I think it depends on where you settle and what your interests are. My husband and I moved just north of the bay in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan - we live in a quiet little fishing village and feel perfectly safe here (I have been going for morning walks regularly here before 6 am on my own and never had issues - I sometimes go home from the pub on my own because hubby is having a good time and I am tired - again no problem. ) I garden, go for massages, putter in the kitchen when I want farang food and do a host of things to stay busy. Never bored. There is a bit of an expat community here, we sometimes go to things but often are too busy enjoying life to. It's like anywhere - it is what you make it.

It's fairly straight forward if you have the funds deposited in the bank. We've been here three years - always keep our balance above 400K baht each (Joint account so 800,000 baht) making sure we have 0 baht each (1,600,000 baht) 3 months prior to renewal and 2 months after. Supply bank book, bank statement, bank certification of account letter, lease / TM30 with the ID of the land owner, passport photos and passport and proof of 90 day check in being compliant (at least thats what Hua Hin immigration required 2 weeks ago) and pay 1900 baht. (2000 baht if it is first time I think? ) Took us about an hour from walking in to walking out with our stamp.

@Charles *******

and also the letter from the bank for verification of account for each of us

@Pierre ********

hate to break it to you sunshine, you are the Karen in this situation. Well done. Give yourself a gold star for knowing nothing at all yet still trying to participate. Lol 😆 at least you gave me and hubby a giggle.

@Charles *******

one year for us, we did the same last year too.

@Pierre ********

in case you missed it - you are advising about a tourist situation whilst we are talking about a non-O retirement annual extension for our stay (living here legally) and the time it takes to acquire this with different banking and paperwork requirements to that of a tourist - two completely different ways to legally be in Thailand. There honestly is not a one size fits all for all of us farangs since each of us have different needs and requirements based on the type of visa we are looking at. (90+30 = 120 days for your type of visa suggestion versus 365 days for ours - which is a more permenant type of visa)

To give clarity - What you are talking about would require border hops to stay here long term after the 30 day extension since only one extension can be sourced for a single tourist entry - whilst ours only requires we submit a 90 day report on where we are staying that takes about 5 minutes to complete online.

Maybe before trolling another person to tell them to research it - you should read the actual words that were typed and fully understand the conversation? Because the "advice" you gave does not fit the situation that the person this comment was made to needed.

@Polat ******

I think as long as all your documents are in order and you have the funds in the bank as per the requirements it is fairly quick and easy. From memory though for the first time we did it, they had to send approval to Bangkok which took a full day. This was our third extension.

@Kerry ********

The best way to use wise is to transfer using the currency of the country you are sending from and convert it within the wise app. Wise gives a far better conversion rate than any bank. If transferring into Wise from the US you should be adding USD - once you are ready to send to your Thai bank you convert it to Baht and then transfer the funds into your Thai bank - you will save heaps in the conversion.

@Kerry ********

Never transferred from the US but I did to the US (from Australia) and always got a better rate than the bank offered.

Wise always seems to give me a better conversion rate. Been using them for years between Aus, the US and Thailand and never been disappointed. Check your conversion rates your bank gives and then look at Wise's rates - it can make up the difference or the cost of the transfer depending on the amount you are sending.