TroubleandGrumpy

Free/Subsidised medical care when over 75 - good reason for me to return in some years. PS - Florida in USA does not tax the home you bought. I believe many Red States are like that. Europe are all taxers and rip-offs that is for sure.

I dont like the 60 days exempt - that is the cause of the problems mentioned. The vast majority of Tourists only stay for 7-15 days and the 30 days Visa exempt (with extension) is more than enough. Plus the big problem is that Visa exempt was only for selected countries - now they are giving it to most countries (China being the worst abusers) - all in the name of chasing the tourist dollar.

Are you for real?? Do you live in Thailand??? 2pm to 5pm sales of alcohol are banned. FACT. And you think that it is hard for a Thai to get a boat licence? It is easier than getting a car licence in the sticks.

Two sides to the story and of course the Palestinian side is favoured by the MSM. According to Grok AI - The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, is home to approximately 3 million Palestinians and around 700,000 Jewish settlers living in about 160 settlements and outposts. Violence in the region is bidirectional and has escalated significantly since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and triggered the ongoing Gaza war. Palestinian attacks on Jews (primarily settlers and Israeli security forces) often involve shootings, stabbings, vehicle rammings, or bombings, frequently claimed by groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) or the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. These are framed by perpetrators as resistance to occupation and settlement expansion, but they are widely condemned internationally as terrorism. They are attacking and killing each other - have been for many decades (millennia) - there will never be peace in the Middle East between Jews and Muslims - never has been and never will be. Personally, I am getting very tired of it - same as the starving poor in Africa and all the other troubles in the world. The western world has been spending many decades and $billions trying to help both situations - but they all still basically remain the same. IMO the West should get out and leave it all alone - let them sort it out themselves one way or the other. It is no secret why western countries have great economies and a far greater life than other 3rd world countries - but they are still stuck in their inglorious past and hatreds. The 'West' have (mostly) got over all that because of WW2 - let them have their own wars and stay out of it.

Visa exempt entry for 60 days for anyone - What could possibly go wrong? Continue ban on alcohol sales and start fining tourists having a drink 10K Baht - What could possibly go wrong? Allow high rise buildings to be built by cheap Chinese project builders under the supervision of the Audit Office who know SFA about building constructions (with all the bribes and kick-backs involved) - What could possibly go wrong?? Allow anyone to be the Captain of a boat taking tourists on trips - What could possibly go wrong? And on an on the list goes - more and more everyday everyweek everymonth. Thailand - the Hub of not asking tough questions like - What could go possibly wrong with this harebrained idea? I was told that if you never accept your mistakes and learn from them, you will continue to make the same mistakes again and again. I guess Thais have a problem with 'losing face' if they ever accept that they made a mistake, so therefore they will continue to make the same harebrained mistakes again and again forever.

Was/Is Trump the better President (2017 to 2020, and 2025) or Biden (2021 to 2024)

Agree 100% - Just look at the most frequent posters list on the home page - except for ballpoint with his jokes, the rest are you know what, and they spend a lot of their time doing nothing but attacking Trump. The same thing happened 2016 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2024 they praised a senile old man who had an open border and then they lauded the lowIQ token blackish woman. But this place is busy and has lots of good people too - and it is fun to stir the pot sometimes.

Same in Khon Kaen - extension is not an automatic new 90 days - used to be in Chiang Mai years ago. When I extended in October this year, I asked the IO if she would also give me a new 90 days - because it was within 14 days she did it then.

Random photo of a Member of Thailand Government making decisions.

The Mainstream Media lies and makes up stories - like Russian Collusion - and plays down real stories - like Hunter Laptop. Because they are run and staffed by progressive woke liberals - and this story is just another fake news event. Epstein was a multi-billionaire and had his photo taken with everyone - he attended all the big events. But just like Diddy (Sean Combs), not many of the people in photos with him were involved in what he did. This is yet another example of Fake News.

Bangkok is like New York and Tokyo - they are all far better places to live and work, than they are to visit. Enjoy it while it lasts mate - and given that you sound young, try working in other big cities too. But for pity's sake - do not try to retire there - unless you have a very large retirement fund built up. Good luck to you.

Eric - you need to take a good look in the mirror and give yourself a good talking to - STFU about things you know very little about. I first came to Thailand in 2010 and moved/retired here in 2012 - went home during Covid - came back again in 2022. For the last 3 years it is clear Covid caused things to change - and on top of that the Government disasters (one after another) made things worse. In deference to Anutin I must say he has been very steady for the last month or so. Tourism in all other local countries (especially Japan) has increased post-Covid to levels above that of pre-Covid - not so for Thailand. Thailand had an initial surge and then has remained 'stagnant' - they predicted 40 million for 2025 - maybe they will get 30 million. They have given open door Visas and that has attracted all the cheapies (and war escapees) - that itself has also made things worse. Worse meaning worse than what it was like in 208-2019 when Thailand was great. Your comment - "they want good exchange rates for tourism but low for exports" shows you know SFA about the issue. A high baht is bad for tourism and exports - you need to look that up mate. Japan is booming for tourism because the Yen is at historic low. When I first came here the $AUD was 32 Baht - now it is about 22 Baht - Japan is cheaper to visit from Aus. Since the Phue Thai came to power the Baht went from 25 (still high) down to 21 in a few months because they want the Baht at 30 for $USD. The naive daughter PM apologised for the sudden high baht increase, saying 'sorry we over-reacted'. They are keeping the baht high - good for the wealthy elite and for gold sales. Lots of complaints about it - nothing being done about it - the new Head of BOT promised to lower the Baht - but nothing has changed. You obviously knew SFA about the problems Expats sometimes have with the 90 days reporting and you should always remember that after the talking you give yourself - STFU about things you know very little about. Your comments made it very clear (to someone that has lived here for over 10 years) that you do not live here - and in fact that you are just a regular visitor. Here's some advice - Things change big time when you move somewhere to live - the rose coloured glasses you wore when visiting, quickly fall off. Far too many ignorant old blokes come here to retire, but fail to realise they are not on a holiday anymore, and they get themselves into serious trouble financially - and/or get taken for a ride by a Thai girl and are 'stripped mined' and then dumped. Please let me give you some more advice from a grumpy old man - it is only when you are retired and no longer have a regular/possible source of additional income, that you learn how much things actually cost, and that spending money is always easy, but getting more money is not always possible.

Where is that place - I gotta avoid that fly ridden smelly location.

Australian beef is export oriented and the vast majority is exported - bulk sales in large packages (not cut up). Costs in Australia to butcher, package, transport and all the taxes and on-costs make the end product more expensive. Coles and Woolies dominate and they price gouge - pay SFA to farmers and add huge margins.

I said - Tourists have been noticing this decline for several years now. 38 million in 2018 - 39 million 2019 - but Covid caused a massive drop in Thailand's appeal - they did not rebuild or invest - and they allowed the Baht to climb and climb. 28 mill 2023 - 34 in 2024 - and they will be lucky to get 33 million in 2025 (initial target 40 million). Your comments like "they regularly get 40 million" are stupid and ignorant. The ignorance you showed about income taxes, and the 90 days reporting being easy, also tells me you are a fake Expat and have not lived here. You can continue visiting Pattaya and the bargirls - but you are talking 'moonshine' about living in Thailand and the obvious decline in tourism.

Where is unthinkable?

In SEAsia if cheap is the main criteria - then check out Philippines where there is good strong buildings, and keep an eye on Vietnam who are putting together a long term Visa deal to attract retirees. The Philippines is not all bad - just like there are parts of Thailand that flood badly and many where it does not, there are many places in Philippines where the storms are not a huge problem like in the poorer areas/villages. They speak English and have good infrastructure and services. Vietnam is very cheap and friendly and is not so 'tourist aggressive' as Thailand - but they dont have the infrastructure and services everywhere (yet). Then there are the other 'newer' candidates where the Yanks are now going - Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador. And of course the Europeans are now looking more at Portugal, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Croatia. Spain used to be 'big' but they have done what Thailand is doing and Expats have been leaving and new ones not arriving - only the 'opposite of quality' and Sexpats now remain/visit.

Up to you of course - but I dont waste my time/life debating with ****s (anymore).

May I suggest you stop arguing with the Sexpats and Teedeessss sufferers - they like it.

Tourists have been noticing this decline for several years now. Post Covid there was an increase as people were 'allowed' to travel, but then the reality of what Thailand has become has started to sink in - both those that have visited, and on social media for those looking. Things started going downhill after the Junta took over and 're-focussed' Thailand towards China and were rewarded with 10 million tourists. There has been many 'events' that have caused the 'awakening' and two of the many were the boat disaster which killed a lot of Chinese and the building collapse in Bangkok and recently the huge sinkhole. The western world has started looking elsewhere (Sexpats aside) and now mainly the 'opposite to high value' tourists are coming. Which in itself is causing more and more problems - which are being shown more and more on social media - which causes less 'more value' tourists to visit - a vicious circle. Expats have also been leaving (again sexpats aside) and far less are coming to live/retire in Thailand. Same reasons as above, plus all the rule changes and impositions. There has been many impositions on Expats since the Junta started them (not many taken away) and the big one was when they started to tax Expat's money coming into Thailand - it went absolutely viral in the retiree's world. Sure they eventually changed their minds - but it showed many Expats and potential Expats what Thailand was really like - a draconian dictatorship. In 2010 Thailand was number 1 or 2 on the list of best countries aboard to retire in - from all across the world. Now Thailand is often not even in the top 10 on most lists - Thailkand has regressed and others have improved their 'offerings' to wealthy retirees (not pensioners). Thailand is struggling big time economically and their answer was to tax the Expats - that is how many people saw it. Some left and many planned ahead just in case they did implement the new rule - and most who have money stopped bringing in more than they need to live for 3-4 months (just in case). And the reality is that the Thai Govt/Authority does not give a rat's rear end about less Expats coming to Thailand - otherwise they would drop the 90 day reporting. IMO if/when PP wins the next election, they will need to increase income taxes to pay for their all social welfare programs and that includes Expats money being brought into Thailand. Thailand is not what it used to be - both for Tourists and for Expats. If I was mid 50s now and planning where to retire abroad, it would not be Thailand.

Learn how to cook - or get a GF/Wife that can cook.

Total utter BS and TAT Lies. The numbers of Foreign tourists are down at least 10-15% across Thailand. TAT are doing deceitful things when counting Tourists - like counting every short-term border walker from Malaysia as a Tourist and then claiming they each spend 59,000 Baht. Tourists from Malaysia are the allegedly biggest number in Thailand - anyone seen lots of them around?? We travel a bit and we lots of Indians, and many Russians/Ukrainians and Chinese - but we see SFA Malays. It is a lot worse than TAT is admitting - because their clear objective is to fudge the numbers - the same as every other corrupted Government organisation in Thailand. The Thailand economy is tanking - big time - it is in recession and they are refusing to admit it. Meanwhile, despite their lies, they can only claim 1-2% PA GDP growth since Covid, when Vietnam has been growing between 6-8% every year. Malaysia is growing 3-5% PA since Covid, and Indonesia is growing 4-5% PA, and Philippines is 6-8% PA. Thailand is in very very serious economic trouble - the extremely high Baht since the Junta in 2014 is not only now killing Tourism from most countries, it has severely damaged Thailand's manufacturing base, and is slowing agricultural exports. The failure of Thailand to address the systemic problems, and its predication to apply band-aids has been failing for a long time - the golden goose is in decline. Thailand is selling off more and more of its gold reserves, and uses its almost gone financial reserves to buy the Baht and keep it high to lower the costs of imports and Government (Military) purchases. Their total fantasy that Tourism is the answer is slowly falling apart, and as always the truth with eventually come out - and perhaps other crash like the 90s will eventuate. Idiotic short term 'solutions' like appeasing their Chinese overlords by banning Casinos and the latest in limiting alcohol, in order to get the Chinese Government to send more tourists to Thailand, is a totally flawed strategy. The sooner Thailand destroys and removes all Junta imposed pro-China policies and decisions, the better off Thailand will become and the quicker the recovery will occur for the benefit of all Thai People not just the Wealthy. Remember that during Covid the rich got very rich - it is what they do - and the Thai wealthy elite have been doing it for generations. Make no mistake guys, the next election in Thailand will be gigantic. The People's Power are still strong and if they win Government thru elections, the existing pro-China pro-Military pro-Wealthy elite powers will have a lot to lose. They will stop at nothing (coup?) to keep their control and their wealth growing - it could get very very ugly. The Thai People have had enough and if what happened at the last election and immediately afterwards happens again, things will get very bad. Perhaps I am being over-negative - but I am very concerned things are going to 'blow'.

What a load of khrapp - totally bad advice and best not to listen @camper star Firstly JB, do you realise that the Mexican/Pakistani you mentioned has moved legally to live and work in that country permanently? You cannot move to Thailand permanently - you can only arrive on a temp Visa. You can only become a Thai Citizen/Resident which they make extremely hard, very long, and very expensive. For 99% of Expats living in Thailand, we have no legal rights of abode, and the first unlucky/bad interaction with the Law could mean instant deportation - we are long term Tourists - nothing more. We have to report to Police every 90 days FGS. If you are living in a Thai Village, or if you are working full-time in Thailand, then it is a good idea to learn some Thai for obvious reasons. But it is not necessary to speak Thai to interact with many Thais in most parts of Thailand - remote Thai villages and rural Provinces aside - but even then having a Thai GF/Wife is all you need. English is the official second language of Thailand - check out their IDs and Licences and Passports - they are in Thai and English.

Not much - but it pays off a little to learn some basic phrases. If she is keen, she will learn English, or she already knows English.

Mate - their ideologies are self-serving virtue-signalling delusions - anything that disagrees with their ideologies, especially if it involved facts or logic, is Fascism as far as they are concerned. When you are a nail, everything looks like a hammer.