Mike Teavee

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Temples... 

Isn't that why we all came to Thailand???

Joking aside, I fell in love with Thailand on my 1st visit 11 years ago & have visited 8-20 times a year since (now spend an average of 10 days a month in-country) but I would like to spend extensive time in some other places (Vietnam, Portugal & Colombia being top of the list) before committing full time.

Somewhat insulated from the Currency (Baht is "Only" 5% higher than SGD compared to when I 1st visited, though approx 18% higher than SGD's peak), no problems with Visas (extensions of stay) & don't bother with any of the TMs except the TM6 on arrival & a TM30 once per year when I go to do my extension), just feel like other places are starting to become more attractive & worth a try before committing completely 

2 hours ago, JamJar said:

 

Huh?

 

Are you confusing Thomson with Thomas Cook?

Apologies, yes I did confuse Thomson with Thomas Cook (that will teach me to go back to sleep at 4am instead of going onto the TVF ???? ) 

10 hours ago, Thaifriends said:

Has anyone seen TC even sign boards since 2 decades? I dont know who wrote this brilliant topic 

Used to see them all the time in the UK, but more recently they went under the brand TUI so rarely see Thomas Cook

On 9/1/2019 at 4:09 PM, cerox said:

Hello guys,

 

looking for information about Bohol; from people who have actually been there.

 

I will arrive in Bohol around mid-November after travelling other parts of the Philippines. I would like to explore it there a bit longer to see if it is suitable for living. Also, because there is lack of accommodation in PH and with Nov/Dec Christmas/New Year/high season is approaching I wonder if it makes sense to prebook 3 months there.

 

My questions to you:

- Panglao with the airport: is it more for tourists and the main/Alona beach? Or is it nice to live/stay there longer?

- is Tagbilaran city a better option? I see the ferry from Cebu goes there and they have a mall too

 

ExpatPH posted the bus schedule between Panglao and Tagbilaran - it looked a big gloomy so I need a bike. But perhaps the transport in Tagbilaran City is better.

 

Are there police checks on Bohol if I rent a motorbike because I do not have a local driving license?

 

Recommendations about other cities on Bohol island are appreciated too if the Internet is acceptable. ExpatPH mentioned good Internet, but I guess that he was on the main spots on Panglao and Tagbilaran.

 

Anybody been to Puerto Princesa? Nice for living or only a good travel spot?

I like Bohol, but if you're considering Puerto Princesa then have a look at Coron, probably my favourite place in PI. 

OP, a couple of thoughts

1. Housing is MUCH more expensive (to rent) in Philippines (as are like-4-like hotels), similar rules to Thailand re: being able to buy land/houses (i.e. you can only buy Condos)
2. If by "Cheaper Visas" you're referring to the practice of turning up on visa exempt & continually extending it up to 3 years, doing a border run and then starting again then the Philippines Bureau of Immigration is already looking to reduce the length of time that people can stay on Visa upon Arrival... https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/705806/bi-recommends-non-extendable-30-day-visas-upon-arrival/story so I would look at getting an SRRV (min $10,000 USD in the Bank) or have a plan B if they do the same with Visa exempts

I love the Philippines, have visited > 30 times  & used to have a house 2 hours north of Davao City, but when choosing a place to retire felt Thailand was overall the better option, however as my retirement date nears (4 months & counting) I find myself looking more & more at places like Vietnam, Portugal & Colombia so plan to take extended holidays in each place to see which I prefer.

Oh & this doesn't matter to you as you're from the US, but anybody from the UK would continue to get their State Pension increases in Philippines, it's frozen in Thailand. 

Seem to recall Thomas Cook did packaged tours to Thailand (at least to Phuket), not sure how often but there's a direct impact there.

From the articles in today's papers it looks like the other budget airlines are capitalizing on their misfortunes by jacking their prices up (quotes of 400% increase from some).

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If that is the new reality, Thailand deserves to be devoid of tourists pronto.

I never had a booking for first night, as just looked around for somewhere.

Anyway, who wants to have to book for every night of a holiday? I never stayed longer than 3 days anywhere, and decided where I was going on the spur of the moment.

Oh Thailand, when did you become so idiotic ( being polite )? You had a good thing going and blew it.

Sorry but I can understand somebody only having a booking for the 1st 1 or 2 nights but cannot understand why somebody would have a hotel booked for weeks after but not the night they land

Good call on the Embassy's call in my view, all to easy to cancel a hotel in the future, not so easy on the day 

16 hours ago, Henryford said:

It is NOT an average then and no one really knows what range of earnings per month might be acceptable to IO on the day.

Of course it's an average (total divided by number of units)...

Care to share a different definition of average?

Is 10 x 20K + 2 x 140K ok

Is 6 x 60K & 6 x 20k ok

is 11 x 42,500 & 1 x 38,400 OK (Clearly not from the previous poster)

Edit Apologies, you might be right about it not being an average, i used the more common definition as I'm sure most people do...

a number expressing the central or typical value in a set of data, in particular the mode, median, or (most commonly) the mean, which is calculated by dividing the sum of the values in the set by their number.

34 minutes ago, ICELANDMAN said:

Cebu and  Manilla but for me I had enough lost my money and time, I see not interesting country for tourists, and rather dangerous for business, political corruption very high with connection local mafia. Yes I agree if you go only tourists place and eat on the restaurant hotel you fond every one speaking very well English, maybe I not lucky, taxi scam all the time, my last expensive restaurant on Makati with not English menu I try lottery menu but I not eat only pay bill and my last day on airport Manilla a joke with not control baggage because equipment not work, fortunately a not see terrorist on the fly ????

Sure I have lucky problem with this country ????

 

Lol, the only time I had a problem with a menu in Cebu was when they gave me the Korean one by mistake ???? & I used to visit the Philippines with my ex-Filipina so we tended to go native (using Jeepneys, public ferries etc... ), Mindano is not exactly a tourist destination 

Taxi drivers in Manila can be a rip-off (especially from the airport) but the ones in Cebu I found to be very honest (Especially when your with a local, my previous ex-GF was Cebuano - what can I say, I have a thing for the girls from Visayas ???? )

Again, try Palawan, Coron in particular, you'll get a completely different view of the Philippines 

P.S. Though I defend the Philippines as I think it does get a hard time from people who have never really visited, it's blatantly obvious from the fact that I choose to Live  (1/3rd of my time) in Thailand & plan(ned) to retire there full time next year that I prefer Thailand.  In fact the reason I split up with my Ex was that I wanted us to move to Thailand (went got a Visa & rented a Condo) & she wanted to stay in Singapore, or go to UK or move back to the Philippines. 

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

I changed nothing. That is a screen grab ot the translated police order.

The 480k baht number is simple math by multiplying in 40k baht by 12.

This has been discussed in other topics. And the conclusion is that it means you can use a average annual income to apply for the extension.

Of course if you transferred 20k baht every month for 11 months and then 260k baht it would not be accepted.

FYI the reason for the average being allowed is due to a person applying for the extension can be working here and might not earn 40k baht every month.

Hi Joe, is it possible that there is a different interpretation of the rules for those people who are working in Thailand (and so will probably not be transferring money in) who can prove income using a Thai Tax statement VS those who are bringing money in from overseas. 

E.g. I can see that they would accept an average monthly income for the scenario where somebody working in Thailand earning (say) 100k pm changes jobs and there's a month where he maybe gets paid 2 months salary followed by a month with no salary then back to 100k pm again, but I cannot see them accepting an average if somebody is transferring in 100k pm, then 200k, then zero then back to 100k.

Poster above had an average of 42,500 over 11 months; (467,500) & 1 payment of 38,400 (505,900) but was rejected

We don't have the finer details, maybe they did 1 month at 267,000 & 10 months at 20,000 then 1 month at 38,400 but I'm assuming that the 11 monthly payments were all above 40,000 so they were rejected for one being below @BHWcan you please confirm

I think it's fair to say that the only way to be safe using the income payment if you're not working in Thailand is to make sure that you transfer in > 40k on roughly the same date each & every month

1 hour ago, ICELANDMAN said:

Lucky man ????

No, that's the average experience in the Philippines, you cannot have ever been there if you've never met anybody who does not speak English.

Again, I'm interested to know where in the Philippines you've actually visited. I've done Angeles City, Boracay, Bohol, Carmen, Cebu (Car Car, Cebu City, Macatan, Maolboal & Oslob), Coron, Davao City, Manila, Samal Island, Surigao City, Tagum City and a fair few other Islands on island hopping tours & nowhere have I had a problem with anybody speaking English or English menus... 

In fact in my > 30 visits, the only people I've met who couldn't speak English were my Ex-GFs parents who live in a small barangay (Kapalong) 2 hours drive north from Davao City & even they managed to learn enough English to be able to have a basic conversation with me (as I learnt enough Bisaya to exchange pleasantries with them... Oh & how to say "I'm full" (Busog - Sounds like Boo-Soh) so that her mum would stop trying to feed me. 

37 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

The TM30 has never been required anywhere for a person on 30 days visa exempt or 60 days TR. Are you sure the article was about the TM30,and not the TM28? Was it the article with the picture? 

Now I think about it, you're right, it was TM28 not TM30... 

OP, what Visa is your friend in Thailand on?

Only reason I ask is there was a news article on here the other day where the Chief IO in Phuket said the TM30 wasn't required for people on Visa Exempt, Tourist Visa, Investment Visa or Work Visa - In other words only required if you're on a Non-O for Marriage or > 50

1 hour ago, NilSS said:

<SNIP>  Costa Rica is interesting, but I'm nowhere near retirement age. Opportunities are a must. I'm a family man, so whoring is not a priority.

 

 

 

 

I believe Citibank is growing it's CSC (Citi Support Center) in Costa Rica including roles in Network Engineering & Operations, have no idea what the salary is like but there may be an opportunity there for you.

I worked for them in Singapore so know they have an external site with their job opportunities for ASPAC, would imagine it's Global so any roles available in CR would show up on there.

I still have friends at Citi, PM me if you're interested but can't find the site & I'll ask around for you.

Good Luck 

MTV

4 hours ago, garyk said:

Thailand is ok. But, as an American it is on my avoid list now. Really, as an expat Thailand for me is only good for one thing.  The beaches and water are filthy. The air pollution is hazardous to your health. Trash everywhere. And as one of the three nationalities that have to deposit money in a Thai bank to retire there, I'll pass?   So, If I want a Thai woman I will go short time when the air pollution is not killing people. 

I will be heading to the Philippines in a few months. A new adventure for me.

But, Mexico is my retirement destination now. Expensive but worth it IMHO.

12 years ago when I first went to Thailand it was pretty cool, now.  Pass

I have been traveling in Mexico for over two months now and there are a lot of Europeans here. Next time I talk to one I will ask them whey they chose Mexico over Asia. 

In case you haven't seen it, there's an interesting thread discussing moving to LATAM as an alternative to LOS... 

I plan to retire in January & have already set-up up my "Life" in Thailand (Condo, recently did the yearly extension for my Non-O etc...) but am hoping to do a 3-6 month trip to South America (Cost Rica, Panama & Columbia), hadn't considered Mexico, would be interesting to hear your thoughts on why you chose it (perhaps you'd consider sharing them in the other thread).

40 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

For more than 30 years I have always gotten a TM6 card during the flight. WHY should I carry a spare one? Give me one reason! 

I don't carry a spare one, but do complete the form before I head to the airport so have one with me

NB, I visit Thailand on average 20 times a year & more often than not go to the airport straight from work (1 stop on the MRT) so it's no hassle for me to complete the form at my desk & take it with me. 

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Which I complete before going to the airport. Much better than filling it in on the plane. But it will soon be a thing of the past. Why they claim it will be "phased out" instead of simply ending in now is something only Thai bureaucracy would understand.

Yep, always fill one in before heading to the airport & take a replacement one for the next trip when they hand them out

Does anybody know when the TM6 will be phased out (At Swampy if it makes a difference), I see 1 post above saying "A friend" didn't need one when they entered last Sunday but would have thought there would have been reams of posts on TVF if they'd stopped needing them.

Guess I'll find out next Thursday (I'll complete one just in case :)) 

13 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

 

 

Maybe you haven't read all the threads on this but they seem to use Bangkok Bank more than the other two

 

My last 4 transfers to Bangkok Bank have shown up as Intrabank Transfers so either I've been very unlucky or it doesn't matter that I'm sending it to BKKB

As an experiment, I'll make sure to use the "Funds for Long Term Living in Thailand" reason next time, followed by getting them to "Tag" my TW account to my BKKB account & using that reason.

Unfortunately I've now done all the transfers I need (hope!) for the next 4-5 months so will (hopefully) be a bit of time before I report back

8 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

Dogs are not allowed in most condos.

Sorry, I should have said that this was in Singapore where a lot of Condos will allow you to keep pets...

In the end, it wasn't the dogs barking that caused me to move, it was the family in the condo opposite (approx 50-60 feet, could see balcony-2-balcony) who got their little girl a piano & she would practise the same few bars/notes for hours on end, the neighbour above thought this was a good idea so got their little girl one & did the same.  This was just about bearable, until they started building a new MRT station right outside & put up soundproofing to keep the construction noise out, but that works both ways, it kept the noises from within IN!!! 

Touch wood haven't had the same problem in Bangkok, there the layout is such that the only thing I hear from my 1 joining neighbour is when I'm in bed & they use the shower or flush the toilet, can't really have a go at them for that.

45 minutes ago, tomgreen said:

Its funny that you mention not wanting to look at your self in a mirror , I am just the same . When I see my reflection it only increases my ‘’ I’m on the downward slope ‘’ stress ????.

 

I have a strange feeling that there may be others posting here that if they are honest ,  they to dread seeing themselves in a mirror ????

 

 

 

 

.
 

 

 

 

 

I can't wait to look in the mirror...

Cos I get better looking each day... 

43 minutes ago, battersea said:

The funds come from a UK company to my Thai bank account every month for years.

The average amount is 100,000 baht per month and it usually comes between the 17th and 25th of each month.

It comes into my Krungsri account and is marked as an FX transaction.

Is this good enough to satisfy the requirement ?

It should be as long as it's > 65,000 and happens roughly the same day every month