Taking The Plunge

[-noodles-]

Hi all, i am planning to move to Thailand later this year on a 12mth non-imm O visa.

I am trying to get organised and thinking about what i will need to take with me and what i can get once i'm there.

I think the main things i will take are my laptop, motorbike helmet, camera, electrical adaptors and formal qualifications.

Do any ex-pats here send a lot of their stuff over with them by container or do you do it light and only take over your 35kg of check in luggage and then buy your stuff over there?

Is there anything important i've forgotten to pack?

I have all my internet banking stuff sorted out and will get my mail diverted.

Is my budget for initially getting set up realistic?

40,000 buy a bike

60,000 rent for 6 mths

30,000 furniture, homewares

? health insurance for 6 mths

30,000 mobile phone & internet connection for 6 mths

Are there any other costs i should factor in?

Thanks for any advice. I know there's a lot of threads on the cost of living in Thailand but i'm more interested in the costs of getting set up when you first arrive with the intention to stay for at least 12 mths.

Edited June 28, 2008 by transit

[-noodles-]

sorry just realised this should be in ex-pats

[bratpack]

Internet 2mb about 1000 per month so you are spending 24,000 on a mobile.Private medical about 15,0000 baht for a year of decent cover.10,000 per month rent seems ok but maybe a bit low depending what you want.If you go for a fully furnished then maybe you will save the 30,000 baht too.Betetr be like you than no money.

[saorsa]

I travel a lot to places around the world with work and one of the things i never leave without is a multisocket on a cable, that way, you only need one adaptor to plug in 4 items. worth it's weight in gold for me.

I am moving to thailand in 4 days myself, but will be working offshore when i am not there, so my budget was bit better. I am paying 25k a month for a 1 bed condo in central pattaya which is fully furnished and has wireless internet. Buy a thai sim card for your mobile to keep costs down. I keep 2 phones, one UK that is on wherever i am working and one for whatever country i am in to keep costs for local calls down.

It's a good idea to take out a few credit cards before you head here and then you have them sitting for emergencies. I keep 4 UK credit cards on the go, but try not to use them, so then I have about £20000 I can get my hands on easily if it all goes wrong, or i dont get work for a while.

ALso, you will probably have seen in other threads, open up a Nationwide bank account as they dont charge for taking money out at ATMs. I just started the process of opening one now.

Regarding bringing stuff over, I got quoted £1000 to send over 1 m3 of posessions from Sweden and that didnt include import tax, so I gave away most of my stuff. I am bringing about 50kg plus 20kg of hand luggage, so will send 20kg with travelcargo (SAS cargo setup) and take the rest as checked luggage to keep costs down. the 20kg is books that I just cant live without!

Edited June 28, 2008 by saorsa

[sweetchariot]

I sent alot of stuff over, as I couldn't bear the thought of not having all my personal things - old photos, CD's etc. This then snowballed into 1/2 a container shipment which cost about £2,000 all in (including around 7,000 import duty). Some of the stuff was useful, some is still in boxes in a spare room after nearly 3 years.

In hindsight I could have packed what I needed in a 3rd suitcase and paid the excess baggage. Don't bother bringing furniture as it's so cheap out here, and most rented places will be furnished anyway. Electricals are about the same price, if not more expensive.

Saorosa's idea about multi plugs is a good one. I brought 4 sets of 4 gang extensions, which are scattered all over the house and saved alot of hassle, also good when I have guests from the UK who want to charge their phone, use a hairdryer etc.

Your budget seems reasonable, the rent will only get you a small condo, or a very small house depending on where you want to stay.

You don't say where you are coming from, but if you are a Brit then pack some teabags and Oxo cubes.

[saorsa]

You don't say where you are coming from, but if you are a Brit then pack some teabags and Oxo cubes.

<deleted> the teabags and oxo cubes...Marmite is what you need to bring. I am bringing 4 squeezy bottles courtesy of my mum who lives in Scotland still! Cant not have marmite and bacon pieces for brekkie with a hangover....someone please tell me you can get bacon in Tescos!!

[saorsa]

Forgot, TV is pretty pants in thailand (mythbusters dubbed into thai doesnt work well), so maybe think about buying an external hard drive and go to piratebay website and download your favourite tv shows and movies. easy way to take lots of stuff to watch. Of course, if you have a decent webcon, you can download them as and when you want them, but I like to have a store for when i cant get web access.

[sweetchariot]

You don't say where you are coming from, but if you are a Brit then pack some teabags and Oxo cubes.

<deleted> the teabags and oxo cubes...Marmite is what you need to bring. I am bringing 4 squeezy bottles courtesy of my mum who lives in Scotland still! Cant not have marmite and bacon pieces for brekkie with a hangover....someone please tell me you can get bacon in Tescos!!

American streaky crap. Try Friendship or Foodland for proper english back bacon.

Another one I ask friends and family to bring is Heinz salad cream. You can get it sometimes, but it's bloody expensive.

[saorsa]

I take it I havent a chance in hel_l for Irn-Bru though!

Had it again for first time in over a year when I joined a scottish ship off Norway...Irn-Bru and Regal Kingsize...splendid breakfast!

[sweetchariot]

I take it I havent a chance in hel_l for Irn-Bru though!

Had it again for first time in over a year when I joined a scottish ship off Norway...Irn-Bru and Regal Kingsize...splendid breakfast!

No chance. No Regal either

[JetsetBkk]

American streaky crap. Try Friendship or Foodland for proper english back bacon...

Heh, heh! I love the way the Thai bacon is packaged - just a small transparent window in the front showing the edge with the meat, and no window in the back so you can't see the edge with all the fat. These "tricks" were outlawed in the west decades ago, I believe.

[JSixpack]

I am trying to get organised and thinking about what i will need to take with me and what i can get once i'm there.

You'll find this thread helpful, though much of it is wasted in off-topic loops:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...amp;hl=shopping

[icequeen]

Also I would check the baggage allowance on your flight. Airlines are a lot stricter nowadays and many have also reduced baggage allowances and they don't always tell you. When I flew here in February two days before my flight I called the booking agent to check a few things and found out the baggage allowance had been reduced from 30k to 20k.

[begsaresponse]

You have no chance for Iron Bru, haggis,black pudding,white pudding,fruit pudding.Deep fried mars bars etc. Can get mars bars ok.

Well you can get black pudding but its crap! Go to Nettos or ALDI LIDL. Buy several black puds and bring them over. Same if you like the other stuff. But if you do this will send you weight through the roof. But if you come one way busines class give you more luggage allowance.

[Basil B]

You have no chance for Iron Bru, haggis,black pudding,white pudding,fruit pudding.Deep fried mars bars etc. Can get mars bars ok.

Well you can get black pudding but its crap! Go to Nettos or ALDI LIDL. Buy several black puds and bring them over. Same if you like the other stuff. But if you do this will send you weight through the roof. But if you come one way busines class give you more luggage allowance.

Don't know for certain, but I think there is a ban on bringing certain food stuff like meat in to LOS?

Worth checking before you do so, if you get caught with half a dozen Black Puds & a brace of Haggis the fines could be harsh.

BB

[PattayaParent]

Hi all, i am planning to move to Thailand later this year on a 12mth non-imm O visa.

I am trying to get organised and thinking about what i will need to take with me and what i can get once i'm there.

I think the main things i will take are my laptop - Handy to bring your own as you won't have the set up charges of a new one and won't have to buy a portable hard drive to carry your porn on, motorbike helmet - don't bother, nobody wears them here, camera - OK will fit in your pocket unless you're David Bailey, electrical adaptors - no need everything here works fine on the Brit system and formal qualifications - don't bother get them down Khao San Road like everyone else..

[-noodles-]

Internet 2mb about 1000 per month so you are spending 24,000 on a mobile.Private medical about 15,0000 baht for a year of decent cover.10,000 per month rent seems ok but maybe a bit low depending what you want.If you go for a fully furnished then maybe you will save the 30,000 baht too.Betetr be like you than no money.

thanks for the info, i wasn't too sure of internet costs or health insurance.

It looks like i can cut down on phone costs as i'd probably spend about 1-2,000 a month on mobile calls.

Cheers for the advice saorsa. Yes i have a 'multisocket on a cable' (we call them power boards here in Oz ) on my list of stuff to bring but i think i'll now bring more than one along as suggested by sweetchariot. You've both also helped convince me to not ship any stuff over and just rely on my 35kg allowance to bring essentials.

Thanks for the link JSixpack, the only thing i would probably bring is a jar of vegemite but i'm sure it can be found in LOS -- although i won't be bringing marmite, oxo cubes or tea bags!

My flight is with Air Asia from Australia to KL and then on to Bangkok. I have paid a little more and requested the max baggage amount of 35kg. I will bring my backpack, a suitcase and for carry on, one of those hard case mini suitcases.

Thanks PattayaParent, yes i will bring my new laptop with me and have transferred all my data over. I will also have an external USB powered HDD with my porn collection and mp3's. I'm in 2 minds about bringing my bike helmet as its a good quality AGV full face helmet more suited to road riding. I would like a decent helmet though and may bring an off road moto-cross style helmet instead.

[sotsira]

Don't forget to budget for Electric & Water monthly bills,

UBC sattelite TV is 1500 - 2000bt per month + installation and deposit another 6000bt.

Internet is about 1000bt per month incl phone line rental.

Then you need to budget for food and social life costs which depend on your appetite.

It's not worth shipping a container over, too costly, just bring your essentials and buy everything you need over here.

You probably still have to leave and re-enter Thailand every 90 days at a cost of about 2000bt each time if your near a border like Cambodia otherwise the cost is higher.

I would say 40-50,000bt per month should cover your expenses.

Edited June 29, 2008 by sotsira

[whatchamacallit]

Try Friendship or Foodland for proper english back bacon.

...those very thick, tasteless and hard to chew shoe leather????? Yuk, gimme the Smoked-maple-syrup-flavored (streaky) American bacon anytime man!!!!!!!!!!

[Tammi]

Get Skype for your long distance phone calls. Better to buy phone or headphone in Oz so's you get what you want.

Porn? I would trash it. But up to you.

[-noodles-]

Don't forget to budget for Electric & Water monthly bills,

UBC sattelite TV is 1500 - 2000bt per month + installation and deposit another 6000bt.

Internet is about 1000bt per month incl phone line rental.

Then you need to budget for food and social life costs which depend on your appetite.

It's not worth shipping a container over, too costly, just bring your essentials and buy everything you need over here.

You probably still have to leave and re-enter Thailand every 90 days at a cost of about 2000bt each time if your near a border like Cambodia otherwise the cost is higher.

I would say 40-50,000bt per month should cover your expenses.

excellent info, thanks for that. I am hoping to have an average budget of about 1,500-2,000 baht a day which would include visa runs.

Get Skype for your long distance phone calls. Better to buy phone or headphone in Oz so's you get what you want.

Porn? I would trash it. But up to you.

I was hoping to get myself sorted out with a VOIP service once i have my internet connected so won't require a skype phone, just a normal one.... just kidding about the porn -- it was said tongue in cheek

[LennyW]

Don't forget to budget for Electric & Water monthly bills,

UBC sattelite TV is 1500 - 2000bt per month + installation and deposit another 6000bt.

Internet is about 1000bt per month incl phone line rental.

Then you need to budget for food and social life costs which depend on your appetite.

It's not worth shipping a container over, too costly, just bring your essentials and buy everything you need over here.

You probably still have to leave and re-enter Thailand every 90 days at a cost of about 2000bt each time if your near a border like Cambodia otherwise the cost is higher.

I would say 40-50,000bt per month should cover your expenses.

excellent info, thanks for that. I am hoping to have an average budget of about 1,500-2,000 baht a day which would include visa runs.

Get Skype for your long distance phone calls. Better to buy phone or headphone in Oz so's you get what you want.

Porn? I would trash it. But up to you.

I was hoping to get myself sorted out with a VOIP service once i have my internet connected so won't require a skype phone, just a normal one.... just kidding about the porn -- it was said tongue in cheek

If you go and see Faz at the Highlander bar in soi Skaew Beach you can get regal king size and irn bru, no black pud like, but yorkies black pud as good as any but expensive!!

[expat123]

Download VOIP discount which allows you free calls in Thailand and abroad. Other than skype, it's the best service and will help your wallet infinitely.

http://www.voipdiscount.com/en/index.html

[bernie66]

You have thought way too much about this. There is nothing you cannot buy there. You should brown bag it. Anything you cannot carry on your back will become perishable when you leave as it is ridiculously expensive to ship your crap back out. Don’t even think about bringing a nice helmet. It will get stolen in under a week.

[expat123]

You have thought way too much about this. There is nothing you cannot buy there. You should brown bag it. Anything you cannot carry on your back will become perishable when you leave as it is ridiculously expensive to ship your crap back out. Don't even think about bringing a nice helmet. It will get stolen in under a week.

You can bring any helmet you like as long as you attach to the underside of your seat or in a little lockable boot on the back. No worries about the helmet being stolen as long as they don't steal the entire bike!!

[sotsira]

Download VOIP discount which allows you free calls in Thailand and abroad. Other than skype, it's the best service and will help your wallet infinitely.

http://www.voipdiscount.com/en/index.html

Does this service work from Thailand to call the UK for free?

[expat123]

Download VOIP discount which allows you free calls in Thailand and abroad. Other than skype, it's the best service and will help your wallet infinitely.

http://www.voipdiscount.com/en/index.html

Does this service work from Thailand to call the UK for free?

Yes.

[sotsira]

Download VOIP discount which allows you free calls in Thailand and abroad. Other than skype, it's the best service and will help your wallet infinitely.

http://www.voipdiscount.com/en/index.html

Does this service work from Thailand to call the UK for free?

Yes.

Ok, thanks for that, I'll give it a try

[pattaya_girl]

Dont forget the daddies sauce (brown sauce) and decent pens for writing.

[farangtingtong]

Hi all, i am planning to move to Thailand later this year on a 12mth non-imm O visa.

I am trying to get organised and thinking about what i will need to take with me and what i can get once i'm there.

I think the main things i will take are my laptop, motorbike helmet, camera, electrical adaptors and formal qualifications.

Do any ex-pats here send a lot of their stuff over with them by container or do you do it light and only take over your 35kg of check in luggage and then buy your stuff over there?

Is there anything important i've forgotten to pack?

I have all my internet banking stuff sorted out and will get my mail diverted.

Is my budget for initially getting set up realistic?

40,000 buy a bike

60,000 rent for 6 mths

30,000 furniture, homewares

? health insurance for 6 mths

30,000 mobile phone & internet connection for 6 mths

Are there any other costs i should factor in?

Thanks for any advice. I know there's a lot of threads on the cost of living in Thailand but i'm more interested in the costs of getting set up when you first arrive with the intention to stay for at least 12 mths.

It's hard to say what you'd need for a set up. If you only stay for 12 months, don't bother the bike (rent it), the houseware (eat on the street), the furniture (rent furnished), health insurance (keep your health insurance which you're using now, or take a permanent travel insurance), buy a Samsung dual sim telephone and use a mobile internet provider (THB 500/month for 250 hours AIS). The phone cost approx. THB 9,000.

I took my stuff (5 years ago) in 2 boxes and 2 mountainbike in a cardboard box; total weight 135 kgs and volume 0.83 m3 for Euro 300. Did send it by air from AMS to BKK by China Air. What did I take: personal stuff and stuff I thought that's hard to get: photo's, videocamera, laptop, some books, insurance and pension papers, clothes, towels, some pottery, cd's.

Don't forget that you might have to pay (for longstayers): 2 times deposit + 1 month rent in advance. In case of THB 10,000, that's THB 30,000 and not the expected THB 10,000. Of course, when you're a good boy, you'll get your deposit back -/- electric + water usage.

So, all in all I should think that you might need for the first year housing, transport, logistics, communication approx. THB 250,000 - THB 300,000. Food, beverages, going out NOT included.