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

[brianthainess]

So OP can you be bothered to answer our questions? What is your monthly budget? do you have funds of 800,000baht? do you get the full OZ pension? will you have say 2millon+ baht to cover hospital bills? Your first obstacle will be to open a Thai bank account. 

[ThaiFelix]

19 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

So OP can you be bothered to answer our questions? What is your monthly budget? do you have funds of 800,000baht? do you get the full OZ pension? will you have say 2millon+ baht to cover hospital bills? Your first obstacle will be to open a Thai bank account. 

Geez talk about all doom and gloom for the old fella, you never heard of GoFundMe??  55555!

[Scouse123]

Rayong has deserted beaches and nice sea and is cheap and cheerful.

[Stanton681]

4 hours ago, BusyB said:

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

And still is today.

[rughead]

Songkhla  beach , everything you need , and not expensive

[Grusa]

20 hours ago, BigStar said:

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.

 

 

Shhhh..... don't tell everyone, or they'll all come!

[khunPer]

On 12/3/2023 at 5:01 AM, Kermit2404 said:

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

Cheers

For a long-stay as retiree, you need a non-immigrant O-visa – can be obtained domestically if you enter visa exempt – and the financial resources of either minimum 65k bah per month or a bank deposit of 800k baht.

 

You can find affordable accommodation almost all over Thailand. Daily need are also priced quite similar due to expansion of chain stores and competition. My best best advise is always to get around to potential good places after your choice, and check them out for a couple of week or a month. Furthermore, also check them during rainy or monsoon season. Up north, also be aware of PM2.5 air pollution-season.

 

Where to settle is up to a personal view and life-style. Tourist destination can be little more expensive for accommodation, but have have other benefits worth consider. Personally I chose a tourist destination – Koh Samui down south – mainly because of I can easily get what I want of Western-style products and it's "all year summer", never too hot and never too cold. Furthermore there is almost always acceptable air; i.e. low PM2.5. Also, the mix of Western foreigners and expats, makes contact easy – there are by the ways quite a number of Aussies living on the island.

 

The recommended 65k per month fits quite well for a budget for good living – of course depending of personal life-style – but you can manage on less, like around 40k baht a month. You can often find acceptable accommodation for 10k-15k baht pr. month – also on Samui – and manage with 500 baht per day in livings costs for food etc.; however, excluded spending for bar visits and what might follow from that. Health insurance and some budget for local transportation – bus, song thaew, motorbike rent or buy – also needs to be included in a budget.

Hope this short info might help you, please feel free to ask questions...

[LikeItHot]

On 12/3/2023 at 2:24 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

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

Every beach in the central gulf is gross

Edited December 4, 2023 by LikeItHot

[DrJack54]

5 hours ago, khunPer said:

Hope this short info might help you, please feel free to ask questions...

Very helpful post.

Dont understand why you bothered.

 

The OP started a thread and has contributed ZERO.

Wasted threads like this are sad.

@Kermit2404 are you even aware you have contributed ZERO despite being online since your OP. 

 

 

[jaxon]

12 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Very helpful post.

Dont understand why you bothered.

 

The OP started a thread and has contributed ZERO.

Wasted threads like this are sad.

@Kermit2404 are you even aware you have contributed ZERO despite being online since your OP. 

 

 

Who knows, OP (74) might be back.  I've been trying to use this Aseanow site (as opposed to the old ThaiVisa) on my laptop and the pop up ads almost make it un-useable ! Switched to my mobile and it's better. 

 

I don't think it's a wasted thread as there are others (like myself) that can benefit from the information posted.  

[khunPer]

16 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Very helpful post.

Dont understand why you bothered.

 

The OP started a thread and has contributed ZERO.

Wasted threads like this are sad.

@Kermit2404 are you even aware you have contributed ZERO despite being online since your OP. 

Thanks for your comment.

Others than the OP can have benefit from answers in the forum; I have found a lot of very useful information without ever asking one opening-post question. That is why I bother to answer OPs and comments with questions – the ASEAN NOW-threads even shows up when asking Google for help.

[DrJack54]

31 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Others than the OP can have benefit from answers in the forum; I

They will have a LOT more help it the OP contributed.

Here is a random response from @brianthainess

 

"So OP can you be bothered to answer our questions? What is your monthly budget? do you have funds of 800,000baht? do you get the full OZ pension? will you have say 2millon+ baht to cover hospital bills? Your first obstacle will be to open a Thai bank account" 

 

If the OP answered some of those questions rather than start a thread and contribute nothing, that would be a good start..

[brianthainess]

35 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

They will have a LOT more help it the OP contributed.

Here is a random response from @brianthainess

 

"So OP can you be bothered to answer our questions? What is your monthly budget? do you have funds of 800,000baht? do you get the full OZ pension? will you have say 2millon+ baht to cover hospital bills? Your first obstacle will be to open a Thai bank account" 

 

If the OP answered some of those questions rather than start a thread and contribute nothing, that would be a good start..

And 2 days later still Zilch from the OP. 

[bignok]

11 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And 2 days later still Zilch from the OP. 

You want to sue?

[brianthainess]

34 minutes ago, bignok said:

You want to sue?

A Trolling again with nothing to say 'cept rubbish. Get a life. 

[bignok]

16 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

A Trolling again with nothing to say 'cept rubbish. Get a life. 

I hope you find happiness one day.

[persimmon]

On 12/4/2023 at 2:50 AM, Stanton681 said:

And still is today.

I was there to do a visa crossing last year . I think after 3 or 4 days I would start to get bored of the place . There`s the small night market at the weekend and the walk along the river can be pleasant , but apart from that .....?

Maybe if you had a Thai partner to go out with it might be different , but for a solo traveller ?

Am I missing something here ?

[Northstar1]

On 12/3/2023 at 9:03 PM, ThaiFelix said:

Geez talk about all doom and gloom for the old fella, you never heard of GoFundMe??  55555!

He’s not from the Uk!

[Kermit2404]

Sorry for not replying earlier. Had a problem to take care of.

Thank you all for the very valuable input. I shall keep reading and updating this thread for as long as it continues.

Thank you all once again.

[Kermit2404]

On 12/5/2023 at 2:28 AM, DrJack54 said:

Very helpful post.

Dont understand why you bothered.

 

The OP started a thread and has contributed ZERO.

Wasted threads like this are sad.

@Kermit2404 are you even aware you have contributed ZERO despite being online since your OP. 

 

 

I am sorry about the late replies. Have had a drama to attend to. As said in a later post, thank you all for very helpful information. I assure you I will continue to read this thread and keep you updated of my intentions. Cheers, and thanks again.

 

[Kermit2404]

Further, I am on a full pension plus a small amount of super. I dont have a Thai bank account, I live in Tasmania and therte isnt any THai banking representation here.

I can certainly fulfill the 800000 baht requirement.

 

[Kermit2404]

Am certainly not looking for a palace. The reference to Pataya sounds good. Have been there, like it, though the beach stinks. Will have to find somewhere with a pool or go out of town for a swim in the sea.

Cheers

[Kermit2404]

Someone mentioned Songkhla  beach. Not to close to Muslim dramas?

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, Kermit2404 said:

Further, I am on a full pension plus a small amount of super. I dont have a Thai bank account, I live in Tasmania and there isnt any THai banking representation here.

I can certainly fulfill the 800000 baht requirement.

 

Not in other....

How much is your total pension and (super income )

 

The Thai bank account is obtained in Thailand, not AU.

 

For your first year you would need to use money in bank method.

You will need an agent to open a Thai bank account if you enter with visa exempt or tourist visa..

[Kermit2404]

Just now, Kermit2404 said:

Someone mentioned Songkhla  beach. Not to close to Muslim dramas?

Not that I have a drama with any race or religion. Am infact studying Budhhism, dont refrain all that well from intoxicating substances, but have cut down. I dont want to be a full blown any religion, just understanding Thai culture.

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not in other....

How much is your total pension and (super income )

 

The Thai bank account is obtained in Thailand, not AU.

 

For your first year you would need to use money in bank method.

You will need an agent to open a Thai bank account if you enter with visa exempt or tourist visa..

You will need an agent to open a Thai bank account if you enter with visa exempt or tourist visa..

Where will I find a reputable agent as this sounds like the best advice.

Total income with super and pension in AUD is $30,000 pa or 700,000 baht

[Kermit2404]

3 minutes ago, Kermit2404 said:

Not that I have a drama with any race or religion. Am infact studying Budhhism, dont refrain all that well from intoxicating substances, but have cut down. I dont want to be a full blown any religion, just understanding Thai culture.

You will need an agent to open a Thai bank account if you enter with visa exempt or tourist visa..

Where will I find a reputable agent as this sounds like the best advice.

Total income with super and pension in AUD is $30,000 pa or 700,000 baht

 

6 minutes ago, Kermit2404 said:

Not that I have a drama with any race or religion. Am infact studying Budhhism, dont refrain all that well from intoxicating substances, but have cut down. I dont want to be a full blown any religion, just understanding Thai culture.

You will need an agent to open a Thai bank account if you enter with visa exempt or tourist visa..

Where will I find a reputable agent as this sounds like the best advice.

Total income with super and pension in AUD is $30,000 pa or 700,000 baht

 

[Kermit2404]

Just now, Kermit2404 said:

 

 

Thank you Dr Jack for your time.

[Stocky]

7 minutes ago, Kermit2404 said:

Someone mentioned Songkhla  beach. Not to close to Muslim dramas?

Songkhla is a peaceful little town. The issues of the southern insurgency seldom intrude, there have only been two incidents; in Apr 2005 a bomb attached to a motorbike exploded near the Green World Hotel, Songkhla, injured no one, in Dec 2018 two pipe bombs damaged the mermaid statue, again no injuries. The beach is popular with locals and Malaysian tourists at the weekend, but during the week it's a sleepy hollow. Good connections via Hat Yai airport to Bangkok, KL and Singapore. Depends what you're looking for, Songkhla is quite with clean air, but has few expats and little entertainment.

[Kermit2404]

20 hours ago, Stocky said:

Songkhla is a peaceful little town. The issues of the southern insurgency seldom intrude, 

Thank you Stocky, appreciate a resident's reply rather than relying on heresay from people who have never been there.

[Kermit2404]

I did ask earlier about a reputable agent to use for visas and extensions.

Any recommendations anyone?

Cheers

Kermit2404