Finspin

There is a nice air conditioned 12 lane bowling alley at the jomtien palm beach resort off beach road.

unfortunately there are no leagues.

I was joining a mixed group of expats with their Thai wives and girlfriends, who met each Wednesday afternoons for a bit of fun bowling. 120B per game, 40B for shoe hire.

I’m looking forward to bringing my bowling balls with me when I return from the Uk in August.

Did my 30 day extension last week. Had all the required paperwork. Went to the reception desk, didn’t like my copies of my passport, entry visa and TM30. Had to go away and.and get new copies.

Returned, paperwork checked given ticket, which related to desk ten. 60 persons in front of me which related to a two hour wait. Saw the official who did no more than staple the TM30 into the back of my passport and told me to go back to reception. At reception, a girl looked at my ticket, a short conversation took place with her male colleague. He took the ticket and wrote 1pm on it. Told me to return at that time and that I would be first in the queue.

I returned at 12.30 an sat outside the main building. When the doors opened a mad scramble ensued.

no facility was made for those who were told to return from the morning. A lovely expat told which desk I was to present myself to. I then basically forced myself in front of other and gave the ticket to the lady officer. She looked at it and told me to sit down. Five minutes later I was all done, having to return the following morning to collect my passport. That process was quick and easy. 

Arrived 19/12/23 on 60 day visa, will soon be attending Jomtiem immigration for 30 day’s extension.

Have trawled through the visa forums, but after page 13, decided to ask the question.

What documents ( and copies of ) do I need to satisfy immigration to grant my 30 extension without any fuss.

Many thanks in advance 

It’s a good question and got me thinking.

I arrive in jomtiem on the 19th from the UK. I’m assuming I will have to book somewhere.

Hope wherever I go has a table for the single billy no mates.

Must be a local thing with your GP in the UK.

My GP in Hertfordshire issues repeat prescriptions on a 3 month supply basis.

I visited Thailand many years ago with my family, 3 weeks of traveling around, loved the country, scenery, culture, food and weather.

About 8 years ago an Ozzie firefighter friend from Adeliade, called Jeff asked me to join him for a trip to Pattaya, saying “ what else are you going to do ?”

Since then I’ve been a regular to Pattaya as a total monger and throughly enjoying myself. My last trip in early 2023 got me to thinking about fully retiring in Thailand from the UK. Would I have the self control to live as an expat as opposed to a tourist. The only way to find out is to try it.

so in December I’m arriving in Thailand for 3 month stay. 
I will need to create new routines for myself and resist the obvious temptations that exist. Covid lockdowns in the UK taught me how to be comfortable in my own skin. As I write this, I haven’t left my flat since last Friday , when I had a few beers with some friends at my local. I agree boredom can be awful, in fact can lead to mental illness in extreme cases.

if my trip result in me being an idiot, then I will return to the UK, having tried but failing, back to the same old routine that is currently my life. But if successful, I’ll burn all my bridges to return and retire fully. Meet and create new friends and start a new adventure in the latter stages of my life. 

Never expected so many replies and some great advice.

my previous trips to Pattaya were as a tourist intent on partying.

This upcoming trip is to see if I can resist temptation and live an expat.

if successful, I’ll return probably in July 24, my expectation is to never return to he UK. So I’ll have to learn to live with what Thailand has to offer.

My UK pensions are good and I can afford to Iive over here. However my previous trips have told me that Thailand is a lot more affordable.

I can get rid of my car and all the associated expenses.

I can get rid of my rented flat and associated expenses such as council tax. Yes there are lots of service costs, internet, utilities, etc but they are a lot lower. I guesstimate my pensions will double in value living in Thailand ( Jomtiem)

Again thank you for all your advice 

Thank you everyone,

My previous trips were never longer than 4 weeks, so brought enough to cover my basic needs. Toiletries will means a trip to Boots for shaving products and sunscreen, and maybe a new pair of trainers I’m size 12 Uk although I’m guessing most of the time I’ll be in sandals or flip flops.

Thanks for your replies 

The electronics being more expensive is something I’ll have to investigate.

My phone and iPad are quite old and will probably need updating in the near future 

again thanks

I’m coming to Thailand in December for 3 months as an experiment,  to see if I can live permanently on retirement later in 2024.

I was thinking about what I need to bring with me, apart from the usual.

I’m aware that foreign cars and wine are more expensive in Thailand than the UK.

My previous travels to LOS has told me that the cost of living is generally cheaper

but are there any everyday products that are more expensive and I would do well to bring them with me from the UK

Many thanks in advance 

I’m just about to start the process for a 90 day stay in Thailand and have looked at the evisa system online. 
I did a visa process for China a few years ago for a sporting event in Chengdu, that was difficult 

but looking at the Thai system, I’m grateful for this thread and the advice it contains 

8 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

Also might be worth considering that there are currently lots of rumours about potential tightening/changes to the Retirement Visa/Extensions so might be an idea to get your Non-IMM O Visa in Dec 2023 & then hopefully you'll be "Grandfathered" in should any changes happen next year [Though there are no guarantees that there will be changes or existing holders will be grandfathered in

Thanks for this, I will seriously look at this when dealing with Thai embassy in London 

7 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

It sounds like you'll have no problem meeting the 1st requirement, not sure how hard it will be for you to get the CoR, where will you be staying during your initial 3 months? 

My intention was to rent three different condos for one month stay each. Starting off with central Pattaya ( LK Metro) , then Jomtiem, finishing off somewhere else, haven’t decided yet.

The CoR could be an issue if I do this and would be therefore better off picking one place for 3 months.. if that were the case , I would opt for Jomtiem, probably at one of the View Talay residences 

Hi everyone,

looking for advice on opening a bank account in the Pattaya area.

I’m a regular visitor to Pattaya over the years, but as a tourist from the UK.

I'm looking to permanently retire in Thailand in late 2024. To that end I’m arriving in Pattaya in December 23 for a 3 month ( 60+30 ) stay, living as an expat. I’ll be researching areas, condos, doctors etc

previous posts have lots of moans and groans relating to dealing with Thai banks.

So is there any best practice is opening a Thai bank account, I’m hoping to set up an account within days of my arrival. I already have a Wise account in baht with a reasonable amount on it. I’m looking to set up regular payments from the UK into such account prior to my permanent move in 2024.

Any advice would be welcome, such as best bank for an English only speaker, and accepting payments from the UK. The account would only be used for day to day expenses 

Many thanks in advance 

I was looking to book a flight from UK in December this morning for travel to Thailand.

the cheapest flights I found were from China airlines with a layover in Beijing. Having travelled to China a few years ago I found the authorities in Chengdu to be overbearing. So I’ve opted for slightly more expensive flight with BA/Qatar. 
so it appears that Chinese flight operators are also looking to fill their seats in relation to Thailand 

May even dictate which condo I live in

Bowling alley in jomtiem, nice to know.

I’m a regular tourist visitor to Pattaya and visited the PS  Bowling several times a week when I visited. In fact I’d brought over a set of three balls from the Uk and they lived there to be taken out for my practice sessions.

An Ozzie friend posted a picture of the demolished site. Glad the balls got a decent burial.

I’m intending to move to Pattaya as an expat in 2024

Jomtiem may well be my permanent location as a result of having a tenpin bowling alley 

17 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The EU executive aims to present its plans for a "digital green pass" on March 17

Will now be known as the “ Paddy Pass “

I’m ready, willing and able to visit Thailand today. But due to the tourist restrictions imposed I’m biding my time back in the UK. Was in Pattaya last March when this COVID storm kicked off and had to cut short my vacation.

My intentions then was to return and spend 4 weeks over the Christmas period. Alas not to be.

Once the Thai government take a reality pill and return to pre COVID travel conditions, I will make my bookings to return 

Worth a watch if you have not seen it. Ideal lockdown television 

I’ve watched a lot of programs recently. I like sci-fi and fantasy.

hope you like my recommendations 

The Maladorian... Stars Wars spin off.

Picard.. Star Trek spin off

Tiger King.. reality prog around Big cat owners in the USA..interesting 

Money heist.. over subbed Spanish robbery... I loved this series, can highly recommend.

17 hours ago, i84teen said:

singapore to LA/SFO/ SEA, for May departures are nice and cheap, less than $1000 for econ, 3 grand for business. UK to bkk is less than 500 pounds for may departures.

Did a test purchase with Thai Airlines on their app for a return trip LHR - BKK In December. Was quoted £968, which is over twice what I paid for a recent trip to Thailand. Price will have to drop for me to actually make that possible trip.

Being curious, I’ve just done a test purchase on my Thai airlines app for an economy flight in December 2020 for about a month. Travelling from LHR-BKK.

Was surprised that they were asking £968

The cost my most recent return flight this year was just over £400.

if Thai airlines continue asking this amount, I will not be paying it.