Job Discussion Forums

No Moss · Joined: 15 Apr 2003 Posts: 1995 Location: Thailand

Just did a trip to Bangkok and Pattya, and I'm going back later this month. Like Volo, I look for an excuse to go to Thailand.

I'm looking for a place in Thailand to retire in late next year. I'd don't really like Chiang Mai--it's great but too far from the action. Phuket is a bit too touristy for me. Bangkok is a possibility, as is Pattaya. Has anyone spent any time in Hua Hin (the Thai side, not the five-star side)?

I'm lookin' for suggestions.

sojourner · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:45 am Post subject:

No Moss,

Hua Hin is really great ! It's only about 2.5 hours from Bangkok, by express bus. Plenty of good, reasonably-priced restaurants, especially those on the jetties and on the night market street (just off the main street).

Many Scandinavians go there, especially elderly couples - not sure whether they are mainly permanent residents on retirement visas, or not.

Next time that you're in Thailand, spend a few days in Hua Hin. A good cheap place to stay at is the Subhamitra Hotel, a 1.5 (2 ?) star establishment just off the main street. An ac room, with en-suite, would cost betweeen 15-17 USD per night. The ph. contact is : 032-511208 or 511487. When you are in Hua Hin, visit some of the real estate offices. Yes, some places are pretty expensive, but others are quite reasonably-priced. Check my earlier posting to this thread when I said something about flats costing around 40 K. USD ! There could even be cheaper places !

In another recent posting, you mentioned something about cheap guest houses in Bangkok. One other place that you might want to consider is the Royal Hotel ( 2-star), which is about 5minutes walk away from the Khaosan Rd area. If you book through "Asiarooms", the tariff will probably come to around 20-23 USD per night - also includes a v.good Western-style buffet breakfast.

I much prefer Thailand to China - can't wait to get to the Kingdom as soon as I have finished marking the exam papers, in a month's time !

Peter

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

What do people who retire in Thailand do for health insurance when/if they get to be really old? (no offense to the lucky buggers) I seem to remember most of the expat insurance plans I've seen have cut-off ages, something like around 65 or 70. Thx ... M

tesolitis · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 37 Location: canada

I refer to:

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Just show the 800K once a year, it doesn't need to stay in there....statically.

As far as I know it has to be in a Thai bank so most likely in Baht (although you might be able to get away with Dollar in like the HSBC bank).

Visa extension shouldn't take more than a week or two if that.

When you do 90 day runs you only have to leave for like a minute and then come right back in and get 90 days on entry.

No repitition limit as far as I know...unless you give them a reason to get funny with you.

tesolitis · Joined: 23 Jun 2004 Posts: 37 Location: canada

thank you, may be some other person has tried the foreign curreny deposit approach. I checked on the bank mentioned somewhere in the thread: The spread between buy and sell was lowest for the Swiss Franc. So this migfht be a good currency choice.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

^ Thing is here mate it's hard to be 100% sure of anything. I reckon it's doable in a foreign account....but you'll not really know until you try as a lot of this kind of stuff is purely down to the Immigration Officers discretion, or how he perceives the law to be.

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

Does the visa that comes with parking the 800,000 baht get you the same access to the universal health care system there that a Thai citizen gets?

Thx .... mep

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:37 am Post subject: Re: ...