Going to Thailand with my Girlfriend

[iExpat]

Hello,

We are me and my girlfriend looking foward to go to live to thailand for some years at least. We love phucket and any place where you can find beach. The problem is that we saw at numbeo.com that cost of living in phucket or patong beach is more expensive than in Chiang mai for example.

Lets talk about us:

We own a online business and make money from it.

We get around 2000$ to 3000$ per month

We dont need luxury, we want to live good but not in a 2000$ apartment.

We are less than 21 years old.

Where are the best places to go to eat good and live good with that money. We work every day so we would go out maybe for a beer or some food after work every day or at least three times per week.

Any ideas of what would be good for us?

What is better? Staying on a residence hotel or renting a house?

Any good places to reccomend or websites to check out? I usually check Phucket Rent House but it seems very turistic prices.

Thank you,

iExpat

[uptheos]

I reccomend recommend that you don't mess around on here, there's homework to be finished for school tomorrow.

[iExpat]

I reccomend recommend that you don't mess around on here, there's homework to be finished for school tomorrow.

Im sorry for the spelling mistake.

Im not native

Lets see if you can speak my language.

Good luck.

Edited May 18, 2014 by iExpat

[uptheos]

I reccomend recommend that you don't mess around on here, there's homework to be finished for school tomorrow.

Im sorry for the spelling mistake.

Im not native

Lets see if you can speak my language.

Good luck.

You'll never know

Good luck with your grades.

[meatboy]

wake up your nappies need changing.

[Mrjlh]

One question...on just what VISA do you plan on entering Thailand with? You better figure out that before you come.

[uptheos]

The beaches in Chiang Mai are much less crowded than phucket.

[meatboy]

One question...on just what VISA do you plan on entering Thailand with? You better figure out that before you come.

no her name LISA not visa

[dutchisaan]

You better start reading some posts about the visa rules of Thailand before you make any plans.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[theoldgit]

This post has been made three times and I've closed the other two.

This one has some responses http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/727019-going-to-thailand-with-my-girlfriend/

Also moving to the travel section.

[Misterwhisper]

And another delusional, blue-eyed kid ("less than 21 years old") who thinks that all he has to do is flying into Thailand - probably on a visa-on-arrival - and can live happily near palm-fringed beaches and bathe in tropical bliss "for some years at least" without ever having to hammer out a concrete plan taking into considerations the numerous restrictions foreigners - particularly ones who intend to work! - have to deal with.

How about a work permit? Given any thought to that? You (and your girlfriend) CANNOT work in Thailand without a proper work permit, even if you run an online business. It's illegal.

How about your visa arrangements? Thailand is becoming very strict with regards to foreigners who just come to stay "for some years at least" without holding appropriate long-term visas or extensions of stay.

How about health insurance? Anything in mind yet?

While $ 2,000 to 3,000 per month may be very sufficient for two people even when they stay in Phuket (Phucket???), it all depends on how you define "eat good and live good".

Why don't you do quite a bit more research on your own, devise a concrete plan, and then return to TV and present it for comments, feedback and suggestions? Give us some beef to chew on, not just a thing broth with no meat in it!

But no, instead you just want to go the easy way, present a rather vague and rudimentary idea and expect that forum members will go to great lengths doing all the hard work for you and lay out a plan that might (or might not) be agreeable with you.

The magic word is "Internet". With some time effort, there you can find exhausting information on all types of accommodation, price ranges, locations, restaurants, general living cost, attractions, environments, official regulations and requirements for potential Thailand residents, and much, much more.

[LaraC]

iExpat, ignore the bitterness on here.

Keep working online, but DO NOT tell anyone! Keep it quiet. It is OFFICIALLY illegal to work in any capasity (including online) in Thailand. But, if you keep quiet about it, then no one needs to know. If asked, you are a tourist. That is all.

As for where to stay in Phuket, sorry but i cannot help.
However, 2000 usd + is a good income, as long as you find out fairly soon where the good deals are for accomodation/food etc...and are good at budgeting.
Good on you for trying to source where to stay prior to moving..HOPEFULLY you will get some decent replies/advice.
Good luck to you and your girlfriend

[Canada]

Thailand is a great visit. To be honest, read up a little more on destinations in Thailand. Phuket is a shit hole. So is Phi Phi... Just tourist traps. Up north has a different flavour but no beaches. Try Koh Lanta or Koh Chang. Nice places. You'll find somewhere to stay within your budget easily. If you are bringing your girlfriend, don' t bother with Pattaya. Lots of girlfriends there.

Have a fun trip.

Edited May 18, 2014 by Canada

[Canada]

Oh. I misunderstood your post. You want to LIVE here. Ohhhhhh.

You can probably do what you are thinking, but I wouldn't talk about out much on this forum. Working is illegal here without a work permit. Any kind of work, it does't matter.

VISA. Make a plan about a VISA. There are options, but not many. Both of you can get "learning Thai language" based visas (Education Visa) through a language school. That will limit your choices of where to stay. You could get married pretty easy to a Thai girl and get a "marriage" based visa. It'd be a headache, but could be done if your gf would let you. She could probably snag a thai guy too and do the same. Seriously, Visa problems will be your biggest problems like everyone else's here. Don't forget medical insurance. Good luck.

[Totster]

I reccomend recommend that you don't mess around on here, there's homework to be finished for school tomorrow.

Im sorry for the spelling mistake.

Im not native

Lets see if you can speak my language.

Good luck.

What language spells Phuket 'Phucket' ???

totster

[JeremyBowskill]

If yer happy and you know it clap yer hands.......... Yeah, didn't think so. Usual jaded folk here as normal then. Fail to see what's wrong with people wanting to go off and have a good time while they are young enough to enjoy it. Beats coming here and being miserable old F&*ks and waiting for the reaper to come knocking! Sorry OP can't offer much advice on Phuket as I have only ever been twice on holiday, if your plans revert back to Chiang mai I will be happy to try and help.

Edited May 18, 2014 by JeremyBowskill

[mccw]

You can do it sure- no problem. Good idea to live some place cheaper than Patong / Puket.

Personally I like chiang Mai. Cheaper living and save more money; then take a few holidays around beaches or other places how you like and can always move on and around once you find the cheaper and nice spots u fancy for long term stays.

Well done to make the online business like this; congratulations on your self made freedom!

I advise to try and save money aside in case medical problems etc. no safety net for us foreigners here.

You can come and go on tourist visas at first at least any way. Maybe split your time with another country if they ever make an issue about it but I doubt they will.

(I came in and out on tourist visas last year and a half already. Only problem is it fills up the passport so quickly.)

You could switch between chiang Mai and beach in Cambodia for example -6 months by 6 months to match the best of the seasons in each and have your fill of different environments while still cheaper living than Puket.

Chock dee / good luck

Ps

Don't listen to the grumpy old gits- people like this probably just bitter at wasting away so many years their own lives in suckstown back west. Pains them to see young people living their dreams and successful.

Pity them

[tomyumchai]

i know enough about phuket not to ever go there again and it only took a few weeks of reading news reports on tv to learn up on that.

[ARussell]

Wow, I envy you. Firstly, before you come get a tourist visa with as many renewals as possible. That should allow you to stay for at least nine months. By the end of that time you will probably have found a way to stay longer. Don't worry about a work permit, no body knows what you are doing your computer. You might be playing Facebook.

You will have two or three times as much income as your average dirt poor teacher, and should be able to live comfortably.

Don't listen to all the negative replies. You've got it much better than those old men. It'll be a great experience.

[belg]

dont you know the visa run option is dead since a week

come on a holliday

go back home after a month

[willem1946]

Good advice : stay home and lety your mother take care of you sme more years.

[slipperylobster]

I reccomend recommend that you don't mess around on here, there's homework to be finished for school tomorrow.

Im sorry for the spelling mistake.

Im not native

Lets see if you can speak my language.

Good luck.

LOL .....good come back ! Besides, nobody really cares about spelling....if they do, they are just nit picking.

[slipperylobster]

Yes, you can do it easily.....and have a good time to boot. You are in my budget range, and I have a gal as well.

Pay by the month for lodgings...not daily or weekly...

7000-10000 for an apartelle. Krabi had a good one for 6000 last year (in town, not on the beach)

[richard_smith237]

A lot of old guys on here - that alone breeds some jealousy as they have already shown.

OP: I came here when I was 22 (working for an International Company), being here at such an age is different to being here when older.

The older guys won't understand that, I'm sure they'll have their opinions regardless.

Regarding work: Yes, you would be illegal if working an earning here. However, an online business is somewhat of a grey area in terms of the fact that its pretty impossible to get caught. Just keep quiet about your work.

Money: You should have enough to subside in relative comfort.

Make sure you have proper medical insurance. Do your best to learn Thai when you get here.

Getting a reasonable visa is probably your main concern: You should be able to get a 6 month tourist Visa prior to your arrival. That will see you get your feet on the ground and learn what other options there are for you.

Others have commented on Phuket: But thats purely a personal choice, there are other lovely areas of Thailand which may also interest you. Different from Phuket which is not really representative of Thailand, but it does have great beaches.

[55Jay]

OP, have you actually been to Thailand before and if so, how many times and how long did you stay each time?

[cnx37]

$$$ - no problem (I live in CNX). Phuket - no idea - 50% more expensive (see web). CNX is VERY cheap. In fact, there are many posts on the web re the low cost of living in CNX. Things to do in CNX - see web.

Visa - do your research - visa runs etc - not a preferred option.

House v condo. For a young couple, I would select a condo - location, security, transport, convenience to everything.

Come to CNX for 1 month - if you don't like the joint - move on - easy! Why limit yourself to Thailand - Malaysia, Philippines etc.

Visa is everything!

[shaurene]

Hi there young ones. Stay away from Puket it is the Pitts for crime etc, Pattaya about the same but plenty day and night life nice beaches few ks out, also Cho Chang is very nice place an island close to Cambodia you can do a good deal for long stay. I would say some of the best beaches in Thailand, Nice place people nice prices ok quite few bars and entertaining clubs. Plenty other islands around it.

Good luck.

[twooten]

iExpat,

As you've noticed there are a ton of a**holes on this forum, bitter of f**ks for whatever reason. You can actually do like some of the other posters have mentioned and sign up for a Thai language school and get a 1 year Visa for that. My wife and I did that and it's fairly easy. She got a TEFL and landed a job teaching English which she really loved doing.

We stayed in Chiang Mai for a year and a half but recently relocated to Hanoi, Vietnam about a month ago. We love it much more than Thailand. Thailand is known as the "Land of Smiles". I like to say it's the "Land of Fake Smiles" because the foreigners have ruined it over the last few years. It's still a very pretty place but the people seem to not be genuine. Seems like most expect to get something from you. You will be seen as rich and will pay for it. This isn't really true out in the rural areas but I suspect you'll want to live somewhere closer to lots of restaurants and night life, etc. We lived out in San Sai and found a nice 2 bedroom house for around $250USD per month. It was a great deal but too far out for our liking.

Here in Vietnam my wife is teaching English again and making $2000USD per month, twice what she earned in Thailand. That's enough to cover rent for a super nice apartment ($650), plus electricity, water and really all of our bills. Like you, I work online so my income is basically savings.

Another cool thing about Vietnam is the fact that you can extend your Visa WITHOUT LEAVING THE COUNTRY. If you or your wife happens to get a job teaching or whatever, you can convert your tourist Visa to a work permit, WITHOUT LEAVING THE COUNTRY. Those Visa runs are bullshit man, plus the Thai government has been trying to put a stop to the whole Visa run thing so you'll need to consider that.

English is spoken much more here in Vietnam than in Thailand which makes things nicer for us. Thailand has too much of a laid back attitude to everything, and that includes education and work. The Vietnamese are a much harder working people. They bust their ass to learn English and strive to create a better life for themselves. They are definitely friendlier and more helpful.

You might check out Da Nang, I've heard and read that many expats live there and love it. Hanoi is the place for us at the moment because we have a group of locals that I work with in an online business. The only negative thing I can say about Vietnam so far is the crazy driving, it's really insane. But taxis are everywhere and really cheap.

Either way, you'll need to sort out some sort of Visa for yourselves. You can get a 3 month tourist visa, then extend it for another 3 months. That should be enough time to figure out if you want to stay.

Good luck.

[larsjohnsson]

Your only chans to live here a few years is probably education visas. Sign up to learn Thai after getting here a tourist visa in your home country. A double or triple tourist visa would be good

[Pinot]

Bringing a girl to Thailand is like bringing sand to the beach.

You might look into getting a education Visa to study Thai. That should allow you to stay in the country a year with minimal effort as to actually studying anything.

As to renting a place, there are plenty of places that rent for 12-15k baht a month in Phuket. Skip Patong and check out the beaches north and south of it. The only way to do it is to come here and find a guest house to live at so you can look around for a place to live.

Good luck.