The Fugitive

Recreational Vehicle (Motor Caravan or Dormobile).

Can see the connection; British Honduras and British Guiana.

I'd definitely go with that. Minus the hiking though!

Agree 100%. You're on the Atlantic coast and it does get cool and blustery. One Christmas stayed in Nazare. For two days we were strongly advised not to leave the hotel. By the third day the rain and wind had subsided. Most shop awnings had been torn off and the road signs were bent over. However, spent another Christmas on the Algarve in Vilamoura and it was 25C on Christmas Day.

Well thought out comments. As an Australian I’m guessing you are used to living at or near the sea? You will also prefer utilities and other services (such as door to door postal deliveries) that work reliably. A dual language Country would suit you best? The older we get the less we can tolerate cold weather. Health services become more important. If you appreciate history, culture and good food I wouldn’t personally write off Europe. Spain and Portugal offer much plus both have easily accessible Islands.

West coast of Ireland for me!

Stayed at all three plus Manizales and Popayan. My favourite was Popayan. Only in Cartegena was I warned by a builder repairing historical walls; "Don't walk in that direction, thieves!".

Colombia - Never goes too cool, very friendly, decent food and affordable. Portugal - Great cafes/coffee, dual language Portuguese/English, compact, plentiful public transport, good National Health Service. Unfortunately, can get uncomfortably cool compared to Thailand. Brasil - Obviously a huge Country. Prefer Bahia State, inland, warm and friendly. You still hear Bossa Nova played on acoustic guitars.

Magnificent post! 100% correct. We knew a poor Thai lady who took her own life because of financial worries caused by lack of tourists.

Talking about EU (or even pre-EU), my first experience of a land border crossing was (I think) France/Belgium back in 1971. Driver stopped our car and a guard came out of his border post looking puzzled and politely enquired in perfect English; 'Can I ask why you have stopped please?'. When driver explained that this was his first land border crossing and he was eager to get the officers stamp in his passport the guard practically beamed with delight and it took us ages to get on our way. The poor guy really appreciated having someone to talk to.

Agree! Not been for a while but as a non-driver I found Pattaya lacking a modern and comfortable centralised coach (long distance bus) station. Also, only one train per day?

Thanks, that's great information. National Service belongs to the era when young men were sent into combat zones fighting pointless prolonged colonial wars, some paying the ultimate price. Same happened more recently during the Vietnam conflict. Having said that my Thai nephew after working both in Thailand and Japan in a series of jobs recently voluntarily joined The Royal Thai Military Police and loves it!

65 years, in good health. First vaccine was Sinovac - no reaction. Second was AstraZeneca - slight headache in the evening and next day.

Portuguese Autonomous Region Of Madeira appears to accept our vaccines and any 'official' vaccine passports. Presently on UK green watch list though and could turn to amber at any time. Of course, transit stop(s) will be necessary from Thailand.

Many thanks for this, most informative and food for thought! Similar to where I lived previously (Paraguay). However, motor insurance was optional there.

Agree! Thai police have been very fair in my experience. My Thai neice (car driver) collided with a Thai girl (moto rider). Neither had driving/riding licences or insurance. The girl moto rider was actually at fault by undertaking whilst my neice was making a left turn. The girl sustained cuts and bruises only. Policeman was a family friend but he nevertheless applied the 'most valuable vehicle pays rationale'. My neice was ordered to pay for moto repairs plus compensation for injuries. Surprisingly, the injured girl only asked for 1,000 baht. We never saw any hospital bill so assume the Thai NHS picked up the tab for the girl's A & E admission and examination, X-ray etc.

This is on VietJet website, unfortunately in Thai; https://www.moicovid.com/ข้อมูลสำคัญ-จังหวัด/

Thanks for this. Valuable information for others! I understood that hospital treatment for injuries arising from RTA's (Road Traffic Accidents) is billed to the patient as it should be covered by motor insurance/police order. Did you have sight of any such bill for the older man's treatment? Sounds as if your insurance rep wouldn't have agreed for it to be paid out of your policy. Possibly the Thai National Health Service footed the bill in the end?

Try a different dentist. A General dentist told me filling was not possible, only options were extraction or root canal, post and crown (estimated 14,000 baht). She didn't do root canals so referred me to a specialist friend in the next town. He decided a filling was possible and that was what I had, total cost 1,200 baht.

Has to be simplified. For example, any vaccine, in any combo, wherever manufactured and wherever administered is acceptable providing you have received two jabs within the previous 12 months. The original concept of 'one of three' to avoid quarantine i.e. vaccinated, negative test or had it and recovered within the last 90 days sounded just too good to be true!

Something has to be rationalised. Boosters have to be recognised as vaccinations even though not part of a 'set' of two within the prescribed timescale.

Same true for dentistry I understand. We (Brits) have a set maximum charge of £282.80 GBP for dental treatment performed under our NHS. I believe the costs can be several thousand dollars in the USA. Opinion is often given based on our most recent contact/treatment only.

In same position myself, would appreciate any information discovered. Is it only the UK who refuse to recognise mixed vaccinations and any vaccines if administered elsewhere than UK, EU or USA?

Absolutely spot on! I believe most think (and hope) that their end will come quickly and painlessly. That would apply wherever they were. In the meantime they might as well enjoy an economical lifestyle in an agreeable climate.

Very good treatment and service in a Thai private hospital and amazing value for money. However, some retirees live here because they cannot afford to live in their home Country paying Council Tax and enormous Winter gas heating bills out of their meagre Government pensions. These are the retirees who use visa agents because they don't have 800,000 baht to show for their retirement extensions. They never had to pay for medical treatment at home and never made any provision. The cost of your operation would be beyond their means.