Scouse123

My home airport is Manchester. I fly with Qatar, but I don't drink Starbucks. My son picks me up and pays for the airport parking.

I want him to tell us how it will be policed? or is he going to ask his daughter as she seems to have all his answers.

Why? The Thai males would just run off as usual, having said that, same as the European males nowadays, ....no responsibilities!

And unwanted competition for Poipet and Phnom Penn as well.

I agree, Vietnam and Malaysia offer far better value for money if you are not in Asia solely for the nightlife. As others have pointed out here, Thailand isn't keeping pace with the times and is producing regurgitated entertainment. Those working in brothels offer poor value for money at extortionate prices. That, coupled with a poor safety record, increasing scams, and, of course, Thailand is no longer cheap and no longer represents value for money within the region. I don't spend much in Thailand anymore, as I feel it's a rip-off. The best offerings are still value-for-money hotels, but they are creeping up; once they reach parity with European standards, there will be nothing left.

I doubt that. We are in the low season, and Cambodia isn't a major player in tourism, if you take away 2/3-day visits to Angkor Wat.

No. Complete nonsense from those with vested interests. It would draw the worst of the Chinese mafia into Thailand. They've already ruined Sihanoukville, Cambodia and areas of Myanmar and no-go areas in Laos.

Don't worry, inability to read is usual on Asean Now; in fact, I think it's a requirement to comment.

On a serious note, Norse Atlantic Airways, a new airline, has grown considerably, offering tried-and-tested bargain fares to various routes around the world and is gaining popularity with travellers. I hope it works. I googled and looked on YouTube at their offerings, and they are impressive at very cheap prices. Another newcomer offering cheap deluxe and business fares to Thailand is INDIGO, from India, but I will give them a miss. I wouldn't fancy a stopover in Bombay!

I've just learned that Norse Atlantic Airways will commence direct flights from Manchester starting Wednesday, November 26th, aboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Only two classes will be offered: Economy and Economy Plus. Flights starting at 11,500 baht return ( 259 GBP ) The main worry is what kind of customers these flights will be carrying! I'll be sticking with the One World alliance group of airlines, I think. Details here:- https://scandasia.com/norse-atlantic-to-launch-first-ever-non-stop-manchester-bangkok-route/

I was purely talking about fruits available here low in sugar.

Yeah, Watermelon, Grapes, Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, all not so bad, even apples.

Yes and No, Those guys up sticks regularly and move around the country where they can make the most money, and I would too. They aren't involved in the selling, financing, or maintenance of vehicles, nor do they reflect the new car market or official dealerships within Thailand.

No, He can use his current retirement extension for now and put the money in the bank. When the retirement extension expires in 2026, he can leave the country that day, return, and make a fresh application with his own 800,000 baht for 2026, which will have been in the bank longer than the two months before rule.

OR, After uproar from netizens, the cabinet is mulling it over and having an extraordinary committee meeting to discuss the possibility of returning them in 2050.

Sorry, But a massive generalisation on something as important as health insurance.

Health Insurance: Not Just for the Sick or the Scared At 63, I’m fully insured—and I sleep better for it. That’s despite being a regular at the gym, walking most days, and generally taking better care of myself now than I did in my 40s. But I’m also old enough to know that health isn’t just about how clean your diet is or how many steps you clock on your Fitbit. The thing is, health insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. We all have different genetic baggage. Some of us are walking around with family histories like ticking time bombs—heart disease, cancers, strokes—while others come from lines of good fortune or luck, who lived to 100 on a diet of whisky and sarcasm. It’s a total lottery. Yes, the young and invincible often scoff at insurance. We've all heard the classic: “They never pay out anyway!” But dig a little deeper, and it’s usually down to something like non-disclosure of pre-existing conditions. Insurers won’t shout that bit from the rooftops, but it’s there in the small print. And while Aunty Madge might’ve made it to 103 on 60 smokes a day and a diet of condensed milk and biscuits, that doesn’t mean the rest of us will. Life throws curveballs. A freak accident, a dodgy scan, a slipped disc from lifting your suitcase wrong—and suddenly you're five-star private hospital material with a six-figure bill. I have narrowly missed death twice, once on a broken JetSki in Pattaya, and I tried to swim to shore. I misjudged just how far it was; I was rescued by a German man on a sailboat. I have never been so happy to see another human being. The other occasion was when an eighteen-wheeler took a corner at speed in Siem Reap and missed me by millimetres, my hair stood on end, and I shook for about 10 minutes—unforeseeable incidents. Health insurance doesn’t guarantee anything, but it does buy peace of mind. And in this part of the world, that’s not a bad trade-off.

Error in my last post, the deductible is 40,000 baht, not 50,000 baht.

I haven't seen any policies online by any insurers for the premiums charged that are as comprehensive as those Pacific Cross offers in terms of coverage for Southeast Asia. All international insurers are far more expensive for less coverage. My renewal for 10,000,000 baht of inpatient care, including a 50,000 baht deductible, a 20% no-claims discount, and no outpatient coverage, totals 47,000 baht for South East Asia. I get a private room up to 10,000 baht per night. I am 63 years old.

But are they any good for us as foreigners?

I'm going through a similar situation to the OP, with my policy due for renewal this month, although thankfully without the frightening premiums, as I'm considerably younger. To keep costs down, my plan includes a 50,000 baht deductible. Still, it’s hard not to wonder if the coverage is worth it, given all the horror stories about companies refusing to pay out. I've been with Pacific Cross for several years, and a significant premium increase is scheduled for when I turn 66; I’m currently 63. Health-wise, I’m in decent shape for my age, thanks to regular gym visits and daily walks. While I have some pre-existing conditions due to throat cancer, everything is fully declared on the application. A yearly medical check-up at Bangkok Khon Kaen Hospital is scheduled for this month. I am honestly sitting on the fence regarding renewal at the moment, and, like the OP, I've been paying premiums for over 23 years. Some posters are highly recommending Wr Life, I think it is, but they are relatively new to the market, and I have been with Pacific Cross for many years. I have never had a claim with them.

Here is the updated format, from mid 2025. Source was through CHAT GPT. 🇹🇭 Thailand (2025 Update) Typical Fee: 220–250 THB (~$6–$6.80 USD) Status: Still among the highest in Southeast Asia. Aeon Note: As of early 2025, most Aeon ATMs in Thailand have been shut down or decommissioned, and the previously lower fee (150 THB) is no longer widely available. Bank Examples: Bangkok Bank, Krungsri, SCB, Kasikorn all charge 220–250 THB. The fee is per transaction regardless of amount. Fee Avoidance? Almost impossible unless using multi-currency cards like Wise or Revolut, and even then you're charged the ATM fee but may avoid poor exchange rates. 🇻🇳 Vietnam Typical Fee: 0–50,000 VND (~$0–$2 USD) 2025 Status: Still relatively low. Some ATMs (like TPBank or Agribank) are cheaper or even fee-free, but withdrawal limits (usually ~2–3 million VND per transaction) can result in multiple withdrawals. 🇰🇭 Cambodia Typical Fee: $4–$5 2025 Status: USD-based ATMs are convenient but expensive. Maybank and Canadia Bank are some of the more affordable options. 🇲🇾 Malaysia Typical Fee: $0–$1 2025 Status: Still the best in the region. Maybank, CIMB, and Public Bank often don’t charge foreign fees, though your own bank might. Excellent for travellers using foreign debit cards. 🇮🇩 Indonesia Typical Fee: $1–$2 2025 Status: Moderately priced. Bank Central Asia (BCA) and Mandiri are widely used and reliable. 🇵🇭 Philippines Typical Fee: $2.50–$3.50 2025 Status: Common fees are 250–300 PHP per transaction. Limited withdrawal amounts (~10,000 PHP) mean you may be hit multiple times. 🇱🇦 Laos Typical Fee: $1–$2 2025 Status: Fees haven’t changed much. BCEL and ANZ Laos remain common options. 🇲🇲 Myanmar Typical Fee: $3–$5 2025 Status: ATM availability and connectivity still inconsistent. Bring backup cash if traveling there.

Wise and others. Here's the search:- Yes, Wise, like most international card providers, considers ATM fees in Thailand to be excessive, particularly the fixed fee charged by Thai banks for using foreign cards. While Wise offers competitive exchange rates and low transaction fees for currency conversion, the standard 220 THB ATM fee per withdrawal in Thailand is a significant cost, especially for smaller withdrawals.

Exactly, my choice, why you feel the need to extend the thread and keep blabbing on, when I have said already, I will exercise that choice in the future.