After 5 years, I decided to call it quits.  Frustration got to me.

 

Unfortunately, it's the Thai people will lose out.  I spend about 160,000 bht per month living in Bangkok.  That doesnt include 5 trips a year to PhiPhi, Phuket, and Chiang Ria.  You add Hotels, food and entertainment to that number.  And I donate money EVERY day to people who need it. 

 

With insurance costing me 180,000 bht per year and with pre-existing conditions, the insurance is useless.  At 71 years old,  and good health, I do not have access to the vaccine.

 

I've had the "Best time of my life " here, don't get me wrong.  I will return, only next time without a Retirement Visa and commute back n forth every 90 days. 

 

No more immigration stories, or 65,000 bht money transfers for me ! ! ! 

 

 

Where are you headed next?

So your leaving for which reason? Surely you could fork out any hospital bill if your spending upwards of 160k Baht a month in BKK.

What baffles me is that you realize that your insurance is useless. Well in that case, surely you could find one that is much cheaper and equally useless.

 

Safe travels!

 

Alternative destinations are pretty thin on the ground at the moment.

Pre-COVID I'd have had no problems relocating to PI or Cambodia.

Pre-Brexit I'd have had no problems relocating to France/Spain for that matter.

Edited July 10, 20214 yr by BritManToo

16 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Alternative destinations are pretty thin on the ground at the moment.

Pre-COVID I'd have had no problems relocating to PI or Cambodia.

Pre-Brexit I'd have had no problems relocating to France/Spain for that matter.

This.

Right now options are limited and when options become available, Thailand will become much better then too (hopefully...).

 

ATM the best is to go abroad if you can (US,Europe or wherever is open) and return to Thailand once it normalizes.

 

I'm flying to the US this month, with a return flight early September. But I think I'll have to extend that ticket for 1-2 months as I highly doubt Thailand will be normal in September.

 

From the looks of it I imagine Thailand will be at lest a bit normal in October or November, if even then. Generally I'm optimistic so yah...

Just now, Genix said:

From the looks of it I imagine Thailand will be at lest a bit normal in October or November, if even then. Generally I'm optimistic so yah...

October or November of what year?

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

October or November of what year?

Ha, good one, probably true.

 

Personally I don't think Thailand can go without their big holiday winter season opening up to tourism... that's another full year until you can get many tourists, it's gonna be a massive hit.

 

They'll have to open up for at least vaccinated tourists. Call me crazy but I see this as a very realistic thing happening, at least in November and on the islands like Phuket (but adapted).

Edited July 10, 20214 yr by Genix

4 minutes ago, Genix said:

They'll have to open up for at least vaccinated tourists. Call me crazy but I see this as a very realistic thing happening, at least in November and on the islands like Phuket (but adapted).

I predict Phuket will close quite soon.

Who's gonna risk coming with the threat of expensive COVID prison if another person on the plane tests positive anyway?

10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I predict Phuket will close quite soon.

Who's gonna risk coming with the threat of expensive COVID prison if another person on the plane tests positive anyway?

Well here is a news update for the Sandbox

 

Phuket Sandbox update on Saturday: Nine local cases and two Sandbox cases with 70 patients now in hospital.

 

WEEK ONE: 24 local + 1 sandbox = 25 cases

WEEK TWO: 26 local + 2 sandbox = 28 cases in three days

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1413845300725248001

Not so good news coming out of Phuket this evening. Health officials have just announced that two foreigners aged 8 and 9 have tested positive for #COVID19 on their 2nd test (Days 6-7). The children have been sent to hospital and the family to quarantine #Thailand #PhuketSandbox

 

What we know so far. The two that tested positive are children aged 8 and 9. This was the 2nd test and so Days 6-7. They have been sent to hospital. There are two families with a total of 7 members. The people who tested negative have been sent to ALQ quarantine #Thailand

 

The two children were allowed to enter even though they were not vaccinated because they were with family members. Health officials are now doing track and trace to see where they’ve been over the last seven days. They’ve asked people not to panic #Thailand #PhuketSandbox

https://twitter.com/ThaiNewsReports/status/1413848090193272842

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

What baffles me is that you realize that your insurance is useless. Well in that case, surely you could find one that is much cheaper and equally useless.

Maybe by increasing the deductible on his existing policy to the max possible if it's really that useless??

1 hour ago, Genix said:

Where are you headed next?

No answer so far; it would be good to know.

Just now, ThailandRyan said:

Phuket Sandbox update on Saturday: Nine local cases and two Sandbox cases with 70 patients now in hospital.

we are all going to find out what  "crisis mode"  means with the masters .  buckle up

 

as per the topic ............. some of us really don't have anywhere else to go        is there someplace better ??

 

i am not european..... so those options not available

and,  i am just getting too old to start learning hungarian

Edited July 10, 20214 yr by rumak

7 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Health officials have just announced that two foreigners aged 8 and 9 have tested positive for #COVID19 on their 2nd test (Days 6-7).

Worrying news more generally given their ages, I think.

 

Well some of us would like to leave, but being in the provinces its a bit difficult. Just had 2 domestic flights cancelled in the last 3 days, running out of options to get to Bangkok. The latest inter-provincial travel restrictions are extremely vague, do not know if i will make my international flight next week.

People wonder why many more of us do not pack up and head out elsewhere.  I did leave and went to the Phil's in 2019, however 6 months later I moved back.  Don't get me wrong it was fine except getting mugged and robbed in broad daylight, and the crime there is worse. Immigration is easy there and many do speak English, just wasn't my cup of tea.

1 hour ago, Makoshark said:

No more immigration stories, or 65,000 bht money transfers for me ! ! ! 

Someone's had a fight with his teerak. Once they kiss and make up wild horses won't be able to drag the fellow to the airport.

Edited July 10, 20214 yr by Why Me

16 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

People wonder why many more of us do not pack up and head out elsewhere.  I did leave and went to the Phil's in 2019, however 6 months later I moved back.  Don't get me wrong it was fine except getting mugged and robbed in broad daylight, and the crime there is worse. Immigration is easy there and many do speak English, just wasn't my cup of tea.

Out of curiosity, where there if you please?

2 hours ago, Makoshark said:

I've had the "Best time of my life " here, don't get me wrong.  I will return, only next time without a Retirement Visa and commute back n forth every 90 days. 

just move to hua hin. 

14 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Get tested three days prior to travel , Book two home tests at 170 quid and stay in home quarantine for ten days  

Tests are cheaper than that now. Last time I checked I saw 120 for 3 tests so including the test to release on day 5/6.

8 minutes ago, bermondburi said:

Tests are cheaper than that now. Last time I checked I saw 120 for 3 tests so including the test to release on day 5/6.

Do you have a link for that testing company ?

If the health insurance is useless why not simply get the cheapest acceptable one with a high initial payment from you before it kicks in? It sounds like you’d be on the hook anyway if the issue was a pre existing condition. If you are spending 160k you are likely to be okay to fund anything that comes up. I’m going to take a look at the Philippines in 2022, assuming they are open. 

Edited July 10, 20214 yr by AlexRich

Was lack of access to a COVID vaccine the main reason for leaving or a combination of lack of vaccine and health insurance costs?  

2 hours ago, Makoshark said:

At 71 years old,  and good health, I do not have access to the vaccine.

You could have got it, you are just salty as you didn't know how. 

Do you really think Thai people will miss you? 

2 hours ago, Makoshark said:

I decided to call it quits

Thanks for your sacrifice.

I don't think you were ever here

1 hour ago, ThailandRyan said:

People wonder why many more of us do not pack up and head out elsewhere.  I did leave and went to the Phil's in 2019, however 6 months later I moved back.  Don't get me wrong it was fine except getting mugged and robbed in broad daylight, and the crime there is worse. Immigration is easy there and many do speak English, just wasn't my cup of tea.

I got mugged in Manila on a Sunday morning in 1998, never went back, there was an air of desperation about the place

1 hour ago, rickudon said:

Well some of us would like to leave, but being in the provinces its a bit difficult. Just had 2 domestic flights cancelled in the last 3 days, running out of options to get to Bangkok. The latest inter-provincial travel restrictions are extremely vague, do not know if i will make my international flight next week.

Try VIP bus, not best way to travel but i have done that now 2 times coz have to, from Loei to BKK main bus station. Taxi from there to airport. They not start if they cant drive to your destination. Ok everything possible in LOS but its one to try. Last time only one flight/ day from Loei to Don Muang and really wrong time for me.

Edited July 10, 20214 yr by 2 is 1

I'd rather peel my own skin off than travel by bus. Riff raff.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 10, 20214 yr by Led Lolly Yellow Lolly

1 minute ago, Led Lolly Yellow Lolly said:

I'd rather peel my own skin off than travel by bus.

Same than when need to go toilet, when need to go you need to go. Actualy not bad if not normal bus. I drink Ballantines and beer there and sleep 5 houer. lol

Edited July 10, 20214 yr by 2 is 1