covid deathis in Europe bar Belguim, Brexit, Johnson, Truss etc.

Surely this is why we take out holiday insurance? Can someone explain to me why their holiday insurance cover purchased in UK would not pay for these emergencies. Moreover do we know the UK insurance company involved.

What a comment to say when a British tourist dies in appallingly tragic circumstances and his family and friends are deeply grief stricken. May I say Brits both in Thailand & back here in UK express our deep sympathies for Regan's loss.

Somewhere very close to a big bank with lots of cash machines, day in, day out. Sorry just joking.

That's a rude response to someone seeking advice of his fellow farang. Most of us who have known Thailand and are more senior would likely avoid Pattaya which sounds like the Wild West now or disturbing Phuket. But Hua Hin, Krabi etc gets good remarks. Farang who end up on a farm in a remote village with mud,chickens, flies,extended family. The consensus is never good.

Good news again. When you change governments these things happen. I said it before and will say it again because too many oldies get into ever lasting moaning mode. These new politicians who are running Thailand in last year or so are open, progressive, internationalist and so the economy will improve , Tourism will increase and Thailand may return to the prosperity and more equality years of Thaksin Shinawatra when far more Europeans came to the land of smiles, brought property, retired and came for longer vacations.