SURVEY: Why do Expats Relocate to Thailand?

[JB300]

25+ trips here over the past 6 1/2 years living in Singapore & still trying to work out why I love coming to Thailand so much, I know it can't be 100% down to the women as I actually prefer Fillipinas...

Left Singapore at the end of Feb on a "Study Tour of Asia" to see where I do want to relocate too, 6 weeks in Malaysia was a bit dull but 3rd week in Thailand & still have a huge grin on my face

Next stop 2 weeks in the Philippines to see the gf (well it is our 5 year anniversary & she's none too pleased about my plans), then on to Bali for 4 weeks which although another place I love, I know I'll be itching to get back to Thailand.

[strawberry]

I came to thailand on holiday met awoman married andstayed. Im on aretirement pension

[pgrahmm]

Add:

It's surprisingly a nicer place than they came from.....

[flyingdoc]

At least some people have been honest in their answers ! Interesting and in one or two instances, touching !

[luk AJ]

I arrived in 98 representing a foreign company. Meanwhile I started my own business. I work with Thai people every day; sales, admin, workers. For me this gives an extra dimension to my stay in Thailand. As long as my health allows me to work I will continue, I cannot immagine that being retired is more fun and rewarding than doing my job.

[1900]

Many people come here for positive reasons, not for the negative ones which you have given as choices.

I agree. The poll seems to presume that you were desperate to leave your home country for some reason, rather than just keen to live somewhere new. I moved here because I like Thailand, not because I hated the UK.

Here's the post I was looking for. I think the OP might be suffering from the "There is no world but mine" syndrome.

I went there to teach, never had any other motive. From Korea to Thailand.

Say, do ya want to know how to make a small fortune in LoS? Go there with a large fortune and start a business.

[micmichd]

I got 60 yo in 2008, and I thought it would be time to make a plan for retirement.

Didn't want to end up in a nursing place, so I thought a multi generation community would be a good idea. Working in a bank and having saved a bit, I thought it would not be a financial problem. I started to look for other people that had the same idea. Unfortunately no one could get a house big enough in Heidelberg or surroundings.

I still had time, so I thought I'd travel a bit to Asia in winter time. I had problems with my knee at this time. The sun in Thailand cured it, so I changed my plans a bit and started to look for a place to retire in Thailand. Then I met this girl in Pattaya one night, and we immediately fell in love. She told me that she had a daughter, and she was actually looking for someone who could guarantee that her daughter would get a good education and not end up in a bar. So, we made a plan for a community in Thailand.

My gf stopped working in a bar in summer 2013, and I finally moved over to Thailand in December 2013.

Just these people and iinstitutions in Heidelberg wouldn't accept it, but that's another story.

Edited June 23, 2015 by micmichd

[thaibeachlovers]

Reason for visiting- girls and beaches, or girls staying with me on the beaches.

reason for staying- wife and very little PC BS.

Of course it's different living here than just visiting, but whenever I feel PO with it, the sight of a cute slim girl with long black hair wearing short shorts and those looooooong coffee coloured legs cheers me up again.

[chiang mai]

I don't know who "they" are (hence no vote) but I came here following work many years working in China and Hong Kong, it was only logical compared to the alternatives and my preferences, at that time.

I consider my move here to have been one on my better moves in life and would not change it, given my time over again.