From Thailand to Spain. Good idea or not?

 We don't allow smoking inside our apartment, but do have a big(ish) terrace which is provided with ash trays. We also have internet at our property and I think more owners are considering.

But what really prompted me to reply was the picture of the Singha. I have just discovered this lager (in Sainsburys) and my wife has to get me supplies every week .

Hope you find what you're looking for.

Mark

Hi Mark

Singha beer is DELICIOUS! Problem is one is never enough. A 30 minute walk out in the heat last night and had to stop to grab a cold can from the 7/11 and that was it. I only went out to grab some food and a stroll but I ended up in beer bar land until 2am.

Thailand has motorbike taxis everywhere and it is another beauty of Thailand. Just raise your arm or shout "moto syke!" and one immediately appears to take you where ever for about 1 euro.

Having a Sainsburys then I presume you are in UK? Thailand has huge Tesco hypermarkets everywhere. Its called Tesco Lotus. Great as ever. Fantastic variety of everything. I even managed to get a bottle of "Lee & Perrings Worcestershire sauce" and more

Smoking is a must for me. I find nothing more enjoyable than smoking freely at will. Another reason I dislike the UK nowadays is because of them becoming anti-smoking.

Smoking is no problem here in Thailand and really cheap! A packet of Malborough Lights costs 90baht which is about 2 euros or £1.80.

Cheers Mark

Hi Mike (BRANCH)

It all sounds good and positive. I got your link. I will take a look. Cheers

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I just looked and there is nothing suitable for me due to location. Also way above my price range too but there is not much there in Spain.

Cheers

** EDITED - Against forum rules **

Smoking inside any building other than private homes is only allowed in Gibraltar now which is close to Spain on the border of Andalucia.

A pack of smokes costs 5euros in spain give or take now.

Its a really difficult question to answer because Thailand is as cheap as it gets and spain is pretty expensive.

Sure there are inland and campo places for 300 a month but as a single guy i just cant see how you could cope with it.

I am not saying the move is a bad idea at all.
But
if you are looking for fun and excitement that will come at a price.
Peuro Banus and Marbella are the hotsspots in Andalucia (that you mentioned) but it will be a huge shock to your wallet to even go out for a night of partying compared to Thai prices.

Granada is a bit of a student town and has loads of things to see and do but man it gets cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

Barcelona is a party town but its rediculously expensive even for people with a decent job.

Madrid is a vibrant place but compared with Thailand it its very expensive.

Moving from Spain to Thailand on a retired persons income i would say would be a fantastic lifestyle move because pound per poind you can live like a king in Thailand for the money it costs to `live in spain`.

So the other way round i have to be honest and say `your wallet could hurt a lot`.

Mungry

Thank you so much for this. Very thought provoking and practical insight you have made here.

I am not rich. I have a good money in the bank but I need to be practical and careful else it will be gone. I must think seriously and bear in mind what you have said. As you know Thailand is very very "economical" (to say "cheap" sounds kinda cheap lol).

You know what you are talking about and I must seriously consider this. I think maybe I should stay put. Why fix something that aint broken.

Thank you Mungry. Cheers.

Some could say you are late to the party Skajd

5, 7, 9 years ago it was wild.

All i can speak about is Andalucia because thats the only area i know.

Seriously wild and somewhat hedonistic to a point because of all the money flowing round.

Weekends spent at private concerts paid for big advertising companys and  free bars at the all weekend long afterparty.

and when the credit crunch came it was like they switched the lights off.

Over a period of about a month it just went cold and never restarted.

Spain is amazing culture and personally i could never dream of leaving because i love so much about it.

But all that being said its visibly declining hard and fast in many ways with no signs of a turnaround coming.

All of these things need to be a factor in the decision.

Mungry

I've been having quite a special party here in Asia for the past 15 years ;)

It's not a party I am looking for. More like a place with difference where I can chill out and reflect. No time or need to reflect while I am still in the middle of this party here. Phew! Believe me when I tell you that I am in a completely different world than the one you guys are in over there in Europe. I remember one chap commenting to me which sums it up "Its the Brits who live in the third world aint it mate" and we both knew exactly what he meant and laughed.

Just a change of scenery, people, culture and all but also an option to just pop out to where it is happening when I feel like. Bar hopping, people watching, socialising, watching the world and all. Its not the Ibiza type lifestyle I am in need of.

Also talking to Tamaraessex here too ...

I have been in constant tropical heat for 15 years. One thing I really do miss are the British seasons. Especially Autumn and spring. I miss the energetic feeling that cold weather gives you. Can move fast and excercise. Here is so hot at times that you cant do anything. People who live here avoid the sun. Only the tourists do the lobster-like thing and sun bathe. I am very white skinned. The sun is too hot. 30 minutes walk and you are wasted from heat. lol. Air con and fans here are as important as central heating and warm fires in Europe.

So this is why I dont mind going at low season winter time. It will be nice for me.

I did go to North Wales in UK last winter hoping for some seasonal experiences. Flew to Dublin theb ferried across and did the North Wales coastline staying at various Bed & Breakfast and budget hotels. It was lovely and the scenery was beautiful. Very refreshing ... But it rained rained rained every single day. Constant rain. Even Christmas bloody day it rained. I put on all the rain gear and went off mountain walking on some days. Still very enjoyable even in the rain.

Was a lovely couple of months but the rules and regulations and expensiveness and constant rain soon had me back (home?) here in Thailand .... and the first day I got back here it was raining haha!!! But it is still warm when it rains here.

I just thought I would share this. Point is - Mungry, believe me sir I have missed no party ;)  Tamara, thanks for that but its not a summer holiday I am looking for ;) I see that you have an idea that its a pretty good life here ;) not perfect of course but hey nowhere is perfect. But as I said it is a different world entirely. Only people who spend a long time here and travel around can know ...

Ah yes John. Good points. Thanks.

Yes you know Chiang Mai up North on the borders. The Golden Triangle where you can be in Thailand and look over at both Myanmar (Burma) and Loas.

I lived there once for 6 months. I remember going out on a burning hot day with just shorts and flip flops and t-shirt and coming home in a Tuk-Tuk at 3am and it was FREEZING! I was shivering and shaking and teeth chattering like mad. Brrrrr haha. I then started going out with a top wrapped aroung my waste for when it get cold later.

Lots of young backpacking tourists up there staying in hostels and moving on. Personally I much prefer to be down South here or central. I just prefer the feeling and places and people. I find them a bit more serious and less easy goingly cheerful - probably all those cheap backpacking tourists lol

Yes the budget may well be a big influence in my decision. I would probably double or even triple my cost of living over there .... hmmm

Another interesting aspect of Thailand is that one can opt to live a luxury "western" lifestyle at an affordable price. We  have friends who retired to a beautiful 3 bed Thai/Bali style villa (own pool & jacuzzi) in a secure resort with clubhouse/restaurants etc about 2 hours from Bangkok. They have a full time maid plus the maid's husband occasionally acts as chauffeur if they have a late night out or need to be dropped off at airport. They previously rented in Costa del Sol for 6 months. They reckon they now live considerably better compared to Spain for substantially less.

Again its horses for courses & Spain clearly has many unique attractions ie which is why we have decided to trial it for 6 - 12 months. At least we know there is a good fallback in case !

Harry

Maybe a year in Spain just to settle your mind.

Maybe you realise its not for you and hop on the first flight back to Thailand.

Maybe you decide this is what you are looking for and find its the place you want to be.

There is about 12 or so area/provinces in spain

12 months starting at one end (france end) working to the other finishing with a week in Morocco.

Then go back to the one you most preferred or swerve to Thailand.

In the decade i have lived here its been in about 20 different rental houses from seafront (under my window sea) to expensive polo apartments, to inland golf apartments and just in the radius of 100km life has been very different.

Nothing ventured and all that.

 Edit: Wow there is 50 provinces
A week in each and a week in morocco

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Spain
 

Thanks Mungry (although I fear the wife might strangle me if I proposed 50 moves in 12 months !!!).

Thailand certainly wins re cost of living & might even present an option for those running low on funds here ie one can either choose a highly competitive or ultra luxury lifestyle at substantially less compared to Spain. Might also win in terms of hassle free life ie most Thai's speak English & much less regulation etc.

Still Spain currently remains our first choice !

Harry

 I was just wondering, how safe is Thailand really? For singles or  couples I suppose thats one thing but for families with children? 

We always found it very safe & never had hassles. Occasionally, we  encountered some minor scams but these were conducted in a non aggressive manner & could be spotted from 20 miles off !!!  The Thais welcome expats & threat them with respect. Someone mentioned Chiang Mai where winters can be cold - better to stick to south if you want warm balmy weather all year round.

Again just our experience travelling there - no doubt others are much better qualified to comment on this.

Harry

 Regarding concerns about scams and safety in Thailand 

You are not likely to get mugged or robbed in Thailand although it does happen on occassions. I would say that Thailand is much safer than other places in this respect. There are some danger areas in the main tourist regions where ladyboys will accost men walking the streets alone late at night. Ladyboys are the main culprits. They are usually not real gays or transexuals. Just young lads dressing up as a disguise in order to scam or rob. .... But its not the sort of thing that goes on regularly around Thailand, just certain areas in certain main tourist spots.

What I will say is that Thailand has a nickname. It is known as "The land of smiles" or LOS. As a tourist here in a tourist area you will always be aware of the feeling of being watched or looked at. Dont get paranoid because you more than likely are being looked at. If you catch that person who is looking at you they will not look away, they will continue to look and give you a big beaming smile. Maybe even wave or even approach you. This is how it is in tourist areas. Many friendly people always willing and keen to smile at you and be friendly and sociable.

Well I was taught to believe the saying "Never trust a stranger who smiles too much". Why? Well if you are unfamiliar with that person and they show you too much interest with a big smile for no particular reason it means, usually, that they want something from you.

You then ask yourself "What does this good looking confident stranger want from me?". The answer could be many reasons? But if you are a tourist visiting a tourist area in a foriegn land and you are on holiday with money in your pocket I think that narrows down the possible answers quite a lot.

Summary to this little statement is - If you are on holiday in the Land of smiles you will have many lovely friends who will take care of you wonderfully - If you dont mind spending money.

But hey, A big Mac costs money. A beer costs money. A hotel, a taxi ... just about everything in life costs money right? Even a wife and kids and a car cost money and these are probably the most expensive things in life (of which I have none - by choice) .... The best things in life cost money so why not splash out a bit more and buy/rent other nice things on offer?

Thailand - The Land of Smiles - is geared around "taking care" of the tourist. In return they expect to paid

It is Thailands main national income on a country scale and also many many an individual scale. They are professional "take-carers" of tourists. As long as you have money.

It isnt too much money though, usually. So you only live once and if you have a bit of pocket money then why not enjoy yourself and let the smiling Thais spoil you?

They really do spoil you. They are so nice and keen to please and fun. So easy going. They go out of their way to make you enjoy and in return you are more than happy to be nice in return. It works both ways and everyone enjoys.

The problems may arise when you possibly meet one of the minority. Hopefully you wouldnt. A scammer. Somebody who is prepared to con you. To cheat you. Maybe somebody who has themself been scammed and it corrupted them ??? These types can be found antwhere and unfortunately in Thailand too.

But you will only be conned or scammed or ripped-off if you allow it to happen.

If you are not too gullible then you will see it coming and smile politely and refuse and move on ... If you get aggressive then you will recieve aggression in return.

P.S. Its easy for me to say "If you are not too gullible then you will see it coming". I have been here for 15 years and have seen most things but in my early days I got tricked a bit but nothing serious, nothing major at all but when first time in a completely different world of different attitudes then you can be a bit vulnerable to wiser natives. Some of those wiser natives may try to take advantage .... But hey thats life right? Thats human nature. Can happen even on your own doorstep.

Cheers 

.

This message was last edited by Skajd on 13/12/2012.

Much more serious scams are attempted in say Shanghai & Vietnam !!!!!

By comparison, Thailand is harmless.

Harry

We live half year near Marbella, 8 km up in the hills, need a car to go down the mountain.  Almost nothing in this area except 2 restaurants but this is not a small village, it is a communal complex.  Not really a problem to drive down to the stores, only a 10' drive.  In our area the rents are much, much higher than €300 / month, even for a 1-bd apt.  

The other half of the year we live on the Med coast of Turkey.  Turkey is far cheaper than southern Spain.  I am amazed at the high price of everything here on the Costa del Sol, add to the price 21% VAT.  I wonder how the Spanish can manage to eat and live considering they have a 25% unemployment rate.

As for smoking, most places don't allow you to smoke inside, most apt owners don't accept it either except on the terrace outside. Terraces in winter are cold.  As for internet, not that many long-term rental apts provide internet but every bar / cafe has it.  You can also get cheap internet without a phone from services like y-internet.

Thanks for this insight icaru

I think I will stay put here in Thailand. I don't need all that expense and high cost of living. Anti-smoking and high cost of living is not for me.

Thanks