Yeah I do hope to check out Iloilo.

I have been to Dumaguete even though years ago, I know it's not for me. So it's true, you never know until you go.

Always an option, though expensive, I'm sure I could easily be happy in the bubble of BGC -- Manila.

Siem Reap, Kampot and Battambang are AIs top 3 cheap, safe locales in Cambodia.

Cambodia offers very easy TEMPORARY visas for retirees but no security either as they can change the rules any moment. Also the health care situation remains POOR, which is a major issue for older people.

AI picks for top 3 southern Thailand beach cities that are cheap with gyms.

1 Chumphon

2 Prachuap

3 Songkhla

No Hua Hin or Cha-am or Ban Krut. Later be too small. Cha-am lacking in gyms. HH must be more expensive.

There are some benefits to the way it's set up.

Some countries will grant you permanent residency and even citizenship if you live there many years, but some of these countries also require you to renounce your original citizenship.

9 hours ago, Jingthing said:

This video suggests that it is.

I agree with the thesis though I don't necessarily agree there is bad intent in the policies.

I have been saying for decades that the problem with the Thailand retirement visa program is a complete lack of residency security.

Someone here 30 years has no more status than a new guy fresh off the plane.

To me, that doesn't seem morally right.

Yet, aware of all that, I stay, and so do countiess others who may or may not be as aware of this ticking time bomb.

I lasted five minutes before shutting out the whining.

Marcus's situation is unfortunate, but that's nothing to do with the Thai government. Everything that happened was his own choice.

No one forced him to go to Thailand to seek out an unsuitable woman, then to leave himself at her mercy by moving to the middle of nowhere.

What about personal responsibility?

The OP is probably worried, as he has no one to look after his interests as he becomes less capable.

These are all things for which you need to plan for and to put into place.

Build relationships and protect your assets, in so they can work for you. You cannot expect the government to be your loved ones. You need to create that environment for yourself.

Many have a lifestyle envied by many around the world, in Thailand, but they still complain and demand more.

They can always head back to their home countries if they are unhappy...or just accept that everything in life has caveats.

It's not as if old people in other countries are all having a great time of it. Enjoy your life now instead of worrying about things you cannot change.

I'd live in Ban Krut if they had better pharmacies and a mall. Nicest people in Thailand. The only good pharmacy is 20km away in Bang Saphan Yai. BSY is a better city but no real beaches for 8km. But they have 2 gyms, good cheap pharmacies and barbers.

46 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Don't retire there then.

It is a good thing to keep your solids flexible, and not spend it all or root it to well.

25 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Ai pick

Dumaguete City is frequently ranked as the safest city in the country and is a top choice for retirees and solo travelers. Known as the "City of Gentle People," it offers a calm, university-town atmosphere with a very low cost of living.

Baguio is the best option if you prefer a cooler climate. Located in the mountains of Northern Luzon, it is a popular refuge from the tropical heat and maintains a reputation for being a safe, honest city.

Best island

Siquijor is a small island province in the Central Visayas often referred to as the "Island of Fire." It is widely regarded as one of the safest destinations in the country due to its quiet, community-oriented atmosphere and very low crime rate.

Dumaguete was actually on my list, but once you evaluate all the options, Thailand still comes out as the best and easiest place for a European to retire. Direct flights back home are one of my main criteria, and Thailand also makes extensions relatively easy if you live in the right place and have what is required.

That said, I do have a few concerns. The first is pollution. The second is the heat. The third is paying tax without getting anything meaningful in return, no guarantees for long-term stay, no real security, and no healthcare rights to speak of. The fourth is the future: which direction the Thai government will take, and what that may eventually mean for people like us.

If things were ever to shift in the same direction we now see in the US, then we already know how weak our position could become if they decide they have a reason to act against us.

7 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

I'd live in Ban Krut if they had better pharmacies and a mall. Nicest people in Thailand. The only good pharmacy is 20km away in Bang Saphan Yai. BSY is a better city but no real beaches for 8km. But they have 2 gyms, good cheap pharmacies and barbers.

It is a lovely stretch from Pranburi down to Chumphon, with plenty of good options along the way.

2 minutes ago, Hummin said:

It is a good thing to keep your solids flexible, and not spend it all or root it to well.

Dumaguete was actually on my list, but once you evaluate all the options, Thailand still comes out as the best and easiest place for a European to retire. Direct flights back home are one of my main criteria, and Thailand also makes extensions relatively easy if you live in the right place and have what is required.

That said, I do have a few concerns. The first is pollution. The second is the heat. The third is paying tax without getting anything meaningful in return, no guarantees for long-term stay, no real security, and no healthcare rights to speak of. The fourth is the future: which direction the Thai government will take, and what that may eventually mean for people like us.

If things were ever to shift in the same direction we now see in the US, then we already know how weak our position could become if they decide they have a reason to act against us.

Why I asked AI for southern beach cities. North is polluted.

Songkhla seemed nice but a bit muslim. Prachuap and Chumphon are decent. Chumphon has an indoor 10 baht gym. Airport, train, beaches north and south.

2 minutes ago, Hummin said:

It is a lovely stretch from Pranburi down to Chumphon, with plenty of good options along the way.

Pranburi has a great gym called TD gym near train station. The beach area is very quiet and cheap too. 25 baht coconut opposite the beach.

Ban Krut and Saphan are great towns but small. Lacking a mall. Ban Krut has a small inland gym 50 baht. Saphan 2 bigger gyms 100 baht.

Prachuap is ok. Only 1 good beach area though Ao Manao. The other beaches are no good. I went to Ao Manao gym 60 baht not bad. In town 50 baht but small.

I looked at Saphli beach. Super nice area but no gym.

7 hours ago, simon43 said:

I'm finding it hard to understand how some CDs are worth more than half a million dollars.....

But regardless of what value you place on them, they are virtually worthless to your heirs. Why collect so much? You can't take them with you when you die.

So true. Never seen a tow bar on a hearse.

5 hours ago, Summerinsiam said:

Although he pretends otherwise, the most bitter youtuber is the one who recently returned home.

Mr Jon is in Penang, he is not Ai nor is his material. He has posted some very interesting uploads recently on scams, Thai Stockmarket and corruption. Some of it may be defamation and one comment he made about an important person was very risky. If I were him I would not be coming back to Chiang Mai.

Just now, visalady said:

Mr Jon is in Penang, he is not Ai nor is his material. He has posted some very interesting uploads recently on scams, Thai Stockmarket and corruption. Some of if is defamation and one comment he made about an important person was very risky. If I were him I would not be coming back to Chiang Mai.

Yoi got the wrong one. I was not refering to him.

2 minutes ago, Summerinsiam said:

Yoi got the wrong one. I was not refering to him.

Who is it?

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

Why I asked AI for southern beach cities. North is polluted.

Songkhla seemed nice but a bit muslim. Prachuap and Chumphon are decent. Chumphon has an indoor 10 baht gym. Airport, train, beaches north and south.

My experience with Muslims in the south has been very positive. I found people polite, friendly, and respectful, and I never had a bad experience while living in Krabi and Trang or travelling through southern Thailand. From what I have seen, crime against both Western tourists and expats also appeared to be very low, if present at all.

So what is it that makes you dislike Muslims in Thailand?

2 minutes ago, Hummin said:

My experience with Muslims in the south has been very positive. I found people polite, friendly, and respectful, and I never had a bad experience while living in Krabi and Trang or travelling through southern Thailand. From what I have seen, crime against both Western tourists and expats also appeared to be very low, if present at all.

So what is it that makes you dislike Muslims in Thailand?

Boring culture. Loud mosques. Songkhla seems a nice city but the beach was so windy.

Ban Krut much more calm.

9 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

I've seen his videos before. The guy is a clown. His balls have still not dropped and he is so dumb he can't pronounce baht. It is just clickbait crap to boost his income like most Youtubers. You can learn more from AI in 2 minutes than watching any of his crappy videos. Sadly none of the farang Youtubers based in Thailand are any good. The best ones are all Thai.

Most of what you've said is true but he does his homework and has gathered the stats. There are some uncomfortable truths but far more fallacies. He contradicts himself from one sentence to the next like nobody I've listened to before. His videos all have the same angle: he knew the deal when he moved here and now wants the immigration department to bend to his will. We all know the deal when we come here. Accept it or do the required work to become a citizen. This guy just whinges. The mispronounced 'baht' might be an indication of how much effort he's put in to learning the language.

Just now, Rockyroad said:

Who is it?

The bloke who lived in Surin. He banged on endlessly aboit going home to get a job, and now when home says he will be coming back. For someone who lives online, its amazing that he did not research the current cost of living in the UK, and the employment market.

1 minute ago, Summerinsiam said:

The bloke who lived in Surin. He banged on endlessly aboit going home to get a job, and now when home says he will be coming back. For someone who lives online, its amazing that he did not research the current cost of living in the UK, and the employment market.

The farmer guy with a Thai wife?

Just now, Rockyroad said:

The farmer guy with a Thai wife?

No, not him. The guy who reads stories about thai women ripping off foreigners.

2 minutes ago, Summerinsiam said:

No, not him. The guy who reads stories about thai women ripping off foreigners.

Don't know him. The farmer guy is ok.

3 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Still sounds as good as most anything, plus the car sound system handles them well.

Haven't seen a cd player in a modern car for quite a few years.

5 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Haven't seen a cd player in a modern car for quite a few years.

5 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Not a usual installation now but a custom one. I have to rent cars quite a few years old when I return to visit family in Texas, as I usually bring a box of CD's with me so I have something to listen to besides the usual radio repetitions.

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Not a usual installation now but a custom one. I have to rent cars quite a few years old when I return to visit family in Texas, as I usually bring a box of CD's with me so I have something to listen to besides the usual radio repetitions.

Last 2 cars I rented cd player did not work.

21 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Pranburi has a great gym called TD gym near train station. The beach area is very quiet and cheap too. 25 baht coconut opposite the beach.

Ban Krut and Saphan are great towns but small. Lacking a mall. Ban Krut has a small inland gym 50 baht. Saphan 2 bigger gyms 100 baht.

Prachuap is ok. Only 1 good beach area though Ao Manao. The other beaches are no good. I went to Ao Manao gym 60 baht not bad. In town 50 baht but small.

I looked at Saphli beach. Super nice area but no gym.

Anything is better than living in a city or a village, and while a home gym is great, I still have to admit I miss the social aspect of going to one regularly. Walking on the beach and seeing the same people almost every morning is also a great way to start the day, before the sun gets too high and the heat settles in.

Those are the two things I miss most about Hua Hin. The restaurants are nice too, but after a while you get tired of the same places, which is why they are better appreciated when we visit now and then.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

That's always a given.

But this is about the stuff that can happen before that.

As people age they are typically in some kind of decline.

The last thing such people need is residence insecurity.

Yes of course staying home totally solves that.

But there are many global choices for retirement expatriation.

Thailand's program offers NO such security.

It's easy to minimize what that might mean or feel like until it actually hits you.

Potential retired expats here should at the least be strongly warned about this deficiency and how incredibly serious it can become over time.

The video is one way of doing that.

There are always people on this forum who are in the stages of CONSIDERING Thailand as an option.

Such a warning is way too late for people like me!

Well I must confess to being somewhat tongue in cheek. I had a brush with mortality Thursday before Sonkran. Riding home on Yamaha San's little Asian buzz around I had a mini stroke and crashed into a pond. I woke up Friday afternoon, battered, bruised and tied to a bed whilst being intubated to clear out my lungs. There are those who might get excited at the thought of being tied to a bed by Thai nurses, I can assure you it is not all that you might think. Anyway, the rescue foundation chaps were brilliant - they tracked down my daughter on Facebook and brought her to hospital - everything, down to the last Baht was meticulously documented and turned over to my daughter! The Hospital was professional and thorough, equal certainly to any in the UK National Health Service.

Anyway, I digress, but perhaps you will understand my little Eeyore moment!

7 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Anything is better than living in a city or a village, and while a home gym is great, I still have to admit I miss the social aspect of going to one regularly. Walking on the beach and seeing the same people almost every morning is also a great way to start the day, before the sun gets too high and the heat settles in.

Those are the two things I miss most about Hua Hin. The restaurants are nice too, but after a while you get tired of the same places, which is why they are better appreciated when we visit now and then.

The guy who owns the gym in Ban Krut is super nice but having several options is better.

Pranburi has a nice German restaurant, several gyms and close to Hua Hin. The southern beach bay area is super nice.

I really like Ao Manao. Bit annoying having to sign in.

42 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Pranburi has a great gym called TD gym near train station. The beach area is very quiet and cheap too. 25 baht coconut opposite the beach.

Ban Krut and Saphan are great towns but small. Lacking a mall. Ban Krut has a small inland gym 50 baht. Saphan 2 bigger gyms 100 baht.

Prachuap is ok. Only 1 good beach area though Ao Manao. The other beaches are no good. I went to Ao Manao gym 60 baht not bad. In town 50 baht but small.

I looked at Saphli beach. Super nice area but no gym.

I think the availability of a gym would be very low on the list of someone considering retiring......anywhere.

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Go there for a month and see for yourself. You can't trust the opinions of others. Ask AI what the 3 best places are there based on your own criteria then go to them.

I would rather trust the opinions of people who I know have first-hand experience of a subject than so called AI!