edwardflory

"""Housing: $300 to $800 (about 10,182 to 27,153bt )""" LOCATION, LOCATION LOCATION I live in KORAT, paying 4,500 bt ( $128 - $132USD ) rent + utilities for a unfurnished 2BR, 2 Bath, indoor kitchen, LR, DR, fenced yard with garden, 2 portchs, carport in a gated community. Under 70,000bt including a electric tricycle for local travel ( 4 major stores plus others ), to furnish. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

"""...Have you seen what Thai hospitals are charging now? Not to mention some charging Farangs double...""" Here is a hint: REGISTER at a THAI MILITARY HOSPITAL. You will pay the same as Thai civilians, at least in the KORAT ARMY HOSPITAL. Registration is no cost to get a hospital ID Card. Many doctors are US or UK trained and speak English. ( 6 days, ER service, 4 days x-rays, 6 days meds, 6 days labs, 2 Doctor visits daily in 6 person ward, 3 months meds on discharge was under $1000USD. )

"""tourist areas offer quicker access to medical care""" LOCATION, LOCATION and LOCATION. KORAT ( fair size non tourist city ), where I live, hospitals are 5 to 16 minutes away. "local" hospitals within 5 minutes, 2 MAJOR hospitals 9 & 12 minutes, Army hospital 16 minutes. Bonus....a doctor lives across the soi from me and a ambulance is parked here in the complex.

Another prospective ""Many retirees lose money by using unfavourable exchange rates and paying high ATM withdrawal fees"". -- I use my US DEBIT CARD ( NOT A CREDIT CARD ) at the banks TELLER, NOT THE SERVICE DESK or ATM. I found the direct transfer INTO my THAI BANK account to be my best / fastest way to get my monies at a decent exchange rate. Then withdraw funds from my Thai account via ATM upon leaving the bank. 1 stop service usually in under 10 minutes. ***** ***** ""Private hospitals charge significantly more, and major medical procedures can reach"" -- I am registered at a Thai MILITARY Hospital. Many doctors are US or UK trained so English is not a problem. I pay the same cost as Thai civilians using the hospital. It's slightly more expensive than govt civilian hospitals, BUT WAY WAY LESS than a private hospital. I spent 6 days in the hospital and was surprised at the under $1000USD cost for all the services ( 6 labs, 4 x-rays, daily meds, 2 doctor daily visits ) and including 3 months of meds on discharge. 1 ward nurse spoke English. ALL people and services were excellent!! ***** ***** ""living in tourist hotspots .... significantly increases costs"" Lived in Pattaya 2 years in a Thai residence hotel - 1 large corner room and toilet, paying 5000bt + utilities monthly. Moved to BKK area and found a "Thai" condo ( 3 rooms ) at 1850bt + utilities a month. BUT, was 45 travel minutes to BTS. Moved to KORAT in a fully furnished 4 room condo at 7000bt + utilities a month. My 1st year in Korat rented a motorcycle to explore KORAT area. I found a 2BR unfurnished house, fenced yard, indoor kitchen and etc in a gated community 4500bt + utilities a month ( 3 years here same rent ) Met a married couple at the IO, living 2km from me paying 35,000bt + utilities a month for furnished 1BR house in city. I paid to furnish my house UNDER 75,000bt INCLUDING a electric tricycle for local travel to 4 major stores. 260bt round trip to bank in downtown. The area has 2x's monthly weekend concerts at a socker field and the local temple holds non religious weekend events 2x's monthly ***** ***** ""face high medical costs if their policy does not cover certain treatments or chronic conditions."' -- I'm 80, policy is not available at a reasonable cost, re-read about Thai MILITARY Hospital. As I always say, LOCATION, LOCATION and lifestyle.

I know of a bolt driver that does KORAT to BKK on a regular basis.( Roughly 4 hours )

""" Out of curiosity, does an international trip restart the 90 day clock? Or is it 90 days from your last 90 day report?""" You must physically be "IN COUNTRY" 90 straight days. ( Most offices and online you can do 5 to 14+ days early)

.....Tm30 needs an address, with copy of house book and all kinds of other stuff..... I've done 5 TM-30's this extension year and never had to show a house book, just said "returning home" to the lady in the TM-30 office. HINT: if you rent you can do a TM-30 as: House Master - usually Possessor or Tenant Having said the above, IT all depends on your LOCAL IO POLICY.

"""Thailand one can find a small apartment for under 10,000 a month, and nice houses for well under 20,000 a month""" LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION is the KEY!! KORAT,( HOUSING ONLY ) just outside the city 2BR HOUSE In gated community, fenced yard with 3 trees and garden, indoor kitchen, 5G WiFi, AC and electric, water, plus etc. monthly cost UNDER 7,000bt a month. ( 3 years, no RENT increase ) 4 MAJOR stores, 7-11, mom & pop stores, restaurants, street food, NEW strip mall being built, fishing lake Immigration, temple - for wife, 15 minutes or less from front door. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION is the KEY!!

I did a TM-30 for a family that stayed with us for 2 weeks. 2 adults 1 minor. Take their passports to the IO. TM-47 is 90 day report TM-30 AND TM-47 addresses must match.

"""tourists who do not follow the rules or ....not listen to officials when it explained....it is a closed area to protect the coral"" Once UNIFORMED(?) officers told the tourists, they should have obeyed instead of argue and be ...physically... restrained - reward them with fine and deport. The tour operator should(?), probably did know a protected area, refund tourists money, be charged and fined, bussiness licence suspended for a period of time. My opinion.

"""I save a lot of money living here rather than my home country""" After I deduct all I am legally entitled to deduct, I am under the tax table. If I was above the tax table I WOULD pay a income tax because of the OVERALL benefits I - the family have, living in Thailand. 2 prime examples: 1) We have a 2BR house, yard and etc, in a gated community, I pay 4500bt a month rent. In my home country, the 1BR apartment I formally lived in is now 24,000bt a month. 2) Electric, about the same service ( minus a dishwasher BUT adding a stand alone freezer ), AVERAGES around 1800bt a month - with a stay at home wife. My old apartment ( when single ) I never got a electric bill LESS than 5000bt a month and I was NOT at the apartment, due to working, 10+ hours a weekday - Sat & Sun off. Considering the monies saved living here, paying a reasonable income tax ( around 15 to 20% ) would almost be a godsend.

I would think, because of the international status / nature of Pattaya, signage ( words ) should be in at least 3 languages. Thai, English, Chinese - at least on Beach Road - time numbers are almost universally understood. Add a no parking graphic between the wording and the numbers.

20,000bt? I spend that on groceries monthly. I would think with a 'tribe' at home, and being a contractor, ( working? ) more reward would be offered for just information.

Military Hospital ""Are there any around Bangkok?"" NAVY Hospital on same bus route as old immigration office on the river. GOOGLE to find out location or OTHER military hospitals. A friend got the ORIGINAL drug, NOT generic, at the BKK NAVY hospital and said he paid slightly over generic cost. A PHYSICAL cost him $7.00USD. He has reuped his script at the same hospital several times. I have never had a bad experience OR been over charged at the NAVY hospital in Suttahip, or at the ARMY hospital in Korat - where I now live.

'm surprised no one talks about compulsory health insurance NON - O-A retirement requires insurance NON - O retirement does NOT require insurance. ( 12 years so far ) I'm 80 and insurance is NOT available for folks my age.