20 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Bhat is to high for its real value and it makes Thailand more expensive a destination for tourism. Cheating all over against the other foreigners living full time or just for a few months in winter. Harsh immigration red tape in Thailand that is pushing many retirees to leave and consider other countries in Asia. All the overcharging from anything to everything in house or condo maintenance or repair issues where the foreigner is always either overcharges or given poor quality work with unqualified labour and cheap materials used. All the harassment just for the foreigner bank accounts that get blocked every 6 months and each time a different excuse. The prices are far to high in Thailand in general and most of the goods sold in the Malls cost far cheaper in sunny towns of Europe. 

 

Places like Spain, Malta, or in the Caribean are getting far more cheaper compared to Thailand and are much closer for the european retirees. 

 

In fact still surprised that there are still people wanting to come to Thailand during the winter months. 

 

Another issue is the pollution, the smell of burning garbage all over popular beach towns like Hua Hin. And what about the beaches ? Who would dare swim in the sea in many beach towns ? When you see the cristaline clear and clean beaches in many European countries that are sunny and with good healthcare and low cost of living. 

Very detailed response and if the Thai  Govt tourist authorities still asks why tourists are diminishing after your explanation then they are brain dead!

Let me compare.Rigth now im in turkey. Arrived 1 am today.Here to finish my dentalwork. Dentalwork is cheaper then Thailand.When arrived airport houndreds of tourists wait at IMM.It took 15 minutes before i get my stamp because 20 IMO on duty.Working fast.Get 90 days visa without any questions.Just a smile and said welcome. My dentist driver took me to my hotel. 2 hour drive.The hotel is wery Nice.Included my dentalwork is free hotel..free food..free drinks.Just bougth sigaretts and its much cheaper then Thailand.I been to Thailand 76 times and never experience like this good service.Thailand have alot to learn from other countries that's tourist friendly.

15 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

 

Spain and Greece “Look at how they treat there (sic) tourists”.

You mean Spain and Greece whose inhabitants have been demonstrating this year with placards saying “Tourists not welcome here” and “Tourists go home “?

 

Not to mention spraying tourists with water in the street. 

 

Some places now charge tourists to enter the towns on a per visit basis.

1 hour ago, orchidfan said:

I travel out of LOS quite frequently and have never found the Immig/Govt. TDAC website not working. 

I have it saved as a favourite on my notebook browser(s) and it takes 5 minutes to fill in and submit. 

(Take a look at the Australian arrival card by comparison...more of a lengthy legal declaration!)

 

I've seen lots of 'reminders' on airline  and Travel companies (like TRIP) websites to submit this in the time frame.

I put a reminder alarm on my phone for 3 days before departure back to TH.

Have noticed that, on arrival, Imm never want to see the QR code they send, only your passport. 

Um, what has that got to do with my comment, you have left me scratch my head, to see any relevance.

40 minutes ago, norsurin said:

Let me compare.Rigth now im in turkey. Arrived 1 am today.Here to finish my dentalwork. Dentalwork is cheaper then Thailand.When arrived airport houndreds of tourists wait at IMM.It took 15 minutes before i get my stamp because 20 IMO on duty.Working fast.Get 90 days visa without any questions.Just a smile and said welcome. My dentist driver took me to my hotel. 2 hour drive.The hotel is wery Nice.Included my dentalwork is free hotel..free food..free drinks.Just bougth sigaretts and its much cheaper then Thailand.I been to Thailand 76 times and never experience like this good service.Thailand have alot to learn from other countries that's tourist friendly.

 

So you paid for dental work which includes paying for the hotel etc, so it was not free.

 

I arrived back in Thailand earlier this month, it took five minutes to get through immigration.

 

When I got to Phuket from Bangkok on a domestic flight, I got off the plane and at the end of a walkway was a member of Thai Airways holding a paper with my name and she was also calling my name.

 

I followed her and she took me all the way to the international baggage area, a few minutes later my two heavy bags arrived, a guy put them on a trolly for me with a smile and a sawadee clap.

 

I went to the taxi window and was in a taxi within five minutes, very cheap fixed price, (700 baht) the young driver was chatting all the way during the 40 minute drive, we had a laugh.

 

It was terrible, I will never come again. 😄

 

Be careful of cheap medical work in Turkey, they have been quite a number of documented medial procedure going wrong there, health is more important than saving a few quid.

39 minutes ago, geisha said:

There are many reasons for a fall in western tourists. Exchange rates , tho new tourists don’t bother with that. The building collapse near Chatuchak made world headlines for days. Sinkhole too. Very bad infrastructure, lack of safe walkways/pavements, you cannot cross a road safely ! In your face prostitution / trans thieves/ drugs on every corner do not attract families. Big article on soi 6 Pattaya with explicit photo/ film blurred out. Drunk tourists , the list goes on. 
Thailand needs a huge clean up !! Even Phuket has earned its bad reputation.

Thai government has no expertise in tourism except the useless TAT .

France is about the same population, has 100.000 tourists in 2024 and rising .   Seawater is clean with regular check results, everything for handicapped people, lifts, rooms, beaches with ramps and help into sea with staff. Proper pavements , clean kitchens and qualified staff who have actually had an education unlike Thai people. Spain, Italy, Austria, Scandinavian, Portugal doing very well . People are fed up of paying thousands to get to Thailand for what they are offering. Stay close to home, great holiday, save money.

    Western tourist numbers are not 'falling'--at least not British or US.  They are both up this year and will likely come close to matching the numbers from the record year of 2019.  The fall in tourist numbers this year is primarily from the Chinese.  

15 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

6. The girls are getting chubbier.

7. Thais are not smiling as much as they used to.

 IMO

6. The girls are getting chubbier. As an "old hand", but no longer active in the scene, I keep hearing everywhere: Being a bit chubbier really isn’t the problem these days. It’s more like this: The ladies are now real pros—you can hardly tell them apart from colleagues in the business worldwide.  That legendary Thai charm, gone. And one might add, getting expensive as well.........(item 7. : also true)

1 hour ago, greeneking said:

You say you have been well brought up and educated.

You have been a software engineer and are far from being illiterate with smart phones.

You are in a strong position to mock the cavemen who are less fortunate.

But you lack empathy.

 

They are not less fortunate at all, many choose not to have one as they believe the world is out to get them, to spy on them, to steal their money which became clear recently in a blog about the disappearance of the use of cash, they are just behind the times and stubborn.

 

Lots of them  were saying the rest of us who do use smartphones for banking etc are stupid as we do not know the dangers, they make me laugh. 

 

They are the ones with no empathy towards we who are up to date with tech.

 

I don't know anyone under 85 who does not know how to use a smart phone. 

Maybe they are about to reach their goal: only "quality tourists" remaining? 

6 minutes ago, newnative said:

    Western tourist numbers are not 'falling'--at least not British or US.  They are both up this year and will likely come close to matching the numbers from the record year of 2019.  The fall in tourist numbers this year is primarily from the Chinese.  

 

The reason for the rise is because the number of Chinese tourists are less than previous years.

 

How many times have we been walking down the street and suddenly surrounded by Chineses tourists talking to each other in very loud voices, well shouting at each other really. 

26 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

So you paid for dental work which includes paying for the hotel etc, so it was not free.

 

I arrived back in Thailand earlier this month, it took five minutes to get through immigration.

 

When I got to Phuket from Bangkok on a domestic flight, I got off the plane and at the end of a walkway was a member of Thai Airways holding a paper with my name and she was also calling my name.

 

I followed her and she took me all the way to the international baggage area, a few minutes later my two heavy bags arrived, a guy put them on a trolly for me with a smile and a sawadee clap.

 

I went to the taxi window and was in a taxi within five minutes, very cheap fixed price, (700 baht) the young driver was chatting all the way during the 40 minute drive, we had a laugh.

 

It was terrible, I will never come again. 😄

 

Be careful of cheap medical work in Turkey, they have been quite a number of documented medial procedure going wrong there, health is more important than saving a few quid.

Alot of foreigners here for dentalwork. Spesially brits.I paid about 420.000 thai baht all included.The prices in Thailand was 600.000 baht up.Im aware of the risk.Specially face and buttlifts here is not safe Anyway my own choice. 

2 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I went back to England for over five months from March to early September, I was shocked at the price of things.

 

I went to a restaurant, nothing flashy, two of us, we had a main meal, she had two cokes, I had a few beers, cost £110 (4730 baht).

 

Cigarettes £14.50 (623 baht), here 150 baht.

 

Litre of Vodka £22 (946 baht) ,Phuket 420 baht.

 

The price of food in supermarkets is at least twice what is here in Phuket.

 

It is dirt cheap in Thailand but the moaners who gather on this blog will keep on moaning about the country.

 

What sort of survey involves a few hundred people, it is more like a guess than a real survey.

 

I have had quite a few friends visit from the UK and they did not complain about the cheap prices here, they thought it was well cheap. 

 

Moaners of the world unite. 😄

 

 

Agreed, it can be a few quid going out for a 'normal' bar lunch, £25-£35 a head ( no alcohol ).

 

Going out for drinks, not much different than Thailand. Buying alcohol ( wine / beer ) at supermarkets much cheaper, much better choice.

 

Cigarettes are outrageous but i don't smoke.

 

Fuel is dear, hotels are dear ( especially for what you get ).

7 minutes ago, norsurin said:

Alot of foreigners here for dentalwork. Spesially brits.I paid about 420.000 thai baht all included.The prices in Thailand was 600.000 baht up.Im aware of the risk.Specially face and buttlifts here is not safe Anyway my own choice. 

 

I pull my own teeth out, well that is what it feels like when I am arguing with the missus. 🤣

12 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Agreed, it can be a few quid going out for a 'normal' bar lunch, £25-£35 a head ( no alcohol ).

 

Going out for drinks, not much different than Thailand. Buying alcohol ( wine / beer ) at supermarkets much cheaper, much better choice.

 

Cigarettes are outrageous but i don't smoke.

 

Fuel is dear, hotels are dear ( especially for what you get ).

 

I found England to be a lot more expensive than Thailand even Phuket on my five month visit in every respect.

6 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Um, what has that got to do with my comment, you have left me scratch my head, to see any relevance.

Apologies,  I thought I was just commenting on the topic, (nickcage49's comment), but it attached to yours!!!

 

Of course it's free and only takes a few minutes, as you are well aware. 

 

Some folk here like to highlight non issues, like the TDAC, double pricing? etc....never seen it in over 15years except one national park (big deal.. a few baht, and how many times do we visit these?)

TAXIS overpricing??.never seen. They have meters or can use GRAB etc. 

Hospitals? Same price as everyone else. I compared with other Thai customers at Payment counter. 

Hotels? Book online or Thai wife does the reception counter thing.

Same pricing as every other guest.

Food buying? Supermarkets prices fixed.

Fresh food vendors? Same as everyone else....often with a small discount. (I can hear what local Thais are paying for the same items next to me). Many also have prices marked on attached stickers. Same with night/day market clothing. ..prices marked already...3 for 100 or whatever. 

 

Scams? Zero for me!

 

Banking and account keeping?

Never a problem (BBL).

New mobile app a bit fiddly to install initially. 

Staff polite and helpful.

Some, enough, with good English.

Letter and statements for Imm. done in 5 minutes.

 

*Immigration? Annual extension for marriage.

A breeze. No unexpected or overly difficult hoops/traps to deal with .(so far!)

Money requirements no problem. 

Polite and (usually) helpful IO's and volunteers at submission time.

Compared to many other countries, pretty cheap and easy.

Trying getting a Thai wife into Australia permanently!!!

(Retirement being somewhat more onerous)

 

 

Only a couple of things I notice worth mentioning by affecting daily life are: ----

*supermarket and convenience store price inflation, (global?)

*overly strong Thai baht.

 

So,  lots of moaning about daily expat persecution, but most of it, IMO, just hot air.

 

 

 

27 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I pull my own teeth out, well that is what it feels like when I am arguing with the missus. 🤣

Dont need to figth u know. JUST agree we disagree.By the way i didnt do face or buttlifts. 

47 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

The reason for the rise is because the number of Chinese tourists are less than previous years.

 

How many times have we been walking down the street and suddenly surrounded by Chineses tourists talking to each other in very loud voices, well shouting at each other really. 

     Huh?  US and British tourist numbers have nothing to do with the numbers from other countries.  For example, British tourist numbers in 2019 were around 940,000 to 980,000, depending on the quoted source.  British tourist numbers in 2025 will likely reach or surpass 2019.  So, not 'falling', which is what I responded to.   Chinese numbers being up or down doesn't change British and American numbers being up.  China numbers in 2019 were around 11 million.  This year, definitely 'falling' in comparison.  

11 minutes ago, orchidfan said:

Apologies,  I thought I was just commenting on the topic, (nickcage49's comment), but it attached to yours!!!

 

Of course it's free and only takes a few minutes, as you are well aware. 

 

Some folk here like to highlight non issues, like the TDAC, double pricing? etc....never seen it in over 15years except one national park (big deal.. a few baht, and how many times do we visit these?)

TAXIS overpricing??.never seen. They have meters or can use GRAB etc. 

Hospitals? Same price as everyone else. I compared with other Thai customers at Payment counter. 

Hotels? Book online or Thai wife does the reception counter thing.

Same pricing as every other guest.

Food buying? Supermarkets prices fixed.

Fresh food vendors? Same as everyone else....often with a small discount. (I can hear what local Thais are paying for the same items next to me). Many also have prices marked on attached stickers. Same with night/day market clothing. ..prices marked already...3 for 100 or whatever. 

 

Scams? Zero for me!

 

Banking and account keeping?

Never a problem (BBL).

New mobile app a bit fiddly to install initially. 

Staff polite and helpful.

Some, enough, with good English.

Letter and statements for Imm. done in 5 minutes.

 

*Immigration? Annual extension for marriage.

A breeze. No unexpected or overly difficult hoops/traps to deal with .(so far!)

Money requirements no problem. 

Polite and (usually) helpful IO's and volunteers at submission time.

Compared to many other countries, pretty cheap and easy.

Trying getting a Thai wife into Australia permanently!!!

(Retirement being somewhat more onerous)

 

 

Only a couple of things I notice worth mentioning by affecting daily life are: ----

*supermarket and convenience store price inflation, (global?)

*overly strong Thai baht.

 

So,  lots of moaning about daily expat persecution, but most of it, IMO, just hot air.

 

 

 

 

If the topic is related to Thailand then there are scores of people waiting to be negative about it on this blog for some reason.

 

I, as have you, never had a problem with the things you stated above, is easy going here.

 

As I said earlier, I just spend over five months back home and found the price of things had really gone up, it reenforced the fact that things are dirt cheap in Thailand which is another positive point.

 

Rental prices for property is very expensive in England so I get a good return on the property I rent out, I spend the money here as it is part of my pension, yet another plus point for being in Thailand, plus it is a great country to be in.

I think both Thai and Foreigner who loves Thailand should be a little careful of what they post on socials this days ! All that small ammount of brawls , naked people trolling around , lady boys stealing necklace , small motorbike scams, couple of prostitute , et et  et et makes 0.1% on the 40 million visitors but it makes a lot of bad publicity .

So' post responsabile 😂😂😂

2 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

They are not less fortunate at all, many choose not to have one as they believe the world is out to get them, to spy on them, to steal their money which became clear recently in a blog about the disappearance of the use of cash, they are just behind the times and stubborn.

 

Lots of them  were saying the rest of us who do use smartphones for banking etc are stupid as we do not know the dangers, they make me laugh. 

 

They are the ones with no empathy towards we who are up to date with tech.

 

I don't know anyone under 85 who does not know how to use a smart phone. 

You can laugh some more then,

 

'In September 2025, the main issue with phone payments in Thailand is widespread concern over the recent freezing of over 3 million bank accounts, which has impacted users' access to funds.'

Businesses and people are choosing to avoid, where they even have a choice, phone payents and banking for fear of frozen accoubts.

1 hour ago, Marco100 said:

I think both Thai and Foreigner who loves Thailand should be a little careful of what they post on socials this days ! All that small ammount of brawls , naked people trolling around , lady boys stealing necklace , small motorbike scams, couple of prostitute , et et  et et makes 0.1% on the 40 million visitors but it makes a lot of bad publicity .

So' post responsabile 😂😂😂

Absolutely Marco

Always going to get the negative Nellie's 

Thailand's tourist industry is kind of doomed, at least as far as the quality segment is concerned. The more Chinese and Indian first-time visitors they attract, the less attractive Thailand becomes for repeat visits from Western countries. Then there's the strong baht and more choice, even close to Thailand. Hard to fix this time!

13 minutes ago, greeneking said:

You can laugh some more then,

 

'In September 2025, the main issue with phone payments in Thailand is widespread concern over the recent freezing of over 3 million bank accounts, which has impacted users' access to funds.'

Businesses and people are choosing to avoid, where they even have a choice, phone payents and banking for fear of frozen accoubts.

 

The  more realistic report should have been : 

 

Some businesses and people are choosing to avoid smart phone payments and banking for fear of frozen accounts, but that has been limited to greenking and his mates.

 

The tens of millions of other daily users have disregarded the article as attention grabbing  nonsense and have carried on using their iPhones. 

 

I can imagine someone going into a shop and buying something for 30,000 baht.

 

"Cash only",  says the business owner "else sod off."

 

Customer: "Why would I be dim enough to carry 30,000 baht with me when I could be mugged, I would rather use my encrypted smartphone, I will go next door to buy from a guy who does not wish to cut his own throat. "

 

The report continues: The 50+ million bank account users who's accounts were not frozen are very happy with the system as are billions of others around the world. 

 

I am surprised at what people believed when reading obvious rubbish. 😀

 

When I wish to get 500k baht from my English bank account do i have to get fly there and back to get a bag full of cash to bring back?

 

6 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

The  more realistic report should have been : 

 

Some businesses and people are choosing to avoid smart phone payments and banking for fear of frozen accounts, but that has been limited to greenking and his mates.

 

The tens of millions of other daily users have disregarded the article as attention grabbing  nonsense and have carried on using their iPhones. 

 

I can imagine someone going into a shop and buying something for 30,000 baht.

 

"Cash only",  says the business owner "else sod off."

 

Customer: "Why would I be dim enough to carry 30,000 baht with me when I could be mugged, I would rather use my encrypted smartphone, I be next door buying from a guy who wishes to cut his own throat. "

 

I am surprised at what people believed when reading obvious rubbish. 😀

 

Payment from his frozen account? Not so  popular.

We are not getting through to each other, but thanks for remaining polite while making so many posts today.

9 minutes ago, greeneking said:

Payment from his frozen account? Not so  popular.

We are not getting through to each other, but thanks for remaining polite

while making so many posts today.

 

No problem and most of my comments should not be taken seriously.👍

 

But should we stop using cars as the one we are in might break down so stay away from all of them so we will be safe?

3 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Not to mention spraying tourists with water in the street. 

 

I can already feel Songkran approaching. 😭

5 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

No problem and most of my comment should not be taken seriously.👍

 

But should we stop using cars as the one we are in might break down so stay away from all of them so we will be safe?

No. But we would have to think a lot if charging centers were closed after we had done the 'right ' thing.

1 minute ago, greeneking said:

No. But we would have to think a lot if charging centers were closed after we had done the 'right ' thing.

 

Such glitches are rare and are normally fixed quickly.

 

Plus we should never rely on one form of payment, I have a few debit cards, credit cards, ATM cards, bank apps from different banks just in case. 

 

Plus £2000 in cash at home, it has been in my bag for three years and I have never had to use any of it while in Thailand. 

2 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

Such glitches are rare and are normally fixed quickly.

 

Plus we should never rely on one form of payment, I have a few debit cards, credit cards, ATM cards, bank apps from different banks just in case. 

 

Plus £2000 in cash at home, it has been in my bag for three years and I have never had to use any of it while in Thailand. 

 

Very wise.

 

It is also a good idea to register TWO phones on your Wise and bank account, so if one phone gives up the ghost you're not left for days without the ability to access your accounts.

2 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Very wise.

 

It is also a good idea to register TWO phones on your Wise and bank account, so if one phone gives up the ghost you're not left for days without the ability to access your accounts.

 

Thanks, a good idea, I will do that tomorrow. 👍

 

The £2000 cash is to get me out of Thailand should visa rules suddenly changed due to a government takeover or whatever, it may be over the top thinking but it is better to be safe than sorry, so I think I will top it up to 3k just in case.