topcat333

I think everyone has to weigh costs based on their desired lifestyle. What I'm reading here are many are changing apples to apples comparing things that just don't add up. example... If you own a house that's paid off then of course your cost ratio is different but that's totally off point. 

I live 6 months a year in the US and the rest in Thailand. I maintain residence in Bangkok and Tampa Florida. I have a Thai wife and she and I are both still working. She lives 12 months a year in BKK. My monthly cost in Bangkok when we are both there is still way less than my single cost in Tampa. We are not living an extravagant lifestyle in either place but we live well. I'm also building a house in Northern Thailand and it's a nice house designed to be energy efficient and mostly off the grid. My cost in doing this is far less than I could even begin to imagine if I built the same anywhere in the USA. Yes, I realize that's if I chose to do so in BKK the costs would be far greater and that's why we chose Northern Thailand. We can come back to BKK or go to the beach whenever we want. We can fly in, Airbnb for a week and it's still cheaper than living a daily life in the USA trying to maintain a similar lifestyle. I’ve done the math and We have lived the math but my choices and my math is different than yours. 

I'm only semi-retired here in Thaialnd as I'm still working in the US living in Thailand 4 months a year. I've been doing this for the past seven years so I've seen a lot and have a good feel for living here. I've traveled many Asian countries but for me Thailand is the most appealing. The reason why doesn’t matter. I would imagine there are many reasons why others decide to stay or leave.

I'll be here more permanently over the next few years as I continue to close things out in the US.  I have relations here, many friends and maintain a place in BKK. I'm not wealthy so living here and being able to maintain a higher standard of living has its appeal. I'm not young, 67 but fortunate enough to have very good health. Most of my friends have been here for years and none that I know of are talking about leaving. I look at many of the things the Thai government does and shake my head, but honestly, I look at the things going on in my country and other countries and I'm certainly not impressed.

4 hours ago, stoner said:

the vast majority of the weed grown here is garbage. only a few sources of quality. other than that its imported. 

What happened to Thai Stick? I don't smoke the stuff, or at least since Vietnam but Thai stick was famious and would put you on your ass. Much of it found it's way back into the US as well as many other countries.

1 hour ago, mogandave said:

Dual pricing is routine in the US. 

Surprisingly the majority of United States National Park units are free to enter all year long. Only 116 of the 419 National Park Service units charge any sort of entrance fee. Admission to these parks can range from $5 per person to $35 per vehicle.

Just venting frustration….but this goes right along with allowing to tourist industry to start truly reopening.

Does this make sense? If you want to participate in the Phuket Sandbox project starting July 1 “with the current plan” the only way there is by international flight from another country to Phuket.  This means you must arrange your flight from your country to Dubai, Doho or Singapore to get a connecting flight to Phuket. Not only is it costly to get there but it’s also difficult. You can’t fly into BKK and catch another flight to Phuket. It’s not allowed.

What makes sense would be a flight into BKK with a daily flight for tourists from BKK to Phuket. Then the travelers would likely come. The way it is now offers as much success as the Thai Elite Visa program.

Does this make sense? If you are vaccinated and fly into BKK you still must spend 14 days in quarantine but if you fly direct to Phuket only 7 days with few limitations as long as you are on the island, and then after 7 days you can travel anywhere in Thailand.

What makes more sense is for fully vaccinated arrivals to BKK only quarantine 7 days.  I could live with that, but who in their right mind would sit in a hotel for 14 days on a 25 to 30 day stay in Thailand.

I’m frustrated because I’ve waited patiently for the past 16 months for some type of normalcy to arrive and now, while normal has returned to me here it’s a long way off over there.

I have a Thai Girlfriend and we have been together 7 years. We both work, she in BKK and I in my country. We spend a few months a year together and plan to continue this way for another few years when we both will retire. My motivation for coming to Thailand is greater than most. Further, we have the financial ability to pay the high costs associated with the honor to enter Thailand in these difficult times, but this by no means constitutes reasoning to throw money away for the honor of sitting in a Hotel by myself for 14 days or flying around the world just to catch an International connecting flight to Phuket. You really have to wonder who comes up with these crazy ideas that are only partially hatched and then believes they will actually work?