@Graham *****

, so would you consider what I would like to do, but am now getting worried my wife and I will not be able to do, is considered tourist holidaying?

@Farang ********

, I wish, if countries are going to make it a requirement to have a certain amount of cash on hand, that they had ATM machines before immigration so you could just get the cash there. I know most people don't like to pay ATM fees, and would rather carry cash, but I have two financial institutions I invest and bank with that refund me all ATM charges at the end of each month that are charged through the local banks, and both institutions have zero ATM charges on their end.

@Graham *****

, I'm just curious, if I want to be retired in another country, but I want to spend 3 to 5 months in Thailand, relaxing on the beaches, traveling around the country, and I'm 68 years old, and both my Filipina wife and I love Thailand, but are going to be retired in the Philippines, why do we have to apply for a retirement visa just because we are of retirement age?

@Farang ********

, I guess, as much as I hate carrying around a bunch of cash, if I continue to decide to travel to Thailand, I'll start having to do the same. My only issue is sometimes I head to Vietnam first, then come to Thailand. So that means I will have to carry around in my backpack or something the additional amount of $600+ USD for a month with me, because what use is it in leaving Vietnam with $600 worth of Vietnamese Dong. Usually, the first country I arrive in, I trade in my cash for their currency, then the rest of my travels I just use my ATM card and take cash out. It's disappointing that these countries want you to show up with a certain amount of money in your pocket, just waiting to be ripped off by a pickpocket, or someone else in a month or two of travel, before you even get to Thailand.

@Farang ********

, I would ask everyone on these threads, why would Thailand give you a 60 day visa free entry, and a 30 day extension, and then come back for another 60 days, when the country allows that, then have issues when someone does that? Why don't you start in again on me, Peter, too, about me not wanting to carry around 20k in my pocket while I travel all around the area. If Thailand is going to make it so hard to enter, I'll just stay with my Filipina wife of 20+ years in the Philippines, and go to Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore where they aren't making it nearly as hard as Thailand is.

And then, Peter, gives me some more crap about being superior. You, Farang Walking, have a different situation than I do, being married to a Thai woman, but I'm not understanding why, if you were just coming for a bit, you are being hassled in trying to just enter with a Visa Free stamp? I also am aware I should have my 20k in my pocket, but that's the risk I'm taking by not carrying it on me, I hate carrying that kind of cash anywhere.

These guys have all laid into me on another post about that one, calling me basically broke, etc. I am a retired union electrician from the US with over 30 years in the union, with a good pension, social security, a pretty decent 401k, and they tell me go back to eating at McDonalds, all while telling me I think I am superior to them because I choose not to carry a lot of money in my wallet...I am sorry for the rant. Unfortunately, I'm considering exiting these forums because of the nastiness these people answer other people's replies, etc, on here. I'm sure Peter, or one of these other people on here will now tell me to fuck off or something similar.

@Farang ********

, that guy, Peter, is pretty much an asshole on every post.

@Herbert ********

, if you are from the US, you don't have to worry about any ATM fees, I actually have accounts with two different financial institutions that DON'T charge me fees, give me an almost identical rate as the money changers, and REIMBURSE me those 220 baht Thai bank fees at the end of EVERY month. Charles Schwab for one, and Chase, as I have enough money in my retirement account that they also don't charge me any fees and remiburse all fees from all international bank charges.

@Rick ********

, the difference I get with my Charles Schwab debit card at the ATM's is almost the same, so it's such a minimal difference it's not worth running around from country to country carrying cash! And I don't have any ATM fees, as at the end of each month Charles Schwab reimburses me all fees from the local banks, and they don't charge fees for using their card, anywhere in the world, as long as the machine says VISA on it, which is almost every ATM machine pretty much everywhere.

@Antonis **************

, that's not totally true about bank fees and bad rates. I have a Charles Schwab account and they give you a great exchange rate along with no fees. Any fees charged by any bank in any country I'm in are reimbursed every month at the end of the month, and Charles Schwab doesn't collect fees when I use their debit card. All I have to do is make sure the machine has a VISA symbol on it, which is almost every machine in the world. Even a machine I used in Vietnam that didn't have a VISA symbol on it was in their system and I was reimbursed my fees at the end of the month. SO, long story short, your statement is not always true. Why would I want to run around with 20k in Thai baht when I can get that as soon as I'm settled into my room, then get my money, or at least take out maybe 5k in baht at the airport from the ATM. The airport ATM's AREN'T like the exchange counters at the airports, I get the same exchange rate from any ATM wherever it's at because Schwab is giving me a very competitive rate!

@Ivan ******

, why would I wander around with $600 to $1,000 in cash when I can hit an ATM once I'm in the country and not having to worry about running around with all of that in my pocket. I can hit up any ATM machine, and then take out 30k in Baht and keep it in my room, hidden. That's how I do it in every country I go to. I have a Charles Schwab account so I don't have to worry about ATM fees, they are reimbursed to me at the end of every month.