Where is the next Thailand - retirement research

[czar]

Hey

I am reaching an age where I am seriously looking for my retirement and where to spend my next 20 years. Thailand is very interesting to me. The cost of living, the climate, safe, healthcare, the lifestyle, the beaches, and yes of course the hobbling. But Thailand seems to me… maybe I’m wrong… overrun by tourists, overhyped hobbying activities, and may not be as wonderful as it seems in the reels and websites.

I was wondering where is the next Thailand? An up and coming place, not yet overrun by tourists, yet similar vibe, cost of living, etc.

Thanks
Czar

 

[Frank The Tank]

I have been in Thailand at least 10 times and spent time all over the country. I will consider spending November to March there when I retire.

The intensity of the hobby scene really depends on the place you are. Central Pattaya, Patong, Sukhumvit in Bangkok, Chaweng on Koh Samui can be intense and in your face. However, these spots are not representative of the rest of the country. You can choose a city were it is less omnipresent, like Chiang Mai for example or a calmer spot close to the intense hobbying like Jomtien that is a short baht bus ride to Pattaya central. Anywhere you go, you should be able to meet Thai girls online, whether they are full time working girls, part time working girls or just normal girls looking for the real thing.

I have also been in Vietnam and Cambodia. However, theses destinations do not compare in most ways. Infrastructure, health, transportation, ease of communication, access to hobbying is not at par with what you can access in Thailand. However, everything is cheaper. IMO, the best looking women were in Vietnam. The most noticable misery was in Cambodia. But it is not as easy to find a girl who can handle basic english enought to have a conversation.

If english is at top your list, you are probably better off in the Philipines. However, avoid hobbying in Manilla simce prices seem crazy. Also, there are more scams and the food is probably not as good. Plus transportation can be horrible.

 

[envelopes]

Thailand is probably still the next Thailand. In terms of price, still nothing comes close.

I don't hobby there as I don't see Asian SPs, but in terms of $$$ for accommodations/activities, safety, ease of getting around with just english, weather, still nothing beats out Thailand. I haven't been to Asia since 2019, but last time I was there, I visited Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Laos, I looked up the hobbying and it seemed meager compared to Thailand (take with a grain of salt as I only looked it up out of curiousity, did not experience it)

 

[urquell]

If you're looking for a place in Asia then the Philippines seems like an obvious choice, provided that you don't stay in Manila all the time. Everybody speaks English, the cost of living is cheap and you don't have to live in a brothel town to have good access to hobbying. Cebu offers city living with easy access to hobbying, or Subic offers life on the beach with easy hobbying access. I can't speak to the quality of the healthcare though. If you want to have western levels of healthcare and a cosmopolitan lifestyle the Malaysia is a good choice too, particularly in Kuala Lumpur. Average cost of living is about half what it is in Canada but with all the modern amenities and again vbery easy access to girls without having to live in the middle of a brothel town and English is fairly widely understood. If you're open to latin places too then Panama offers outstanding retiree benefits, good weather and good healthcare. However, it does operate using American dollars as the currency and so the cost can be variable and may be more expensive. Ecuador is definitely an up and coming expat destination.

 

[czar]

Thank you gentlemen for your advice!

 

[milhouse73]

Cambodia is also up and coming, easy visa access and very inexpensive.