SURVEY: What is the biggest drawback to living in Thailand?

[csabo]

My biggest gripe is that it's so hard to get a visa for my misses for so many nations if that counts as a Thailand issue. 

[ChiangMaiLightning2143]

Cigarettes smoke in the streets.

 

Dual Pricing (only a real problem for health care I can avoid NPs l, open air markets, and ripoff taxis)

 

Soi dogs, some rabid

 

Undesirable foreigners in large numbers, many causing the smoke problem.

 

 

 

 

[wgdanson]

1 hour ago, RBOP said:

Reporting to immigration every 90 days. 

On-line? Or by post.

[jenny2017]

1 minute ago, wgdanson said:

On-line? Or by post.

Or if that doesn't work by pigeon with a special Immigration education.-

[wgdanson]

1 minute ago, jenny2017 said:

Or if that doesn't work by pigeon with a special Immigration education.-

But don't go to possum, he's killed all his !  lol

[Old Croc]

5 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

On-line? Or by post.

Mine doesn't work on line (it's not me) and Phuket doesn't accept postal reports.

[cornishcarlos]

45 minutes ago, NutsMango said:

You must be working 5 years for a Thai company to be able to.

 

No F way I want to find a job in Thailand.

 

But there are options available... So saying there is no possible route is just incorrect..

[Ajarnbrian]

The biggest drawback to moving to Thailand is somehow expecting it to be just like your home country, with some added attractions and benefits. Be open-minded, keen to learn, while being cautious and realising all is not as it seems, then you are less likely to be disappointed.

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, oilinki said:

Visa and work permit issues is the biggest drawback for me and makes me wish to move to EU, where those can be avoided. 

 

Perhaps Thailand could adapt visa / permission of stay style from Hong Kong, where the extension to stay time increases the longer one has been in the country. That would let foreigners to think Thailand as a new permanent home country, rather than just a place to visit for an while. 

 

For example, visas could be granted:

First 1 year then 3 years, 5 years and finally permanent residency. 

 

 

 

Excellent suggestion. They would have plenty of time to separate the good from the bad and would also provide some certainty for the good wishing to make Thailand home. Many have Thai wives and families and would be willing to invest more wealth in Thailand if their status was more certain. And perhaps a review of work permits and citizenship rules too?

 

But given the seeming increase in xenophobic attitudes I doubt it will ever happen. More likely to get worse if anything as the number of forms continually increases and the criteria can be changed at will.

[Cranky]

Everywhere has pros and cons, Pattaya more than most.

[Rc2702]

1 hour ago, milwaukeeboy said:

My biggest problem is being profiled as a white male living in Asia for almost 30 years when I return to the USA for one visit of about five weeks every year.

I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but at customs, they single me out and go through everything in my bags and force me to give passwords to all my electronic devices.

They belittle me and accuse me in so many words of being a money launderer, human trafficker and drug dealer for about 40 minutes and then let me go on my way after asking where I'm staying and who I'll be seeing.

They take copious notes.

Gotta be a back history to this experience. Not just living in Asia for a long time

[dallen52]

Currently weighing up the benefits...
Not what they were several years ago.
Just on the edge of Pattaya and you need transport to everything.
The soi appeared quiet when we checked it out, but the dogs...
Neighbours have 17 dogs between 5 houses.. unreal..
The partner will not say anything.
Had a small health scare and the car is being repaired.
Makes you realize how alone you are here.. And vulnerable.

Torn between a grown up family in Oz and looking back at the U.K. where I was born..

I have the choice...
Maybe my partner will not follow?
Maybe she will stop siphoning money and giving to her lazy son?
And stop telling me she has no money..
Thai lady secrets...

I'm starting to see the corruption more and more, plus the visa and immigration RIP offs.
Even DLT to register the car is extortion..
Use the agents...

The retirement visa and extensions plus reporting, plus residence certificates, plus registering as an alien every time you move location or return.

Time for some soul searching and a decision soon....
Time to be a grandpa and just accept that I am getting older.
Pension and bus pass... lol.

Sent from my SM-T555 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[wgdanson]

5 minutes ago, dallen52 said:

Currently weighing up the benefits...
Not what they were several years ago.
Just on the edge of Pattaya and you need transport to everything.
The soi appeared quiet when we checked it out, but the dogs...
Neighbours have 17 dogs between 5 houses.. unreal..
The partner will not say anything.
Had a small health scare and the car is being repaired.
Makes you realize how alone you are here.. And vulnerable.

Torn between a grown up family in Oz and looking back at the U.K. where I was born..

I have the choice...
Maybe my partner will not follow?
Maybe she will stop siphoning money and giving to her lazy son?
And stop telling me she has no money..
Thai lady secrets...

I'm starting to see the corruption more and more, plus the visa and immigration RIP offs.
Even DLT to register the car is extortion..
Use the agents...

The retirement visa and extensions plus reporting, plus residence certificates, plus registering as an alien every time you move location or return.

Time for some soul searching and a decision soon....
Time to be a grandpa and just accept that I am getting older.
Pension and bus pass... lol.

Sent from my SM-T555 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

You have tugged t my heart-strings. How old are you please?

[ICECOOL]

hardest for me is being so far from family (elderly mum, siblings, children and grandchildre) and some friends.  Visa and Immigration are a chore but not negative.  Cost of living still good even if it has risen and would be higher at home. 

Edited April 29, 2018 by ICECOOL

[wgdanson]

Just now, ICECOOL said:

hardest for me is being so far from family (elderly mum, siblings, children and grandchildren children) and some friends.  Visa and Immigration are a chore but not negative.  Cost of living still good even if it has risen and would be higher at home. 

I am in the same position, but there is Skype. 

[phuketrichard]

NO taco bell, ihop or Walmarts

[sukhumvitneon]

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

 

Visas are easy if you can comply with the rules.

 

Try to understand that Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket are not the whole of Thailand in the same way that London, New York represent the UK or the USA.

 

Visas are a pain for me to get my wife into the UK though as my son has dual nationality he is easy to get there.

 

The weather in the Uk is never very good, the education system is not much better but at least my son can read an analogue clock which it seems is too hard for kids in the UK.

 

Many parts of the UK (which is where I was born) are filthy, beggars, drunks and druggies are everywhere too. There are probably more homeless in the UK than in Thailand.

 

House prices are astronomical, many jobs are poorly paid in the UK as well.

 

If you think that the west is better for the average person then you need to clean your glasses.

 

True Thailand is not perfect but IMHO the west is not much better, just more expensive.

Scott asked for drawbacks for living in Thailand, and he got, well,  negative responses about Thailand.  I can't comment on the UK because I never spent any substantial time there.  The USA is good for jobs and income but sucks for work/life balance.  Thailand sucks for jobs but has better quality of life and time off (Almost any western country has better work/life balance than the US).  Neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam have better visa regimes.  If you aren't heavily invested in Thailand I'd consider those countries instead.

 

People come to Thailand for cheap sex and cheap cost of living.  Get rid of that and what's the point of moving here?  Thai authorities act like Bangkok is Manhattan or London but it isn't by a long shot.  Wealthy people have zero interest in this city as a place to call home.

 

I don't hate Thailand by any stretch but when the powers that be start to position this place as some "elite" destination, they're shooting themselves in the foot.

Edited April 29, 2018 by sukhumvitneon

[Dene16]

58 minutes ago, masuk said:

In those countries which have NHS, prescription medicine is subsidised.     e.g. "lipitor" in Thailand costs B1900 for a 30 day supply.   In Australia it is B235.00.

Obviously you are correct but i don't believe that is true of all prescription drugs as i know someone from your country that has stated they are very affordable

Most can be purchased here from a pharmacy without even a consultation with a doctor  

Perhaps you should be getting a generic alternative to 'Liptor' (had to google it as i did not know what it was for but there are generic alternatives)

However you are correct, some can be expensive here as i have experienced it with some minor drugs if you want the well known brand

I am very surprised that no one has mentioned the cost of health insurance.

The basic costs here have now made it virtually impossible for residents from the UK to retire here if you factor in health insurance (which is why they will always rely on returning to the UK if things go tits up(but as we have seen recently is not always possible)

[dallen52]

You have tugged t my heart-strings. How old are you please?

66..
I was working here with the Blue Oval a few years.
Ranger programme at Rayong and Bangkok.
Fell in love with the place... Now retired.
Met some nice country Thai people, and my partner of five years.
Did some volunteer work in northern Thailand.
Have been back almost a year permanently this time, trying to set up a home, with my lady, half way between the two countries...
The partner has travelled to Aus a couple of times.
Looking at a trip to the U.K. in a few months.
Went to do the UK visa application and find she has siphoned her (My support) savings to do a money loan scheme with her cousin..
Plus what she keeps keeps giving her 19 son, who won't work..
Her bank account is now zilch.
She doesn't think it is important to tell me this.

I think she has blown her future, and old age protection..
Getting too old for silly Thai games...

They don't know when they are well off... do they...

(YES... No fool like an old fool... I know.)

Sent from my SM-T555 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[wgdanson]

1 minute ago, dallen52 said:

Went to do the UK visa application and find she has siphoned her (My support) savings to do a money loan scheme with her cousin..
Plus what she keeps keeps giving her 19 son, who won't work..
Her bank account is now zilch.
She doesn't think it is important to tell me this.

I think she has blown her future, and old age protection..
Getting too old for silly Thai games...

GET RID A S A P, mate. I am 70, same 48 yr old (now) girl for 10 years, never touched a satang in my accounts even though she could have. Just got Visas for UK & Italy. You are obviously on different wavelengths. 

[uffe123]

Pollution, 50 to 100% over WHO limits, horrible traffic, dirty filthy beaches/sewer water, vegetable pesticide poisoning, ridiculous immigration policies, rising cost of food overall, now almost comparable to my home country, gasoline absurdly high. $4 buck a liter, home country $2 bucks. Did I miss anything? Oh almost forgot, land confiscation, just ask the Isan farmers about this.

Pity the poor Thais who cant leave

[observer90210]

Definately the Visa harassment that Thailand enjoys enforcing towards expats and retirees.

 

Ironically, one can buy property to retire but not own the small piece of land. This shows to what extent the system is biased and discriminates foreigners. Your money for sure, but don't think you can settle down with a hassle free VISA and don't touch our land.

 

Vietnam or other countries nearby have a bright future for expat and retirement money, comming in from the west.

 

The Thai drivers indiscipline comes next as who wants to live in a country if you are not independant enough to be able to drive your vehicle, but risk death at the next U-Turn ?

[casmeri]

The biggest issue for me is the Third-World mail system.  I have received packages six months after arriving in Thailand but most are never received.  The issue of some things being unavailable, low quality or too expensive could easily be overcome these days if there was a competent mail system that one could depend on.

 

[wgdanson]

14 minutes ago, uffe123 said:

$4 buck a liter

The Bht 27 I paid yesterday is USD 0.86 cents.  Maybe you are getting your liters (sorry litres) and gallons mixed up.

Edited April 29, 2018 by wgdanson

[wgdanson]

11 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

Definately the Visa harassment that Thailand enjoys enforcing towards expats and retirees.

Have you tried getting a Settlement Visa or even a Tourist Visa for UK or Schengen countries. Thailand is a doddle compared.

[dallen52]

37 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

GET RID A S A P, mate. I am 70, same 48 yr old (now) girl for 10 years, never touched a satang in my accounts even though she could have. Just got Visas for UK & Italy. You are obviously on different wavelengths. 

She is 47 next.

I have left substantial money here and gone overseas. 

She never touched it. 

But the monthly bit I give her is a good nest egg for her later years. 

Along came a relative and she jumped on the money lending scheme... 

Return is a good one. 

Negative is nothing to show in her account now. 

How do you show that she has xx, xxx savings and income from money lending. You cannot. 

Plus her parasite of a son is taking her to the cleaners. 

But she won't have a bar of it. 

If I try to say something. 

 

It's like a part of their brain isn't functioning properly. 

 

I think I have the answer. 

I've known it for a while... 

[Jane Dough]

There are only 24 hours in a day. 

[balo]

Access to western food if you live outside the tourist cities. Also access to fresh air.

[observer90210]

21 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Have you tried getting a Settlement Visa or even a Tourist Visa for UK or Schengen countries. Thailand is a doddle compared.

Very true Sir. But who want's to go to the UK or a Schengen country to retire in winter ?

[wgdanson]

2 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

Very true Sir. But who want's to go to the UK or a Schengen country to retire in winter ?

Sorry, just six weeks holiday UK & Italy, then back to LOS.