Thailand Vs Albania: A Comparison for Expat Life

[@TheNarrowGate]

*CORRECTED INFORMATION ON RE-ENTRY INTO ALBANIA*: To 'restart' the clock on your amount of time in Albania, you will need to be out of Albania for at least 90 days to re-enter without a residence permit. Shorter trips outside of Albania during your stay do not lengthen or re-set the limit you entered Albania on. If you are a US Citizen, here is more information regarding this. al.usembassy.gov/entering-and-residing/#:~:text=To%20%E2%80%9Crestart%20the%20clock%E2%80%9D%20on,set%20the%20one%2Dyear%20limit.

[@LuangPraBong]

Got it! Seems like a good time to head to Thailand for at least 90 days! I cannot wait to visit Albania.

[@tc2425]

We clocked out after12 months (automobile) and stayed in Kosovo 7 days....Back at the Border they stamped us back into Albania no problem ..Morine - Vermice

[@bw5911]

@@TheNarrowGate true

[@MedBedSpaUSA]

3 days ago we were planning on our life in Thailand AND Albania! Thanks for this video.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Awesome! 😊🇹🇭🇦🇱

[@HunterTalks]

Thank you for making this excellent comparison. I've been looking forward to you making this video 😇 You covered the topics well. It would be great to have another video or two in a similar vein covering additional topics such as private health care comparison Albania vs Thailand, which were your favourite towns, walkability, hiking, getting around without a car. And I know I've harped on about this in my previous comments: Street Dogs 🐶 By coincidence I'm looking into doing pretty much what you're doing which is Chiang Mai for part of the year, Albania for winter/spring. Brilliant video, nicely explained 🙏

[@etew.5255]

I've spent time in both countries. I love Thailand, but for long-term living, I gotta say I'm leaning toward Albania. There are so many positives for me. The year-long tourist visa. I'm not a coffee drinker, but after a few weeks, I slowed down and enjoyed the cafe/coffee culture. Not a lot of nightlife partying, but I'm ok with that. They do love their raki (fruit brandy) and you can find homemade stuff everywhere. And it's the only country I've visited that not one person tried to scam me. Once I'm through making videos from my trip to Korea, I think I'm going to dig up footage from my trip to Albania and see if I can put together a couple of videos.

[@margiedenavarre7919]

This was a great review.

[@windowtintinguk]

Balkans win for retirement

[@dockerdave]

I've said it before, Albanians were the friendliest, most welcoming people I've encountered anywhere in the world. I was stunned at how much they went out of their way to make my trip enjoyable. There were aspects of the country I didn't like, but the people were the highlight

[@ahkshua]

Thank you for making this video! Every time I bring up "Albania" to other Americans they are shocked and most don't even know it exists. As someone who's lived in Albania for almost an entire year.... Albania grows on you for sure. It can start off a bit slow but you'll quickly see the charm of Albanian citizens, culture, and landscape. I am actually going back pretty soon. There is so much untapped potential in Albania.

[@TheNarrowGate]

It is pretty surprising how many people don't know that it exists or where it's located. Enjoy your time in Albania, it's a beautiful country!😊🙏🏻🇦🇱

[@Fatty-ck4ew]

One additional thing that people might need to know is the quality, availability and cost of private health care.

[@kippsguitar6539]

Thailand wins hands down

[@JeddieT]

Yes, Thailand has the best - and affordable - healthcare and dental care.

[@kippsguitar6539]

@@JeddieT nowadays Albania has better and cheaper dental treatment, implants half the cost of Thailand

[@JeddieT]

@@kippsguitar6539 …It may be cheaper, I can’t say because I don’t know about the cost in Albania. But I would put up the quality of dental work I got in Thailand up against anywhere else in the world. I’ve had a full upper and lower restoration that included two abstractions, three root canal’s, and five implants. My dentist was Western trained, spoke perfect English, his equipment was state-of-the-art technology and immaculate, and I was surrounded by two to three dental assistants at all times. I live in NY City so I can compare the differences. I would put Thailand’s dental & medical care with the best in the world. I could not be happier. And don’t get me started on the exceptional costs. For example, my implants were $685. U.S. each.

[@gregh5000]

​@kippsguitar6539 That's absolutely false information. They are close and thailand is slightly cheaper.

[@Marcfj]

Great video, it is truly appreciated! I left Crazyfornia in February 2019 and have been living in Thailand ever since and love it here. However, I will see about taking a trip to Albania next Summer to check it out because it is always good to have a backup plan.

[@le_th_]

Helpful info, thank you for taking the time to compile, record, edit and post this!

[@TheNarrowGate]

You're very welcome! Glad it was helpful! 😊🙏🏻🇹🇭 🇦🇱

[@erijqudus1960]

A First Class Presentation. I enjoyed it very much, what I like about this presentation is a clear voice, organized, and covering almost all the aspects. Yes, I will offer you a good mug of coffee.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Wow, thank you very much!🙏🏻😊

[@AtravelLens]

Nice work I listend to you all video good story teller 👌

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thank you so much 😀

[@romey0769]

Great video, very informative. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thank you very much, appreciate you watching!! 😊🙏🏻🇹🇭🇦🇱

[@philipnguyen3107]

Thanks for the fantastic information. 💯👍🙏

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed the video! 😊🙏🏻

[@PLATINUMSWORDS]

Very useful info, appreciate it 🙏

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it! 😊🙏🏻🇹🇭🇦🇱

[@jimmy999-z2j]

Great content - interesting the way you think 👍🏻

[@TheNarrowGate]

Awesome, thank you!😊

[@saleemakhtar87]

Very good comparison ❤

[@Azureblaze77]

Great Vid! I will be going to both places in the future. I'm thinking it may even make sense to have an apartment/condo "home base" in both places and move between them as needed/wanted for re-entry visa purposes. Assuming I can afford that in the future haha. Good luck on your journey :)

[@TheNarrowGate]

Sounds like a great plan. And thank you so much for watching the video! Safe travels.😊🙏🏻🇹🇭🇦🇱

[@basil8760]

Good content.💕Ty for sharing enjoyed it Subscribed.🥰

[@TheNarrowGate]

Awesome! Thank you!🙏🏻😊

[@gobfranklin6759]

Great job thanks

[@TheJuliaJaneHouse1887]

Thank you Albania really is aligning with me. I want to travel to Albania. I especially like the seasons, and when in Thailand It was a bit too hot for me , even though we were in the Gulf of Mexico for 3 years which was hot. I also appreciate that driving is the same. That makes a difference for ease of travel. Did Kendall find it beautiful in Albania? Looking forward to the other videos that you are working on for the other cities.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Glad you liked the video. Yes, Kendall found Albania very beautiful!😊🙏🏻🇦🇱

[@TheJuliaJaneHouse1887]

Awesome! ❤😊 so happy to hear that ​@TheNarrowGate

[@kippsguitar6539]

Albania is wonderful but cold winter and it's very rough and aggressive

[@Positiv-w4j]

Aggressive?​@@kippsguitar6539

[@armaugh]

Nice job. I am currently in Thailand with a plan to move to Albania in 8 months.

[@TheNarrowGate]

That's cool!!!! What part of Albania?

[@armaugh]

@@TheNarrowGate Tirana at first. I am still investigating options.

[@mikeharrington5593]

Are you a smoker?

[@marialangley5528]

Great thank you.

[@2Rugrats9597]

Thailand for sure

[@kippsguitar6539]

Yes there is no comparison

[@MrAmhara]

Y’all like “ Lady boys”. lol

[@2Rugrats9597]

@@MrAmhara Figures that your the one mentioning it so it must be on YOUR mind

[@user-Raven60]

Very interesting comparison and funny that you addressed my main concern first = food. I assume its hard to find pool villas for rent. However, 180 days in both countries could be a solution. Would be good to know about visa requirements for Thai partners? Prices for car rental, taxis? Flights from BKK to Albania?

[@mikeharrington5593]

Useful cultural details

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thanks a lot

[@pathkris2984]

It will also be helpful to talk about tax treatment for retirees in both these destinations. Atleast the high level details. Thanks for all the details provided.

[@pathkris2984]

@@User12345fan US has a standard deduction of about $30,000. So a couple get social security of $50K, there is zero tax on it. Because only about 50% or 75% of SS is taxed and after that percentage the income will fall within 30K (which is within standard deduction range). What happens to an income of $50K from social security if a couple chooses to retire in Albania? Any idea? Thank you.

[@ianhesketh1297]

Pensions are not taxed in Albania

[@thorinscudodiquercia7127]

Personally i think Thailand wins hands down, warm all year round, the place is more beautiful, people are kind, you find everything you need. Albania is growing but still has several problems and the probable entry into the European Union will lead to a significant increase in prices in the coming years, also in the winter months the climate is still cold, in my opinion Tunisia is a better choice than Albania if you want to make a comparison with Thailand.

[@edwardflorence5460]

Prices in Saranda Albania in the summer costs double to triple.

[@TheNarrowGate]

I have heard that as well from other expats. Good to know for folks looking to move to that area, thank you!😊🙏🏻🇦🇱

[@janroach1852]

Considering the heat could be as high as 110, I would love to stay in Saranda for 7 months and in June, July and August go to Romania or Brittany, France or Bansko, Bulgaria because most of Europe is not only a tourist trap, because of climate change it is way too hot. Or go home to the U.S. in the summer months. I am not sure how hot it is in Korce, the mountainous part but I think it is still very hot.

[@ianhesketh1297]

I wouldn't bother. Sarande is a resort to town.

[@kippsguitar6539]

Excellent video

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thank you very much! 🙏🏻😊

[@kippsguitar6539]

@@TheNarrowGate good on you for the way you are open to debate and opinions, respect

[@VaskenSpiru]

Due to a long (500 y) invasion by the Ottomans, Albanians share some cultural traits with the eastern civilizations, like Arabs... Personal Space distance is one of them. You can notice we do stop cars at a shorter safe distance from pedestrians or other cars... or the touchy culture... This is reflected also in entering the zebras... we are comfortable with cars coming closer... and in the end, it is all about EYE CONTACT (between driver and pedestrian, who has it bigger :P) Regarding the toilet seat, in Albania, till the 90s the squat toilet was the norm... everyone 30+ is used to squatting (you can still find squat toilets in rural or poor areas). For this, bars and restaurants decide to save money (or postpone the purchase) of a toilet seat or a broken one. Usually, toilets are purchased with seats, but often, poor quality breaks them very soon, and the decision to postpone kicks in... Moreover... in rural areas or dive bars, the only clients are almost all men...

[@friedonions545]

Excellent…thank you…worthwhile to consider when the bad air arrives in Chiang Mai…as a new subscriber, I wish you well…

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thank you very much!😊🙏🏻

[@kippsguitar6539]

That's a major issue I'm Chiang Mai for sure and a deal breaker

[@lennixlaidler9513]

@@TheNarrowGateis it flooding there now?

[@TheNarrowGate]

No, not now.

[@genet4929]

You skipped over all the "lifestyle" type information. Would be interested in contrasting beach life, mountain life, rural life, transportation, etc.

[@orawancarlile6192]

Turkey is recently the exchange rate much better than Thai bath. You can purchase a house there and gain a permanent resident there.

[@Techfanatic73]

No thanks. Lol. Not interested in turkey whatsoever

[@ParisianThinker]

Love Turkey!

[@hughvarange621]

It's hard to take a person who doesn't know what the currency of Thailand is, seriously.

[@jeffbeck8993]

@@hughvarange621 Thai Baths are much better than Albanian Baths. 😄

[@funnymentalhealth]

What if you don't purchase a house

[@davidkiernan5901]

Thanks I really appreciate the comparison. Do you have any thoughts/information while in Albania on the noise levels, street dogs, roadside garbage, and air quality. After 15 years in Thailand I am completely burnt out and plan to visit Albania next April. thanks

[@TheNarrowGate]

Noise lower, they do have street dogs, garbage in non tourist areas, air quality is better.

[@tc2425]

Albania 🇦🇱 12 month Electronic Visa upon Arrival (unless one arrives at 03:00 you'll get the stamp) 🇺🇸 USA & 🇨🇦 Canada also UK Passport

[@leeui9811]

A great video I have to say, but one thing just would like to bring up, looks like Albanian law applies the principle of worldwide taxation, individual taxpayers, both residents and non-residents, are subject to personal income tax (PIT). for non-residents, if you want to stay in there for more than 183 days in a calendar year, you are subject to pay tax to Albania. just wondering if you noticed that?

[@TheNarrowGate]

Yes, that is correct.

[@dovoso5685]

Hi, Regarding the 1 year visa on arrival, can you tell which other nationalities have this privilege ? Thank you for sharing.

[@TheNarrowGate]

I just did a search and it says that currently only the US has the visa free one year on arrival in Albania. Thanks for watching! 😊🙏🏻🇦🇱

[@kippsguitar6539]

​@@TheNarrowGatethat's true

[@MichaelRichard-o9r]

Cost of living Albania, Georgia, Turkey?

[@NomadVolky]

I've lived in both countries and I think Albania is a much better option for digital nomads and expats.

[@LuangPraBong]

Nice video! I recently retired and am heading to Bangkok next week and will also visit Albania afterwards. You do a great job explaining the differences. How is life in Chiang Mai? I hear it is one of the world's most polluted cities now due to all the crop burning going on in that region. Is this true? I guess I will find out soon enough. Thanks for all your work! Coffee is on me!

[@TheNarrowGate]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, the pollution in Chiang Mai is really tough from about mid-February to end of April depending on when the rain comes in. That’s when you take a trip somewhere else, either down south to the islands or to your home country. Or when we have stayed during the worst months we ended up spending almost all our time indoors with air purifiers going 24 hours a day.

[@LuangPraBong]

@@TheNarrowGate I arrive in Bangkok on Tues. Oct 22nd. I will head up to Chiang Mai for at least 2-3 weeks to check it out. I haven't been there since 2004, I hope I can still recognize the place! Keep up the great work, it is greatly appreciated!

[@TheNarrowGate]

Safe travels!!!! 😊🙏🏻🇹🇭

[@liliindia]

How interesting, thnx

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thanks for watching!!! 😊🙏🏻🇹🇭🇦🇱

[@louis20122]

Is it warm year round? No snow i hope. How's about healthcare? Is it good?

[@TheNarrowGate]

What country?

[@louis20122]

@@TheNarrowGate Albania since you are visiting it. Also no snow gives away the hint about Albania 😊

[@TheNarrowGate]

4 seasons. Snows up in Shkoder but not further south. Not sure how good the healthcare is.

[@kippsguitar6539]

​@louis20122cold.winter

[@gregorywilson2124]

John belushi is from Albania

[@ParisianThinker]

I live in France. Can I drive my car across & bring my stuff to live there?

[@aarongoodman2301]

Tariffs are from 0 to 15%.

[@carbonfibercrypto2919]

which country is more friendly for dog owners?

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thailand

[@Jubal.Harshaw]

@@TheNarrowGate Well, perhaps. I am in Albania now and the reverence for felines here is incredible to observe. They walk around them and stop traffic for them. Store owners (especially restaurants) consider their cats to be employees and even treat strays as family members. No one messes with or abuses cats that I have seen. I won't say it is on par with ancient Egypt - but it is a strange close comparison. I get the feeling that if you were rude to a cat here, society at large would shun you or ask you to leave.

[@andyh3970]

Hi Tony and Kendall. I am a cybersecurity instructor that travels extensively starting a KZbin channel on the digital nomad lifestyle. I’ll be in Chiang mai from 19-22nd. Any chance we could have a coffee and a chat?

[@25Soupy]

Sounds like it's Thailand in the winter months and Albania in the summer months.

[@tonial5789]

if you like asia lots of people and party life style thailand is the choice, if you like quiet mediteranian backdrop albania is a cheap choice.

[@thaidawg9231]

I'm from GA, lived in SC for a year and the climate data that I see for Albania is not really close to SC.

[@TheNarrowGate]

We lived in upstate South Carolina. Let’s just say it’s more similar than the weather in Thailand. 😊

[@chrissithlord4760]

Where are the three seashells?

[@chrisgiles1694]

How is Albania for motorcycling And cost

[@TheNarrowGate]

A motorcycle is great for albania. Cost is unusually high for a motorcycle.

[@terryschima4964]

What part of SC are y’all from? I used to live there too.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Greenville area

[@terryschima4964]

@@TheNarrowGate I lived in Taylors.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Small world, we know a lot of folks that live in Taylors. 😊

[@michaeljcarneyjr.6187]

As an Expat living in Thailand for 47 years theft happens by the people closest to you, hot strangers

[@Resmith18SR]

The problem with Thailand having been there many times is that in order to get a retirement visa you need to deposit $800,000 Thai baht about $28,000 USD in a bank account there and have to maintain that amount. Id rather keep that money in a US bank account in a HYSA.

[@Tui-f2t]

มันเป็นสิ่งที่ดีต่อตัวคุณและต่อประเทศไทยด้วยเพื่อให้ความมั่นใจว่าคุณมีเงินพอที่อยู่อาศัยที่ดี(ผมขอเตือนต่างชาตินะครับ)คนต่างชาติจะไม่สามารถซื้อบ้านที่ดินในประเทศไทยได้แต่สามารถซื้อคอนโดได้มีคอนโดสวยๆหรูๆมากมากคนต่างป้องกันคนชาติโดนหลอกลวงให้ซื้อที่ดิน ถ้าคนไทยรู้บอกคนต่างชาติซื้อที่ดินในแผ่นดินไทยคนไทยจะตำรวจแจ้งจับทันที

[@TheNarrowGate]

There are other ways without doing that. FYI. 😀

[@Resmith18SR]

@@TheNarrowGate Right, tell us all then. All the options involve proof of income, health insurance and various other hoops to jump through. Why don't you enlighten us because my mother owned a condo lived there for years and had a retirement visa and still had to report to Thai immigration every 90 days and had to keep about $30,000 USD in a bank account there.

[@PolyMathWannaBe62]

The DTV soft power visa allows you to be in Thailand for 5 years. You only need B500,000 in any US/UK/Thai etc bank account.

[@Resmith18SR]

@@PolyMathWannaBe62 Don't you have to prove employment with a US company or show proof of income from KZbin if you're a digital nomad? I'm American and retired and no longer work and don't want to work.

[@thaidawg9231]

Are they allowed to smoke in restaurants and other public businesses and buses, taxi's etc.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Some restaurants have no smoking signs while others don’t so it just depends on the establishment. We didn’t take a bus or taxi while we were there, but we heard there can be smoking on both. Didn’t notice it in other businesses we went into such as convenience stores.

[@kippsguitar6539]

Yes you can

[@Jubal.Harshaw]

@@TheNarrowGate I am in Albania. There are no signs about smoking (nuk pi duhan) in any restaurant I have been in. However, there is an UNSPOKEN understanding here that because so many restaurants have an outside area to eat (outside dining) that you are to reserve your smoking for a table located outside the restaurant and virtually NO ONE smokes inside that I have been witness to.

[@Jubal.Harshaw]

@@TheNarrowGate While largely true, taxi drivers still want you to 'ASK' if you can smoke prior to lighting up. It's just common courtesy.

[@Cutdasmiles]

Score 1 for the good guys.

[@fruitloops3718]

The Philippines most places don't have toilet seats as well

[@TheNarrowGate]

Do you know why?

[@ronagoodwell2709]

"The food in Albania is fantastic." That's why there are so many Albanian restaurants worldwide. Ok. Snark over. Albania sounds like a good choice for globe-trotting techies or just restless souls in general. Any place that compares favorably to Thailand has to be great. More research is required but this is a good start.

[@beau_de_jour]

albanian food is basically a blend of turkish, greek and some aspects of italian food.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

There's not that many Albanians, so therefore not that many albanian restaurants abroad.

[@E_O_S_]

Their food is good all countries on the Mediterranean have decent food

[@1KentKent]

What about the Muslim call to prayer on Albania? Is it playing all over the country 5 times a day, day after day after day?

[@TheNarrowGate]

I believe so

[@redhotchilipeppers2278]

This is an Albanian guy answering your question about the bathroom. Haha that’s an old school Turkish bathroom. I wanna say up to 2000s majority of the bathrooms used to be like that. We didn’t use to sit but just kind of squat 😅. Some places still have those. As far as safety goes Albania is pretty safe but still be cautious just like anywhere. Also foreigners are really safe there but still be cautious and mindful of your surroundings.

[@TheNarrowGate]

So wouldn't they just lift the seat and go? Strange that it is just removed.

[@redhotchilipeppers2278]

@@TheNarrowGate I actually completely misunderstood what you meant. I thought you meant the old school toilet where you don’t sit, this one is just a weird one. I actually have no idea why someone would do that 😅 granted I’ve lived in the states for the last 20 years so maybe it’s something I’m not aware of

[@danlawrence2039]

What about a Thai wife entry? Easy scan for US. Great review.

[@daviddavis7555]

You should show condos in Albania

[@rogerlaser8452]

what about nightlife

[@TheNarrowGate]

A lot of people do seem to be out and about at night. We did see a few nightclubs in some of the cities we traveled to, and I'm sure that Tirana would have a very active nightlife.

[@doriancarey6917]

Great review. Smoking inside = hard no for me. Was looking doable until that. Idiot cigarette suckers are bad enough in Thailand.

[@TheNarrowGate]

I totally understand. Most places we went to didn’t have people smoking inside, thankfully, but a few did.

[@enonzero]

🇹🇭

[@HankGallows]

LMAO the butt gun 😂😂

[@wakerider1318]

How about having mini dachshunds in Albania?

[@Jubal.Harshaw]

How 'mini' do you want? (Just kidding!)

[@BeekicchinDaidocoro]

Unfortunately-toilet = nothing beat Japanese system where you don’t have to touch any things but yet your body parts come out amazingly clean. Albania after coming out of communism is indeed interesting. Though for food the southeast Asian provided more options even on European east and west stapling dishes= particular in BKK. Whereas in Albania food is boring after a couple months and options on international global cuisine is limited. For this reason alone we already chosen Thailand as we are a foodies and now love getting into eating food as medicine. Street safety from car accidents then Albania is better for public crossing, very little traffic even the capital. European are full of thieves at the minute = particular criminals over flooding in tourist density area. We are not impressed with turkey or Albania but Rome to Paris is even worse. Bicycle crimes are disgusting in Cambridge-UK, even a child push bike can notoriously disappeared. We agreed that the Thai government put limits on business and job restrictions on foreigners. This is very good for the local livelihood. We believed even doctors and surgeons and particularly healthcare workers had to have certain understanding pass standards to work in Thailand hospitals=which is very high in spectrum.

[@TheBuddyShowWorldwide]

I left Thailand after two years for Siem Reap.

[@kippsguitar6539]

Oh dear

[@Jjr268]

About the Toilets - Albania has a big Muslim population, as well as Thailand, but Muslims don’t use toilet paper, I.e. “The Butt Gun”. Wash with your Left, shake hands/eat with your Right. The reason there is no toilet seat, is they stand on the toilet, couch, then poop.

[@TheNarrowGate]

🙃

[@Techfanatic73]

In Thailand you can own a business 100% if you are from the US. Period. They have a treaty with the US. So as an American you can own 100% of your business in Thailand.

[@aarongoodman2301]

There are restrictions in different sector like transport, Communications, Fiduciary functions, trade in agricultural products indigenous to Thailand, exploitation of land or other natural resources, banking.

[@kippsguitar6539]

Untrue

[@kippsguitar6539]

​@@aarongoodman2301yes and he's just wrong

[@CryptoSteve007]

As long as you employ 3 Thais for every Farang that works there. 😂

[@viking8889]

1:22 rice and noodles, too many carbs for me.

[@winwatjana9453]

It is no need to compare, as Thailand is still far from perfection. Just stay wherever you like and enjoy your life.

[@Flagship7]

Can you get a foot massage in Tirana?

[@TheNarrowGate]

Yes, we saw several massage places when we were in Tirana.😊

[@wildblueworld]

Excellent insights, thank you so much. Question: which area of Albania you used to make this comparison? And, which cities in Albania, either closed to or on the mountains are good for living?

[@TheNarrowGate]

I posted the first video of the first 3 cities a few days ago and they next two cities will be in a few days. I think that is what you may be looking for.

[@wildblueworld]

​@@TheNarrowGate Thank you. I'll be looking for your past and future videos about Albania.

[@mendjelire8392]

They actually do have the butt gun in some places in Albania, in addition to the bidet, but is not as wide spread. The toilet seats probably got stolen in those few public places you went There is a culture of not respecting public property in Albania. I like to argue that the attitude stems from the law enforcement being way too strong and in your face during the dictatorship when everything was government property where it was all belonged to everybody, to now people acting out for 34 years in a row against any enforcement and confusing freedom with chaos and everyone for themselves. All the houses, businesses and malls have toilet seats.

[@PoetryBang-n4u]

Thailand is hot, hot and humid.

[@sidmarx7276]

Public toilet seats are probably seen as unclean, so people probably squat on the rim. This is dangerous on a porcelain bowl which might break under weight and slash the user badly.

[@TheNarrowGate]

Thanks for responding, that does sound dangerous! And thanks for watching our video. 😊🙏🏻

[@Jubal.Harshaw]

@@TheNarrowGate You know, I am in Albania now and it is much like Central America in many ways (Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, etc.) There are just not many public toilets at all and then many are pretty nasty or un-flushable. (Worthy of note if you are a traveler is that they DO recognize the common word for toilet: baño, tualet or toilette.) The places I have rented have all been clean and fully functionable with some showers being rudimentary like Thailand and (again) Central America. Still, it is RARE to find a toilet that tells you NOT to flush the paper like is so common in Central and South America. When renting a place to stay for a while, I pay close attention to the bathroom BECAUSE it tells a great deal about the cleanliness and function of the rest of the apartment or room.

[@incredibleskillsofawesomep2702]

I can't stand smoking smells. 😮‍💨

[@rossjurecka5372]

Albania is muslim and too small and used to be a mafia haven. Did you move from Thailand for good ? 😮

[@TheNarrowGate]

Just visiting.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

Only half the population is muslim.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

@User12345fan dude, I lived in western Europe fior years. Albanian mafia was well known to the police even in Western Europe.

[@rossjurecka5372]

Exactly !​@@GUITARTIME2024

[@ianhesketh1297]

Spoken like someone who has no clue

[@user-mv8fx8yk3f]

No ladyboys in Albania

[@kippsguitar6539]

I cant agree on accommodation being cheaper on Albania, Thailand is way cheaper if you compare like for like, thails honest people? Some are fir sure but thsts way off the mark, most thails will rinse you

[@2502chong]

Absolutely correct 10/10

[@kippsguitar6539]

@@2502chong yes , especially tourist areas based on decades of experience, cheers

[@Truthseeker371]

I prefer Albania to Thailand. I lived in both countries. Food wise, I like continental food. Also, the access to other European places is better, naturally, in Albania. Life in Thailand can be boring. All the same.

[@TraderSamsara]

air quality is much better in Thailand

[@TheNarrowGate]

It is? check back in March and April.

[@Trhgrrhjutrfhjiiihfdcghu]

Thailand is so hot and then there's the smoke so that it's like smoking a pack a day and then you have the MSG and the sugar always put into your food and a bad language barrier because they don't use English nearly enough with Thailand being the number one tourist destination I really think they should improve their English ability cut out the smoke from the atmosphere and lower the temperature 10° f

[@paintsilj]

Or you should be less ignorant and learn Thai. You're a guest in their country. Not the other way round.

[@ExpatGringo]

Great video. I love the look of Thailand, but I'm afraid the heat would break me. I do have a question - health insurance, especially for older expats, can be a deal killer. You describe the ease of entry into Albania by just waving your U.S. passport and boom - good for a year. Did they ask for proof of health insurance? How would a 70-year-old expat American with high blood pressure obtain health insurance. Thanks!!!

[@TheNarrowGate]

They did not ask for proof of health insurance. I’m assuming if you apply for residency you may have to show that, but not sure. We haven’t looked into the health insurance aspect of Albania so perhaps someone else with knowledge about it can weigh in. Thanks for watching!!! 😊🙏🏻

[@mrbbkk]

Albania Georgia and Cambodia are visa friendly Thailand favors the rich and certain countries.

[@HemiChrysler]

No-one cares about °F; it's a meaningless system. Please state °C temperatures.

[@TheNarrowGate]

If we state the temperature in F, we do always try to put the C temp on the screen and vice versa. 😉

[@HemiChrysler]

@@TheNarrowGate Ah, you may have done. I can't argue because I'm a listener, not a watcher. Please drop the Fahrenheit nonsense.