1)Dengue fever has a vaccine . 2) You can have a water filter system installed, Good for washing food. 3) I live in florida now but moving to thailand soon & rainy season here is the same 4) you can hire an agency for a few hundred dollars to handle your visa every year did I miss anything else?
More Pros: 1) Scooter Culture: No need for a car when you can ride a scooter. They're fun and cost a LOT less than a car. Scooter repair places are everywhere and every village seems to have one. And if you live in a city, you can hire Grab when you need to haul things around in a car. 2) Bangkok Airport: (AKA) Suvarnabhumi Airport gives you easy access to wonderful places to explore like Ankor Wat (1 hr flight), Hanoi (2 hr), Singapore (2 hrs), Bhutan (2½ hours), New Delhi (4 hrs), Maldives (4 hrs), Bali (4 hrs), & Tokyo (6 hrs). 3) Food Delivery: Another advantage to living in a city is that you can have food (both groceries & cooked food) delivered to your home very easily. (This was an incredibly valuable service during the height of the pandemic.)
Scooter culture is also a con - Thailand is consistently top 3 in the WORLD for road deaths. They believe in fate so take stupid risks cos "aH gOt mUH maGIc amULet oN"
I am Laotian who currently still living in USA. I’m feeling very happy for you to move your family to live in Thailand. It is beautiful country. I have Thai cousins n good Thai friends. Overall Thai people are super friendly. I wish more American people move or travel to Thailand at least once in their lives times. In my opinion as parents,I think it is good idea to put our kids(American)in Thai school for couples years so they can experience different cultures. I have four children myself. None of them know how to speak either Lao or Thai language. It’s my bad😭😭😭😭
@@LucasWorldTravel I'm 20 and I think I want to move to thailand. I hate the cold, but I don't really mind rain. With everything that's going on in the US and how prices are through the roof, I think and feel this would be the best. Especially because I don't want kids, so it'll will just be me and my cat!
@@nbfoxx We can highly recommend it. You can have a great quality of life in Thailand. And you won't have to work nearly as hard as the cost of living is much lower.
@@LucasWorldTravel I was thinking about jobs, I’m not much of a super patient person so I know teaching probably isn’t for me. I’ve heard that starting a small business in Thailand is a little bit easier than it is in the US. Do you know if that’s true? I’ve also heard that most jobs require college education. Do you know if that’s true? Or are there entry level jobs, like here in the US?
As a Thai, I totally agree with all of your proposed cons of living in Thailand. To begin with the first one, I would say not only foreigner but also local faces some difficulties when contacting or arranging stuff with government/municipal agency. In Thailand, government/municipal agency are well known to not coordinate with each other, even in the same office/sector, they sometime are inconsistent. They actually require a lot of paper-based document where it can be easily retrieved digitally. We, Thai, always complain about their works and services. However, when it comes to private sectors, contact is definitely much easier and less complicated. For the rainy season, Yes it rains cats and dogs, especially in the southern part, and it takes so many days of monsoon and gloomy days. As I have been living in Western Europe for a decade, rainy season in Thailand does not really bother me. For the drinking water, the issue is most of housing get water supply. Tap water here is not drinkable. Sometime in the dry season, tap water can be full of dirt. Nevertheless, when travelling outside the city, most of housing there get water supply from their well which is much cleaner and drinkable. So you gotta ask the landlord. Lastly, for bug and mosquito. If you are living in city, there are less matter. But you gotta beware during the rainy season, it is a season of mosquito that can cause an adverse health impact like Dengue fewer.
I never considered that Thais would also have difficulties processing government documents, but that makes sense. Thanks for sharing your experience and letting us know that we're not alone in that regard!
My suggestion is to go to a supermarket and buy "Off," mosquitoe repellent in an orange bottle. It might have to be an upscale supermarket to get one and sometimes you can find it at Lotus too. I use it everyday before leaving the house, just spray onto your skin, don't leave any part out, and it will protect you 24 hours or until you take a shower.
Awww… I’m from Bangkok, Thailand! I miss Thailand dearly… We are living in Texas currently. Your first point is totally what I was culture shocked about living in the U.S. So much conflicts, nobody agrees on anything, simplest things as wearing a mask during a pandemic turned into political arguments…😕 And don’t let me start on gun problems here!
I'm from the United States and sadly I have to agree. One of the reasons I left the States was that I could feel people becoming more and more irritable. I've been living in Bangkok 7 years now and it seems like things have only gotten worse. (It used to be that guns was the most embarrassing thing about my home country. Now it comes second, after Trump.🙄)
@@LucasWorldTravel You could also do Rtirement Visa. However, you have to deposit about 20k, not with the immigration but in your own Thai bank account, as proof of being able to sustain yourself for a year, until the renewal of your visa. As for ways to find information about what you're qualified for, just head over to the Thai embassy website in your country. However, if you're less than 50, you're out of luck with this visa. Come to Africa brothers. You're welcome here as well
Yes, Thailand sounds like a nice country. I’ve been thinking about going there. But the bugs! Omg 😮bc of my mom & like my mom was I am a magnet for bugs. Florida wasp will come towards you. 😳🥴I’m always running & spraying & trying to avoid them….😮Since my childhood was always getting stung by something. My mom slathered. Avons” Skin So Soft “ all over us to ward off insects. Avoid near your eyes. I just found out a few yrs ago about the different soaps. I will stock up on them b4 I leave the country. If I got stung 40 times I think I would end up in the hospital. I’m not exaggerating.😮I’m glad you did okay. 👍🏾
Great video as always. For the water issue, installing a filter (maybe in the kitchen) would help with the washing the veggies issue. I thought this video was balanced in your opinions, which made for a nice view. I can see why this will remain high on your list for places to live!
I use a lawyer on a Thai retirement visa. No bank account needed and cheaper than immigration costs. Living in the South for the last 7 years. In the South rainy season is short. Around 2 months. Not everyday. It's never cold here.
This is a lie. If you look into the new expat laws, you must have a bank account with a sizeable amount of money. I know and have friends who retired in Thailand. These people have no clue on where they are at. You can find problems and all sorts of problems where people live. The reason why the financial ties was because of drug smuggling and other criminal activity.
10:39 *Yanui Beach* Yanui is small beach measuring only 150 metres from north to south. But, what it lacks in size easily makes up for this with the very pretty points and cliffs which surround the beach. For those accustomed to long beaches running kilometres in length, Yanui is a gorgeous revelation. The Nai Harn 5-star resort is in the distance. With Nai Harn Beach being much larger, Nai Harn has broader appeal, especially for those who need their own space. Rawai Beach, 1.5km to the east, leaves Yanui and Nai Harn for dead when it comes to restaurant choices, especially Phuket’s legendary seafood.
Look into vitamin b1 for insect bites. Its known to change your chemistry to stop the attraction of insect. I know for sure mosquitos. Awesome videos thanks so much for sharing . Looking forward for more. Stay safe.
big thank you to both of you, i will be 50 this year and would love to retire to a good place i am in Canada right now. Thailand seems like a very good place.
You can use tap water to clean veggie and brush your teeth. Most Thais do! The water authority actually says that tap water in Thailand is drinkable but in practice nobody does. I’m 100% confident that it’s safe to use tab water to wash your produce and brush your teeth! Source: Thai Canadian who grew up in Thailand, currently living in Vancouver.
Maybe because you grew up in Thailand you can do that, but as Americans I can tell you that we get sick consuming even one drop of of the water. I’m not exaggerating either.
@@LucasWorldTravel Can you educate me about the vaccines you spoke of please? I'm against taking any vaccine and am not sure if this will be an issue or not. I noticed you touched on it in the video, that's important to some. A six month visa is the minimum for me. Not trying to bounce back and forth to a border like that.
Things like not having drinkable water is huge. This is why I like traveling and visiting places but not living there. When you move somewhere because it is "cheap" It is that way for a reason, there are a lot of things we take for granted here in the US that are luxuries in other countries.
The cheapest elite visa is now 25,000 for five years. You are paying that much to eliminate the immigration headaches that you talked about, not to mention the perks like having unlimited access to a personal assistant. I'm 41 years old. My plan is to sell my home to purchase a ten year elite visa for 40,000, and then switch to the retirement visa, and live off residual income that I will be making from my remote life insurance job.
Great list and balancing opinions. If/when we think about moving abroad one of the important things for us to think about as you said is community. And that for me means not just hanging out with other immigrants (westerners) which is easy, but also contributing to the local area/people/businesses etc., and not just living in a western bubble. That's when privileged westerners become a problem and harmful which you can see in all sorts of popular places that westerners decide to move to but not give back at all. I feel you on the water and the bugs! But Thailand is such a tempting place to move to!
Great video ⚡️. Very balanced pros and cons. I was getting hives listening and watching the bugs section. Awesome graphics at the end to subscribe and watch more videos.
What are your thoughts about living in Thailand? Share them in the comments below! Want to know the COST of LIVING in THAILAND? Check out our video here! ruclips.net/video/ib6h5qHxEEA/видео.html
Great video! I’ve been going through your videos and they are all soooo helpful! That’s an interesting thing about the mosquitoes, my husband and I can be in the same location and he gets so many bites but I may get one or none. I guess I’m not sweet enough🤣 thank goodness! 😅
Great video guys. Thailand is great. Generous, calm and collected people. It's hot and humid but i think I'm acclimatising after being here for 18 months. Immigration is so random. September 2020 they said all tourists on visa amnesty must get a paid visa or leave. So a lot of us paid for long term visas. Then a day or so after the deadline they did a u turn and said tourists could stay on a covid special tourist visa. Dodgy geezers! Re the bugs, yeah I'm fed up with the little buggers, but hey ho. I use the tap water for cooking and boiling for coffee or tea. No problems for me, although I think growing up drinking London tap water has toughened my guts! Food is amazing. I still find new dishes I haven't tried yet! Then there's plenty of sports here to keep one busy.
Wow I’ve tried boiling eggs in the water and got an upset stomach so it didn’t work for me unfortunately. We had no trouble with immigration until our very last month but we definitely won’t forget it! Dodgy for sure!
I agree with every pro you said! It's the most peaceful and friendly place I have ever been to! It's just a paradise! I wasn't there during the rainy season but I remember one day it was so sunny, by the evening it just pored down, went mental for about 15 mins, then just stopped..so strange!! Ahhhh I hate bugs!! We have mosquitos here during the summer months but there so many more over there!! Great video guys! I think the pros outweigh the cons as its such a lovely country!
Interesting to know where you were. I don’t remember hearing you say. I was in Phuket and didn’t have a problem with the water. I made salads often. I would prefer to have a few days/weeks of rain rather than months of cold weather. Most rainy days are a few minutes and then the suns out. And I didn’t have any problem with bugs and mosquitoes. Hadn’t heard about that unless you’re in the jungle. But the visa thing is crazy. The process is crazy and the type and cost of visa is difficult.
Hello, I have one question. Is it true that people are not allowed to flush toilet paper in Thailand. I saw a "BUM GUN" in my research when I was researching living conditions. I found that you cannot drink the water, which led to the "no flushing toilet paper" story and wondered if this is this still a thing, not to flush toilet paper? Thank you
I would actually like to move to Thiland. As a native of Florida, the rain and bugs would be my norm. Any suggestions on how to move there? I know now I with the pandemic it’s probably not wanted 🤷🏽♀️ I also wouldn’t suggestive using the water out the tap here in the u.s. either, especially if you live near a hospital or industrial site.Great video I’m so excited to go to Thailand✈️🛺🛵
You can go under the Phuket Sandbox program. We also recommend getting a student visas to learn Thai or to learn Thai boxing. Both are great ways to stay in the country long term. I would suggest booking a hotel when you first arrive and then going to see rental properties. Once you find the rental you like, get a visa, living in Thailand is really easy.
@@LucasWorldTravel Be aware Thai Immigration will often check the schools to make sure you are going to class. One small mistake and they will have no issues deporting you.
@Lucas World travel thank you for this video today!! I appreciate your honesty on this video. The Visa Situación looks like is a headache. Not willing to deal with that either. 18 grand for a visa of 5 years if I wanted to live there permanently.. Not going to happen either. Water situation is a problem too.. even with a water Purificación system in place - if your renting will Landlord allow that etc . It's in investment too .. Long term Vacations are good. Stay safe guys !!
Yes the hardest decision in moving to Thailand would be which visa to get. We love the education visa but we wouldn’t want to be student forever so what would be next. I’m hearing for others installing water purification systems are allowed and do get approved, so where there’s a will there’s a way.
I can see why Thailand would be a top destination for retirement as I spent four months here in 2015. It's honestly still on my radar for #1 retirement destination. However I think I'll point out the 'cons' as I remember them for a retiree anyways. - Language barrier. I found I was able to get by with English and a few key Thai words with ease but there are people of all levels of english there. Some perfect and some with zero. In important situations it could be difficult. - People constantly trying to squeeze every penny they can out of you assuming you're rich. People constantly harass you to buy something from them even after you've politely declined. - Extremely far away from home. No such thing as a quick flight in an emergency. Multiple time zones away so contact with family can be difficult. - A very transity place. You'll meet friends from all over the world but no one's really there forever. You end up doing so many goodbyes to some of the most amazing people you'll ever meet. - Most of the 'chill' less populated areas are party central and full of tourists so if thats not your thing just a heads up. None of these would actually deter me from living there I LOVE Thailand I just need to point out it's not for everyone. Some people travel abroad and get ticked off when it's not like home. It won't be and that's ok. Go there with an open mind and just relax and you'll have memories that last forever.
Geeesh, I'm going to subscribe to your channel it was very informative. I'm not gonna lie. You all had me sold until the mosquitoes lol clearly not a fan 🙏to you both
Hi, my wife and me LOVE your channel, we've binged all your content on Thailand, since we plan on travelling there soon. The more that I look at videos, the more I'm wondering if we're not doing a big mistake in going there for 2+ months, in July and August, in Phuket (and maybe Koh Samui?). We saw that the rain is mostly duting the evening, so we figured that we could catch a few nice sunny days during our stay, since we're going to still work remotely. But, what do you think? It seems from this video that it would be gloomy if it's not raining... But is there sunny days as well, during this time? Thank you very much!
Thanks so much for watching! Yes rainy season is real. And the rains are bit unpredictable. There will naturally be some sunny, rain free days. Days where it rains for half the day and is sunny the rest, and days where it’s gray all day. We hear the time that it rained for 2 weeks straight is rare. We lived through 2 rainy seasons and I don’t think that would stop me from going to Thailand. It’s still lovely despite the rain.
Starting with the cons: I'd say the immigration issue would be one not to take too lightly. Official status and certainty is something 'we' westerners are comfortable with. The visas situation sounds an option. Arrange a 6 monthly holiday ( how long do you have to be away?) I'm sure you could work it you don't have to pack up and leave. The monsoon rains- it's all about the infrastructure being able to cope- and take environmental weather changes into account. Those insects just love sweet people. Health care and services would be one of my top priorities. Health is a fragile thing. I guess it is all about how heavy the cons are- as the pros are already a list only to confirm the choice- the cons are your scale to weigh up how important they are. Wishing you wisdom in your choice making. 🙏 🇳🇿 🙋♀️ 🇳🇱
Hey Anita! We're looking for a country to live permanently so would want to get residency and Thailand doesn't have many good residency options. When we find a country we like, we are definitely going to be looking at ease of immigration as part of our criteria. It's no fun to weigh the cons, but it is definitely an important part of choosing our forever home!
That we don't know as we only experienced rainy season in Krabi and Phuket. In the grand scheme of things rainy season is not that bad. It was just that one two-week period that really got on my nerves. The rest of the time was fine.
Have you met many retirees? My husband and I were in a Thai-speaking community in America and loved the people, culture, and food. I would be great to connect with other couples living in Thailand.
You will love Thailand! If you need work we recommend trying to find something remote on Upwork or teaching English. Check out our guide to working abroad here! lucasworldtravel.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-working-abroad/
10:59 hope you're kidding, if you live here everyone need a water filter system install next to the tab. You can't possibly buy bottle water every time you need a drink Mosquito, if you live in the Tropic , they locals always many ways to deal with bugs and it is only a problem if you live in the jungle. Private healthcare in Thailand is a deal breaker for me. Convenient, fast, clean and possible some of the best compare to western world.
The immigration situation sounds pretty stressful for you guys, so does the insect bites! We found not being able to use the tap water in Santorini quite inconvenient too, so many plastic bottles of water to get through each week!
I didn’t know you couldn’t drink the water in Santorini. I know a lot of places are like that, so it’s not a deal breaker for us but clean water right out the tap would be our preference. So much easier and indeed less wasteful!
Good point about the plastic! This is more of a solution for travel than daily living long-term, but one really handy thing is a complete water purifier&filter bottle like the Grayl GeoPress. It removes all types of pathogens (including viruses) as well as particulates like microplastics or heavy metals, so there's nothing to worry about with drinking from it. Then you don't have to use plastic disposable bottles (especially in countries that don't consistently recycle them), plus you don't have to worry about making sure you've bought enough water before you head in for the night, etc. I see a lot of travel-oriented folks on here so trying to spread the word. :)
@@megahern8467 that's a great idea. We did buy some drinks bottles that were supposed to do this however they didn't alter the flavour of the water, which really tasted awful, like soap, we tried but the taste was so bad.
Hi, really enjoy your video. Would like to know more about Kabri VS other parts of Thailand for a retired couple looking to stay a couple of months in Thailand. From december 2022 to april 2023.
Yes we loved Krabi and Phuket the best. Krabi is more quiet. Phuket has a lot more to do. You should also look at Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. We’ve also heard Pattaya and Hua Hin are great as well but we have not been there yet.
real good description about Thailand .. thank you .. in many things i agree with you . but it seems i am a lucky guy no mosquito bites me there .. maybe you have to drink more SangSom or Lao Khao ,that will help you :)
You can buy rub on insect repellents at 7 11 that work well. I forget and get chewed up a bit but not a major problem. I live in Chiang Mai. A major con in the north is the smoky season in February when farmers burn acreage to clear it for crops. AQI then will often exceed 200. But I can remember much higher rates in Malaysia. My biggest question on Thailand; is the cost structure sustainable? Everyone with a channel is urging people to come here. Are we gentrifying paradise?
Yes, we forgot to mention the smoke as we never stayed up in Chiang Mai more than a couple of days so we never got to see what a big problem it can be. We don’t really worry about gentrification though as we have no viable solutions. Plus having freedom of movement is more important to me than trying to lock people out of countries and communities. Besides nothing about our current consumer culture is sustainable. Gentrification is just one small part in the unsustainable whole.
@@LucasWorldTravel Damn true. I've been coming to CM for work since 2001 but just moved here full time 2 months ago, mostly due to my wife dying last Christmas. I needed a change and I do love it here.
I am surprised that you didn't include air pollution and burning season as cons. I am Thai and want to move back to Thailand permanently but air pollution is my big concern.
I would like to visit Thailand,but have a concern as I have limited mobility and use a walker to assist with balance. Are there ramps to get into bars or restaurants?
There are ramps in some restaurants, but not all. To be honest, if I remember correctly the majority of restaurants do not have them, so it might limit your restaurant options but there are some that are accessible.
We have never been to Thailand but once this pandemic is under control it will be be first place on our list to visit. Really can't wait. Elite visa sounds a little crazy, never heard of it before. Water is a huge thing, I would definitely forget and use sink water 😅 and yes, mosquitoes are no joke unfortunately.
We can’t wait for this pandemic to be over! We’re scheduled to go to Slovenia Wednesday but all the rules my change before we get there. Such crazy times! Wish us luck!
Definitely a lot of good reasons to live in Thailand...The people are really nice and love the climate most of the time 😊 But...the immigration process though 😱 and the visa cost 😱😱
That was a very informative video. I think all the pros would weigh out the cons...if it cost less than 18k to get a visa. Good God that's expensive. Definitely still going to travel there someday.
Yes, the elite visa is definitely for the elite. They have other much cheaper visas as well but of course they are not nearly as convenient as the elite visa.
Wow, your pros would definitely persuade someone thinking about moving to Thailand ☺️ It’s so important to be surrounded by kind people, no wonder it is one of the top pros! Oh, I’m sorry you had that sad experience with the immigration office. Unreal price for elite visa 🤭😮
The Elite visa sounds crazy to you because you most likely can't afford it. But if somebody has the money and can afford it, I see it as a great option and investment. Especially in a country like Thailand. I've seen great reviews about it...less hassle, less paperwork, assistance with driver license services, pickup from airport, etc. Oh, and if you are out there in the hot tropical weather, hiking, in or around the water...of course you're going to get bit by the bugs and see a lot of them. What did you expect lol.
Lol. You really thought your passive aggressive comment would trigger a nasty response from them, but it backfired 🥴😆🫨 Learn from this couple and try being more positive IF you can.
20k for a five year visa, v That doesn’t make Thailand cheap at all, If I live another 25 years, That’s 100k for a visa, That’s nuts. You can buy an apartment with that in Spain
That's the elite visa. They have other options. Just none quite fit us. They are coming out with an digital nomad visa that is a much better fit for us though.
U guys seem nice as fuck will you adopt me? I'm barely in my high 30's! Great and very informative video! I love your guys' attitudes, it's very calming and nice. This is the first video of yours that I've seen, but I subscribed within minutes! I can't wait to check out your other videos. Love you all.
Lucas, one of the cons that you forgot to mention is the fact that Thailand has the death penalty for drug offenses, especially hard drugs. While it's true that not every convict receives a death sentence, terms are longer than in the U.S. and (of course) prison conditions are unsanitary and dangerous. Thai law does not distinguish between a user and a dealer, as you cannot have one without the other.
Thailand immigration is awful. But, when I hired a company, it was very easy. The problem is finding a good company in every single area of Thailand you choose to live. Hard to just enjoy your travels when you have the immigration problem constantly lingering over your head. Visa runs are horrible and inconvenient. The only people who don't struggle with this are people who are married to a Thai person. If you are married to a Thai it is only a few hundred yearly to a visa agency. But if you are not married to a Thai then get ready to leave every 30 days and/or get an Education visa where you will still have the dreaded immigration trips alone.
Yes we agree it's not the best. We're hoping the new digital nomad visa will help though. That will be the visa option we choose whenever we go back to Thailand.
We have never been but I think we would really enjoy the laid back and calm environment along with the hospitality. I think you are right that we would never get bored! The price of the visa though 😳 You two covered a lot of points to consider when deciding to move to Thailand. We will be interested in the future to hear where you two decide to live!
I live in UK(England), we dont use water from taps for drinking,cooking,showering etc because the quality is poor ( indepedently verified by our robust journalist, science)as sewage is dumped into rivers,seas by water utility companies( all privatised) in return of releasing excellent dividends. Great short term ideas.
I’m truly thinking of moving to Thailand but I feel like it’s going to be hard moving there on my own but like you said about the elite visa nobody is really wants to pay 18k for 5 years I could understand if it were like 15 or even 10 years but that’s just too much I’m not going to let that discourage me from going but It would be better if it were more time for you to be there. also when it comes to actually knowing you’ve been approved to stay there would be cool having a clear answer
We can highly recommend an education visa. It’s one of the easiest to get and you can learn Thai or Muay Thai kick boxing. Both are useful skills so you are getting something out of your visa.
This is so helpful -- thank you so much!! It's wonderful that the people and culture are so great -- that is high on my own list of priorities. How was the heat for you? I expect heat in SE Asia of course, but was wondering how often it was so hot as to make it hard to go outside. (I found Bangkok in May/June to be like that, but maybe the coast is more temperate?) One fantasy I'd like to explore once it's possible (and if the visas work out) is becoming "rainbirds" and maybe spending part of each year in Thailand and part in Bali or thereabouts, since their rainy seasons are flipped. ;) Like 4-5 months in Thailand, 6 months in Bali, and some travel/visits to the US in between. What's your take on that kind of thing? :) Thank you again for all your great videos! :)
I like the rainbird idea so you get the best of both worlds. Plus you don’t have to worry about a long term visa which will make things even more simple. We like the heat so the heat in Krabi and Phuket has never bothered us. The only place the heat was a bit too much for us was Ayutthaya.
This was a very well balanced pros and cons list. It's too bad that the immigration isn't easier to navigate. Also, coming from a country where we can freely drink the water (at least where I live), I think that would take some getting used to even for vegetable washing and boiling things. But it does seem like a beautiful country with friendly people and some great attractions!
Aww, we understand! Most of the bugs are tiny though. Mostly ants and mosquitos, our only problem with them is that they bite and we can't stand being itchy.
1)Dengue fever has a vaccine .
2) You can have a water filter system installed, Good for washing food.
3) I live in florida now but moving to thailand soon & rainy season here is the same
4) you can hire an agency for a few hundred dollars to handle your visa every year
did I miss anything else?
Smoky season and air pollution are bad from February to April.
@DreamofThailand19000 yeah, that's why I'm choosing to live in phuket rather than a bangkok or pattaya. Phuket is phenomenal so I'm not complaining
fires season?
There are air purifiers. Think as heater in winter in the west. Every season needs something to use.@@DreamofThailand19000
More Pros:
1) Scooter Culture: No need for a car when you can ride a scooter. They're fun and cost a LOT less than a car. Scooter repair places are everywhere and every village seems to have one. And if you live in a city, you can hire Grab when you need to haul things around in a car.
2) Bangkok Airport: (AKA) Suvarnabhumi Airport gives you easy access to wonderful places to explore like Ankor Wat (1 hr flight), Hanoi (2 hr), Singapore (2 hrs), Bhutan (2½ hours), New Delhi (4 hrs), Maldives (4 hrs), Bali (4 hrs), & Tokyo (6 hrs).
3) Food Delivery: Another advantage to living in a city is that you can have food (both groceries & cooked food) delivered to your home very easily. (This was an incredibly valuable service during the height of the pandemic.)
Very true! Thanks for sharing!
Scooter culture is also a con - Thailand is consistently top 3 in the WORLD for road deaths. They believe in fate so take stupid risks cos "aH gOt mUH maGIc amULet oN"
I am Laotian who currently still living in USA. I’m feeling very happy for you to move your family to live in Thailand. It is beautiful country. I have Thai cousins n good Thai friends. Overall Thai people are super friendly. I wish more American people move or travel to Thailand at least once in their lives times. In my opinion as parents,I think it is good idea to put our kids(American)in Thai school for couples years so they can experience different cultures. I have four children myself. None of them know how to speak either Lao or Thai language. It’s my bad😭😭😭😭
Yes we loved living and Thailand and wish we could have mastered more of the language. Hope your kids can learn a bit of Laotian soon!
@@LucasWorldTravel I'm 20 and I think I want to move to thailand. I hate the cold, but I don't really mind rain. With everything that's going on in the US and how prices are through the roof, I think and feel this would be the best. Especially because I don't want kids, so it'll will just be me and my cat!
@@nbfoxx We can highly recommend it. You can have a great quality of life in Thailand. And you won't have to work nearly as hard as the cost of living is much lower.
@@LucasWorldTravel I was thinking about jobs, I’m not much of a super patient person so I know teaching probably isn’t for me. I’ve heard that starting a small business in Thailand is a little bit easier than it is in the US. Do you know if that’s true?
I’ve also heard that most jobs require college education. Do you know if that’s true? Or are there entry level jobs, like here in the US?
Thatsanala, are you still living in the U.S. ? I didn't realize that you're still here. How long has it been?
As a Thai, I totally agree with all of your proposed cons of living in Thailand. To begin with the first one, I would say not only foreigner but also local faces some difficulties when contacting or arranging stuff with government/municipal agency. In Thailand, government/municipal agency are well known to not coordinate with each other, even in the same office/sector, they sometime are inconsistent. They actually require a lot of paper-based document where it can be easily retrieved digitally. We, Thai, always complain about their works and services. However, when it comes to private sectors, contact is definitely much easier and less complicated.
For the rainy season, Yes it rains cats and dogs, especially in the southern part, and it takes so many days of monsoon and gloomy days. As I have been living in Western Europe for a decade, rainy season in Thailand does not really bother me. For the drinking water, the issue is most of housing get water supply. Tap water here is not drinkable. Sometime in the dry season, tap water can be full of dirt. Nevertheless, when travelling outside the city, most of housing there get water supply from their well which is much cleaner and drinkable. So you gotta ask the landlord.
Lastly, for bug and mosquito. If you are living in city, there are less matter. But you gotta beware during the rainy season, it is a season of mosquito that can cause an adverse health impact like Dengue fewer.
I never considered that Thais would also have difficulties processing government documents, but that makes sense. Thanks for sharing your experience and letting us know that we're not alone in that regard!
My suggestion is to go to a supermarket and buy "Off," mosquitoe repellent in an orange bottle. It might have to be an upscale supermarket to get one and sometimes you can find it at Lotus too. I use it everyday before leaving the house, just spray onto your skin, don't leave any part out, and it will protect you 24 hours or until you take a shower.
Thanks for sharing your tip and helping other travelers out!
Awww… I’m from Bangkok, Thailand! I miss Thailand dearly…
We are living in Texas currently. Your first point is totally what I was culture shocked about living in the U.S. So much conflicts, nobody agrees on anything, simplest things as wearing a mask during a pandemic turned into political arguments…😕
And don’t let me start on gun problems here!
100% agree! It’s kind of sad that cooperation is so difficult in America both with masks and with guns. Wish we knew the solution.
I'm from the United States and sadly I have to agree. One of the reasons I left the States was that I could feel people becoming more and more irritable. I've been living in Bangkok 7 years now and it seems like things have only gotten worse. (It used to be that guns was the most embarrassing thing about my home country. Now it comes second, after Trump.🙄)
That's why I am leaving. The U.S is going backwards. Soon they will be trying to justify selling slaves at the market.
You have to use the lemon grass or cintronella soap that they use in India, the mosquitoes will hate you 😂🦟
Good tip! Never seen that type of soap before. We’ll have to look out for it!
@@LucasWorldTravel
You could also do Rtirement Visa. However, you have to deposit about 20k, not with the immigration but in your own Thai bank account, as proof of being able to sustain yourself for a year, until the renewal of your visa. As for ways to find information about what you're qualified for, just head over to the Thai embassy website in your country. However, if you're less than 50, you're out of luck with this visa. Come to Africa brothers. You're welcome here as well
Yes, Thailand sounds like a nice country. I’ve been thinking about going there. But the bugs! Omg 😮bc of my mom & like my mom was I am a magnet for bugs. Florida wasp will come towards you. 😳🥴I’m always running & spraying & trying to avoid them….😮Since my childhood was always getting stung by something. My mom slathered. Avons” Skin So Soft “ all over us to ward off insects. Avoid near your eyes. I just found out a few yrs ago about the different soaps. I will stock up on them b4 I leave the country. If I got stung 40 times I think I would end up in the hospital. I’m not exaggerating.😮I’m glad you did okay. 👍🏾
This is so informative. The cons really give people things to consider. Thank you for this.
You’re very welcome! Good luck planning your big move!
Great video as always. For the water issue, installing a filter (maybe in the kitchen) would help with the washing the veggies issue. I thought this video was balanced in your opinions, which made for a nice view. I can see why this will remain high on your list for places to live!
A filter would be a good idea. I suppose it wouldn’t be too hard to get a landlord to approve something like that.
foods that you're going to cook shouldn't be a water problem it gets " sterilized in the pot.
I love thailand 100%. I want to go back and stay there.
I use a lawyer on a Thai retirement visa. No bank account needed and cheaper than immigration costs.
Living in the South for the last 7 years.
In the South rainy season is short. Around 2 months. Not everyday.
It's never cold here.
This is a lie. If you look into the new expat laws, you must have a bank account with a sizeable amount of money. I know and have friends who retired in Thailand. These people have no clue on where they are at. You can find problems and all sorts of problems where people live. The reason why the financial ties was because of drug smuggling and other criminal activity.
10:39 *Yanui Beach*
Yanui is small beach measuring only 150 metres from north to south. But, what it lacks in size easily makes up for this with the very pretty points and cliffs which surround the beach. For those accustomed to long beaches running kilometres in length, Yanui is a gorgeous revelation.
The Nai Harn 5-star resort is in the distance. With Nai Harn Beach being much larger, Nai Harn has broader appeal, especially for those who need their own space.
Rawai Beach, 1.5km to the east, leaves Yanui and Nai Harn for dead when it comes to restaurant choices, especially Phuket’s legendary seafood.
Look into vitamin b1 for insect bites. Its known to change your chemistry to stop the attraction of insect. I know for sure mosquitos. Awesome videos thanks so much for sharing . Looking forward for more. Stay safe.
Thanks so much for the B1 tip! I need all the help I can get with mosquitoes.
@@LucasWorldTravel youre welcome.
talk about the fire season too. thanks
Yes true, the air quality can be big con too!
big thank you to both of you, i will be 50 this year and would love to retire to a good place i am in Canada right now. Thailand seems like a very good place.
Thailand is a great place to retire! They even have a retirement visa so they make it really easy to retire there.
You can use tap water to clean veggie and brush your teeth. Most Thais do! The water authority actually says that tap water in Thailand is drinkable but in practice nobody does. I’m 100% confident that it’s safe to use tab water to wash your produce and brush your teeth!
Source: Thai Canadian who grew up in Thailand, currently living in Vancouver.
Maybe because you grew up in Thailand you can do that, but as Americans I can tell you that we get sick consuming even one drop of of the water. I’m not exaggerating either.
Thank you for sharing this information hope to continue your journey with you as you travel God Bless you both
Thanks so much! Many blessings to you as well!
Great video.. My wife and I just left Thailand and were trying to decide whether it's with our or not. This kinda helped us out. Thanks
Glad it was helpful! Thailand really is a great place to be!
@@LucasWorldTravel Can you educate me about the vaccines you spoke of please? I'm against taking any vaccine and am not sure if this will be an issue or not. I noticed you touched on it in the video, that's important to some. A six month visa is the minimum for me. Not trying to bounce back and forth to a border like that.
Things like not having drinkable water is huge. This is why I like traveling and visiting places but not living there. When you move somewhere because it is "cheap" It is that way for a reason, there are a lot of things we take for granted here in the US that are luxuries in other countries.
Agreed! The convenience of drinkable water is so worth the extra costs.
The cheapest elite visa is now 25,000 for five years. You are paying that much to eliminate the immigration headaches that you talked about, not to mention the perks like having unlimited access to a personal assistant. I'm 41 years old. My plan is to sell my home to purchase a ten year elite visa for 40,000, and then switch to the retirement visa, and live off residual income that I will be making from my remote life insurance job.
How exciting! Best wishes on your Thailand journey!
@@LucasWorldTravel thanks! I leave in june!!
Great video!
You Guys Rock !!!
Gr8 Worꓘ.
Wayyy Kool.
Thx a Ton for the Post.
Many thanks! Best wishes on your Thailand journey.
Never been but I can see this is an amazing place to live. Wow! This is a great video
Yes the pros definitely outweigh the cons in Thailand.
Great list and balancing opinions. If/when we think about moving abroad one of the important things for us to think about as you said is community. And that for me means not just hanging out with other immigrants (westerners) which is easy, but also contributing to the local area/people/businesses etc., and not just living in a western bubble. That's when privileged westerners become a problem and harmful which you can see in all sorts of popular places that westerners decide to move to but not give back at all. I feel you on the water and the bugs! But Thailand is such a tempting place to move to!
Giving back is indeed important. I love how you guys work your way through each country. You get such an unique perspective that way.
Great video ⚡️. Very balanced pros and cons. I was getting hives listening and watching the bugs section. Awesome graphics at the end to subscribe and watch more videos.
Aww, sorry to make you itch Chris! Getting a bite or two is a part of daily life here in Thailand. It’s a con but I dare say it’s still worth it!
Great information. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Great job keep going❤
We will! Thank you for watching!
What are your thoughts about living in Thailand? Share them in the comments below!
Want to know the COST of LIVING in THAILAND? Check out our video here! ruclips.net/video/ib6h5qHxEEA/видео.html
I can't wait to visit Thailand one day
You will love the beauty and the peace over there! It’s still our favorite!
Wayyy Kool. Thx a Ton for the Post.
Happy to help! Thanks for watching!
We're in rainy season in Costa Rica at the moment and rainy season can be intense! Definitely an adjustment!
An adjustment indeed! We usually don’t mind the rain but rainy season is a level we were not prepared for.
Great video! I’ve been going through your videos and they are all soooo helpful! That’s an interesting thing about the mosquitoes, my husband and I can be in the same location and he gets so many bites but I may get one or none. I guess I’m not sweet enough🤣 thank goodness! 😅
Yes I (Kendra) am the sweet one of the relationship. It really sucks! You’re very lucky!
@@LucasWorldTravel 😆😄
Great video guys. Thailand is great. Generous, calm and collected people. It's hot and humid but i think I'm acclimatising after being here for 18 months.
Immigration is so random. September 2020 they said all tourists on visa amnesty must get a paid visa or leave. So a lot of us paid for long term visas. Then a day or so after the deadline they did a u turn and said tourists could stay on a covid special tourist visa. Dodgy geezers!
Re the bugs, yeah I'm fed up with the little buggers, but hey ho.
I use the tap water for cooking and boiling for coffee or tea. No problems for me, although I think growing up drinking London tap water has toughened my guts!
Food is amazing. I still find new dishes I haven't tried yet!
Then there's plenty of sports here to keep one busy.
Wow I’ve tried boiling eggs in the water and got an upset stomach so it didn’t work for me unfortunately. We had no trouble with immigration until our very last month but we definitely won’t forget it! Dodgy for sure!
I agree with every pro you said! It's the most peaceful and friendly place I have ever been to! It's just a paradise! I wasn't there during the rainy season but I remember one day it was so sunny, by the evening it just pored down, went mental for about 15 mins, then just stopped..so strange!! Ahhhh I hate bugs!! We have mosquitos here during the summer months but there so many more over there!! Great video guys! I think the pros outweigh the cons as its such a lovely country!
Indeed we think the pros outweigh the cons too!
Interesting to know where you were. I don’t remember hearing you say. I was in Phuket and didn’t have a problem with the water. I made salads often. I would prefer to have a few days/weeks of rain rather than months of cold weather. Most rainy days are a few minutes and then the suns out. And I didn’t have any problem with bugs and mosquitoes. Hadn’t heard about that unless you’re in the jungle. But the visa thing is crazy. The process is crazy and the type and cost of visa is difficult.
Great pros and cons guys
Hello, I have one question. Is it true that people are not allowed to flush toilet paper in Thailand. I saw a "BUM GUN" in my research when I was researching living conditions. I found that you cannot drink the water, which led to the "no flushing toilet paper" story and wondered if this is this still a thing, not to flush toilet paper? Thank you
That’s correct. You cannot flush toilet paper. You have to throw it in the trash can.
I would actually like to move to Thiland. As a native of Florida, the rain and bugs would be my norm. Any suggestions on how to move there? I know now I with the pandemic it’s probably not wanted 🤷🏽♀️ I also wouldn’t suggestive using the water out the tap here in the u.s. either, especially if you live near a hospital or industrial site.Great video I’m so excited to go to Thailand✈️🛺🛵
You can go under the Phuket Sandbox program. We also recommend getting a student visas to learn Thai or to learn Thai boxing. Both are great ways to stay in the country long term. I would suggest booking a hotel when you first arrive and then going to see rental properties. Once you find the rental you like, get a visa, living in Thailand is really easy.
@@LucasWorldTravel Be aware Thai Immigration will often check the schools to make sure you are going to class. One small mistake and they will have no issues deporting you.
@@destinationsroadslesstraveled We enjoyed going to class so this was not a problem for us.
Thank you very much for you shareing about Thailand 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Our pleasure! Thanks for watching!
@Lucas World travel thank you for this video today!! I appreciate your honesty on this video. The Visa Situación looks like is a headache. Not willing to deal with that either. 18 grand for a visa of 5 years if I wanted to live there permanently.. Not going to happen either. Water situation is a problem too.. even with a water Purificación system in place - if your renting will Landlord allow that etc . It's in investment too ..
Long term Vacations are good.
Stay safe guys !!
Yes the hardest decision in moving to Thailand would be which visa to get. We love the education visa but we wouldn’t want to be student forever so what would be next. I’m hearing for others installing water purification systems are allowed and do get approved, so where there’s a will there’s a way.
Well done, my friends. Having lived there for 16 months, you speak from experience 👍. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your weekend 😀.
I can see why Thailand would be a top destination for retirement as I spent four months here in 2015. It's honestly still on my radar for #1 retirement destination. However I think I'll point out the 'cons' as I remember them for a retiree anyways.
- Language barrier. I found I was able to get by with English and a few key Thai words with ease but there are people of all levels of english there. Some perfect and some with zero. In important situations it could be difficult.
- People constantly trying to squeeze every penny they can out of you assuming you're rich. People constantly harass you to buy something from them even after you've politely declined.
- Extremely far away from home. No such thing as a quick flight in an emergency. Multiple time zones away so contact with family can be difficult.
- A very transity place. You'll meet friends from all over the world but no one's really there forever. You end up doing so many goodbyes to some of the most amazing people you'll ever meet.
- Most of the 'chill' less populated areas are party central and full of tourists so if thats not your thing just a heads up.
None of these would actually deter me from living there I LOVE Thailand I just need to point out it's not for everyone. Some people travel abroad and get ticked off when it's not like home. It won't be and that's ok. Go there with an open mind and just relax and you'll have memories that last forever.
Great analysis, full of great insights! Thanks for sharing with everyone!
Geeesh, I'm going to subscribe to your channel it was very informative. I'm not gonna lie. You all had me sold until the mosquitoes lol clearly not a fan 🙏to you both
Yes those mosquitoes are a pain, but definitely not a deal breaker. We’ll be back!
Hi, my wife and me LOVE your channel, we've binged all your content on Thailand, since we plan on travelling there soon.
The more that I look at videos, the more I'm wondering if we're not doing a big mistake in going there for 2+ months, in July and August, in Phuket (and maybe Koh Samui?).
We saw that the rain is mostly duting the evening, so we figured that we could catch a few nice sunny days during our stay, since we're going to still work remotely.
But, what do you think?
It seems from this video that it would be gloomy if it's not raining...
But is there sunny days as well, during this time?
Thank you very much!
Thanks so much for watching! Yes rainy season is real. And the rains are bit unpredictable. There will naturally be some sunny, rain free days. Days where it rains for half the day and is sunny the rest, and days where it’s gray all day. We hear the time that it rained for 2 weeks straight is rare. We lived through 2 rainy seasons and I don’t think that would stop me from going to Thailand. It’s still lovely despite the rain.
Thank you for sharing.
Nice video thanks for sharing. Anyone going to 100 countries, is very wealthy.
Thanks! You can see more about how we call afford to travel here! ruclips.net/video/pbNK5kBFVw4/видео.html
Starting with the cons: I'd say the immigration issue would be one not to take too lightly. Official status and certainty is something 'we' westerners are comfortable with. The visas situation sounds an option. Arrange a 6 monthly holiday ( how long do you have to be away?) I'm sure you could work it you don't have to pack up and leave. The monsoon rains- it's all about the infrastructure being able to cope- and take environmental weather changes into account. Those insects just love sweet people. Health care and services would be one of my top priorities. Health is a fragile thing. I guess it is all about how heavy the cons are- as the pros are already a list only to confirm the choice- the cons are your scale to weigh up how important they are. Wishing you wisdom in your choice making. 🙏 🇳🇿 🙋♀️ 🇳🇱
Hey Anita! We're looking for a country to live permanently so would want to get residency and Thailand doesn't have many good residency options. When we find a country we like, we are definitely going to be looking at ease of immigration as part of our criteria. It's no fun to weigh the cons, but it is definitely an important part of choosing our forever home!
Hi love your channel what areas would you say are more worst during rainy season ?
That we don't know as we only experienced rainy season in Krabi and Phuket. In the grand scheme of things rainy season is not that bad. It was just that one two-week period that really got on my nerves. The rest of the time was fine.
@@LucasWorldTravel thanks so much for explaining!
Have you met many retirees? My husband and I were in a Thai-speaking community in America and loved the people, culture, and food. I would be great to connect with other couples living in Thailand.
Yes, there's loads of retirees, gap yearers, remote workers, and English teachers in Thailand. You'll fit right in!
I agree with you on this matter
Agree on Immigration Officer. However, US visa is also very difficult for Thai also. ^^
Yes, I imagine that immigration is difficult in every country.
Heading to Thailand in a few weeks.
Awesome! You’re going to love Thailand!
Awesome video! I would really love to visit Thailand for 6mo to a year
Not sure what I would do for work there though
You will love Thailand! If you need work we recommend trying to find something remote on Upwork or teaching English. Check out our guide to working abroad here! lucasworldtravel.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-working-abroad/
10:59 hope you're kidding, if you live here everyone need a water filter system install next to the tab. You can't possibly buy bottle water every time you need a drink
Mosquito, if you live in the Tropic , they locals always many ways to deal with bugs and it is only a problem if you live in the jungle.
Private healthcare in Thailand is a deal breaker for me. Convenient, fast, clean and possible some of the best compare to western world.
Mosquito's never bite me in Thailand, same with my home in Australia,
You are one lucky man! 🍀
You are an amazing couple.💞
Thanks for the kind comment! We appreciate it!
The immigration situation sounds pretty stressful for you guys, so does the insect bites! We found not being able to use the tap water in Santorini quite inconvenient too, so many plastic bottles of water to get through each week!
I didn’t know you couldn’t drink the water in Santorini. I know a lot of places are like that, so it’s not a deal breaker for us but clean water right out the tap would be our preference. So much easier and indeed less wasteful!
Good point about the plastic! This is more of a solution for travel than daily living long-term, but one really handy thing is a complete water purifier&filter bottle like the Grayl GeoPress. It removes all types of pathogens (including viruses) as well as particulates like microplastics or heavy metals, so there's nothing to worry about with drinking from it. Then you don't have to use plastic disposable bottles (especially in countries that don't consistently recycle them), plus you don't have to worry about making sure you've bought enough water before you head in for the night, etc. I see a lot of travel-oriented folks on here so trying to spread the word. :)
@@megahern8467 that's a great idea. We did buy some drinks bottles that were supposed to do this however they didn't alter the flavour of the water, which really tasted awful, like soap, we tried but the taste was so bad.
Hi, really enjoy your video. Would like to know more about Kabri VS other parts of Thailand for a retired couple looking to stay a couple of months in Thailand. From december 2022 to april 2023.
Yes we loved Krabi and Phuket the best. Krabi is more quiet. Phuket has a lot more to do. You should also look at Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. We’ve also heard Pattaya and Hua Hin are great as well but we have not been there yet.
@@LucasWorldTravel Where should i look for rental in Krabi. How does it work to rent.Can you tell me more?
real good description about Thailand .. thank you .. in many things i agree with you . but it seems i am a lucky guy no mosquito bites me there .. maybe you have to drink more SangSom or Lao Khao ,that will help you :)
Wow I’m impressed and jealous! No mosquito bites…how lovely!
You can buy rub on insect repellents at 7 11 that work well. I forget and get chewed up a bit but not a major problem.
I live in Chiang Mai. A major con in the north is the smoky season in February when farmers burn acreage to clear it for crops. AQI then will often exceed 200. But I can remember much higher rates in Malaysia.
My biggest question on Thailand; is the cost structure sustainable?
Everyone with a channel is urging people to come here. Are we gentrifying paradise?
Yes, we forgot to mention the smoke as we never stayed up in Chiang Mai more than a couple of days so we never got to see what a big problem it can be. We don’t really worry about gentrification though as we have no viable solutions. Plus having freedom of movement is more important to me than trying to lock people out of countries and communities. Besides nothing about our current consumer culture is sustainable. Gentrification is just one small part in the unsustainable whole.
@@LucasWorldTravel Damn true. I've been coming to CM for work since 2001 but just moved here full time 2 months ago, mostly due to my wife dying last Christmas.
I needed a change and I do love it here.
David looks like you're holding him captive Kendra😅
*blink twice if you need help brotha"😂😂
❤luv you guys❤
Lol! 😂 It’s not far from the truth. RUclips is definitely my thing. David just puts up with it.
I am surprised that you didn't include air pollution and burning season as cons. I am Thai and want to move back to Thailand permanently but air pollution is my big concern.
Good point! The air pollution wasn’t so bad in Krabi so we didn’t include it but it can be a big problem depending on what province you live in.
I would like to visit Thailand,but have a concern as I have limited mobility and use a walker to assist with balance. Are there ramps to get into bars or restaurants?
There are ramps in some restaurants, but not all. To be honest, if I remember correctly the majority of restaurants do not have them, so it might limit your restaurant options but there are some that are accessible.
Hey guys! Thank you for a honest answer! Another option is to get a live in 'nurse' she can cook and teach me the language! Lol
Thank you 🙏😊
We have never been to Thailand but once this pandemic is under control it will be be first place on our list to visit. Really can't wait. Elite visa sounds a little crazy, never heard of it before. Water is a huge thing, I would definitely forget and use sink water 😅 and yes, mosquitoes are no joke unfortunately.
We can’t wait for this pandemic to be over! We’re scheduled to go to Slovenia Wednesday but all the rules my change before we get there. Such crazy times! Wish us luck!
Definitely a lot of good reasons to live in Thailand...The people are really nice and love the climate most of the time 😊
But...the immigration process though 😱 and the visa cost 😱😱
Yes we are still shocked ourselves! 😱😱
That was a very informative video. I think all the pros would weigh out the cons...if it cost less than 18k to get a visa. Good God that's expensive. Definitely still going to travel there someday.
Yes, the elite visa is definitely for the elite. They have other much cheaper visas as well but of course they are not nearly as convenient as the elite visa.
Wow, your pros would definitely persuade someone thinking about moving to Thailand ☺️ It’s so important to be surrounded by kind people, no wonder it is one of the top pros!
Oh, I’m sorry you had that sad experience with the immigration office. Unreal price for elite visa 🤭😮
Thanks Kay! The pros in Thailand still out weigh the cons so it remains on out list.
The Elite visa sounds crazy to you because you most likely can't afford it. But if somebody has the money and can afford it, I see it as a great option and investment. Especially in a country like Thailand. I've seen great reviews about it...less hassle, less paperwork, assistance with driver license services, pickup from airport, etc. Oh, and if you are out there in the hot tropical weather, hiking, in or around the water...of course you're going to get bit by the bugs and see a lot of them. What did you expect lol.
Lol. You really thought your passive aggressive comment would trigger a nasty response from them, but it backfired 🥴😆🫨 Learn from this couple and try being more positive IF you can.
How do you compare Thailand to the Philippines?
We never made it to the Philippines due to COVID. Hope to get there one day.
100 countries in two years!!!! Woah that’s a very busy 2 years and expensive
We agree that it was too fast! And have started traveling slower especially since the pandemic.
They even have Buddahs everywhere; even Buddha in a tree. I love Thailand and would go back in a heartbeat
100% agreed! Thailand is easy to love!
Would love to live there, but I think I would miss my grandkids😢
Yes, you would have to schedule at least yearly trips back.
20k for a five year visa, v That doesn’t make Thailand cheap at all, If I live another 25 years, That’s 100k for a visa, That’s nuts. You can buy an apartment with that in Spain
That's the elite visa. They have other options. Just none quite fit us. They are coming out with an digital nomad visa that is a much better fit for us though.
Where in Thailand?
We lived in both Ao Nang and Phuket.
U guys seem nice as fuck will you adopt me? I'm barely in my high 30's!
Great and very informative video! I love your guys' attitudes, it's very calming and nice. This is the first video of yours that I've seen, but I subscribed within minutes! I can't wait to check out your other videos. Love you all.
How kind! You are officially adopted! 😉 Welcome to the channel!
Even if you put on bug repellent? You can get disease from them as well
Bug repellent is only to deter mosquitoes from biting you. However, if you still get bit by an infected mosquito you can get the disease.
Lucas, one of the cons that you forgot to mention is the fact that Thailand has the death penalty for drug offenses, especially hard drugs. While it's true that not every convict receives a death sentence, terms are longer than in the U.S. and (of course) prison conditions are unsanitary and dangerous. Thai law does not distinguish between a user and a dealer, as you cannot have one without the other.
Wow, I never thought of that one. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you
I live in Florida and the mosquitoes are treacherous 🤦🏽♀️
We’re never been bitten 60 times in Florida though. I’m not sure they compare.
Thailand immigration is awful. But, when I hired a company, it was very easy. The problem is finding a good company in every single area of Thailand you choose to live. Hard to just enjoy your travels when you have the immigration problem constantly lingering over your head. Visa runs are horrible and inconvenient. The only people who don't struggle with this are people who are married to a Thai person. If you are married to a Thai it is only a few hundred yearly to a visa agency. But if you are not married to a Thai then get ready to leave every 30 days and/or get an Education visa where you will still have the dreaded immigration trips alone.
Yes we agree it's not the best. We're hoping the new digital nomad visa will help though. That will be the visa option we choose whenever we go back to Thailand.
We have never been but I think we would really enjoy the laid back and calm environment along with the hospitality. I think you are right that we would never get bored!
The price of the visa though 😳
You two covered a lot of points to consider when deciding to move to Thailand. We will be interested in the future to hear where you two decide to live!
Luckily there are cheaper visa options but naturally they are as convenient as the super expensive elite option. It’s called Elite for a reason.
@@LucasWorldTravel thank goodness b/c that Elite option is crazy!
i found the sound really low on this video.
Thanks for the feedback! We’ll work on it!
I live in UK(England), we dont use water from taps for drinking,cooking,showering etc because the quality is poor ( indepedently verified by our robust journalist, science)as sewage is dumped into rivers,seas by water utility companies( all privatised) in return of releasing excellent dividends. Great short term ideas.
Goodness! You can’t use the water to shower?! So sorry to hear that. You can at least shower with the water in Thailand.
I’m truly thinking of moving to Thailand but I feel like it’s going to be hard moving there on my own but like you said about the elite visa nobody is really wants to pay 18k for 5 years I could understand if it were like 15 or even 10 years but that’s just too much I’m not going to let that discourage me from going but It would be better if it were more time for you to be there. also when it comes to actually knowing you’ve been approved to stay there would be cool having a clear answer
We can highly recommend an education visa. It’s one of the easiest to get and you can learn Thai or Muay Thai kick boxing. Both are useful skills so you are getting something out of your visa.
Didn't you do something similar to this in the past...
We’ve never discussed the cons before and wanted to be sure to share a balanced perspective!
This is so helpful -- thank you so much!! It's wonderful that the people and culture are so great -- that is high on my own list of priorities. How was the heat for you? I expect heat in SE Asia of course, but was wondering how often it was so hot as to make it hard to go outside. (I found Bangkok in May/June to be like that, but maybe the coast is more temperate?)
One fantasy I'd like to explore once it's possible (and if the visas work out) is becoming "rainbirds" and maybe spending part of each year in Thailand and part in Bali or thereabouts, since their rainy seasons are flipped. ;) Like 4-5 months in Thailand, 6 months in Bali, and some travel/visits to the US in between. What's your take on that kind of thing? :)
Thank you again for all your great videos! :)
I like the rainbird idea so you get the best of both worlds. Plus you don’t have to worry about a long term visa which will make things even more simple.
We like the heat so the heat in Krabi and Phuket has never bothered us. The only place the heat was a bit too much for us was Ayutthaya.
@@LucasWorldTravel Oooh, good to know! Thank you so much :) :)
Your post is nisleading, It’s not 800.000 that every 5 years, you have to have that balance in the bank. And an income of € 1600 per month
Pros&cons...there's pros????
Hiสวัสดีครับ🐘✌️🇹🇭🎊🌿🚲🍃🐈⬛🌹🌾
This was a very well balanced pros and cons list. It's too bad that the immigration isn't easier to navigate. Also, coming from a country where we can freely drink the water (at least where I live), I think that would take some getting used to even for vegetable washing and boiling things. But it does seem like a beautiful country with friendly people and some great attractions!
Once you get used to free drinkable water, it’s hard to go back.
The bugs would not work for me! I am allergic to mosquitoes, I would not want to live where I would have to worry about getting bitten.
Yes if you are allergic to mosquitoes then Thailand definitely would not work for you unfortunately.
Nor most of planet Earth. Mosquitoes are everywhere.
lol @ ants and mosquitoes. Mountains out of a molehill.
I take it you wouldn’t live there permanently
We said it’s still on our list of places we could live. Every place has cons and it’s important to weigh them.
Get real. No way you can get visa in any country in s e Asia.
I don’t know what you mean. We easily got a year education visa in Thailand so it’s possible.
Raining season in the Southern is hard. And water and mosquito issue, it is normal for a tropical island. If Bangkok, all are fine :)
I thought there were agents there who can organise the visa for you?
Yes there are. You can also do it yourself though.
bugs scared the shit out of me
Aww, we understand! Most of the bugs are tiny though. Mostly ants and mosquitos, our only problem with them is that they bite and we can't stand being itchy.