Unless you have a work permit and job lined up, an expensive elite visa or over 50 it's difficult just to move to Thailand, despite what social media would have you believe.
I like those two cities best. Hua Hin has an edge with me due to its long beach. But I've only experienced the night market there, & not in Chiang Mai. I like Chiang Mai because it isn't beer bar centered
Great vid Jon! May I ask for a request that the other CM content providers don't cover much? Can you more of the sporting venues like tennis clubs, pickleball, yoga, gyms etc? That would be amazing!
All your videos are awesome & informative. Going to move to Chiang Mai next year around this time with plans for study the language on an education visa. I would move now but need another year to save some more money to be comfortable!
If for no other reason it's good to have a 'getaway' place in Thailand given the level of mass migration of certain groups flooding into Europe - place will be unrecognizable soon at the rate things are going! Good tips Jon!!
in TH, the russians are the ones who flood certain places, not too much in CM though. They usually turn places (like e.g Phuket) down. But this could be with any group/citizens dominating a place...
Jon, you mentioned wet season and I am not looking forward to that, but what comes after is just delightful though. Your place looks very comfortable and nice, by the way!
Rainy season is my favorite season and not even close to the hardest time of year. It rains quite often, cleaning the pollution. The short winter is great too but by January the pollution rolls in and can easily last 4-6 months. The hot season is quite long and very polluted. I think that season is much more of a test of whether or not you want to live in Chiang Mai year round. For me it's really a terrible time of year and quite long at that. Chiang Mai has a potential 6 months of good weather and decent air quality.
Interesting and convincing points. I was a young(ish) Kiwi backpacker when I first landed in India in 1990 and within 6 months knew it was where I wanted to live long term. I returned to India in 1991 on a student visa which I could extend for two years, after which I started a tourism business and got a 10 year business visa. This brings me to your Point number 4 - if you are established you are safe. In my India example, in the year 1999 India had a major swing to a hindu nationalist government who said that any foreigner on a business visa must prove there is no Indian who can run their business, or their visa will be cancelled. That is what happened to me and likely hundreds or thousands of others. So I had to close my business and leave India after giving a decade of my life there. Just be aware, you can never be sure the rules a future government will make that can cause a dramatic change in your living situation. Really enjoy your channel and content. Cheers (I have been happily settled back in NZ for 15 years now), but certainly considering a part time retirement in SE Asia (NZ pension rules mean you can only spend 180 days per year out of the country or your pension is cut)...I am still five years from retirement however Cheers.
Im looking forward to your bike tours, ive been thinking of bike touring throughout Thailand in the future, also info on suitable bike selection as it seems you cannot bring your own bike into Thailand?
The beauty of Thailand is that it's not the West. The materialistic, dog-eat-dog, money is everything, rat race, is what we're trying to escape. I pray that Thailand keeps its Buddhist traditions and doesn't become more like the West.
Wonderful put Jon, oh how I wish I could move to ChM...just love the place. 68 y I could maybe, but it sounds so difficult to actually do with visa and a lot of money in a thai bank? But maybe 3-6 months/each year. Coming in Nov 3 month, hoping my husband like it as much as me😉 thank you for the encouragement👍 Drive safe on new bike!
The future outlook will be interesting. On the one hand visa policies are getting stricter or visas more expensive (like the new elite visa now 3 x price for a 5y duration) on the other hand the gov plans and supports to achieve crazy high numbers of visitors. For sure for permanent residents it will get harder...Not sure how this boat (of permanents) can get filled more. The demandof course could easily surge tremendous, just an escalation of existing wars will ignit it...
With the aging population issue and Thai birthrates being way below what is needed, I don't think they'd make extreme changes to make it so younger foreigners cannot come into the country. However, I do agree that these types of moves are better to try out sooner rather than later.
Hey John Im about to book a trip back to Chang Mai begining of September 10 days trail riding in the mountains 25 days doing a road ride Im thinking of useing one of the tour companies based there Have you any experiance of these companies Thanks
In my experience Thailand will flip flop in regards to the laws and visas etc.. not a huge amount of forward thinking..you definitely have to be flexible.
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Unless you have a work permit and job lined up, an expensive elite visa or over 50 it's difficult just to move to Thailand, despite what social media would have you believe.
Or married to a Thai... But, yeah not that easy but, worth it.
It's still doable with the education visa at the moment, but not sure how long that would last.
My two favorite places in Thailand are chiang mai and Hua Hin. The big problem is the visa situation. Philippines where I live is so much easier.
I like those two cities best. Hua Hin has an edge with me due to its long beach. But I've only experienced the night market there, & not in Chiang Mai. I like Chiang Mai because it isn't beer bar centered
Yep Hua Hin is great as well, I've never been to the Philippines, hope to get there some day :)
Great vid Jon! May I ask for a request that the other CM content providers don't cover much? Can you more of the sporting venues like tennis clubs, pickleball, yoga, gyms etc? That would be amazing!
Thanks mate, ah yeah I'll see if I can do something like that :)
@@JonInChiangMai Thnx Jon!
Good idea
All your videos are awesome & informative. Going to move to Chiang Mai next year around this time with plans for study the language on an education visa. I would move now but need another year to save some more money to be comfortable!
Thanks mate! Good luck on the move next year :)
Cool new Bike Jon ! It would be nice to see you do some touring through Thailand on the Bike
Will be moving over at the end of December. Looking forward to it!
Nice! Good luck on the move :)
Looks like a nice peaceful area there where you live. Nice house.
Thanks, yeah it's a nice area about 15 minute drive from Chiang Mai city.
Hi Jon going to Thailand in June. Might see you there
Nice, had a good one mate :)
If for no other reason it's good to have a 'getaway' place in Thailand given the level of mass migration of certain groups flooding into Europe - place will be unrecognizable soon at the rate things are going! Good tips Jon!!
in TH, the russians are the ones who flood certain places, not too much in CM though. They usually turn places (like e.g Phuket) down. But this could be with any group/citizens dominating a place...
Thanks John :)
Great video format. And nice looking Astroturf!
Thanks :)
Jon, you mentioned wet season and I am not looking forward to that, but what comes after is just delightful though. Your place looks very comfortable and nice, by the way!
Yeah the wet season makes things a bit harder when you like the outdoors :)
Rainy season is my favorite season and not even close to the hardest time of year. It rains quite often, cleaning the pollution. The short winter is great too but by January the pollution rolls in and can easily last 4-6 months. The hot season is quite long and very polluted. I think that season is much more of a test of whether or not you want to live in Chiang Mai year round. For me it's really a terrible time of year and quite long at that. Chiang Mai has a potential 6 months of good weather and decent air quality.
Yeah I can see that, I don't mind it but it takes some getting used to when you're planning trips away on the bike :)
Interesting and convincing points. I was a young(ish) Kiwi backpacker when I first landed in India in 1990 and within 6 months knew it was where I wanted to live long term. I returned to India in 1991 on a student visa which I could extend for two years, after which I started a tourism business and got a 10 year business visa. This brings me to your Point number 4 - if you are established you are safe. In my India example, in the year 1999 India had a major swing to a hindu nationalist government who said that any foreigner on a business visa must prove there is no Indian who can run their business, or their visa will be cancelled. That is what happened to me and likely hundreds or thousands of others. So I had to close my business and leave India after giving a decade of my life there. Just be aware, you can never be sure the rules a future government will make that can cause a dramatic change in your living situation. Really enjoy your channel and content. Cheers (I have been happily settled back in NZ for 15 years now), but certainly considering a part time retirement in SE Asia (NZ pension rules mean you can only spend 180 days per year out of the country or your pension is cut)...I am still five years from retirement however Cheers.
Thanks mate appreciate that comment, ah I never knew that about India but yeah definitely something to think about!
Liked.Lovely Bike Jon.
Thanks mate
Im looking forward to your bike tours, ive been thinking of bike touring throughout Thailand in the future, also info on suitable bike selection as it seems you cannot bring your own bike into Thailand?
Thanks mate, yeah great fun on the bike. Can't bring a second hand bike into Thailand unfortunately but there is a good selection of bikes here :)
Good job, Jon. My mate had an old '80's Z650. It was fantastic.
Thanks mate, ah nice bike!
The beauty of Thailand is that it's not the West. The materialistic, dog-eat-dog, money is everything, rat race, is what we're trying to escape. I pray that Thailand keeps its Buddhist traditions and doesn't become more like the West.
Yep me too :)
Wonderful put Jon, oh how I wish I could move to ChM...just love the place. 68 y I could maybe, but it sounds so difficult to actually do with visa and a lot of money in a thai bank? But maybe 3-6 months/each year. Coming in Nov 3 month, hoping my husband like it as much as me😉 thank you for the encouragement👍 Drive safe on new bike!
Thanks! I think a retirement visa would be possible, 800k baht in a Thai bank and you can just renew it every year. Have a good one in November :)
Thank you, still a lot of money but someyhing to consider!👍
The future outlook will be interesting. On the one hand visa policies are getting stricter or visas more expensive (like the new elite visa now 3 x price for a 5y duration) on the other hand the gov plans and supports to achieve crazy high numbers of visitors. For sure for permanent residents it will get harder...Not sure how this boat (of permanents) can get filled more. The demandof course could easily surge tremendous, just an escalation of existing wars will ignit it...
Nice ride Jon. I'm on my way mate
Thanks mate!
With the aging population issue and Thai birthrates being way below what is needed, I don't think they'd make extreme changes to make it so younger foreigners cannot come into the country. However, I do agree that these types of moves are better to try out sooner rather than later.
Hey John
Im about to book a trip back to Chang Mai begining of September
10 days trail riding in the mountains
25 days doing a road ride
Im thinking of useing one of the tour companies based there
Have you any experiance of these companies
Thanks
Nice sounds like an awesome trip! I don't unfortunately, never used a tour company.
Visa options too expensive besides the retirement visa the over 50
Live your bike
Thanks :)
In my experience Thailand will flip flop in regards to the laws and visas etc.. not a huge amount of forward thinking..you definitely have to be flexible.
Yep, we never can be sure exactly what will happen moving forwards :)
People have families in thier home countries they cant abandon
😂..they would abandon you if they could
Nice ride 😎
Thanks mate
Hello Jon, do you have any email where i can contact you? thanks