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Is investing in the Thai market a good idea or too risky?

Jul 20, 2025
9 months ago
Alastair *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Lots of posts about buying/investing in Thailand.

This article (just a screen dump) shows it’s a rocky road.

In my humble view, invest in the market you know and mostly that’s your home country.

Up to you

👍😉
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the complexities of investing in the Thai property market, noting that many condos remain empty due to overpricing and an oversaturated market. Some users shared personal success stories of profitable investments, while others expressed skepticism about the sustainability of property values and the challenges presented by shifting government policies. Additionally, there were debates about the impact of foreign investment and cultural stereotypes related to tenants, illustrating a diverse range of opinions on the real estate landscape in Thailand.
Jason ***********
That's great news for renters!
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Blaine ********
Is this why condos are so cheap right now?
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Brenton ******
Yeah bring in $200,000 US, pay tax on that as remittance into Thailand, then buy a condo and pay more taxes on the sale ect. Make Thai officials happy because their BMW payment is due
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Robin ******
Good, im looking
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Jason ***********
@Robin *****
Right? That's what I said
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Jason ***********
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Chris ******
All investment is gambling. property is just one of the investment in gambling profolio.

Only with good insight and experience, eg thesedays, property trend, USD turns weak, tariff war, Ai bloom…etc so many uncertainty

buying or renting property in Thai still is a good decision if you trust yourself

Some people pick up the most negative situation like SARS in Asia and covid .. now they can retire but still greed, and some got enough and look for a reactively cheap Thailand for life .. it is understood
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Andrew ********
Same as PRC..... for past 15 years
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Jim *******
The site is rubbish. What everyone knows, no resell real estate goes in value. Use it as your own as I do.
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Simon *******
It’s the constant flip flops of policy making long term commitments difficult
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Elisa **********
Bought multiple condos in Bangkok, all appreciated and they are giving me 7-10% net. You need to study and do proper analysis. If you have never invested, don’t give advise.
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John *********
Rent only in Thailand, you just never know if another military coup is coming.
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Jim *******
@John ********
Tell that to the Chinese investors. They get a shit from their porperty price.
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Jim *******
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Alireza *********
Maintenance is a big issue here in Thai market. Especially after the earthquake many buildings are in wreck situation.
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Ben *******
Wonder if it has anything to do with the endless hoops one has to jump through to even be here.
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Chris ******
Its coming
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Alex *******
I rather rent than buying something here. Rent is cheap compared to the price of the unit, the condos don't go up in value as fast as in the west. Most Thais don't like spending money to renovate or maintain. And to top that I would not invest until a permanent residency scheme or real long term visa is in place. A long term visa should not need a "re-enty permit".
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Jim *******
@Alex ******
It was scrapped, 20 years ago. Russian mafia, would buy a 200 K US$ condo and install their members as on "Investment visa". That is not coming back.
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Jim *******
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Jarek ************
You mean they are running out of suckers who are willing to overpay for tiny, low quality units?! 🤔🤣😜
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Simon ********
What are people's thoughts on purchasing a 30 year leasehold on a Villa or house with land rather then a condo or apartment??
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Joe **********
Not after what happened to the retired couple from the UK down in Hua Hin.
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Simon ********
@Joe *********
what happened?
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Simon ********
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Chris ******
Simon Gloede get out a calculator and you will soon realise Renting with no repairs to pay for is the key .. Farlang that spend a month here and suddenly want to buy houses here is Baffling . Theres a million negative stories around the subject . Renting gives you freedom ,especially here .. You're still at the mercy of immigration if you have a $10 million Villa or not . RENT
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Simon ********
@Chris *****
Thanks I really appreciate the advice 🙏
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Simon ********
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Alex *******
@Simon *******
I call it a pre-paid 30 year rent. It has to be substancially cheaper than renting a home for 30 years on a yearly contract because you are paying 30 years of rent upfront and you are responsible for all maintenance. I think it is a terrible decision for your financial future unless you are 70. Imagine you bought a 30year leasehold and it ends tomorrow. You leave with nothing and maintained the house for 30 years. Now imagine you invested the same capital on the Nasdaq100 30 years ago. The Nasdaq100 was at 1,052 in 1995. Today 20,656.
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Simon ********
@Alex ******
Thanks for advice much appreciated !
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Klaus ***********
@Alex ******
Exactly, came to the same conclusion. It’s prepaid rent and should be considered so, with all the disadvantages
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Klaus ***********
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Jarek ************
@Simon *******
makes more sense given the low quality of most of the apartments.
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Jarek ************
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Ashley ********
Baht is too high
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Brook ********
*********************************************************
*****
754
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Jonny *********
There is money/opportunity in the property market here, it is not a simple case.

If you invest wisely, knowing that perhaps there won’t be much appreciation on your unit. Then there is a chance for passive income on a high yield .. (I always purchase small units that have higher yield rather than the larger ones).. so far the return is far greater than having money in a bank ect..
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Hudgens *******
This doesn't surprise me. I've seen so many empty buildings everywhere. It's a shame because those buildings could be updated and put to good use.
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Dave ***********
When do the prices start dropping?
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Chris ******
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Chris ******
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Kim **********
What about investments in Thai bonds? Not corporate but gov?
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Chris ******
@Kim *********
for buying bond mean lending money to government. Thai government policy and financial is not stable, mean bond can be default

Although US gov has mega huge debt .. but greenback is still the king of the world
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Chris ******
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Val *********
What about the housing market? It seems there are so many developments everywhere, they must be selling these luxury villas surely.
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อ้วน *********
@Val ********
it's just building using foreign money under Thai business names so that they can show assets at the appraisal value to them roll into approval for another round of loans that gets sent back to the foreign money source. It's called money laundering.
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อ้วน *********
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Leopoldo ******************
You have opened the door wide open to India, they are bad lot to have there , their presence discourages all others, and they are cheap and dirty, bad move Thailand
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Sarah ******
@Leopoldo *****************
Disgusting racist comment!
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Abdulrahman **************
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Simon *******
@Leopoldo *****************
In the area I stay in 4 Indians stayed in a room that was supposed to be for 2 only paid the rent for 2 then turned the air-conditioning down to 16c and asked for more bedding because they were cold as there was only enough bedding for 2,this was their way of getting bedding for the extra 2 they had in the room,you can guess the owners answer.
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Jay ****
@Leopoldo *****************
FACT. And Russians. Has nothing to do with race either. It's who they and their cultures ARE.ive lived in both countries and it's BAD.
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Michael **************
@Leopoldo *****************
that is a really racist thing to say and not true. There are dirty people in every culture. Come on to say that doesn’t say much about your own character ! Shame shame shame !
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Michael *******
It’s stereotyping I have just returned from a visit to the UK and I saw awful behaviour from folks of all races society in general has gone backwards and whatever you think about Indians or Asians in general they do not dump their old folks in homes and leave them to rot. They still have a sense of community and lookout for each other, like many Asian cultures…..we should never generalize….
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Hudgens *******
@Michael *************
not racist at all. It's a simple factual observation. Pay attention to the people around you when you're in Thailand. Go to the markets where the Indians are prevalent shop owners. It's kind of obvious. I've been to 30 countries, lived in at least 5 of them. In general, the worst humans are the filthy animals of the animal kingdom considering we think of ourselves as the most intelligent species.
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Leopoldo ******************
@Michael *************
I understand your point, I’m not racist and am only referring to Indian tourist I have observed in Thailand, I’m not referring to all Indians or the country as I have not been there , but I have seen experienced them over the past 4 visits to Thailand and I stick to my opinion, not to mention I’m not the only one that has expressed this concern
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Leopoldo ******************
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Alan *********
While condo prices are dropping the rents are still increasing. And due to their strange logic the rooms are staying empty longer.

My lease was up for the year and I was asked to pay $2k more a month for the next year. I suggested it wasn't a good idea as the market didn't reflect that, but they were adamant.

I ended up taking a room 5 doors down (same complex, same floor) for $1k less than my previous lease, so it was an easy move for me.

I have no doubt that that room will sit empty for ages now and over the next 12 months the owner will be behind in comparison to if they kept the rent the same for me. Their loss!
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Matthew *********
@Alan ********
their logic is backyard ass jungle thinking. No schooling for logic thinking. Government is proof of that in their daily changing of policies
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Matthew *********
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Alan ***********
They need to stop moving the goalposts
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Benjamin *********
Bought my first one in 2019 , price already double for that unit

Get myself more since back then, no regrets

Just don’t be stupid, buy only fire sales, or deal 20% under market price at least, take your time, study the location the rent market and so on.
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Klaus ***********
@Benjamin ********
Can I ask where you invest in Thailand?

I’m doing some research and thinking about investing at some point
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Benjamin *********
@Klaus **********
Phuket before and since two years Pattaya
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Benjamin *********
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Chris ****
@Benjamin ********
seems to be the only way - but finding a buyer…not easy at all at any price and getting worse.
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Benjamin *********
@Chris ***
I don’t care as I don’t wanna sell for now, buy, put it in rent, sell when it’s seller market or just continue to rent it
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Benjamin *********
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Jon ******
@Benjamin ********
"price already doubled " it's value is what someone pays and that's only if people are buying and the article says nobody's buying.
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Benjamin *********
@Jon *****
haters gonna hate 😁
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Jon ******
@Benjamin ********
no hate in reality, most countries are in trouble with property values plummeting. The state of Florida is seeing the same problem as in Thailand.
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Benjamin *********
@Jon *****
I check weekly the real estate market and new condo on sale for Phuket & Pattaya, and I can told you there is a real turnover, buy and sell are fine , at least on the small condo I’m targeting.

So still there is some good deal to do, but of course you have to study deeply the market
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Jon ******
@Benjamin ********
agreed, just there seems to be more places struggling for sellers. I have family in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Florida and Hawaii also Portugal and Maine and Florida also are struggling for sellers of course different reasons. Properties in Massachusetts were is live have increased 230% in 5 years and no shortage of buyers but plenty of work.
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Klaus ***********
@Jon *****
In Denmark the market is hot and it’s logical. Strong labor market, raising wages
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Klaus ***********
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Harley ********
@Benjamin ********
what platform do you use to find your Property deals?

I’m in the market to buy something at the moment
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Benjamin *********
@Harley *******
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And recently Chat GPT

Then contact the agent and told them to message you when they have fire sale and under market price unit, if u are lucky and they are not stupid they will do, most of them are super lazy and not professional at all, but still have some good one

Hope you will be lucky 😎
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Benjamin *********
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Chris ******
@Benjamin ********
bought 7 months ago, low rise, price up 30% seen other asking.. but renting out has 5.5%, better than time deposits and US bond … yes need extensive study
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Elisa **********
@Chris *****
I bought as well. 5 condos with excellent results. Thanks for sharing!
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Benjamin *********
@Chris *****
yes and for the price of a parking lot in Causeway Bay you get yourself a nice small condo in Paradise 😁
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Benjamin *********
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Brandon ************
The Thais aren't helping themselves. If they can't rent their condo they raise the price to make up for not renting it in a while. And then they would rather leave the price high than admit they were wrong and lower it. So they all just sit empty. A lot of newer/fancier condo developments are ghost towns.
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Jim *******
@Brandon ***********
Yu have no idea of that.

Thais keep the property in their portfolio, even if unsellable.
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Av **********
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Av **********
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Sarah ******
@Brandon ***********
They do that with houses as well. The logic is baffling.
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Abdulrahman **************
@Sarah *****
True. Our old neighbor couldn't sell his home that he desperately needed to get rid of for 3.6 million baht. So what did he do? Raise the price to 5 million. That was 7 years ago. By now he's upped the price to over 6 million. He says he would rather let it gather dust than lower the price. Something with face.
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El ******************
@Abdulrahman *************
Saving face would explain lowering prices, but it doesn`t explain why they raise them. I`ve been tracking Samui real estate for over 10 years pre ¨White Lotus Mania¨ and there are literally hundreds of unsold properties that keep raising their prices over the years. I agree with Sarah, I literally don`t understand the logic at all.
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Sarah ******
@Abdulrahman *************
I know ..mind boggles with the logic behind the thinking!
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Sarah ******
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Av **********
@Sarah *****
its not baffling - the money is safer in concrete than in banks - money just vanishes in accounts there - Asians have been storing their money in concrete for years, it's their cultures way of saving as they know not to trust the banks.
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Sarah ******
@Av *********
This isn't a question of what's safer - If it was then surely gold would be the safest bet! This is about an oversaturated and overpriced property market.
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Av **********
@Sarah *****
not true again a lot of that gold is from Tesco and even the jewelers can’t see the difference sometimes. And gold fits in the maid’s pocket. How is a maid going to put a condominium in her pocket and sneak out.
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Chris ******
@Av *********
What Ai do you use ,lol.. Try another ,maybe Grok ?
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Alastair *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Av *********
it’s also why they love gold.
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Pete *******
@Av *********
Thai’s invest in gold not in concrete. The Thai real estate market is Chinese driven.
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Sarah ******
@Pete ******
exactly!
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Av **********
@Sarah *****
I can tell with a nam like Sarah u must be Thai lol how long have u been here buddy?
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Av **********
@Sarah *****
not true
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Av **********
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Sarah ******
Oversaturated housing market is the issue here.
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Phil ******
@Sarah *****
nah no one wants to buy since 8.2 earthquake when 124 people die and 56 building gome
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Sarah ******
@Phil *****
Personally, never saw the appeal of Bangkok, but each to their own.
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Andrew *******
@Sarah *****
Bangkok is awesome but it can take some time to appreciate its awesomeness. I mean it’s one of the best cities around for the things that appeal to people about cities. But if one doesn’t like cities it may not be your thing.
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Sarah ******
@Andrew ******
Yes.it's just not for me and that's okay. If we all liked the same, life would be boring! :)
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Phil ******
@Sarah *****
Bangkok has its good points and of course its bad points. If you come here I can show you the good points
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Sarah ******
@Phil *****
I am no stranger to Bangkok - having first visited in the late 80's ;)
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Phil ******
@Sarah *****
ok I'm only since 2010 but the earthquake scared alot first one for a long time
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James *******
@Phil *****
imo, bangkok is ok when the stay is interchanged with quiet islands and some global destinations like Europe, US, Japan, S.Korea etc
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Phil ******
@James ******
when your next in Bangkok let's go for a ฿45 pint
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Phil ******
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Matthew *********
@Sarah *****
you will get the farang price, which is how these people treat us here. In america you would go to jail for it
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Sarah ******
@Matthew ********
This is nothing new, it has always been this way. It doesn't help when farangs drive up prices by continually comparing how 'cheap' things are/were here.
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Sarah ******
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Paul *****************
@Sarah *****
I’ve witnessed it for nearly 40 years. They just keep building and today’s luxury location turns into tomorrow’s slum.
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Craig *******
@Paul ****************
That is what is going to happen in Phuket.
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Sarah ******
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Sarah ******
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