Post: #26

(09-18-2012 04:24 PM)scotian Wrote:  MaleDefined, whats the visa situation in Thailand? I see that I can go there for 30 days then would have to leave the country to get a new one, is CM better situated than a southern city for a quick run to Laos by plane?

I can apply for a 2 month tourist visa at a local consulate in my city, but I won't be there (in my city) for almost a month, can this visa be obtained within 2 weeks once I get down there? I'm looking at going to Thailand in early November and want to have all this visa shit figured out, I'll go on visa runs if I have to but would rather not.

Yeah, it's a one month visa on arrival if you're there just to hang out. Not sure of the fine or ability to reenter if you overextend it.

I didn't do it, but IIRC flying to Laos is prohibitively expensive. Something about the airline company owning the airport in Laos, thus making it a very expensive cartel. You could head into Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar on the cheap via bus, but expect the trip to be less than comfortable. Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, and Hong Kong are all within 3ish hours by plane if you want to turn a visa run into a bit of a weekend away.

Bangkok is probably the best city situated for a visa run. It is the hub of SEA with flights going direct just about anywhere.

Post: #27

If you plan to stay for longer than 30 days it's best to get a visa before hand. Otherwise it's a 500baht fine for every day you over stay and if you're stopped by police and they see you have over stayed you could be put into detention (or have to pay a bribe). If you do a border run by land you can extend by one time for 15 days then you have to exit the country. Any time you come back into the country by land you only get 15 days. Flying in 30 days. Get a visa before you go if you plan to stay a long time, visas cannot be obtained whilst in the country you'd have to go to a neighbouring country and head to the embassy to do that.

Post: #28

Thanks for the advice, I was planning on hitting up Thailand for 2-3 months in mid-November before going to Oz to work. The thing is that I don't want to travel around, I just want to pick one city (I was thinking Phuket or Chiang Mai) and stay there, I don't want to have to do any visa runs.

Looks like I'll have to revise my travel plans a bit.

Post: #29

Personally I found Phuket spread out and very meh. There's nothing cultural about it. Unless you want to live on a beach with old white ex-pats, of course. Patong does not seem like a city you'd want to live in. The infrastructure is horrific(it's not pretty when it rains) and there is a constant glut of tourists. Phuket is by and large everything I do not want to see when I'm traveling.

Post: #30

If you are in the US maybe consider central america, its much cheaper to get to and equally cheap there as thailand. I hear nicaragua, honduras etc mega cheap, amazing women, what you would save on flights would be a few months of better living, or do you want the asian women?

Post: #31

Why Chiang Mai instead of Bangkok?

Post: #32

(09-18-2012 06:36 PM)jacks48 Wrote:  If you are in the US maybe consider central america, its much cheaper to get to and equally cheap there as thailand. I hear nicaragua, honduras etc mega cheap, amazing women, what you would save on flights would be a few months of better living, or do you want the asian women?

I found Hanai Air offering some flights one way from Seattle to Bangkok for $501. Not sure where you are coming from but for me to fly to Guatemala it would be around $375 coming from Seattle.

Just keep checking kayak and vayama every single day. I have been doing that for the past month and it is crazy how the same flights price will go up and down almost daily. I can't figure out a reason why.

Post: #33

(09-18-2012 06:36 PM)jacks48 Wrote:  If you are in the US maybe consider central america, its much cheaper to get to and equally cheap there as thailand. I hear nicaragua, honduras etc mega cheap, amazing women, what you would save on flights would be a few months of better living, or do you want the asian women?

I prefer Asian Woman but culturally I prefer Asian countries.

(09-18-2012 06:41 PM)AWOLNomad Wrote:  Why Chiang Mai instead of Bangkok?

I picked Chiang Mai because it seems to be the cheapest place to live. I'm on a budget and also need to focus on making money, BKK seems like a major distraction. I'm not ruling out BKK though since the distraction and budget excuses feels like a cop-out. I should be able to focus anywhere and BKK shouldn't be that much more expensive. I'll need to think about this more for sure.

I checked out Hainan Air and they seems to be offering the best deals. The prices seems to fluctuate for every specific date. I'm not constricted to a certain dates so I can definitely get some cheap deals. Is CheapOair the website you use?

Post: #34

(09-18-2012 08:16 PM)OldRich Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 06:36 PM)jacks48 Wrote:  If you are in the US maybe consider central america, its much cheaper to get to and equally cheap there as thailand. I hear nicaragua, honduras etc mega cheap, amazing women, what you would save on flights would be a few months of better living, or do you want the asian women?

I prefer Asian Woman but culturally I prefer Asian countries.

(09-18-2012 06:41 PM)AWOLNomad Wrote:  Why Chiang Mai instead of Bangkok?

I picked Chiang Mai because it seems to be the cheapest place to live. I'm on a budget and also need to focus on making money, BKK seems like a major distraction. I'm not ruling out BKK though since the distraction and budget excuses feels like a cop-out. I should be able to focus anywhere and BKK shouldn't be that much more expensive. I'll need to think about this more for sure.

I checked out Hainan Air and they seems to be offering the best deals. The prices seems to fluctuate for every specific date. I'm not constricted to a certain dates so I can definitely get some cheap deals. Is CheapOair the website you use?

I use vayama and kayak. I check both because sometimes the prices are different. Between those two I dont think you can find much better.

Post: #35

It seems like Agencies like Cheapoair and Vayama have the best rates but I checked their reviews and they have horrible reviews. Cheapoair is a bait and switch companies and Vayama has all sorts of issues. What's your experience with them?

Post: #36

I used Vayama to book my flight to central america last year and had no problem with them.

I have never tried cheapair.

Post: #37

I'm doing something similar. I'm going to Chiang Mai to take a break from work, chill out and focus on health and self improvement -- girls aren't the #1 priority. I looked at other cheap exotic locations but Chiang Mai wins because it has more modern amenities and healthcare. I run a web/marketing services biz (that I'm taking a break from) and will be looking at doing some online projects as well.

Looking to stay for 3-6 months, possibly more who knows. Probably will be leaving late Nov. I should be landing before you so let me know if you want some on the ground advice / help.

Post: #38

(09-18-2012 10:04 PM)AWOLNomad Wrote:  I used Vayama to book my flight to central america last year and had no problem with them.

I have never tried cheapair.

I did a bit more research, it seems the best way is to just Kayak to find the deals and book the flight directly from the airlines and skip the middleman.

(09-18-2012 10:28 PM)Rah Wrote:  I'm doing something similar. I'm going to Chiang Mai to take a break from work, chill out and focus on health and self improvement -- girls aren't the #1 priority. I looked at other cheap exotic locations but Chiang Mai wins because it has more modern amenities and healthcare. I run a web/marketing services biz (that I'm taking a break from) and will be looking at doing some online projects as well.

Looking to stay for 3-6 months, possibly more who knows. Probably will be leaving late Nov. I should be landing before you so let me know if you want some on the ground advice / help.

Sounds good Rah. I'm looking to leave late feb/early march so I might catch you before you leave.

Post: #39

(09-18-2012 10:35 PM)OldRich Wrote:  

(09-18-2012 10:04 PM)AWOLNomad Wrote:  I used Vayama to book my flight to central america last year and had no problem with them.

I have never tried cheapair.

I did a bit more research, it seems the best way is to just Kayak to find the deals and book the flight directly from the airlines and skip the middleman.

(09-18-2012 10:28 PM)Rah Wrote:  I'm doing something similar. I'm going to Chiang Mai to take a break from work, chill out and focus on health and self improvement -- girls aren't the #1 priority. I looked at other cheap exotic locations but Chiang Mai wins because it has more modern amenities and healthcare. I run a web/marketing services biz (that I'm taking a break from) and will be looking at doing some online projects as well.

Looking to stay for 3-6 months, possibly more who knows. Probably will be leaving late Nov. I should be landing before you so let me know if you want some on the ground advice / help.

Sounds good Rah. I'm looking to leave late feb/early march so I might catch you before you leave.

I might see both of you there. I just started up a TESOL cerfication and plan to head to Chiang Mai in mid november to teach English and take in a new culture.

I wasnt sure where I wanted to go in Southeast Asia, but this thread helped solidify my choice.

In regards to airfare (I'll be flying from JFK), its 200 dollars cheaper to fly into BKK than Chiang Mai. This train http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Bangkok from BKK to Chiang Mai looks like its only $18 and would give me a chance to explore BKK for a few days and then head up to Chiang Mai. This way, I'll be able to do a slight comparison between BKK and Chiang Mai before I rent an apartment and start applying to schools. Plus it will be nice to see the country from the windows of the train.

Post: #40

Awesome! and get out of my head LOL. That's exactly what I'm thinking of doing. It seems that-that's the best price (around $850) and I'd definitely wanna check out BKK first then Chiang Mai before settling in a place. I'm gonna try do and some couch surfing for a few days or a week and check out both place to do it justice.

I got a crap-load of work to do to get ready for this trip. Strangely I'm not even that excited, just a bit overwhelmed I guess. I don't think it hit me yet that I'm actually leaving the place after being here for so many years.

Keep it touch, I'll give you a shout when I'm there!

Post: #41

Quote:Thanks for the advice, I was planning on hitting up Thailand for 2-3 months in mid-November before going to Oz to work. The thing is that I don't want to travel around, I just want to pick one city (I was thinking Phuket or Chiang Mai) and stay there, I don't want to have to do any visa runs.

Looks like I'll have to revise my travel plans a bit.

Get a 60 day visa from a Thai embassy at home before you go, it can be extended once in the country for a further 30 days at any immigration office. Means no border runs or leaving the country.

Post: #42

(09-19-2012 03:54 PM)IainMuirs Wrote:  

Quote:Thanks for the advice, I was planning on hitting up Thailand for 2-3 months in mid-November before going to Oz to work. The thing is that I don't want to travel around, I just want to pick one city (I was thinking Phuket or Chiang Mai) and stay there, I don't want to have to do any visa runs.

Looks like I'll have to revise my travel plans a bit.

Get a 60 day visa from a Thai embassy at home before you go, it can be extended once in the country for a further 30 days at any immigration office. Means no border runs or leaving the country.

Do you know how long it takes to get one of these and if I have to send in my passport? The problem is that I'm in the bush right now and won't be in a city for a couple of weeks, once I get there I'll have about 3 weeks before I'd like to leave for Thailand, I'm trying to find out if that 3 week window is enough time to get that 2 month visa.

Post: #43

(09-19-2012 08:07 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 03:54 PM)IainMuirs Wrote:  

Quote:Thanks for the advice, I was planning on hitting up Thailand for 2-3 months in mid-November before going to Oz to work. The thing is that I don't want to travel around, I just want to pick one city (I was thinking Phuket or Chiang Mai) and stay there, I don't want to have to do any visa runs.

Looks like I'll have to revise my travel plans a bit.

Get a 60 day visa from a Thai embassy at home before you go, it can be extended once in the country for a further 30 days at any immigration office. Means no border runs or leaving the country.

Do you know how long it takes to get one of these and if I have to send in my passport? The problem is that I'm in the bush right now and won't be in a city for a couple of weeks, once I get there I'll have about 3 weeks before I'd like to leave for Thailand, I'm trying to find out if that 3 week window is enough time to get that 2 month visa.

Got mine in 2 days. Depends on the particular embassy, but it should take no longer than 1 week, most likely 1 or 2 days.

Post: #44

(09-18-2012 12:05 AM)RawGod Wrote:  I say go for it. A few years ago I just decided to move overseas and I did so within a couple of months.

You might have to revise your budget or timetable a little. But the idea is good.

I understand being at a point where even living in a cheap ass room in Thailand and eating rice every day will be better than your current life. And some people just don't care as much about living in a nice condo and being able to live a certain lifestyle. $2400 a month is Thailand is nice, but absolutely not necessary.

Have you seen http://www.cedonulli.com? This guy just doesn't give a fuck, lives in Cambodia on peanuts, and is having a great time. It helps that he's crazy, I guess.

“The edge, there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.”
― Hunter S. Thompson

Post: #45

I spent 1.5 months in thailand and 2 weeks in Laos. I was in Chang Mai for about a week. I got kidnapped in Chang Mai for about 3 hours. I was looking for girls in an area slightly outside the tourist zone and a car pulled up, two guys got out and before I knew it they were pushing me into the car.

They were just doing it for fun though. They made me spend my $20 cash at their friends bars and then they dropped me off at my hotel, credit cards and wallet intact. Still, it was technically a kidnapping.

When I was there back in about 2004, you could EASILY live on $500 a month. I met an old gringo who rented a decent condo in a high rise in Pattaya which is on the beach near bangkok. He told me he paid $50 a month. That is not a typo. People there told me they earn $2.50 a day minimum wage.

I found small meals in the markets for about $.25. You will need 2 or 3 of them to fill up.

I stayed in hotel rooms for $3 a night all over thailand.

I got hookers for free if it was a slow night. They liked me (I am blonde and thin). They seems to prefer my body type/look. But I did pay one time, when I first arrived. I went into a bar that had just 10 girls, no guys. They were all young. I asked how much to take a girl home. It was $12 and the girl was probably a 7. We fucked all night and she seemed to really like me, even wanted me to walk her home in the morning (about 9am). I know that if a girl isn't into a guy she will raise the price, or will refuse to go home, or will only fuck for 20 minutes then leave.

Laos was the same price wise as I recall. Prices might be higher now, but I can't imagine they have gone up that much. Its still kindof a third world country.

I heard of guys who lived in villages for $80 a month, including lodging, food, beer, 420, house cleaning, and girls.

You can earn some money teaching english too, illegally or legally.

Thailand was ridiculously cheap back then. I am sure it still is...the tsunami hurt their economy for a while. Oh, and girls can be REALLY hot there with good tits and ass. Though of course it varies.

Post: #46

(09-20-2012 03:16 AM)kavakid Wrote:  I spent 1.5 months in thailand and 2 weeks in Laos. I was in Chang Mai for about a week. I got kidnapped in Chang Mai for about 3 hours. I was looking for girls in an area slightly outside the tourist zone and a car pulled up, two guys got out and before I knew it they were pushing me into the car.

They were just doing it for fun though. They made me spend my $20 cash at their friends bars and then they dropped me off at my hotel, credit cards and wallet intact. Still, it was technically a kidnapping.

When I was there back in about 2004, you could EASILY live on $500 a month. I met an old gringo who rented a decent condo in a high rise in Pattaya which is on the beach near bangkok. He told me he paid $50 a month. That is not a typo. People there told me they earn $2.50 a day minimum wage.

I found small meals in the markets for about $.25. You will need 2 or 3 of them to fill up.

I stayed in hotel rooms for $3 a night all over thailand.

I got hookers for free if it was a slow night. They liked me (I am blonde and thin). They seems to prefer my body type/look. But I did pay one time, when I first arrived. I went into a bar that had just 10 girls, no guys. They were all young. I asked how much to take a girl home. It was $12 and the girl was probably a 7. We fucked all night and she seemed to really like me, even wanted me to walk her home in the morning (about 9am). I know that if a girl isn't into a guy she will raise the price, or will refuse to go home, or will only fuck for 20 minutes then leave.

Laos was the same price wise as I recall. Prices might be higher now, but I can't imagine they have gone up that much. Its still kindof a third world country.

I heard of guys who lived in villages for $80 a month, including lodging, food, beer, 420, house cleaning, and girls.

You can earn some money teaching english too, illegally or legally.

Thailand was ridiculously cheap back then. I am sure it still is...the tsunami hurt their economy for a while. Oh, and girls can be REALLY hot there with good tits and ass. Though of course it varies.

Nothing you posted is even remotely true in 2012. There are no 7 baht meals. No highrise apartments in Pattaya for 1750 baht a month. No 90 baht hotel rooms. No 360 baht hookers. Do not use these figures for your trip, because you will be sadly disappointed.

Post: #47

I just got off the horn with the Thai consulate in Edmonton, all I have to do is bring in my passport with 2 recent photos and proof of flight purchase, fill out some paper work and pay $40, they'll stamp my passport and I'll be good to go for 60 days.

Post: #48

(09-20-2012 01:17 PM)RioNomad Wrote:  

(09-20-2012 03:16 AM)kavakid Wrote:  Prices might be higher now, but I can't imagine they have gone up that much. Its still kindof a third world country.
...
Thailand was ridiculously cheap back then. I am sure it still is...the tsunami hurt their economy for a while.

Nothing you posted is even remotely true in 2012. There are no 7 baht meals. No highrise apartments in Pattaya for 1750 baht a month. No 90 baht hotel rooms. No 360 baht hookers. Do not use these figures for your trip, because you will be sadly disappointed.

Seconded. Those prices are completely wrong for 2012.

Post: #49

I lived in Chiang Mai for years. You can live there on this budget as long
as you are willing to hunker down and do your own thing, not party and
go on trips, etc. I've lived on $300 per month in drastic situations. It
won't be easy to live simple there because of all the distraction and
temptation, but you can do it.

Tips on Eating Cheap

Stick to the restaurants locals eat at and you'll never have to pay more
than 30-35 baht per meal. Look where the locals in your neighborhood eat.
Little dinghy places with plastic tables and chairs and lots of customers
(this means the food is good and, even more important, fresh). Even at
3 meals per day, that's very cheap.

Chiang Mai has a few places you can eat for less than 10baht and at
least one place you can get a bowl of noodle soup for 3 baht. Once or
twice a week, go out somewhere nice and watch your spending just so
you're not always restricting yourself. Even at a nicer place outside of
the tourist areas you can get a great meal for 45 - 90 baht.

Tips on Drinking Cheap

Drink where the Thais drink. Alway ask if they have a "promotion" (mee
promotion mai?) - they always do - and they'll probably sell you 3 large
bottles of Thai beer and an ice bucket for a discounted price. It's been
a while, but I think it's usually 120 - 200 baht. 300 tops. Or, if you go
out to a club, bring your own bottle of whiskey and just pay for mixers
and ice.

Even cheaper is a bottle of Sangsum whiskey from the local 7-11 drunk
at home (or the curb of the 7-11 i guess lol), but I'm a social butterfly, so...

Tips on Cheap Rent

If you get outside of the center and stay in an apartment building where
locals live, 2000 - 2500 baht per month in rent is very doable. I've even
seen them 1000 - 1500. It won't be the nicest place, but there are
plenty out there.

I paid 2000 for my apartment for years. It was a bit older and dirty but
there was a Western-style toilet and a restaurant, bar, and internet
cafe downstairs. Electric was extra. I was the only foreigner in the
entire neighborhood and it was a 12-story building full of Thai university
students. I had the time of my life and partied all night in the lobby with
some of the best friends I've ever had on a nightly basis. I ruined my
liver and sometimes didn't spend a dime to do so as we all shared
everything with each other.

The building was open air in part of the lobby, with a courtyard area,
and we'd sit around and barbecue chicken, steak, pork, shrimp, and
squid while getting wasted. Don't know what they were paying at the
markets for the meat, but that's probably a real cheap way to eat too,
and you can get a little barbecue or an electric cooker from Tesco Lotus.

Tips on Cheap Transport

You'll probably be outside of the center, so you'll want to get a
motorbike too (a bicycle at the very least and only if you're in a busy
commercial area where everything is close). About 2000 baht per month
from the right shop for the motorbike.

Seems like another expense, but it's worth what you'll save on tuk tuk
rides, and the convenience of having the entire city at your fingertips is
huge. Even if you save your tuk tuk rides for when you absolutely need
them, it'll probably cost more. Shit just comes up that you absolutely
have to go buy, find, or take care of when getting settled into a foreign
country.

A couple more things to think about:

-You'll need to have money for a deposit or first/last month rent when
you move in.

-budget for your visa runs or you might end up stuck without a visa like
I did for 2 years lol not fun running from cops in Thailand

-I won't tell you not to go live your adventure, but please please get an
emergency fund together first so you can fly out if needed, pay off the
police, or replace a motorbike if it's stolen or wrecked. Shit happens
over there, so keep a shovel ready. $2-$3K should be enough. $1K at
the least.

-Learn Thai. People will treat you better. Befriend you. Rip you off
less. I sometimes even got the "Thai price" at local attractions for my
efforts, and your Thai friends will be your biggest asset in getting things
done cheaper and finding out where the cheapest venues are.

You don't need to pay for lessons if you want to save the money.

Buy a book and some notecards. Add 10 words and 10 phrases to your
cards every day and memorize them. Test yourself constantly, and sit
down with a patient Thai friend to have them say the word for you so
you can listen for pronunciation.

Go in a corner and memorize that. have them test and correct you. Go
in a corner again. Have them test you again. Do this every single day,
pulling them out throughout the day to study, and have another person
test you at night to see make sure you are still saying them right.

Finding people with the time to do that for you is not difficult. Time is
different in Thailand. I recommend just asking someone who works in
your regular restaurant or bar. They always overstaff, so people are
just sitting around, bored and with nothing to do.

Take lessons later on when you have money.

Finally, your two greatest strengths to making it through life in Thailand
with your liver, your wallet, and your insanity intact are productivity and
self-discipline. Take a proactive approach to making both of these
priorities in your life and you can live a great life for cheap while getting
a lot done!

Live your adventure, man. You won't regret it, but there may be times you
regret the way you did it, so be sure to maintain that focus and not let it
slip through your fingers or go too far down the rabbit hole.

Good luck!

EDIT: I just returned last November 2011. These prices are pretty current.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #50

Another tip is to buy a motorbike, as opposed to renting. You can buy one, and then sell it for what you paid when you leave or go broke.

Beyond Borders, where did you live in CM? I lived by the Narawat bridge/Ping river for 3 months. I couldn't imagine living on 3 30 baht meals a day though. I need at least 5-7 of those things.