Enjoyed the conversation. After I spend a year or so in Bangkok, thinking it would be time to find a little more peaceful place to live. Cha Am will be on my "visit" list. Would not have known about it without your vlogs. Appreciate all you do to help us see Thailand in all it's beauty. Only two more months before I'm there permanently. Looking forward to it!
You have new sub :) I'm a 60 yo Merchant Marine Captain from Alaska and will be permanently relocating to Thailand in November to be with my Thai wife and son. On to your next vid as this is the first one I've viewed.
Chuck I love your VLOGS. This completes your mini series on Cha Am. you have produced the best VLOGS there is on Cha Am. We personally moved to Cha Am 11 months ago as I have been visiting the area for 25 years. We love it for all the reasons Brian gave. I love your comments on Hua Hin, as this where we were going to settle. I love Hua Hin, but it turns out not to live there. The town planning is none existent, the traffic and especially parking is a nightmare. Also not having a beach road is a negative. That said it is just on the doorstep and we can visit anytime. Great VLOG.
If you live in Cha-am, Heu HIn is nice to visit once a week. Hwy goes through the middle of town and is hard to cross. Has much better shops but who needs them (if you have a Thai girlfriend well that"s different). Heu Hin still nice but traffic day in day out is a dogs dinner. 5555
Chuck, your vids are packed with good info no matter what the topic is. Thanks so much! I've watched bunches of your vids. Great info for everyday living without all the woman chasing/drinking stuff. I'm looking at a visit for 3 months or so and see if it's a retirement place for me. My retirement budget is about 65,000 bt per month. From what I've seen that budget is very doable.
thanks again Chuck when I get to Thailand I think I will start in cha-am and the surrounding areas to try to find the place I would like to settle keep up the great work and keep smiling😀
Hi Chuck, Cha Am seems like a laid back part of Thailand not overloaded with tourists. It seems to have a lot going for it. A nice market the beach and not a lot of traffic. I just got back from Chiang Mai but I miss the beach and seafood , which Chiang Mai doesn't have. I think my next trip to Thailand will be hua him and Cha Am. As I told you before I have a filipina girl friend here in the Philippines. I've been here for ten years and like where I live. People here are very nice and warm. No things aren't perfect but no where is. As far as no joke coward chuck is telling things from his perspective if you don't like Thailand then it's not for you. That's ok it's not for everyone.. Keep up the videos Chuck I enjoy watching them and your giving us a tour.
Lots of Thai tourists at weekends, beach road often grid locked. Mon to Fri just heaven, weekend still OK, sometimes just better to walk around town (and faster)
Great vlog I've stayed in this place a couple of times, just at the right hand side of the pool. Very relaxing ! Beach area can get very busy at the weekend.
I've enjoyed each of the 3 times I've visited Cha Am, notably the 1st time (2014) when we stayed at the southernmost part and never even saw the town. The other 2 times we stayed in town and loved it during the week, but found the weekends over busy with Thai's weekending there. Overall like the town, and value for the price, but not crazy about the ocean water quality. Phuket is more expensive, but the beaches are awesome, and the fact that the airport is accessible from so many destinations is a big plus. There are pluses and minuses for a retiree in every part of Thailand, but it is an affordable and captivating land.
Great interview. I really enjoyed listening to you and your guest Brian. Both of you were a wealth of information. Brian said the "air is beautiful" which I assume means the air quality is very good. Is the air quality good year round or is there a burning season in Cha Am similar to Chaing Mai? Year round air quality is very important. Once again thanks for the terrific interview.
This was very interesting, thank you. My hubby and I are seriously thinking of retiring to Thailand in a few years and definitely want to live coastal. We don't want to be remote but the cost of living in Phuket appears to be a lot higher. We've been to Hua Hin and Pattaya (and a bunch of inland places) but haven't been to Cha Am, definitely need to put this one down on our next visit. Would you have any suggestions of other coastal towns that we could consider? We'd like to be somewhere where there's still a bit of life but we don't need Patong madness. We'd really appreciate any ideas.
The only thing I disagree with is the idea of paying rent for a full year. There are plenty of good quality and inexpensive rentals, in good locations, that do not require paying for all 12 months up front. More common is a 12 month contract with first month's rent and an additional one or two months rent up front for a deposit. Your biggest negotiating point is that you are not Thai. Landlords prefer renting to westerners, because they pay on time and don't trash the place. My current Thai landlord said there were many Thais asking to rent the house, but she did not want people with chickens. Also, don't kid yourself into thinking you have secured a property for 12 month, because you paid for the year in advance.
We love Thailand and hope to retire there. The only thing we could live without is the heat and humidity. What city is the coolest....maybe Chiang Rai ?
The following is a response I made on another site about how things can get very complicated when applying for a 60 day + 30 Tourist visa in Thailand. I agree with every thing you say. I can only repeat what I have said on other post on this site...you go to Malaysia and even if you are only passing through in a few hours and you are from a country like Australia, USA, UK, most of Europe and many other countries you simply walk up the the immigration desk, place your opened passport on the spot, put thumb on another spot, look at the camera, smile a bit and "Bobs your uncle" in about 20 seconds the officer will stamp your pass port with a 3 months tourist visa...all done, This is the same in most other countries. Similar efforts in Australia to get a 3 months Thai tourist visa the application procedure is:-- Fill out the application form with all the required details, provide a passport photo less then 6 month old, deliver your pass port to a Thai Consul in your state or the Thai Embassy in Canberra in Australia, ( in my case by registered mail) include a copy of the personal information page of your pass port, a photo copy of an Australian drivers licence showing your proof of residential address. You are also required to provide a recent copy of a certified bank statement showing you have a balance of more then Aus $800. You deliver all this to a Thai Consul in Australia together with Aus$45. The visa will take usually take about 5 days at a Consulate. On one occasion it took 18 days at the Perth Australia ( I have applied 6 times now). To add to all this you have to provide a copy of your E-ticket of when you arrive and depart and confirmed hotel booking...the funny part about this is when you do get the visa it states you can arrive any time you like within the following 3 months. The application form from a Thai Consuls is very confusing on Question 10 it states "Tourist (stay up to 60 days per entry)" however down the page in the general section it clearly states "The validity of visa is 3 months for tourist ,single entry". a real trap for players. The Consul will tell you it's really 60day + 30 day 3 months tourist visa?? Now if you are very clued up you will find out later that if you want to stay in Thailand for the 3 month period you thought you could with this visa you will have to go to immigration before the 2 month period is up (make sure it is in the provence you are resident in or all will fail) and apply for a 30 day extension. This takes about all day, that is half a day to find out how to do it correctly and half a day waiting around for your turn. You will require more pass port photos, a tricky application form, several copies of this, your pass port and several copies, of the personal information page of your passport and Bt1900. And "to boot" make sure each collection of papers are stapled correctly together or get back on the line? ...once you have done all this you will be invited to be interviewed by a immigration police officer to make sure you are the person you say you are, after all this your pass port will be stamped with a 30 day tourist visa extension. Malaysia and other countries you don't even have to tell them your coming it takes about 5 min? And they try and tell us they want more tourist in Thailand...hmmmm????...5555
Hi Chuck. Can you please ask Brian`s opinion about farangs working as a Tourist police? Does he think that it is viable option for a farang to sustain a living in Thailand? Does he know what are the requirements and such? Really enjoy your vlogs. Thanks from Finland. Keep up the good work, and best wishes to you and Paige and Soi mafia lol.
You do a wonderful job of providing the day to day cost for life in Thailand in your videos and I was wondering if you can talk about how you determined what it would cost for you and Paige to move to Thailand? For those of us who would like to retire early, but have no pension options and no social security for 10-15 years it would be nice to have a list of all of the items you took into account and what you used to determine your budget.
Issan is the best place to be. I live in a really small village, where the closest Amphur is 30 km away. I am the only American here, There are a few Europeans, though. Talk about being quiet. Our house is on 4 rai of land and we grow veggies to eat.
Great video, Chuck! On my upcoming trip to Thailand, I'll take a look at the Cha-Am/Hua Hin area and make my decision as to where in Thailand I want to set-up my future base of operation. After listening to Brian, I guess one can live extremely comfortably on $2,300/mth. Btw, I thoroughly enjoyed your travel series videos and I'm looking forward to your upcoming trips. Please give Paige and Soi Mafia my regards and stay awesome! :)
Single male can live quite comfortable on Bt40,000 a month, if you get a Thai girlfriend and that's not hard to do in Cha-am, yes a bit more...I go for a 7/8 km walk along beach each day when tide is down (a bit)...you'll love it too.
Lots of other places in Thailand just as good as Cha-am, that's my favorite. Like every where else in Thailand smiling at Soi dogs and Sunday driving is very dangerous.
Yes but everything else is just lovely warts and all...I talk in Aussie dollars approx 80 US cents to Aus 100 ($1) cents. $2,300 US will not be quite enough to get a Thai retirement visa but there are ways of making this happen...5555
People ask me "why do you go back and forth from Perth (Australia) to Thailand on a 60 day + 30 day extension Tourist visa instead of retirement visa". I will apply for a Thai retirement visa in Australia before my next visit to Thailand, soon. I have tried to get a retirement visa in Thailand , Stat dec. from the Australian Embassy, not interested at Thai Immigration ("you go put Bt800,000 in bank come back in 2 months" ) or you can give Bt 30,000 to a corrupt legal firms and troubles will go away?. I don't want to put money in a Thai bank. I am working on it and will likely sort it out for my next visit in Australia but I will probably only stay 3 month in Thailand 3 month in Australia even when I get the retirement visa. Who knows there maybe some complication is doing that, I've been studying Thai Immigration about Visas now for 6 years, nothing would surprise me. It's all a dogs dinner. All this is to do with the fact that I'm an Australian Senior Citizen and I receive a Govt aged pension. I own half a house in Australia and have some extra investment super which allows me to supplement my pension to about to Bt 75000 P/M, ($33,000 in Aus) not a large sum but good for living in Thailand not so good if I live in Australia. Although I don't have a lot of medical issues at 75 y/o it is better if I go home regularly as medical services and treatment for me is almost free in Australia Travel insurance is also a dogs dinner. I have 3 medical prescriptions I need which would cost me $150 P/M (Bt4000) in Thailand but almost free in Australia which adds up to a $450 saving during those 3 month at home and I can take to Thailand from Aus the same amount for 3 months away free. For 6 weeks after I leave again for Thailand another $150 will be saved as my pension is restored to its full amount. I have also have some mild medical treatment in Australia which would be complicated if I had it done in Thailand, it's free in Australia. The plumbing inspected etc. etc. Cost wise it is better to go home regularly. Even though I earn a bit more in addition to the Australian aged pension. I only spend up to about Bt 40,000 P/M when in Thailand and live very well. BT 9,000 nice room, motor bike Bt 3000, massages Bt3000, The other Bt 25000 eating, some drinks and socializing, If I get a girlfriend then that will go up (not hard to get a girlfriend). Usually I can get a return fare Perth to KL, KL to BKK. for less then Aus $300 provided I can stay away from Aus School holidays. So if you do the sums the trip home is only time and I put at least $300 extra in my pocket. Going to and fro to Australia 3 months at a time gives me a rest from many of the silly things Thais do, it is also great therapy. I still love Thai people and the place. I still love Australia.
We at the golf club tried to arrange with one the golf club members who teaches English to attend the his school and create a forum so the kids could practice their English. Good for the kids. My friend the English teacher wanted this to happen. The principal at the school could not let this happen as it was against the law, "volunteering is not allowed" he said. TIT ,
Brian volunteers 2 days a week to the new immigration recruits. He was approached to offer his service. He donates whatever they pay him back to the new troops.
My post about the golf club was we believe instigated by a disgruntled Thai member. Immigration had to interview us tell us what could have transpired...put the wind up us a bit. It was touch and go for a while.
I go back to my comments inspired by Dale Carnegie when in his book "How to win friends and influence people" almost a bible on how to succeed in business, politics or how to be friends with people anywhere all over the world. (I studied it 55 years ago and never had any regrets). This book (revised edition) was and still does enjoy great acclaim and sales for anyone wishing to be successful in life. One of his most important comment is that there is no such thing as "constructive critisim" all critisim reduces the esteem of the person you are addressing and that is called "destructive critisim" There are many good things about living in Thailand. Perhaps you could revamp your opening statement and "look for the good in everyone'" there is plenty of good things in Thailand and a few not so good. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Carnegie
That's good price for Cha Am I was paying 500 baht a day in Phuket 20 years ago, that's was only short term rent and not a very nice room, if anyone can remember Sky inn it was near patong big bike they did own the room I was renting, I will pay Cha Am a visit next time I am in Thailand.
great video. i am hoping to come and check this place out for few days before my family arrives for 12 days of vacation. how is it for a female solo traveler? IT IS child friendly? what can kids do there? Thank you in advance.
I would think more of an awesome life experience more than entertainment. I sent one of my kids on a 8week adventure to Europe and he now has his own opinions on life outside of Google, and is open minded, and loves to travel.
Great. yeah, we lived in Europe too. my kids are well traveled. my husband is a network engineer and i a photographer. we have been looking out side of the u.s to live. life drags on here. lol your videos gave me a visual about life in Thailand. Thank you for that.
Nice informative video... was particularly interested in this video as I'm moving out to Thippiwan village just of canal road outside of Hua Hin in the next week or so..got a two bedroom house rented for 5,500bht a month for one year, but was considering Cha Am..I think something to consider for the future..once again thanks to you both.
The trouble with making recommendations, like here, is that if too many people respond positively the neighbourhood soon goes down... If Cha Am gets built up any more it will be another Hua Hin - do we need another one so close... LoL
notime2bsad - Sorry, I don't know where you mean by 'second beach road'... - and '1000s of vacancies'... of what...? Houses, apartments, hotel rooms...? Or all the above...? If this is true then Cha Am is already over-developed - and done for... As, some would say, is Hua Hin. (Incidentally, my comments are general - not personal. ;)
I have seen exactly this sort of over-development in Hua Hin during the past fifteen years. It happens the world over. It previously happened in Phuket and Samui. It is already happening in Cha Am. I am older than you so I don't need to worry about what will happen in my lifetime :) - I'll soon be moving to somewhere that is still tranquil 555.
I mean the 5 or 6 kms north and south on Cha-am beach there are no buildings except for 2 small buildings which are police stations. If you can Google Earth will show you all about it...lovely
I am currently paying 13,000 for a house similar to the one in this vlog... ... Web sites and agents will never give you 'real' prices.... unless you're a tourist wanting a short-term rental.
Hi Chuck could you please ask Brian the name and address of the condo he stayed at when paying 20,000thb a month and forward the reply to me. Thanks Martin.
You can get 2 bedroom town houses furnished with nice kitchen, 2 bath rooms Air cond about 1 to 2 km from beach for Bt9000 p/m. Make sure you have a Thai girlfriend or borrow one to do the negotiating. Try yourself and they'll charge you (a farang) about 50% more. yes55555
I see you intro comments suggest that farangs could or should donate their time to help to learn English. Thailand at times can only described a "#@*&%%$#" bloody awful". You may not know but It is a serious offence to volunteer your services free of charge anywhere in Thailand. I have been down that road, when involved attending a "busy bee" painting the steps at a local golf club with other farangs in Thailand and having to face up with others to Immigration to explain why I should not be deported for working. you have to have a special visa to volunteer. It's a crime to volunteer.
If you are only coming to Thailand to volunteer maybe so. A family friend who is a retired police says he has never heard of that being a crime for someone who has visa here. I have been asked several times by a high ranking teacher of 35 years to come sit in a couple times a week for some basic conversation English. I don't see too many police enforcing too many laws anyway. Only for drinking, registrations, and motorcycle helmets. I think if you are not causing problems no problems will come to you here. If you are trying to compete with a Thai person without a permit than they will ask you to stop and could fine you. Takes a lot to get arrested over something like volunteering.
The term “work” in Thai law is defined very broadly, covering both physical and mental activities, whether or not for wages or other form of compensation. Even volunteer or charity work requires a work permit in Thailand. Too right too, why should you work for free without permission. Australia along with every other country is no different. It is really annoying when people dis other countries. For example so many people come to Thailand on tourist visa and make money online cause they only need to make 1000$ a month to live like they are earning $5000 back home. Thai police should round up these people and give them a nice little bonus of $15000 fine and make sure they pay that every year!
Thank heavens I'm retired. It would be nice just to be able to respect all the financial requirements which I can in a simple way ( as I do ) and dispense all the palaver that go with visa applications.
I have a few questions first how do you just move to Thailand I’ve been told you carnt stay longer then 12 weeks then you have to cross the border then you can return you carnt stay in Thailand permanently unless you cross the border ? Also how the fuk do you live without a job you need work to earn money to pay bills you carnt live off thin air so can you explain to me how you live in Thailand & not work are all these people drug dealers or something?
I can’t believe that that Bryan guy is 55?? He looks to me like he is not more then 38 Thailand does good for him Ps; You Chuck is no bad lookin niether lol 👍
It seems like Brian is living a healthy and engaged lifestyle in Thailand. Good for him.
Enjoyed the conversation. After I spend a year or so in Bangkok, thinking it would be time to find a little more peaceful place to live. Cha Am will be on my "visit" list. Would not have known about it without your vlogs. Appreciate all you do to help us see Thailand in all it's beauty. Only two more months before I'm there permanently. Looking forward to it!
You'll love Cha-am I spend 3 month there and 3 months back in Aus. In time I will spend all in Cha-am
Jerry B. ---- are you there yet? How you liking your new life so far?
You have new sub :) I'm a 60 yo Merchant Marine Captain from Alaska and will be permanently relocating to Thailand in November to be with my Thai wife and son. On to your next vid as this is the first one I've viewed.
Outstanding vlog. I really appreciate both of you taking your time and helping all of us out who are considering LOS as one of our retirement choices.
Loved all the info in this vlog.. thank you for sharing 👍
LIFE is to dam short to not be this happy...........
I’m coming in December. I’ll definitely be checking out Cha Am. Thanks for the helpful video.
Thanks Chuck and Brian. Lots of good "food for thought"
Chuck I love your VLOGS. This completes your mini series on Cha Am. you have produced the best VLOGS there is on Cha Am. We personally moved to Cha Am 11 months ago as I have been visiting the area for 25 years. We love it for all the reasons Brian gave. I love your comments on Hua Hin, as this where we were going to settle. I love Hua Hin, but it turns out not to live there. The town planning is none existent, the traffic and especially parking is a nightmare. Also not having a beach road is a negative. That said it is just on the doorstep and we can visit anytime.
Great VLOG.
If you live in Cha-am, Heu HIn is nice to visit once a week. Hwy goes through the middle of town and is hard to cross. Has much better shops but who needs them (if you have a Thai girlfriend well that"s different). Heu Hin still nice but traffic day in day out is a dogs dinner. 5555
david walden I could not agree more. For me Hua Hin is near enough to use for shopping or a night out.
Chuck, your vids are packed with good info no matter what the topic is. Thanks so much!
I've watched bunches of your vids. Great info for everyday living without all the woman chasing/drinking stuff.
I'm looking at a visit for 3 months or so and see if it's a retirement place for me. My retirement budget is about 65,000 bt per month. From what I've seen that budget is very doable.
thanks again Chuck when I get to Thailand I think I will start in cha-am and the surrounding areas to try to find the place I would like to settle keep up the great work and keep smiling😀
Chuck Great Video. Very informative. I assume you made this video on the way back through Cha Am. Happy travels
Hi Chuck, Cha Am seems like a laid back part of Thailand not overloaded with tourists. It seems to have a lot going for it. A nice market the beach and not a lot of traffic. I just got back from Chiang Mai but I miss the beach and seafood , which Chiang Mai doesn't have. I think my next trip to Thailand will be hua him and Cha Am. As I told you before I have a filipina girl friend here in the Philippines. I've been here for ten years and like where I live. People here are very nice and warm. No things aren't perfect but no where is. As far as no joke coward chuck is telling things from his perspective if you don't like Thailand then it's not for you. That's ok it's not for everyone.. Keep up the videos Chuck I enjoy watching them and your giving us a tour.
Lots of Thai tourists at weekends, beach road often grid locked. Mon to Fri just heaven, weekend still OK, sometimes just better to walk around town (and faster)
Cha Am is where people (Thai's) from Bangkok come on the weekends.
billy johnson weekend it's time to party the Thais
Nice video guys👍 Been in Cha Am for 18 years and love it.
Great vlog I've stayed in this place a couple of times, just at the right hand side of the pool. Very relaxing ! Beach area can get very busy at the weekend.
That looks like my kind of place. Great video Chuck
cha -am and hua hin has a very large group of people from norway and sweden staying there, most of them are retired .
ps great video as always;)
I've enjoyed each of the 3 times I've visited Cha Am, notably the 1st time (2014) when we stayed at the southernmost part and never even saw the town. The other 2 times we stayed in town and loved it during the week, but found the weekends over busy with Thai's weekending there. Overall like the town, and value for the price, but not crazy about the ocean water quality. Phuket is more expensive, but the beaches are awesome, and the fact that the airport is accessible from so many destinations is a big plus. There are pluses and minuses for a retiree in every part of Thailand, but it is an affordable and captivating land.
I love Phuket too. Long term though I like Cha Am. Either way it is super easy to live like a gypsy in Thailand and just enjoy life.
This place sounds great. I will visit some day. Thank you for the great information.
Nice video. Thanks for sharing such information
We love Cha am / Hua Hin and always try to divide our time up between , their and Isaan . When visit family. As you know can get a bit boring 😉555
Great interview. I really enjoyed listening to you and your guest Brian. Both of you were a wealth of information. Brian said the "air is beautiful" which I assume means the air quality is very good. Is the air quality good year round or is there a burning season in Cha Am similar to Chaing Mai? Year round air quality is very important. Once again thanks for the terrific interview.
Good information! Planning for an early retirement fingers across
Hiya - thats quite a reasonable rental price for that location. Nice one. Cheers Leigh & Toon.
This was very interesting, thank you. My hubby and I are seriously thinking of retiring to Thailand in a few years and definitely want to live coastal. We don't want to be remote but the cost of living in Phuket appears to be a lot higher. We've been to Hua Hin and Pattaya (and a bunch of inland places) but haven't been to Cha Am, definitely need to put this one down on our next visit. Would you have any suggestions of other coastal towns that we could consider? We'd like to be somewhere where there's still a bit of life but we don't need Patong madness. We'd really appreciate any ideas.
ruclips.net/video/lZbo6yP9GQM/видео.html
I love Cha Am!
The only thing I disagree with is the idea of paying rent for a full year. There are plenty of good quality and inexpensive rentals, in good locations, that do not require paying for all 12 months up front. More common is a 12 month contract with first month's rent and an additional one or two months rent up front for a deposit. Your biggest negotiating point is that you are not Thai. Landlords prefer renting to westerners, because they pay on time and don't trash the place. My current Thai landlord said there were many Thais asking to rent the house, but she did not want people with chickens. Also, don't kid yourself into thinking you have secured a property for 12 month, because you paid for the year in advance.
We love Thailand and hope to retire there. The only thing we could live without is the heat and humidity. What city is the coolest....maybe Chiang Rai ?
Great video Chuck, does Brian have a youtube channel to watch.
yes ruclips.net/channel/UCSGjcfxgz2Bo9OFh8JqKqoA
Brian needs to start a channel!
Enjoyed it
Great video. Thank you.
The following is a response I made on another site about how things can get very complicated when applying for a 60 day + 30 Tourist visa in Thailand.
I agree with every thing you say. I can only repeat what I have said on other post on this site...you go to Malaysia and even if you are only passing through in a few hours and you are from a country like Australia, USA, UK, most of Europe and many other countries you simply walk up the the immigration desk, place your opened passport on the spot, put thumb on another spot, look at the camera, smile a bit and "Bobs your uncle" in about 20 seconds the officer will stamp your pass port with a 3 months tourist visa...all done, This is the same in most other countries.
Similar efforts in Australia to get a 3 months Thai tourist visa the application procedure is:-- Fill out the application form with all the required details, provide a passport photo less then 6 month old, deliver your pass port to a Thai Consul in your state or the Thai Embassy in Canberra in Australia, ( in my case by registered mail) include a copy of the personal information page of your pass port, a photo copy of an Australian drivers licence showing your proof of residential address. You are also required to provide a recent copy of a certified bank statement showing you have a balance of more then Aus $800. You deliver all this to a Thai Consul in Australia together with Aus$45. The visa will take usually take about 5 days at a Consulate. On one occasion it took 18 days at the Perth Australia ( I have applied 6 times now). To add to all this you have to provide a copy of your E-ticket of when you arrive and depart and confirmed hotel booking...the funny part about this is when you do get the visa it states you can arrive any time you like within the following 3 months.
The application form from a Thai Consuls is very confusing on Question 10 it states "Tourist (stay up to 60 days per entry)" however down the page in the general section it clearly states "The validity of visa is 3 months for tourist ,single entry". a real trap for players. The Consul will tell you it's really 60day + 30 day 3 months tourist visa??
Now if you are very clued up you will find out later that if you want to stay in Thailand for the 3 month period you thought you could with this visa you will have to go to immigration before the 2 month period is up (make sure it is in the provence you are resident in or all will fail) and apply for a 30 day extension. This takes about all day, that is half a day to find out how to do it correctly and half a day waiting around for your turn. You will require more pass port photos, a tricky application form, several copies of this, your pass port and several copies, of the personal information page of your passport and Bt1900. And "to boot" make sure each collection of papers are stapled correctly together or get back on the line? ...once you have done all this you will be invited to be interviewed by a immigration police officer to make sure you are the person you say you are, after all this your pass port will be stamped with a 30 day tourist visa extension. Malaysia and other countries you don't even have to tell them your coming it takes about 5 min?
And they try and tell us they want more tourist in Thailand...hmmmm????...5555
Love the videos.
Hi Chuck. Can you please ask Brian`s opinion about farangs working as a Tourist police? Does he think that it is viable option for a farang to sustain a living in Thailand? Does he know what are the requirements and such?
Really enjoy your vlogs. Thanks from Finland. Keep up the good work, and best wishes to you and Paige and Soi mafia lol.
Great! I should move there. Cause 50th State is too expensive.
Thanks good information
Very informative. I'd like to meet Brian someday!
The bastard has returned to the United States
Thank you for this, I will be there in August. How about golf courses?
You do a wonderful job of providing the day to day cost for life in Thailand in your videos and I was wondering if you can talk about how you determined what it would cost for you and Paige to move to Thailand? For those of us who would like to retire early, but have no pension options and no social security for 10-15 years it would be nice to have a list of all of the items you took into account and what you used to determine your budget.
hmm i will try to put something together.
Issan is the best place to be. I live in a really small village, where the closest Amphur is 30 km away. I am the only American here, There are a few Europeans, though. Talk about being quiet. Our house is on 4 rai of land and we grow veggies to eat.
Awesome. What do you grow?
Just planted a bunch of papaya trees. We have some noi naa (thai hand grenades) trees. We also have loads of rice growing on our farm
Great video, Chuck! On my upcoming trip to Thailand, I'll take a look at the Cha-Am/Hua Hin area and make my decision as to where in Thailand I want to set-up my future base of operation. After listening to Brian, I guess one can live extremely comfortably on $2,300/mth. Btw, I thoroughly enjoyed your travel series videos and I'm looking forward to your upcoming trips. Please give Paige and Soi Mafia my regards and stay awesome! :)
Single male can live quite comfortable on Bt40,000 a month, if you get a Thai girlfriend and that's not hard to do in Cha-am, yes a bit more...I go for a 7/8 km walk along beach each day when tide is down (a bit)...you'll love it too.
Thanks for the up-to-date info, David and it sounds like you're enjoying a good, comfortable and healthy lifestyle in Cha-Am. :)
Lots of other places in Thailand just as good as Cha-am, that's my favorite. Like every where else in Thailand smiling at Soi dogs and Sunday driving is very dangerous.
david walden hmmm.. I'll have to remember not to smile at the Soi dogs and stay home on Sundays. :)
Yes but everything else is just lovely warts and all...I talk in Aussie dollars approx 80 US cents to Aus 100 ($1) cents. $2,300 US will not be quite enough to get a Thai retirement visa but there are ways of making this happen...5555
People ask me "why do you go back and forth from Perth (Australia) to Thailand on a 60 day + 30 day extension Tourist visa instead of retirement visa". I will apply for a Thai retirement visa in Australia before my next visit to Thailand, soon. I have tried to get a retirement visa in Thailand , Stat dec. from the Australian Embassy, not interested at Thai Immigration ("you go put Bt800,000 in bank come back in 2 months" ) or you can give Bt 30,000 to a corrupt legal firms and troubles will go away?. I don't want to put money in a Thai bank. I am working on it and will likely sort it out for my next visit in Australia but I will probably only stay 3 month in Thailand 3 month in Australia even when I get the retirement visa. Who knows there maybe some complication is doing that, I've been studying Thai Immigration about Visas now for 6 years, nothing would surprise me. It's all a dogs dinner.
All this is to do with the fact that I'm an Australian Senior Citizen and I receive a Govt aged pension. I own half a house in Australia and have some extra investment super which allows me to supplement my pension to about to Bt 75000 P/M, ($33,000 in Aus) not a large sum but good for living in Thailand not so good if I live in Australia.
Although I don't have a lot of medical issues at 75 y/o it is better if I go home regularly as medical services and treatment for me is almost free in Australia Travel insurance is also a dogs dinner. I have 3 medical prescriptions I need which would cost me $150 P/M (Bt4000) in Thailand but almost free in Australia which adds up to a $450 saving during those 3 month at home and I can take to Thailand from Aus the same amount for 3 months away free. For 6 weeks after I leave again for Thailand another $150 will be saved as my pension is restored to its full amount. I have also have some mild medical treatment in Australia which would be complicated if I had it done in Thailand, it's free in Australia. The plumbing inspected etc. etc. Cost wise it is better to go home regularly. Even though I earn a bit more in addition to the Australian aged pension. I only spend up to about Bt 40,000 P/M when in Thailand and live very well. BT 9,000 nice room, motor bike Bt 3000, massages Bt3000, The other Bt 25000 eating, some drinks and socializing, If I get a girlfriend then that will go up (not hard to get a girlfriend).
Usually I can get a return fare Perth to KL, KL to BKK. for less then Aus $300 provided I can stay away from Aus School holidays. So if you do the sums the trip home is only time and I put at least $300 extra in my pocket.
Going to and fro to Australia 3 months at a time gives me a rest from many of the silly things Thais do, it is also great therapy. I still love Thai people and the place. I still love Australia.
We at the golf club tried to arrange with one the golf club members who teaches English to attend the his school and create a forum so the kids could practice their English. Good for the kids. My friend the English teacher wanted this to happen. The principal at the school could not let this happen as it was against the law, "volunteering is not allowed" he said. TIT
,
Brian volunteers 2 days a week to the new immigration recruits. He was approached to offer his service. He donates whatever they pay him back to the new troops.
@ 25:00 of ruclips.net/video/ix-euS4DDaQ/видео.html
My post about the golf club was we believe instigated by a disgruntled Thai member. Immigration had to interview us tell us what could have transpired...put the wind up us a bit. It was touch and go for a while.
Yes as a foreigner it is hard to win a battle like that.
I mean Immigration told us we could be deported
lol, the nightlife is not big here in Hua Hin. but understood your comparison
I go back to my comments inspired by Dale Carnegie when in his book "How to win friends and influence people" almost a bible on how to succeed in business, politics or how to be friends with people anywhere all over the world. (I studied it 55 years ago and never had any regrets). This book (revised edition) was and still does enjoy great acclaim and sales for anyone wishing to be successful in life. One of his most important comment is that there is no such thing as "constructive critisim" all critisim reduces the esteem of the person you are addressing and that is called "destructive critisim" There are many good things about living in Thailand. Perhaps you could revamp your opening statement and "look for the good in everyone'" there is plenty of good things in Thailand and a few not so good. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Carnegie
That's good price for Cha Am I was paying 500 baht a day in Phuket 20 years ago, that's was only short term rent and not a very nice room, if anyone can remember Sky inn it was near patong big bike they did own the room I was renting, I will pay Cha Am a visit next time I am in Thailand.
cha am?how far from bangkok?thanks good vids.Iam from the usa.
great video. i am hoping to come and check this place out for few days before my family arrives for 12 days of vacation. how is it for a female solo traveler? IT IS child friendly? what can kids do there? Thank you in advance.
There are kids all over Thailand also there are more women here than men and most are very friendly.
Oh, i am sure. i have traveled to Europe a lot but not your part of the world lol was wondering what my kids can do. Thank you so much.
I would think more of an awesome life experience more than entertainment. I sent one of my kids on a 8week adventure to Europe and he now has his own opinions on life outside of Google, and is open minded, and loves to travel.
Great. yeah, we lived in Europe too. my kids are well traveled. my husband is a network engineer and i a photographer. we have been looking out side of the u.s to live. life drags on here. lol your videos gave me a visual about life in Thailand. Thank you for that.
Nice informative video... was particularly interested in this video as I'm moving out to Thippiwan village just of canal road outside of Hua Hin in the next week or so..got a two bedroom house rented for 5,500bht a month for one year, but was considering Cha Am..I think something to consider for the future..once again thanks to you both.
Sound quality is a little bit bad but great information anyhow
Woo! The comments are strong in this one!
Wherever you go in the world you drag your karma with you. Fact!
Mate - lets talk about the T-shirt . CUTE - I want one .
Any market in Thailand
I'm only 27 I want to retire already 😂 and move to Thailand
Great time to start planning. Just stay away from "the American Dream"
BE well OG
The trouble with making recommendations, like here, is that if too many people respond positively the neighbourhood soon goes down... If Cha Am gets built up any more it will be another Hua Hin - do we need another one so close... LoL
notime2bsad - Sorry, I don't know where you mean by 'second beach road'... - and '1000s of vacancies'... of what...? Houses, apartments, hotel rooms...? Or all the above...? If this is true then Cha Am is already over-developed - and done for... As, some would say, is Hua Hin.
(Incidentally, my comments are general - not personal. ;)
I have seen exactly this sort of over-development in Hua Hin during the past fifteen years. It happens the world over. It previously happened in Phuket and Samui. It is already happening in Cha Am.
I am older than you so I don't need to worry about what will happen in my lifetime :) - I'll soon be moving to somewhere that is still tranquil 555.
Do you mean: north & south of Cha Am, or north & south of Thailand - or probably both... :)
The 5/6 KM beach road with good access and no buildings on the water side makes it loverly, all beach.
I mean the 5 or 6 kms north and south on Cha-am beach there are no buildings except for 2 small buildings which are police stations. If you can Google Earth will show you all about it...lovely
Hi would 18 million baht and pension last me at least ten years living in Thailand thank you Scott new Zealand
15,000 / month for a goddamn HOUSE??? Most websites don't list modern-looking studios for less than 13,000...
I am currently paying 13,000 for a house similar to the one in this vlog... ...
Web sites and agents will never give you 'real' prices.... unless you're a tourist wanting a short-term rental.
Good interview. Does Brian speak Thai?
Hi Chuck could you please ask Brian the name and address of the condo he stayed at when paying 20,000thb a month and forward the reply to me. Thanks Martin.
facebook.com/pages/Cha-Am-Laguna-Condominium/273878109467116
notime2bsad thank you been looking in wrong side Cha am. Thank you for replying.
I have not had a chance to speak to brian but I am sure he paid up front.
notime2bsad That's OK. Will pop down there next week and take a peek, we are contracted till Dec.
You can get 2 bedroom town houses furnished with nice kitchen, 2 bath rooms Air cond about 1 to 2 km from beach for Bt9000 p/m. Make sure you have a Thai girlfriend or borrow one to do the negotiating. Try yourself and they'll charge you (a farang) about 50% more. yes55555
I see you intro comments suggest that farangs could or should donate their time to help to learn English. Thailand at times can only described a "#@*&%%$#" bloody awful". You may not know but It is a serious offence to volunteer your services free of charge anywhere in Thailand. I have been down that road, when involved attending a "busy bee" painting the steps at a local golf club with other farangs in Thailand and having to face up with others to Immigration to explain why I should not be deported for working. you have to have a special visa to volunteer. It's a crime to volunteer.
If you are only coming to Thailand to volunteer maybe so. A family friend who is a retired police says he has never heard of that being a crime for someone who has visa here. I have been asked several times by a high ranking teacher of 35 years to come sit in a couple times a week for some basic conversation English. I don't see too many police enforcing too many laws anyway. Only for drinking, registrations, and motorcycle helmets. I think if you are not causing problems no problems will come to you here. If you are trying to compete with a Thai person without a permit than they will ask you to stop and could fine you. Takes a lot to get arrested over something like volunteering.
I suggest you make further investigations. Thailand is very very pedantic about these regulations to the point of being unbelievable.
The term “work” in Thai law is defined very broadly, covering both physical and mental activities, whether or not for wages or other form of compensation. Even volunteer or charity work requires a work permit in Thailand. Too right too, why should you work for free without permission.
Australia along with every other country is no different. It is really annoying when people dis other countries. For example so many people come to Thailand on tourist visa and make money online cause they only need to make 1000$ a month to live like they are earning $5000 back home.
Thai police should round up these people and give them a nice little bonus of $15000 fine and make sure they pay that every year!
Thank heavens I'm retired. It would be nice just to be able to respect all the financial requirements which I can in a simple way ( as I do ) and dispense all the palaver that go with visa applications.
What is the name of the gated community sir?
In description box : goo.gl/maps/zhDJck8yfuG2
notime2bsad thank you. I will check out the place.
Baht VS bat ???????
Can you hire a thai "fixer" to walk though all this with you so you don't get ripped off?
Great video.
Prayers sent from Illinois.💯🇺🇸❤️💐💕
Google Judi Grace Storycorps .
I have a few questions first how do you just move to Thailand I’ve been told you carnt stay longer then 12 weeks then you have to cross the border then you can return you carnt stay in Thailand permanently unless you cross the border ? Also how the fuk do you live without a job you need work to earn money to pay bills you carnt live off thin air so can you explain to me how you live in Thailand & not work are all these people drug dealers or something?
Have you got 800,000 baht in bank. I hope so.
You should re read Marriage visa required funds if you think I am here illegally. If you cant afford the minimum you should stay working....
Does that man not know how TV O say B A H T, not bat.
I can’t believe that that Bryan guy is 55??
He looks to me like he is not more then 38 Thailand does good for him
Ps; You Chuck is no bad lookin niether lol 👍
@ '49: to ITS fullest. It's elementary -- there is no time to be illiterate, isn't it?