pepsi666

WHOA, there, Pardner! It depends upon what type of vacation a married couple (with or without kids) is looking for, and can afford.

You are of course in the main correct. This fella seems to want a real beach resort kinda place, isolated from the hoi poloi, where he can pay for everything with jungle beads and Pattaya doesn't have anything like that. If you want a quiet pristine beach location then Pattaya is not really for you...Krabi, Trang, Lanta, Kao Lak maybe.

Nope, I dont mind mixing with the hoi poloi as you put it, I just wanted more for my quid, they have moved up from taking beads now, but same as Thailand, they have home made goods for sale, they just dont come down from the hills to sell them

I had two weeks holiday, I worked out what Thailand would have cost, then browsed the internet, and found that holiday at that price, I had never been to an all inclusive holiday, I gave it a try, I enjoyed it, it didnt cost as much as Thailand would have

DR is far worse IMHO - not much going for it unless you are living in yankland. Pattaya beats it hands down in every category.

And Krabi - for just one place - beats it into the ground on every one of his "points". There is a lot more to Thailand than Pattaya!

Been there, done that, got several tee shirts as well

as I keep saying I have pretty well done all the touristy parts of Thailand, I can only compare places I have been to, I know everyone is trying to defend Thailand, and so you should, its your home, I'm only a visitor for 2-3-4 weks a year

(for those not up on slang, a septic is slang for a yank, = septic tank= a YANK, hope this clears up any confusion)

... If I was married, I wouldn't want to holiday in Thailand or Pattaya either.

WHOA, there, Pardner! It depends upon what type of vacation a married couple (with or without kids) is looking for, and can afford. There are resorts in Pattaya that can provide folks with a great vacation; with a few "point to point" visits to some interesting and fun attractions (elephant treks, Tiger Zoo in Si Racha, "Monkey Mountain", Million Years Stone Park, etc.). And you're way off in applying that statement to all of Thailand. Come on! There's enough history, scenery, and interesting culture in this country to fill several great vacations. Chang Mai, Phuket, and, of course, BKK itself, are full of "family" sights and activities that are educational, breathtakingly beautiful, culturally enriching, and entertaining.

I would highly recommend Thailand as a country to vacation in to anyone. The key is to know what you're looking for; and go to the right places to get that type of environment. And that type of vacation is still a great bargain, as compared to visiting any First World country. The same quality you can get in Thailand would cost at least double in the USA, or most areas of Europe.

... And that from a guy who DEEPLY regrets moving to this miserable area of Pattaya! Vacations and permanent residency are different worlds! I vacationed in Thailand several times before moving here in 2006. I don't regret ANY of those vacations. They were wonderful! (BKK, Chang Mai, Phuket, Ko Samui ... even Pattaya, 30 years ago!)

Thanks for that, I have had some fantastic holidays in Thailand, I dont regret any of them, they were brilliant, when I first went to BKK, I thought it was the scruffiest, dirtiest place I had ever been to, I loved it

I cant compare the US to Thailand, they are two different types of holiday, different things to do, places to go, the language, the people, the food, I have enjoyed and been to both, and with completely different costs, I cant compare the DR to the US either, they are worlds apart (I have NEVER been invited into a US persons home, I have in Thailand and in the DR, they are a lot more open and sharingthan in the US, even though they have less, they are willing to share and show off what little they have, they are proud of their homes)

I have visited all over the US, but I found the Thai's a lot more friendlier and to a lesser degree the DR,

In the US, I never had a girl plonk herself in my lap, I did in Thailand, and even with the wife there, but thats Thailand and you go with the flow or have a fight, we went with the flow, had a laugh and that was it, the girl and missus went on to swap baby pictures, it just dont happen anywhere else, but Thailand

No where in Thailand can I get all inclusive, I may get breakfast buffet if I'm lucky

There is a Club Med in Phuket.

DR sounds nice for you and your situation. If I was married, I wouldn't want to holiday in Thailand or Pattaya either. However, I think it's a little unfair to compare a city like Pattaya to a self-enclosed sealed-off from the public all inclusive resort on some beach in the DR. I mean there are plenty of beggars, trash, pick-pockets, and general hustlers and rift-raff in Santo Domingo. Probably more appropriate to compare Pattaya to the beach area of Boca Chica...in that comparison, Pattaya would come off pretty well I suspect

And there is nothing Thailand can do about the DR being closer to your homeland and therefore the flights being cheaper to get there...sheeze...cut us some slack will ya

Oh, come on, I'm not a septic, I'm a Brit, I thought that would have been easy to suss out, by my refering to £'s all the time, and why would I want a Club Med, Phuket is a dung heap as far as I'm concerned, I didnt find anything good about it, not even my mates boozer, full of whinging Brits, its too hot, its too expensive, the girls dont put out out enough, I was glad to leave his boozer before I slashed my wrists, BUT he likes it

And you are probably right about Santo Domingo, but I never went there, I'm just comparing it to places I have been to, (thats like my comparing Northolt to Bootle, I been to both, I know where I am now though and it aint Bootle )

Overall costs where cheaper, and I know the DR is closer, but Sri Lanka is a stopping point for me when I go to Thailand, I cant make any comparisions yet, I'll let you know after I have been there, but so far, its cost £1900, dunno what I'm going to spend on excusions, tips, yet

DR is far worse IMHO - not much going for it unless you are living in yankland. Pattaya beats it hands down in every category.

Sorry Brit, not this time, DR was cheaper and a lot more entertaining, didnt see much septic influence where we where (unles you include the monster trucks)

If you want to spend every evening in a boozer, Thailand wins, I didnt, I wanted a bit of entertainment and not watching some russian go go dancer

I have some great times in Thailand, but other places are offering a lot more than lady boys, hookers, walking street and numerous bars, and the sex trade, and a 20 meter beach, but if thats what you want when you spend your holiday, go for it, but I wanted a bit more and more value, as far as I'm concerned The Dominican delivered for me and my wife (and I would assume others want value for their money when they go away, but thats MY opinion)

What are the things that these places offer that Thailand does not? For some strange reason, you never bother to say.

The truth is that Thailand offers anything these other places do PLUS "lady boys, hookers, walking street and numerous bars, and the sex trade, and a beautiful beach".

Certain prudes like to pretend that sex is all Thailand offers when it is really just one of many things, but because the girls are so pretty and so sweet (in general) people forget about the good food and Buddhist temples and traditional massages and all the other stuff.

The beach in Pattaya cant even compete with the beaches (any of them) in the Dominican, the beach in Pattaya is never cleaned, there is no lifeguard, and from beach road to low tide how much beach you got, 30-50 meters ?

There is litter all over the beach, if you can get on it with the deck chairs and parasols

No where in Thailand can I get all inclusive, I may get breakfast buffet if I'm lucky

What excusions can Pattaya offer ? Nong Nook ? Water Park ? I could do a different excusion EVERY day and not repeat any of them (and there wasnt a two tier pricing system)

As for temples, they all look run down and tatty, and see one, you seen em all (I know, I have visited lots of them) The Dominican is a Catholic country, so I didnt see any temples or Mosques

I can get a massage in the Dominican, as well, and 'extras' if I wanted them

The Dominican offers great food as well

AND I wouldnt say that Thailand has a monopoly on pretty girls, go to aqny country you will find them, its just you cant buy them in other countries with the ease you can in Thailand (Thailand is the only country I know that advertises SEX holidays, BUT I matbe mistaken)

Now you want to know what these other countries offer that Thailand cant

1, my flight was cheaper and shorter

2, a clean beach,

3, a lifeguard,

4, all inclusive

5, diferent and plentiful excursions

6, Entertainment, but not the lady boy shows or bars

7, not being sold junk on the beach

8, less pollution

9, less traffic

10, no mangy dogs wandering about

11, no beggars

12, better hotels or resorts (the Montien or amari couldnt even come close to the place we stayed at, or the service we got, and it was cheaper than either of them)

I'm not saying the Dominican is all wonderfull, they have their problems, the same as Thailand, its just I got better value and quality (this time) for my 2 weeks holiday

Nothing anyone has said will convince me different, so far

I forgot to add to my last post

When I go away on holiday (or vacation) I compare the amount of money I spend, the hotel or accomadation I stay in, the cost of the flights, the excursions or trips I go on, the resturants I visit, the people I meet, the shopping my missus does,

The flight was cheaper than going to Thailand

I spent very little compared to Thailand

The accomadation was excellent, Thailand had nothing to compare it with (I dont stay in a 500 TB hotel, I do try and stay in somewhere decent)

I went on several excusions, there arent that many in Pattaya to go on, they were very good and informative

We had several resturants on the resort, all were excellent, the resturants out side were pretty good and didnt cost that much, bout the same as Thailand

When we went outside of the resort, we didnt get accosted by timeshare sellers, blokes for 'ping pong' shows or to go into a particular bar, (I did get fed up saying 'hola' to everyone, though) everyone we met was friendly, and no one tried to rip me off with crappy goods, I did get lots of cigars give to me when I looked in their shops

All the drinks were free (or included in our price) all branded drinks, as well and there were numerous bars and pubs on the resort and plenty of resturants to choose from (we didnt have to give any tips, but we did, the service was immpecable and every where was spotless)

We met people who didnt have a pot to piss in (the Haitians) and they were a lot poorer than anyone I had met in Thailand (but they were illegal,) and they were put to work to pay for their huts, and if they wanted to stay they were put to work in the cane fields, but they had a choice, work or get sent back to Haiti, most chose to stay, even though they had nothing or very little, we didnt see any beggars either

The beach was cleaned every night or early morning, and there were plenty of watersports to be had on the beach, there was a lifeguard as well

My flight and accomadaton cost £1200,

I reckon the flights to Thailand would have cost more, then add on a hotel for 2 weeks (14 nights at the Amari would be £602), then meals and drinks £?, I think I got a good deal (and thats MY opinion)

I spent about a further $200 (say £150, roughly) on excusions, and £200 on presents and gifts, duty free) all in all I had a great 2 weeks

I couldnt get anything like that in Thailand for the price and I have done all the usual places Hua Hin, Bangkok, Chang Mai, Phuket, Ko Samui, stayed in various hotels as well The Montien, The Amari,The Hilton, and that place shaped like a ship,

I have some great times in Thailand, but other places are offering a lot more than lady boys, hookers, walking street and numerous bars, and the sex trade, and a 20 meter beach, but if thats what you want when you spend your holiday, go for it, but I wanted a bit more and more value, as far as I'm concerned The Dominican delivered for me and my wife (and I would assume others want value for their money when they go away, but thats MY opinion)

If other 3rd world countries can offer more value and quality, thats where I'll go, Thailand just isnt doing it for me any more (or for others, hence numbers are down) so I think I can see why Pattaya is dead, dead

How anyone can compare thailand to a all inclusive or anywhere else in the domincan is ridiculous. The dominican is a dirty disgusting place. It would be ok to spend a week in a all inclusive there but that is the limit. just my opinion of course!

I didnt find it dirty or disgusting, quite the opposite actually

The people were friendly, they are poor, I admidt, they dont have the bars or hookers and lady boys either, I didnt get accosted on the beach for 'services'

I didnt see sewage washing up on the beach either

I didnt see old blokes with young girls either

But I was comparing value for money, I didnt spend the amount of money I would have if I had gone to Thailand

AND thats my opinion

I cant comment on Sri Lanka yet, as I havent got there

Please do not modify "quotes" with colour/font changes or add your own text.

Forum Netiquette.

Any member who does this will have their addition to the discussion arbitrarily deleted.

What is 'netiquette' ?

Doing it that way ansers a particular point and saves lots of inclusions, or you could end up with half a page of quotes, seen it done on lots of other forums on TV

I wish a prison was like that, I'll do 5 years of that, PLEASE, I went into town did shopping, had a few beers, bought cigars, chatted with the locals (but unless you have tried all inclusive you wont get the idea0

We had our own private butler, private swimming pool, private beach area, bar services, own exclusive resturant (rather than a buffet) free room service, free drinks 24 hours a day, free evening entertainment

The Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, AND Thailand are all third world countries, they all have diiferent cultures and attractions,

I couldnt compare Thailand to Sri Lanka yet,

I can only compare places I have been to,

I can compare Thailand and The Dominican, and they are worlds apart, but for value,The Dominican did deliver for me

The flight was cheaper, the accomadation was better and cheaper, all my food was included, Thailand doest do all inclisive

I spent a further $200 on excusions

This wasnt just for me, my wife was included

AND yes, I know this was probably cheaper a year or 2 ago

4 years ago The GBP = 75 Thai Baht, now 56

4 years ago The GBP = 183 Sri Lanka Rupee, now 190

4 years ago The GBP = 54 Dominican Peso, now 59

2 years ago the Dominican Peso was even better at 64 and 1 year ago 68

Source http://www.oanda.com/convert/fxhistory

So you can see that 4 years ago the GBP was around it's high for the decade at 75 Baht. I've never got better than this. At one stage it had dropped about 35% from this high and now down about 26%.

In the same period the GBP is slightly up against the Sri Lanka Rupee and 10% higher against the Dominican Peso.

The Pound has not fallen against all currencies and from these exchange rates you can see that more value can be found in the 2 destinations that you have highlighted.

Thanks for the information, and going by that, Thailand isnt such good value

I always took cash to Thailand, I always got a better rate at the booths, in the Dominican I took cash $ (I had them left over when I sold a property in the US) probably take cash£ to Sri Lanka and plastic

I wish a prison was like that, I'll do 5 years of that, PLEASE, I went into town did shopping, had a few beers, bought cigars, chatted with the locals (but unless you have tried all inclusive you wont get the idea0

We had our own private butler, private swimming pool, private beach area, bar services, own exclusive resturant (rather than a buffet) free room service, free drinks 24 hours a day, free evening entertainment

The Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, AND Thailand are all third world countries, they all have diiferent cultures and attractions,

I couldnt compare Thailand to Sri Lanka yet,

I can only compare places I have been to,

I can compare Thailand and The Dominican, and they are worlds apart, but for value,The Dominican did deliver for me

The flight was cheaper, the accomadation was better and cheaper, all my food was included, Thailand doest do all inclisive

I spent a further $200 on excusions

This wasnt just for me, my wife was included

AND yes, I know this was probably cheaper a year or 2 ago

oh, I forgot to mention, I went to the Dominican Republic earlier in the year, that cost me £1200, again flights, accomadation, and all inclusive, 2 weeks, that is certainly better value than I could EVER get in Thailand

Now you try and convince me to return to Thailand when there are offers like that out there

If I am doing this, I would assume others are doing the same, everyone wants better value for their money, not just me

But all said and done, I still like Thailand and Pattaya and all its grotty little bars, the hookers, walking street, getting ripped off WITH A SMILE the short strip they call a beach, the bent coppers, the traffic, the smells, the poor quality hotels, If the TB was better I'd be back there in September (even my missus agrees with that, and she aint a Thai)

Thailand cant deliver at the present and the tourists are voting with their flip flops

I didnt come to Thailand or Pattaya this year, I just found everything too expensive, hotels, meals, flights,

The back side has fallen out of the TB, and I can get better value else where

I'm sad to say, Thailand isnt my first choice any more (even though I like the place)

It was my intention of retiring there in a year or so, but now I just couldnt afford to (I feel sorry for the blokes who have and get their pension from the UK, they must be on half what they originally got, a year or so ago)

I generally spend a grand out there (excluding hotels, flights), but I would have to take half as much again just to get the same as I got over a year ago

I guess I'm not the type of tourist they want over there and my money is no good

The political situation doest bother me, but the rules they have set up do

I cant see me visiting any time soon, unless things improve

Sri Lanka is a bargain this year, so thats where I'll be this year

I read your post with real excitement.First of all the flights from Europe to Thailand have never been so cheap as they are these days so don't know why you complain about that.

Secondly how you know everything was so expensive this year if you didn't came here.Do they publish the restaurant and bar prices in the newspaper in England?

Oh I get it,you English still blame it on the Thais that your pound went in free fall don't you.

You almost sound American.

nope I aint a septic, I have been to Pattaya for the past 7 years, things have got more expensive each year, nothing really changed, its still Pattaya

I have friends over there that keep me updated on things over there, they would come back, but cant afford to live in the UK (I dont understand that either)

I dont know where you get your flights from, but they are a lot more than last time I flew to Thailand

I dont have any control over the bank rates, I just know I need more wedge than I would than last time, so I can take the same amount I took to Thailand and go to Sri Lanka, I think a lot of people are doing the same thing and not travelling to Thailand (It maybe because of the political situation, it maybe because of the prices, it maybe they just dont have the money to go there, it maybe because Thailand isnt as good value as it used to be)

AND the world is a big place, there are more places that offer better value

(I didnt open the thread about Pattaya being dead, I just added my comments why I wouldnt be in a rush to come back, nothing has convinced me to return, after reading these forums)

I didn't try to put you in the spotlight as a sceptic I'ts SEPTIC as in Septic tank= A YANK or something similar but my point is that indeed prices have risen in Thailand but so has in the rest of the world.If you look at the prices in the supermarket in your home country and compare them with the prices let's say 6 to 12 months ago you will see a huge price rise.Never in the past it has risen that quickly.very true, but my wages havent, so I have to look for better value, Thailand cant deliver it for me

Another point is that the British pound have fallen against ALL major currencies but for the reason for that you have to look at your own government,you can't blame Thailand for that. I'm not blameing anyone, I just know my pound dont give me the amount I had a year or few years ago, so a meal costrs me more, it may cost a Thai or Ex pat the same, but I get paid in £

I don't know about Sri Lanka but I assume that the prises have risen there also in the past year and that your currency will buy there also much less then a year ago. I dont know, I have never been there, but the flight and accomadation are cheaper than I can get in Thailand (1600 quid for flights and accomadation and its all inclusive for 3 weeks, Thailand cant compete with that) I know excusions will be more, but I expect that

I didnt come to Thailand or Pattaya this year, I just found everything too expensive, hotels, meals, flights,

The back side has fallen out of the TB, and I can get better value else where

I'm sad to say, Thailand isnt my first choice any more (even though I like the place)

It was my intention of retiring there in a year or so, but now I just couldnt afford to (I feel sorry for the blokes who have and get their pension from the UK, they must be on half what they originally got, a year or so ago)

I generally spend a grand out there (excluding hotels, flights), but I would have to take half as much again just to get the same as I got over a year ago

I guess I'm not the type of tourist they want over there and my money is no good

The political situation doest bother me, but the rules they have set up do

I cant see me visiting any time soon, unless things improve

Sri Lanka is a bargain this year, so thats where I'll be this year

I read your post with real excitement.First of all the flights from Europe to Thailand have never been so cheap as they are these days so don't know why you complain about that.

Secondly how you know everything was so expensive this year if you didn't came here.Do they publish the restaurant and bar prices in the newspaper in England?

Oh I get it,you English still blame it on the Thais that your pound went in free fall don't you.

You almost sound American.

nope I aint a septic, I have been to Pattaya for the past 7 years, things have got more expensive each year, nothing really changed, its still Pattaya

I have friends over there that keep me updated on things over there, they would come back, but cant afford to live in the UK (I dont understand that either)

I dont know where you get your flights from, but they are a lot more than last time I flew to Thailand

I dont have any control over the bank rates, I just know I need more wedge than I would than last time, so I can take the same amount I took to Thailand and go to Sri Lanka, I think a lot of people are doing the same thing and not travelling to Thailand (It maybe because of the political situation, it maybe because of the prices, it maybe they just dont have the money to go there, it maybe because Thailand isnt as good value as it used to be)

AND the world is a big place, there are more places that offer better value

(I didnt open the thread about Pattaya being dead, I just added my comments why I wouldnt be in a rush to come back, nothing has convinced me to return, after reading these forums)

He said he was going to make a video of the scam (if you read every thread you would relaise this) I just wondered if he did make the video

Yes I did, I just said FO, (he obviously didnt understand slang)

would have been fun trying to fine a non smoker for smoking, dont you think

If the police were not carrying out the scam in the same place the next day, a video is unlikely don't you think? I dont know, he said he was going to make the video, and apparently the scam was being done over a couple of days

If they can fine a motorcyclist for a passenger not wearing a helmet, when he doesn't have a passenger. When they can fine a person for speeding when they weren't. When they can make the owner of a legally parked car pay for the damage to a car driven into it by an idiot driver................Can they fine a non-smoker for smoking? What do you think? no because I didnt get fined

(they tried fining me for smoking outside a bar, 18 months back, didnt work, I dont smoke, that was a lot of fun, I asked he liked sex and travel, he didnt reply so I told him to FO, he did )

This is a valid topic, it helps people to watch out for a scam.

posting details of the scam may help others to avoid it.

Why do you mention video 2ce? he didn't have a camera with him at the time.

You told a Thai policeman to FO?

You were lucky not to be locked up and you would have fully deserved it. Of course it wouldn't matter that you don't smoke, but the police would be fully within their rights to imprison you for smoking because you told the policeman to FO.

He said he was going to make a video of the scam (if you read every thread you would relise this) I just wondered if he did make the video

Yes I did, I just said FO, (he obviously didnt understand slang)

would have been fun trying to fine a non smoker for smoking, dont you think

Well, reading all of that was time consuming, okay you goit scammed, a lot of people agree it was wrong, and shouldntr have happened, but you still lost 400TB, did you ever post a video or even make a video,

Did posting the scam here help any ?

By posting here, did you get your 400TB back ?

If you did make and post the video, got a link for it ?

(they tried fining me for smoking outside a bar, 18 months back, didnt work, I dont smoke, that was a lot of fun, I asked he liked sex and travel, he didnt reply so I told him to FO, he did )

I didnt come to Thailand or Pattaya this year, I just found everything too expensive, hotels, meals, flights,

The back side has fallen out of the TB, and I can get better value else where

I'm sad to say, Thailand isnt my first choice any more (even though I like the place)

It was my intention of retiring there in a year or so, but now I just couldnt afford to (I feel sorry for the blokes who have and get their pension from the UK, they must be on half what they originally got, a year or so ago)

I generally spend a grand out there (excluding hotels, flights), but I would have to take half as much again just to get the same as I got over a year ago

I guess I'm not the type of tourist they want over there and my money is no good

The political situation doest bother me, but the rules they have set up do

I cant see me visiting any time soon, unless things improve

Sri Lanka is a bargain this year, so thats where I'll be this year

Genesis 19:24

Huh ????

As a devil worshipper I have no idea what you are on about

I cant really see it affecting the sex trade, there are always people willing to pay for that, irrespective of the price (just a pulse is just required)

It is actualy cheapoer to go to Europe these days (even with the lousy Euro) There are better deals than in Thailand (and Pattaya)

I have been going there for 10 odd years, twice a year, and NOTHING changes, except the prices, walking street, just the faces change

I used to bring lots of stuff back, tee shirts, jeans, suits, trousers, shirts, but now I can get them cheaper at home

The air fares are atrocious, far too expensive, and that will be the biggest stumbling block for any tourist or anyone wanting to come to Thailand, Hotels, well you can get any deal you want

Food isnt any cheaper than at home (a meal for two) Street food is pretty much stable anyway

I think if tourism drops off there will be an increase in crime, drugs,

But nothing really ever changes in Pattaya, it just gets dirtier,

I miss the old Pattaya I knew when I first came there, people were a lot more friendleir, and went out of their way to be 'nicer' now its take, take, take and scarcely a smile (LOS= Land of Scowls) these days

I havent lost any income due toi this recession (peoplwe will always need a plumber) but I cant see myself coming back to Pattaya until the rate is better and I cant see that happening anytime soon

My managers father in law is among that lot I think, said it was a bit of fun

What did the Thai's make of this then ?

I got back from the US in October, If I had gone by their so called rules, I would have ended up giving ovewr 20 quid as a tip, I dont do that in the UK,

Now with the £ at an awful rate both in Tbt and US $ I doubt I will be tipping any one, 51 Tbt to £ and $1.40 to the £ and I aint no cheap charlie, its just my money isnt going so far these days

So you can slate me if you wish, but if I cant afford the meals I used to have I wont leave a tip

well, a few things changed over the past few days

Got told there maybe redundancy in the air, some 250 peple are for the chop at LHR, covers everyone, from security to drivers, not a good thing for Heathrow, but maybe for me, but not the missus, so now I'm not sure whats going to happen, either way

I may have to get another job, I may just sit tight till the missus calls it time and retires, dont really want to traipse round Thailand like some sad old blokes I have seen there

Another plan bites the dust

I wouldn't say you're out of line with your questions...

This is the best reply and of the most help I have received, others have posted replies that have either been helpful or just slagging me off, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to you, Jan

I have read every reply, I may not have replied to them all, I know I will be the import (as will my wife) we are both white and know we will be classed and considered farangs

During our visits to Thailand, we have made and met various people out there, both Brit and Thai, some I stay in contact with

I have helped out in the kids place in Pattaya, I always help out the beggers with kids, (I may not give them money, I try and take them to a stall and get em some grub) we befriended 3 little girls while we wer there, fed them every day, got them in a care place before we left (and I'm no kiddy fiddler )

I have no intention of getting a Thai bride (or any other bride) I am happy with the one I have (and thats good after 34 years, marriage)

If I do decide to come to Thailand, I dont just intended to swan around 'lording it' I was hoping to help out in the community, and not contributing to a bar owner (I enjoy a drink, but not getting p***ed)

I maybe retired, but I think I could enjoy my stay out there

I will take the advice others have offered about renting and just staying for 6 months trial (I would have done that anyway, no point in burning bridges)

Thank you for the PM's (good and bad) it's a shame no one read my profile, before slagging me off, I'm not a bad bloke (I think) but I dont like fools and big mouthed people

But I think I'm going to end up like a second class citizen

You got the second class part correct, but the citizen part incorrect, you will NEVER be a citizen here of ANY kind!

Based on your post, I say you should consider other more welcoming retirement destinations. Some you can even become a permanent resident over time.

Thailand, especially the new much less smiling Thailand, is NOT for everybody!

I agree with Jingthing's reply

and

when I read between the lines you have enough reservations and implicit reasons to doubt if you will be happy here. The short answer is NO you will not if you come with a farang attitude to live cheap here ... you don't describe other races as "imported" (yes I am offended ... I am happily married to a Thai wife !) So you are the import, not your wife

if the only reason is "cheap" then perhaps you should consider another country ... Thailand is Thailand and it has its own culture and ways of doing things. Ifyou cannot adapt to this way/style then don't come I didnt say cheaper,if I did, then I meant cheaper

Thailand is very different ... the land of smiles is not always smiles and there are many people here who have to work very very hard to have the minimum of lifestyle. Thais have different standards and rules e.g the richest person in a group will pay for the consumptions I dont have a problem standing my own round, but I dont like spongers or someone who dont know when to put their hand in their pocket, if they dont, they dont get invited often.... so mostly it is the farang who will pay not all farangs are flush, there are plenty of Thais who have more ... if you don't understand the reasons why then don't come ...

my 2 pennies after 5 years of Thailand, a country I call home