Is This Still A Top Place to Retire in SE Asia

[@VagabondAwake]

Lifetime Membership Price and Benefits: vagabondbuddha.com/best-places-travel-cheap/beta-promotion/ Ko Samui Thailand Retirement Update: vagabondbuddha.com/retire-early-on-865-usd-month-koh-samui-thailand/ 𝗗𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗘-𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞→ 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 vagabondbuddha.com/fire-your-boss-travel-world/ 𝗗𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲☆★☆ vagabondbuddha.com/ 𝗗𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗥oad Map to Freedom Overseas (Retire Overseas Course)☆★☆ vagabondbuddha.com/courses/the-retire-overseas-course/ 𝗗𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 $$$ 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀e vagabondbuddha.com/courses/the-hobby-income-course/ Health Insurance I Bought (Free ebook, Video, Agent, not affiliate link): vagabondbuddha.com/expat-health-insurance-ebook/ What kinds of risks are you taking if you move overseas? vagabondbuddha.com/our-liability-disclaimer-the-risk-is-on-you/

[@newtondelmar4416]

Dan, You may have heard this before but...some of your facial expressions are exact matches to Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy fame... Rock on !!!

[@ArtoriasTheme]

So in response to what you said, two tips to avoid card fraud: 1. Never physically give them your card or let them swipe it on a second machine. Just tell them to set it up and then you tap, or swipe it yourself if it needs to do that. If they insist they need to physically take the card or do a double swipe, then shop elsewhere or use cash at that store. Also be discerning about what shops you use the card at ie Starbucks is fine. But a dodgy looking place, no. 2. Get two cards from two different banks. One for airfares and the like, and one for daily use. Get the daily use one from a bank that has a card freeze option in the app, and if you're worried about card fraud just freeze the second card every time after you do a transaction in a shop. Only put a small amount on the second card as required, and make the second one a debit only card.

[@VagabondAwake]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[@DiscoverTop10_q2b]

Interesting video, but I’m curious-what are the reasons Canadians might not be welcome in these countries? Is it based on political tensions, or is there something else at play?

[@ksnax]

Looks great! I think one thing that those of us who aren't huge fans of humidity forget is that air movement is a significant factor in how heat feels. Chiang Mai appears to have very stagnant wind conditions most of the year whereas Koh Samui looks like a guaranteed comfortable breeze every day of the year according to Weatherspark data. I think I could handle that. ;)

[@VagabondAwake]

That’s a great point! The difference in breeze does make a difference in how we experience heat.

[@Simonh65ish]

The best,most honest couple doing this gig. Thanks.

[@formica.]

Great video, learned a lot. Many retirees say they need an English speaking country, to know the locals. But an alternative is living in an expat-rich community where you'll meet interesting English-speaking people from around the world.

[@jasonmundy2944]

I love your videos. I am retiring in 5 years. Thanks for showing me this is possible.

[@TredNWater]

You guys are doing the Lord's work. Thanks again!

[@thomasalison6188]

More great information from Qiang & Dan, many thanks!!

[@kimphilley621]

Really good description, and detail.

[@hump1953]

I have been to Thailand three times but never Koh Samui , will check it out.. thank you…

[@verticalift]

This is a long one. Best get a cuppa Coffeee. Full disclosure... I've lived here on the island of Phuket since 1998. Why Phuket you ask...? Back in '98, it was for the marinas and access to the Andaman Sea. I owned and lived aboard my sailboat before I built my house here on Phuket. Many years ago, my wife and I drove over to Don Sak to catch the ferry over to Koh Samui with our Golden Retriever for a "Look-See". We will never go back....!!! Checking into a 3 Star Bungalow on the NE Side of Samui with our Golden Retriever, we had originally planned and paid for 3 nights. The first morning, my wife and I tied-up our Golden Retriever on the front porch of the bungalow with her water dish and morning meal. No problem. My wife and I walked over to the hotel restaurant for our Breakfast, which was included in the room-rate that we had already paid. Giving our Room (Bungalow) number to the staff at the restaurant, we sat down and had our B'fast. Returning to our bungalow..... it wasn't long before we noticed something wasn't quite right. Items in our bungalow had been moved during our absence. It was not the cleaning staff, as it was obvious that our room had not been cleaned. I quickly noticed that the 10,000B I had brought with me was gone. Credit and ATM Cards were still there. My wife's Thai ID and Driver's License were gone.... along with a few small electronic items. Side note: I will never use "Electronic Banking Cards" for payment.... of anything. Cash Only. Using an ATM Bank Card to get cash is fine.... provided the ATM is located in a large Shopping Center or Bank, with Security Cams. Anyway..... I went to the Hotels front desk to talk to the manager. He basically ignored me, thinking that I was just another "tourist". I asked him to call the police. He refused. I asked him where the police station was. He said "It's far. You can not walk there". I told him that I would drive..... in my truck.... and file an official police report. The manager asked me whose truck I was driving and said not to file any report with the police. I eventually found the station , filed an official report and returned to the hotel..... with the police. They wanted to chat with the hotel staff, including the manager. A few hours latter, I had a chat with the owner of the hotel, who had coincidentally just arrived from BKK the night before. Long story..... but, it turned out that the manager of the hotel and his staff were working (stealing) from hotel guests while they were having breakfast at the hotels restaurant, when the staff knew that the rooms were empty. The restaurant staff simply used their mobile phones to contact their accomplices. My wife and I were so unbelievably pissed-off..... we decided to check-out that same morning. We wanted outta there and off Samui ASAP. Our request for a refund was denied, by both the manager and the owner. We left anyway and got off the island on the first ferry over to Koh Phang-Ngan. Take-Aways.... Never, ever leave cash or any valuables in your room when not there. Trust nobody....!!! If you own a Golden Retriever and take it with you..... get a couple cans of "Black" spray-on Hair Dye and turn them into a German Shepherd for the duration of your trip..... Hotel staff might have second thoughts about entering your bungalow while you're not there. In closing, there is a great book by Herman Wok called "Don't Stop the Carnival" about an expat that left New York and headed south to the Caribbean to buy and renovate a hotel. It was published back in the 1960's and is a bit "Dated".... but worth the read for any expat here in T'land.

[@RickWijnsouw]

Hi people a bid late bud happy hollidays and thaks for all the greath vids the past year

[@VagabondAwake]

Happy holidays!

[@ianpatrick23]

That’s really great to know that walkability is low. I still plan to go, but I’m glad I know that I will need a scooter. Thank you!

[@ph5915]

Great video! Always seems there is somethng new to learn about Thailand, and it's always good! I've never been a "beach" person, or hot/humid weather all the time, but as a kid I grew up in South FL and a year on Guam, so it was always. Hot and Humid. LOL. But I also haven't lived very far from the ocean. Weird.

[@RobertMeadePowerOfImagination]

Excellent as usual Dan. Was so nice to watch you and Qiang share your knowledge and first hand experience. I am returning to Puerto Galera Philippines early in January (soon). It is primarily for my love interst there. If not I would likely consider a move to a place like Ko Samui or Dengang Viet Nam (which you are also big on). Nica has updated her visa so we may visit some of those places any way nearby in Thailand, Nam and who knows:)! BTW, I did get my new DJI mini drone. I got the DJI 4K and am still learning all the functions. Can't wait to film on the beach and elsewhere in the islands in the coming months.

[@VagabondAwake]

Happy Holidays Robert.

[@ozmunky]

Nice video guys. Before this video, I have selected Kalamata and Hua Hin/Koh Samui as my 2 retirement places for the year.....

[@johnerd]

All the information I love to hear!

[@MichaelRichard-o9r]

Love Koh Samui except for the big hill. Nice near the Meridian Hotel. Just south.

[@QuinnPrice]

Always good insights, Dan.

[@rickgarner6269]

Uou guys are always do helpful and entertaining 😊

[@VagabondAwake]

We try.

[@dessaint5341]

@vagabond awake As usual, a very nice overview of Koh Samui. The thing about it that was lacking for me is that there is a restriction on high structure buildings (so you don't really have that choice). Wherever I go, I usually go Airbnb and lease condos on upper floors (20th + ) . These condos always have a pool and a gym and can be walking distance to food. Staying high, usually eliminates the noise factor, so you can sleep soundly and have all your amenities, pretty much in one place. You van get that in Phuket but for the money, Pattaya Jomtien . Actually, I am planning on going to Penang, Malaysia. I have heard that there is a nice Chinatown there and maybe you guys can tell me more about it.

[@michaelmackey754]

Great video!

[@scottjohnson921]

So much cleaner than Philippines!

[@francoiswilliams]

What areas?

[@tomallen3906]

Dan! Great show tell your sweetheart that new hair do is very beautiful and complimenting! 😊

[@femaleadventurer]

I like to "freeze" my WISE card. All swipes will be denied until you "unfreeze" it.

[@VagabondAwake]

Great idea!

[@ArtoriasTheme]

Better have a second card on you at all times that is not frozen though. You don't want to come off a bike, end up at the hospital with a broken phone and be bleeding out in the waiting room and they deny you service because you're in Asia with a frozen card, and foreigners need to pay up first before getting treatment.

[@daveinchina]

I am grateful for your insights. I am interested on your thoughts about retiring in China from the UK or US....Please can you do a video or tell me your thoughts.

[@VagabondAwake]

I have been there a few times and it felt safe to me. I was a little turned off how they close down access to KZbin and Facebook, etc. But if that doesn't bother you, you may love it.

[@aniwee17]

I am not sure about the food and drinking water safety standard in China. Also, check out China’s new law called “Anti-Spy” Act and its definition. Chinese government’s definition of “Spying” maybe shocking to those who grew up in the west.

[@nala3038]

You couldn’t pay me to go to China!

[@happywanderer-b5w]

I’m happy to go if you pay me!😂

[@vgshwk]

The one drawback to Koh samui is the local airport is expensive to fly into and out of because one airline has a monopoly.

[@VagabondAwake]

Thanks for your thoughts!

[@thomasalison6188]

Pro tip; fly to Surat Thani, then take the ferry to Koh Samui, way cheaper!

[@vgshwk]

@ yes cheaper but more time consuming. The one time I visited Koh samui I had the time so I did it by land. I travelled from Bangkok to hua hin and spent a couple of days there because hotels are a bargain there. I then took the train to surat Thani and spent the night and took the ferry there. One word of advice book your taxi before you get to Koh samui I was stuck on a mototaxi gripping the handrail tight and another on my bag because they said it was a 90 minute wait to get a car.

[@michaelperry1210]

How do you deal with a sandal blow out? Your feet look larger than the locals.

[@StewartAlexanderHampton]

Is there Taxi 'mafia' in Koh Samui? I just spend a month in Phuket and Grab rides were forced to be 3X higher than here in Bangkok. Annoying.

[@VagabondAwake]

We rent a scooter while in Phucket for that reason. But wear a helmet or the cps will try to take a bribe from you. in Koh Samui, the police seem more honest, but we always wear helmet.

[@Byron4RollTide]

How does Koh Samui compare to Phuket.

[@VagabondAwake]

I am not as big a fan of Phuket. The police are annoying there. Always trying to get bribes. Koh Samui is all around a better place in my opinion.

[@thomasalison6188]

​Dan, good to know! I didn't know that the police were such a problem therein Phuket.

[@scottbaker9066]

What's a good schedule for an initial visit to Koh Samui of about a month? I have a friend AFS student from high school 30 years ago in Bangkok so we also want to visit there.

[@VagabondAwake]

One month is great, That is what we did.

[@martyfinver9969]

what community is makro near. Which community to you stay at?

[@VagabondAwake]

Where we stayed is at the second link in description below video.

[@nala3038]

Look at the link

[@eddymaher4614]

Hi in most of your videos about Thailand you keep saying cost off living is under 1000$ and to obtain retirement visa first thing they tell ( Thailand embassy ) you is youe income should be 2500$ !!! would you please explain it to me how does it work ??thanks

[@barrydwyer2039]

You might need to show that you have that amount of income per month in order to obtain the retirement visa, but it doesn't mean you have to spend that amount per month. Also if you deposit a one off amount of 800,000baht in the bank then you don't need to show a monthly income stream to obtain a retirement visa.

[@VagabondAwake]

Barry got it right. Thanks Barry.

[@KavanOBrien]

Do the places you have visited have a Brompton ability factor?

[@CosmicSeeker69]

which is what Kavan - the internet just brings up cycles.................

[@KavanOBrien]

@@CosmicSeeker69 Brompton bike is a fold up bike that can be taken on a plane as a carry on and can be stored in the overhead storage above the seat , the Brompton bike is made in London England, surprisingly you haven’t caught on to this bike yet with all your travelling, maybe something to consider going forward to be part of your smorgasbord of items you travel with or part of future videos as yet not made series, keeping in mind over a million of these bikes made = might open up a whole new audience to your channel, which places you visit are Brompton friendly, be careful once you try a Brompton will never give it up , take care you two .

[@VagabondAwake]

Bicycle lanes you must mean?

[@KavanOBrien]

@@VagabondAwake Not at all , you have the wrong idea, it’s a bike like no other , has nothing to do with bike lanes = fold down , easy to travel with , can be taken on a plane , train, boat , bus , you can carry it = not heavy , once you try one it would be self explanatory = go for a coffee in a cafe or restaurant folds down so you can put in under the table or by the side of your chair , as said people take them on planes and put them in the overhead storage compartment, put it on your bucket list , most cities around the world have a thing called The Brompton junction, you can purchase them or rent one = new for 2025 = try a Brompton hopefully one of your videos.

[@AAWGASHTADS]

@@VagabondAwake Commercial inserted ?

[@michaelmackey754]

Quick question… I am 100% plant based is there food at restaurants for me there?

[@VagabondAwake]

Yes. Plus, any Thai resturants can cook pure plant based. Just say No fish or fish sause, no chicken, no pork, and no shrimp. This is Buddha country. That know what you want. Use Google Translate in local restaurants.

[@michaelmackey754]

@@VagabondAwake thank you!

[@uncubicle5993]

sad ending🥲

[@littletravelmonkey6727]

Koh Sumui too small, too expensive

[@VagabondAwake]

Chasing beach for sure

[@mrbHanoi]

Expensive??? Go to Hawaii. That is expensive.

[@nala3038]

@@mrbHanoiexactly

[@ArtoriasTheme]

On Samui, you can get a fully set up apartment five minutes walk from a postcard beach and delicious restaurants for $400 US a month. Lord help you if that's out of your budget.

[@littletravelmonkey6727]

​@@ArtoriasTheme 你厲晒啦

[@johnerd]

All the information I love to hear!

[@VagabondAwake]

I'm glad you find it helpful!