Retire to Pattaya web site

[galt67 2]

Guys,

Being a frequent (soon to-be) retiree to Pattaya, I've put together a free web site that newbies my find helpful.

 

I talk about owning vs. renting your housing, driving, and MOST importantly $$$!!

 

Here's the site: http://home.earthlink.net/~galt1967/

 

Let me know what you think!

[eddydb 0]

Very good work!

[Dennism 3]

Nicely done, very good info for a newbie traveling to LOS

[Rex7777 0]

Good start! The more information, the better.

 

Rex

[Sailfast 503]

Nice job.

 

Sailfast

[cybers1b 8]

Some good info - one thing though - the 30 day permit is NOT a visa. The real Tourist Visa allows you to stay for 60 days.

 

cheers

cyber

[pfotoguy 3]

galt67 great website. I appreciate the work that went into it. am looking forward to the news letter

[wombat 5]

this link could be a good addition

 

http://www.coolthaihouse.com/coolhindsight.htm

[ting_tong 63]

Its a homemade homepage using a free server, and using a web based free script to html.

The language section needs to say "krup" is spoken by males, "kha" is spoken by females.

Retire to pattaya.com is misleading

 

Its an all right attempt by a beginner for a webpage.

 

Lets see what "webby" Dan has to say?

 

ting

 

xttp://trellixff1.business.earthlink.net:80/servlet/SiteBuilderServlet?fUrl=/trellix/sitebuilder/f_error.html&sUrl=/trellix/sitebuilder/f_edit_page.html&Command=

OpenSite&FileName=8962186520837496655/site.xml

Edited July 24, 2005 by ting_tong

[irishmic 0]

appreciate info

[galt67 2]

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback!

 

And, yes, it is DEFINITELY an 'amateur' FREE web site developed by someone who simply plans on retiring to Pattaya.

 

My agenda? To help other people as I have been helped by the MANY message boards like this one.

 

Choke dee!

[torrenova 644]

galt67,

 

Good effort but just a couple of points:

 

A Non Immigrant "O" visa is not dependent upon being married to a Thai. It is a visa issued to visit friends or family etc. for extended periods of time. For those in the UK, here is a link: http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/

 

Here is the link for the Thai immigration website: http://www.imm.police.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php

 

Also, I'd be careful of including some figures in your calculations. For instance, no account is given over to flights back "home", no-one pays USD 300 for a suit (unless stupid), the girl does not have to be "less then half your age" etc.

 

Sounds a bit as if you're trying to convince yourself you've made the right choice as the tone of the site is very hey, c'mon and live the dream etc. Not a criticism.

[biggles 509]

Might be worth mentioning that if you retire here (or have a visa) you can open a thai bank account, get a credit and atm card and not be charged for atm withdrawals. you can use internet banking to transfer money from your foreign bank account to your thai one (there is a fee for this ) You are then not dependent on the foreign bank account only.

[ting_tong 63]

Choke dee!

Arggghhhh, ughhhh, argggh, huh a huh.

 

 

chok dee krup

Edited July 25, 2005 by ting_tong

[Soi7 1]

Might be worth mentioning that if you retire here (or have a visa) you can open a thai bank account,

 

 

No need to have a visa to open a account at Bangkok Bank they opened one for me and gave me a ATM card at once with just a 30 Day entry stamp in my Passport.

[drilldr 0]

I don't know if any retirees in the area would care to, but if they could keep an online blog of what their retired life is like maybe it would give some good insights for those of us pondering what that would be like. It would be great to get some good pulse on day to day life of a retiree in the area. My perfect vision for myself would be to live comfortably, cheaply and enjoy all that the area has to offer. I only travel there for breaks and that is ceratinly as close as I can get to what month to month life might be like for an expat. But it's really not like calling Pats home like a retiree would. I hope to try and retire to Thailand in the future and I'll check it out as much as I can, hoping I've made the right decision. Just my 2 cents. Really like your web sites concept! Keep up the good work.

[cybers1b 8]

No need to have a visa to open a account at Bangkok Bank they opened one for me and gave me a ATM card at once with just a 30 Day entry stamp in my Passport.

Soi7 - some branches still do this but the policy of any Bank in Thailand now is to follow the laws and only give accounts to people with a non immigrant visa and we will soon see all branches follow this policy. So overall the statement that opening a Bank Account requires a Non Immigrant Visa is correct in terms of the Banking laws and regulations.

 

Bangkok Bank in Bangkok (Head Office on 444 Silom) is one of the strictest enforcer of these rules and was the first.

 

cheers

cyber

[pfotoguy 3]

Is there a Marina in Pattaya, has anyone thoufht about living on a houseboat.

a nice size one. 18X65 foot?

[wombat 5]

looks xtremely pricey but a marina does xist.

http://www.oceanmarinayachtclub.com/

[galt67 2]

Thanks guys, for the constructive feedback

 

I've made SEVERAL changes on the web site based on ideas from this forum and emails I received from members.

 

Choke dee!

[Shit_Happens 31]

Good effort Galt. Better than I could do.

It will be interesting to see how it develops after you start living there full time. As a suggestion why don't you expand the examples of places to live to Jomtien. A lot of board members like to stay there, especially if they do not hit the bars every night, and catch the baht bus into Pattaya for a night out.

Have fun in your retirement.

[The_Fat_Controller 25]

I opened a savings account at Bangkok Bank's head office on Silom Road in June 2005 with my passport and a 30 day entry stamp with NO problems at all.

I have an ATM card which doubles as a Visa debit card and can be used worldwide.

I even got a free bag for opening the account.

[ballisticus 0]

Good site. But I cant help but feel that by promoting the place like that, it will no longer be what you are promoting. I plan to retire somewhere in Thailand in the next 2 years, but only if "prices" are relatively stable. Excess foreign demand for goods and services will do little to keep costs where you state them to be. Better to make a site emphasizing the negatives. Talk about how there is no water half the time, and that the garbage can sit for days or even weeks before it is collected. Anybody want to take up the challenge for an anti-pattaya site? I want it to be cheaper to live there in a few years, not more.

[omaga24 0]

This may strike a lot of people as an odd (maybe stupid) question to ask, but why whould you want to live in Thailand? The reason I ask is because for me, Thailand and Pataya in general, is a place for me to relax, unwind, and do something I don't do at home. Smile and be happy. My biggest fear is that I might stay so long on Thailand that I start to find problems in Thailand. Dose anyone else at least kinda identify with what I'm sayen?

[JollyMan 0]

Well Ive been in Thailand a few years now and still have not forund a problem apart from you cant get a decent pork pie ! Must admit I can only stand Pattaya for about a week at a time then need two weeks to recooperate before returning again and again and again