Decisions, decisions, where to stay in retirement?

[safarimike11]

19 hours ago, simon43 said:

I thought that I had this sorted.  Move to the Philippines so that I get my UK state index-linked pension (due to start payments in 6 weeks from now).  But the lack of annual increases won't be a financial problem for me just now, and I've never been to the PI anyway...

 

I was teaching in Mandalay.  I came back to Thailand for a couple of weeks to sort out a 'base' condo at Jomtien Beach. 7,000 baht a month for a modern studio condo that's 300 metres from the beach 🙂

 

During my absence, Mother Nature decided to 'throw' an earthquake in Mandalay!  Thousands are dead, many buildings destroyed.  

 

So I flew up to Luang Prabang in north Laos, the UNESCO city where I have lived off and on for many years between my teaching contracts in Burma. A beautiful place (NOT NOW!).

 

Big shock on this visit!  Gone was the sleepy Lao town by the Mekong river.  Now, as a result of the new train from China, the town is bursting with Chinese tourists AND Chinese businesses.  The central peninsula area is jammed with white tourist vans.  The outskirt hills of the town are being scraped away and huge Chinese hotels being built. The Mekong river will become a non-flowing lake when the next Chinese dam just north of the town is in operation, (The Xayaburi dam south of the town already stops natural river flow).

 

I'm so disappointed with Luang Prabang now.... 'paradise' destroyed by the 'locusts'.

 

What to do?  The local international school in Luang Prabang asked me to teach at the school.

 

Then I got an email from Mandalay begging me to return to teach again.

 

What I don't want to do in my retirement is simply do nothing, get fat, drink beer and catch STDs from 'professional' woman.

 

What would you do?

I would stay retired in Pattaya.

[safarimike11]

17 hours ago, simon43 said:

Jomtien is indeed full of Russians.  My condo building is full of them - some Germans and me when I'm in town.  But it's not a retirement destination for me.  Also, my condo building stinks of cannabis 24/7, which is not nice...

 

I was in Chiang Mai last week.  Too much smoke pollution, and that's also the problem in Laos and Myanmar.

How about Cambodia?

[Burma Bill]

20 hours ago, simon43 said:

 

 

What would you do?

 

Hello Simon. May I suggest Mandalay again. There must be many decent folk who regard you as a good friend and would appreciate all your efforts on their behalf. Many families must be traumatised and in need of support and encouragement.  Yes, there will be much devastation but in time, infrastructure and lives will be rebuilt.  In my opinion, one positive outcome is the weakening of the Burmese Junta through international condemnation of its lack of response to the tragic disaster and lack of help to the citizens. I am sure there will be a political change sooner rather than later.

I wish I could visit Mandalay (and Rangoon) again, but with my mobility problems, not for the foreseeable future

[jaideedave]

18 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

You see?

 

THIS is why I always insist that the ChiCom Bandits will ALWAYS destroy nature, in every case.

 

This is part of communism, and is part of authoritarian rule.

 

This is why the ChiComs will, one day, even destroy Earth's Moon, once they land there.

 

There is no solution other than the overthrow of the Marxist-Leninist state, and we must tear down all Mao statues, too.

 

I just hope it is not too late, and that some of the damage can be corrected, in due course.

 

My view is that CM is the best place to retire.

So, I suggest that you do so.

 

We used to go on big bike road trips to Cambodia 10 years ago. I've seen what the ChiComs have done to Sihanookville for example. A deserted oasis on unfinished high rises. Its fooked now. Luang Prabang was a quiet backpacker place before the railway line. They are raping Laos IMHO. They cause nothing but grief wherever they go.

[rumak]

19 hours ago, sidjameson said:

Another place bites the dust.

South east Asia is not what it used to be.

I first arrived in 95 when the population was half what it is today. Average age was twenty years younger. Temps were two degrees cooler.Tourism was a trickle not a flood. No burning season that I remember. Most places were without traffic jams. Get away from the main spots and locals hadn't spoken to a foreigner before.

 

Sorry it's off topic, the OP just made me sad.

 

19 hours ago, sidjameson said:

Another place bites the dust.

South east Asia is not what it used to be.

I first arrived in 95 when the population was half what it is today. Average age was twenty years younger. Temps were two degrees cooler.Tourism was a trickle not a flood. No burning season that I remember. Most places were without traffic jams. Get away from the main spots and locals hadn't spoken to a foreigner before.

 

Sorry it's off topic, the OP just made me sad.

 

You forgot to mention one other factor in the equation :   You (we) are now 30 years OLDER  than in 1995 !

Whenever i got restless I would go for a ride .  And.... i also moved many times. 

hmmm   those options not very sustainable as age creeps up.

 

[Randy99]

I retired, came to Thailand, bought a 250cc Honda mb and have not really stopped touring on it for 5 years.  I stop in nice places here and there, usually rural and hang out for a month or two, make a few friends and move on.  I find it very satisfying.  Have a rented bedroom in Phan Thong as my home base to keep immigration happy.

[sidjameson]

7 hours ago, simon43 said:

could stay in south Thailand, but I don't have 800k in the bank

 

Basically, I'm looking for a hot country with clean air, with a coast if possible, easy visa requirements for Brits etc, especially for impoverished Brits!

I have the same requirements and I always end up Thailand south of Hua Hin as the best option.

 

Bit nosey, but you've been earning relatively good money for years and living frugally. Where has all the money gone? Expensive coke habit? 🤣

[VBF]

59 minutes ago, jaideedave said:

We used to go on big bike road trips to Cambodia 10 years ago. I've seen what the ChiComs have done to Sihanookville for example. A deserted oasis on unfinished high rises. Its fooked now. Luang Prabang was a quiet backpacker place before the railway line. They are raping Laos IMHO. They cause nothing but grief wherever they go.

Agree about "Snooky".

There is a thread here somewhere from a guy who posted before (the Chinese invasion) and after pictures.

I was last there in 2011 and I am horrified at what has happened to the place. There was even a pic showing the signboard of the place I used to stay (Beach Club) on a rubbish tip so that had been bulldozed!

 

Sorry to be racist but where the Chinese go, uncontrolled development and destruction seem to follow!

[Cat Boy]

21 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

Exactly. Continue working as long as you possibly can because retirement can be dreadfully boring.

 

I stopped working recently and I'm going nuts. The bars do not fill the void for me.

 

There's so much more to life than simply working. 

 

What was your first clue that simply hanging out in bars everyday, endlessly drinking, inevitable alcoholism and unmitigated hangovers without any mental stimulation would somehow be unfulfilling? 

 

Travel, read, learn,.... or just chill out, blinking and breathing taking in life everywhere around you 

[Andrewdownunder]

20 hours ago, sidjameson said:

Another place bites the dust.

South east Asia is not what it used to be.

I first arrived in 95 when the population was half what it is today. Average age was twenty years younger. Temps were two degrees cooler.Tourism was a trickle not a flood. No burning season that I remember. Most places were without traffic jams. Get away from the main spots and locals hadn't spoken to a foreigner before.

 

Sorry it's off topic, the OP just made me sad.

great point. it used to be heavenly everyday. times have changed in many ways. We were the lucky ones to experience life in Asia in the nineties. I actually experienced Asia in the sixties too. One day in 1964 I woke up on a cruise ship and we were in Hong Kong. those were the days my friend. it was incredible.  it is sad things have changed so much. still enjoy it. just not the same.

[Harrisfan]

43 minutes ago, sidjameson said:

I have the same requirements and I always end up Thailand south of Hua Hin as the best option.

 

Bit nosey, but you've been earning relatively good money for years and living frugally. Where has all the money gone? Expensive coke habit? 🤣

Women

[newnative]

20 hours ago, simon43 said:

Jomtien is indeed full of Russians.  My condo building is full of them - some Germans and me when I'm in town.  But it's not a retirement destination for me.  Also, my condo building stinks of cannabis 24/7, which is not nice...

 

I was in Chiang Mai last week.  Too much smoke pollution, and that's also the problem in Laos and Myanmar.

     Lots of other places besides Jomtien in Greater Pattaya.   Spouse and I are now enjoying the Darkside.  I agree it is good to keep busy in retirement.

[Harrisfan]

18 minutes ago, newnative said:

     Lots of other places besides Jomtien in Greater Pattaya.   Spouse and I are now enjoying the Darkside.  I agree it is good to keep busy in retirement.

Have you see Darth Vader there ?

[simon43]

4 hours ago, Photoguy21 said:

"Mandalay begging me to return" really or did you just wake up from the dream? I really can not imagine them begging you to return.

 

Lol!  Here's an extract from the school's recent email to me:

 

"...

We do appreciate your efforts and you're one of the best science teachers of ***.

Please let us know your thoughts on returning to Myanmar

"

Of course, maybe I was the last of their choices 🙂  But it's not going to happen.  I have very delicate lungs, (which is why I moved from the UK some 23 years ago - needed a warmer/humid climate). Sadly, the air pollution in Myanmar, Laos and north Thailand is too much for my lungs, even though others are not affected.  My condo in Jomtien on the 15th floor near the beach seems to have good clean ocean air, so my lungs are OK there.

[simon43]

2 hours ago, sidjameson said:

I have the same requirements and I always end up Thailand south of Hua Hin as the best option.

 

Bit nosey, but you've been earning relatively good money for years and living frugally. Where has all the money gone? Expensive coke habit? 🤣

No.... www.TeacherSimon.org 

 

I prefer to use my spare money to help others.  I never consider living the good life with my spare money.  I have spent a fortune on school books over the years!

[DaRoadrunner]

8 hours ago, simon43 said:

Right, there is one small problem there - I don't have a spare 200k euro lying about the place... 🙂  I don't need citizenship, I just need a cheap, hot place with clean air...

"I just need a cheap, hot place with clean air..." ..... Sounds like my apartment. Though there is hot air eminating from the mouth of Lady Roadrunner.

[GammaGlobulin]

7 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

Chiang Mai might've been the best place to retire 20 years ago, but with all the burning it's a hellhole now in terms of air quality.

 

Still good.

Believe me.

[GammaGlobulin]

5 hours ago, jaideedave said:

We used to go on big bike road trips to Cambodia 10 years ago. I've seen what the ChiComs have done to Sihanookville for example. A deserted oasis on unfinished high rises. Its fooked now. Luang Prabang was a quiet backpacker place before the railway line. They are raping Laos IMHO. They cause nothing but grief wherever they go.

 

I agree.

This is a direct result of lack of DEMOCRACY....

Believe me.

 

There is NO pushback possible from the populace, due to the lack of DEMOCRACY.

 

The people who push back get locked up.

 

The lawyers who fight for the environment get locked up.

 

This is the Commie State, for sure.

 

 

[Sierra Tango]

• Panama:

  Panama's Pensionado program is widely considered one of the most attractive retirement visa programs globally. It offers discounts on various services, and the income requirement is relatively low (around $1,000 per month). 

   
• Portugal:

  The D7 Visa, also known as the passive income visa, is another popular option. It allows individuals with income from pensions, investments, rental income, or other sources to live in Portugal. 

   
• Costa Rica:

  Costa Rica offers a pensioned visa that requires a monthly income, usually $1,000.
• Thailand:

  Thailand offers a Long Stay Visa (O-A visa) for those over 50 who do not intend to work in the country. 

   
• The Philippines:

  The Philippines has a Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) program. 

[FruitPudding]

On 4/25/2025 at 8:13 PM, Will B Good said:

Not Isaan

 

Actually, Isaan would be OK for retirement as a single guy. I could see myself back there again.

 

But it's not good for work and it's not really good for raising children.

 

And it's always a bad idea to take your GF or wife back to her village. 

 

 

[Jingthing]

How about Negombo, Sri Lanka?

Retirement stays -- two years renewable. 15K USD in SR bank, 1500 USD monthly transfer, health insurance required. The 15K is not usable unless leaving.

 

Negombo, Sri Lanka: Cost of Living, Healthcare, Local Clubs and Activities, Healthcare and What to Know About Living in Negombo | Expat Exchange

[safarimike11]

On 4/25/2025 at 7:03 PM, save the frogs said:

 

Exactly. Continue working as long as you possibly can because retirement can be dreadfully boring.

 

I stopped working recently and I'm going nuts. The bars do not fill the void for me.

 

I recommend online Scrabble: Scopely via MEmu.

[VBF]

6 hours ago, Cat Boy said:

There's so much more to life than simply working. 

 

What was your first clue that simply hanging out in bars everyday, endlessly drinking, inevitable alcoholism and unmitigated hangovers without any mental stimulation would somehow be unfulfilling? 

 

Travel, read, learn,.... or just chill out, blinking and breathing taking in life everywhere around you 

Absolutely! 

I've always hated the phrase "work-life balance" It should be "life-work balance" with the priority placed first.

 

My last 17 years of work, I was a contractor so didn't have to worry about promotion,  so-called "status" associating with colleagues outside work hours (unless I actually liked them). All I did was go to work, do the best job I could manage and leave on time. By the time I  was 200 metres down the road, I forgot about it until next day and got on with my priorities.

 

So, when I retired, 13 years ago, I was used to making plans for the one person who really matters and I've never looked back.

If you've got intelligence, hobbies and are inquisitive which @simon43 I'm pretty sure describes you, you'll start to wonder how you ever had the time to go to work. That was a cliché which I used to doubt - no more. Now I have to prioritise my hours so as to fit in all the things I want to do.

 

Of course that doesn't answer your main question...where to spend your time. IMO if you're single, like me, only you can decide that, based on what you like doing, what you can afford, your choice of climate, your health and probably 100 other factors known only to you.

Good Luck 🙏🏻

[VBF]

6 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Women

And he wasted the rest 😁

 

2 friends of mine were chatting about that some time ago:

L said to P "you're so lazy - you spend half your time in bed"

P replied to L "No, just half my money"

 

All right, I'm going.......

[simon43]

16 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 

Hello Simon. May I suggest Mandalay again. There must be many decent folk who regard you as a good friend and would appreciate all your efforts on their behalf. Many families must be traumatised and in need of support and encouragement.  Yes, there will be much devastation but in time, infrastructure and lives will be rebuilt.  In my opinion, one positive outcome is the weakening of the Burmese Junta through international condemnation of its lack of response to the tragic disaster and lack of help to the citizens. I am sure there will be a political change sooner rather than later.

I wish I could visit Mandalay (and Rangoon) again, but with my mobility problems, not for the foreseeable future

Hi, thanks for your advice.  Sadly, this is not going to happen, due to the air pollution and my pathetic lungs, which are unable to cope with anything but the cleanest air.  I am in Luang Prabang right now, offered a job at the international school, but unable to accept the job because I have chronic bronchitis within 2 days of arriving in town.  I fly back to Thailand in a few hours from now. The coastal air in Jomtien or south Thailand is fine for me.

 

For me, who really wants to live and teach in Myanmar or Laos, it is hugely frustrating that my lungs let me down, but realistically I can't see the situation improving with age...

[Card]

On 4/25/2025 at 6:54 PM, simon43 said:

I thought that I had this sorted.  Move to the Philippines so that I get my UK state index-linked pension (due to start payments in 6 weeks from now).  But the lack of annual increases won't be a financial problem for me just now, and I've never been to the PI anyway...

 

I was teaching in Mandalay.  I came back to Thailand for a couple of weeks to sort out a 'base' condo at Jomtien Beach. 7,000 baht a month for a modern studio condo that's 300 metres from the beach 🙂

 

During my absence, Mother Nature decided to 'throw' an earthquake in Mandalay!  Thousands are dead, many buildings destroyed.  

 

So I flew up to Luang Prabang in north Laos, the UNESCO city where I have lived off and on for many years between my teaching contracts in Burma. A beautiful place (NOT NOW!).

 

Big shock on this visit!  Gone was the sleepy Lao town by the Mekong river.  Now, as a result of the new train from China, the town is bursting with Chinese tourists AND Chinese businesses.  The central peninsula area is jammed with white tourist vans.  The outskirt hills of the town are being scraped away and huge Chinese hotels being built. The Mekong river will become a non-flowing lake when the next Chinese dam just north of the town is in operation, (The Xayaburi dam south of the town already stops natural river flow).

 

I'm so disappointed with Luang Prabang now.... 'paradise' destroyed by the 'locusts'.

 

What to do?  The local international school in Luang Prabang asked me to teach at the school.

 

Then I got an email from Mandalay begging me to return to teach again.

 

What I don't want to do in my retirement is simply do nothing, get fat, drink beer and catch STDs from 'professional' woman.

 

What would you do?

You could try Nan, where I had a house built in a village outside. A great historic town centre with the famous temple paintings. Only in last few years has it got the 3 main supermarkets. A wonderful weekend street market. A few tourists, mainly Thai, and few farangs live and visit there. It's still very, very Thai but big enough for required amenities and a short hop to the hills, hill tribes and Laos border. Recommended to at least take a look as there are cheap but good bijou hotels there.

[newbee2022]

On 4/25/2025 at 6:54 PM, simon43 said:

nothing, get fat, drink beer and catch STDs from 'professional' woman.

I would stay away from getting fat, drink beer, or get STDs, and professional women.

Haven't the clue why you can't do it?

[LittleBear57]

I live in Thailand and I walk, swim cycle and go fishing in my spare time. It's true you have do something with your spare time. I am married to a Thai and have a daughter in school but if I wasn't I would give Vietnam a serious look. It has fantastic scenery and the North and central areas are noticeably cooler and less humid. You have to look at visa requirements and areas where expats live as you will need some company. It s not seedy either. And despite what you may hear it's not full of Chinese tourists or Russians. Da Nang would be a good place to start.

[CHdiver]

6 minutes ago, LittleBear57 said:

I would give Vietnam a serious look.

Do they have a longstay visa for retired people? I think not. But I fully agree with you, Vietnam, with a proper Visa, would be a good choice.

[Presnock]

20 hours ago, CHdiver said:

Now my friend, with all due respect but that is gobbledigook. How many years do retirement visa exist? How many times did the rule change so much that retired people have to leaf the country. Yes, the amount you need to stay has increased, you have to report every 90 days and then you have the hassle with the TM30. But the changes are very minimal. 

 

Visa changes are mostly for Tourist Visa or better the Entry without a visa. Somethimes it's 2 times a year, then only restricted on land borders but not airports and so on. There, the changes happen. But not with the retirement visas. So stop to worry. Think in solutions to your problems and don't create problems that do not really exist.

 

If you do not trust the Thai Banks with your 880k Baht, then use an agent. You told us your retirement income, you are getting enough to pay for that with ease. 

 

Move to Hua Hin or better Pranburi. Very nice place at the sea with good air (well as good as air can get in Thailand). Hundred of houses to rent, so you should have no problem to find a nice one. Fantastic natur, great beaches, good food, modern Hospitals and it does not stink at every corner of marihuana. Save from earthquakes too. 

If you qualify, just get an LTR and don't have to think about immigration and taxes for 10 years.  I did my 1st year visit and spent less than 10 minutes in immigration and don't have to visit banks or anywhere else.