peter48

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.

Respectfully, so many grumbling oldies here me suspects. We had them in UK after 14 yrs of decline & decay the only real folk to vote Conservative were over 65+. So worn down with pessimism. Its really good to see new generation taking power in Thailand who will be dynamic, outward looking and less elitist, less older, less insular, less conservative and less traditional. That was the theme of last year's election - change. If you dont like it try comming back to Europe.

Youre right on 1st part but where did you get that 2nd part. Back in the mid 2000s under her father Brits and others swarmed to Thailand, we bought property, we stayed longer, the £ bought 55 baht, we were more welcome, Thailand was buzzing, Thai ppeople had cheaper healthcare access, things were much better than recent years where Thailand felt more down in the dumps for Europeans. Its all good news - UK graduate, open, aspirational, dynamic Thailand, , may yet again become LOS. Like Britain under a better inclusive government things are looking up.

These changes are good for Thailand- younger, dynamic, outward looking, good for business and Tourism. As with Tahksin's government before more inclusive for all especially the poorer North and funding more devevolpments for all. Better Baht tourism rates, more open to Farangs, English speaking ,having spent time ay University of Surrey its inevitable this is a good chapter for Thailand and its openess to the world. Bring it on.

Fantastic news. Broken Britain with healthcare meltdown, cancer waits for many months, medics leaving in droves, public service collapse, no room in prisons, high inequality compared to Europe, rising child poverty in the regions, chronic housing shortages, sinking state schooling as teachers leave, appalling governance creating tribal divisiveness & hate towards asylum seekers, diversity and minorities of every type. Tories led by Far Right Wingers have lost the respect of Britain. With hundreds of new MPs Labour and Liberal Democrats the UK can be like Europeans from Norway down to Germany in prosperity, healthcare,wellbeing and better governance. Gone are the tricksters, liars, self servers who served themselves not the public. Oh happy days when Sir Keir and Labour can implement decency and social justice to a down beaten country misled for 14yrs by rich arrogant semi-competent Eton school boys.

I said it before and I'll say it again to the old nay sayers - you change governments to a more dynamic, business- focused, younger, more inclusive, outward looking group of politicians, internationalist and Thailand begins to transform. So it happens. Hopefully we can reach the happy days of Thaksin and Tony Blair in the 2000s when Brits and others came in droves to Thailand buying property, bringing families, touring and enjoying a good rate of exchange ( which Brexit damaged). Thailand is changing & its good.