5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Do I have to watch a dull 25 minute video to understand that comment or is it a simple typo?

 

Watch the VDO. You're right. Dull.

 

I'll give you a break - go to about 18:20.

I do agree that some of Vagabond Awake's opinions are quirky at best, but as a subscriber of several years I think that overall there is a lot of value in his channel. But it helps a lot to know where he is coming from so you can filter his views better.

 

He started his world travel journey at a time when most of his wealth was wiped out by the market, so he had no choice but to become remarkably expert at frugality abroad to make his new life possible. He was also not near pension or social security age but he does have a rental property for income in the U.S.

 

So while the focus of the brand might seem to be only the "cheap" space for both retirees and slow travellers, etc. in reality there is alot more to it.

 

Because of so much slow travel for so many years, he does have deep knowledge about a very wide range of destination information that is rare and provides value to share. Basically almost everywhere all over the world that most western people would ever consider moving to. While personally I have travelled to a lot of places, I would never have the perspective to make comparisons with the authority of that channel. Also he always covers that more typical non frugality expats are more common than his approach, but still even spending a lot more, of course the places he picks generally provide much more bank for buck return than back in the west. 

 

As I said before, I disagree with him featuring Vietnam for retirement and I understand why he does that based on his POV. But I think most of the destinations he picks make quite a bit of sense, and quite often they are places that I have been.

 

Obviously I agree with him that Jomtien is underrated largely because of the Pattaya sex tourism stigma, and belongs at least among a rough group of best specific retire abroad destinations in the world. If not as high as 4th certainly in a higher tier.

 

As far as  Chiang Mai not being on his top 15 list, you can't ignore the burning season issue there. 

2 hours ago, Cameroni said:

Jomtien has terrible traffic.

 

Way too overrun with people, as it's too small a place for those hordes.

 

Shop signs in Cyrillic for the Russians.

 

Absymal quality beach, though the service is nice, you can lie there, but swimming not advised.

 

I don't see the attraction frankly with Jomtien. Sure it's cheap, but Chiang Mai is a lot cheaper. And it's bigger, way bigger, and not as overrun. Traffic not as bad. Better restaurant options.

I tried beach lounging at Jomtein Beach. Not relaxing at all. I kept getting approached, either for massages, guys doing those fake tattoos, some gay guy. It was just not comfortable. There was always something there that distracted from a quiet relaxing time.

 

Pattaya Beach was the same way, although it looks like there could be stretches up North where it may be possible to be left alone. I never got up that far to check it out.

 

I started lounging at the condo pool after that and never went back to the beach.

1 hour ago, Woke to Sounds said:

 

No, the guy who made the video misspoke and said 'from Koh Samui ... across the Gulf Of Mexico... is Hua Hin'

 

Brain f@rt for that guy.

Yes, obviously.

4 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Is it not the Gulf of America now?

I suspect that when Mr Nauseus started typing Gulf of...........Mexico automatically came up, and he didn't check what he was posting.

 

You suspect wrong, Inspector Clousseau.

 

The reference is a direct quote from this informative VDO.

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

The foreigners are the most dangerous. 

 

I'm never at ease riding around them 

 

Just total Bs. 

But to be expected from our resident.

 

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

Yes Thailand is a cheap detonation if you know how to manage your expenses and still live comfortly (relatively speaking)

But it is becoming increasingly hard and difficult to obtain retirement permits, open bank accounts and getting driving permits

as I hear from my lawyer friend, Thailand simply don't care for retirees any longer, they don't want them.

 

 

BOOM! 🤣

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

...

by long established popular youtuber Vagabond Awake.

This guy and his Malaysian model partner have been slow traveling most everywhere for many years now.

So they do have an informed opinion.

I do like that they (and others now) are making the important distinction between Pattaya and Jomtien.

I've never seen Naklua or the Dark Side mentioned on any similar global list.

That said, even though they target the retire abroad on a budget crowd, they have not actually done that. They're slow travelers.

So they don't put much value in long term visas for retirement.

Which explains why destinations in Vietnam are so high on their list.

In my view, because of the no visa situation there, Vietnam should not be on any retire abroad list.

But it's still good to see the appreciation of Jomtien.

 

 

 

So much development there right now, and unfortunate the water is still <deleted>, and Christmas last year was crowded. To crowded even we just stayed one night, we had enough, and headed down to Ban Chang instead. It reminded me of Benidorm to be honest, which is also a budget destination with hips of apartments and venues available inside a small area and no need for taxi or any other transportation. I would had chosen a 50m2 appartment in Benidorm instead of 70m2 appartment in Jomtien if I had to compare. 

20 minutes ago, Mark1969 said:

I tried beach lounging at Jomtein Beach. Not relaxing at all. I kept getting approached, either for massages, guys doing those fake tattoos, some gay guy. It was just not comfortable. There was always something there that distracted from a quiet relaxing time.

 

Pattaya Beach was the same way, although it looks like there could be stretches up North where it may be possible to be left alone. I never got up that far to check it out.

 

I started lounging at the condo pool after that and never went back to the beach.

 

Well, I was with a beautiful Thai girl, at the time, so that didn't bother me so much. I kinda liked the constant offers of food and drink. Good service.

17 minutes ago, Hummin said:

It reminded me of Benidorm to be hones

 

Yes, Pattaya definitely has Benidorm, Magalluf and El Arenal vibes. Market a bit nicer, but same same. Better Chinese and Thai restaurants of course.

 

Way too crowded, traffic is terrible

 

38 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

As far as  Chiang Mai not being on his top 15 list, you can't ignore the burning season issue there. 

 

How does that make sense? He put Bangkok on the list, which has terrible air all year round.

29 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Well, I was with a beautiful Thai girl, at the time, so that didn't bother me so much. I kinda liked the constant offers of food and drink. Good service.

You're in the right location then. For me that's distraction, not relaxation.

9 minutes ago, Mark1969 said:

You're in the right location then. For me that's distraction, not relaxation.

 

There was a lot of approaches by vendors, I get where you're coming from.

 

I just say no, it doesn't bother me so much.

59 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Just total Bs. 

But to be expected from our resident.

 

Just total BS.

 

I can reply with stupid comments to 😂

 

37 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

There was a lot of approaches by vendors, I get where you're coming from.

 

I just say no, it doesn't bother me so much.

I don't like having to say no constantly. Have fun.

Just now, SAFETY FIRST said:

Just total BS.

 

I can reply with stupid comments to 😂

 

 

That's fine.

We all know what you are.  

12 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Jomtien .. No thanks, been there, and no reason to return.  Add the stories about the Imm office there, oh Hell NO.

Cheaper to retire in Nowhereville, Lamphun Province.    

15 minutes ago, quake said:

That's fine.

We all know what you are.  

And we all know what you are. 

 

We all hope you get well soon. 

7 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I'm talking about the foreigners who arrive, VERY LITTLE MONEY, they just sit in their little apartment. Then they get on their warrior keyboards and start with nasty, hostile comments because they feel sorry for themselves. 

I know wealthy guys who sit in their opulent big apartments and "get on their warrior keyboards and start with nasty, hostile comments because they feel" superior to the rest of us who are economizing in Thailand. 

 You're just a sad Cheap Charlie.  Not like wealthy SAFETY FIRST!  

 What you don't understand is that economizing and thrift builds wealth.  Unlike you trust-fund babies who believe yourselves to be god's gift to the world.  Some of the saddest sots I've met in my life have been some of the wealthiest.  Bored, unhappy, and drinking and drugging themselves into oblivion. 

Just now, connda said:

I know wealthy guys who sit in their opulent big apartments and "get on their warrior keyboards and start with nasty, hostile comments because they feel" superior to the rest of us who are economizing in Thailand. 

 You're just a sad Cheap Charlie.  Not like wealthy SAFETY FIRST!  

 What you don't understand is that economizing and thrift builds wealth.  Unlike you trust-fund babies who believe yourselves to be god's gift to the world.  Some of the saddest sots I've met in my life have been some of the wealthiest.  Bored, unhappy, and drinking and drugging themselves into oblivion. 

Thanks for your stupid comment, we are looking forward to more of your antagonizm. 

 

Enjoy your miserable day. 

2 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

Yes, Pattaya definitely has Benidorm, Magalluf and El Arenal vibes. Market a bit nicer, but same same. Better Chinese and Thai restaurants of course.

 

Way too crowded, traffic is terrible

 

 

How does that make sense? He put Bangkok on the list, which has terrible air all year round.

Out of 29 Thai cities on my IQAir app, Bangkok is no. 27 showing 32 whatever it is!

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

Out of 29 Thai cities on my IQAir app, Bangkok is no. 27 showing 32 whatever it is!

 

Just walk around in Bang Na. You can hardly breathe. Year round.

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

 

Just walk around in Bang Na. You can hardly breathe. Year round.

OK, my app is wrong.

3 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

Just walk around in Bang Na. You can hardly breathe. Year round.

 

True that, lived there for 5 years, never a lung problem before. Had bronchitis twice there, quite nasty. If you cleaned the washing machine on the balcony from the black dust, three days later it would be back, and we were about 300 yards from the road

4 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

OK, my app is wrong.

 

Looks like it, Bang Na air quality on accuweather today:

 

Poor

The air has reached a high level of pollution and is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Reduce time spent outside if you are feeling symptoms such as difficulty breathing or throat irritation.

 

https://www.accuweather.com/en/th/bang-na/480025/air-quality-index/480025

10 hours ago, thesetat said:

790 a month is a meager existence. Small room, no drinking, eating out once a day, no memberships to anything. May as well lower the number and say 500 with that type of life. Confined to your room or sitting at the beach with a bottle of water every day. Then of course you would surely be alone all the time. I know a guy who was living on about 800 a month.. He went out once a month to girlie bars. Ate at buffets once a day..Always miserable, always begging or using others to buy him drinks and ask him to parties. The girls he brought home from the bars, always disappeared after the first night together. They did not want anything to do with him. Mediocre life if living on such a small sum monthly in Jomtien.

The alternative?

Living in farang land on the same money  !

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Yes Thailand is a cheap detonation if you know how to manage your expenses

Just be careful it doesn't blow up in your face. 555

1 hour ago, georgegeorgia said:

The alternative?

Living in farang land on the same money  !

That isn't even enough to be HOMELESS in the U.S.!

Also that particular video is a few years old.

Vagabond guy would say 1000 is the bare minimum for Jomtien now.

2 hours ago, connda said:

Cheaper to retire in Nowhereville, Lamphun Province.    

Yeah but with 99 percent fewer amenities than Jomtien. 

Jomtien isn't Pattaya.

Most retirees are going to prefer the "suburban" vibe of Jomtien to Pattaya.

13 hours ago, Cameroni said:

 

Just walk around in Bang Na. You can hardly breathe. Year round.

 

yeah, too bad.

some people still choose bangkok to retire due to all the restaurants and more stuff going on.

any chance they will push people into EVs in the next 5 years to clean up that air?