Moving To Thailand From Chilly London To Work

[bharr]

Hi All

I'm moving to Koh Chang is less than 2 weeks to begin working. I will be there initially for 3 months with the option of working there indefinitely. Work has arranged travel and visas.

My main concern at the moment is what to bring. I have 23kg baggage allowance and a few kilos more in cabin luggage. Looking at my wardrobe, nearly all my clothes are appropriate for London and consist of heavy shirts, woollen sweaters and brogues. Probably not the most suitable attire for the tropics! I have summer gear, of course, but need to get some more.

I would appreciate any advice from seasoned travellers on what clothes and shoes I will need for a prolonged stay in Thailand during all seasons. I also hope to do some trekking in the rain forests near Koh Chang and visit Buddhist sites in other parts of SE Asia, especially Cambodia and Burma,

My instinct is to travel light and buy any clothes I need when I get there but would appreciate any feedback on this.

Thanks guys

Brian

[tw25rw]

Have you been before? I would take as few clothes as possible. Underwear and maybe smart clothes (visits to govt offices, banks etc) and some walking boots. T-shirts and stuff are easy and cheap to buy anywhere. Toiletries are much cheaper there as well. I think you could take a laptop, phone, a weeks underwear, a couple of pairs of socks and little else, then buy all you need when you get to Bangkok. You'll want a wide brimmed hat as well.

[scorecard]

What do you mean ",,, Work has arranged travel and visas."

Your new employer arranging the travel - Ok, easy and no problem.

Your new employer arranging visas - perhaps you need to check this point a little further. You said you will be working, therefore you will need a Work Permit. After you've been issued with a work permit then you can apply for a different type of visa, one that allows you to stay for one year on the basis that you have a work permit (WP).

If you've been told that the company / your employer already holds a general WP for foreign staff or something similar, don't believe it, there is no such thing.

Each WP is issued to a specific person (you) but to get the work permit your employer needs to give you an employment contract and normally the employer will prepare the application which must be supported by a number of official documents about the employer / employing company.

Work permit and visa have a connection but they are also different things. Work permit is issued by the Thai labour ministry (Step 1) and aligned visa is then issued by the police immigration authorities (Step 2).

At the start of the Thai Visa website there is a wealth of clear and accurate information about work permits and the aigned visa. Suggest you take a look.

First three months to try and see if you like it (if that's what you mean) still needs a work permit.

There will be people who tell you 'don't worry about work permits'. Your choice, but note that if you are caught working without a work permit there is a very strong chance of very fast deportation. Up to you.

I support the comment made already about clothing to bring etc.

Hope you enjoy.

[USNret]

Just curious what type of work you found in Koh Chang. I've always got my ear to the ground for good opportunities.

[dogbox2013]

Depends on where/what type of work you do - I mean if your an office worker or working outside. I'm going to assume your in an office environment. Whats the dress code - jeans and polos or a suit and tie?? If I were in your situation I would wear on the flight 1 pair of good quality slacks and a button up short sleeve shirt. I'd pack a couple more short sleeve button up shirts and some polos, cotton socks and jocks, brogues(wear them on the flight), sandals/thongs and dress shorts and joggers. Also depends what size you are? I'm new to thailand forum and am seeking advice here too, but after 25 years of travel to SE Asia I've found it hard in department stores in countries like China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to buy western clothes sizes easily. A "large" in asia is what we in Australia might call medium. And definitely I've had experiences in parts of Indonesia where they don't see many tourists I can't buy shirts as the largest they will stock is "medium". I'm interested to find out how Things like clothes sizes are in Thailand?

Generally in asia you can have clothes taylor-made for cheap, but this can take a little time. I'd personally bring enough kit to get you by for a week or 2, till you have had time to shop around. Hope this helps :} 23kg is a lot more than you think.. I generally travel with a surf board bag which is about 10kg and then fill a backpack with the other 13kg - 23KG is like two suit cases I'm guessing...hope this helps

[Spoonman]

What do you mean ",,, Work has arranged travel and visas."

Your new employer arranging the travel - Ok, easy and no problem.

Your new employer arranging visas - perhaps you need to check this point a little further. You said you will be working, therefore you will need a Work Permit (WP).

After you've been issued with a WP then you can apply for a different type of visa, one that allows you to stay for one year on the basis that you have a work permit.

Work permit and visa have a connection but they are also different things. Work permit is issued by the Thai labour ministry (Step 1) and visa is issued by the police immigration authorities (Step 2).

At the start of the Thai Visa website there is a wealth of clear and accurate information about work permits and the aigned visa. Suggest you take a look.

First three months to try and see if you like it (if that's what you mean) still needs a work permit. (Actually I've never heard of a three month WP, perhaps other TV members can comment on that point.)

If your new employer has told you that the company has something like a general WP covering all foreign staff then don't believe it, there is no such thing.

WPs are issued to individual people (you) but the company needs to provide certain documentation about your employment (copy of employment contract) and documents about the company for the WP application at the labour ministry office.

You cannot apply for a personal WP to work anywhere, there is no such thing.

There will be people who tell you 'don't worry about work permits'. Your choice, but note that if you are caught working without a work permit there is a very strong chance of very fast deportation. Up to you.

If your travelling on a UK passport then you don't need any visa in advance.

I support the comment made already about clothing to bring etc.

Hope you enjoy.

Once the work permit is issued what visa does immigration provide as it was my understanding they extend the current visa (you need a non immigrant visa before they will issue you a work permit ) is then converted into a permission to stay extension based on employment.

To the OP, travel light and buy when you arrive.

[CharlieH]

As others have said, travel light, buy it when you get here.

If you are Teaching and they have told you "we'll get the work permit", take it with a pinch of salt, they often make promises and they never materialize.

[TommoPhysicist]

Walking shoes.

Almost impossible to buy at any price if you have big feet.

And socks ..... local socks are rubbish, any walking and your toe is through them in a day.

[craigt3365]

For weather, think hot, hotter and damn hot. The rainy season cools off a bit, but also makes wearing shoes a bugger. Sandals are the only way to go.

You'll have to tell us what you'll be doing for work. If teaching, I'm guessing you'll have to wear long pants and a proper button shirt? Maybe a polo?

Clothes are cheap here, but you'll find cheap clothes are just that. Cheap. You'll find very little on KC, and very little in the surrounding area. Even here in Pattaya, the selection is limited. For proper shopping, I head to Bangkok.

I'd bring a good pair of sandals. A wide brimmed hat. A good pair of walking shoes and some socks. A couple of good short pants. If you want, some zip off trekking pants might be nice. Maybe some high tech Ts that dry quickly. And any electronics you think you'll need. Including Camera. All of this is more expensive here and the selection is much lower.