Retirement in Thailand and then….?
Dear readers,
I will retire at the end of this year. I have been to Thailand more than 10 times but as a holiday maker. I would like to live in Thailand and more specifically in Jomtien/Pattaya.
First test for 6 months (overwintering October 2019 – April 20120) whether you can ground yourself in Thailand for “that long” because now I still go to work at Brussels Airport 5 days a week.
To avoid falling into the "familiar" empty hole when I retire, I'm looking for some kind of (during the day) activity from Monday to Friday. What options are there in Pattaya/Jomtien? Are there walking clubs? bike clubs? Tennis clubs? Golf is not my thing. Maybe I can also start studying Thai (seems very difficult). Those language schools is that a few hours a week? Hopefully on a weekday and during the day.
What are the best fitness clubs in Pattaya/Jomtien? Other tips?
I really want to try to adopt the same weekly rhythm as here, which means one day of activity every day from Monday to Friday and relax and have a beer at the weekend. I've seen plenty of English farangs in Pattaya drinking beer since 9am. That is exactly what I want to avoid because it is not sustainable in terms of both health and finances.
All tips are welcome.
Regards,
Koen (BE)
If you still know so little about the place where you went on holiday after 10 x on holiday to Thailand, I would scratch my head, why you think you would want to emigrate to Thailand.
What did you do during those 10 holidays?
Hanging out in the bar definitely gets boring very quickly.
And those tennis clubs and other things seem more like convincing yourself that you want to move to Thailand.
You have apparently never been there during those 10 holidays, otherwise you wouldn't have to ask questions about it here.
only max 2 weeks in hotel…. do you get to know the country ???? Do you think a holiday is the same as living somewhere permanently? strange response from you….
There are fitness clubs galore in Pattaya Jomtien. Tony's Gym is just about the most famous. There is also a swimming pool. There are also tennis courts and bike clubs. Hiking is something they have yet to invent in Thailand I think. In Thailand, nobody does 30 meters on foot.
In any case, there are few things that don't exist in Pattaya. You are also not obliged to always stay in Pattaya. Traveling around Thailand and neighboring countries is an activity in itself. Getting around is very doable as there are bus services everywhere and cheap low budget flights. You can spend the night in most places for 600/750 Bht.
If you still like some exercise, choose an apartment with a large swimming pool.
We live in the View Talay 2 condominium in Jomtien and have a very large swimming pool. Doing your laps every morning is wonderful. Then have breakfast and drink a coffee somewhere and your day is already half over.
Time flies fast in Thailand.
thank you fred !
where is the best place to look for a rental apartment? some website online ?
or enter an immo office on site?
anyone have a tip regarding RELIABLE immo site or immo office?
I can google too...
but which ones are reliable?
Ruud ! Koen has been on holiday 10 times, not the same as wanting to settle here. The first times I came here it was to travel and pull, then I thought live here too??? It's been 25 years now!
Then I tried if I could get used to it here, and yes I apparently succeeded, have been living here for 19 years now, have a family with a son, and am very happy.
So don't take Ruud too short, Belgians are not that stupid! as some think.
Gerard
The best tip I can give you, stay away from your compatriots and Dutch…
Won't work out.
I've heard that before….. but then why?
but I have also heard that it is very difficult to have Thai friends because they do not trust falang….
Yes Koen, where did you hear that before? If you have been reading the blog for a long time, you will know. Some people need to be able to moan about anything and everything, that's in their genes. Enjoy…yes, but it shouldn't cost anything, it's all too expensive anyway. Don't be afraid of your compatriots, they like to talk about 'good' food and, if you don't ask for it yourself, they won't even mention the price, as long as they enjoyed it.
As for making Thai friends, it's not easy, of course. In the first place you are faced with a huge language barrier and also, a Thai likes to know everything about a Farang but reveals very little about himself. They are very closed when it comes to their private lives. Getting through is not easy. Building a real friendship with Thai people is something that takes a long time and no, during a holiday that certainly does not work, friendship and trust is something that you have to win and must come from both sides.
Why would hanging out in bars be unhealthy? I hang out in the bar every day from 2 o'clock and only drink soda water. Nothing unhealthy about it. Home at 5.30 pm. Eat, look at the computer a bit and go to bed before 8 pm. With whom or what do I see.
ok, to each his own…. but not what i sweet.
anyway thanks for your response
If you like cycling I can recommend the Jomtien cycling club, just look at their site for more information, it is in any case a pleasant group, the composition varies, but there is a hard core, English, Swedes, Norman, Thai and Dutch and sometimes and Belgian.
that's a GOOD tip! Thank you ! Are you only welcome with high-tech racing bikes? 😉
No, there are a few good bicycle shops in and around Jomtien, also a few bad ones, unfortunately, there are also bicycles for rent if you want to try it first, I just bought a Cube myself, a German brand, for +/- 30.000 bath, bought then you already have a very nice bike, I don't know how tall you are, but if you are not too big, there is plenty of choice here, also nice bikes for around 20.000 baht, and nobody cycles to win, but to atmosphere, to see the area, especially the countryside, and on Sunday morning, concluding with a shared breakfast.
Is there such a thing as volunteer work open to foreigners in Pattaya/Jomtien? The advantage is that you do something useful and you continue to feel useful.
A few years ago, a Belgian who wintered in Pattaya for 4 to 5 months told me that he walked down the beach every morning. Seems like a nice routine to me. You see a lot, it is healthy, it gives you a holiday feeling and you see all kinds of people. In the afternoon he always cooked himself (I suspect he didn't like Thai food much). Visiting a bar every now and then with or without a partner seems fun. A massage once a week. A pedicure every two weeks (on Jomtien beach). Once every other week to Ko Lan.
Some people like routine, others don't. If you fear that boredom may strike, routines can be a solution.
Yes ! thats a good tip…. Volunteering is very interesting to me!
does anyone have more info on this?
thanks
You also need a work permit for volunteer work! And above 65 you don't get it...
Just like Fred above, I also live in Jomtien View Talay 2 (B), both block A and block B, as View Talay 1 A and B have various estate agents or “Rooms for Rent” on the ground floor and are all reliable. They show you the condo right away, if you don't like it just go elsewhere. Here the condos average 8000 – 8500 Baht per month based on a stay of 4 to 6 months or longer. And in all these buildings you will find below (outside) a club of a swimming pool with bar / restaurant. You will not find a better place for this price!
The number of fitness centers in the area is large. Even at ViewTalay 2 A there is fitness dance daily at 17 pm, nice small group.
Do you realize that if you are in Thailand for 181 days you are regarded as a resident and are therefore liable to pay tax here ... Incidentally, this is more favorable than the tax regime in BE or NL.
Good luck, first live here and then you will find cycling or other clubs automatically. And consider joining the Ned. Far. Pattaya or the Belgian Association. It is also very active and can guide you. In short, do not prepare anything, just come here, rent a cheap condo (41 m2) and then you will have discovered everything in no time.
Forget about working without a work permit. You also need it as a volunteer.
thanks for the responses
So I would also like to start learning Thai language….
Who knows a school that doesn't have too many Russians? They would only be “present” for their visas….
I would like a day school.
[email protected]
If you want to buy something (house) I know something outside Pattaya in any case much cheaper.
In Dutch language and reliable.
no thanks… I just want to rent….
gives me much more flexibility…. if a disco suddenly appears next to the building, you will be gone pretty quickly… a disaster if you have bought
there is a lot of vacancy…. = low rents
buy new construction? what about warranty, Breyne law (Belgium) 10 year warranty period... does this also exist in Thailand for new construction?
buy new construction? the professionals are usually people from neighboring countries…. the quality is inferior to what we know in Europe….
Dear Koen
Renting very sensibly indeed
I've been doing this for 5 years now
Pattaya several times
changed for various reasons
type of house and environment
I like it fine I have good ones
experience with Seabord and
East coast real estate look
but on their website offer
huge and diverse
success
Even though Koen has already been on holiday here 10 times, of which he also does not write anywhere how long these holidays were on average, settling down in the long run is something completely different.
On a short holiday you are often in the company of tourists, who are also present for a certain short time.
During these holidays you usually live in a hotel, maybe tour, and mainly eat in restaurants.
Someone who is really going to immigrate, looks for a rental house, or buys himself a condo, goes to make life as normal as possible, takes care of himself, buys at the market, or a supermarket, looks for associations, and friends who also live here permanently, and tries as much as possible to build a social life with which he thinks he will be happy.
A short holiday is completely different from settling in for a long time, which is why I can quite understand Koen's questions.
Moreover, I could also ask about good health insurance, and where he can best go for good medical care in an emergency.
All things that are very important for an immigration, and you usually don't get it at all during a normal holiday.
my holidays were not longer than 2 weeks…. in a hotel..
I would keep my official place of residence in Belgium anyway….
and return to Belgium every time for 6 months -1 day
that's how I stay connected
infirmary
hospitalization insurance
european assistance….
So I would ONLY rent a condo…
Dear Koen, staying in Thailand for 6 months and returning to Belgium for a day will not be good for retaining your permanent address in Belgium and therefore also for retaining your Social Security. (Health Insurance and Hospital Insurance.) It is no longer Euro Assistance, Now it is “Mutas.”.! and I hope that your health insurance company is not with the CM, because they have stopped insuring during a stay in Thailand since 01/01/2017. I should know because that's why I changed health insurance companies, now with Bond Moyson. they still insure you when you stay in Thailand. DO NOT exceed 3 months from the day you are admitted to hospital. In connection with maintaining your address in Belgium, you are obliged to notify the municipal council if you want to stay abroad for more than 3 months. (You do not have to do anything within 3 months.) If you do not do this, you can do so. You can be deregistered from the population register for 6 months. You can even stay abroad for up to a year, but after 6 months you must notify the municipal council again. If this were to happen regularly (staying abroad for more than a year), it could also give rise to “ex officio deregistration from the Population Register.” If you stay in Thailand for 6 months each time, there will be no problem. I now stay in Thailand every 3 months, Jan, Feb, March and then 3 months in Belgium, back to Thailand July, Aug, Sept. etc. Also to be able to keep my permanent address and therefore also my Social Security, because I am disabled and the annual premiums for health insurance in Thailand are not affordable for me. I have now contacted the municipal council and asked for information whether I can keep my permanent address if I want to stay longer in Thailand during the winter months, I would then leave from November to the end of March, and then again from June to the end of August , that would be 5 months in Thailand, during the winter months and subsequently, 2 months in Belgium, 3 months in Thailand and back 2 months in Belgium, a total of 8 months in Thailand. Because I am disabled and receive a benefit from the FPS, I even have to ask permission from the State Secretary, now that he has resigned (Demir, NVA.) I have to get permission from the Deputy Prime Minister. Chris Peeters. I hope you have made some progress here as well. [email protected]
There is a Flemish club in Pattaya:
http://www.vlaamseclubpattaya.com/
Handy for tips and contacts.
Purpose of the Flemish Club Pattaya-VCP
Bringing Flemish people together to socialize and to exchange information
provide useful information by dealing with a different theme each time at the meetings
organize workshops or training such as a workshop on first aid, a series of yoga classes, etc.
going out and organizing parties, e.g. our annual Happening, Sinterklaas party, etc.
******
seems interesting to me! Who has experience with this club?
Dear Koen,
Have you ever wondered what you would do in Belgium when you are retired and therefore no longer have to go to Brussels Airport every day? Well dear man, you can do just about anything you could do there in Thailand, I really don't see why this wouldn't be possible.
Yes of course. I will also have to fill the “empty” gaps in Belgium from Monday to Friday when I retire. However, I am in my own country, which you know well to very well, I can visit friends and family, there are public swimming pools, walking is possible everywhere here, well-designed cycle paths,…. etc etc
i have my own culture and i can speak my own language…. AND in our city there is a lot organized for elders or even singles….
I wonder if this is also possible in Thailand…
you can't compare Thailand one on one with Belgium… or am I mistaken? I do not think so….
you have no family there, you have no friends there, … you have to start from zero in this area…
why am I going to Thailand I hear you ask?
first of all I love the country, the beaches, the coast around Jomtien, I am fanatically addicted to Thai food, the many markets,… the social life outside… the quality of life…. outside medical care, is better for me in Thailand than in Belgium…
example, one hour of Thai massage for 250 baht…. this will cost me 3.000 baht here…
but as already said, it is wiser to test there first for six months….
Opportunity: Join PEC: Pattaya Expat Club. Language of instruction = English.
For more details: http://pattayaexpatsclub.info
Worth it: useful information, weekly very diverse topics during club meeting in hotel Pattaya, social contacts, tips in many areas.
If you want to maintain contact with Dutch people: take a look at NVTP: https://nvtpattaya.org
Should you want to settle here for a longer period of time, learn some Thai: knowing a few words (or more) is certainly appreciated; Finally, in the Netherlands we also ask foreigners to integrate.
Good luck and have fun in Jomtien.
Hallo,
In Thailand they really know what walking (thin len) is. Admittedly, there are many Thai people who prefer to take the moped if they have to walk a few meters. However, it fits to tar all thai over the same brush.
Also in Thailand there are sporty people, who walk, cycle, play tennis, football, etc.
Best regards,
Martin
They are there, but they run thin. And they are right, why walk and cycle when you can also do it by motorbike,
Oh well, don't worry too much, just jump. I bought a villa already in my fifth visit to Thailand. It was immediately rented out until I emigrate in three years. If it feels right, just go for it. I already feel much happier in TH than in BE. Good luck!
Although I estimate that d'nne bels will be able to inform you better:
sometimes I sometimes think - when people report that they have been here 10 times: and then you still don't know how things work here? RENT-certainly for a long time-never anything online, try if you can, and a few days and NIGHTS out-who knows, there is a chicken slaughterhouse next to it where preferably around 3-4 o'clock the throats are cut, or something like that with an abbot who loudly praises all generous donors around 5-6 am. The best-cheapest-you rent through the office of the building itself, each property puts its own storage on top-they mainly focus on frang, and much more storage. The further from the beach, the lower the rent. Often, if you hit the net, you are best off taking over a contract from a compatriot who is leaving.
The advantage of PTYs and cities like ChMai is that there are 1000s of other farangs that have the same needs and so plenty of clubs, although many Belgians tend to distrust anything that is not bels a bit too much.
And certainly, BE also has a kind of integration law with the requirement to learn some of 1 of the languages. So why not mutual?
Dear Koen, you ask way too many questions. You first want 6 months to “practice”, but: rent an apartment or the like in Pattaya/Jomtien for a shorter or longer period of time. Search via Google. There are countless websites. See also this blog: https://www.thailandblog.nl/?s=Pattaya+huren&x=0&y=0. Use the search function at the top left.
Then do some research: how do I organize my daily household, where can I do what shopping at what price, what markets are there, what activities can I do there, can I make contacts there, can I find a hobby there, Thai -taking lessons, walking, cycling, fitness, etc etc etc.
Also walk into all kinds of apartment buildings, report to the lobby and inquire: apartment size, decor, furnished, facilities, rental price, rental period, etc etc etc.
After six months back in Belgium, do you check for yourself what this period has yielded for you?
In those 6 months you have enough time to find answers to all your questions, it gives you a full day, you have a clear assignment and objective for yourself, it seems to me that you will get bored and end up in an empty hole.
Don't let your ears hang to others. Experience the quality of the contact with those who already live there. You are all too quickly used to fill/solve their boredom and emptiness.
In recent months I have been working in this way myself and I have formed a good idea of what Thailand has to offer me in all its facets and whether I want to stay there. I am going to Thailand for 8 months and the Netherlands for 4 months.
Dear Koen,
I also chose Jomtien where I have been living since May last year. I have always lived by the sea and it is important to me. I also knew some people here. So the choice was easy. The weather is always good and Jomtien, Pattaya has many good restaurants local and western. I like tasty and varied food. I regularly do a long beach walk in the morning. Either Jomtien beach road to the end (where there are a few nice restaurants for lunch), or take the bus to Naklua Pattaya and then walk back to Jomtien.
Renting is easy and with a little negotiating a good price. I prefer renting first. I stay more flexible. Maybe in future another place elsewhere in Thailand.
Many good condos have a fitness room equipped with all appliances. Eg Grande Caribbean, or Supalai Mare where I live. You can work out for 24 hours, is included in the rental price. Nice pool too. Most good condos have agencies in the building where you can inquire about renting. I also rented through an agency in complex. Went fine, good service. You can join a club, there are plenty of them. I also do cycling. Rented first, going to buy a bike soon. Enough choice from baht 7000 to “the sky is the limit”. Anyway, I lead a nice quiet life here. Fine in my opinion.
Success.
There is also a park in Jomitien with many trees and therefore shade. There you can jog or walk and there are some kind of fitness equipment available.
Dear Koen, if you still want to test for your stay here, then start with a stay from March to September, because the winter period is best tolerated here and it cools down at least a bit at night and it lasts longer than that. weighs the heat in the day.