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Larbacmc
Bangkok? Chang Mai? Pia? Vang Vang?
How much is a one bedroom apartment in these places, food, doctors, hospital, dentist, a car
How about visa?
Answer
I noticed you left Pattaya off of your list of cities to live in. There are lots of retirees living in the Pattaya/Jomtien area. Hotels are cheaper than Bangkok, many apartments are cheaper than what you get in Bangkok too! Several new modern malls, new movie theaters, good restaurants, modern supermarkets and lots of other markets for fresh food. Transportation is only 10 baht. Hospitals are not too bad but for something really serious you could just go to Bangkok. I have used dentists in Pattaya several times over the years without any problems and the prices are very reasonable. Driving a car may not be necessary in Pattaya unless you are way out in the sticks. Keep in mind that local transportation in Pattaya is only 10 baht! You may get by with just a pedal bicycle, keep fit and have transportation too. Retirement visa depends on your age, regular entry to Thailand depends on the passport you travel under.
In the "old days" when you could make border runs to stay in Thailand for long periods I had friends living in Pattaya for around $1000 US a month. Of course your particular lifestyle will determine how much you need per month to live in Thailand. You have to follow current immigration regulations and be aware of any changes that come out. If you are over 50 and have a verifiable pension, or sufficient money in a Thai bank, you will have an easier time getting to stay in Thailand for a longer duration. By the way, some retirees just live in small cheap hotels and let the maids clean the rooms and let the hotel take care of the maintenance, paying for water and electricity, etc. Many hotels will give special prices for long term stays.
Figure out how much money per month you have available. Read the various links concerning immigration to Thailand and see if you qualify. This is important - IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO THAILAND BEFORE - VISIT FIRST! Visit Thailand first, talk to some expats take a look around and see if this is the life you really want. Don't sever all ties with your home country intending to reside in Thailand and then become disappointed - try it before you buy it! When you ask about a visa I get the feeling that you have never been to Thailand. If you are from the US, UK, Oz, NZ and many places in Europe you can get 30 days free entry on arrival. Visit first!
Ordinary tourist visas:
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2490
Thai Visa Forum has a lot of good info on immigration to Thailand. My advice is to check out Pattaya and talk to some of the long term expats. They will give you pointers on where to stay, how much to pay for rent, info on hospitals and other stuff. I think it pays to be among other expats for mutual support. If you intend to purchase a condo get lots of legal assistance first and talk to other expat condo owners for their opinions and suggestions.
Good luck.
I noticed you left Pattaya off of your list of cities to live in. There are lots of retirees living in the Pattaya/Jomtien area. Hotels are cheaper than Bangkok, many apartments are cheaper than what you get in Bangkok too! Several new modern malls, new movie theaters, good restaurants, modern supermarkets and lots of other markets for fresh food. Transportation is only 10 baht. Hospitals are not too bad but for something really serious you could just go to Bangkok. I have used dentists in Pattaya several times over the years without any problems and the prices are very reasonable. Driving a car may not be necessary in Pattaya unless you are way out in the sticks. Keep in mind that local transportation in Pattaya is only 10 baht! You may get by with just a pedal bicycle, keep fit and have transportation too. Retirement visa depends on your age, regular entry to Thailand depends on the passport you travel under.
In the "old days" when you could make border runs to stay in Thailand for long periods I had friends living in Pattaya for around $1000 US a month. Of course your particular lifestyle will determine how much you need per month to live in Thailand. You have to follow current immigration regulations and be aware of any changes that come out. If you are over 50 and have a verifiable pension, or sufficient money in a Thai bank, you will have an easier time getting to stay in Thailand for a longer duration. By the way, some retirees just live in small cheap hotels and let the maids clean the rooms and let the hotel take care of the maintenance, paying for water and electricity, etc. Many hotels will give special prices for long term stays.
Figure out how much money per month you have available. Read the various links concerning immigration to Thailand and see if you qualify. This is important - IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO THAILAND BEFORE - VISIT FIRST! Visit Thailand first, talk to some expats take a look around and see if this is the life you really want. Don't sever all ties with your home country intending to reside in Thailand and then become disappointed - try it before you buy it! When you ask about a visa I get the feeling that you have never been to Thailand. If you are from the US, UK, Oz, NZ and many places in Europe you can get 30 days free entry on arrival. Visit first!
Ordinary tourist visas:
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2490
Thai Visa Forum has a lot of good info on immigration to Thailand. My advice is to check out Pattaya and talk to some of the long term expats. They will give you pointers on where to stay, how much to pay for rent, info on hospitals and other stuff. I think it pays to be among other expats for mutual support. If you intend to purchase a condo get lots of legal assistance first and talk to other expat condo owners for their opinions and suggestions.
Good luck.
It's official- IM MOVING!?
Q. Hey. The past 3 weeks at work for me have been very bumpy and incertain. I have been offered a job up in Auckland which pays a very large amount of money and I get a free car! I did get offered jobs in Wellington, Christchurch and even in Sydney but I like the sounds of this one the most.
SO WERE MOVING TO AUCKLAND! I don't mind Auckland, but I don't like the things that go with it like traffic, etc.
I'm really exitied but there is one problem, where to put my kids! This has been really sudden so we will spend most of the holidays shipping stuff up there. My job is in the city. I was looking for a nice area around 25 mins at the most from the city. I was interested in the North Shore. A good place to bring up kids?
What's it like there? Also schools are another issue for the kids. I was looking for something like a good private college. I was hoping it to be really friendly and good so does anybody out there go to one in and around auckland? Thanks
SO WERE MOVING TO AUCKLAND! I don't mind Auckland, but I don't like the things that go with it like traffic, etc.
I'm really exitied but there is one problem, where to put my kids! This has been really sudden so we will spend most of the holidays shipping stuff up there. My job is in the city. I was looking for a nice area around 25 mins at the most from the city. I was interested in the North Shore. A good place to bring up kids?
What's it like there? Also schools are another issue for the kids. I was looking for something like a good private college. I was hoping it to be really friendly and good so does anybody out there go to one in and around auckland? Thanks
Answer
I live on the North Shore and work in the city so all the info below relates to the North Shore. This is the easiest place to get to the city from in all of Auckland because of the ferry services, there is one from Devonport, Bayswater, Northcote & Birkenhead & they all take only 10 minutes so no traffic hassles (costs $35 for a 10 ride ticket or $115 for a monthly pass). A beautiful, peaceful way to get to work, especially in summer & in winter not so bad as the ferries are big so they don't rock around in rough weather like you think they would & they are rarely cancelled due to the weather (only once last year & once the year before during storms to my knowledge). I don't have kids but my friend recommends Westlake College (they have a separate school for girls & boys) & one of her kids is going to be a doctor so the education must be good. She also likes it that her 2 boys turned out so polite & respectful through going to Westlake Boys (just as well for her as she is a single mother). There is also Takapuna Grammar for boys only which I think is the only private school on the North Shore. I have also heard Rangitoto College is good. Rangitoto and the Westlake School's are not private ones but Westlake is apparently as good as a private school. Bear in mind kids from private schools can turn out snobby & you may not want your kid to turn out like that. Avoid living in Birkdale & Beach Haven as those are the bad area's (although Coastal Beach Haven is fine & parts of Birkdale are fine. Don't live in Northcote unless you're Asian or you won't fit in (it's pretty much a Chinatown & also there are some bad area's there where the state houses are with alot of unemployed people, drug sales, etc, but nothing like the ghetto areas you get in your country or course). The North Shore is mostly white people so not very multicultural like the rest of Auckland (which is a bad thing I think). Alot of South African's live on the North Shore, particularly around Browns Bay. Takapuna, Devonport & Milford are expensive area's. There are great parks/bushwalking area's on the North Shore like Centennial Park (lots of Kauri tree's & tui's (awesome native birds) & other birdlife, the Kauri forest there is right on the shoreline with views of the city skyline & there's even a beach to walk down to. Also apparently Le Roys Bush has glow worms at night time (a local secret - have never been so can't verify it). Beware of the parks & bushwalks in Beach Haven though as there is a criminal element there sometimes (but nothing like the USA though you understand). You can contact the education department (just google it on google.co.nz) to find out more info re the school's though. Re the guy above recommending Sydney, it depends what you're after, if you have kids you'd probably prefer here. I lived in Sydney for 3 years & yes the nightlife is good but I think it's the same nightlife as Auckland's quite frankly. Sydney was way hot & humid with huge bugs & dangerous spiders, etc & we don't have that here. Also more crime there & people aren't polite & can be quite aggressive (pushing ahead in line, etc) & you might get smart arse comments re being an American (they are very outspoken & tactless there). Go there on holiday while you're here & you decide (although living in Sydney is vastly different from just visiting as when you visit there's not much time to notice the daily things that can irk you when you live there). The down side of Auckland is it rains alot & February is the only reliably good weather month if you're having visitors want to come from overseas.
I live on the North Shore and work in the city so all the info below relates to the North Shore. This is the easiest place to get to the city from in all of Auckland because of the ferry services, there is one from Devonport, Bayswater, Northcote & Birkenhead & they all take only 10 minutes so no traffic hassles (costs $35 for a 10 ride ticket or $115 for a monthly pass). A beautiful, peaceful way to get to work, especially in summer & in winter not so bad as the ferries are big so they don't rock around in rough weather like you think they would & they are rarely cancelled due to the weather (only once last year & once the year before during storms to my knowledge). I don't have kids but my friend recommends Westlake College (they have a separate school for girls & boys) & one of her kids is going to be a doctor so the education must be good. She also likes it that her 2 boys turned out so polite & respectful through going to Westlake Boys (just as well for her as she is a single mother). There is also Takapuna Grammar for boys only which I think is the only private school on the North Shore. I have also heard Rangitoto College is good. Rangitoto and the Westlake School's are not private ones but Westlake is apparently as good as a private school. Bear in mind kids from private schools can turn out snobby & you may not want your kid to turn out like that. Avoid living in Birkdale & Beach Haven as those are the bad area's (although Coastal Beach Haven is fine & parts of Birkdale are fine. Don't live in Northcote unless you're Asian or you won't fit in (it's pretty much a Chinatown & also there are some bad area's there where the state houses are with alot of unemployed people, drug sales, etc, but nothing like the ghetto areas you get in your country or course). The North Shore is mostly white people so not very multicultural like the rest of Auckland (which is a bad thing I think). Alot of South African's live on the North Shore, particularly around Browns Bay. Takapuna, Devonport & Milford are expensive area's. There are great parks/bushwalking area's on the North Shore like Centennial Park (lots of Kauri tree's & tui's (awesome native birds) & other birdlife, the Kauri forest there is right on the shoreline with views of the city skyline & there's even a beach to walk down to. Also apparently Le Roys Bush has glow worms at night time (a local secret - have never been so can't verify it). Beware of the parks & bushwalks in Beach Haven though as there is a criminal element there sometimes (but nothing like the USA though you understand). You can contact the education department (just google it on google.co.nz) to find out more info re the school's though. Re the guy above recommending Sydney, it depends what you're after, if you have kids you'd probably prefer here. I lived in Sydney for 3 years & yes the nightlife is good but I think it's the same nightlife as Auckland's quite frankly. Sydney was way hot & humid with huge bugs & dangerous spiders, etc & we don't have that here. Also more crime there & people aren't polite & can be quite aggressive (pushing ahead in line, etc) & you might get smart arse comments re being an American (they are very outspoken & tactless there). Go there on holiday while you're here & you decide (although living in Sydney is vastly different from just visiting as when you visit there's not much time to notice the daily things that can irk you when you live there). The down side of Auckland is it rains alot & February is the only reliably good weather month if you're having visitors want to come from overseas.
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