April Expat migration has started leaving places a lot quieter

[mania]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The annual migration of many expats leaving Thailand and returning home to enjoy their own summers has almost finished.

555 they think they left on vacation ????

[Pouatchee]

Really could have fooled me. I was stuck in traffic in Pattaya on Tuesday morning. By traffic I mean Bangkok style traffic and it wasn't on only one street. Believe what you will, but I saw what it really is like.

[Andrew65]

2 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

Really could have fooled me. I was stuck in traffic in Pattaya on Tuesday morning. By traffic I mean Bangkok style traffic and it wasn't on only one street. Believe what you will, but I saw what it really is like.

I remember about 5 years ago being stuck in Bangkok-style traffic in Pattaya.

[Photoguy21]

The Middle Easterners prefer Europe to SEA in the hot and humid season 

[newnative]

1 hour ago, ikke1959 said:

Tripled prices and a more expensive THB will not help the tourist industry

 

Dollar to Thai Baht today:  34.45.

[Enzian]

32 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

I got bored after 3 years in Thailand.

I don't share that sentiment but can understand it. Boredom is relative as much or more than anything. A friend pre-Covid said of the go-gos that looking at naked girls never gets boring; who can disagree? Some maybe. Dr Johnson said that the man who is bored with London is bored with life. London was his world and home. Everywhere has something new to learn. For me Europe is where it's at; I feel Thailand is stuck at the moment, but not boring.

[Eff1n2ret]

4 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I only know of 2 people that have left, 1 to get some work done on the NHS....

Given the waiting lists for NHS treatment, he could be gone for years.

[In Full Agreement]

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Tripled prices and a more expensive THB will not help the tourist industry

 

 

Google shows a rate today of 34.45  THB to USD.       What time frame are you using to say the baht is more expensive?

 

As far as hotels go, when I check just for the fun of it at some hotels I like, the prices seem much lower than what I paid in the past.

 

Your mileage varies a lot, I believe, from mine.

 

[StayinThailand2much]

3 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

But Hotels have still tripled prices showing many they still can't grasp "supply and demand" business practices.

That has always been the Thai logic in business; if the customer base goes down by half, just double the prices for the same revenue... ????

[MrJ2U]

Just now, StayinThailand2much said:

That has always been the Thai logic in business; if the customer base goes down by half, just double the prices for the same revenue... ????

Agreed.

[Andrew65]

Just now, Enzian said:

I don't share that sentiment but can understand it. Boredom is relative as much or more than anything. A friend pre-Covid said of the go-gos that looking at naked girls never gets boring; who can disagree? Some maybe. Dr Johnson said that the man who is bored with London is bored with life. London was his world and home. Everywhere has something new to learn. For me Europe is where it's at; I feel Thailand is stuck at the moment, but not boring.

I holidayed 3 times in Thailand in 1985-86. I also lived there from 1998 - 2018. During the years living there the first 16 years were where I was working overseas for 6 weeks, and then 3 weeks in Thailand. I used to dream about being able to be full time in Thailand, but when I could it turned out to be not quite as good as I thought it would be.

Looking at naked girls in go-go bars is good, except that what I really want is to drink in peace, and maybe have a bit of decent conversation. Also, frequenting go-go bars can be expensive.

I will admit that I don't have any hobbies, but when you have 24/7/365 with nothing much to do, it can become a bit boring. I got to the point where I was sitting in bars every day drinking, which ain't a good place to be.

[StayinThailand2much]

29 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

The Middle Easterners prefer Europe to SEA in the hot and humid season 

Just read in "Bangkok Post" about Thailand trying to attract Saudis as tourists. Apparently, Saudis come to Thailand for, get this, 'the rain' ... ???????? - So, they dance in the rain, or what?

 

Edited April 28, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[CharlieH]

Reported flame post removed.

[Whale]

I join the leavers in another 3 weeks. Been here 30 years. It's changed a lot. I have had some amazing experiences and loved it here but people change with time. I have and now yearn for something different.  I am sure I will be replaced by new arrivals who will also have a great time and experiences. Life moves forward.

[Guest truthman]

I read somewhere that the number of retirement visas (non-o immigrant visa for retirement purposes for the pedants) had declined from 85,000 in 2018 to 35,000 in 2021, so quite a few have left. Actually, I was surprised at how few retirement visas have been issued. Looks like the change in rules has had a big effect.

[Eff1n2ret]

3 minutes ago, truthman said:

non-o immigrant visa for retirement purposes for the pedants)

To be really pedantic, I think you mean non-o retirement extensions issued within Thailand. But yes, we're literally a dying breed.

[Misterwhisper]

Oh, noooo!... It's another Literature Nobel prize-worthy essay from that self-appointed mouthpiece for Pattaya's high-class expat community, Michael Bridge. Always a great read... for falling asleep. Is he actually getting paid for that drivel?

[FinChin67]

4 hours ago, lazygourmet said:

I am off in two weeks for six months.

First time in 30 years that I am going to spend such a long time outside SE-Asia.

But time is ripe to rediscover Western Europe before the great replacement and total chaos.

I am going to do the same. Leaving end of May.

[Harveyboy]

8 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

and then.....there were none!

and they won't be replaced untill all these stupid restrictions are gone

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, Eff1n2ret said:

Given the waiting lists for NHS treatment, he could be gone for years.

Booked Doctors appointment on the Tuesday for friday, flew on the wednesday. Weeks later got small op. Now waiting results.  Probably would be 2-3 years if waiting a hip op though

[Thingamabob]

it would be good to see the nightlife opening up. Will that ever happen I wonder ?

[jacko45k]

47 minutes ago, truthman said:

I read somewhere that the number of retirement visas (non-o immigrant visa for retirement purposes for the pedants) had declined from 85,000 in 2018 to 35,000 in 2021, so quite a few have left. Actually, I was surprised at how few retirement visas have been issued. Looks like the change in rules has had a big effect.

Retirement Visas are only issued by Thai Embassies and Consulates outside Thailand, (ignore the Non-Imm-O conversion of entry for now), so I am unsure of what you mean... Do you include Retirement extensions too? (Yes pedantic, but I actually am interested in the numbers).

[Harveyboy]

5 hours ago, sungod said:

How many expats will you find in a tourist bus? In fact there have been no tourist buses for around 2 years. nothing to do with an expat migration.

 

No traffic jams? LMAO Jammed at weekends with Thais.......................

saw 4 busses yesterday pattaya south 1 Chinese and 3 packed with what looked like indians ...or of sorts   

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, Harveyboy said:

saw 4 busses yesterday pattaya south 1 Chinese and 3 packed with what looked like indians ...or of sorts   

I shall have to get the  Coach Parking signs out and direct them to the end of Bali Hai Pier!

[ikke1959]

2 hours ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

Google shows a rate today of 34.45  THB to USD.       What time frame are you using to say the baht is more expensive?

 

As far as hotels go, when I check just for the fun of it at some hotels I like, the prices seem much lower than what I paid in the past.

 

Your mileage varies a lot, I believe, from mine.

 

If I change 100 euro to THB I will get about 3.627 THB as once the THB is around 39 THB I wil get 3.900 THB  So with the expensive Baht I loose 300 THB on 100 euro...If I book a hotel for 9.000 THB I pay now 248 euro as if the THB is better I would pay 230 THB.... difference is 18 euro.. I don't know but in my opinion it is now more expensive 

[StayinThailand2much]

7 hours ago, vandeventer said:

If people are leaving their countries to get away from the Russia-Ukraine war than they are not real tourist. They are just looking for a place that's cheap ,safe, warm to hot, until the Putin's war is over. 

There seems to be a good number of Ukrainians, waiting for the war to be over, at the Turkish coast.

[StayinThailand2much]

14 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

If I change 100 euro to THB I will get about 3.627 THB as once the THB is around 39 THB I wil get 3.900 THB  So with the expensive Baht I loose 300 THB on 100 euro (...)

The euro is toast. The only currency in high demand is the U.S. dollar at the moment. Several years ago the euro bought 44 baht, but these times are over...

[Whale]

12 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

If I change 100 euro to THB I will get about 3.627 THB as once the THB is around 39 THB I wil get 3.900 THB  So with the expensive Baht I loose 300 THB on 100 euro...If I book a hotel for 9.000 THB I pay now 248 euro as if the THB is better I would pay 230 THB.... difference is 18 euro.. I don't know but in my opinion it is now more expensive 

Yes the euro has gotten weaker against the baht virtually week on week since October 1st 2021. The euro will fall further IMHO because it printed so much euro during covid ergo, if I am right, Thailand is going to become even more expensive for euro earners in short/med term.

[malibukid]

7 hours ago, lazygourmet said:

I am off in two weeks for six months.

First time in 30 years that I am going to spend such a long time outside SE-Asia.

But time is ripe to rediscover Western Europe before the great replacement and total chaos.

good point, war could be on the horizon?

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

Google shows a rate today of 34.45  THB to USD.       What time frame are you using to say the baht is more expensive?

 

As far as hotels go, when I check just for the fun of it at some hotels I like, the prices seem much lower than what I paid in the past.

 

Your mileage varies a lot, I believe, from mine.

 

Exactly, but to the born whingers facts mean very little.

Hotels took a bit of a hit a few years back when they introduced the minimum wage and there was another rise to that not long ago. People tend to lose perspective between prices in large business as opposed to small. For example street food has hardly moved in 20 years, but they are not subject to the minimum wage.

Five years ago I went to my nephews wedding in north east Scotland and we were £84 a night for B&B, couldn't check in till 5pm. A couple of years ago I stayed in the Dusit in Pattaya for less than that.

It cannot be denied that the majority of hotels in Thailand are excellent value for money.