I don't know much about the DTV and on what basis they qualified. But things now about settling here family or otherwise have made that more realistic. When I first started traveling to PRChina late 1980's I had to use traveler's checks and a short wave radio. Back in the US I had to find the last remaining teletype operator in SF Bay Area to communicate with the govt. people in Beijing.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by JerryM

1 hour ago, Wavel said:

The multi cultural society that the UK has become because of immigration can only be detrimental to British children.

-- All of you expatriates that only comment on the negative aspects and take some kind of personal pleasure in putting others down, I feel quite sorry for you.

Yeah - Sounds like everyone else has a problem.

The school kids of today are the kids with the least issues, they seem to accept all members of a multicultural society, its the older members of UK society who seem less tolerant, the older, the less intolerant.

6 hours ago, ronster said:

So renting out their property on Airbnb gets them a 5 year DTV ??

What makes you think that is the case?

6 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Stories like this advertising you can move your entire family to Thailand and start competing in the family housing market with Thais is going to breed resentment

Well, it's a good job that is not what happened in this case, then, isn't it?

I feel sorry for the kids. Good luck to them.

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

What makes you think that is the case?

Their lifestyle is funded partly by income from two flats and their family home in the UK, which are rented through Airbnb or to private tenants. They estimate the rentals bring in GBP2,500 a month and describe themselves as retired because the property work needs little day-to-day effort. 🙄

Good on them. Take a chance and have an adventure. Doesn't sound like they will have a problem if it goes belly up. Unlike a lot of people they haven't burnt their bridges.

They sound like pretty adaptable,imaginative entrepreneurial hardworking people .In spite of all the wingers on here , I'm pretty confident they will be able deal with whatever life throws at them...The "give up before it's too late" crowd on here is just embarrassing

12 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Having 2 kids guarantees them an income of 15,000 pounds a year back in the UK (child tax credit). No need for them to work.

Not if they are permanently residing overseas would they get child tax credit. Granted they have some properties but that's not enough these days to claim it.

19 hours ago, ronster said:

So renting out their property on Airbnb gets them a 5 year DTV ??

Meanwhile having lived here for 19 years I get to do the yearly joy of going to immigration to apply for a visa based on marriage to a Thai citizen.

My thoughts are the same..

I moved here in 2008 and just renewed/extended my marriage visa last week.

Same mountain of paperwork but this year they did drop the home visit.

21 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

They are thinking of themselves and not their children.

Appalling parenting.

Life experiences with a bit of home schooling will benefit the kids for a few years.

Given their property timeline ( from an Australian perspective) I can't see how the property's would not still be mortgaged and therefore most of the rent going to that, unless they've had some other kind of financial windfall like an inheritance or payout ?

Anyway half their luck if they can continue to pull it off ..

Edited August 26Aug 26 by UbonEagle

Not unexpectedly, much negativity here.

I wonder how many of these negative peoplehave packed up their life and moved to Thailand for a better life! Or perhaps this downer crowd are the ones who could never afford, or be brave enough, to escape a boring existence and now spend their days sniping at others.

The world has changed since most of us were young. In some countries, like Australia, housing has become unaffordable for average workers. Many will never be able to afford their own home. Jobs are no longer the permanent safety net they once were; you could find yourself unemployed at any time. Conservative governments are cutting back assistance for the needy in favor of tax breaks for the rich.

Not surprising people are hitting the road, or sea, with their kids for an affordable, exciting and happier life. A fully equipped, livable, van, truck or yacht are cheaper than tying yourself down with a never-ending house mortgage. Work is whenever and as whatever when needed.

On 8/25/2026 at 9:41 AM, Cenovis said:

Doing this for some years, why not. However in the long run, the property back home will need maintenance. A flat rented out over AirBnb will need renovation after some years, new furniture. The cost for upkeep will rise. At that point they will run out of money and have to go back. Finding a new job may be not so easy being years away from work.

Doing this for 3 or 4 years will be great. However, thinking they don't have to work anymore and retire, forget it. If that is the plan, better educate yourself about the social wellfaire back home.

On 8/25/2026 at 10:53 AM, worgeordie said:

Singapore and Malaysia , yes easy to get into , but I meant food,Hotels

and everything else is more expensive

regards worgeordie

They’re travelling round with a home base in Chiang Mai. Seems like they have their heads screwed on right.. Just makes me wish I’d retired a few years earlier , I travel a lot, and k I love it and would do it more. 73 now , not regretting, but hoping to travel round more . It’s my passion. Ps , love Malaysia, the Highlands, the islands, ( Tioman) Malacca and Singapore great for the best cocktail sundowners with great live music.

On 8/26/2026 at 9:25 AM, UbonEagle said:

Given their property timeline ( from an Australian perspective) I can't see how the property's would not still be mortgaged and therefore most of the rent going to that, unless they've had some other kind of financial windfall like an inheritance or payout ?

Anyway half their luck if they can continue to pull it off ..

I've seen stories like this all the time. Take everything claimed with a pinch of salt.

There's no onus on them to tell their full financial numbers - and we will never really know.

You see this sort of story coming out of the UK every year ... but usually in winter when the population is depressed when its cold and dark. This type of story will always get good visitor numbers in a dark cold winter, of a family claiming they are moving to the warm weathers of Thailand - AND YOU CAN DO IT TOO type nonsense.

Edited August 29Aug 29 by DonniePeverley