Thailand as a Future Destination for Relocation

[kevozman1]

Whilst I do like Thailand and have done for years, I have to sit back and weigh things up as I have approached middle age, and I am ready to settle down.

 

It seems the obvious red light activity and full moon party degeneracy is not going anywhere but yet nationalism is just as high as ever in Thailand after decades of this crap being in their faces and I think the social engineers may try and blame tourists for any woes in the nation here on out, despite an obvious and easy move would be to crack down on degeneracy, or just embrace it. Not to mention I have seen what happens amongst the locals and yeah the tourists stuff is very docile in comparison. Thailand is definitely not Norway or Switzerland.

 

Personally I don't have to put up with this. A lot of Westerners in Thailand will be moving to other SEA countries (not the Philippines, that place is a post apocalyptic hellhole), and with regret because overall many of us like Thailand and Thai people. It's a shame.

[Hummin]

38 minutes ago, kevozman1 said:

Whilst I do like Thailand and have done for years, I have to sit back and weigh things up as I have approached middle age, and I am ready to settle down.

 

It seems the obvious red light activity and full moon party degeneracy is not going anywhere but yet nationalism is just as high as ever in Thailand after decades of this crap being in their faces and I think the social engineers may try and blame tourists for any woes in the nation here on out, despite an obvious and easy move would be to crack down on degeneracy, or just embrace it. Not to mention I have seen what happens amongst the locals and yeah the tourists stuff is very docile in comparison. Thailand is definitely not Norway or Switzerland.

 

Personally I don't have to put up with this. A lot of Westerners in Thailand will be moving to other SEA countries (not the Philippines, that place is a post apocalyptic hellhole), and with regret because overall many of us like Thailand and Thai people. It's a shame.

 

I truly think the golden age in Asia is up, especially for us who can expect to live another 30+ years. 

 

We do have a base in Thailand, but I have moved back to Norway, and my wife will follow next year, and build our next home, and both will start working. I actually miss working after being semi-retired, and the potential for both living quality and also a healthy lifestyle is much better in Norway. 

 

I actually got bored after travelling all over Thailand several times by motorbikes, car and also in my earlier days by public transport. Have tried to settle with a small farm, and that would be perfect for me, if it was not for the extreme heat last year and pollution that finally broke my wibe. 

 

We have been travelling most of the time, and will head down south next week again, but to be true I'm tired of constantly having to travel to kill my boredom, or escaping the smoke from burning fields and forests. I do not expect the pollution to change in the near future, that's why I make my move now, and not later when it is maybe too late. 

 

So for the younger ones who dream about Asia, sorry, but it is decades to late. 

[impulse]

56 minutes ago, Hummin said:

So for the younger ones who dream about Asia, sorry, but it is decades to late. 

 

I disagree.  Thailand has changed, for sure.  But so has "back home". 

 

The correct comparison isn't Thailand 2025 vs Thailand 1980.  The best comparison is Thailand 2025 vs Back Home 2025.

 

When I returned in 2019 to the USA after 20 years in Asia (10 of those in Thailand), it was not the same place I left.  I'm staying in China now for personal reasons (sick GF), but I plan to retire to Thailand.  I love it here.  (I'm in BKK for my monthly visa run). 

 

But I'd also be remiss not to check out Mexico, just because it's a 2 hour flight to see the family and get Medicare, not a 30 hour travesty from LOS.  That's the only downside to Thailand, especially with "pre-existing conditions" that make health insurance so expensive at my age.

 

[Hummin]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

I disagree.  Thailand has changed, for sure.  But so has "back home". 

 

The correct comparison isn't Thailand 2025 vs Thailand 1980.  The best comparison is Thailand 2025 vs Back Home 2025.

 

When I returned in 2019 to the USA after 20 years in Asia (10 of those in Thailand), it was not the same place I left.  I'm staying in China now for personal reasons (sick GF), but I plan to retire to Thailand.  I love it here.  (I'm in BKK for my monthly visa run). 

 

But I'd also be remiss not to check out Mexico, just because it's a 2 hour flight to see the family and get Medicare, not a 30 hour travesty from LOS.  That's the only downside to Thailand, especially with "pre-existing conditions" that make health insurance so expensive at my age.

 

Back home is agreeable a wide wide term, soI understand your point. 

 

Coming from a healthy environment and a country I still love and adore, my choice is colored by my personal opinion and background as well age. I feel I have many more years in me to work, and also hunt, fish, pick food, as well live a bit more sustainable life than I manage to do here in Thailand.

 

Chopp wood, make fire, and experience the dark cold winters under the stars and northern lights, is priceless 

 

Just eat cold water fish, crabs, lobsters, rain deer, year around

 

There is so much to do, compared to becoming stuck in Thailand where the political landscape will change, Asian countries will expand and everything will become more expensive, and we are the white guys who more and more Asians starts to despise. Sad but true

 

Asians are Not so different from us, when it comes to colours and who is living in the neighborhood. 

 

I believe China will be a great influence on Thailand, and what about us then? Reminding you of how the trade war will escalate, and Thailand is treated by the west as not trustworthy for our high tech weapons they obviously wants to buy.

 

I gamble on my own heritage, but still keep our home in Thailand. 

[Thingamabob]

4 hours ago, kevozman1 said:

Whilst I do like Thailand and have done for years, I have to sit back and weigh things up as I have approached middle age, and I am ready to settle down.

 

It seems the obvious red light activity and full moon party degeneracy is not going anywhere but yet nationalism is just as high as ever in Thailand after decades of this crap being in their faces and I think the social engineers may try and blame tourists for any woes in the nation here on out, despite an obvious and easy move would be to crack down on degeneracy, or just embrace it. Not to mention I have seen what happens amongst the locals and yeah the tourists stuff is very docile in comparison. Thailand is definitely not Norway or Switzerland.

 

Personally I don't have to put up with this. A lot of Westerners in Thailand will be moving to other SEA countries (not the Philippines, that place is a post apocalyptic hellhole), and with regret because overall many of us like Thailand and Thai people. It's a shame.

Been retired in Thailand  since 1993 having previously lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and Africa. No country is perfect, but Thailand is as good as it gets as far as I am concerned, and I've no intention to ever leave. You, however, sound somewhat puritanical so I doubt anywhere in Asia will suit you. 

 

[GypsyT]

4 hours ago, Hummin said:

Chopp wood, make fire, and experience the dark cold winters under the stars and northern lights, is priceless 

How about your Thai wife?

 

To put her through that is against Geneva Conventions;

 

https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-against-torture-and-other-cruel-inhuman-or-degrading

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

 

 

 

 

[Hummin]

19 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

How about your Thai wife?

 

To put her through that is against Geneva Conventions;

 

https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-against-torture-and-other-cruel-inhuman-or-degrading

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

 

 

 

 

I can promise you, she is the biggest driver to move north after we have travelled both in the winter with Hurtigruta, (cruise ferry) up to Tromsø, and drive down again + round trip with car last summer. Fresh fish, berries, mushrooms, wild meat is something she enjoy.  So far been there on tourist visa 6×3 months year around in Norway total. She love Norway and the potential.

 

Do you know how many thais there is who work at Svalbard? 

 

https://www.proquest.com/docview/197470266?sourcetype=Scholarly Journals

[GypsyT]

Thailand is good and incredible cheap compared to Spain's Canary Islands where I spent winters before returning to LOS.

Same level hotels; Gran Canary 130 Euros/140 USD night. Lousy breakfast.

Here, $ 30 a night. With  great breakfast!

 

But the weather is good for me only between Oct - March. In Canary Islands year around.

[GypsyT]

6 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I can promise you,she is the biggest driver to move north

Great! Go for it.

[Hummin]

3 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

Great! Go for it.

We both sees it as a temporary project, so it is not for rest of my life. Things can change, and we keep a plan b and c.

[StayinThailand2much]

Thailand is not a tropical paradise anymore. For me, nationalism, sour faces when arriving at the airport, as well as girls behaving just like hookers in the West, have led me to decide to not stay there extensively anymore. Still, if you're loaded, and have a good health insurance, it's not a bad place, esp. if you like hot weather and beaches.

[GypsyT]

I met Thai lady in Bangna who'd been married and lived in Stavanger, Norway.

She said "The most lonely, horrible place on earth..." She left and came back alone.

She had been around in Europe with husband so she knew many countries.

 

I'd think summers are wonderful in Norway.

 

 

[BritManToo]

6 hours ago, Hummin said:

So for the younger ones who dream about Asia, sorry, but it is decades to late.

As an older one, I'm still having a great (if quiet) time here.

 

@op

If you don't like hookers and full moon parties, nobody forces you to participate. The cycling, hiking and trail running is exceptional up in CM.

[Patong2021]

7 hours ago, kevozman1 said:

Whilst I do like Thailand and have done for years, I have to sit back and weigh things up as I have approached middle age, and I am ready to settle down.

 

It seems the obvious red light activity and full moon party degeneracy is not going anywhere but yet nationalism is just as high as ever in Thailand after decades of this crap being in their faces and I think the social engineers may try and blame tourists for any woes in the nation here on out, despite an obvious and easy move would be to crack down on degeneracy, or just embrace it. Not to mention I have seen what happens amongst the locals and yeah the tourists stuff is very docile in comparison. Thailand is definitely not Norway or Switzerland.

 

Personally I don't have to put up with this. A lot of Westerners in Thailand will be moving to other SEA countries (not the Philippines, that place is a post apocalyptic hellhole), and with regret because overall many of us like Thailand and Thai people. It's a shame.

 

People with something to lose, have a different approach, They will take into consideration the following in no particular order;

- Impact on family (inclusing childcare and education)

- Access to  quality healthcare

-Tax implications

- Cost of maintaining the desired lifestyle including housing

 

Thailand attracts alot of lower income and lower social positioned people. They are not going to do better elsewhere.

[Hummin]

30 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

As an older one, I'm still having a great (if quiet) time here.

 

@op

If you don't like hookers and full moon parties, nobody forces you to participate. The cycling, hiking and trail running is exceptional up in CM.

It is all about timing, and also expectstions. Thailand was great until the heat, pollution and latest unsecurity about future taxation. It hit me pretty much a the same time last year.

 

Im not willing to pay tax on tax to be allowed to spend my money here, and nothing in return.

 

It doesnt help my Norwegian krone have plummeted against thai baht either.

[3NUMBAS]

Make sure you can tolerate intense heat and serious humidity and mental decay

[KhunLA]

Living full on in TH for 24+ years.  After 17 years, made final decision to stay and stop thinking about elsewhere.

 

Not much has changed, just a lot more of everything, good & bad.   Noticeably more tourists, again, but don't live in a tourist area, except some weekenders.

 

Need a hobby or 2, to keep yourself busy.   Getting O&A (out & about) exploring, locally or a far, is always interesting.  The journey, if not the destination, as long as you're not in a hurry to go from A to B.

 

There's quite a bit in between, many people don't bother with.

 

It is a small country, relative to where one comes from.  I'm a Yank, so very small to me.  But still keeps my interest.

 

No plans on going any where, and wouldn't have a clue where to go, as the world is nothing like it was when I arrived.  TH is progressing, for good or bad, much slower than the developed countries.

 

Make no mistake, it's still 3rd world IMHO, with many modern things.

 

Just don't 'buy in' and test it out for a few years, in a few areas.  See if it's for you, as living here, is much different than visiting.

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, GypsyT said:

I met Thai lady in Bangna who'd been married and lived in Stavanger, Norway.

She said "The most lonely, horrible place on earth..." She left and came back alone.

She had been around in Europe with husband so she knew many countries.

 

I'd think summers are wonderful in Norway.

 

 

Stavanger can be rougher than north of polar circle. It is more wet and raw cold weaher year around. Lived on the west coast 15 years all together at 3 different locations. Also lived 4 years north Norway on an island. I prefer North Norway, since more dry weather, and real winters, and not to bad summers. The only plague, is mosquito and flies inside country. Still, it is temporarily while she gain her citizenship. After that she will stay 4 months in Thailand every year. 

[Tropicalevo]

I have been here for 25 years now.

Planned to retire and rent out a few properties on the land that I 'bought'..

Came here with my wife (Brummie lass) as she chose Thailand when I asked where we should live next.

Retirement never happened.

I ended up starting a small business and run that with 14 staff.

Now approaching 74. Still work 7 days a week.

Take holidays whenever I want as I long as the staff can reach me when they need help and a bit of farang wisdom.

No desire whatsoever to go back back 'home' - UK. The place sounds terrible when I talk to my wife's relatives back there.

Most of my relatives are dead anyway - just a daughter who can barely wish me Happy Birthday.

(We fell out when I refused to change my will when my wife died. Daughter wanted everything.)

 

Back to the plot.

Thailand has changed a lot in the 30 years when I have worked and lived here but as others have said - so has everywhere else. (I came and worked/lived in Bangkok in 1993.)

To me, the winter (6 weeks?) is cold and the summer (April) is hot. The rest of the time the weather is pretty dam good.

I live on Samui - away from the tourist areas. Wife said 'I do not care where in Thailand but I want a swimming pool and sunsets so I have sea breezes for six months of the year.

Plan B was going to be Tanzania but I would not go and live in any of the African countries now.

Anyway, I cannot leave Thailand, as the memorials for my wife, son and a good friend are in the local temple.

I still have to put the flowers and incense sticks there every week.

A bad day here is still better than the a good day in the UK.

 

[Lacessit]

Thailand is not Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. There's a lot more to it than those three tourist traps.

 

In Australia, houses one could buy for about $400K are now about $1 million. Rents have skyrocketed. In Thailand, rent costs and house/condo prices have barely moved in 15 years.

 

While imported food is expensive, local foodstuffs are cheap by Western standards A kilo of mangoes here costs the same as a single mango in Oz.

 

If one puts in the effort, learning to speak and understand Thai gets anyone a lot further than insisting on English only. Even though I probably butcher the tones, most Thais can understand me.

 

When I was researching where to retire to, I looked at Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand.

 

Thailand won quite easily, IMO it still does. I'm not going anywhere else.

[Presnock]

21 hours ago, impulse said:

 

I disagree.  Thailand has changed, for sure.  But so has "back home". 

 

The correct comparison isn't Thailand 2025 vs Thailand 1980.  The best comparison is Thailand 2025 vs Back Home 2025.

 

When I returned in 2019 to the USA after 20 years in Asia (10 of those in Thailand), it was not the same place I left.  I'm staying in China now for personal reasons (sick GF), but I plan to retire to Thailand.  I love it here.  (I'm in BKK for my monthly visa run). 

 

But I'd also be remiss not to check out Mexico, just because it's a 2 hour flight to see the family and get Medicare, not a 30 hour travesty from LOS.  That's the only downside to Thailand, especially with "pre-existing conditions" that make health insurance so expensive at my age.

 

Some seem to like in the genral vicinity of Mexico - Panama and Costa Rico for retirees anway based on costs and acceptance by locals.

[Presnock]

16 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Thailand is not a tropical paradise anymore. For me, nationalism, sour faces when arriving at the airport, as well as girls behaving just like hookers in the West, have led me to decide to not stay there extensively anymore. Still, if you're loaded, and have a good health insurance, it's not a bad place, esp. if you like hot weather and beaches.

Meanwhile, countries around the world are changing just as fast or faster than Thailand.  the OECD agreement, CSR and FACTA are minor changes only in my financial world but for others are seemingly big game changers.  Life goes on, I began living in Thailand in the early 70's and while many changes have occurred, I plan to stay until my demise.  WIth all the political changes that might occur, BRICS, tax schemes,  China influence, etc who really knows?

[GypsyT]

2 hours ago, Presnock said:

Some seem to like in the genral vicinity of Mexico - Panama and Costa Rico

It's feeling of security. You can hop in the plane and zoom to the US in 3 hours. You can do that in near any condition.

[Presnock]

13 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

It's feeling of security. You can hop in the plane and zoom to the US in 3 hours. You can do that in near any condition.

I also get a nomad news letter regularly and both those I offered have recently been written up by that newletters.  Just saying and keeps you in that general area anyway.

[edwardflory]

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION is the key to good ( peaceful ) living space

 

Pattaya Bangkok and LARGE cities are no longer on our list of places to live - do visit occasionally - we have property in BKK and her home village.

 

KORAT fits the bill, rather 20 minutes outside of "downtown" Korat is my LOCATION. 

4 MAJOR stores within 10 minutes, immigration 15 minutes, natural ( free ) fishing lake 2 minutes, 2 mom & pop stores 3 to 6 minutes, 7-11 is 10 minutes.

My Thai bank ATM's in the major stores. Public transportation is decent, taxi fare reasonable for monthly trip to do banking downtown - by choice, a smaller branch is 11 minutes away.

 

Renting a 2BR house with indoor kitchen, fenced yard in gated THAI upper class community 4,500bt a month - great neighbors and friendly female soi dog & 3 cats. Fiber cable and TV box ( 5G ),  electric, water and garbage collection, averages under 5,000bt a month. 15,000bt food cost because we eat both Thai and Western food.

 

[NoshowJones]

On 1/17/2025 at 9:35 AM, impulse said:

 

I disagree.  Thailand has changed, for sure.  But so has "back home". 

 

The correct comparison isn't Thailand 2025 vs Thailand 1980.  The best comparison is Thailand 2025 vs Back Home 2025.

 

When I returned in 2019 to the USA after 20 years in Asia (10 of those in Thailand), it was not the same place I left.  I'm staying in China now for personal reasons (sick GF), but I plan to retire to Thailand.  I love it here.  (I'm in BKK for my monthly visa run). 

 

But I'd also be remiss not to check out Mexico, just because it's a 2 hour flight to see the family and get Medicare, not a 30 hour travesty from LOS.  That's the only downside to Thailand, especially with "pre-existing conditions" that make health insurance so expensive at my age.

 

The biggest downside in Thailand is the way westerners have been treated by the Thai governments. I have been here now for nearly 20 years and comparing Thailand 20 years ago to now, things are much worse today. 

If I knew that I would have to do things now that I did not have to do 20 years ago I would never have settled down here. ie being treated like a common criminal with this 90 day reporting nonsense, but people who arrived here around 20 years ago will know what I mean. I always wonder how it will be for westerners here in 20 years time.

In saying that, the good still outweighs the bad compared to the UK.

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

On 1/16/2025 at 7:31 PM, Hummin said:

So for the younger ones who dream about Asia, sorry, but it is decades to late. 

 

Couldn't agree more. That ship has sailed. Now it's nothing but constant air pollution and anti-foreigner vibes.

 

Plus - the gov't made huge mistakes legalising weed and open door visa policy for all the scum to flow in.

 

Norway is an Alpha A+++ country. I am sure you are happy there. And the Norwegian woman are stunners.

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

20 hours ago, BritManToo said:

The cycling, hiking and trail running is exceptional up in CM

 

I'm a broken record here but you have to add the caveat: "... is exceptional in CM, when the wilderness isn't on fire for half the year."

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds of Horking said:

 

I'm a broken record here but you have to add the caveat: "... is exceptional in CM, when the wilderness isn't on fire for half the year."

Nah, I've run/cycled through the burning forest and it's great.

[Woke to Sounds of Horking]

46 minutes ago, edwardflory said:

15,000bt food cost because we eat both Thai and Western food

 

Would it be safe to assume for a single guy it could be 7000-8000 per/mo?  Does that include beer bought at Big Cunge?