@Ling ****

UK Specsavers is alot cheaper. I've just paid 2500baht for 2 pairs of glasses with them which are varifocals, thin and light, one sunglasses with extra blue filter, one reactive with extra digital area.

Basically every option you can get and it was still so cheap there!

@Stevie *******

Specsavers are the best and cheapest. I always get my glasses done there.

@Bryn *******

in the UK they have special machines which will do a perfect prescription in 15mins flat

And I have long sight, short sight, bad astigmatism and horizontal double vision in one eye, and vertical double vision in the other!

It's a new machine about 3 years old. Absolutely amazing tech.

It depends on your prescription but for complex prescriptions and thin lenses, the UK is the best globally in terms of expertise and price.

Tbh even for straightforward prescriptions the UK is cheapest due to the price competition.

@Julian ******

and much much much higher standards and expertise too!

I'm sorry but this part made me laugh.

"Used to be dental treatments in Thailand were both cheaper and (reputably) at least as good as I could hope for in the UK"

Dentistry in most countries is better than the horror show in the UK, and I'm not even talking about "NHS Dentists" but private ones.

I get full dental checkups at the BIDH each year but there are fantastic dentist's everywhere in Thailand.

Never heard anyone who thought UK Dentistry was even vaguely good before 😂😂

Unless you are buying a property or making a big purchase £10,000 or more, the exchange rate is an irrelevance because Thailand is cheap anyway.

I always convert money when the exchange rates are good. I converted a few thousand at 46.58. I'm quids in, in theory.

But on the amount I spend in Thailand it's not much.

Oh and for you lot complaining about Brexit, sterling is heading for $1.45, €1.30 within a year and is already super strong against currencies as diverse as the Aussie$, Mexican Peso and Norwegian Krone.

Nothing to do with Brexit. Simply to do with base rates in each country and their future prospects.

@John *******

well actions speak louder than words and the fact you think so narrowly speaks volumes.

My comment had loads of value since shock horror people in this group do travel elsewhere in SE Asia!

Meanwhile your nitpicking comment demonstrated your parochialism.

Oh and maybe you've been very lucky, but I retired at 41 and there was no luck involved at all.

And now I'm 55 I'm still not lucky. I'm merely good with money and as such can afford to live life to the full and do whatever I want.

@John *******

if travelling the world full time makes me a Karen, I'm happy to be one!

It's vastly better than being a sad parochial individual.

Enjoy!

@Stephen *******

depends how much you are changing. The difference adds up on bigger sums and I always carry £50 and $100 bills anyway.

And no super rich aren't the only ones. The ones with the best rates always offer more for the biggest notes. If they don't then their rates are rubbish.

I don't bother changing money outside Bangkok.