Thailand vs The Philippines (Again)

[ThaiWolf]

I said I'd keep in touch!

I can't believe that it's about a year since I left PH and returned to Thailand with my tail between my legs!
For those that remember, I was in Iloilo with a wonderful gal for a month but although she was great and my limited experience of PH was unforgettable, the calling of Thailand was greater than anticipated.

TBH, I've not had any regrets and only positive things have come my way since returning. I often read about the trials and tribulations of ex-pats, some with many years experience of living in the PH and wonder to myself; what is the hold of PH on these guys? A good friend moved lock, stock and barrel to Davao City about 6 months ago and finds it hard going with immigration, food and the abundant beggars according to him. He would've returned but committed to a 'new life with a new wife' so is sticking it out ..... Good for him! 

Something I will mention, (probably get some flak over this) is that I noticed it's mainly USA'ers in PH and very few Scandinavians from what I experienced and have read, whereas it seems the opposite in Thailand with the exception of the Bangkok area. Is it due to the language barrier? The Brits seem to be able to settle almost anywhere but will always complain!

Got to admit, as I've said previously, the air is cleaner in PH and the people are more friendly but it's certainly harder to stay there long-term and the food ..... Let's just say it's rather on the bland side!  

Anyways, glad to see the familiar forumites are still posting and I will keep praising Thailand vs The Philippines until I'm banned! lol

I do miss the cheap booze, Red Horse beer and that Tanduay rum! Oh well.

 

 

 

 

[Kingpin]

15 minutes ago, ThaiWolf said:

what is the hold of PH on these guys?

Besides the women?

[hk blues]

2 hours ago, ThaiWolf said:

I said I'd keep in touch!

I can't believe that it's about a year since I left PH and returned to Thailand with my tail between my legs!
For those that remember, I was in Iloilo with a wonderful gal for a month but although she was great and my limited experience of PH was unforgettable, the calling of Thailand was greater than anticipated.

TBH, I've not had any regrets and only positive things have come my way since returning. I often read about the trials and tribulations of ex-pats, some with many years experience of living in the PH and wonder to myself; what is the hold of PH on these guys? A good friend moved lock, stock and barrel to Davao City about 6 months ago and finds it hard going with immigration, food and the abundant beggars according to him. He would've returned but committed to a 'new life with a new wife' so is sticking it out ..... Good for him! 

Something I will mention, (probably get some flak over this) is that I noticed it's mainly USA'ers in PH and very few Scandinavians from what I experienced and have read, whereas it seems the opposite in Thailand with the exception of the Bangkok area. Is it due to the language barrier? The Brits seem to be able to settle almost anywhere but will always complain!

Got to admit, as I've said previously, the air is cleaner in PH and the people are more friendly but it's certainly harder to stay there long-term and the food ..... Let's just say it's rather on the bland side!  

Anyways, glad to see the familiar forumites are still posting and I will keep praising Thailand vs The Philippines until I'm banned! lol

I do miss the cheap booze, Red Horse beer and that Tanduay rum! Oh well.

 

 

 

 

I've never lived in Thailand but have visited on and off for 25+ years.  I can definitely see why it would be more attractive than the Philippines for a tourist - for living I can't comment but am not surprised to hear your comments.  End of the day, I'm here because my wife is (perhaps the same as many of us on this forum).

Enjoy and stay healthy and happy! 

[Freebie]

Some enjoy the unadulterated chaos that occcurs here. I know what i like here ( PH) and what I positively dislike.

Having said that I had 6 weeks in Thailand  earlier this year and really liked it... infrastructure and availability of items.. Thailand wins hands down... Women.. about even....Food , Thailand wins... Strange rules... both about even...frustration factor, both are winners.....so to balance things will have 2 months in Thailand next year.

I have everything nicely set up here , ie banks, phones, my own condo etc so not sure I want to venture in switching the SRRV for the Thai O visa... ( whereby reporting every 90 days and once a year is a requirement ) or maybe the 800,000 baht Elite visa but thats only good for 5 years and about to be increased in September.

There is no clear winner . Both have advantages and both have some major failings....

[ThaiWolf]

Thailand Elite Membership Packages (thailandelitevisas.com)    Only for the wealthy! 

I won't go in to the fine details but simply:

If you want to visit Thailand then enter on visa exempt for 30 days free (can be extended for 30 days)
If you want a longer stay then a Non 0 visa for 3 months cost 1900 baht (can be extended for 30 days)
This visa can also be used for a permission to stay on the basis of marriage (400,000 baht in the bank or monthly income of 40,000 Baht)
or retirement (800,000 Baht in the bank or 65,000 Baht monthly income.)  To do the retirement extension is painless and minimal paperwork is involved after the initial 12 month extension.    Cost of both is 1900 Baht renewable every year.

On these 2 extensions a 90 day report to your local immigration is required BUT it can be done online in seconds.

 

 

[Dave Hounddriver]

18 hours ago, ThaiWolf said:

what is the hold of PH on these guys?

I stayed away from Thailand for two reasons, both anecdotes from other expats.  One story is that the over 65 crowd gets favorable treatment in Philippines and not so much in Thailand.  The other story is that people who only speak English will have trouble in Thailand, whereas the Filipinos will try very hard to communicate in English.

Can you comment on those points?

[mountainside]

21 hours ago, ThaiWolf said:

what is the hold of PH on these guys?

For me, I prefer Thai to Pinoy food but my Filipina can prepare some Thai dishes and pretty much anything else I ask for.  I struggle mightily with Tagalog and Visayan and Thai, but I don't need any of those in the Philippines, even without the help of my Filipina.  And didn't when I was single.

Filipinos like my sense of humor, and treat me warmly.  Thais have rarely been impolite, but they aren't a warm and welcoming group, aside from those paid to be welcoming to foreigners, at least for me.  

Regarding Scandinavian Expats:  I had thought that the Scandinavian expat population in Thailand was centered in Hua Hin, but I might well be out of date.  Their number appears to be rapidly shrinking.  https://www.expatsblog.com/news/0207199263/increasing-numbers-of-nordic-expats-are-leaving-thailand   Americans vastly outnumber Scandinavian retirees in Thailand, and if I'm not mistaken, so do Filipino retirees.

It's good to hear from you, having done your share of traveling in SE Asia before making your choice.  It's such a personal decision, based on so many different factors.  Please continue to praise Thailand, because . . .

We look forward to returning to Thailand, and visiting locations beyond previous trips to Bangkok, Koh Samui, Hua Hin, and Chang Mai.  My wife wants more Thai cooking lessons.  And I want more Thai massages from the folks who invented it.

[ThaiWolf]

7 hours ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

I stayed away from Thailand for two reasons, both anecdotes from other expats.  One story is that the over 65 crowd gets favorable treatment in Philippines and not so much in Thailand.  The other story is that people who only speak English will have trouble in Thailand, whereas the Filipinos will try very hard to communicate in English.

Can you comment on those points?

I'm biased because most of my circle of friends (the local plod and quacks) are Thai that I play badminton with, some can speak limited English but most can't. I'm the only foreigner in the club! I'm living well away from the tourist cities so encounter the real Thai culture and the Land of Smiles does really exist! I can only mutter a few words in Thai but I get by without too many problems and Google Translate is one of my best friends.

So many expats here live in or around the 'sex trap' cities so encounter the not so friendly Thais who judge them as they see fit, up here in the N-E it's totally different. They are known as the 'barstool lawyers' who preach to anyone who will listen about their versions of the nuances of Thailand. As I've stated before, the most advantageous aspect of PH is the abundance of English speakers you encounter in every walk of life, much harder to find a fairly fluent English speaker in Thailand, even most of the so-called English teachers are at a very basic level and I know, I was an assessor for the provincial education authority a few years ago. 

In a nutshell, Filipinos are way ahead in English so communication is easy. Saying that, some of the conversations I heard were so childish I wish I couldn't understand what they were saying. No choice in Thailand but I'm told they talk about childish things all the time as well!    

I live on the outskirts of a provincial capital city (small) where there's plenty of entertainment available, mostly restaurants with live bands and they love to see foreigners sensibly enjoying themselves. A couple of 'expat bars' in the vicinity but they tend to be for the grumpy old men to cradle their beer all night, not my cup of tea thank you. 

Dave, ignore the naysayers, if you like to travel then Thailand (all aspects of it) is a must for your bucket list. Personally, I don't like crowds so that's why I chose to live where I do but many adore the sights and sounds of Bangkok and the sex capital of the world .....Pattaya! As with any tourist city, they're after your money so don't expect the hospitality you'd receive elsewhere. 

[Mike J]

21 hours ago, ThaiWolf said:

retirement (800,000 Baht in the bank or 65,000 Baht monthly income.)

These funds are required to be in a Thai bank?

[ThaiWolf]

6 hours ago, Mike J said:

These funds are required to be in a Thai bank?

Financial requirements to qualify for a retirement extension of stay (commonly called a retirement visa). It is NOT a visa, it's a permission to stay extension of a 'non O immigrant visa'.

1: 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account solely in your name with instant access. This has to be maintained for 2 months prior and 3 months after the extension is granted. All other time it has to be maintained at 400,000 baht or higher. If it dips below during this period your next extension will be denied and you'll have to start the process again!

2: A  minimum of 65,000 baht per month paid in to your Thai bank account from abroad, every month without exception on or about the same date. This has to be proven with a signed 12 month statement from your Thai bank. (The bank knows the score so easy to obtain)

3: An affidavit from your embassy stating your income per month is in excess of 65,000 baht. No bank account details needed for immigration purposes, just this letter from your embassy!  Note: Not all embassies are willing to provide this letter (includes USA and UK)

4: Use an agent!          Many expats who neither have the funds or the ability use an agent (all over the country) to acquire 'retirement visas'. Provide your passport and sit back, let them do the brown envelopes and voila ..... A retirement extension in your passport valid for 12 months stamped by an immigration office for about 25,000 baht!

I use option 1. I have the mandatory 800,000 baht in an instant access fixed deposit account which I leave untouched (over 10 years now). I have this as my slush fund if ever needed in an emergency, medical or overwise.
I have received the wrath of many when I say that if you can't afford to plant around 20k GBP in a bank account for emergencies you shouldn't be considering living in another country like Thailand or even the Philippines, especially retirees.