7 hours ago, johnhender said:

I have been all over Costa Rica and I didn't need security,

Ah a backpacker, not afraid of anything. Sorry bud but your off base a little. For a 2 week vacation maybe your ok, but living there permanently with any wealth you would have a target on you and your family. Here , I have no problems and blend in with the others. No worries for my health or safety, well riding a motorbike does present a problem....

20,000 tourists?  I don't really think they are tourists in the classical sense of tourism.  Very few would be first time tourists to Thailand.  In my opinion most have some connection to Thailand through work, family, spouse is Thai, etc.  Another misleading headline from the Thai government.

I also wonder how many people that are coming to Thailand are actually Thai nationals but live in another country such as the US, Germany, and the UK.  They may have citizenship in those countries and are in fact traveling on passports from those countries and not on a Thai passport.  Hardly a tourist but the Thai government will classify it as that in order to boost their questionable numbers.  

10 hours ago, garyk said:

If you can afford it, it is nice to keep a home in the US and travel IMO. It really opens your eyes on how blessed the US is.

That is the truth & sadly too many like to give it the finger on the way out...selling everything only later to find the grass was not only not greener but what they thought was a "more free" place was in reality quite the opposite...Funny the Military Junta overthrows again & again didn't provide a clue as to what they were getting into

 

But then again if you look closely the cheerleaders are usually the been living in Thailand under 5 years crowd or those who as above have no way back physically or financially or lastly those so firmly attached to their orgasms nothing else matters

Edited November 9, 20214 yr by meechai

49 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Try Spain then.  You might just like it.

Maybe so but, at least for the next few years, I am not traveling anywhere outside Thailand unless travel is mission critical and that includes the Estados Unidos.

Edited November 9, 20214 yr by jerrymahoney

15 minutes ago, meechai said:

That is the truth & sadly too many like to give it the finger on the way out...selling everything only later to find the grass was not only not greener but what they thought was a "more free" place was in reality quite the opposite...Funny the Military Junta overthrows again & again didn't provide a clue as to what they were getting into

 

But then again if you look closely the cheerleaders are usually the been living in Thailand under 5 years crowd or those who as above have no way back physically or financially or lastly those so firmly attached to their orgasms nothing else matters

Everyone has opinions about those that live here and why, many believe those that live here can not live elsewhere. Sure there are a few that live close to the line every month, but then even in their own countries they did as well.  I was born here when my father and mother were stationed here in the early 60's, and no I am not Thai.  For my entire life we would travel back and forth being moved around by the US Government, and my life was no different for the first part of adulthood.

 

Having said the above, people choose a place to live, or retire because it suits them well.  Many whinge about their lives being changed by the Government because it does affect them daily. Those on the lower rung financially in the other countries live the same way and please do not tell me I am wrong.  Look at the welfare state that the US has become and then the EU and UK.  Migrants in those countries are treated better than normal citizens, and a country like Thailand still is treating migrants and others poorly because the fact is they are still a feudal society.

 

Thailand has many endearing qualities, but if one is only here for the booze and babes thehn they are not the type of folks this government wants, and sadly that is how Thailand was built as far as a tourist destination based upon the original R&R model from the 60's onward, Where do you think the locales such as Pattaya's walking street, Patpong, Nana, Soi Cowboy, and others grew up from, it was not just the needs of the locales as they had their own venues.  Look around the world and you will see Areas that cater to that lifestyle, and no that is not the primary lifestyle of those that move here to live and retire permanently.

 True keeping a fallback option is a no-brainer, a Plan C as we call it, is needed.  Yes many have said to never spend more than you can afford to walk away from, but that applies everywhere and not just Thailand.

 

Having spent time in many under privileged locations and watching how the countries work and treat people has shown me just how much better and safer Thailand is.  Add into it being a Central location in SE Asia with a true international airport, Suvarnabhumi, then it makes sense to live here as a base and travel. Travel for the most part prior to Covid had been fairly inexpensive especially domestic travel.

12 hours ago, garyk said:

Come on! Nobody that travels much these day considers Thailand a good vacation or retirement destination. I am curious, have you lived there for many many years? Did you work in Thailand?

    I find myself curious as to why you are posting numerous times on a thread about Thailand if you dislike it so much and see no reason to ever visit as, in your opinion, there are so many other more desirable places to go to.  Why are you even bothering to spend time here on this thread?

    Most tourists do not travel 9 months a year, like you apparently do.  Most tourists are of the 'one and done' variety.  They get a 2 week vacation a year and choose somewhere to go. Many have a list of places they want to see on their bucket lists.  They go once, see all they want to see, and move on to the next country on their list when their next vacation comes up.  Also true for retirees--although they have more time to travel.  When my parents retired they did a lot of traveling all over the World--to most places just once.  It's the same for me.  I've got my list and most will be 'one and done'.  

    For most tourists, Thailand can be a wonderful place to visit once, with easy side trips to nearby countries.   That's what my 4 sisters did in 2017.  They visited Thailand, had a wonderful time, and we also took a side trip to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat.  It's a trip they still talk about fondly.  They are likely 'one and done' with Thailand and Cambodia--but it doesn't mean they both weren't worth a visit.  

13 hours ago, johnhender said:

 

I think Gary is right on this - the Thai-er than thai's just don't see this in Thailand There is no imperfections they won't explain away  Why would any American put themselves through all the BS for a country that doesn't even want them there besides the weather- what else it there ? Say what you want about the USA but we do function, Most everything works and we learn from our mistakes. When I retire I will visit maybe once a year, but Gary is right there are so many better places to go ( Costa Rica for example and they aren't trashing their country and everything is open ) without the BS, I see it for what the country really is, a bunch of smoke and mirrors, a face of modernity hiding a mess, I have been to BKK 58 times all across the country. I know where my position in Thai society ( a unwanted visitor who is tolerated as long as I spend money ) is unlike these expats who are dumb enough to think they are wannabe Thai's. I remember what a government official told me on my first visit- " We tolerate the Farang but when we are tired of them we will kick them all out and take whatever we please " Of all my visits that is what stuck with me, For all these Thai-er than Thai expats who couldn't make it in their home country ( yes that is really what your country men think of you they just don't say it ) you will get you Thai wake up call and it won't be pretty 

Well that was a whole load of nonsense,  ????????????

12 hours ago, garyk said:

About what I thought. 

 

Many folks travel to Thailand to train before their next ring or cage match as well.  haha

 

There is nothing here that is not common knowledge. 

 

Sure, it is polluted beyond belief. The air pollution alone kills countless Thai's each year and shortens the lives of anyone who lives there.

Dual pricing, hospitals, parks, it is endless.

If a retiree the hoops are ridiculous.  Extension every year. 90 day reports. 

You cannot put down roots as far as owning a small piece of land.

It has been touristy for so many years the Thai's regard us as strictly money pits. From the government on down to the country girls. Listening to stories from the prostitutes that come back to the villages spending the money of the stupid westerner. And not just Americans. 

I lived there 10 years and the Europeans and others were fleeced more that the US guys were IMO.

 

As soon as the Chinese start traveling again it will revert back to the same old thing. Beaches will be horribly polluted again. Along with everything else.

 

So far you have not said anything that suggests it is a good retirement destination or vacations spot what so ever?

 

There are so many places that are better.  

 

 

Weird you would waste your time on a Thai centric forum then. Or are you here to convert us all? Open our eyes? Lol

A vaccine misinformation post and several ensuing replies have been removed.

 

11 hours ago, johnhender said:

I have been all over Costa Rica and I didn't need security,

Must admit I've been to Costa Rica maybe 50 times and never felt it to be in anyway dangerous.

 

Maybe folks who have never been there equate it to everything 'South American Drug Gang' territory!

 

...and I rather like the place

17 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

Must admit I've been to Costa Rica maybe 50 times and never felt it to be in anyway dangerous.

 

Maybe folks who have never been there equate it to everything 'South American Drug Gang' territory!

 

...and I rather like the place

Been there myself on personal security details. Lived in the country for 6 months. If you have nothing valuable and are not identified as a target for theft, kidnapping and ransom you are left alone, its the folks who move there permanently that display any type of wealth who need security.  General tourists have no issues.  Costa Rica being compared to a place like Thailand for residence was what my original post on the subject was in response to.  Some folks just do not live here in Thailand and yet want to compare it to elsewhere.

On 11/7/2021 at 11:01 PM, uktony said:

Does that fill you with a safe feeling?

The unvaccinated Americans probably wouldn't go to Thailand.

On 11/9/2021 at 8:20 AM, sekmet said:

The unvaccinated Americans probably wouldn't go to Thailand.

And if they did, they'd be subjected to multiple COVID tests and 14 days of quarantine, so what's the worry?

On 11/8/2021 at 5:40 AM, garyk said:

I am an American, but this shows how totally stupid people are in the US where travel is concerned. 

My Thai wife and I split our time between 2 homes in the north east of the US and Thailand. She hates the cold and we are likely to travel to Thailand soon in spite of the restrictions and closures to avoid the cold. Sure, we could rent a place in the southern US or a different country, but we own a place in Thailand plus the wife has family there. Does that make us stupid? Because that's probably why the vast majority of people are traveling to Thailand now, not for tourism in a normal sense.

 

And if entry numbers to Thailand demonstrate how "totally stupid" Americans are, apparently German's, UK residents, Japanese and Koreans are even more stupid because adjusted for population they're coming to Thailand in larger numbers than Americans.

Sounds about right. I predicted 50,000 in November, a bit more in December, up to one million in 2022 with NO restrictions, 2 million in 2023, and 5 million a year starting in 2026. No higher than that, for the next two to three decades. 

 

The Golden Goose has been utterly slaughtered.