@John ********

My advice for anyone looking to retire here is to float around for a couple months in short stay accommodation and travel to different areas until you find the place that suits you completely. We stayed in Hua Hin a few months and did this (based ourselves at Seamira House on the rail line off Soi 94 - lovely hotel with cheaper longstay rooms if you visit in person rather than book through agoda and the beds there are super comfortable) Once we drove into PKK though we knew this was the place. We have been here now a bit over 2 years and never looked back, but we like a quiet lifestyle so it really does suit us. There are no girly bars here (though I have heard there may be one somewhere - it's not in your face - lovely rasta bar on the beach just around the corner from us though. When we need to shop for things that aren't in town (like farang food supplies) we drive the hour to Hua Hin for a night or two 🙂

@John ********

definitely worth checking out Mong Lai then which is on the north side of the bay in PKK.

@John ********

there isn't any agents here to show you them but if you drive around there are places available. We live in a resort that has three small cottages and some single rooms - the cottages are basic but we are across the street from the beach and we have really turned ours into a home. The owners here are lovely and very helpful - what started out as temporary accomodation is now our permenant home lol

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.