How to lifve in Thailand, retired, for a year, and best beach place. Finance is a bit short.

[Kermit2404]

I am now retired and just about divorced.  Age is 74. I have been to Thailand 9 or 10 temes and love it. Not Big places like Bangkok or Patong, but love Chiang Mia, except in February.

Been to Golden Triangle, Krabi, and heaps more. 

Can anyone here suggest a relaxing place and the costs, and visas I will need? (Australian). Sorry for the depth.

Cheers

Kermit

 

[bignok]

Prachuap is relaxing. 1 hour south of Hua Hin.

 

Nong Khai.

 

 

[Kermit2404]

Thank you, I returned from my last 6 weeks stay and went into Nong Khai province to see Meekong river and Laos accross the shores. Great help and I like your recommendation.

Cheers

 

[Kermit2404]

How about the best visa to get? Ans should I apply in Australia?

 

[Kermit2404]

I know I will have to deposit some funds in a Thai bank but I only plan on renting, does that make a difference?

 

[DrJack54]

34 minutes ago, Kermit2404 said:

......and visas I will need? (Australian

This should be main focus.

Where to live is least of your concerns as easily sorted.

BTW there is a travel forum that covers many/most areas of Thailand provided lots of helpful info.

 

So for visa. 

A METV would give you 9 months.

A non O and subsequent extension would give you almost 15 months.

You mention "low on funds" so you could consider use of agents for the non O + extension.

Do you have a Thai bank account in your name only? 

 

For a METV best to obtain that in AU..

Edited December 3, 2023 by DrJack54

[ChaiyaTH]

What is your monthly budget? It is hard to tell what options you would have, you can easily avoid any of the visa issues by also sometimes travelling to Vietnam etc. Aside from that, I expect us westerners to get at least 45 days on arrival if not 90 days on arrival next year, as they are that desperate for tourists by that time.

 

Would not do any visa in australia as it likely cost you time and money, you can just arrive on 30 days, extend that with 30 days, and then make a plan or do a visa trip to Laos / Vietnam etc. If you have all the time in the world and don't mind to ''slow travel'' it can still be inexpensive.

Edited December 3, 2023 by ChaiyaTH

[Rimmer]

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[thaibeachlovers]

If finance is short forget a nice beach. Pattaya is probably the OP's best bet. Plenty of really cheap accommodation options there. Just have to look and in a Thai residential area.

[thaibeachlovers]

35 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

What is your monthly budget? It is hard to tell what options you would have, you can easily avoid any of the visa issues by also sometimes travelling to Vietnam etc. Aside from that, I expect us westerners to get at least 45 days on arrival if not 90 days on arrival next year, as they are that desperate for tourists by that time.

 

Would not do any visa in australia as it likely cost you time and money, you can just arrive on 30 days, extend that with 30 days, and then make a plan or do a visa trip to Laos / Vietnam etc. If you have all the time in the world and don't mind to ''slow travel'' it can still be inexpensive.

When the OP says Finance is a bit short one can assume visa runs to Vietnam are not an option.

[CharlieH]

Get the METV  as recommended above.The rest play by ear and adjust as required after you are on the ground.

 

One thing you MUST consider is Health or at the very least accident insurance.! Medical issue or accident could wipe you out of what little finances you have so DONT RISK IT.

[thepanom]

Living in Cha-am beach is not to expensive

[Pattaya57]

Here is probably the cheapest option to stay for a year

 

1. Visa exempt - gives 30 days, just get on a plane

 

2. Apply Non-imm O - Gives 90 days, need 800,000 baht in Thai Bank on day of application, costs 2000 baht (Note Jomtien office is rogue and requires 800k seeded for 2 months)

 

3. Apply 12 month extension - need 800,000 baht in Thai bank for 2 months prior to application, costs 1900 baht

 

Another option for (2) and (3) above is apply for both through an Agent, which will cost you about 25,000 baht without needing to put 800,000 baht in bank 

 

Edited December 3, 2023 by Pattaya57

[NoDisplayName]

Are you planning to remain in Thailand, retired, or is this just a one-year visit then return to Australia?

 

If one year and return, don't bother with the non-O.  Get the METV for nine months.  I assume you could then leave for Cambodia for a couple weeks, then return on a visa waiver for 30 days, plus a 30-day extension.

[Ben Zioner]

42 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If finance is short forget a nice beach. Pattaya is probably the OP's best bet. Plenty of really cheap accommodation options there. Just have to look and in a Thai residential area.

Yes, also OP mentioned he was 74, so access to decent medical care should be factored into any decision.

[BigStar]

Pattaya's wonderful, always has been. 

 

@Addicted2Pattayaon 2008-10-13 00:39:08:

If pattaya did die. where would be the next best place ?

@Sommaz on 2008-10-13 10:47:57:

Heaven of course.

 

However, if you want a quieter beach but nearer heaven, stay at Ban Amphur or Bangsalay. Along the coast south of Pattaya are some really nice places.

 

 

[Pattaya57]

47 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

If one year and return, don't bother with the non-O.  Get the METV for nine months.  I assume you could then leave for Cambodia for a couple weeks, then return on a visa waiver for 30 days, plus a 30-day extension.

 

METV gives 60 days + 30 days extension, then a border run required to get another 60 days + extension to make 6 months and another border run + extension to go to nine months

 

Fees: METV 6900 Baht (A$300), 3 extensions 5700, 2 border runs 7000 = 19,600

 

To then get the other visa exempt border run + extension to make 11 months is 5400, so 25,000 total for 11 months

 

This means getting 16 months through visa exempt + agent is the same cost, without having to do 3 border runs and 3 extensions at immigration (or do it yourself non-imm O + 12 month extension only 3900 baht)

 

Edited December 3, 2023 by Pattaya57

[KhunLA]

@Kermit2404  Since knowing only 1 year, I really wouldn't bother with long term visa, as someone suggested METV, would seem easier.

 

Hua Hin is a good suggestion as is Pattaya, but beach is a stretch, and good to look at at least.  I live In Prachaup, and wouldn't really recommend, unless you can entertain yourself.  Also no public trans.

 

HH & Patts have decent baht bus system, and plenty of easy shopping.  The 2 chains stores at Prachuap, require transport, and taxis don't really exit here.  Unless plan on living out of 7-11, and not exactly a bad thing, supplemented with fresh market.

[thaibeachlovers]

46 minutes ago, thepanom said:

Living in Cha-am beach is not to expensive

There was a reason Cha Am is not on my list of nice beaches in LOS.

[bignok]

Southern part of Hua Hin is good. Don't like Cha-am.

[jvs]

I am starting to like Cha-am more now.

[BusyB]

18 hours ago, bignok said:

Prachuap is relaxing. 1 hour south of Hua Hin.

 

Nong Khai.

 

 

 

Cha Am, 30 minutes north of HH. Nice and relaxed, fairly 'Thai' and budget accommodation available. Can get busy at weekends and national holidays, but so does (all of) Prachuap. 

 

You can get reasonable and cheap digs in Pattaya and it can be a cheap place to live if you steer clear of the bars and gogogirls. Unfortunately you have to travel out of town if you want to swim in the sea.

[BusyB]

Petchburi. Nice town. Nice places out of town close to the beach as well. BKK and HH in easy reach.

[BusyB]

Haven't been through Nong Khai in 20 years but back then at least it was very lovely and laid back.

[newnative]

16 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If finance is short forget a nice beach. Pattaya is probably the OP's best bet. Plenty of really cheap accommodation options there. Just have to look and in a Thai residential area.

     I agree.  Pattaya is a good choice.  There is a large supply of housing with many economical choices.  Housing is often the biggest monthly expense so this is important if your budget is tight.

[CartagenaWarlock]

15 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

If one year and return, don't bother with the non-O. 

A tourist visa will give you three months, and a visa exemption is two months. You can rinse and repeat. 

[GypsyT]

11 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

A tourist visa will give you three months

Really?

 

Why are they at Immi after 60 days?

 

[Andycoops]

19 hours ago, Kermit2404 said:

I am now retired and just about divorced.  Age is 74. I have been to Thailand 9 or 10 temes and love it. Not Big places like Bangkok or Patong, but love Chiang Mia, except in February.

Been to Golden Triangle, Krabi, and heaps more. 

Can anyone here suggest a relaxing place and the costs, and visas I will need? (Australian). Sorry for the depth.

Cheers

Kermit

 

Have a look at Prachuap Khiri Khan 

[DrJack54]

Sadly too many of these threads where the OP starts a thread 20+ hours ago and then subsequently does not post.

Despite having been online..

[ignore it]

Kermit,

it's always good to plan, but until the "just about divorced" status changes, keep planning.

You could end up skinned and skint living in a flop hotel on Soi Arinothai 2, eating street soup and walking a kilometer to the beach.

Budget that at B250/day (beer not included)