Retiring in Thailand, Revised Edition
Retiring in Thailand, Revised Edition
This is a revised edition of the book “Retiring in Thailand” which contains updates on the new Thai law on retirement and other general updates. Why Thailand? Thailand is a great retirement option for anyone with modest savings. The low cost of living and high quality of healthcare can dramatically increase your standard of living. The country is attractive to many because of its beautiful beaches, friendly people, delicious food, astonishing culture and much more. Find out how you can li
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(out of 8 reviews)
List Price: $ 19.95
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Review by Philip Bryce for Retiring in Thailand, Revised Edition
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This is Philip Bryce, the co-author of this book. I am not here to review my own book but to correct some misleading statements made by reviewer Geoff Puterbaugh.
Mr. Puterbaugh states that he is able to do is 90 day reporting by mail. Reporting by mail is most certainly not an option in Ko Samui, you must appear in person and the consequences for not doing that are very severe. It is my understanding that this is the normal case in Thailand, but I strongly recommend you check with your local immigration office.
Mr. Puterbaugh states that I said `the new settler in Thailand needs to find a “pharmacist” to superintend their health’. I most definitely did not say or imply that; in fact, quite the opposite, I say “beware of self medication” and advise people to seek advice from a doctor if drug names are different in Thailand to the names used at home.
I state that “tranquilizers and sedatives are only available from hospital pharmacies.” That information was sourced from “Guide to Healthy Living in Thailand and Southeast Asia” and confirmed by the medical director of Bangkok Samui Hospital.
I did make a mistake about teaching salaries; I wrote “500 to 1,500 baht per hour or 20,000 to 50,000 baht per month”, I meant to type “500 to 1,500 baht per day or 20,000 to 50,000 baht per month”. My apologies for any confusion this may have caused.
On the reviewers main point that we `redefined the word “retirement,” `, guilty as charged. Most “retirees” where I live are in their forties and fifties and are not eligible for retirement visas. Some people who are eligible do not meet the financial requirements; therefore we see nothing inappropriate about including abroad range of information for retirees of any age. And as to Mr. Puterbaugh’s assertion that retirees should not engage in `VERY active sports (surfing, snorkeling, wind-surfing)’ that is clearly laughable!
This book has over 250 pages of highly researched, factual information for people interested in living and retiring in Thailand. It is meant as an introductory guide, not a legal or medical reference book. Rules and regulations seem to change almost daily in Thailand and are always open to the interpretation of the individual officer or official. This book is a first edition and will have minor errors; please rest assured that the main substance of the text has been researched from multiple, reliable sources and is to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing, correct.
Note that there have been significant changes in visa rules since printing; please see the Thai government visa updates for more information.
Review by BookReview.com for Retiring in Thailand, Revised Edition
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Admittedly, all I’ve known of Thailand is that many Cambodian’s fled to it during the seventies, and, I happen to love Thai food. Reading “Retiring in Thailand” by Philip Bryce and Sunisa Wongdee Terlecky allowed me to visit the country and come away with a good deal of knowledge. While I’m nowhere near ready to retire, I can see this is a viable and desirable option!
The book is in five parts. The first is an introduction to Thailand, opening the reader up to customs and facts, amenities and culture, and offering the testimonials of a few folks who have retired in Thailand. Part two is the how-to section, describing in detail how to go about preparing for your retirement there. Information on passports, visas, taxes, social security, health care, and even plans for your will are all included. This information is for those coming from the U.S. and the U.K.. Part three details helpful hints on living and adjusting to Thai life, explaining mannerisms and etiquette, what you can expect and what will be expected of you. Part four examines the different areas of Thailand, giving the pros and cons of each major retirement spot. Part five is a plethora of reference information including websites to check out, a calendar of national holidays, a list of common items and their cost, and much more.
The book is an ideal opening guide when considering retirement in Thailand. It is also a perfect introduction to Thailand itself. If you’ve known as little as I have about this beautiful country, you’ll be happy to sit back and explore through the pages of the book. “Live in paradise for pennies on the dollar” certainly seems to be true.
Review by James H. Cogan for Retiring in Thailand, Revised Edition
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As a visitor to Thailand virtually every year for close to 20 years,
and a current semi-retiree in Thailand, I found Phillip Bryce’s book
most helpful.
There is a wealth of well researched,as well as clearly experientially
based information,many of which even regular, long term visitor like
myself did not know.
Because work,land ownership and long term visas in Thailand can be
surprisingly complex to deal with, I found Mr Bryce’s time tested advice
was invaluable.
I would consider this book a “must” for anyone who wants to spend more
than a few weeks at a time in Thailand on an ongoing basis.
J. Cogan
Review by T. Persinger for Retiring in Thailand, Revised Edition
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I have wanted to expatriate to Asia for some time now, but have always wondered about the logistics of doing so, especially regarding visas. This book does a wonderful job of explaining all your options, in detail. I also really like that he discussed each of the major areas, and used interviews with real expats in those areas to discuss the pros and cons of each area. Ultimately, if you’re planning to retire in Thailand you should visit all areas (and he encourages that) to find the area that suits you best, but knowing up front many of the pros and cons of each area is a great foundation to build on. I really recommend this book.
Review by Kenneth Kilpatrick for Retiring in Thailand, Revised Edition
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…I wish it had more info on places, and reviewed more places than it did. Still an excellent introduction and some very good advice about Social Security.