pattsman42

The Kuta area of Bali is Australian to the extent that Aussie banks all have ATMs there for their customers. Some hotels have Australian TV channels, bars have Australian larger and serve meat pies with tomato sauce to patrons watching Australian rules football on the big screen TV.

Low end party culture at its finest, with drunken behaviour that anyone unfortunate enough to be in a night club area in any Australian city at chucking out time would instantly recognise.

Bali and Phuket were once exotic places, no longer. Both have been ruined by mass market tourism and any criticism of one can usually be applied to the other. Both have taxi mafias, corruption and scams. Thailand has the jet ski scam and Bali has the money changers just for starters.

Using numbeo.com Bali comes out at around 75% of Phuket’s cost of living. 

Bali has a big volcano which is currently causing major disruption to the tourism industry and some very good deals are available on accommodation with discounts of up to 80% on offer. 

Thailand is more geared towards people wanting to retire there in terms of visas and the healthcare is of a higher standard.

These days a roving retirement is quite possible with the low cost of airfares and ability to source accommodation in advance using the internet. With a bit of planning costs can be kept down and a lot of the negatives avoided. Phuket is insanely expensive over Christmas and new year but cheap in June if you don’t mind a few showers. The Philippines is horrendous during the Typhoon season but pleasant for the first half of the year. Cambodia is cheap and has easy visa rules. Malaysia gives most western nationals 3 months on arrival which could be spent on the beach in Langkawi drinking duty free scotch. If you can avoid spending more than about 3 months of the year in one country you are unlikely to flag up as visa runner and can pass as a tourist.

A 3 month stamp on arrival in Malaysia followed by a 2 month tourist visa with a 30 day extension in Thailand already has half of the year covered. A bus ride into Cambodia with 30 days on arrival followed by a 3 month business visa takes us to 10 months when we can find a cheap flight to Bali or the Philippines for the remaining 2 months. Most of this could be done without having to fly. Add or subtract countries and vary the time intervals as you wish.

Perhaps Krabi vs Lombok would be worth comparing.

If you ask about types of progressive lenses, they will show you a chart demonstrating the qualities of each type. Essilor and Zeiss are the two premier brands and even they have different grades. The higher end lenses will typically be thinner and have clear vision over a greater area without you having to adjust your head.

How important that is, depends entirely upon you. I need glasses to pass my employment medical every year and buy one pair of top class lenses which I use for work. I have another pair of cheaper glasses for everyday use. There is a slight difference in vision quality but it doesn't bother me.

My work glasses were done in Manila with an eye exam by a ophthalmologist and cost around B20 000 including frame. My everyday glasses were done by Top Charon using the prescription from the Philippines, my own frames and cost B12 000.

OWNDAYS frames are slightly lower quality and the lenses around the lower to mid level of the Essilor range. They are however cheaper. Only you can decide how much your vision is worth. 

The islands in the Sulu sea are a definite no-go area for foreigners, there isn't much south of Puerto Princesa anyway. Back in May when I visited, there was a security alert on and island hopping tours from Coron were cancelled. There was an increased security presence with thorough checks before boarding the ferry back to Manila.

I never felt concerned in either Coron or PP. There was an attack on a dive resort in 2001 in which foreigners were kidnapped. Keeping up to date with the latest news and warnings would be well advised, along with the usual precautions.

On 07/12/2017 at 6:13 PM, cm662 said:

I care about nice clean beaches and oceans.  I hope to enjoy scuba diving, sailing and hiking,  biking.  And of course a nice lovely dark haired lady.

Try Palawan province in the Philippines, a whole different world to Manila. Clean and unspoiled, world class SCUBA diving on the wrecks in Coron, beaches at El Nido, fresh seafood from waters so clear you can see down to the sea bed from a sail boat.

The capital, Puerto Princesa is well maintained, safe and has a reasonable level of amenities. Prices are Low and Manila is a short flight away. The area is unaffected by hurricanes.

Well worth looking at.

This thread would be most helpful if we simply listed the advantages and disadvantages of each country and let the readers draw their own conclusions about which place is best based on how much weight they themselves give to each point.

For example:

In the Philippines the internet is poor even in Manila. This would be a big factor for a digital nomad but relatively unimportant for someone who doesn't even know how to open a laptop. However the retirement visa requirements are easier in the Philippines, this would be important for someone without much money but not important to someone who could afford a Thailand Elite Card.

For those wanting to fit in by learning the local language, Tagalog would be relatively easy where as Thai would be extremely  difficult.

Cheap hotels in the Philippines are usually quite scummy and you need to above a certain price point to be sure of something decent. Cheap hotels in Thailand are often very good value and only cost less because they are a few streets away from attractions and services. I've stayed in a nice US$25 a night place in Bangkok where as that price will get you a dump in Manila.

Etc.

For a first time visitor, initial impressions are likely to be much better for Bangkok than Manila. Bangkok is a world class city where as Manila is a third world dump with a few nice enclaves. There is little if any “wow” factor in Manila, it is dirty, overcrowded, dangerous and has crumbling infrastructure. Bangkok invariably never fails to impress with attractions such as the grand palace and better shopping centres than I have seen in the west.

I have never felt unsafe in Bangkok where as in Manila whilst walking around one evening, two different street vendors advised my Filipina wife to take me back to my hotel. Also two people we knew who were visiting for a wedding got mugged.

Outside of the Bangkok, much of Thailand is over run with tourists. Phuket is now an expensive mass market rip off, Pattaya a sleezy, polluted traffic jam. However there are nice places if you do your homework and avoid the hotspots for the low budget Chinese, Indian, Russian and Middle Eastern tour groups. Domestic transport is relatively efficient and not subject to extensive disruptions caused by weather.

Outside of Manila, much of the Philippines is still undiscovered by the mass market package deal crowd. Getting there is more involved and subject to disruption in the wet season but the SCUBA diving is world class, the beaches in Palawan stunning and the countryside around Baguio and Tagatay is like Europe.

If you have more money and want better facilities then Thailand wins. Less money and happy with a quiet life in the provinces the the Philippines is probably a better option.

There is no overall correct answer as your situation will determine what is best for you. I love Thailand and my Filipina wife likes it as well but fitting in is an issue for her as she needs to be able to socialise with her own kind. I like the Philippines but poor internet, power cuts and transport disruption get annoying as does general incompetence and delays.

The Cebu A330 is fitted out in a 3-3-3 configuration = 9 across, the normal configuration is 2-4-2 = 8 across, therefore the seat width is noticeably narrower. Given their poor reputation for on time performance, I would be reluctant to book a non protected transfer with them, ie one where they don't have to accommodate me on a later flight if the incoming one is late.

WizzAir only operate direct flights from DWC to Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary and Romania, other destinations will require another connecting flight.

Low cost is great for point to point up to about four hours, beyond that the graph starts to taper off.

From most European cities, use a search engine such as Skyscanner or Kayak which should find you a good price on a full service airline with a one stop connection, baggage allowance, food and drink, protected transfer, better back up in the event of a disruption and no hidden fees suddenly appearing at the check out stage.

For a trip like this its not worth the bother for a small saving. Use Cebu for domestic and regional flights if you aren't concerned about arriving late and you can't find a promo ticket on a full service airline for a similar price.

The Cebu Pacific flight to Dubai is operated by an Airbus A330 in a high density configuration of 436 seats, the maximum certified for the aircraft is 440. Some A380s have fewer seats on board. It is like a sardine can and not suited to larger westerners, its meant for Filipinos working in the Middle East. From Dubai, a direct flight to Europe will be very expensive as it is a hub airport meant for people to fly through not to and from. If visiting the Philippines from Europe buy a through ticket on one airline, if coming from  Dubai then add in all the extras such as taxes and fees, baggage, meals etc and decide if the saving is worth it compared to a full service airline. Its probably not as the passengers are generally overseas filipino workers and very price sensitive which keeps fares down. Similarly Hong Kong - Manila is a low yield route and tickets on Cathay Pacific are comparable to Cebu Pacific.

North America can be reached non stop from Manila in a reasonable flight time where as Bangkok requires a connection. 

There are more airlines operating into Bangkok from Europe and good deals can be found for business class as it is primarily a leisure route. Generally fares will be lower, however it is quite possible for a search to turn up a good deal on a Manila flight if there is a sale on.

Personally I feel that Thailand has the edge but certain factors could sway towards the Philippines depending on point of view. A US citizen with a Philippine wife who is covered by veterans health care would probably prefer Subic or Angeles city to Bangkok or Pattaya. He would be closer to the US, able to access health services from approved hospitals, and be driving on the same side of the road as at home.

Looking from a neutral point of view, Thailand offers several advantages:

1. Location, in the heart of South East Asia and a major air hub with easy worldwide connections. The airport is of a high standard where as Manila's NAIA was voted as the worst airport in Asia a while back.

2. Climate, yes Thailand gets hot and floods regularly but isn't subject to typhoons like the Philippines.

3. Infrastructure, much better in Thailand with high speed internet and constant electricity supply.

4. Getting around, Thailand has a reasonable internal transport network with a skytrain and subway in Bangkok. The Philippines relies on ferries and flights to get around the 7000+ islands which are subject to major disruptions during the typhoon season. Manila is a massive traffic jam with a minuscule city rail network. Chinese investment should help to improve the infrastructure but this is a long term project.

5. Safety and security, Manila can be quite dangerous and there are many areas I wouldn't go in the day time, let alone at night. Both countries have a problem with muslim separatists in the south but in Thailand this is usually confined to a few bombings vs kidnappings and open warfare in the Philippines.

6. Language, most Thais speak some English but the Philippines has the upper hand in this area.

7. Food, definitely Thailand, there are Thai restaurants all over the world but very few Philippine ones. Even non Thai food is generally done to a high standard and there is lots of variety available.

8. People, Filipinos are generally friendly and welcoming and love to socialise, however the macho culture can be annoying with the men thinking they have to act like Mexican bandits. The Thais are more reserved and the Buddhist influence is calming, witness people queuing for trains during the rush hour where as Filipinos would be a mob. Both cultures are Asian, the Philippines has a western veneer on top.

Thailand is infested with tourists, many of the less desirable nationalities. Philippine tourism is increasing but its still not a mainstream destination.

9. Costs, Thailand is no longer a cheap destination, especially with the strength of the baht at the moment though it is usually much cheaper than a western country. Philippines has very expensive electricity and for the same standard a hotel will be cheaper in Thailand. Difficult to say as your situation will determine what you need to spend.

10. Health care, Thailand is a major medical tourism destination with high standard private hospitals easily found. Outside of Manila the Philippine health system leaves a lot to be desired.

11. Things to do, Bangkok is a world class city and I've never been bored there. I'm still discovering new things all the time. Manila isn't in the same league but make the effort to look and you may be pleasantly surprised, shooting is popular and firing ranges easily found. The Philippines has better beaches  but they are harder to get to. Phuket is easily reached with direct flights from Europe where as  similar places in the Philippines require ferry or overland travel.

Overall Thailand is more cultured and sophisticated, it offers affordable luxury and convenience. The Philippines is more rough and ready rather than luxurious but if you can adapt to the conditions it can be a good option. Your circumstances will determine which is better for you.

I have seven short visits to Thailand this year ranging from 12 hours to 5 days duration, all arrivals by air. I have never been questioned by immigration regarding purpose of visit, length of stay or source of funds. I'm an Australian citizen living and working in Singapore and simply get stamped in and out each time so obviously nothing flags up.

Too many obvious "visa runs" and length of time spent in Thailand would start to raise suspicion, along with a third world passport and doubts regarding your ability to support yourself.

A pretty young Ugandan girl staying on tourist visas would be a prime target for questioning. At least she would be easy to trace once in Bangkok as they all seem to be around the Sukhumvit/Nana area. 

I've had dental work done in Thailand over the course of the last 6 or 7 years at Promjai dental in Bangkok and Phuket and have been very impressed. It started off with a simple repair after the edge of a tooth broke and moved on to replacing fillings, finishing off a couple of root canals, braces, crowns and an implant.

They weren't the cheapest I could possibly have found but the price was still around a third of what I would have paid in Australia. I am very happy with the current state of my teeth. There are enough horror stories around concerning cheap Asian dental work having to be rectified on returning home to make anyone cautious. I had an incompetent dentist mess up some work when I was in my early teens which caused me serious problems years later and was finally sorted out in Bangkok.

Its not worth saving a few hundred baht with the risks involved, go for an established practice used by better off locals. Avoid a place catering exclusively to foreigners who are unlikely to be able to return if something goes wrong. Promjai have a good track record with me, I would also happily go to BIDC based on their reputation. There are only a few others I would consider going to without doing a lot of checking first.

Having Central Festival as the destination/origin adds about B230 to the fare compared to the B250 walk up price. This also has the advantage of a booked place waiting for you. There were only two other passengers to the airport, one was waiting at Central Festival with us, we picked the other up on the way. The en route pick up would need to have made a separate booking with the van operator as there is no facility on AirAsia's website to specify a different pick up/drop off location. The operators mobile number is on display at the meeting point if you want to arrange this. There are multiple departure times during the day for specific flights. 2-3 people may find a taxi a better alternative if arranged in advance from one of the taxi booths dotted around the town rather than standing at the rank with your suitcase in your hand.

From 1 July there are some schedule changes for Pattaya flights e.g. to Singapore becomes a morning departure instead of an evening one.

Don't count on the wifi working at the airport and refreshment availability is limited especially after security, no aerobridges so all boarding is via bus.

With "FAST" "CHEAP" "GOOD" you get to pick only two of these. You can't get all three.

The pick up point at Pattaya Central Festival is; face the shopping centre on Beach Road with your back to the sea, walk down the alley way on the left side of the centre behind the taxi rank and you will see a taped off area with Airasia signs everywhere, its impossible to miss. Hang around there at least 15 minutes before departure time. A Thai man will ask for your name and check it against the list if you have already booked.

When I took the van last week it arrived 10 minutes late and we stopped enroute to pick up at a hotel, then we changed over to another van just outside the city for the remainder of the journey. Arrival at the airport was still well ahead of schedule and we got through to the departure lounge very quickly.

The fare was slightly cheaper if bought as part of the flight i.e. Pattaya Central Festival as the destination instead of Utapoa.