Final questions before coming to thailand next week

[orcasmarx]

First I want to thank everyone for the vital info I have received over this past month. Both directly and through crusing through the forums. Most of my questions have been answered.

My plan so far is to come in visa exempt. Stay in Bankok a few days & head down to Ko Chaing island for s few weeks? I have an exit ticket to Vienatine Laos 25 days later where I plan on getting a dual entry Visa. Then heading to Chaing Mai to seek longer term cheaper residence. I want to stay for a few years, even if I have to fly out of country for 3 months. My questions are;

1. Exactly how many months can I stretch out a dual entry visa for. I thought I had this one down until I recently read a few contradictory posts? I am from the US and and I make enough to live comfortably but not enough to get a retirement visa. How often do I need to do border runs, 30, 60 days?

2. How do I contact the person who put adds for apts or condows for rent.

3. Is it unrealistic for me to think I can rent a studio or 1 bedroom condo/apt for around $150 a month.

4. Now this might be a dumb question but do the atm give out local currency & is the exchange rate good?

I appreciate all constructive posts

Thank you all

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[MJCM]

My guess is that you have never been to Thailand correct ??

In answer to your question

1. 2 Months plus 30 days extension at immigration times 2 (so 60 + 30 * 2 = 180 Days) (add. after the 30 days extension you have to make a border run)

2. Where are you looking for these apts to rent ?

3. You will only get basic acco for that kind of money

4. This is Thailand and ATM's here only give out Thai Baht (except for some ATM's at the airport), the Exchange rate depends on which bank in your home country you use.

Edited April 2, 2014 by MJCM

[orcasmarx]

Thank you for the reply. Chaing Mai is where I want to rent and what is acco?

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[VocalNeal]

4. This is Thailand and ATM's here only give out Thai Baht (except for some ATM's at the airport), the Exchange rate depends on which bank in your home country you use.

Plus if I am not mistaken a fee for ATM use on a foreign card of about 150-180 baht per transaction. Aeon used to be free but... If I am wrong someone will tell us!.

[slapout]

You might want to notify your bank of your plans, just to insure your bank is aware that you will be using atm's overseas for cash withdraw

[whiteman]

I would think very carefully if your budget only goes to $150 a month rent Thailand can grab you and spit you out the other end very quickly on a low budget.

[CharlieH]

You really havnt thought this through at all, or so it seems.

I would get alot more info and do alot more reading before you get that plane or you are going to be going back faster than you think and probably broke !

[NancyL]

I live in Chiang Mai and $150 a month is somewhat unrealistic for a rental. $200 is more realistic, and that would be a basic room, private toilet, aircon, TV, refrigerator, microwave, TV. Clean, basic, OK.

You say you make enough to live comfortably, but not enough for a retirement visa. Have you factored in border runs?

More importantly, since you mentioned retirement visa, that suggests you're "of an age" -- have you considered health care costs? Yes, basic out-patient visits are amazingly cheap, but an accident with broken bones, heart attack, stroke, etc, can set you back $5000 or more, and they won't start anything beyond "stabilizing" you until you cough up the funds. No free health care in Thailand. People die while they're being "stabilized". Hope you have a reserve fund you can tap at a moment's notice.

[mrtoad]

4. This is Thailand and ATM's here only give out Thai Baht (except for some ATM's at the airport), the Exchange rate depends on which bank in your home country you use.

Plus if I am not mistaken a fee for ATM use on a foreign card of about 150-180 baht per transaction. Aeon used to be free but... If I am wrong someone will tell us!.

The OP will need to keep any eye out regarding becoming a walking ATM as well, often the withdrawal rate is exceptionally expensive, although initially the rates may look attractive.

[benalibina]

4. This is Thailand and ATM's here only give out Thai Baht (except for some ATM's at the airport), the Exchange rate depends on which bank in your home country you use.

Plus if I am not mistaken a fee for ATM use on a foreign card of about 150-180 baht per transaction. Aeon used to be free but... If I am wrong someone will tell us!.

The OP will need to keep any eye out regarding becoming a walking ATM as well, often the withdrawal rate is exceptionally expensive, although initially the rates may look attractive.

Funny....warning him this way for a double whammy.

[orcasmarx]

Thanks for the info. I didn't say I could only pay $150 for rent. Two friends of mine went to chaing mai & they only paid $150 a month. Also from what I have read I would have to have a monthly income of $2,400 a month to retire in thailand. I am just short of that. I have traveled extensivly in Central & South America. On every trip I stayed in each country for 3 to 6 months. All of which is a little more expensive than thailand. My last trip was to Equador where I stayed in the Galapagos & scuba dove for 3 months. I did this all on less than the income I have now. I have factured in the border runs. Besides I have already pre-payed my entire first 30 days for plane flights & hotel rooms. I am 59 and in great health. At that time if I feel I cannot make it I can simply fly back.

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[orcasmarx]

I almost forgot I still do not know what acco is.

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[CharlieH]

I almost forgot I still do not know what acco is.

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Acco, just means short for accomadation.

[mrtoad]

I almost forgot I still do not know what acco is.

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Make sure that you have good medical insurance, certainly worth having. If you can stretch a bit further, a policy that covers Sick Buffalo may also be advisable.

[fish fingers]

If you open a thai bank account as soon as you arrive, then it might be easier and a little cheaper for ATM withdrawals. You can always find certain places which do great exchange rates, like one place I use in Sukhumvit which delivers/picks up.

[Kitsune]

My question is why would someone would chose to settle in one the most polluted city of the world?

Do you hate your lungs?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9175667/Thailand-pollution-puts-Chiang-Mai-off-the-tourist-trail.html

[Scarpolo]

are you coming with less than ten grand?

if so, stay home

[thailiketoo]

My question is why would someone would chose to settle in one the most polluted city of the world?

Do you hate your lungs?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9175667/Thailand-pollution-puts-Chiang-Mai-off-the-tourist-trail.html

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/544025/20140319/world-top-10-polluted-cities-ludhiana.htm

World’s 10 Most Polluted Cities

1) Ahvaz, Iran 372 mcg/m3 (2009 data)

2) Ulan Bator, Mongolia 279 mcg/m3 (2008 data)

3) Sanandaj, Iran 254 mcg/m3 (2009 data)

4) Ludhiana, India (2008 data) and Quetta, Pakistan (2003/4 data) tied at 251 mcg/m3

5) Kermanshah, Iran 229 mcg/m3 (2009 data)

6) Peshawar, Pakistan 219 mcg/m3 (2003/4 data)

7) Gaborone, Botswana 216 mcg/m3 (2005 data)

8) Yasuj, Iran 215 mcg/m3 (2009 data)

9) Kanpur, India 209 mcg/m3 (2008 data)

10) Lahore, Pakistan 200 mcg/m3 (2003/4 data)

[jacksam]

Scar polo is correct. Bring minimum 10k.

Most points already covered. A friend of mine is in Chiang. Mai now. He has a fan room for $75 us a month. But one word of advice. You say you don't have enough income for retirement visa. This is a very small amount of money. Many farang including my friend think they can live here on thin air. What are you going to do. Stuff costs money. Chicks esp. Even ladies not from bars don't want to walk about Chiang mai holding hands breathing the lovely CM air.

You need more than you think.

[KonaRain]

Cool warnings about expenses.. Our newsletter here, says they are cracking down on too many visa runs..I have an English friend who lives in Udon Thani so no dangerous van drives from C. Mai. The bus is much safer, though! I'm told 50$ per mo. will buy health insurance. Things worked out pretty good for me while there..as I went with the flow..good luck.

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[captspectre]

Thank you for the reply. Chaing Mai is where I want to rent and what is acco?

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here is an answer to your question. DON'T COME!

[brit1984]

if as you imply you've got income around 2k USD/month and some in the bank to cover emergency / flight home, that should be plenty to live in chiang mai and live a comfortable life but...

- make sure you budget for and get decent health insurance (not travel insurance)

- you will need to eat mostly thai food so better taste some before you come

- you can save money if you wait until AFTER you've arrived in Chiang Mai to find accommodation

- your budget isn't enough to fund dependents so only date ladies/men who are self-sufficient

good luck

[jacksam]

Self sufficient woman in Thailand?

Code for ugly.

[impulse]

You may love it here. You may not. I've lived here 3 years, comfortably employed and I could stay another few years, or leave tomorrow.

Personally, as an American, I will be looking for a 20+ hour shorter plane ride for a place to retire. But that's me. I've got extended family and friends that I dearly miss- and going home for a week or so is just too much travel time to be worth it.

I'd suggest you answer all your own questions when you get here on an exploratory, closed ended trip. Then take a break and decide if you really like it here- and why. Too many people pack up their crap, sell their homes and goodies and hop on a plane to come live the dream in Thailand. They're so invested in it, they can't seem to change their plans when they find out things aren't like in the travel brochures. Or that their buddies who preceded them (and convinced them to do the same) are a bunch of whore mongering drunks who love it here for all the wrong reasons. And I know others who got their one night stand "in the motherly way" right out of the blocks. Great if that's what you want, but not so great if it's her plan and not your plan.

Good luck whatever you decide!

[anthobkk]

I don't know about Chiang Mai but I presume that rent will be cheaper than Bangkok. I've spent 1 year in Lat Krabang (bangkok suburb) and had a decent room for less than 100$ a month. 30sqm, bathroom and toilet, balcony, and fully furnished with tv, sofa, bed and closet.

I would suggest you to apply for a student visa then you'll be able to stay for the whole year without having to make multiple tourist visas and if you want to attend class then it will keep you occupied instead of hanging around chaing mai everyday.

[Trentham]

I am a partner in a resort in a village in the mountains in the North of Nan province which is right up in the North of Thailand. A couple of years ago an American guy looking for peace and quiet came to our village to live for a while. He rented a small house for 1000 baht per month [ about $30 ]. While there he replaced the squat toilet with a Western style toilet and the owner of the house was so pleased that he told the other villagers that if he knew the guy was going to do that he could have stayed there for free. This is a small and remote village and I and one other were the only other Caucasians. It is possible to live in a village like this for $4 per day and that would be living well including your internet and bills and food if you ate local and cooked for yourself. However there is no night life in our village except our resort and a night out means sitting in the street with some local blokes drinking beer or the local rice whisky. A visit to the doctor at our little hospital is free.

However if you want to live in a city, shop in supermarkets, dine out and go to bars and clubs etc then it will be quite expensive. I find shopping in supermarkets just as expensive as back home in Australia. It is all a matter of what you are looking for when you are here. If you partner up with a Thai lady [or man] then there will be considerable demands made upon your finances and if you are not forthcoming and meet those demands you will find yourself alone very quickly.

Anyway I suggest that you come. It will be a great experience and if it does not work out then move on or go back home.

Cheers.

Medical expenses in the city hospitals is quite expensive and is in fact an industry [for tourists and ex-pats] and not a health service.

[duanebigsby]

4. This is Thailand and ATM's here only give out Thai Baht (except for some ATM's at the airport), the Exchange rate depends on which bank in your home country you use.

Plus if I am not mistaken a fee for ATM use on a foreign card of about 150-180 baht per transaction. Aeon used to be free but... If I am wrong someone will tell us!.

Yes 150 baht, but remember there is often a charge at home as well. My bank it's $5 CDN for withdrawl.

[ironhorse10]

If you plan on staying in Chiang Mai, I suggest you check out a condo called Sa-Nquan Malee Nice rooms, I paid 5500 Bht. a month, its out by the University and food is cheap in that area 7-11 across the street and ATM, easy walk down to catch a red truck, 40 bht to ride down town. Nice quite area.

[Maroon Watcher]

to save money while u look around for the best place to be - stay in a hostel

from USD 10 or cheap hotel USD 20.

Get advice before signing a contract for accom.

1. dont trust Asian women. 2 Don't trust any other woman (with Money or any other valuables)

[Maroon Watcher]

... and make 2 copies of everything.

to save money while u look around for the best place to be - stay in a hostel

from USD 10 or cheap hotel USD 20.

Get advice before signing a contract for accom.

1. dont trust Asian women. 2 Don't trust any other woman (with Money or any other valuables)