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Thailand top destination for retirees

By Editorial
Posted in Short news
Tags: ,
January 6 2015

Many retirees already knew: Thailand is a great destination if you want to enjoy your retirement. This appears from a list of the American magazine International Living Magazine.

When it comes to housing costs, public facilities, cost of living, infrastructure, entertainment, health care and climate, Thailand ranks in the top ten. The research shows that Thailand scores particularly well on aspects such as entertainment and health care for the elderly. Hospitals and doctors are relatively cheap while the quality of care is excellent.

The full list looks like this:

  1. Ecuador
  2. Panama
  3. Mexico
  4. Malaysia
  5. Costa Rica
  6. Spain
  7. Malta
  8. Colombia
  9. Portugal
  10. Thailand

Source: International Living Magazine

Number of times read: 162

27 responses to “Thailand top destination for retirees”

  1. dance says up
    6 January 2015 at 11: 21

    as i have been coming to thailand for more than 40 years, i thought about this, but in the end i decided for france, where i have been living for 20 years now. the Dutch government continues to make it increasingly difficult for: since about 2006 I have been paying all compulsory healthcare premiums in the Netherlands, plus AWBZ premium, which is of no use to me and if I were to live in Thailand, the health insurance would pay nothing (outside Europe).
    besides, I am now too old to change (77 !!!)
    If I am wrong, I would like to hear from someone with experience in this field.
    with fr gr
    eduard (now again for a month in thailand)

    • French Nico says up
      6 January 2015 at 14: 40

      No, dear Eduard, your story is completely correct. I myself moved to Spain 11 years ago (but still formally registered in NL) and also spend a period every winter in Thailand for family visits. Incidentally, France is not in the list and Spain is in sixth place (together with Portugal, the only two EU countries).

      • Edward Dancer says up
        6 January 2015 at 15: 46

        1 thanks for the comment frans nico; Incidentally, there are so many Dutch people who live in France, but it is apparently measured how many foreigners in total prefer France, so that they are not in the top ten.

        2 please comment on the comments about air asia; I'm not going to cancel my trip, but one should not take lightly a company that had three incidents in one week: one was the terrible accident, then a plane landed in the philippines in such a way that the passenger went down the slide had to leave the aircraft, and the third incident was something like an engine bang that forced the plane to turn back and left several Easter passengers out! again I have never experienced all these things! the explanation of some more expert than me gave as explanation, lack of experience, being a very young society.

        • French Nico says up
          9 January 2015 at 06: 24

          Dear Edward Dancer,

          With regard to point 2, you can't say that if you fall off your bike three times on a Thai road (with all its potholes and reckless driving) that your bike is to blame?

          An airline is considered bad if the company's business operations (eg insufficient maintenance of the fleet) are questionable. I give an example. Ryan Air tries to save money by allowing the captain of its aircraft to take a minimum amount of fuel, just enough to make it to the airport of arrival. Captains of this company regularly have to ask the flight control of the airport of arrival to be allowed to land with priority because they have too little fuel left to wait their turn. This company is therefore on MY blacklist.

          Air Asia is a Malaysian state airline founded in 1993 and is now the largest low-cost airline in Asia. In 2001, the heavily loss-making Air Asia was taken over by Tune Air Sdn Berhad from Tony Fernandes. Air Asia flies with the most modern aircraft. It is the largest buyer of Airbus A320. Air Asia is the parent company of seven subsidiaries. Although Air Asia is a low-cost airline with the lowest km price (US$ 0,23) per passenger and is already breaking even at an occupancy rate of 52%, Air Asia is a well-run and reliable airline.

          Your first two incidents mentioned are most likely related to the weather. The captain of the plane from Surabaya to Singapore wanted to avoid storms and asked permission to fly higher. He was given permission to first make a sideways flight and then climb to a different (less than requested) altitude. Flight experts point to the possibility that the aircraft has gone to a higher altitude too quickly, which means that the aircraft has insufficient upward force left and as it were “falls to a halt”. That could indicate human error.

          Your second example was directly related to strong winds during landing. This also happens with aircraft from very reputable companies.

          Your third example is a problem that occurred on the ground that has not been disclosed as to what caused it. It is quite understandable that there are passengers who, in view of the other incidents, no longer wanted to take part at that time.

          Based on my own experience, I wouldn't want that anymore either. Your last comment that the explanation of "more experts" than you that the incidents would be a lack of experience, is in my opinion completely unfounded by these "experts", to put it in aviation terms. Air Asia has been around for more than 21 years now, so there is no lack of experience. In addition, the plane that crashed into the sea is, as far as I know, Air Asia's first crash. I will confidently board an Air Asia aircraft and I hope I have given you some reassurance.

  2. chrisje says up
    6 January 2015 at 12: 36

    A top location for retirees???
    Take a closer look at the list.
    you don't have to go to Thailand at all while Spain is much closer and much more
    sunny days count than Thailand. In addition, you get more respect in Spain than in Thailand.
    Just a little while and I'll be out of here
    Grt

    • French Nico says up
      6 January 2015 at 15: 00

      Well, Chrisje, there is something to be said about that. But you are right when it comes to living environment and health care. I live on the Costa Blanca. Research by the WHO has shown that this coastal area has the healthiest living environment in the EU. That was an important reason for me to live there (now with my Thai wife). And indeed, 300 days of sunshine a year. I estimate that I have no more than 15 days of rain per year. A disadvantage, in the 11 years that I have lived there, it has happened once that the water was rationed due to the drought.

      I don't want to judge respect. I think it is important that the Netherlands and Spain are both members of the EU, use the same means of payment and that the legislation is largely aligned. My housing rights are better guaranteed and my house is really my house. For the Thai we remain the Farang, but also in Spain there is discrimination against anyone who is not Spaniard. So there are always pluses and minuses to consider.

  3. Henk says up
    6 January 2015 at 14: 53

    It's nice that you write all of this like that Chrisje, but of course it's a story of 0,0 as long as you don't tell us more clearly what the reason is for your departure.
    Maybe we can learn something from it and that is always fun and educational .
    We have been living in Thailand since 2008 and we like it very much and even with less sun we will stay here.

  4. Edward Dancer says up
    6 January 2015 at 15: 51

    i completely agree with hans: thailand is a paradise on earth for us and that is why i am also curious about the reason for the negative input by chrisje.

    • BA says up
      7 January 2015 at 08: 41

      Depends on your personal situation.

      Basic necessities of life are cheap here. Most of the year the weather is nice, although the temperature is sometimes a bit too high in the summer. Imported goods, on the other hand, are very expensive. A little car here costs a multiple of a car in Spain or in the Netherlands. You run risks with currencies with an income from the EU, unless you have had your assets converted into Baht as a pensioner. The law here changes pretty much by the day of the week and depending on who you ask, plus you have very few rights here anyway. Cultural difference is much bigger here compared to, for example, Spain.

      Compared to Spain, the average standard of living here is lower. Only there is also a higher price tag on the standard of living in Spain. On the understanding that the possibilities in that respect are also unlimited here, but that also depends on whether you have deep pockets.

      And of course you can't say it, but Thailand is full of beautiful young ladies and that is of course also interesting for the single pensioner. In Spain it is a bit different.

      In other words, it just depends on what you are looking for and what your budget is. I have colleagues who live in the Canary Islands, for example, a beautiful climate and a prime location, but that also comes with a price tag.

  5. piet says up
    6 January 2015 at 21: 41

    In addition, the expectation is that the euro will be only $ 1.10 at the end of the year.

    http://fd.nl/beurs/1087450/euro-is-eind-dit-jaar-1-10-waard

  6. Mike37 says up
    6 January 2015 at 21: 42

    But do you also receive your gross/net pension in Spain, I have always understood that that was one of the biggest reasons to choose Thailand instead of a European country?

  7. Gringo says up
    7 January 2015 at 03: 57

    The list of 10 countries comes from an American magazine and is completely uninteresting to the Dutch. Ever considered emigrating to Mexico, Columbia or Ecuador as a retiree? Well then!

    For the Dutch, the choice is completely different. If you can take the payments of AOW benefits abroad as a benchmark, then Belgium has been proudly at the top for many years. The top ten countries also include England, Germany, Spain, Australia, Canada and France.

    Thailand is comparatively hardly popular. In a circular from the SVB from a few years ago I read that Thailand has about 1000 state pensioners.

    • French Nico says up
      7 January 2015 at 13: 04

      In general, I agree with you, Gringo. But not now. The list is based on a study in which a number of objective assumptions are taken. The list is not based on the number of pensioners who have emigrated to the countries concerned. Of course, the payment of AOW benefits abroad is also not included in the list of starting points. Then come England, Germany. Australia, Canada and France are not in the top 10 for that. Or are we talking about different top 10s?

      • Gringo says up
        8 January 2015 at 02: 05

        For comparison with the American list, I used the overview of the most popular countries where Dutch people live with an AOW benefit, see:
        http://www.z24.nl/economie/met-aow-uitkering-wonen-in-buitenland-dit-zijn-de-populairste-landen-498276

        My point is that not many people who want to go abroad after retirement will explore the issues identified in the US study in different countries. The choice of country is, in my opinion, determined by other considerations. It may be that someone already lives in this country before retirement, someone knows the country because of holidays, family lives in that country, return to original homeland, etc. .

        When people have retired in that country, they will generally assess the aforementioned points for attention positively, also because they are not familiar with the circumstances in another country.

        Another thing: the story of this American investigation was also on Thaivisa and a cynic commented in response: “Yes, it would be something. They probably only surveyed ten countries and Thailand comes in tenth and last place. What now, Top 10!

  8. Malee says up
    7 January 2015 at 08: 22

    A top destination is if you fall under the 3 best and Thailand does not.
    And health care .. yes is good if you go to Bangkok hospital, otherwise you are at the mercy of the gods here. An English friend was misdiagnosed. his leg had to be amputated. he decided because he is now very old, to go back to England, there it was found that he had a virus, leg has been saved, the health care here is that good.. Yes they stuff you full of pills.
    Other friends have contracted legionella in hotels and samonella, food from the local markets.
    Because people are crazy about that. You can even buy antibiotics here in the pharmacy.
    They are number 1 in the world in terms of air fulfillment, large pickups drive in every city, staus symbol for the Thai. These just drive through very busy markets. Is air pollution so good for our health? People really burn everything here, so it's anything but healthy. Taxes must also be paid here, just as well as in the Netherlands. That people don't go to the . but not going to a tax office is their problem. Most here are not insured. Infrastructure lol don't make me laugh.. you turn the most dangerous roads one can think of. Here you drive dancing through Thailand because the roads are so bad. They don't have respect. just look at the traffic. they just push you aside. So totally disagree with the statement. It's always scorching hot here. Always need a fan or air conditioner. Entertainment?? Which ?? Go to the females? is that entertainment? Indeed, you have no rights here and those visas happen as old-fashioned as anything. Then spain and france, greece and the canary island are 100 times better to live, because here life is 10 years shorter due to the air filling. Thais wear so-called dust masks, but are completely wrong. No, coming to Thailand was a big fiasco, because prices of imported food are almost unaffordable. It would have been better to live on Grancanaria, where you can live normally on 1200 euros and you still have medical costs. Here your care future is uncertain.

    • lung addie says up
      8 January 2015 at 03: 08

      Dear Malee,

      you forgot one main point in your negative list about Thailand: the local people here speak Thai and not Dutch, a language that you probably don't understand...
      Looking at your negative list I wonder what the hell you have done to humanity by being “deported” to this negative country as punishment. You may even be "forced" by some "lady bar" which zwa
      Here where I live, and that is not a big city like where you probably stay, there is no air pollution, they are not like crazy people, the people are very friendly and helpful, it is not "pepper" expensive, but it is a real paradise where it is very good to live

      • lung addie says up
        8 January 2015 at 03: 25

        Moderator: Don't just reply to each other, that's chatting.

  9. Malee says up
    8 January 2015 at 04: 10

    Oh and I forgot about the mosquitoes.. you have to protect yourself day and night against the mosquitoes. because we are walking prey for them. Air measurements by the Thai government show shocking fulfillment. A thick polluted air hangs over Bangkok. The air also seems clean in rural areas. But values ​​are measured far above the Keeling curve. Above the whole of Southeast Asia, at a height of 4 km, there is a very polluted air that is 3 km high. This was just responding to the statement. And based on facts

  10. French Nico says up
    8 January 2015 at 05: 37

    Following on from my and Gringo's response to the article as well as our responses to each other, I note that a top 10 survey with established principles for the best location to live as a retiree appears to be no guideline for retirees in their decide where to live after retirement. In that respect, Gringo is right, which he explained in a second response.

    The fact that pensioners from the EU more often choose or have chosen a country within the EU will mainly be due to the open borders (within the EU), the same currency, easy and relatively cheap travel to and from the mother country and (largely) legal equality in legislation. These starting points will hardly have played a role in the above-mentioned American investigation. That is why only two EU countries appear in the top 10 mentioned.

    Apart from that, it appears that Spain appears in both lists. The reason for this is apparently that very many South and Central Americans go to Spain because of the language.

  11. Malee says up
    8 January 2015 at 10: 01

    Dear lung addie, I may still respond to a statement I do not like to be personally attacked..and certainly not the words you use. The Germans deported in W 2
    i speak thai.
    Never had a bar lady, I don't want to either..
    For many years I have been living with a lovely woman. She was in the Netherlands many times
    Also on the Canary Islands and in Mexico and Australia
    She also sees the difference. Yes, many people here are very friendly if you pull an ATM card.
    An example but not meant to be negative. No one asks about my background, eg, work what I've done. Or famile..but there are also a lot of good thai people.
    But just look at the hospitals how many people have respiratory diseases. Just look at how old people get here. in all European countries people do not wear masks.
    Co2 values ​​of 800 ppm are also measured in rural areas. We live in a balloon incomprehensible that people keep ignoring how we pollute the air so much. I don't live in a big city, but I visited almost every city in Thailand in 2014. And then my eyes open. Why do people get angry when they have a different opinion than their own.

    • French Nico says up
      8 January 2015 at 11: 02

      Bravo Malee,

      You don't have to be told everything. I believe that one should always remain neat and respectful. Even if they disagree.

      In contrast, I think Lung Addie described his comments ironically, sometimes sarcastically. That should also be possible, but one must remain respectful.

    • ruud says up
      8 January 2015 at 13: 47

      There is nothing wrong with having an opinion about Thailand.
      There's something wrong with the way you're bringing it.

      “Pushing someone full of pills” can also be described as: “In Thailand, too many medicines are prescribed too easily”.

      • lung addie says up
        8 January 2015 at 17: 59

        Dear Ruud,

        I agree with you, the way someone expresses his point of view on Thailand can raise questions about why he is and stays here. If there is nothing good about this country then why do so many people come to live here?
        I apologize to Malee if he was hurt by my answer, but if you read carefully you will see that I use the words: probably and possibly, so don't make a determination but leave the door open and: whoever fits the shoe put it on , it doesn't suit you then you don't consider it applicable to you. Everyone is free to have an opinion, but must also be able to tolerate criticism. My response was not finished, you can see that. Part got lost and I even notified Khun Peter through the editors…unfortunately he removed the wrong entry of my response from the blog and not the full, correct version I wanted to appear.

        • French Nico says up
          9 January 2015 at 05: 19

          Dear lung addie,

          It shows courage that you apologized to Malee, but you actually debunked it right away. Of course you use words to indicate that it is not certain what you are saying. But the context is suggestive. You also wrote: “When I look at your negative list I wonder what the hell you did to humanity because you were “deported” to this negative country as punishment.” You ask yourself a question about a fact you have established, a fact that you have not substantiated in any way. Malee rightly states that the Germans deported in WW2.

          The fact that you have not checked your contribution in advance for content and linguistics is at your expense and risk. In this case you cannot hide behind the moderator.

          Again, and I hope that this last comment of mine on this item is not seen by the moderator as chatting but as a call to treat each other with respect.

      • French Nico says up
        9 January 2015 at 04: 58

        Dear Ruud,

        Your comparison: “Pushing someone full of pills” can also be described as: “In Thailand, too many medicines are prescribed too easily” is of a completely different order. What is at issue is RESPECT.

  12. Jack G . says up
    8 January 2015 at 13: 23

    I am quite surprised by the list. Panama and Mexico are not really known as safe countries if I compare it with, for example, Portugal and Thailand. And about the air pollution in Thailand. I've asked that a few times to residents of Bangkok. That was no problem at all. I received as an answer. There are enough trees in the rest of the country to compensate for that.

    • French Nico says up
      9 January 2015 at 05: 31

      Dear Jack,

      The environment has the power to neutralize pollution. Pollution in a small area, if not disproportionate, can spread over a larger area. Forests and jungles have the capacity to neutralize pollution within certain concentrations. If the pollution is too great, the trees can die. Just think of the acid rain that affects trees and strip them of their leaves. Road neutralization.

      The worded comment of residents of Bangkok that there are enough trees in the rest of the country to compensate (not neutralize) the air pollution in Bangkok shows short-sighted thinking. After all, that is of no use to the residents of Bangkok, is it? They continue to walk in the polluted air with all the consequences that entails. But I think you know that too.


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