SURVEY: Would you recommend Thailand as a retirement destination?

[JaiLai]

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Do you know the meaning of EXAMPLE?

Did you understand the CONTEXT of my comment?

It was never intended to be about NZ specifically. 

The point again is that to really be secure long term in retirement in Thailand you now need to be wealthy and my point again for the freakin' third time is that people that are that wealthy are mostly NOT going to be interested in Thailand. There are other options for them. Cheers. 

I understand the meaning of all the words you've highlighted.

 

How would you define 'weathly'? what would the amount be THB you'd consider p.a. to have a comfortable retirement here?

 

How do you know that wealthy people are NOT going to be interested in Thailand, where's your info coming from or are you just making it up again?

[White Christmas13]

18 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Many wealthy people like it.

 

Typical retirement targets for wealthier expats include such places as --

 

Monaco 

Australia

New Zealand

France

 

I am not wealthy I live on the pension and I live in Perth now and I am very happy

most things are free for me or very cheap pension is about AUD 1065 per fortnight

medicare free, medication dirt cheap, rent only AUD 240 per week food about 80

per fortnight electricity about 80-90 for 2 months I paid more in Thailand

[Brunolem]

A lot of talk about wealth and money, but without specific numbers, that doesn't mean much. 

 

Obviously, it is preferable to be able to keep 800,000 baht on a local bank account to retire here... that's about 25,000 USD or 23,000 euros. 

 

Is that being wealthy? 

 

Probably not. 

 

Beyond that, and as anywhere else, it all depends on how one lives... it is not the same to retire in a villa with swimming pool in Hua Hin, and having fine dining every evening, and to retire in a village in Isaan, eating mostly local food and spending one's time reading... 

 

Having said that, there is generally a link between quality and price. 

 

If Thailand is more expensive than Cambodia or Laos, there is maybe, probably, a good reason... 

 

Some compare Thailand with Western Europe, including France! 

 

Well, as a French, I am always amazed by the cost of life over there when I go back, to the extent that I generally end up doing and buying nothing because I find the prices outrageous. 

 

And I won't mention taxes, which are everywhere, waiting like vampires for victims to suck dry. 

 

Given the choice, better freely give the money for the company of a nice lady, than to the tax administration... 

 

Finally, I think that one cannot have a definitive opinion on the pros and cons about retiring in a country before having experienced it. 

 

Therefore, it is almost impossible to say, based only on hearsay and random articles here and there, whether it would better to retire somewhere else than Thailand, as long as one has not made the experience... 

[Jingthing]

8 minutes ago, JaiLai said:

I understand the meaning of all the words you've highlighted.

 

How would you define 'weathly'? what would the amount be THB you'd consider p.a. to have a comfortable retirement here?

 

How do you know that wealthy people are NOT going to be interested in Thailand, where's your info coming from or are you just making it up again?

I am not going to be further baited by you. I expressed my opinions. MOVE ON. 

[JaiLai]

Just now, Jingthing said:

I am not going to be further baited by you. I expressed my opinions. MOVE ON. 

You're funny, as soon as someone disputes something you say you runaway.

 

I'd imagine there are many many members on here who beleive nothing you write than what you would like to believe. 

 

From what i've seen most of your suggestions / opinions are based on internet research and nothing else ( with the exception of baht bus protocol and T21 food court - lol )

 

Bye bye, have a great day.

[55Jay]

Meh, always adds "commentary" rationale to response options, so you want to say "no" but not for the reason he adds on.  It's more about him broadcasting his own thoughts, rather than any real interest in what others think. 

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, JaiLai said:

You're funny, as soon as someone disputes something you say you runaway.

 

I'd imagine there are many many members on here who beleive nothing you write than what you would like to believe. 

 

From what i've seen most of your suggestions / opinions are based on internet research and nothing else ( with the exception of baht bus protocol and T21 food court - lol )

 

Bye bye, have a great day.

You don't fool me for one second. 

When you go on attack towards me, it has nothing to do with the topics.

It's about your obsession with attacking me. Been there, done that, seen that too many times. Not playing. Find someone else to bother. 

[Bournville]

No. No matter how much money.

Thai people are generally not that kind. Not interested in the world around them. Not interested in learning English.

Thailand has seen its data. Expats are generally not welcome. It's become a more dangerous country too... On the roads and with more access to guns.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Jingthing]

9 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

Meh, always adds "commentary" rationale to response options, so you want to say "no" but not for the reason he adds on.  It's more about him broadcasting his own thoughts, rather than any real interest in what others think. 

Designing polls is harder than you think.

No choice will be perfect but the idea is to choose the CLOSEST choice to what you actually feel.

So for example I chose the one with the most votes even though it's not an exact fit with my opinions. You can post about your specific opinions if you like as well as voting.

 

No, Thailand was a great place, but too many problems now.

[Bournville]

Before a few of us were let loose on Indonesian students, we were required to attend a 4-week university course in Java, on 1) culture, 2) traditions and religion, 3) language.   In that order.
We soon learned that culture and tradition were much more important.  The language aspect was easier to learn than Thai, as we could actually read it!
It certainly helped us assimilate, and similar training for expats would go a long way in Thailand, although Thais are not so touchy about what they eat, or how they eat (left-handed was definitely out in Indonesia!).  
I have often wondered if there is a book on "introduction to Thailand".  In Jakarta, there was an excellent handbook produced by the American Women's Guild, including photos of fruit and veggies, with local names.  It made shopping at the markets so much easier.

Exactly. Good afternoon from Indonesia!

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[JaiLai]

16 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You don't fool me for one second. 

When you go on attack towards me, it has nothing to do with the topics.

It's about your obsession with attacking me. Been there, done that, seen that too many times. Not playing. Find someone else to bother. 

Not attacking, merely pointing out a lot of what you post is not fisrt hand information.....

 

Therefore it carries little credit.

 

It's not your opinions but someone elses you've read.

 

Pity you're not playing anymore though, i'm gutted.

[newnative]

   If you don't have enough money to retire here you'll likely be strapped just about anywhere else decent.

[Chrisswe]

YES IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY !!!!

[BritManToo]

If I wasn't already here, I wouldn't be coming.

 

Edited June 9, 2019 by BritManToo

[ianezy0]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

All five years out of date, and most don't research themselves but quote previous publications.

Check Forbes top 10 countries to retire in 2019.

Thailand is number 9.

link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/01/04/the-top-10-places-in-the-world-to-retire-2-new-lists/#2b79437756bc

 

 

[Thingamabob]

4 hours ago, mania said:

 

I don't think folks with money choose Thailand as a retirement destination

 

Think again.

[ianezy0]

1 hour ago, JaiLai said:

What appeals about NZ?

 

Well I like the way they say fush n chups ????

[mike787]

2 hours ago, connda said:

I do not recommend either retiring in Thailand or worse, marrying a Thai national for numerous reasons:

Immigration is now moving the goalposts on short notice with increasing regularity.  We all simply wait for the next shoe to drop.

No consistency in the application of immigration law between immigration offices if not between individual immigration officers, many who seem to have never read the current police orders which are published online.  They make their own rules and there is nothing you can do - you have no recourse other than to comply or leave.  
No sense of any humanitarianism at all as we recently watched a 77 year old Alzheimer's patient forced out of the country because she could no longer meet the newly changed Retirement Visa rules - but worse imho was that she has a serious Medical Condition - Alzheimer's...The Long Goodbye - and was a resident in a Thai Medical Facility for Alzheimer's patients, and yet this heartless government could not extend her a Medical Visa for her Medical Condition and instead insisted on her having a retirement visa instead.  The family could not afford the cost of care and the cost of the new Retirement Visa regulations implemented March 1 - so the elderly invalid with a terminal Medical Condition was shown the door.  It sheer lunacy.  Keep that in mind long-stay expats when you become old and disabled with medical problems as you'll be shown the door too in your hour of need.  

Thailand has the one of the most dangerous road systems in the world and recently was The Most Dangerous Roads in the World #1.  Traffic enforcement of moving violations is non-existance, therefore the roads are simply anarchy.  Drivers are ill trained and a large percentage are extremely aggressive.  This leads to a high number of daily deaths (average about 60/day) and accidents.
Northern Thailand is choked by PM 2.5 particulate that is dangerous to human health as evidenced by the North having exceedingly high lung disease rates.  This choking smoke lasted 4 months this year or 1/3 of a year from February though the month of May.  And at times this year the North had The Most Dangerous Air Quality in the World #1.
We constantly see Thai-on-foreigner violence.  The most recent telling incidents being a taxi driver kidnapping two Korean tourists, robbing and beating them with the excuse that they asked him to turn on his meter.  And the latest in absurdity was the recent plea from Phuket police officials to taxi drivers asking them not the "Cheat" or "Beat" tourists - you have got to be kidding!  "Pretty please - don't Beat The Tourist as it's bad for our image.  Amazing!
Xenophobia in this country is institutionalize. 
For those marrying a Thai and raising a family, if you are a male you'll have no path to permanent residency and given the winds of fate Thai Immigration could break up your family.  If your wife dies you'll need to get a different visa.  If you can not, you get separated from your family unless you are supporting a minor child.  But if your kids have grown, regardless of the sacrifice you placed in providing for and supporting your extended family for years - you'll be shown the door. No compassion; no humanitarianism.  
Live in the beach areas and they are a polluted, plastic stewn mess.
You'll always be an outsider, and outsiders are subject to two-tiered pricing.  
If you moved to Thailand because you are Buddhist, welcome to the new Buddhism where you, my good foreign Buddhist, will be charged money to enter their Thai Buddhist Temples to worship!  No longer do you make an offering, you if you wish to worship you'll be charged at the door for the privilege to worship with Thai Buddhists who pay nothing.  Not all temples, but its becoming a disturbing trends.
Volunteer to help Thailand, such as teaching school children English for free, do so at your own risk - it can land you in jail for being a philanthropist and deported.
As a foreigners you simply are considered a potential criminal.  As such you movements must be monitored literally on a 24 hour basis.  Not constantly reporting your whereabouts is a criminal offense, which will simply prove Immigration's premise that all foreigners are potential criminals.  
And the bottom line: You are considered a walking ATM.  If your money runs below some government threshold, even for a short period of time - you're out, and if you don't get out quick enough than you are a criminal overstayer and its jail then deportation for you.  So therefore there is no security or stability in creating a life in Thailand.  You are here on the whim of a government who neither trusts you nor particularly wants you to stay.  Just leave your money - and get out.

If you like living that Machiavellian existence - fine!  Some people are masochists.  But there are better places to retire.  I suggest looking elsewhere.  Had I not married 11 years ago, I would not now be here.  And if this Immigration dog-and-pony show get much more stupid - I'm leaving.  

So you have my take - I in no way recommend staying here other than for a short visit, and even at that there are much better places in this world to vacation.
 

One of the best well narrated facts as they are, and up to date observations...very well stated.  Die hard expats will slap on their rose colored denial sunglasses and say, oh no, never here...all is BS.  Immigration is Buddha, the land is all smiles, we love farang.  We don't want their money.  Thailand is the Elysium, pure hedonism.  And I say, don't take the sunglasses off, because you don't want to see what we do, they help provide you with the blinding beauty you seek. 

[ianezy0]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

I am not going to be further baited by you. I expressed my opinions. MOVE ON. 

Jingthing has a chup on his shoulder ????

[mike787]

9 minutes ago, ianezy0 said:

Check Forbes top 10 countries to retire in 2019.

Thailand is number 9.

link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/01/04/the-top-10-places-in-the-world-to-retire-2-new-lists/#2b79437756bc

 

 

Did Forbes mention recent immigration, road kill, health regulations, and relevant topics discussed on TVF or they just looked at the Phuket beaches?  Yes, Thailand is far better than Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.  I guess everyone has an opinion.  More objective facts to support their claims would be useful.  

[Thingamabob]

3 hours ago, mike787 said:

Agreed!  NO WAY!  Why?  because Thailand is too risky.  Coming here with money means you are more vulnerable = can lose more.  Plus, too many other options.  Remember: Price is what you pay, Value is what you get.  Thailand does not deliver value for price, especially when considering other available options.  If one has lots of cash, one has even more  OPTIONS.  Remember: CASH is KING = Options in life!  

There are a number of westerners here with money, a lot of money. They/we tend to keep a low profile, and tend to be very happy here.

 

[madmen]

2 hours ago, connda said:

No sense of any humanitarianism at all as we recently watched a 77 year old Alzheimer's patient forced out of the country because she could no longer meet the newly changed Retirement Visa rules - but worse imho was that she has a serious Medical Condition - Alzheimer's

How much thought did you put into writing that..none? The woman DOES NOT have 800k or an income. If the daughter gets fed up and walks or passes away what then? a 77 year old living on the streets or ending up in hospital NOT paying the bill..Again !!! 

try to think please

[mike787]

5 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

There are a number of westerners here with money, a lot of money. They/we tend to keep a low profile, and tend to be very happy here.

 

I agree with you.  I bet there are.  Looking forward and on the majority, knowing everything I have experienced and being educated by TVF, my first answer is NO! Carefully reevaluate the ROI (return on investment).  What does the math say. Look at society, carefully reconsider from a hard line perspective how does Thai society treat foreigners, how do you feel? Look at the BIG picture, not just a few biased opinions. There are some things I like about Thailand, but not enough to stay and invest time, effort, money to stay long considering all the other global options.  

[JaiLai]

16 minutes ago, ianezy0 said:

Jingthing has a chup on his shoulder ????

Maybe he can do a review of said chup if it's from T21 food court....

[mike787]

2 hours ago, JaiLai said:

Once you've been here some time the 'ripping off' stops. 

Not sure if your trying to be funny or not but I love you statement either way...absolutely hilarious. Not laughing at you, but with you by the way.  Well, after awhile it better stop.  Eventually there will be nothing to rip off...0 - 0 = 0.

[GinBoy2]

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Well, visiting on tourism, with an eye toward a possible future move, certainly has some value and purpose. It certainly did for me, back when I was pondering the move. My vacations here were spent researching a move, not hanging out at the beaches and bars.

 

But I agree with your broader point, someone needs to have stayed here on a longer-term basis and in particular dealt with Thai Immigration and everyday Thai life issues here before being able to make an informed decision.

 

And I'd include in that, a good year of reading the daily news reports from Thailand and the TVF Immigration topics forum that would give the person a good idea of how the government / police / justice system / Thai mentality works here.

 

Thats part of the crux of the problem

 

I knew this Swedish guy, came over for a couple of vacations, met the 'woman of his dreams', I saw him maybe once during those vacations, the tillack was wheeling him around to visit the local farangs,  the rest of his time was spent in either Pattaya or Phuket.

 

Then later that year, here he is, sold up everything in Sweden lock stock and barrel, and is building his tillack the house of her dreams.

 

Then the whining started, all the usual, immigration, traffic chaos, police, corruption, mindless bureaucracy money in the bank, utilities turning off for days, all the usual.

 

Within 12 months he was packing up that container that he had shipped all his stuff over in,  and headed back to Sweden

 

Never burn your bridges back home until you are sure that are prepared for Thailand.

 

Rent, don't buy. Don't sell up at home, see how it goes for 12 months.

 

All that being said, it can wear down the best of us over time. I lasted a tad over a decade before I called it quits, for a multitude of reasons.

 

Now I enjoy my couple of months there every year, but full time again? Don't think I'm prepared for that again

Edited June 9, 2019 by GinBoy2

[marcusarelus]

2 hours ago, JaiLai said:

Does your life revolve around only beer and banging?

 

Mine did when i was about 18........ but now i'm all grown up!

I hear ya.  As I get closer to 80 I switched to wine. 

[marcusarelus]

5 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

Thats part of the crux of the problem

 

I knew this Swedish guy, came over for a couple of vacations, met the 'woman of his dreams', I saw him maybe once during those vacations, the tillack was wheeling him around to visit the local farangs,  the rest of his time was spent in either Pattaya or Phuket.

 

Then later that year, here he is, sold up everything in Sweden lock stock and barrel, and is building his tillack the house of her dreams.

 

Then the whining started, all the usual, immigration, traffic chaos, police, corruption, mindless bureaucracy money in the bank, utilities turning off for days, all the usual.

 

Within 12 months he was packing up that container that he had shipped all his stuff over in,  and headed back to Sweden

 

Never burn your bridges back home until you are sure that are prepared for Thailand.

 

Rent, don't buy. Don't sell up at home, see how it goes for 12 months.

 

All that being said, it can wear down the best of us over time. I lasted a tad over a decade before I called it quits, for a multitude of reasons.

 

Now I enjoy my couple of months there every year, but full time again? Don't think I'm prepared for that again

How many years ago did the Swede leave?

[Brunolem]

34 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

There are a number of westerners here with money, a lot of money. They/we tend to keep a low profile, and tend to be very happy here.

 

Of course... who is buying all these 10, 20, 30 or more million baht houses in Samui, Phuket, Hua Hin and other places? 

 

Are these people stupid? 

 

Plenty of foreigners are heavily invested in real estate in Thailand. 

 

They could retire anywhere and yet they chose Thailand. 

 

It doesn't mean it is the best, but that it, at least, compares favorably with the best. 

 

From what I can read above, no one is providing comparative facts, showing that country X is better than Thailand for retirement... it is just about tossing names and opinions around, but nothing solid upon which one could draw conclusions... 

[GinBoy2]

14 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

How many years ago did the Swede leave?

I first met Lars in late 2013. Then he came again early 2014 I think, but that was exclusively down south.

Then he showed up full time early 2015, to great fanfare, big party! 

Then I remember it was right after New Year 2016 we had his going away party, which was a much more somber affair!

 

It was an expensive 'vacation'

Edited June 9, 2019 by GinBoy2