@Neil *****

Why so much hate when you yourself don’t have a clue what you’re talking about?

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@Sandy ********

Uh, just have them sign a document? Taking a child to another country without the consent and against the wishes of the other parent is a common thing in divorces and custody disputes. This is really a small inconvenience compared to the heartache of a stolen or trafficked child.

Check your messages.

@Greg *******

Actually, almost all banking aps have their own strong security built in. VPN not needed for banking ap - but it doesn’t hurt.

@Luc *******

Marriage is highly over-rated, regardless of country.

And there are plenty of places far more suitable for seeking true love than Pattaya.

Still, it DOES happen here from time to time. Rare enough to be remarkable, true. It’s the exception that proves the rule: NEVER fall in love with a bar girl.

But if you do get lucky and find a good one (against all odds), you’re in for the time of your life.

@Randy *********

Do you use them? How has your experience been?

I recently almost signed up, but then the reviews scared me off.



So I ended up going with instead.

Can’t report good or bad yet - fingers crossed.

@Shane *******

I think he meant “hare brained.”

@Jorge ***

I experienced just the opposite- I was shocked at how much the USA had changed in just a year and a half away. When I visited briefly I couldn’t get back to Thailand fast enough!

@Richard *************

I can believe that. Of course, it’s a rapidly changing world, and especially vis-a-vis the USA, the government has become far more intrusive into our affairs, and a lot of previously uncomplicated things are now . . .complicated.

(Not necessarily in order of importance)

1. Buy health insurance from a Thai company (Only a tiny percentage of western insurance companies have a direct pay to hospital agreement with Thai hospitals, which means you have to pay the bill in full and hope your insurance pays you back). Most hospitals have a list of insurance carriers who they accept direct payment from. Check out the lists from a couple hospitals you might use before signing up for insurance.

2. Keep two US bank accounts. (in case one gets closed - US banks often dislike customers who spend too much time abroad and will cut you off given the slightest excuse). Also, make sure you set up the online banking ap BEFORE leaving the US. See above.

3. Get a Thai bank account with a good ap and a debit card. Can be done with any type of visa but you may have to try a few different branches. I find Bangkok Bank the easiest but there are other good choices too.

4. Use Wise to transfer money from your US bank to Thai bank.

5. ALWAYS have a plan B. And plan C.

6. Make sure you inform your US bank(s) of your travel itinerary so they don’t decline your credit or debit card when you try to use it here. You can usually do that in the bank ap.

7. Get a Thai SIM card and phone number upon arrival. Make sure the ap is set up properly on your phone before leaving the shop.

8. If possible, try to keep a USA phone number for banking business, verifications, etc. Be aware that financial institutions actively seek to block usage of virtual phone #s for any kind of “official” changes or verifications. Even resetting a password or changing a PIN can become a huge problem if you don’t have a working US phone number that is deemed acceptable.

9. Set up a VPN before leaving the USA and use it religiously on all your devices. And setting one up from outside the US can be tricky.

10. Have your mail receiving, scanning and forwarding via email sorted before you leave. Either with a VERY trusted relative or friend, or use a commercial virtual mailbox with an address in a state that has no income tax.

11. If you’re planning on working to cover your expenses while here, make sure you have a firm grasp of Thai immigration policies, Visa and work permits. If you choose to break the rules, first understand the potential risks and consequences of doing so.

12. Thais are a completely different culture from Americans. Understand basic social and cultural protocols here to avoid possible rough situations. They have kings and queens, prime minister and other officials who took power via a coup and can be very touchy about things you wouldn’t expect. From bar security staff to motorcycle taxi drivers to Thai boyfriends to the PoPo, they WILL fuck you up if you show too much ass and get confrontational. But they can also be surprisingly forgiving and helpful if you show a little respect, humility and courtesy.

13. Most westerners find the language to be extremely difficult to learn. But give it a serious shot. You CAN get by with zero Thai language skillls, but most Thais really appreciate it when falangs at least try. Plus it’s good to know what they’re saying about you when they think you don’t understand.

14. Stay far away from toxic expats who whine about every damn trivial thing and ridicule everything Thai constantly. Not every expat suffers from this ugly disease, so cultivate friendships with those who actually like Thailand and its people.