Some interesting statistics about Brits retiring to LOS

[FiftyTwo]

The worst part of the report though was the suggestion that British people could retire here on a state pension....currently £110.15/week or approx 5,500 Thb. No way in a million years, so please Channel 4, try not to put that idea into anyones' head...doh, too late!

Your words...hope you appreciated mine...personally, I'd welcome Brits arriving here to retire on their state pensions as they'll be far more comfortable than they would have been in the disintegrating UK. At least the majority of expat Brits commit to staying here and making new lives, rather then jetting in and out as the weather and their fancy takes them.

They may be far more comfortable here than in the UK, until they get ill. Brits are not used to having to pay for medical care, so many don't even think about it until they are ill and find out that the state isn't looking after them any more. I'd say to anyone come and retire here, but only if you have adequate insurance. This is a lot more important to people of retirement age, when the wheels are much more likely to start falling off than it is to healthy fit youngsters.

Medical care isn't expensive, this is a lie that America feeds the world.

In Thailand medical insurance is 500bht per person for anyone who ever worked.

And that scheme makes a profit.

Stop falling for the American corporate dream of vast profits from health care.

And charge everyone in Thailand the same price.

Even the losses quoted for 'poor' foreigners, are loses recorded at 5x to 10x the normal price locals going private in government hospitals pay.

[thailiketoo]

The worst part of the report though was the suggestion that British people could retire here on a state pension....currently £110.15/week or approx 5,500 Thb. No way in a million years, so please Channel 4, try not to put that idea into anyones' head...doh, too late!

Your words...hope you appreciated mine...personally, I'd welcome Brits arriving here to retire on their state pensions as they'll be far more comfortable than they would have been in the disintegrating UK. At least the majority of expat Brits commit to staying here and making new lives, rather then jetting in and out as the weather and their fancy takes them.

They may be far more comfortable here than in the UK, until they get ill. Brits are not used to having to pay for medical care, so many don't even think about it until they are ill and find out that the state isn't looking after them any more. I'd say to anyone come and retire here, but only if you have adequate insurance. This is a lot more important to people of retirement age, when the wheels are much more likely to start falling off than it is to healthy fit youngsters.

Medical care isn't expensive, this is a lie that America feeds the world.

In Thailand medical insurance is 500bht per person for anyone who ever worked.

And that scheme makes a profit.

Stop falling for the American corporate dream of vast profits from health care.

And charge everyone in Thailand the same price.

Even the losses quoted for 'poor' foreigners, are loses recorded at 5x to 10x the normal price locals going private in government hospitals pay.

My Thai wife is 40 with no prior illness and she pays 18,000 per year for her health insurance in Thailand to a Thai hospital for coverage. Her insurance only covers her if she is admitted to the hospital. Any outpatient care is not covered.

[FiftyTwo]

Thais pay in for life, not just a couple of years in retirement; in addition to which retirement / old age is more expensive for health care anywhere anway. You are asking Thais to subsidise bad retirement planning on the part of farangs.

Decent health care costs almost nothing to provide in Thailand.

500bht a month is more than enough to pay for almost anybody, and make a profit.

@Thailiket00

My wife has just started paying into the employees private health care scheme, 500bht a month.

She is nearly the same age as yours.

Edited January 9, 2014 by FiftyTwo

[thailiketoo]

Thais pay in for life, not just a couple of years in retirement; in addition to which retirement / old age is more expensive for health care anywhere anway. You are asking Thais to subsidise bad retirement planning on the part of farangs.

Decent health care costs almost nothing to provide in Thailand.

500bht a month is more than enough to pay for almost anybody, and make a profit.

@Thailiket00

My wife has just started paying into the employees private health care scheme, 500bht a month.

She is nearly the same age as yours.

I've seen the difference. One is at a government hospital the other is at a private hospital. It is worth every penny of the 18,000 she pays. She pays it herself so what does that tell you?

My wife had a government plan before she started paying her own. The waits could be 2 or 3 hours for something simple and the equipment use was rationed by need such as scans and other imagining devices.

In her company the executives all pay health insurance even thought a government plan is provided.

I do see what you are saying though. For drunk old expats 500b and that level of care would be more than enough.

Edited January 9, 2014 by thailiketoo

[FiftyTwo]

Thais pay in for life, not just a couple of years in retirement; in addition to which retirement / old age is more expensive for health care anywhere anway. You are asking Thais to subsidise bad retirement planning on the part of farangs.

Decent health care costs almost nothing to provide in Thailand.

500bht a month is more than enough to pay for almost anybody, and make a profit.

@Thailiket00

My wife has just started paying into the employees private health care scheme, 500bht a month.

She is nearly the same age as yours.

I've seen the difference. One is at a government hospital the other is at a private hospital. It is worth every penny of the 18,000 she pays. She pays it herself so what does that tell you?

My wife had a government plan before she started paying her own. The waits could be 2 or 3 hours for something simple and the equipment use was rationed by need such as scans and other imagining devices.

In her company the executives all pay health insurance even thought a government plan is provided.

I do see what you are saying though. For drunk old expats 500b and that level of care would be more than enough.

My wife has Lanna Hospital in CM as her nominated place, run by the same company as CM RAM (most expensive private hospital in CM). Her cousin was ill and stayed there, as good as anywhere from what I saw. All depends which hospital you nominate.

But as you said, we aren't talking top executive flight care, which none of these old guys would be getting anywhere in the world they lived. Even the Thai government hospitals are as good as the UK NHS hospitals. And that is the level of care I am used to.

[bermondburi]

Just watched it. Emfasise with a lot of the folks shown. If UV got noting 2 lose y not

Sent from my HUAWEI P6-U06 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[howzat]

Do you guys here have anything "nice" to say about anyone and/or anything?

That's a nice picture in your avatar, is that you ?

Interesting to see how Pattaya is reported on British TV. Look at subjectively and thanks to the OP for drawing it to our attention.

[wym]

The worst part of the report though was the suggestion that British people could retire here on a state pension....currently £110.15/week or approx 5,500 Thb. No way in a million years, so please Channel 4, try not to put that idea into anyones' head...doh, too late!

Your words...hope you appreciated mine...personally, I'd welcome Brits arriving here to retire on their state pensions as they'll be far more comfortable than they would have been in the disintegrating UK. At least the majority of expat Brits commit to staying here and making new lives, rather then jetting in and out as the weather and their fancy takes them.

I have no problem with anybody doing what they want with their lives with their own money. I just suspect the film was made with the intention of denegrating retired British people. I agree life is much better here and money does go a lot further than in the UK. BUT, it wasn't a balanced report. It showed drunk, sad, lonely, desparately ill, destitute British pensioners and educated, caring Derby and Jones, Scandinavians, dancing, socialising and acting like....well grown up pensioners. How hard to go to golf courses, cycling clubs, yacht clubs etc to find decent British pensioners?

Come over here with nothing but a state pension and what do you get? Then make a film showing how it can be done for decent people. Just don't portray Thailand as a haven for drunks, perverts and other low life.

It was disrespectful to British people and to Thailand.

I have my suspicions that films like this are meant to encourage the powers that be to chip away at incomes of pensioners that choose to leave..but perhaps another day, people back home are jealous enough already!

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually as with many over-generalizations, there is some truth to it.

Pattaya is indeed mostly a haven for sad, lonely degenerates - there are exceptions, but those types are IMO the majority of foreign residents.

And that is particularly true for the Brits and to a similar extent the Aussies and Germans.

There certainly are a fair share of Scandinavian sad sacks, but in my experience a higher proportion are more stable and healthier in their outlook and lifestyle, not least because they are on average better off financially.

Quite possible that there are just as many criminal types among them, but they do seem to be a bit more successful crims.

[thailiketoo]

The worst part of the report though was the suggestion that British people could retire here on a state pension....currently £110.15/week or approx 5,500 Thb. No way in a million years, so please Channel 4, try not to put that idea into anyones' head...doh, too late!

Your words...hope you appreciated mine...personally, I'd welcome Brits arriving here to retire on their state pensions as they'll be far more comfortable than they would have been in the disintegrating UK. At least the majority of expat Brits commit to staying here and making new lives, rather then jetting in and out as the weather and their fancy takes them.

I have no problem with anybody doing what they want with their lives with their own money. I just suspect the film was made with the intention of denegrating retired British people. I agree life is much better here and money does go a lot further than in the UK. BUT, it wasn't a balanced report. It showed drunk, sad, lonely, desparately ill, destitute British pensioners and educated, caring Derby and Jones, Scandinavians, dancing, socialising and acting like....well grown up pensioners. How hard to go to golf courses, cycling clubs, yacht clubs etc to find decent British pensioners?

Come over here with nothing but a state pension and what do you get? Then make a film showing how it can be done for decent people. Just don't portray Thailand as a haven for drunks, perverts and other low life.

It was disrespectful to British people and to Thailand.

I have my suspicions that films like this are meant to encourage the powers that be to chip away at incomes of pensioners that choose to leave..but perhaps another day, people back home are jealous enough already!

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually as with many over-generalizations, there is some truth to it.

Pattaya is indeed mostly a haven for sad, lonely degenerates - there are exceptions, but those types are IMO the majority of foreign residents.

And that is particularly true for the Brits and to a similar extent the Aussies and Germans.

There certainly are a fair share of Scandinavian sad sacks, but in my experience a higher proportion are more stable and healthier in their outlook and lifestyle, not least because they are on average better off financially.

Quite possible that there are just as many criminal types among them, but they do seem to be a bit more successful crims.

You wrote, "Pattaya is indeed mostly a haven for sad, lonely degenerates - there are exceptions, but those types are IMO the majority of foreign residents."

That is like saying the moon is made of cheese. Have you ever been to Pattaya?

[StreetCowboy]

 

The worst part of the report though was the suggestion that British people could retire here on a state pension....currently £110.15/week or approx 5,500 Thb. No way in a million years, so please Channel 4, try not to put that idea into anyones' head...doh, too late!

Your words...hope you appreciated mine...personally, I'd welcome Brits arriving here to retire on their state pensions as they'll be far more comfortable than they would have been in the disintegrating UK. At least the majority of expat Brits commit to staying here and making new lives, rather then jetting in and out as the weather and their fancy takes them.

I have no problem with anybody doing what they want with their lives with their own money. I just suspect the film was made with the intention of denegrating retired British people. I agree life is much better here and money does go a lot further than in the UK. BUT, it wasn't a balanced report. It showed drunk, sad, lonely, desparately ill, destitute British pensioners and educated, caring Derby and Jones, Scandinavians, dancing, socialising and acting like....well grown up pensioners. How hard to go to golf courses, cycling clubs, yacht clubs etc to find decent British pensioners?

Come over here with nothing but a state pension and what do you get? Then make a film showing how it can be done for decent people. Just don't portray Thailand as a haven for drunks, perverts and other low life.

It was disrespectful to British people and to Thailand.

I have my suspicions that films like this are meant to encourage the powers that be to chip away at incomes of pensioners that choose to leave..but perhaps another day, people back home are jealous enough already!

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually as with many over-generalizations, there is some truth to it.

Pattaya is indeed mostly a haven for sad, lonely degenerates - there are exceptions, but those types are IMO the majority of foreign residents.

And that is particularly true for the Brits and to a similar extent the Aussies and Germans.

There certainly are a fair share of Scandinavian sad sacks, but in my experience a higher proportion are more stable and healthier in their outlook and lifestyle, not least because they are on average better off financially.

Quite possible that there are just as many criminal types among them, but they do seem to be a bit more successful crims.

You wrote, "Pattaya is indeed mostly a haven for sad, lonely degenerates - there are exceptions, but those types are IMO the majority of foreign residents."

That is like saying the moon is made of cheese. Have you ever been to Pattaya?

 

I've never been to the moon, but if Neil Armstrong told me the moon was made of cheese I still wouldn't believe him

SC

[FiftyTwo]

There certainly are a fair share of Scandinavian sad sacks, but in my experience a higher proportion are more stable and healthier in their outlook and lifestyle, not least because they are on average better off financially.

Quite possible that there are just as many criminal types among them, but they do seem to be a bit more successful crims.

I've always found Nordic (dare I say Arian because it includes Germans) men more likely to lose a house or jump from a balcony than any other race/nationality.

[FiftyTwo]

I've never been to the moon, but if Neil Armstrong told me the moon was made of cheese I still wouldn't believe him

SC

Off topic

Many of us suspect Neil never went there either.

[StreetCowboy]

 

I've never been to the moon, but if Neil Armstrong told me the moon was made of cheese I still wouldn't believe him

SC

Off topic

Many of us suspect Neil never went there either.

 

I sometimes doubt that some of the people that tell us about Pattaya have ever been there as well.

[thailiketoo]

 

I have no problem with anybody doing what they want with their lives with their own money. I just suspect the film was made with the intention of denegrating retired British people. I agree life is much better here and money does go a lot further than in the UK. BUT, it wasn't a balanced report. It showed drunk, sad, lonely, desparately ill, destitute British pensioners and educated, caring Derby and Jones, Scandinavians, dancing, socialising and acting like....well grown up pensioners. How hard to go to golf courses, cycling clubs, yacht clubs etc to find decent British pensioners?

Come over here with nothing but a state pension and what do you get? Then make a film showing how it can be done for decent people. Just don't portray Thailand as a haven for drunks, perverts and other low life.

It was disrespectful to British people and to Thailand.

I have my suspicions that films like this are meant to encourage the powers that be to chip away at incomes of pensioners that choose to leave..but perhaps another day, people back home are jealous enough already!

Sent from my GT-N5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Actually as with many over-generalizations, there is some truth to it.

Pattaya is indeed mostly a haven for sad, lonely degenerates - there are exceptions, but those types are IMO the majority of foreign residents.

And that is particularly true for the Brits and to a similar extent the Aussies and Germans.

There certainly are a fair share of Scandinavian sad sacks, but in my experience a higher proportion are more stable and healthier in their outlook and lifestyle, not least because they are on average better off financially.

Quite possible that there are just as many criminal types among them, but they do seem to be a bit more successful crims.

You wrote, "Pattaya is indeed mostly a haven for sad, lonely degenerates - there are exceptions, but those types are IMO the majority of foreign residents."

That is like saying the moon is made of cheese. Have you ever been to Pattaya?

 

I've never been to the moon, but if Neil Armstrong told me the moon was made of cheese I still wouldn't believe him

SC

The, "Moon is made of cheese" reference was meant to be satirical about the fellow who thinks the majority of foreign residents are sad, lonely degenerates. The majority of residents of Pattaya are certainly not alone and I don't think one can say all Russians are degenerates.

My comment in general would be how in the heck can one have a comment about a place that one has never been? Is that like those folks who know what heaven and hel is like?

Edited January 11, 2014 by thailiketoo

[StreetCowboy]

 

...

The, "Moon is made of cheese" reference was meant to be satirical about the fellow who thinks the majority of foreign residents are sad, lonely degenerates. The majority of residents of Pattaya are certainly not alone and I don't think one can say all Russians are degenerates.

My comment in general would be how in the heck can one have a comment about a place that one has never been? Is that like those folks who know what heaven and hel is like?

 

I understand. But just because someone has been there does not necessarily mean they are a reliable witness. I have been to Pattaya a couple of times, and never been to a gogo bar. The second time was a family holiday, where we met up with a friend and his wife, children and mother-in-law. I would rate Pattaya as comparable to Blackpool but without the attractions or the beach. The weather was warmer, though.

Again, I've only been to Blackpool the once, and the funfair was worth a visit, the illuminations were impressive and the trams were an attraction in their own right. I've seen pictures of the beach and it looks better than Pattaya's.

It's also fair to say that it pissed with rain and it was miserable cold, but you can't have everything, and at least you can wrap up and carry an umbrella.

I don't have any information on whether British people retire to Blackpool.

SC

[FiftyTwo]

I have been to Pattaya a couple of times, and never been to a gogo bar. The second time was a family holiday, where we met up with a friend and his wife, children and mother-in-law. I would rate Pattaya as comparable to Blackpool but without the attractions or the beach. The weather was warmer, though.

Again, I've only been to Blackpool the once, and the funfair was worth a visit, the illuminations were impressive and the trams were an attraction in their own right. I've seen pictures of the beach and it looks better than Pattaya's.

I've been to Blackpool and Pattaya. Both places with partners.

Many of the Thai girls sitting outside in the Pattaya streets appeared to wear no knickers.

The English girls in Blackpool, I couldn't tell, as they all wore long thick coats.

Edited January 11, 2014 by FiftyTwo

[thailiketoo]

 

...

The, "Moon is made of cheese" reference was meant to be satirical about the fellow who thinks the majority of foreign residents are sad, lonely degenerates. The majority of residents of Pattaya are certainly not alone and I don't think one can say all Russians are degenerates.

My comment in general would be how in the heck can one have a comment about a place that one has never been? Is that like those folks who know what heaven and hel is like?

 

I understand. But just because someone has been there does not necessarily mean they are a reliable witness. I have been to Pattaya a couple of times, and never been to a gogo bar. The second time was a family holiday, where we met up with a friend and his wife, children and mother-in-law. I would rate Pattaya as comparable to Blackpool but without the attractions or the beach. The weather was warmer, though.

Again, I've only been to Blackpool the once, and the funfair was worth a visit, the illuminations were impressive and the trams were an attraction in their own right. I've seen pictures of the beach and it looks better than Pattaya's.

It's also fair to say that it pissed with rain and it was miserable cold, but you can't have everything, and at least you can wrap up and carry an umbrella.

I don't have any information on whether British people retire to Blackpool.

SC

I lived in Pattaya for a number of years. I left because it is changing into a Russian resort among other reasons. The posters who go on about the degenerates are incorrect. Every day there are less degenerates and more Russians.

[Thongkorn]

Ha had to laugh at the sill old sods, They care for you here, while you have money. that is, These people are a disgrace to Britain, I fell sorry for all the Poor Thai people watching these idiots waste there life's and money, having had all the opportunity that 99% of Thai people never have, And we call immigrants in the UK of being spongers.

[SebD]

Ha had to laugh at the sill old sods, They care for you here, while you have money. that is, These people are a disgrace to Britain, I fell sorry for all the Poor Thai people watching these idiots waste there life's and money, having had all the opportunity that 99% of Thai people never have, And we call immigrants in the UK of being spongers.

Your post makes little sense (unless it's from an "I'm alright Jack" perspective - there but for the grace of....whatever....for you!).

The people interviewed are not "a disgrace to Britain" they are evidence of Britain's disgraceful treatment of them.

Most, if not ALL, of those guys have paid into a social system that "guaranteed" a comfortable existence, in their twilight years, in repayment of their contribution(s). Having reached that stage of their lives they've discovered it was all all a pack of lies and they had actually been paying into funding a new swimming pool for one or other of the TRUE beneficiaries of their contribution - (see bankers/politicians)

With no method of redress, they walked away.

I don't condemn (neither do I condone) poor Brits (or any other nationality) abroad as I've yet to walk a mile in their shoes.

Maybe one day you'll learn (rather than be taught) to be a little more charitable towards others.

[perdido]

Anyone posting here saying this report is sensationalising or exaggerating the prevalence of alcoholism, violence and old men seeking young hookers for sex is deluded. Look at the Pattaya daily newspapers, the evidence speaks for itself. It's a soulless place where lost old souls find lost young souls and lose their souls in the bottom of a bottle. I pity the guys that end up here, let alone die here. No Thai gives a hoot about any farang living in that hell hole, and to die being a burden to a prostitute you have nothing in common with or in a hospital where they can't wait for you to go so they can give the bed to a Thai person is a horrible way to end up.

.....picture you paint, sounds like U.K., Mate....

[i claudius]

The sort of people that you see in this film are the same sort you see proping up a bar in the UK ,for thousands of us Pattaya is a place that we live a comfortable life with our wives and our children ,they go to school or in my sons case university ,and the wife and i shop in Tesco and she does the garden while i take it easy or help about the house .just normal people doing normal things ,but no one wants to film us ,its boreing. at least for the viewers that is.