Do Expats Enjoy Living in Thailand?

Nov 18, 2020
4 years ago
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey guys:) I’m a student from Thammasart University and I want to ask you all something. The question is, “Do you like Thailand? What do you think about Thailand? and Why?”

Thank you for sharing your opinion:D
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation reveals mixed feelings about living in Thailand among expats. Many express love for the country's vibrant culture, warm people, and delicious food, citing it as a second home. However, issues such as bureaucracy, corruption, and the rising cost of living are also prominent concerns. The dialogue touches on diverse perspectives, with some emphasizing the friendliness and safety in Thailand, while others criticize the price discrimination against foreigners and call for reforms in visa regulations.
David *********
I have been to Thailand several times since 2013. There is a great deal to like about the country as per the comments already made, BUT the 2 price structure to Rip off Farangs (non-thai foreigners) and made to pay up to 10 times Thai price in my mind is unacceptable. Been on a lot of forums and now am looking at giving The Philippines a try as next destination. As the saying goes in Thailand "up to you"... as I said I an a big fan of LOS but don't agree with being ripped off.
Mai ****************
Hi guys, I’m her teammate and I want to ask you something too.

My post still doesn’t get approved, so I decide to comment a question instead.

Here’s a question : What do you think about Thailand’s Visa inquiry?

Thank you for helping me, I’m really grateful.
NaTasha ***************
I love thailand, but I feel there are a lot of things deep within the culture that foreigners are overlooking. Of coarse many great things, but with that, there's a dark side to the culture as well. Pm me if you want to talk about it.
Ken ***********
I have lived in Thailand for 14 years and while there are many good things still, Thailand is far less desirable to live than years ago.
Carlo **********
Probably the best country in theworld,but with the worst police and government.
Ekaterina *******
I love the people, the nature. I like the food, but not all of it, I'm very selective. But fruits are amazing. People are very nice, we lived in Nakhon Pathom, even with language barrier people were very friendly and welcoming.
Michael ***************
I love Thailand, but it is the people who make it for me, always friendly and helpful
ฮาร์ริส ******
I like Thailand very much and I felt as 2nd country
Matthew ************
I've been to 50 countries. Thailand ranks among the top for many aspects, but those in the know are aware of the traps and xenophobia. Like all countries, good and bad exists.
James *******
it's a great place for middle aged men to get laid and pretend they have found real love.
Michael ******
Awesome looking ladyboys! 🤗🤗🤗🙏🏻
Ricky ********
Because it's a lot of sweet pussy
James ***************
Thailand is an amazing place to live and enjoy.
Rob ******
My goodness we have become the easiest way to write and research assignments .. :-)
Johnny ************
I have been to many countries. I found that the generosity of Thais is incredible. The overall cleanliness of most Thais and oral hygiene is quite impressive. I have never had the feeling of “fear” in Thailand of being robbed, mugged or cheated even when I was vulnerable from being drunk late at night. I like that the overall cost of living is still quite low in most areas even for Thai people. I am also amazed at the road infrastructure and how nearly every road is paved and that the pace of roadwork is staggering.

I once left my wallet with 30 000 baht and my id at a music 🎶 bar in Pattaya on walking street after I paid our bill. The waitress found me 15 minutes after I left on a super crowded walking street. I was super impressed. A good ♥️.

Also.... having broken many parts on my body. The heat makes me feel 10 years younger and if something is sore I can get a Thai massage to fix the issue.

Lastly... I love 💕 how everyone goes crazy when they watch a Thai fighter in a Muay Thai fight battle with a foreigner. Epic!

These are the positives I have witnessed.
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Johnny ***********
Thank you for sharing this❤️
Johnny ************
@Orawin *********
No problem! Good luck with your research.
Dev *******
I love Thailand so much I married one. Like all countries there are good people and bad people but the beauty of your country is amazing. We do need lower the prices of things because it is too expensive. Australia is expensive place to live, but Thailand should be cheaper like the countries that surround you this will be better for tourists and locals.😎
Steve **********
@Devon ******
Things change.

COL has increase 35% during my time here while Baht has depreciated 35%.
Mike *******
Just, The People, their Culture, the Climate and the natural Beauty of the sea and contryside !!!!
Andrea ******************
🇹🇭💜🇹🇭🙏🇹🇭💜🇹🇭
Brian ********
Thailand amazing country amazing people amazing cuisine amazing laid back lifestyle been going there for the past 30 years it’s like a second home
Tipsda ********
Thailand ♥️😊🇹🇭♥️♥️😊🙏

Home=Thailand ♥️😊🇹🇭🙏
Peter **************
Thailand is a wonderful place to live, spoilt only by corruption

After the death of the beloved King in 2016 the country has gone downhill fast, mainly due to their new King, who stays the majority of the time in Germany

Start at the top and work down is the answer to getting the country back to an economic future, until this happens the suicides in Thailand will continue to rise, as without tourism the poor people of Thailand, have little to no chance of making ends meet
Billy *******
I know exactly how English isn't taught properly. Why? I don't know.
Paul *******
Thailand is the most amazing place & culture 🙏 the only thing that spoils a beautiful country like that is the military control and police corruption 😊
Durrant ********
@Paul ******
you forgot to mention the brothels and prostitutes
Peter **************
@Paul ******
Agree 100%
Annelie ********************
Love love love it, cant wait to be back
Jelly ******
Hello fellow TU member,

Been here constantly since 2013, on and off since 2006.

I see many positives of living here, such as: pace of life; lack of dark depressing winters; overall mentality; liking bkk as a city etc.

There are also obviously many aspects I like less, but that's true for everywhere I've lived, and for me the positives outweighs the negatives. Simple as that.
Steve **********
@Jens *****
17 years. Yep, good outweigh bad.

But most countries have both
Sri **********
Boom boom 😀
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
Do you get academic credit for our answers?
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Edward *******
Definitely yes
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Orawin *********
good for you. What is the class
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Edward *******
English for Sociologists and Anthropologists:)
เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
@Orawin *********
good for you. I took an anthropology course in University and I really enjoyed it
Chang *****
Thailand help me stay alive.....
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chang ****
How so? If you don’t mind me asking:)
เด่ ******
Every tourist loves thailand, otherwise they won't come to Thailand. You want hear the truth instead of just nice words about foods and the weather ? Dont blame me than. Too much price discrimination, bad protection from police officer if something happen on the street (accident, etc.. so many video farang get punch infront of police and police did nothing to avoid that happen). Lack of minority protection.

Discrimination of visa regulation. $
*****
for past six month just for tourist visa, why ? And even some farang have condo and company already in thailand. They invested already. Why no support for such people ? And still they have to show bank account with money, why ?

Remember the covig situation and a lot of thai had no food and standing line up , an quess what , you saw many farangs no matter business owner or just a tourist bought so much rice from big C and give money and foods for them free. They did it because they care and love thailand.

Look at wild dogs on the street in the whole thailand and you still find good farang who try hard rescue them and do much thing in poor area. Remember the life of thai trapped boys in the cave were rescued by farang. Read the news. You will find a lot of good things from many tourist, what they have done for thailand. I never hear such this thing happen in farang's country. This comparation is NOT to build distance, instead to let you know that tourist as minority in thailand should not be discriminated and more protected because there is nothing a country can do more than this for tourist.
Steve **********
@Tae ******
Govt. Asst PM has stated " want dirty farangs out" so they are leaving. Immigration is insuring it.
เด่ ******
@Steve *********
there are regulation already for that. If you do criminals you will be black listed. Don't know what do you mean with "dirty farang" ? They have money, they come and the fly back. Look at Thailand itself. The local people make their own country dirty. Look at the street, look at how they manage the transportation, look at the market, just walk to any place in thailand and look. It has nothing to do with farang at all. The corruption and their being not matter break the country. Honestly, they can learn so much thing about cleanliness and human being from farang.
Steve **********
@Tae ******
dont tell Thai govt that.
เด่ ******
@Steve *********
yes that is true. It's just wasting time to argue with the old generation of thai politician. Let's the fight be given to the new thai generation. I have the feeling that this old generation break the country and spread their virus to new generation for decades. But this university student orawin chaipan deserves to know the truth and hopefully there will be more better generation, that understand more about freedom of expression and do more better thing for their own country.
Steve **********
@Tae ******
Dont know either !

AM QUOTING Deputy PM in Bangkok Post.
Durrant ********
@Steve *********
translation they don't want root rats coming here.
Steve **********
@Durrant *******
dont know what root rat is.
Steve **********
@Tae ******
police are no help unless you provide tea money.

Air Quality in North ( Chiangmsi ) for about 5 months is worst in World agi 2.5 range 300 to 550, ppm have seen 600 feb thru June in burning season.

Quite often planes wont land due to visibility.

People are wonderful, but now with Covid, quite poor, no work for many thai's in tourist city's as no tourist.
Ronald *********
Thailand is the center of the universe for me I'm so grateful to be able to live here i am still learning and after 40 years have just discovered som tam polimy and som tam sommo
John ********
Making it very difficult to visit now
John ********
Getting very expensive now
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
everything is expensive😠
John ********
@Orawin *********
time to go to south america
Michael *********
@John *******
Costa Rica or Belize are both fantastic.
John ********
And cheaper
John ********
@Michael ********
equador sound nice
Steve *********
I have to like Thailand! I'm married to a Thai! I love the food and (most of) the people. I get frustrated by excessive beaurocracy and endemic corruption, but I am learning to cope.
Broxy *******
I great place ,great people,great food,great weather :)
Steve **********
@Broxy ******
great people, great food.

Weather not so much. For 5 mo's a year #1 worst air quality on earth ( AQI 2.5 ).but the other 7, correct, if you like Very Hot. I do.
Johanna ********
Love Thailand great food and people My second home lived there for 12 years and go back every year as daughter lives there xx
Paul ********
Paul ********
Shopping and culture and boom boom soapy
Amanda *********
Shouldn't you go around to schools to ask these questions?
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Amanda ********
This is a task given from my teacher. As a sociology and anthropology student, we need to do research and “netnography” is one of the method:)
Amanda *********
@Orawin *********
I understand. I was just wondering why you ask in fb if the studenta go to the schools. My intentions is not to be rude but merely inquiring
Melissa *********
@Amanda ********
like expats are schools?
Amanda *********
@Melissa ********
i just meant that the students from the universities go to schools to ask the teachers these questions.
Melissa *********
I love Thailand! The colours of nature and the villages are so vibrant, the food is so good and affordable and the people are so friendly (people here are much more friendly with our child than back in Australia and I feel so much more comfortable breastfeeding in public here to which is shamed back home). 🙏🙏
Hugh ********
@Melissa ********
really? I thought Thailand would be more stricter on that but I dont know, I might be wrong. And due to my biological complex, I'd probably never find out
Melissa *********
@Hugh *******
They have pictures of babies being breastfed in the sides of the Buddhist temples ... bit of a clue for you 😉
Hugh ********
@Melissa ********
ohh right well good on Thailand x
Ruth *******
@Hugh *******
they do not think of it as something sexual 🙂
Hugh ********
No prospects for foreigners, many jobs we are not allowed to do but.... Most people are here for two reasons

They are retired and they find it easier to be allowed here then most and enjoy their last years with the ladies lol

Or they are young and have genuinely fallen in love.

Of corse every case if different but they are the main two.

Many foreigners here like me, come from cold wet and dark countrys so you tend to find people from these countrys like england end up somewhere sunny with nice beaches like Spain Australia or Thailand ect...
Hugh ********
@Hugh *******
the people are extremely friendly compared to england too. Less dickheads and less spoilt brats
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Hugh *******
i doubt that lol🤣
Hugh ********
@Orawin *********
be proud of it, I'm proud of whatever uk manners are left
Hugh ********
@Orawin *********
ohh majorly, everyone says that about thais lol
Stan *******
@Hugh *******
hmm, not so sure about less dickheads when you see the way they drive ...
Hugh ********
@Stan ******
I drove a bus around central london for a living so I'd say it was more relaxing here lol
Motal ***********
Life is everywhere you go. You can make good life with your good attitude and you can make bad life with your attitude.
John ****
Unfortunately that’s not going to be true for an Ethiopian working in Saudi Arabia
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Motal **********
couldn’t agree more😄
Hugh ********
100%
Hugh ********
@Motal **********
that's a good attitude
Edd ********
Change of Government would help.

Along with a more simplified approach to visas.

As currently very complex and to many who would like to visit, proves way to complicated.

But all in all a Beautiful Country but in need of change.
Inder ************
Thailand is 2nd home for me, I came here 26 yrs ago, great food, smiling & friendly people. Every country have issues so Thailand is not different from other part of world when we compare with developing economies of Asia.
James *******
@Inder ***********
you have come for 26 years and still fall for the fake smiles?
Dlonra ********
@Inder ***********
I agree to you ! I Thailand is my second home too ! Every country have a negative and positive people but Thailand is a good place to me to live ! Sometimes you can read a negative comments mostly westerner that about their experience in Thailand in negative way ! But I think they just want only a more good average result when they living in Thailand .
Guang ******
I haven't reason for talk。。but I like Thailand so much。。🥳
Bruce *****
Ladyboys
John *********
Bal *********
@Bruce ****
At last !!

an honest straight to the point answer. 🤣
Bal *********
Find it very strange none of the above have mentioned the thai women 🤣🤣
Mark ********
I live in Banchang, a smallish town south of Pattaya. It's near the beach, the sunshine everyday and, despite language difficulties, our neighbours are friendly (as are we). Food is delicious, and reasonably cheap. There are very few tourists here, which is a plus. We are a Canadian/UK family with two kids. Love it.
Madz ******
@Mark *******
can I ask what Banchang would be like from a visiting tourist point of view? Are there bars, nightlife and things to do, or would that mean a trip into pattaya? I lived in Pattaya and know it well, but would be interested in visiting Banchang. Thanks in advance 🙏🏽
Mark ********
@Madz *****
i suspect it might be a bit dull as a tourist spot.
Ruth *******
@Madz *****
Why does “tourist” mean bars and nightlife?
Madz ******
@Ruth ******
sorry it wasn't clear, it's not what it means, its a separate question. I personally like to visit bars and have some options for nightlife nearby if I'm visiting somewhere. I'd also like to know about recommendations for other tourist attractions. I'd welcome all suggestions and info. Be great to have your ideas of other fun things to do 👍🏽thanks
Fred *********
@Madz *****
plenty of good golf courses in Ban Chang
Steve *******
Orawin **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Andrew *********
Corruption, stupid pointless bureau, crazy idiots on the roads ...beer is cheap so its ok ?
Nick *******
@Andrew ********
beef is free if you honk your horn at a 4x4 with stickers all over it, even if he just intentionally ran you off the road. ;)
Joseph ********
After living here for six years sometimes I love it sometimes I hate it
AJ ****
I like Thailand, a nice place to relax because of what it offers I.e mountain living and north of Thailand, but also areas like Phu kheo which shows the village but then you have the beach at the bottom of the country. The country has it all, and is nice to travel and visit shops and without it taking too long either
@Orawin *********
Joe ***********
Thailands a cool place, great food, Muay Thai and cheap beers.
Steve **********
@Joe **********
beer not do cheap anymore
Richard *****
@Joe **********
cheap beers 🤔🤔 where ❓❓❓
Joe ***********
Conpared to Sydney yeah
Stan *******
@Joe **********
well, a large Chang here is the equivalent of about £1.50 and Tesco in the UK sell them for about 99p or 40 baht. That’s after a 6,000 mile journey so no, beer isn’t cheap here at all.
Joe ***********
Fair enough mate, they get ripped off in Australia. I mean we. 😭
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