What should I know before moving to Thailand or the Philippines as an expat?

Before u decide where to move pls check out Da Nang n puoc qouc.in Vietnam. Vietnam is very cheap n now surpasses thailand n philipines as the most visited country in world.Da nang looks just like pattayya clean n less crowded n very modern city.think about it

Koh Chang. Definitely.

You have much more experience in SE Asia and E Asia than most of us. We should be asking you this question. And your reasoning is “too lazy”.

Suggest looking at what visas are available for you and also health insurance options. Those are pretty important factors when making a decision

The thing I would consider about location is smokey season. We lived as a family of 4 in Chiang Rai for 2 years. Absolutely loved it, the people, the culture, the food, but for 3 months of the year, not the smokey season. Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai get it the worst.

I can't speak to the Philippines but in Thailand just check the cities. Coastal in the South it's better. There's an app called IQAir. The icon is blue with a person's face with a mask on it. It's really helpful to see what the quality is.

Re meds, bring what you can, but with all countries that we go into we research for restricted lists. You can go to jail for some of them, so be careful! Thailand has EXCELLENT medical care - I mean, world class - we travel full time so we get to test different medical care around the world. I would fly from other countries to get care in Thailand (or Malaysia), if needed. They're both EXCEPTIONAL.

Re Amazon - no. Not in Thailand. Sure you can have stuff shipped but it's slow and expensive. There is so much available in Thailand that you won't miss your Amazon prime. Use Lazada instead. It's an amazing app with excellent (next day) delivery in some cases. You will learn to love it, as I did.

Also, as others have said, (I'm sure you're onto this) get the right visa. I had a non-B for business and it was no problem getting bank accounts etc. Some of them can be problematic, (sounds like people are having trouble with the DTV right now with bank accounts being closed) so do check that out.

Hope that helps, and enjoy! 🎉

Most medicine is cheaper here than other places.

Most important thing for Thailand if you intend to "live" here is having a proper visa. If you're over 50, retirement visa is probably the best option.

Too lazy to plan your future? Dude!!!!

There are several large cities with considerable expats/Westerners populations with the activities and all. Udonthani, Khon Khean in the Northeast for example. Both province are conveniently situated within an hour by air to BKK and direct flights to the South and the North as well.

Pubs , bars , restaurants, scenic places, temples & cultural you name it.

Have been living in LA, SF, NYC Orlando and now Dallas I can’t wait to go home to those country side places. Check it out you may like it. I have a home for rent under $200 per month at a small tourist attraction on the mountain with the 360 degrees Mountain View. Thats the life…..

The photo is where my rental located.

Just go straight to Portugal. Save all the hassle.