TroubleandGrumpy

I understand. But that is not now, and it is not the normal situation. For things like illness or accidents there is no way to negotiate - there is a set charge. But yes a daily room rate for a long term stay could probably be negotiated in some Thai Govt hospitals. My wife's Mother had a procedure done and when I asked about the cost of a private room for her to stay for 5-6 days in recovery (the wife did), I pushed back on the initial 'falang' price they gave, and she negotiated a discount (the private rooms were mostly empty).

Excellent points. If only more AN members had as good an understanding of the situations that they so vehemently comment on and then argue about.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotient Me thinks you were a plumber or a cleaner.

IQ is a BS 'test' that was designed to measure a person's ability to think and thus learn. Once a person has passed the age of about 16-18 their IQ test results are very much influenced by their education - the better educated they are, the higher they will score in the standard IQ tests. That is why the current western world is full of over-educated idiots who have a degree and think they are intelligent and can run a country or company, when they should be plumbers and cleaners - especially those in subjects like 'gender studies'.

seems a woke liberal - always playing the race card

Can you let me know what situation you are in and what age. Are you in Australia now. Have you reached retirement age and can claim the Pension? Are you in Thailand now and thinking of going back to claim the Pension and then return here?

All Democrat woke liberals are ignorant - I am glad you have accepted that and have publicly admitted it - now you have the chance to get over the addiction and live a normal life. But remember - you are an addict and as soon as the woke media headlines a story about the poor oppressed minorities or about Trump, you will feel the need to empathise and respond. But you must resist and think rationally and logically. Remember - they are woke liars and it is all about sucking you into their cult by using your feelings - both of your empathy feelings for people getting hurt, and of your dislike of people like Trump. And always remember this - only a fool would demand that they like someone before believing they can do their job well - and only a woke liberal would allow that feeling to dominate their lives. Youtube is one source - multiple news channels - from CNN to Fox - I listen to them all to see and hear what they are saying. And I must say that the BS on Fox Shows like The Five is nowhere near as delusional and full of hatred like that on ABC's The View - they are insane. Did you see when they interviewed Arnold recently - he did not go with the narrative at all and a couple of them clearly showed their distain and hatred. Many years ago I was asked what I think makes the woke liberals so angry and full of hate towards Trump. The answer back then is the same as now - it is a 'movement' very much dominated by women and therefore it is all about feelings. Most women live their lives completely dominated by their feelings towards things and people. When they do not like someone, it does not matter what they do, they will find ways to dislike him/her. The same is true in reverse - women will find ways to like the things a person does (and not see their bad things) if they like the person. Most women have a lack of logic and rational thinking - any 'normal' man married to one for many years knows this fact of life.

So it is all the fault of the tourists for accepting over-inflated rip-off pricing?? That is just unbelievable - but Thailand is amazing and anything is possible here.

I hear you and understand those reasons - the smell alone is enough, but the poverty and squalor is hard to see without being affected - especially given that the vast majority of Indian poor people are lovely. I was astounded at how the people could be happy despite living in such abject poverty that it makes everywhere in Thailand look like Monaco. It certainly had an affect on myself that was dramatic and long lasting - I just dont want to ever see it again (or smell it).

I dont think the fear is that Iran will use one - IMO the fear is that they will give one to their radical terrorist organisations that they support, and let them do it - and deny it was them that supplied it. Imagine if Hamas had access to a nuclear weapon - even a small one like the W54 would have catastrophic impact if they somehow snuck one into Tel Aviv.

None - I live in a gated community in a big City that has no/few tourists. But do you count a City of about 500K people as 'the sticks' ?? I would have thought that designation is for those living on remote villages or small rural towns.

ROFLOL. Are you for real? Negotiate pricing with a Thai Govt Hospital?? Who exactly would you do that with - and where have you done that ??

Where were you located - I was in New Delhi. D o you know what I am talking about when I mention what you have to experience to know about it??

They tried that during Covid - it was ignored and rejected by most, and they dropped it. But if the Junta again takes over Thailand, I expect them to do it again.

Anyone that argues price discrimination is not real or significant, needs their heads read. Or better still, they should read this legal court case outcome. And that was a Government hospital - Private hospitals charge Expats way more than they charge to Thais. https://dancham.or.th/thai-court-rejects-dual-pricing-case-from-expat-in-hua-hin/#:~:text=According to press reports the,not mentioned by the court.

Absolutely - a friend of my wife did too. But what I suggested was that she take out some of the money anyway and use it to pay for things - she had the PIN. But it took a long time for her to get the rest - minus fees and charges - she agreed to accept them rather than argue about it - a few thousand baht all up. I have told the wife that if I do pass here, she is to immediately transfer 99% of the money into her bank account using the online banking. If she is ever asked I have advised her to say that I said to do that before I passed - and it is in my Thai Will too.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of scammers - I hope they go broke. Deliberately charging Expats 2-3 times what they charge locals is disgusting and although illegal, is allowed. Most hospitals were setup to attract foreigners in the 90s - by being cheaper than USA, Japan and Korea. Prior to that they were for the wealthy Thais and those with insurance - in the 90s the numbers jumped bigtime. But like all things in Thailand they have rested on their laurels and have not modernised or upgraded. While the medical world has moved forward in many ways Thailand has not. India is now more modern and also cheaper - and they all speak English.

FIXED - I have a “drinking friend” who lives in the UK who has found “true love” in the bar. He is 58, divorced and seems fairly well off - but he is an idiot.

Sometimes works - sometimes does not - last 2 times I have had to report in person. I asked and they had no idea - I rang Bangkok and they said no idea ask local Office. I will try again online again next time - fingers crossed. But the issue is that I have to report - like a prisoner on parole - retired Expats dont in many other countries. You are working and with a BOI Visa are not really the issue mate - retired Expats and those visiting long-term.

Thais have zero to very little knowledge about allergies and what causes them. They use all sorts of oils and sauces in their cooking without knowing all the ingredients. Thailand and indeed any SEAsian country is not the place to eat out anything cooked by locals if you have serious allergies - aside from top end restaurants and khrapp like Pizza and Maccas and KFC - but even then, take that pen with you.

Yes it is - but that is not the4 main problem here. If anyone wants cheap living with English speaking and reasonable services etc etc then India is the best bet. However, India has some disadvantages - and unless you have been there, you will never know - suffice to stay I will never visit there again.

Dont forget to report to your parole officer !!

And that is exactly why Thailand is not the number one place for retiree Expats in SEAsia anymore. When I started looking and checking them out in 2010, Thailand was way ahead - Philippines a distant second. Now it has all changed - the other countries got better and Thailand got worse. If I was researching where to retire now, it would not be Thailand. I never was a Sexpat but I would probably visit - but I would be living elsewhere - Vietnam, Philippines or Malaysia (Penang) look better than Thailand - even Indonesia (Bali) if it is not too crowded. If I fell into some money - Singapore for sure. If I fell into serious money - then a mansion overlooking the ocean in north Queensland (Cairns). No I am not rich, but I do have money - much more than just a pension - got lucky and worked hard at it.

Very true - before the Junta it was great. Remember when the Junta did that TM30 BS - then quietly stopped that. Remember when they did that 'Expats must pay income taxes' - then quietly stopped that. Remember when they wanted 500 Baht for me to enter but 50 Baht for the Wife. Remember when the Judge stated that charging Expats 3-5 times extra was not allowed under the Constitution, but it was OK because Expats are rich and it is good for the Thais. And on and on and on it goes. And dont forget you must report to your Parole Officer every 3 months, and you must tell your Parole Officer if you change address, and you must tell your Parole Office if you leave the Province for over 1-2 days and again upon your return, and you must apply and pay to leave and re-enter the country, and you must apply and pay every 12 months to do that all again for the next 12 months - and we dont give a flying copulation if you have been here 10+ years. And no - you cannot buy land even if you have lived here 20 years. And no - we dont want you to become a Resident or Citizen.

The list of reasons why I should leave Thailand is long and getting longer each year. The reason I stay in Thailand is a very short list of one - my lovely wonderful Thai wife of over 13 years. But because we are both Aussie citizens, when we get 'too old' we will be going back. Thailand is not a place to get very old - the medical costs are horrendous - by that I mean about 80.