London Lowf

I'm Thai-size 5'7" and find the Click very cramped compared to the PCX/nMax - although the flat floor is handier for cargo.

Wow, I'm impressed with this thread, lots of billionaires on here! (I don't claim to be an expert but just act on my hunches - right or wrong)

Wrong - despite it seeming to be an optional question you cannot proceed without uploading something to this box. As DrJack54 stated, upload a further copy of your passport.

A few years ago the PCX vastly outnumbered the nMax on Phuket but last visit I was surprised at how the situation had levelled up. I've ridden both extensively including day-trips up to Khao Lak - in truth there's not a lot to choose between them. I feel that the Yamaha is safer as it has better handling and brakes (although i believe that the newer Hondas finally have a decent rear disc setup) but the PCX is smoother and more refined and so better on longer journeys. Both will be super-reliable and routine servicing or even a belt/clutch change should be within the abilities of any decent indie shop or reasonable diy-er.

Really? Spent five months on Phuket after Sandbox and never saw a cop on anything other than a white nMax - and that includes 20+ of them doing the 10pm closing-time sweep along Bangla.

It would seem that I have transgendered!

I'll take my chances. Covid knocked us (and Europe) down and Putin is kicking us while we're still on the ground - thanks to our poor energy planning he is in a very strong position for the foreseeable future - it will end badly for us.

I've no idea what a bluey is but, as stated above, I will probably be punting GBP25,000 on the THB next visit so I think that is enough of a gamble?

I assume that GBP recovered - I don't believe that will happen this time and would not be at all surprised if it drops below parity in the next three years.

Interesting topic - last visit to Phuket I got a little involved with a young lady who has now moved back to her origins and is renovating the family home with a view to spending the rest of her life there. She most definitely does not need my financial support (I believe she inherited from a previous farang relationship) but she wanted me to join her. It's in the middle of nowhere 60km outside Roi Et - I took one look on Gmaps and quickly realised that I would go crazy within a month if I moved there. Her response? "But you would have me!"

Britain is going down the pan quickly - the government gave away (I think?) £69Bn in furlough payments during the lock-downs so that people didn't have to go to work. They have now committed £90Bn to subsidising domestic energy bills on the assumption that the crisis will be over within two years - dream on! In addition, they are now talking of propping up businesses in a similar way - how much will that cost? GBP/USD is at the lowest rate for 37 years - and, as I write this, that is not even front page on the BBC. I am retired and am currently in the process of liquidating my untouched private pension and moving it in to an American fund. With my ready cash I think that the best thing I can do is open a Thai bank account on my visit next month and drop THB1M there in readiness for a retirement visa - even at the pathetic interest rates available I reckon I will lose less than I would with cash investments in the UK and our inflation. So glad that I am a baby-boomer and also that I never had any kids - the young generation here are screwed.

I ordered from Shopee but the goods were not in stock despite being shown as "Available" - I cancelled the order and did get a refund but I wouldn't use them again.

Another up-vote - I used it last visit 2021/22 to watch Superbikes on UK Eurosport and Formula 1 on ITV4. (I've just renewed and originally the annual subscription offer had doubled to over USD100.00 but I sat tight and have now got it for $83.23 for two years)

Quoted wrong post!

PS: I have now received a new e-Visa with my correct name - took less than 24 hours but, of course, it cost me another GBP25.00. I screwed up slightly on my flights booking and my stay is actually 61 days, but obviously no problem.

I've had TR60s twice in the past on 90-day return flights from the London Embassy - no problems at all. However, with the e-Visa system I wouldn't be so confident as there may be less human intervention- they spelt my name wrong on my latest visa despite numerous uploaded documents showing it correctly but there is no avenue to communicate with them and, although the Embassy responded quickly to my emails, there was nothing they could do ( a case of computer says "No" I think) and so I have just made a second attempt.

????

I think that you need to broaden your horizons - Bangla is but a small (seedy) part of Patong, and Patong is but a small (not quite so seedy) part of Phuket. I like the evening vibe of both but I would never base myself there - I stay in the back roads of Kamala and frequently ride to the northern beaches and there are some very desirable areas - have you ever ridden around Laguna? Maybe not "rich and famous" territory but there are plenty of secluded developments off the Laguna/Nai Thon/Nai Yang road that are very exclusive - just do a property search. I'm sure that there are also upmarket developments to the south of Patong but I rarely venture in that direction. Phuket is a beautiful location but it will never compete with Monaco, London, New York of Los Angeles - being a "millionaire" these days is no big deal but the "rich and famous" only want to be seen with other "rich and famous" people.

By then the OP will have the evidence that he requires.

I thought that I was back on TA for a moment there.

It is my understanding that you can only spend a total of 90 days out of a 180 day period in Thailand as a tourist, i.e. on TR visas and extensions. Covid extensions temporarily allowed longer stays but I don't believe that border runs would overcome this regulation. If I'm wrong then I can abandon my plans to attempt a retirement visa.

If you're leaving it for months at a time then why not hook up a battery tender - even if is temporarily unplugged for joy-rides it will keep the battery topped up for the tracker device and an easy start-up when you get back. Alternatively, put the car into a commercial storage facility (at the airport?) - they will not allow unauthorised access.

- how long does it usually take to process the application - applying in the uk Just got mine and it took a week. - does he need to provide proof of accommodation booked when applying Yes. - can he apply for an e visa two couple of months before arrival in thailand? Yes, in fact it's best to apply early - my name is spelt incorrectly on mine (despite all of my supporting documents having it correctly spelt) and so I must start all over again. I exchanged a few emails with the London embassy but there's nothing they can do.

Thanks for summarising that - I knew that the balance can vary during the year but that puts the info in an easy format for future reference.

My pension has performed brilliantly over the last 15 years and in 2021 my pot grew by 11.27%. So far in this "crisis" year it's fallen back by 1.9% - I can live with that!