You are here: Home / Archives for Retire In Phuket

Tips Of Caution

May 14, 2010 by 1 Comment

Retire In Paradise

Tips Of Caution

Here are some tips of caution for anyone considering retirement in Thailand, Thailand is a wonderful place to live out your retirement dreams, but these dreams can turn into a nightmare if you are not aware of its laws. To begin with I am not a lawyer and I don’t qualify to give any legal advice, I’m just some guy on the Internet, below are some guidelines you should adhere to while living in Thailand.

Drugs, remember you want to enjoy your retired life in paradise, so the last thing you want to do is use illegal drugs. The penalties for the possession of, use of, or the trafficking in illegal drugs in Thailand are very severe. If you are prosecuted, you will have to go through the Thai criminal system. Rights that you may take for granted in your country may not exist, or be accorded to you, here in Thailand. As a foreigner you will get no special rights or privileges. If convicted drug offenders can expect long sentences under harsh conditions and even a heavy fine. Thailand also has the death penalty for serious drug offenses and has executed convicted traffickers, my advice to you, as I strongly advise you against having anything to do with drugs.

Child pornography and sex with under-age children, Southeast Asia are popular destinations for child-sex predators. The Thai government recently has vigorously prosecuted offenders, punishment is very severe. Those individuals who lure children into prostitution in Thailand now face up to 15 years in jail. If you engage in sexual activities with children or possessing or disseminating child pornography in Thailand is a crime, convicted offenders will be deported at best; many Western countries prosecute their own for sex crimes abroad. Don’t even think about it.

Drinking alcohol is widely available in Thailand and is also part of the Thai culture. Every year, the deaths of several foreigners are reportedly have been attributed to alcohol related diseases or using some type of drugs. Try to find a healthy pastime to enjoy your retirement while in Thailand.

Prostitution is for sale around the clock and takes a number of forms; brothels, massage parlors, gentlemen club, and hostesses’ bars cater mostly to the Thai and Asian customers. For Western tourists and expats there are the go-go bars, beer bars, discos and the streets. In Thailand prostitution is illegal, but the laws are rarely enforced, so if you are caught being fined can hurt your wallet. It can also be very dangerous to your health with plenty of STD and AIDS cases which are very common among the Thai prostitution world.

Always do your research on Thai customs you need to comply with Thai regulations in what you can and cannot bring into the country.

Illegal stay, if you want to retire in Thailand as a legal citizen, I would highly recommend you do not overstay your visa and remain in the country illegally, be aware when your authorized stay expires. There are a number of type visas out there please review the visa that concerns you, in the future I will be adding this to my web site. If you are caught in Thailand during an illegal stay, expect to pay a hefty fine and be deported immediately.

Filed Under: Tips Of Caution Tagged With:

Cultural Tips

May 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise


Cultural Tips

Learn Thailand cultural tips are a must for foreigners living in Thailand, here a few tips for you to know that well help you from experiencing an embarrassing situation.

If you want to live in the land of smiles, you must train yourself to smile. The Thai people smile for many reasons. They smile for amusement or to cover their own embarrassment and to thank you without using words. If you know when and how to smile gives you a big advantage in Thailand, smiling will also make it easier to make friends, the Thai people love a big smile from a foreigner.

Control you anger and frustrations in public, this may be acceptable in your own country, but not here in Thailand. Shouting and displaying anger in public will not help get you what you want, in fact it is the very opposite, Thais don’t like impolite people, always try to keep your cool this really goes a long way when it comes to getting respect.

The Thai people are very proud people don’t look down on things Thais do, the people, the culture and especially the monarchy.

Avoid personal criticism especially if you are in public, Thai people don’t take criticism very well whether it’s constructive or not.

Always show respect to the royal family.

Learn about Buddhism and what to do and what not to do, a majority of the Thais are Theravada Buddhists which has a tremendous influence on the Thai way of thinking, Monks are highly respected and you should be respectful to them just as everyone else’s is. No one is allowed to mistreat or show disrespect to the Buddha image. When visiting temples you should not wear shorts or skimpy outfits. If in doubt always ask whether it’s alright to do certain things, the Thai people really appreciate it when show that you care by asking first.

Always remember you must accept the fact that you are a foreigner and will always be regarded as a foreigner for the rest of your life in Thailand.

Filed Under: Cultural Tips Tagged With:

Retirement Tips

May 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise

Retirement Tips

Thailand retirement tips page will give you some good in-sight information to see if Thailand is the right place for you. Do as much research about Thailand as possible; this is very important in helping you make your decision. There is a ton of information on the Internet that you can find to help you in just about any retirement category. Do you know someone who is living in Thailand? You can get some valuable information from someone who is already living there; they already have a good knowledge of the country.

Always be prepared for various situations that you may encounter; health problems, financial worries, cost of living, I could go on and on, but it is important to note that if you are going to live in another country you must come up with some good plans to make your transition as easy as possible. Be sure that retiring in Thailand is really what you want to do and you will find happiness there before committing to any type of permanent residence.

General Tips

Always do an extended stay in Thailand first, Thailand is a wonderful place and it is easy to fall in love with it rapidly. Try to visit as many regions in Thailand as possible and put as much research and time in the areas that really interest you. My advice is don’t rush out and buy a home until you are completely satisfied with the area you really like, your best bet is to find a rental in that particular location, in other words always give the place a test drive before you commit.

Learn how to speak the Thai language, although you can get by speaking English in most of the tourist areas, this will make life whole lot easier for you and the Thais will really appreciate your efforts in learning there language, even though you aren’t that proficient. There are many schools in Thailand that will teach you the Thai language, also some very good software programs that will really help you along.

Make friends with Thai people, this really helps you integrate into the Thai society, if you just stick with other retirees this really reduces your chance of a complete life in Thailand, by mixing in with Thai folks and understanding their customs and traditions you will feel much more comfortable.

Stay healthy and keep busy there are some many wonderful activities in Thailand where you can participate in many things such as; reading clubs, cooking classes, gym workouts, language classes, volunteer work. Avoid hanging out in the bars and pubs.

Keep a good look at your finances, this is very important. Remember you want to be happy in the land of smiles without squandering all your money away. Living in Thailand is really a bargain but you can easily get carried away by indulging in activities you really can’t afford. Always live by your means.

Keep in good communication with your friends and family back home, if your family does not know Thailand that well they may become worried about you, now days it is very easy to communicate with e-mail, social web sites such as facebook, myspace,etc.

Filed Under: Retirement Tips Tagged With:

Retirement Locations

May 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise

Retirement Locations

Thailand has many wonderful retirement locations, the places that I list are the most popular places, but there are many different provinces in Thailand, if you are married to a Thai spouse she may want to live in one of these small provinces. My best advice to is to go check out for yourself if a particular location is best for you, you never know, you may actually like it more than some of the places that I have mentioned below.

If you really desire a certain location I advise you to do the following; schedule a long stay first, does this new way of life really suit you? Are you going to be happy? Keep some good notes of your stay, if you really want to make sure of it, schedule some more time.

Popular Thailand retirement locations include:

  • Phuket

  • Pattaya

  • Bangkok

  • Hua Hin

  • Chang Mai

Phuket

Phuket is known as the Pearl of the South and is Thailand’s largest island. Phuket is one of the most sought after travel and wedding & honeymoon destination in all of Asia. Phuket Thailand has many beautiful beaches; Patong, Karon, Kata, Bang Tao and the picture postcard islands make Phuket a retiree’s paradise.

You’ll notice on this web site that I put a lot more emphasis on Phuket that’s because this is the location that I choose to retire in; below I have some advantages and disadvantages for retiring in Phuket.

Advantages

– Many beautiful beaches with all the corresponding activities that go along with them.

– Beautiful well-preserved secluded islands, beautiful undulating hills.

– Numerous scenic spots, national parks, limestone caves, beautiful offshore islands and waterfalls.

– Excellent location for diving and snorkeling

– Enjoy some of the best sailing, yachting and fishing in Southeast Asia

– Superb seafood at bargain prices.

Disadvantages

– Phuket is one of the most popular tourist destinations, more than a million tourists a month during the high-season.
– Booming property market means real estate prices are constantly on the rise.

– Expat residents often get mistaken for tourists because of the large number of Phuket travelers.

– Expect a two-tiered price system for locals and tourists for some goods and services.

Things to do in Phuket

– Schedule a day trips to the blue-water beaches at Rawai, Chalong, Nai Harn, Karon, Kata, Bang Tao and Nai Yang.
– Plenty of water sports to include scuba diving, jet-sking, surfing, kite boarding, sailing, yachting, snorkeling and deep sea fishing.

– Visit some of the best ocean views and coral reefs in Thailand.

– Island hopping and cruises to world famous Similan, Phi Phi Islands.

– Beautiful rainforest national parts located in Phang Nga

– Excellent seaside dining at restaurants, five-star resorts and many romantic settings to enjoy.

– Tons of clubs and societies to join and have fun.

– Plenty of nightlife locations.

Pattaya

Pattaya Thailand is located in the Chonburi province and is about 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok; Pattaya is probably the most popular destination in Thailand for both retirees and tourists alike. This beautiful resort city boasts three beaches; Pattaya, Jomtien and Naklua. Pattaya has many five-star resorts, and an exciting nightlife with hundreds of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Pattaya has one of the largest expat communities, with American and Brits topping the list, there is also a large population of assorted Australians and Europeans as well. This resort city has two expat clubs that organize a host of activities for its expat community and there is tons of activities going on in Pattaya every day.

Advantages

– Easy access to Bangkok and all of its attractions

– Three beautiful beaches that offer numerous water sports for the active resident

– Entertainment capital of Thailand with hundreds of beer bars, go-go bars and nightclubs that are open around the clock.

– Excellent array of restaurants, great seafood and International cuisines and five-star resorts for great dining and entertainment.

– Enjoy some of the best sailing and yachting in the country, also one of the best locations for big-game fishing.

– Plenty of golf courses at least 20 in the Pattaya area

– Plenty of business centers to take care of your financial and real estate needs

Disadvantages

– Close to 1 million tourists during the November – March high season

– Beaches can be somewhat overcrowded

– Inflated prices for foreigners and Pattaya tourists

– Beaches are sometimes polluted due to the high tourist influx

– The crime rate is on the rise

– Pattaya is viewed as a city of sin and sex

Bangkok

Bangkok Thailand is the capital and largest city in the country and has over 10 million inhabitants and is bisected by the Chao Phraya River. Bangkok Thailand boasts a lively nightlife, excellent International cuisine, hundreds of clubs and organizations to belong to, and some of the best shopping in the world, with some of the most incredible markets and malls.

One thing about Bangkok if you can’t find what you are looking for, you are very unlikely to find it anywhere in the region. One of the best things you can do is pick up a map of the city and explore neighborhood by neighborhood to see which part of the city you really like for living and entertainment.

Advantages

– Bangkok never sleeps; it’s where all the action is

– Bangkok is the cultural Mecca of Thailand; some notable events include International Jazz Festival, International film festivals, and many big-name international performers book their shows and concerts here.

– Beautiful exotic Buddhist temples

– Beautiful green parks at Lumpini, Sanam Luang and Benjasiri.

– Numerous transportation options link Bangkok with almost every other city and town in Thailand.

– Plenty of exciting nightlife, Thai and International cuisine and unlimited nightlife options for just about every party goers.

– Unlimited accommodation options from the very cheap to unimaginably luxurious. Whatever budget living style you choose you’re sure to find it in Bangkok.

Disadvantages

– Bangkok is very congested you cannot really walk in a straight line anywhere with broken pavement, street vendors blocking the sidewalk become a real annoyance.

– The noise pollution is mind-boggling especially in the malls and the streets.

– Air pollution can get pretty bad along with the heat and humidity can really make the hot season unbearable.

– During rush-hour in some areas it’s sometimes very difficult to get a taxi.

– During the rainy season you often have flooding problems.

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is roughly a four hour car or train south of Bangkok on the Gulf coast, Hua Hin boasts five kilometers of beaches. Hua Hin has a population of more than 125,000 with plenty of hotels, restaurants and high-rise condominiums.

Hua Hin attracts expats that prefer a more sedate life of leisure, sports, far away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and Pattaya. Because of its royal connection; the king visits from time to time, the town retains a more well-mannered atmosphere. There is no ritzy nightlife scene, but if you reaaly want to see the action, you’re only five hours by car or train from Bangkok.

The city boasts some of the best golf courses in Thailand and local expat group based in town enjoys year-round tournaments and golf trips around Thailand. British and Scandinavian make up the two biggest groups among the expat community that live here.

Advantages

– Reasonable travel time to Bangkok

– Beautiful stretches of beach within walking distant of town

– Royal connection means the security is very good and the crime rate is low

– Hua Hin retains some great old-world charm

– Excellent location for golfers

– Good selection of international hotels and restaurants to choose from

– Beautiful Ocean views from the hillside Wat Khao Lao temple

Disadvantages

– No international hospital for serious medical cases and the ambulance service is not that good

– Rising real estate prices

– Tough to get golf tee times during the high season

– Higher prices for food and public transportation

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the largest city in the North of Thailand and has a population somewhere around 300,000. The city sits in a beautiful tropical valley surrounded by mountains that have historically protected the city from outside distractions. The climate between July and March is very nice, when the air is cool and hills are green, the hot season lasts from April through June, the winter months November through February bring a brisk chill at night.

Chiang Mai has been rated among the top ten most livable cities in Asia because of its laid-back atmosphere, mild climate, and one of the most affordable places to live. One thing about Chiang Mai it has a well established network of services which is aimed specifically at foreigners and the already established expat community.

Advantages

– Much slower pace of life, but still offers most city services

– Ancient temples, old houses, local markets give the city a homey atmosphere

– Beautiful surrounding countryside

– Pleasant weather which means it’s generally cool year-round

– Very few beggars and homeless people

– Excellent communications infrastructure the phones and Internet are very good

– Friendly honest people compared to other places in Thailand

– Excellent Thai northern cuisine; tons of flavors and excellent vegetarian choices

– Not overwhelmed with tourists like Bangkok, makes Chiang Mai very livable

Disadvantages

– Visa runs to the border Mai Sai is a four hour ride which can be a ongoing inconvenience

– Noise pollution which is most noticeable in the shopping malls

– The Thai language can be difficult to learn for some, especially the northern dialect

– Rush hour traffic can be very frustrating espically during events like annual flower festival, Songkran and Loy Kratong.

Filed Under: Retirement Locations Tagged With:

Working In Thailand

May 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise



Working In Thailand

Although this web site is about retiring in Thailand it would be nice to earn some extra cash doing something on the side, one thing I always tell folks are it is important to have some daily activity whether it be volunteering, becoming a member or finding some type of work in Thailand to keep your mental activity in check.

If you want to work in Thailand “You must have a work permit”, this is very important, if you are caught working illegally you could be fined, deported and even thrown in jail, so word to the wise, do the right thing.

A work permit may cost around 4,000 Baht which includes taxes and lawyer fees, this type of visa can usually set you up for either a 3 month or 1 year stay before renewal.

One important thing to remember when working in Thailand is your earning’s usually only a fraction of what you make in any Western country. Some typical jobs for foreigners in Thailand include teaching, hotel or restaurant manager and working online (Internet based).

A lot of folks dream of opening up a bar or restaurant in some of the popular resort areas around Thailand, my advice is be very careful and seek some good legal advice. For those of you are interested in doing such a business in Thailand, here is a great article Owning a Bar on Phuket – is it Really a Dream? By Jim Spellman.

Filed Under: Retire In Phuket, Working In Thailand Tagged With:

Factors To Consider

May 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise

Factors To Consider

Here are some important factors you should ask yourself and help you decide if retiring in Thailand is right for you.

  • You must the mindset. Are you open for new adventures? Thailand is a wonderful exotic place and you will experience many new things, Thailand culture is very unique and having a sense of adventure is a must in order to live here.

  • Having a love for travel, there are many places and activities to do in Phuket or anywhere in Thailand.

  • You should meet and enjoy new friends, remember you will not be seeing your family and friends for a while, having lots of friends to enjoy your new found retirement in Thailand, makes it all more enjoyable.

  • Make sure you are in good health both mentally and physically, your first year is the hardest, but once you begin to understand the country well its generally smooth sailing.

  • The pace is much slower compared with other Western countries, you should never get bored in Thailand keep you daily schedule packed with activities to keep from getting bored. Thailand is loaded with wonderful outdoor activities.

  • Always accept your role as a foreigner; most Thai’s aren’t interested in listening to your country’s politics, so get used to being referred to as a farang or expat.

  • Learn the Thai language, this really goes a long way, you will gain much respect from the locals.

  • Remember the bureaucracy is different than your home country, simple things may take longer in Thailand, just get used to their ways.

  • Be financially stable without having to work, this is very important and always have a backup plan if things don’t work out.
Filed Under: Factors To Consider Tagged With:

Retirement Jobs

May 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise

Retirement Jobs

Have you ever wanted to work in Thailand? Here are some typical jobs for foreigners in Thailand teaching, restaurant and hotel work or some type of web based business, this is one of the most popular because you can do this line of work almost anywhere.

Teaching

The most obvious and popular job in Thailand is teaching English or other subjects such as math, science or computers these jobs often pay better. One credential you are going to need before you embark on such a career is teaching degree or TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language), there are many schools in Bangkok, Phuket that offer the TEFL qualification, school prices vary from $1200 – $1800 USD. Pay for teachers range from 600 to 1800 baht per day or 25,000 to 60,000 baht per month depending upon location, your qualification and subject taught.

Some of the most common schools are in Bangkok and major cities, once you get outside the big cities you may need to open up your own school.

Restaurants, Bars and Hotels

These type jobs are most popular in the tourist areas such as Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. Many people have the vision of opening up their own bar, restaurant or guesthouse without really doing a realistic cost analysis or realistic expense. My advice is before you invest your hard earned money in these type businesses, have a look at what the local competition is doing. Do they have a large customer base? How much cash do they spend? One important point. If you check such data during high season and it looks busy, this could be a false analysis, but once low season comes around they might not see a customer for days.

Always make a realistic estimate of income and expenses, this should be calculated for the whole year, make sure you think about important items such as staff, rent, food , taxes and permits. Remember you are not going to have the returning customers to rely on. If you are honest and realistic in your planning, more than likely you will barley make ends meet, but this does not mean not to try.

Working Online

This by far one of the most popular ways to make an income in Thailand all you need is a computer and an Internet connection. To be successful on the web, your web site must get noticed by the search engines, this is a very big subject and much has been written about. My suggestion is review the basic facts of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and incorporate these principals into your own web site. Like any other type business, it takes a lot of work and patience.

Filed Under: Retirement Jobs Tagged With:

Cost Of Living Estimate

May 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise

Cost Of Living Estimate

Here is a sample cost of living estimate for 2009, keep in mind, these are only estimates, but will give you an idea what to expect.

Average Cost Per Month

Rent

– Low range: 5000 – 10,000 Baht
– Middle range: 10,000 – 27,000 Baht
– 27,000 Baht and above

Food, Drink (home and restaurant)

– Low range: 2500 Baht
– Middle range: 2500 – 3500 Baht
– High range: 3500 – 5000 Baht

Other Expenses

– Medical: 2500 Baht
– Transportation (local and motorcycle): 1100 Baht
– Visa Trips and visa: 2000 Baht – above
– Utilities (water, electric and gas): 1200 Baht
– Laundry service: 800 Baht
– Internet and Phone: 1000 Baht

Filed Under: Cost Of Living Estimate Tagged With:

How Much Money Needed

May 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise

How Much Money Needed

Many Thailand travelers dream of saying goodbye to their current situation of mortgages, routine bills, taxes and cold winters and moving to paradise. Some folks just do it without much thought of planning, but like me, it’s always nice to have a plan, so you can afford to live in Thailand.

The biggest factor is your age and current life expectancy determines how many years you have to support yourself. What is your general health, if you have a family history of some type disease this factor must be considered, this will help you determine how much to budget for healthcare.

Lifestyle is critical on how much you need to retire. I know folks that can live in Thailand for less than 30,000 Baht per month, the average is right around 75,000 – 90,000, this figure will be much higher if you plan to travel and spend a good portion on entertainment.

Most folks that I know, like some of my retired military friends find they can live pretty modest; have a small apartment or house, travel around on a motorbike and eat cheap food. Budgeting to eat is very easy to do, living of $5.00 USD per day for food is very common, if you like to enjoy the more lavish restaurants on a weekly basis, your food costs will go through the roof.

Testing the waters is the best thing you can do before you make your decision, my advice is come here for a month or two, keep a good log of all your expenses; food, entertainment, etc this will really help you out in your retirement planning success.

Filed Under: Money Needed Tagged With:

Advantages

May 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Retire In Paradise

Advantages

Advantages of living of retiring in Thailand, there are a good number of advantages, below is my summary of the most popular, overtime I will be adding many more, but in the mean time here are a few advantages of retiring in Phuket or anywhere in Thailand. One thing you’ll notice if you haven’t already, this web site focuses a lot on Phuket, that’s because this is the location of my retirement, but whatever location in Thailand you prefer, I hope my web site can help you fulfill your retirement dreams.

Cost of Living

This is by far the most important reason why Thailand is an excellent location for retirement. Many folks are collecting some type of monthly pension, if you are on a pension this really the way to go because you always have that monthly cash flow. If you have more than one pension the better, I currently only have one from my retirement from the US Navy, but once I become eligible for Social Security benefits that’s just another check in the bank, I’m still quite a few years away from receiving this benefit.

We all know we need at least these fundamentals in order to survive; housing, food and water, if you have enough cash flow to cover these fundamentals you’re in there. There is one important point I would like to remind you of “Live by Your Means” always make a budget and stick to it.

A place to live is available for all budget levels, the big factor is where you want to live, example a two-bedroom apartment not far from the beach for just $500.00 USD, if you have the income resources you can live a very lavish lifestyle anywhere from $1800 – $4000 USD per month. Thailand is loaded with tasty foods and you can live off of $5.00 a day, plenty of open markets and roadside food stands to choose from. Thailand has a very good selection of supermarkets with both Western and Thai foods you should not have any problems finding your ingredients for any type meal you prepare. Just find a budget that works for you.

A New Lifestyle

A low Cost of living will really give you a nice new lifestyle, think about the opportunities you normally can’t do in your home country, Thailand because of its low cost will allow you to just about anything. If you are looking for that special SPA treatment western prices normally run $140.00 in Thailand a complete SPA treatment may run you $25.00. Outdoor activities there is much to choose from, SCUBA diving, golfing, sailing and much more, you can find almost any outdoor activity in Thailand for a fraction of the cost.

Shopping

If you love to shop, Thailand is known a paradise for shopping, you can find just about anything at rock bottom prices. If you are shopping for clothes, jewelry or furniture you can really find some good deals, most places outside a major mall you can haggle with the vendors to get your best price. My advice is go where the local Thais shop, you can really learn how to shop like the Thais, we always get with our Thai friends, they can always point you in the right direction when it comes to finding a bargain.

Healthcare

Did you know that Thailand has some of the best medical services in the world? All doctors and nurses are very well trained, Thailand’s government run hospitals have some of the best services around, health tourism is really becoming a big business, and most hospital procedures can be performed at a fraction of the price when you compare it to the United States.

Filed Under: Advantages Tagged With:
«Older Posts