I'm living in the Philippines, near Manila and know I need Cataract Surgery. Better in Thailand? Price?

I’m about to have to do a bounce, and I was planning on visiting another country close by, but after doing some in-depth research, it’s not exactly what I though it was, so I’m opening up my options. I have it narrowed down to Da Nang, Singapore and Manila/Cebu. Is there a consensus among the group of the best destination? Sorry if it’s off-topic, but I need to figure this out ASAP. Not too worried about the budget, within reason, and I can stay as long as I want. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Edit. Basically going because my visa is up. I enjoy Thailand, and thought the Phils were comparable, but the comments online make me now think different. The usual activities... sightseeing, tours, nightlife, etc. I'm not hard to please. Just something interesting to do to bide time before returning here. 

Hi everyone, is it possible to apply for the DTV visa in the Philippines? Does the Thai embassy there process this visa?

Did anyone notice you get more your money by going to the Phillipines than Thailand?

Hello….

Not visa related but an inquiry involving money transfers.

I am currently living in the Philippines and hold some Philippine Peso.

I was wondering if it would be better to exchange here for US Dollars and bring them with me instead of peso….not sure as means exchanging twice !!

Not a Thai visa question, but definitely everything else :)

I'm looking at longer term visas in the region as a fall back for worst case scenario regarding tax liability in Thailand.

The Philippines looks to be the best option for long stay, no tax unless earning in country plus increases to UK state pension whilst in country.

Cambodia offers retirement long stay, no UK pension increases, not sure on tax yet, not resident under 180 days.

Vietnam only up to 90 days, no pension increase. Hope they extend visas going forward one day. Malaysia similar on 90 days.

Any other options I've missed? Thanks.

*Anyone else waiting on the new visa updates for the 5yr DTV? Im 33yrs old coming from USA and with this visa it seems you can only stay 6mo a year so im now thinking to buy a house there thats a little cheaper than I was planning and now thinking I should start looking for another country with a similar easy cheap visa (since im too young for any retirement visa even tho im retired). What other countries that are NOT western that would be good to spend the other 6mo of the year and where cost of living is reasonable and 50-70k usd will get a respectable 60sqm+ condo? Im from miami so im already used to the disgusting 90* 90% humidity everyday, figuring ill spend winters in Pattaya then go to the other country for summer to be a good combo? South of france like Nice-antibes would be great and cost of living is low except purchasing a condo is miami pricing... easy visa tho.... dont want to rent anywhere, so purchasing a property is the critical part of the equation. *

*So what are you guys doing that spend half a year in thailand and the other half somewhere else thats not from the western world?*

Thanks in advance for helpful advice. I want to spend < 180 days a year in Phuket and I’m looking for recommendations on interesting places to spend time outside Thailand that will not break the bank for the other 180 + days.

What specific places/locations would you personally recommend that I may not know or have thought about? So far I’ve focussed on Saigon and Philippines (Cebu, Palawan).

Any bargain places with good food, beaches, nature & bars that are reasonably priced, easily accessible? And yes I have googled and thought about this a lot and am now calling on our collective wisdom.

Thanks! KO

By the way the pic is Moalboal, Cebu Island, Philippines. Nice spot, a bit long to get there…..

A question to a members already live in Thailand.

Do you have such of plan B? Let's say that one day they refuse to extend your retirement visa (by any reason) or they tighten the requirements to a point you gonna feel that you can't complied it.

What you gonna do? Do you have somewhere to go back to at home? Start from scratch? Or maybe move to another country?

Which SEA country is the best for a young expat to live long term or use as a base while exploring others: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, China.

Budget: ~$3K USD/month