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Is Thailand a Best-Kept IM Business Secret or Something?

by Tang
165 replies
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I've just read of yet another successful internet marketer who lives in Thailand. They are usually Ex-Pats from UK or US... and usually college aged kids.

Are there some sort of unusually favorable conditions there for business? Or are people coincidentally choosing to move there after beginning to do well...

What's the connection?

Or have I had too much coffee?
#bestkept #business #secret #thailand
  • Profile picture of the author entrepreneurjay
    You have had too much coffee, and I have had too many NOS energy drinks lol. No I think because they see the potential of the Internet like we do they try harder. Not as many options for a good paying 9 to 5 in Thailand as in the States, or elsewhere.

    Hell they can prob make a couple affiliate sales and it will equal their whole paycheck there. I think it is just pure motivation, and the economic conditions over there that drive them to a successful online business.

    But congratulations to everyone in Thailand that is doing well, I wish them all the best!
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    • Profile picture of the author Silas Hart
      Well, a measurement of someones success is their ability to live above their means. Someone who makes $120 a day isn't amazing in an area in which you live a mediocre lifestyle with a small home or average apartment and only have a little money left over after eating out once a week and maybe hitting up a movie every once in a while. However, $120 a day in Thailand, even right outside Bangkok, will have you living pretty damn well. A friend of mine pays $900 a month for his apartment, and it's amazingly large and has his own pool. Something that would probably cost ten times as much in Southern California. He goes out 4 or 5 times a week, and almost every single meal is eaten at a restaurant for less than $4 each.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tang
        Originally Posted by entrepreneurjay View Post

        Hell they can prob make a couple affiliate sales and it will equal their whole paycheck there. I think it is just pure motivation, and the economic conditions over there that drive them to a successful online business.
        I wasn't clear enough -- these are people who aren't from Thailand I'm speaking of.

        Originally Posted by FaJeeb View Post

        Well, a measurement of someones success is their ability to live above their means. Someone who makes $120 a day isn't amazing in an area in which you live a mediocre lifestyle with a small home or average apartment and only have a little money left over after eating out once a week and maybe hitting up a movie every once in a while. However, $120 a day in Thailand, even right outside Bangkok, will have you living pretty damn well. A friend of mine pays $900 a month for his apartment, and it's amazingly large and has his own pool. Something that would probably cost ten times as much in Southern California. He goes out 4 or 5 times a week, and almost every single meal is eaten at a restaurant for less than $4 each.
        Nice!

        Still seems like quite a long way to go for just the return on the dollar... plenty of great cost-of-living locations that don't require a full skip clean to Asia.

        I felt like maybe there was some business reason but maybe price is, indeed, all there is to it.
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        • Profile picture of the author entrepreneurjay
          Originally Posted by dtang View Post

          I wasn't clear enough -- these are people who aren't from Thailand I'm speaking of.



          Nice!

          Still seems like quite a long way to go for just the return on the dollar... plenty of great cost-of-living locations that don't require a full skip clean to Asia.

          I felt like maybe there was some business reason but maybe price is, indeed, all there is to it.
          No you were clear I am just getting tired and interpreted it wrong my apologies. Low cost of living, and very friendly Woman would be my guess for Thailand being a hot spot.
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      • Profile picture of the author iSoftware
        Originally Posted by FaJeeb View Post

        Well, a measurement of someones success is their ability to live above their means. Someone who makes $120 a day isn't amazing in an area in which you live a mediocre lifestyle with a small home or average apartment and only have a little money left over after eating out once a week and maybe hitting up a movie every once in a while. However, $120 a day in Thailand, even right outside Bangkok, will have you living pretty damn well. A friend of mine pays $900 a month for his apartment, and it's amazingly large and has his own pool. Something that would probably cost ten times as much in Southern California. He goes out 4 or 5 times a week, and almost every single meal is eaten at a restaurant for less than $4 each.
        Bingo! A lot of people don't take advantage of the mobility....the fact that if you have a virtual business you can live a 8 figure lifestyle on 6 figures a year. And certainly a 7 figure figure lifestyle on 5 figures a year....

        -amazing home by a beach, mountain or virtually any natural setting you like
        -maid/house help/chef
        -chaffeur (if you wanted one)
        -great food


        Basically all the things that are consider "the jet set life" in expensive USA cities...

        Also though, even if you are in the USA if you don't to exchange your time for money (a traditional job) you can even have an enhanced standard of living just by the fact that you can do things while other people are at work....

        ...museums during the day, movies in the middle of the week, bed and breakfast or hotel specials anytime you want them, "Sunday brunch" on a Wednesday morning.....random 4 or 5 day vacations every 4 weeks...

        The list goes on. Also these days with much more affordable wifi mobile access you can run your business on the go...

        It's really as much of a mental change as a career change....
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        • Profile picture of the author theory expert
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          Originally Posted by moneykws View Post

          Bingo! A lot of people don't take advantage of the mobility....the fact that if you have a virtual business you can live a 8 figure lifestyle on 6 figures a year.
          I find that hard to believe....

          you must mean 6 figures on the high end? Let's say someone wanted to live the equivalent of the $50 million dollar lifestyle in the US. Certainly 8 figures cannot be $100,000 a year, even in thailand. Canit?
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      • Profile picture of the author johnkatz
        Originally Posted by FaJeeb View Post

        Well, a measurement of someones success is their ability to live above their means. Someone who makes $120 a day isn't amazing in an area in which you live a mediocre lifestyle with a small home or average apartment and only have a little money left over after eating out once a week and maybe hitting up a movie every once in a while. However, $120 a day in Thailand, even right outside Bangkok, will have you living pretty damn well. A friend of mine pays $900 a month for his apartment, and it's amazingly large and has his own pool. Something that would probably cost ten times as much in Southern California. He goes out 4 or 5 times a week, and almost every single meal is eaten at a restaurant for less than $4 each.
        Hey that sound like paradise lets go to Thailand.
        Did you find the way to make $120.00 a day?
        Please Pm me if you are wiling to help.
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      • Profile picture of the author molsted
        Originally Posted by FaJeeb View Post

        Well, a measurement of someones success is their ability to live above their means. Someone who makes $120 a day isn't amazing in an area in which you live a mediocre lifestyle with a small home or average apartment and only have a little money left over after eating out once a week and maybe hitting up a movie every once in a while. However, $120 a day in Thailand, even right outside Bangkok, will have you living pretty damn well. A friend of mine pays $900 a month for his apartment, and it's amazingly large and has his own pool. Something that would probably cost ten times as much in Southern California. He goes out 4 or 5 times a week, and almost every single meal is eaten at a restaurant for less than $4 each.
        EXACTLY.

        Think the Phillipines for instance... A full time income would start at only a few hundred bucks a month. Think how much a couple of thousand dollars a month could do for you there compared to western europe or the US?
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by FaJeeb View Post

        Well, a measurement of someones success is their ability to live above their means.
        MAN, I could almost ALWAYS live above my means. The last time I actually figured it out is was about $180,000 above my means. A bank told some lies, the bad economy, and all, and I think I can only do about $100,000 today. That doesn't count AMEX though!

        Luckily, I am living below it.

        GEE, I wish I used that as the sole measure of success.

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author wizozz
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          MAN, I could almost ALWAYS live above my means. The last time I actually figured it out is was about $180,000 above my means. A bank told some lies, the bad economy, and all, and I think I can only do about $100,000 today. That doesn't count AMEX though!

          Luckily, I am living below it.

          GEE, I wish I used that as the sole measure of success.

          Steve
          Steve, I think this was just a typing error, and he meant "a measure of success is ability to live below your means", otherwise it does not make sense.
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  • Profile picture of the author The Dotcom Hippie
    The only problem with Thailand is that you can't do visa runs anymore and trust that they'll let you in when you've stayed a few months. In the past, you could basically just go to the border and have your passport stamped every so often and stay as long as you liked, but apparently that doesn't work that well anymore. Nowadays -on a tourist visa - you'll need to go somewhere else for three months after every three months you've stayed in Thailand.

    Not that this is a huge problem though. Neighboring countries like Cambodia and Malaysia are superb places to spend a few months each year. I'm buying a small apartment in Kuala Lumpur this winter and will spend most of the year in South East Asia from now on. For me, that's both cheaper and more fun than hanging around in cold, boring, and ultra expensive northern Europe.
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    • Profile picture of the author Silas Hart
      Originally Posted by The Dotcom Hippie View Post

      The only problem with Thailand is that you can't do visa runs anymore and trust that they'll let you in when you've stayed a few months. In the past, you could basically just go to the border and have your passport stamped every so often and stay as long as you liked, but apparently that doesn't work that well anymore. Nowadays -on a tourist visa - you'll need to go somewhere else for three months after every three months you've stayed in Thailand.

      Not that this is a huge problem though. Neighboring countries like Cambodia and Malaysia are superb places to spend a few months each year. I'm buying a small apartment in Kuala Lumpur this winter and will spend most of the year in South East Asia from now on. For me, that's both cheaper and more fun than hanging around in cold, boring, and ultra expensive northern Europe.
      When I went to Thailand and inquired about staying for more than a year, they asked about what I did and how much I currently had in a U.S. bank account. I told them, they were on the phone with me while I confirmed my account balance, and they gave me a 2 year Work Permit. I've heard they allow you to retire there if you have 25,000 USD in your account.
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      • Profile picture of the author J Bold
        Originally Posted by FaJeeb View Post

        When I went to Thailand and inquired about staying for more than a year, they asked about what I did and how much I currently had in a U.S. bank account. I told them, they were on the phone with me while I confirmed my account balance, and they gave me a 2 year Work Permit. I've heard they allow you to retire there if you have 25,000 USD in your account.
        Yes, as long as you are old enough. You have to be 50 or 55 to get a retirement visa. The exact age escapes me.

        Hard to believe the work permit story. I know the immigration laws there very well. There's a ton more to it than you're telling. But I think this discussion could best be discussed on a thai forum for expats. There's a very popular one which I've been on for a long time, Thai Visa. Not a competitor to this forum as it's a completely different focus so I don't think it's wrong to mention it here.
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  • Profile picture of the author J Bold
    Originally Posted by dtang View Post

    I've just read of yet another successful internet marketer who lives in Thailand. They are usually Ex-Pats from UK or US... and usually college aged kids.

    Are there some sort of unusually favorable conditions there for business? Or are people coincidentally choosing to move there after beginning to do well...

    What's the connection?

    Or have I had too much coffee?

    I speak from experience having lived in Thailand for 3 total years. In fact, the original reason I got in to IM was so I could make my own living and move back there, as it was the first place I lived after college and they say the first place you live after college you kind of feel like is "home" for you in a way as it's the first place you were truly on your own, and that's true for me.

    Anyway, no, there is absolute no good business reason to live in Thailand and run your business from there. In fact, there are many reasons you shouldn't, as it's quite unfriendly to small businesses run by foreigners. In fact, I bet many of those guys you read about are not truly "legal" in Thailand and I've read of guys making a living online and then trying to get all the correct documents to be self-employed in Thailand and they go to the proper authorities who tell them it's just too much trouble and that they won't be bothered as long as they do their business only at home and basically laughing them out of the office, not to bother them. Of course, the authorities are not correct to the law, just saying they are too small fry to worry about and they don't know what to do with them.

    The only way to really do it legal is to incorporate a business there and then there are all sorts of special requirements you have to meet as a foreign-run business in order to get a work permit. And it's not easy to do.

    But other than that, it's a great place to live in terms of cost of living. Yes, you can get a nice, spacious apartment for a great price. I never spent more than $200/month on apartments including all the bills and got along fine.

    It has its problems, though, like any place else and actually has become even more violent the last few years. Many foreigners living there think it's so safe but they don't realize a lot of violence goes on there if they would just open their eyes. Political violence has been going on there recently, too, of course, with disastrous and harmful effects. Society there truly is in a state of upheaval at the moment. I have several friends who still live there and they are just getting on, but wary of the situation. I wouldn't suggest anyone go to live in Bangkok, at least, in the current environment, unless they knew the place.

    Anyway, I'm rambling a bit off topic here for an IM forum.

    But, no, it's just the lifestyle and low cost of living some expat IMers would like, not business reasons. Absolutely not on the business reasons.
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    • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
      Originally Posted by redicelander View Post

      But, no, it's just the lifestyle and low cost of living some expat IMers would like, not business reasons. Absolutely not on the business reasons.
      100% spot on.
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  • Profile picture of the author attractionmarketing
    thats funny I was just talking to my wife about how many IM seem to be from Thailand these days, seems tempting especially as its another rainy day in Scotland( we had one day of summer and I missed it!) but I dont think I could get the wife and kids to agree! (well maybe the baby but hes 1 and says yeah to everything its his word of the week!)
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  • Profile picture of the author Quentin
    Living in any part of Asia has its advantages in relation to cost of living and wages.

    As for the violence I have lived here for a few years and I have heard of it but not seen it except on TV. Gee you have so much violence in US that I can't really believe this comment. It all depends where you go I guess. We live in the Burbs so very quiet and safe.

    I think the reason you may be seeing more is the lifestyle. You can run your online business here and live on a lot less yet have a similar lifestyle.

    Q
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    • Profile picture of the author J Bold
      Originally Posted by Quentin View Post

      Living in any part of Asia has its advantages in relation to cost of living and wages.

      As for the violence I have lived here for a few years and I have heard of it but not seen it except on TV. Gee you have so much violence in US that I can't really believe this comment. It all depends where you go I guess. We live in the Burbs so very quiet and safe.

      I think the reason you may be seeing more is the lifestyle. You can run your online business here and live on a lot less yet have a similar lifestyle.

      Q
      Ya, mate, there's tons of protests here in the U.S. where the military and protesters shoot at each other and bring many parts of the capital to a standstill for a month with urban warfare, including the main shopping and economic centers of the country and then the protesters/rebels burn down the biggest mall in the country and loot it. And 91 people die and over 1000 get injured. Happens all the time in D.C., right?

      But besides the political violence, Thailand's a very violent and often unsafe place. Not saying U.S. isn't violent, but Thailand's one of the most deadly tourist destinations in the world, especially for "farang." Seen many stats that back this up. Seen plenty of it, myself. People just don't realize it.

      Believe it. My friend was freaking out because she works at a hospital in BKK and they found a live bomb left over from the urban warfare protests where she passes by every single day.

      But the other thing about it is, there are parts that are completely safe, relatively, as you say. It is very true it's all about where you live and having local knowledge of Bangkok and the rest of the country helps, as well. I don't feel particularly unsafe there for the most part, but I've been there a lot.

      Plenty of nice places to live and run your internet business. It's just not 100% paradise like many think of when they think of faraway tropical places with much cheaper cost of living.

      But that's neither here nor there. I'm truly way off topic. Sorry. Think this topic should be closed. anyway...these kinds of threads go on and on on Thai expat forums...
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  • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
    I spent a few months in Thailand a few years back. Here's my opinion:

    Business-wise, no it doesnt make sense to run a proper business from there: I found internet connection a bit unreliable, and Thai laws are a bit of a pain for a foreigner to start his own business there, plus they've made it MUCH more difficult to do visa runs (hopping in and out of the country to renew your 30-day tourist visa).

    However, from a life-style point of view, Thailand is simply amazing: cheap, absolutely gorgeous, friendly people, safe (a bit politically unstable as of lately though), some of the best beaches in the world, totally laid back society, etc. If you're into the "tropical beach" life style thingy, Thailand is just amazing.

    So, to sum it up: Thailand is insanely fun to live and hang out, but I wouldnt base a serious online business from there.
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  • Profile picture of the author christopherNV
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    • Profile picture of the author willyboy104
      Originally Posted by christopherNV View Post

      There is only ONE reason why SINGLE MEN go to Thailand and here is a hint.. it's not the food, culture, cheap cost of living or favorable business conditions.

      You'll have to google around for the answer.
      Or just save your money on the plane ticket and spend it on going out in the UK, you're sure to find yourself a lot of Thai girls I am in a relationship with a Thai girl studying in the UK right now...so many Asians come to England to study...
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    • Profile picture of the author christopherNV
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve Ranger
        Originally Posted by christopherNV View Post

        you made me LOL, thanks
        You have to admit Chris, it was a pretty ignorant statement.

        I couldn't work out if you were being serious..

        It's like saying people only go to Holland because of the RLD in Amsterdam.
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  • Profile picture of the author mayapearl
    I travel as a single woman and Have spent a lot of time in Thailand on and off, I have never seen any violence neither have I ever felt unsafe. Having said that, I don't hang around the bars and nigh clubs!

    It's great to live in Thailand for a while every year, internet connections are fine in the bigger centers and the Thais are pretty switched on about the internet in general.

    Don't bother to start a business just go to chill out and enjoy the place, do a bit of country hopping [Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia...] and blog about it, or whatever.

    I came across a few people doing quite well from their internet scratchings and having a lot of fun in the sun with it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alchemium
    Without sounding to philosophical. I don't think there's something like the "Perfect Place" on this planet anymore...
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Ranger
    I'm back in Thailand in 2 weeks - I've got a sweet pad in Koh Samui. I'll be running my info product business from there. If anyone fancies a few beers send me a private message!

    If you're running a successful business online then go for it! Living in different countries really opens your eyes and it isn't even that expensive. Koh Samui is a bit pricey but if you look at places in Chiang Mai (where lots of expats and internet marketers live) you can find nice places for about £200 per month!

    I cannot wait - it's raining here in the UK!
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  • Profile picture of the author The Dotcom Hippie
    Regarding the violence issue, Redicelander is unfortunately dead on. It seems to be getting worse and worse, and the country really has changed in that regard since I first went there in the mid nineties, where it was considered - and seemed - very safe. And it goes waaay beyond political violence. I personally got tangled up in a murder case on Koh Pha Ngan in 2006, and honestly, it was not a lot of fun.

    Also, generally speaking, I would say that the cops are... awful. And that's a diplomatic way of putting it. Don't EVER get in trouble with them.

    There are still worse places on this planet, though. As much as I love Brazil, for instance (it's a fantastic place) it does have a HUGE problem with violent crime, and many areas in the big cities are downright dangerous to be in. It's a shame to think what that does with people's perception of the country, because I don't know many places where you'll be met by friendlier and more hospitable people.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve Ranger
      Originally Posted by The Dotcom Hippie View Post

      Regarding the violence issue, Redicelander is unfortunately dead on. It seems to be getting worse and worse, and the country really has changed in that regard since I first went there in the mid nineties, where it was considered - and seemed - very safe. And it goes waaay beyond political violence. I personally got tangled up in a murder case on Koh Pha Ngan in 2006, and honestly, it was not a lot of fun.
      I'm not sure you can base the violence in a whole country on your bad experience in 2006. Thousands and thousands of tourists visit Thailand every month without any trouble at all.

      As for the recent political unrest - that's like saying don't go to New York or London because of the troubles they had. Life goes on.

      Originally Posted by rondo View Post

      Interesting. I've been thinking of heading over there for a month or two.
      Which is the better place to go out of Phuket or Koh Samui?
      Koh Samui I think - it's a lot more relaxed. You can easily get to islands such as Krabi and Koh Tao
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      • Profile picture of the author The Dotcom Hippie
        Originally Posted by Steve Ranger View Post

        I'm not sure you can base the violence in a whole country on your bad experience in 2006.
        And I obviously don't.

        Of course the vast majority of travelers never have - or see - any problems. That's the case in most countries - even those that are much more violent than Thailand. Still, I'd say it's fair to state that Thailand does have a growing violent crime problem.

        Originally Posted by Steve Ranger View Post

        Koh Samui I think - it's a lot more relaxed. You can easily get to islands such as Krabi and Koh Tao
        I'd definitely pick Koh Samui over Phuket, so I'll second that. I personally like Koh Pah Ngan and Koh Chang even better, but that's a matter of preferences, and both these islands have changed a lot over the course of time I've been going to them, and probably not for the better.

        The only island in Thailand I actually DISLIKE is Samet. To me it's just like a bad version of Khao San Road with a couple of beaches attached to it. It's probably suffering from being so near Pattaya and being so tiny. But I haven't been there for ten years, so who knows what it's like now. I can't see myself ever going there again to find out, though.
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        • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
          Originally Posted by The Dotcom Hippie View Post

          I'd definitely pick Koh Samui over Phuket, so I'll second that. I personally like Koh Pah Ngan

          .....

          The only island in Thailand I actually DISLIKE is Samet. To me it's just like a bad version of Khao San Road with a couple of beaches attached to it.
          Come on man, you cannot dislike the Khao San Road and then like Koh Pah Ngan... I mean it's the same backpacking crowd and the same atmosphere but by the beach.
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          • Profile picture of the author The Dotcom Hippie
            Originally Posted by Anonymous Affiliate View Post

            Come on man, you cannot dislike the Khao San Road and then like Koh Pah Ngan... I mean it's the same backpacking crowd and the same atmosphere but by the beach.
            I never said I disliked it (well, I do a little bit, I never spend much time there anymore). I dislike the bad version of it.

            And I never spend much time in Had Rin at all, because I always thought it sucked. I enjoy the more quiet spots on the island, where that crowd never is a nuisance. And those places never remind me much of Khao San, to be honest. Sure, you still have backpackers there, but it's far from the same thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    Interesting. I've been thinking of heading over there for a month or two.
    Which is the better place to go out of Phuket and Koh Samui?


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    • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
      Originally Posted by rondo View Post

      Interesting. I've been thinking of heading over there for a month or two.
      Which is the better place to go out of Phuket and Koh Samui?
      Make sure to visit Koh Phi Phi and Krabi: best beaches anywhere in Asia in my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
    I've always been a Koh Phi Phi fan. I rented a nice bungalow with WIFI there and spent a whole month doing nothing but working and sipping watermelon shakes. For those who don't know, Koh Phi Phi is smaller than my neighborhood in my home town, but it's so relaxing...
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    • Profile picture of the author rondo
      Originally Posted by Anonymous Affiliate View Post

      I've always been a Koh Phi Phi fan. I rented a nice bungalow with WIFI there and spent a whole month doing nothing but working and sipping watermelon shakes. For those who don't know, Koh Phi Phi is smaller than my neighborhood in my home town, but it's so relaxing...
      That's what I have in mind too - settle in and get some work done while I'm there. I'm a bit over the whole backpacker thing.

      Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author The Dotcom Hippie
    To further derail this thread, can any of you guys suggest a good spot or two in the Philippines? I just bought tickets for Manila, leaving on the 18th of December, and feel a little clueless as I've never been there before. I'm going to see a couple of people who work for me, but apart from that I have no plans. Thinking Palawan, perhaps. Any tips would be welcome.

    (Sorry, dtang. )
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    • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
      Originally Posted by The Dotcom Hippie View Post

      To further derail this thread, can any of you guys suggest a good spot or two in the Philippines? I just bought tickets for Manila, leaving on the 18th of December, and feel a little clueless as I've never been there before. I'm going to see a couple of people who work for me, but apart from that I have no plans. Thinking Palawan, perhaps. Any tips would be welcome.

      (Sorry, dtang. )
      I would suggest either Boracay or Bohol (Alona Beach). The white beach in Boracay is very similar to Chewang beach in Koh Samui. I don't like Cebu that much because almost all the beaches are privately owned by resorts.
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      • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
        I go to Thailand every year for vacation and can definitely see the attraction. Internet access is readily available and things are relatively cheap there. I usually go to either Koh Samui or Phuket.

        However, I must say that I have found the Thais less and less welcoming for foreigners over the years. Their politeness and standard of service have definitely deteriorated. Part of it is brought on the "Farangs" themselves for disrespecting Thai customs e.g. walking around town shirtless or in a bikini or other revealing clothing, not to mention topless or nude sunbathing.

        Another point worth mentioning is that you have to be very careful when you talk about their royal family. There is definitely no doubt that many single males go to Thailand for the girls. The sex industry is relatively small in Phuket compared to Koh Samui. When I was in Samui last year, 5 French guys (2 white, 2 brown and 1 black) rented an studio appartment next to us. They basically had an orgy there with different Thai girls every night.

        Derek
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        • Profile picture of the author Alan Petersen
          I've been to Thailand twice. It's cheap with some beautiful beaches. The only bad part is the long airplane ride to get there from the U.S.

          My friend from the UK lived there. The cost of living compared to London was beyond night and day. And that includes the driver and maid he had in Bangkok so I can see why folks would live there.

          I only know a few IM'er's living there full-time.
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        • Profile picture of the author theory expert
          Banned
          Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

          5 guys rented an studio appartment
          There were quite cramped together weren't they?


          Another fun question. When is the best times to visit thailand weather wise? july- october is rainy season right?
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          • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
            Originally Posted by janok View Post

            There were quite cramped together weren't they?

            It was a split level studio appartment with two double beds. They only took out two Thai girls at a time so that there were 7 people in the appartment.

            My wife was quite upset about this as there were only 4 appartments rented out at any one time in this complex. This meant that their used towels were re-circulated to us. YUK!
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        • Profile picture of the author Mac Wheeler
          Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

          I go to Thailand every year for vacation and can definitely see the attraction. Internet access is readily available and things are relatively cheap there. I usually go to either Koh Samui or Phuket.

          However, I must say that I have found the Thais less and less welcoming for foreigners over the years. Their politeness and standard of service have definitely deteriorated. Part of it is brought on the "Farangs" themselves for disrespecting Thai customs e.g. walking around town shirtless or in a bikini or other revealing clothing, not to mention topless or nude sunbathing.
          My wife always tells me these Thai folks have black hearts. Trust me, you only find this in the tourist areas, I live in rural Thailand, and I am treated like royalty by almost everyone here.

          Get off the beaten track, if you are visiting Pattaya, Phuket, Samui or any other of the large tourist areas, then you are simply not seeing Thailand, just a western theme park with a Thai flavour. Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice theme park, I personally spend a few months a year on Koh Phangan. But it is far from authentic Thailand.
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      • Profile picture of the author The Dotcom Hippie
        Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

        I would suggest either Boracay or Bohol (Alona Beach). The white beach in Boracay is very similar to Chewang beach in Koh Samui. I don't like Cebu that much because almost all the beaches are privately owned by resorts.
        Thanks, and especially for the tip about Cebu. Staying there any longer than necessary is out of the question then.
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        • Profile picture of the author rg0205
          Originally Posted by cosmokid View Post

          PS I apologize if I came off completely bitchy earlier - this thread touches upon some sore spots for me, and I didn't mean to accuse fellow Warriors of having "ill motives" in their own visits or relocations to Thailand. From what I hear, the country is very beautiful and the people amazingly nice and accommodating to tourists and businesspeople alike.

          A male friend of mine had a dad who was VP of a major telecom company back in the late 70's and throughout the 80's. Sometime in the 80's his family relocated to Thailand. Given the wealth the dad had acquired through his work, they were able to live in a beautiful home with tons of servants, maids, security people, etc.

          The problem was this: my friend at the time was in his teens. By the age of 14 or so he was a very, shall we say, "pretty" young man. And some of the "staff" at the house, who doubled as procurers/kidnapping informants for the local young boys prostitution/sex slave ring, noticed how pretty my friend was at that age.

          He was just barely rescued from a kidnapping attempt by the sex slavers. Thank goodness my friend's dad had a few security guys who were loyal to their employers, because they didn't hesitate to shoot at the men who tried to kidnap my friend while he lounged on their nice patio.

          The head of security at their house told my friend's dad that he recognized the people who had tried to kidnap my friend, and they were definitely part of a ring of men who were kidnapping young men and young women, underaged, to go into the sex slave/prostitution/and sometimes sex trafficking world. My friend, his dad was told, would have "fetched a high price" at the time for certain Middle Eastern types who were making use of the corrupt sex traffic underbelly in Thailand at the time to grab various young boys and young women to basically become sex slaves in places like Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the like. But it was Thai recruiters/kidnappers who were going after young, blonde boys like my friend. He was very lucky to escape with his life and his freedom. His family moved immediately after that.

          Sometimes the whole "buy a young Asian wife" thing works out....sort of. An extended family member of mine was perfectly happy with the wife he acquired through an online wife finding/matchmaking service promoting wives from the Phillippines. The woman seemed happy enough with her new "rich" husband, and yes, he fit into that stereotype of complete social misfit/nerd who couldnt' find a nice American girl to spend time with him. In their case, it was was it was - a transaction which both parties entered into willingly. No hidden agenda. Fine for them, I firmly believe. As long as no one is being harmed or exploited, and this girl was not and is now a happy member of the extended family - then good for them, I say.

          But when you deal with the sex tourism industry, a lot of these nice, clean, attractive girls who agree to "date" men who pick them up in bars in Thailand, are actually paying most of their earnings to the syndicates/pimps who control that particular territory or part of town. So you might think, hey, nice girl, nice night together, she makes money, isn't this all great, but really she's not making much at all and is part of a deeper, darker world in which nobody benefits. Except the white Western tourists who can choose to remain comfortably ignorant of all that is going on.
          In response to the above quote, I felt compelled to write something because
          1) I am a Foreign Educated Asian (meaning I was not born/raised/educated from where my family is)
          2) I am female
          3) I find some of the comments of some post in this thread derogatory to women
          4) I actually LIKE the above response because it paints a real picture that not all women are skanks

          The above response is an accurate account of the reality of things.

          Sure, people go to Thailand but MUCH LIKE EVERYONE IS AN INDIVIDUAL - we have our OWN INDIVIDUAL REASONS.

          Frankly, if you have to travel half way around the world to look for "girls" - I think that's a sad story. If you THINK most people go to Thailand because of the women, you probably don't meet a lot of women and lastly, if you think Thai or Asian women are more inclined to date White men - I don't know where you come from or how you were brought up but really????

          Firstly, as with the above quoted post, it is true, about sex slavery and trafficking. It exists and not all women hang around WHITE men just because "they (asians) seem to like white men." Everyone has their own individual motives and it's quite narrow minded to judge anyone that way or to make an assumption.

          So a 300 pound man gets a pretty girlfriend - is that so bad? Some women actually like bigger men just as some men prefer 300 pound women. It's preference but why is it anyone's business to judge anybody else for it? Does it affect you and how so. If a 150 pound man dates a 300 pound woman, would that make you have the same opinion as well?

          I also know people who prostitute themselves but there's always a story behind it so I don't judge. I even know a beautiful girl who does this so she can feed her siblings because unfortunately, her parents are too lazy and couldn't care less about the starving young ones. Sure, you can say there are other jobs but a 9 to 5er doesn't pay what she gets as as escort to feed the family. --- Does that sound all "dandy" in having girls for "rent" and in reference to the above response, some of them are actually trafficked.

          In my opinion, going to Thailand and/or Philippines depends on what you aim for. Some IMers do pretty well with their outsourcing networks in Thailand or Philippines.

          I've lived in Manila for about 2 1/2 years for work and one thing I can comment on is the dollar factor which is similar to Thailand. You can't imagine how far a dollar can go with how cheap food is. The standard of living isn't too bad if you're earning foreign currency (USD/CAD/GBP).

          The one downside is the immigration laws (both countries have really complicated laws) , the internet speed isn't exactly what you'd want to have and sometimes things just go so slow (when you want things done/ processed like banking, etc). Registering a business is also a painstaking process where sometimes you need to have "connections" or pay people off to get things done. This is speaking from experience.

          The party lifestyle is pretty wild and cheap, too, but again, there are risks and you can get into some pretty bad situations so it's always good to play safe.

          While I have respect for other people's points of views, I must say it's ignorant to think that people flock to Thailand/Asia for women and to generalize that Thais (or Asians) seem to like white men more - not all women are particularly narrow minded and not all women are gold diggers. There are women who actually have a brain and we use it to think coherently. Not all of us judge by the color of skin or the size of ones wallet.

          My apologies if I digress or offend.
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          • Profile picture of the author dremora
            Originally Posted by rg0205 View Post


            Frankly, if you have to travel half way around the world to look for "girls" - I think that's a sad story. If you THINK most people go to Thailand because of the women, you probably don't meet a lot of women and lastly, if you think Thai or Asian women are more inclined to date White men - I don't know where you come from or how you were brought up but really????

            While I have respect for other people's points of views, I must say it's ignorant to think that people flock to Thailand/Asia for women and to generalize that Thais (or Asians) seem to like white men more - not all women are particularly narrow minded and not all women are gold diggers.
            A lot of Thai and other Asian female friends beg me to hook them up with Western men. They complain their own men don't treat them well and western men are far nicer, more romantic, better lovers etc. The western white male image goes long ways. And it's not just Thai or Asian women, but western white male seems to be very desirable for a certain percentage of Middle Eastern, African, Russian, East European, etc women as well. Not ALL of them or MOST of them, but a certain percentage prefer western white males.


            In Russia expat western & middle eastern men have no problem finding gorgeous and well educated (sometimes double Ph.d) girlfriends. There are many Turkish expats working at construction/engineering projects in Russia-ex Soviet countries and they are treated like rock stars by women (even if they are less than attractive).

            According to surveys, Russian women prefer those men cause they are tired of Russian men being alcoholics (and rude). So they go for the muslim men who do not drink (this is not my opinion, this came up on multiple surveys) and the western expats who don't drink nearly as much as Russian men (and are nice to women).

            If you go to Turkey & take a look around the USAF bases, you will see a lot of American military guys (from lower class backgrounds) with highly educated, great looking girls from higher class families. Sometimes the reason is green card/gold digging but a lot of times it's the nice, romantic western male image -Turkish men with US citizenships or green cards don't get nearly as much attention.

            There is a certain demographic of women in every country (percentages vary depending on many factors), who dislike (or look down on) their own men, and see the white western male as the premium choice. That is an undeniable fact and can be backed up with a gazillion of surveys & studies.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tang
      Originally Posted by The Dotcom Hippie View Post

      To further derail this thread, ...

      (Sorry, dtang. )
      No! This has been fascinating and most educational...

      Thank you, one and all!
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  • Profile picture of the author Quentin
    Yep Thai people do get sick of people who disrespect them but it is the same everywhere you go. Disrespect is disrespect.

    Living here however is a lot different as you make friends with local shop keepers etc likje you do where ever you live.

    Q
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  • Profile picture of the author NaturalStyle
    I've had business connections there a couple of years ago. You'll definitely have to get along with the vibe of the place. For us, it's inefficient, dirty and humid. The good points drawing people there are obvious.

    I would think twice if I'd like to live there, although I speak enough Thai to get along in every day situations.

    And, as an internet marketer working from a bedroom, I wouldn't ever bother to get a business license or anything like that in any of these countries. The world ticks differently over there.

    You need to understand first how the culture ticks and then you can assess how it appeals to you. Being there for a 3 week holiday doesn't cut it. Dealing with your own Thai employees is a different affair than ordering a beer (with ice, of course) at a beer bar.
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Lin
    Thai speaking here. Above warriors have already commented what is in my mind. Well this thread is seem to be out of my focus.
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  • Profile picture of the author dremora
    Warriors above pretty much explained it well.

    The main reasons for young male marketers living there (and the non-marketer cubicle dwellers vacationing)

    1. Extremely low cost of living
    2. Availability of girls, not just hookers but normal college girls too. They love western men, even the fat, ugly unattractive guys and complete dorks who can't even dream of getting a gf are treated like rock stars. The rich white guy perception- I know cause my homeland is the same, girls worship western men even the total losers who get no attention from the ladies in uk, us etc. So successful marketer guy with money is like a rock star.

    3. The prostitution industry being different than western countries. You meet the girls casually at the bar, play pool etc not like traditional prostitution deal, it's like a normal western style meet the girl at the bar for one night stand stuff. It doesn't feel like you are renting a prostitute, so none of the stigma or bad feelings associated with it (genius psychology tactic) there is also the rent-a-gf option where you rent the girl for 2 weeks, go to beaches, shopping, romantic dinners etc so the guys completely forget they are actually hiring a prostitute. Genius marketing!

    4. Great food for cheap. There's even plenty of western food available if you feel homesick

    5. Great climate, especially for those UK guys who are sick of cold climate with rain and fog.

    It's rare to see married couples moving there, I had marketer friends (married couple) who moved to Thailand to live in a tropical paradise, but they lasted only a few months before defecting to Malaysia.

    Would I live there? No. I hate bureaucracy and paperwork. I'd go for extended vacation but not move there.
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    From an Internet Marketing perspective, I would rank the Philippines more highly than Thailand. They are well established in terms of outsourcing. You have similar weather, beaches and cost of living to Thailand. The food is much more Westernized and I found the atmosphere much more relaxed over there. Their culure is very Americanized and US citizens will probably find much easier to settle over there. Like Thailand, it has a sizable sex industry if this is what you want. It is pity about the security situation though although most parts of the country are quite safe.

    The weather in Koh Samui seems to be great all year round. I have just returned from Phuket a week ago and whether was pretty bad. The best time to go would be in their dry season. There are actually quite a lot of Western couples who have settled in Phuket but not in Koh Samui. All the hotels I stayed at recently were runned by Westerners. Quite often, they have married a local woman and decided to settle there. The points made about the sex industry in Thailand are quite valid. Very often, I see girls who are obviously underaged riding at the back of motorbikes driven by Westerners.
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  • Profile picture of the author DubDubDubDot
    Many move there for the cheap drugs and hookers. Cheap party lifestyle in general. I'm not joking either.
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  • Profile picture of the author globalconnect
    Too much coffee - but I think the point is that you can make it as an Internet marketer anywhere in the world. You can lay on the beach with your laptop and make money. I live in Thailand but came as a journalist and have a family here. It is pretty cheap to live, which helps. The point is - put yourself down where you feel comfortable. That might be in the Rockies, it might be on a beach, or you might want to stay at home. I think Gregg Davison from Carbon Copy PRO had the right idea - he was in debt living in his mum's basement but made good money and then moved to the Cayman Islands to live on a beach. But he did it when he had a great income coming in. Get your business going well before you decide to move to Thailand for the sand, sea, seafood - or whatever...
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  • Profile picture of the author Mac Wheeler
    Living in Thailand actually inspired me to build my online business. After being here for two years, getting to the end of the funds I had stashed in my bank account following the sale of a company in the UK, and realizing my extended vacation had to come to an end and I would have to go back to the UK and work again, I decided to try my hand at building an on-line empire.

    Three years later, I earn enough to live very comfortably in the UK if I wanted too, having that level of income in Thailand allows me to live like a king.

    So no there are no real business reasons why some of us have done well here in Thailand, I think the common theme you will find it was either succeed at an on-line business or go home.

    I take my hat off to the other guys that have done it. Only they know the pressure involved in both building a successful on-line business with no option of failing, and living in a country that is alien too them, with zero safety net should they fail.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Ranger
    I'm now living back in Thailand.. I'm in Koh Samui with a huge apartment in the hills and a swimming pool overlooking a seriously nice view! Get around in a big 4x4.

    And of course I have high speed Internet!

    If anyone fancies a beer just get in touch - I'm going to the Full Moon Party on Thursday so free a few days after that

    It's a different world out here and every 'farang' you meet has an interesting story!
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    • Profile picture of the author jeskola
      Originally Posted by Steve Ranger View Post

      I'm now living back in Thailand.. I'm in Koh Samui with a huge apartment in the hills and a swimming pool overlooking a seriously nice view! Get around in a big 4x4.

      And of course I have high speed Internet!

      If anyone fancies a beer just get in touch - I'm going to the Full Moon Party on Thursday so free a few days after that

      It's a different world out here and every 'farang' you meet has an interesting story!
      Nice...!
      My friend lives in Samui - i will be heading over soon.
      I live in Hong Kong right now. Quite fancy living in Thailand for a bit!
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    • Profile picture of the author rondo
      Originally Posted by Steve Ranger View Post

      I'm now living back in Thailand.. I'm in Koh Samui with a huge apartment in the hills and a swimming pool overlooking a seriously nice view! Get around in a big 4x4.
      Hey Steve that sounds great.
      What's the best way to arrange an apartment over there. Did you book and pay online?


      Thanks,
      Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author ikelove
      Originally Posted by Steve Ranger View Post

      I'm now living back in Thailand.. I'm in Koh Samui with a huge apartment in the hills and a swimming pool overlooking a seriously nice view! Get around in a big 4x4.

      And of course I have high speed Internet!

      If anyone fancies a beer just get in touch - I'm going to the Full Moon Party on Thursday so free a few days after that

      It's a different world out here and every 'farang' you meet has an interesting story!
      Awesome man! Nothing beats living the life that YOU choose to live. I plan to get to this level SOON!

      How long did it take you doing IM to be able to afford to live a life like this where you could up and leave your own country and do IM from a country like Thailand?
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  • Profile picture of the author Firstrate
    I lived in Thailand for about six months doing Thai boxing training and it was amazing - super cheap, great weather, friendly people and good lifestyle.

    Can't blame anyone who wants to run an IM business from there
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    • Profile picture of the author jeskola
      Originally Posted by Adam Bunch View Post

      I lived in Thailand for about six months doing Thai boxing training and it was amazing - super cheap, great weather, friendly people and good lifestyle.

      Can't blame anyone who wants to run an IM business from there
      Where did you do Muay Thai?
      I've been training for a couple of years now, but would love to do a few months at a camp in Thailand.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Cavanagh
    Warriors,

    Not many of you know what you're talking about in here. Sorry, being straight forward.

    (Yes Quentin, you've got most of the stuff right of course)

    I've lived here for 6 years, I'm married to a thai lady, have 3 children (2 born here), got two registered businesses and companies, I run my internet workshops from here (where students fly in from all around the World), I have NUMEROUS thai clients and have 2 partners in my business who (1) is a registered solicitor and (2) owns a Pattaya newspaper company and has strong connections with Immigration Department.

    Things about being given work permits over the phone... all Thailand being sex scene and hookers... give me a break... do your homework and due diligence before saying stuff you don't even have a clue about.

    Enough said, you want to know anything just ask someone who knows 100% - otherwise it's just the blind leading the blind, and everyone throwing in their 20 cents worth because "they've been here on a holiday" one year

    Sawadee,

    David Cavanagh
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    • Profile picture of the author wizozz
      Originally Posted by David Cavanagh View Post

      Warriors,

      Not many of you know what you're talking about in here. Sorry, being straight forward.

      (Yes Quentin, you've got most of the stuff right of course)

      I've lived here for 6 years, I'm married to a thai lady, have 3 children (2 born here), got two registered businesses and companies, I run my internet workshops from here (where students fly in from all around the World), I have NUMEROUS thai clients and have 2 partners in my business who (1) is a registered solicitor and (2) owns a Pattaya newspaper company and has strong connections with Immigration Department.

      Things about being given work permits over the phone... all Thailand being sex scene and hookers... give me a break... do your homework and due diligence before saying stuff you don't even have a clue about.

      Enough said, you want to know anything just ask someone who knows 100% - otherwise it's just the blind leading the blind, and everyone throwing in their 20 cents worth because "they've been here on a holiday" one year

      Sawadee,

      David Cavanagh
      Hi guys,

      Do I see a niche product opportunity here? "Thailand: Pros and cons for online marketer expats from those who lived there."

      Would you like to be interviewed to create an info product?

      If you (David Cavanagh) or anyone else who has lived there for more than one year is open for an interview, please PM me. I'm looking for "experts to interview" to create products right now.
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    • Profile picture of the author kellio48
      Originally Posted by David Cavanagh View Post

      Warriors,

      Not many of you know what you're talking about in here. Sorry, being straight forward.

      (Yes Quentin, you've got most of the stuff right of course)

      I've lived here for 6 years, I'm married to a thai lady, have 3 children (2 born here), got two registered businesses and companies, I run my internet workshops from here (where students fly in from all around the World), I have NUMEROUS thai clients and have 2 partners in my business who (1) is a registered solicitor and (2) owns a Pattaya newspaper company and has strong connections with Immigration Department.

      Things about being given work permits over the phone... all Thailand being sex scene and hookers... give me a break... do your homework and due diligence before saying stuff you don't even have a clue about.

      Enough said, you want to know anything just ask someone who knows 100% - otherwise it's just the blind leading the blind, and everyone throwing in their 20 cents worth because "they've been here on a holiday" one year

      Sawadee,

      David Cavanagh
      David.
      Could you contact me through my signature site Money Number One?
      Coming over next month.
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  • Profile picture of the author sdentrepreneur
    I will stick with San Diego and Lake Tahoe, I know I pay WAY more to live in these cities than the average Joe but IM has been good to me and can afford it. Although after reading this posts, a few weeks on vacation in Thailand sounds good right now !!
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    I've been to Thailand twice. It's cheap with some beautiful beaches. The only bad part is the long airplane ride to get there from the U.S.
    Actually that is the best part, because it keeps too many US citizens from coming here and ruining it for the rest of us that live here.
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    What about all the kids, young boys, and teens sold into sex slavery and forced to work in that industry? Not to mention the women forced to do the same.
    That is just a bunch of BS written by somebody that has no idea what he is talking about.

    I have lived here 7 years now, and I never realized how poor the accuracy news actually is. That was until there were political riots in Bangkok, and every Western nations coverage of the event totally missed the point.

    I have bad news for you and me, when I lived in the US I thought you could trust the news you see on TV and read in the paper, you can't sorry to say.
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  • Profile picture of the author DogScout
    Heck,

    Where I lived in South Carolina, half a fried chicken, mac & cheese, beans, corn and all the sweet tea you could drink was only $5.50!

    & the houses one tenth what the same house in Southern California cost.

    Cars and gas were the same and health-care insurance 4 times as much, but oh well.
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    OK, I have read most of this thread and I live in Thailand now and have lived here for 7 years. So, below you will find the real truth on some of the comments I have read above.

    Doing business in Thailand is more difficult than doing it in the US if you do not know what you are doing, but as with anything in Thailand once you understand what is going on, there are ways around everything. So in the end, doing business in Thailand on the internet would be much more profitable for anybody with a large or small staff of employees.

    As for visas for people under 50, you can get them easy if you know what you are doing and stay here for as long as you want. As for people over 50, you can get a retirement visa and there is nothing to it. It takes me less than a half hour each year to get mine.

    The Thai people are great and really like foreigners. However, like everywhere there are scam artist and if you avoid them, you will have no problems. As for violence, I feel very safe here, but it is like anywhere else, if you go into the wrong places at the wrong time you are taking a risk.

    As for the cost of living, it is really cheap. I own my ocean front condo and my living expenses including utilities, the best satellite TV package available here, a great internet service, food, beer and a great health insurance policy cost me around $500 a month.

    That does not cover my entertainment expenses, which can be substantial, but then again that is why I live here. I live in Pattaya, the wildest city on the face of the earth and I just love it.

    If you have any questions, just post them here or PM me and I will answer you, providing nothing but the actual facts.
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    Where I lived in South Carolina, half a fried chicken, mac & cheese, beans, corn and all the sweet tea you could drink was only $5.50!
    A whole rotisserie chicken cost between $3 to $4 and is available everywhere. Thai’s do not like cheese, so there is no Mac and cheese, which I like and I miss.

    Surprisingly enough Thai’s love ice-cream because it is sweet. When I told a Thai girl they were made out of the same thing, she could not believe it. As for corn on the cob, again it is everywhere and a cooked ready to eat whole cob cost about 30 cents.

    Cans of Lipton tea cost about 50 cents at the 7-11 here, which are everywhere. It is been so long since I have been back to the US, I don’t even know what it would cost there anymore.
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    • Profile picture of the author dremora
      Originally Posted by billaaa777 View Post

      A whole rotisserie chicken cost between $3 to $4 and is available everywhere. Thai's do not like cheese, so there is no Mac and cheese, which I like and I miss.
      it costs $5 at Super Target stores in South Texas


      Originally Posted by cosmokid View Post

      This paints a really rosy picture about the "working girls."

      What about all the kids, young boys, and teens sold into sex slavery and forced to work in that industry? Not to mention the women forced to do the same.

      I know survivors of the sex slave world and you would be far-fetched to get a rosy piece of sales copy promoting what sounds like an innocent, romantic vacation for the average Western male. What these women, and one man have told me about that world is not very pretty - to say the least.
      Sex slavery is everywhere, including the USA. There are thousands of girls trafficked from Russia and Eastern Europe, locked up in sleazy brothels in USA and all over Western Europe.

      Thailand is very strict about underage prostitution and any establishment in major Soi's catering to foreign tourists check ID's. They don't employ underage girls and they also send them to regular STD tests. Many hotels also check ID's if you bring a prostitute to the hotel. Underage prostitutes are most likely found in back alley brothels catering to locals only. Pedophiles used to go to Cambodia for that but even Cambodia started cracking down on underage prostitution.

      Maybe they used to kidnap children for sex trade in Thailand in the 80's but a lot has changed since then.

      I would like to take a grand tour of Thailand but when I get wealthy enough, I will move to some Scandinavian country. If you are rich, cheap prices are really not the best reason to move somewhere
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  • Profile picture of the author dagaul101
    Maybe the standard of living if they are coming from the US or UK is considerable cheaper, hence they can do a lot more in terms of starting an online business with less capital than they would have needed in the US or UK
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    • Profile picture of the author Superior Content Creation
      I live in Chiang Mai, Thailand. My rent for my large studio apartment is roughly $60 per month. That's with air conditioning, hot water, and Western-style toilet. Restaurant and bar downstairs with pool tables and internet. Kind of an old building and I'm the only Westerner in the place, but it's definitely not bad. No secret at all--this is the life. 4 hour workweek opened my eyes, although I do work a lot more than 4 hours a week. LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    Thailand sounds really good and I am considering living there for part of the year in future.

    But something I'm wondering. What about the relationship between locals and "farangs"? I have heard that things are at their worst, in terms of the mistrust between them, and may be getting even worse. And that some foreigners are even starting to leave?

    Wondering what your view on this is?
    Once again, that is totally wrong. Thai’s truly like foreigners and many times they will try to strike up a conversation with you and learn about you. I am a 53 year old male and when a 25 year female stunner starts trying to talk to me, I have no problem with that and enjoy those conversations and what they can eventually lead to.

    Where as if a Thai male attempts to talk to me I just avoid it and move on politely, as usually nothing good for me can come out of it.

    The Thai economy depends on tourism and makes up 6% of GDP. Thai’s in general like foreigners and go out of their way to meet them. As for foreigners leaving Thailand, that could be partially true, but they are always replaced by more coming in all the time.

    I would think the major reason foreigners have left Thailand recently is the strength of the Baht. When I got here I got 41 Baht to 1 US dollar, now it is 31. UK citizens used to get 65 Baht for 1 Pound note, now it is 46.
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    • Profile picture of the author Superior Content Creation
      Originally Posted by billaaa777 View Post

      Once again, that is totally wrong. Thai's truly like foreigners and many times they will try to strike up a conversation with you and learn about you. I am a 53 year old male and when a 25 year female stunner starts trying to talk to me, I have no problem with that and enjoy those conversations and what they can eventually lead to.

      Where as if a Thai male attempts to talk to me I just avoid it and move on politely, as usually nothing good for me can come out of it.
      LOL If you think about it, you just told him what he has heard is totally wrong, and then you expressed an obvious distrust of Thai males (just not women).

      I'm not going to rag on you or anything, but I think that's an unfortunate attitude to have. I've been here for two years myself and have tons of friends that are Thai men. I've met many good people, and a lot of good has come from that--like some of the best friends I've ever met in my life and people who are there for me in my hardest times.

      Anyways, give more people a bit of a chance and they might surprise you.

      cheers,
      James
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    LOL If you think about it, you just told him what he has heard is totally wrong, and then you expressed an obvious distrust of Thai males (just not women).

    I'm not going to rag on you or anything, but I think that's an unfortunate attitude to have. I've been here for two years myself and have tons of friends that are Thai men. I've met many good people, and a lot of good has come from that--like some of the best friends I've ever met in my life and people who are there for me in my hardest times.

    Anyways, give more people a bit of a chance and they might surprise you.

    cheers,
    James
    Maybe I should have clarified myself a little better. I have many Thai male friends, but they are all from past business associates. But as for a Thai male just approaching me on the street trying to talk to me, I have found nothing good can come from it, so to be safe, I just avoid it completely.

    And maybe you should have clarified yourself a little better also, you and I live in totally different environments. In my condo building, there are virtually no Thai’s living in it at all, because most of them cannot afford it.

    Where as you live in a much lower end building without any foreigners at all and are surround by Thai’s. So, of course you come in contact with males much more often than I do.

    But, who cares, I much rather have a Thai female as my friend as opposed to a male. Maybe you are just different.
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    • Profile picture of the author Superior Content Creation
      Originally Posted by billaaa777 View Post

      Maybe I should have clarified myself a little better. I have many Thai male friends, but they are all from past business associates. But as for a Thai male just approaching me on the street trying to talk to me, I have found nothing good can come from it, so to be safe, I just avoid it completely.

      And maybe you should have clarified yourself a little better also, you and I live in totally different environments. In my condo building, there are virtually no Thai's living in it at all, because most of them cannot afford it.

      Where as you live in a much lower end building without any foreigners at all and are surround by Thai's. So, of course you come in contact with males much more often than I do.

      But, who cares, I much rather have a Thai female as my friend as opposed to a male. Maybe you are just different.
      Fair enough. My misunderstanding.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce NewMedia
    A friend of mine from Canada has lived there part-time and now full time for the last 4 years. He pretty much loves it there. has invested in a business with local partners and has married a gorgeous Thai woman. They now have a two old son. He raves about it all the time. ...and no cold Canadian winters!
    _____
    Bruce
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  • Profile picture of the author MuayThaiGuy
    I live in Thailand as well..

    It doesn't make sense to do IM from Canada during the cold, boring, depressing winters when my rent in paradise (within walking distance to the beach) costs less than it would to heat my house here..
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  • Profile picture of the author JackPowers
    Former Thailand IM'er here! Unfortunately, my IM income only took off after I returned home to cold Europe. Or maybe that is why it took off?

    The thing about Thailand, it's cheap, warm, has great beaches, food, friendly people and beautiful women. Also, it has very limited employment options for your average foreigner without 10+ years experience in business.

    No unemployment checks either.

    So you jump in and swim or sink or get a teaching job

    That 4 hour work week lifestyle comes at a significantly lower price in a tropical paradise.

    If you're young (or older without obligations), IM really can make you live like a king in a tropical paradise.

    I know a few of the most successful bloggers in Thailand and we have actually discussed hosting a Thai internet marketing meet, next time we're all around.

    Could be great fun! Let me know if any of you make something happen, need to book a ticket soon!
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  • Profile picture of the author kellio48
    I have a blog based on Thailand and have spent much of the past 10 years there.
    Although my blog is a platform for marketing ebooks and a couple of affiliate products, it also provides an insight into living in the resort city of Pattaya and is also a humerus look at the way in which the foreigners (Farangs) inter-react with the local populace....particularly the bar girls.

    As far as doing business there...there is a popular saying among the expats which goes along the lines of: "The way in which to make a small fortune in Thailand..is to start with a large one"
    Personally I can only agree as I've had quite a few friends go turtle up after illusions of grandeur, by investing in bars etc.
    Anyway, have a laugh by looking at my blog and reading some of the " Pattaya Bar Girl Stories" on the right in the side bar. The link is in my signature at the bottom of this post.
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  • Profile picture of the author biggame5
    You just need to find the right niche. Point blank. You have to keep trying until you get it. Remember they are making money with numbers and not off of one thing.
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    • Profile picture of the author CBMoneymachine
      I lived in Thailand for about a year back in 2008/2009. It really is one of the best places in the world in my opinon. I favoured Chiang Mai and had a cool little studio apartment with all the mod cons for about £70 per month. That didn't cover my electric though and I soon learned not to leave that on all day long! There is just something special about Thailand - the people are so friendly, there really isn't any trouble unless you go out looking for it. The beaches are beautiful, the sea is warm and the food is great! The sole purpose for me doing IM is to move back there permanantly. When I lived there I used to wake up every morning genuinely excited about facing the day, that is something that I just don't get here in the UK. Whoever it was said that said Thailand is an unsafe place for tourists etc needs to open their eyes, the biggest danger for tourists in Thailand is falling off your moped (speaking from several past experiences!). I hope in the not so distant future that I will be bringing in $100 per day from IM so that I can move back with financial stability!
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    Tax avoidance, cheap living and for IM'ers you can work anywhere...It's not a country I'd choose to live in tough. Especially with chidlren. I'll pay my dues and live in the 1st world thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    yeah that's what I think as well. Mass corruption. He who pays has the full ptotection....

    I guess it's just like Mexico/Brazil...yeas I have visited al lthese laces.

    Also, generally speaking, I would say that the cops are... awful. And that's a diplomatic way of putting it. Don't EVER get in trouble with them.
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  • Profile picture of the author sloanjim
    so how is the snowboarding in Thialand? Nice, snowy, white Christmasses? Not all of us like 33C and 98% humdity all year LOL

    It doesn't make sense to do IM from Canada during the cold, boring, depressing winters when my rent in paradise (within walking distance to the beach) costs less than it would to heat my house here..
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    Full Moon Party, Wanna be there?

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    • Profile picture of the author Superior Content Creation
      Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

      Full Moon Party, Wanna be there?

      YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.
      Is it just me or was there a serious lack of good-looking women in that video for such a big party? It has always struck me that there is a real shortage of decent-looking farang women in Thailand. I thought I just had a thing for women of Asian descent now, but I suspect another trip around Europe might stir that notion up a little bit.

      Anyways...it's a good one-time beach party, for sure, but the backpacker thing doesn't really do it for me. Although, I was one of the ones sleeping in the sand by morning time....LOL For those who haven't made it over to the Land of Smiles yet, go check this out if you make it here, but don't forget, as so many do, that there is a lot more to Thailand than other travelers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Graham Maddison
    If anyone can help me fulfil my dream to retire in Thailand I would give 50% of any money earned as a result for the remainder of my life...I would sign a contract to that effect.......I am that desperate and this is no joke.... see signature.
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  • Profile picture of the author computerfan
    sun, sand and sea and devalued currency pushes a lot of people to Thailand and Indonesia I guess!
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  • Profile picture of the author RioNomad
    I am all for a good party, but that looked like a giant **** fest of retards to me lol. Of course, after drinking a bucket of thai whiskey I would probably be king of the retards.
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    • Profile picture of the author Superior Content Creation
      Originally Posted by RioNomad View Post

      I am all for a good party, but that looked like a giant **** fest of retards to me lol. Of course, after drinking a bucket of thai whiskey I would probably be king of the retards.
      Yeah, you're pretty spot on with that observation. As well as with the suggestion that it's hard not to join them once you're there. LOL Two reasons why avoiding the backpacker circuit is a good idea when out there traveling.
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  • Profile picture of the author jhess56
    what is an 'expat'?
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    • Profile picture of the author Superior Content Creation
      Originally Posted by jhess56 View Post

      what is an 'expat'?
      • exile: a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country; "American expatriates"
        wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
      • An expatriate; a person who lives outside his or her own country; The noun used attributively
        en.wiktionary.org/wiki/expat
      • Expats - An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence. The word comes from the Latin term expatriātus from ' ("out of") and ' the ablative case of '''' ("country, fatherland").
        en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expats
      • Short for expatriot - someone who lives in a country other than their own.
        www.ajarnmichael.com/Encyclopedia.htm
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      • Profile picture of the author jhess56
        thanks for that, guess i shoulda googled it first

        Originally Posted by dru-man View Post

        • exile: a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country; "American expatriates"
          wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
        • An expatriate; a person who lives outside his or her own country; The noun used attributively
          en.wiktionary.org/wiki/expat
        • Expats - An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence. The word comes from the Latin term expatriātus from ' ("out of") and ' the ablative case of '''' ("country, fatherland").
          en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expats
        • Short for expatriot - someone who lives in a country other than their own.
          www.ajarnmichael.com/Encyclopedia.htm
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        • Profile picture of the author mtkman
          Hey Thailand Warriors,

          I know it is kind of short notice, but I just booked a ticket for a short trip to Chiang Mai this weekend (Sat - Mon) to see some friends, etc.

          It would be nice to meet some of the CM IMers up there for drink in case you have time.

          Send me a PM and I'll shoot you my cell for easier communication.

          Cheers,

          mtkman
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          • Profile picture of the author kellio48
            Originally Posted by mtkman View Post

            Hey Thailand Warriors,

            I know it is kind of short notice, but I just booked a ticket for a short trip to Chiang Mai this weekend (Sat - Mon) to see some friends, etc.

            It would be nice to meet some of the CM IMers up there for drink in case you have time.

            Send me a PM and I'll shoot you my cell for easier communication.

            Cheers,

            mtkman
            Hi. I just read your post and although I can't get up to Chiang Mai, if you're coming down to Pattaya over the next couple of months it would be great to meet and have a couple of beers.
            I'm not yet qualified to send PM's but you can contact me through one of my sites. http://moneynumberone.net
            Cheers
            Sean
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  • Profile picture of the author Greg Jacobs
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    • Profile picture of the author Superior Content Creation
      Originally Posted by Greg Jacobs View Post

      alot of ignorant and misinformed statements about thailand, so we can just ignore those...

      the nuts is that it is great quality of life, affordable if you dont want to spend (live well under 1k a month) and you can live like a Raja if you have some cash.

      Internet connection is acceptable, quality of life is fantastic. people are nice and leave you alone. That is pretty much it.

      I run a little IM commune up here in the north where I import talented expats and give them rice and sarongs until they make me a million

      David Cavangah has his training workshops out of Pattaya and I am sure there are plenty others hiding out in the rice and sands....
      By the north, do you mean Chiang Mai?
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  • Profile picture of the author JackPowers
    A suggestion: Let's not go down that road the last posts have been about. It rarely ends well. There's as many motivations as there are people, that black and white thinking doesn't cut it anywhere.

    I'd rather like to hear stories about successful IM'ers in Thailand. Has anyone opened a business with Thai employees doing IM/SEO?
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  • Profile picture of the author michaelmac
    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

    How are you guys in Thailand declaring your income?

    Do you use an accountant to get over the language barrier?

    Or are many IMers in Thailand simply not declaring income?
    To be honest i'd hazard a guess at the latter :rolleyes:
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    • Profile picture of the author JackPowers
      Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

      That's what I'm thinking too. I'd be curious to know how much it would cost to do IM business there 100% legitimately.
      As would I.

      I would think you would need to setup a business, which to my understanding requires you to hire at least 4 Thai employees. Now, the minimum monthly wage in Thailand is only about $150-$200, but that's still a bit too much of a sunk cost if you get nothing back. I seriously doubt you will be able to find English speaking Thai's who will work for that wage.

      Thailand is pretty lax on Visa issues though. As long as you make your money online and don't try to do domestic business, I don't think you'll run into problems.

      An ED (education) Visa is a pretty good deal, 3 months to begin with, then yearly extensions.
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  • Profile picture of the author aandersen
    you can get straight 1 year non-ED visas from some schools

    and yes, you must have 4 thai employees per every work permit you try to apply for, including th one for your self. your business must also pay a certain amount of taxes to be qualified for a work permit. i don't know the figure off hand. IIRC your business must also be owned at least 40% by a thai person. I may be wrong on the % though, but i know that you cannot be the sole owner. Additionally, your job functions in the company cannot be on the list of jobs prohibited by foreign workers. For example, if you owned a restaurant, you could would not be allowed to cook, wait tables, do dishes, etc... you would be expected to be a manager/owner only. I don't think this would be such a problem for an IM business as it is for other business types.

    Most people doing IM just don't bother with a work permit or setting up a business, they get tourist, marriage, retirement, or education visas and ten do their work from their home. Being 100% legit is really just not worth it to most people.
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    • Profile picture of the author wizozz
      Originally Posted by aandersen View Post

      you can get straight 1 year non-ED visas from some schools

      and yes, you must have 4 thai employees per every work permit you try to apply for, including th one for your self. your business must also pay a certain amount of taxes to be qualified for a work permit. i don't know the figure off hand. IIRC your business must also be owned at least 40% by a thai person. I may be wrong on the % though, but i know that you cannot be the sole owner. Additionally, your job functions in the company cannot be on the list of jobs prohibited by foreign workers. For example, if you owned a restaurant, you could would not be allowed to cook, wait tables, do dishes, etc... you would be expected to be a manager/owner only. I don't think this would be such a problem for an IM business as it is for other business types.

      Most people doing IM just don't bother with a work permit or setting up a business, they get tourist, marriage, retirement, or education visas and ten do their work from their home. Being 100% legit is really just not worth it to most people.
      Hi,

      I think "Business visa" is only applicable if you want to set up a real brick-and mortar business with employees in Thailand. Thailand does not tax international income and there is nothing illegitimate about owning an IM business in Thai. It is just not included in Visa regime, like retirement etc, because being a full-time IM and earning money online is a pretty new development, and far from mainstream.
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    How are you guys in Thailand declaring your income?

    Do you use an accountant to get over the language barrier?

    Or are many IMers in Thailand simply not declaring income?
    All IMer’s based in Thailand, just like all businesses everywhere pay 100% of the income taxes to whatever country they are owed to. There has never been or never will be tax evasion practiced in Thailand or any country in the world.
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    • Profile picture of the author wizozz
      Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

      You obviously live in a dreamland then. Tax evasion happens everywhere. Always has done, always will do.

      Tax evasion, if you define it as "not paying your legal taxes" is a crime. Can you get away with it? sometimes, but not always.

      However, there are LEGAL ways that you can take that you are NOT required to pay taxes.

      I'm from Turkey, and if I live less than 180 days in Turkey, I'm not required to pay any taxes on any "outside income" (there are even tax reductions on inside income). Now if I happen to go to Thailand or any other country where I'm not required to pay taxes on "outside income" even when I'm resident, I'm not required to pay any tax, or even report any income. (And that's the basics of my tax-free life plan, along with some other stuff with 6 flags strategy.)

      Of course, everyone should make his own due diligence. However everyone also has a right NOT to pay any more tax than they are legally required to do so, and conduct their own life and business to legally pay the minimum amounts of tax possible. This is called "tax planning", not "tax evasion".

      I think there are ways not to pay any tax on IM income for many people, especially if you are not resident of ANY country (permanent tourist), some including offshore corporations, even second nationalities, but I'm not a CPA (or any kind of professional to give you tax or legal advice). So do your own due diligence.

      I'm just trying to learn how can I live freely with the least possible government intervention (including tax, compulsory education -read:brain washing- and military service for future kids etc). This is part of what I discovered.
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    I would think you would need to setup a business, which to my understanding requires you to hire at least 4 Thai employees. Now, the minimum monthly wage in Thailand is only about $150-$200, but that's still a bit too much of a sunk cost if you get nothing back. I seriously doubt you will be able to find English speaking Thai's who will work for that wage.
    As I posted earlier and I will post again. While “Technically” that is the law, that is certainly not the practice and there are ways around everything in Thailand.

    However, you are correct you could not hire a good English speaking staff for the minimum wage. It would cost you somewhere between $500 to $700 for an employee working 6 days a week, 8 to 10 hours a day, which is the norm in Thailand.
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    and yes, you must have 4 thai employees per every work permit you try to apply for, including th one for your self. your business must also pay a certain amount of taxes to be qualified for a work permit
    While “Technically” that is the law, that is certainly not the practice and there are ways around everything in Thailand.


    I may be wrong on the % though, but i know that you cannot be the sole owner. Additionally, your job functions in the company cannot be on the list of jobs prohibited by foreign workers. For example, if you owned a restaurant, you could would not be allowed to cook
    A US citizen can own a 100% of a company based in Thailand because of a treaty with them.

    While it is true any other type of foreign citizen would need to set up a Thai company that is 51% Thai owned, that is on paper only. There are 10,000’s of businesses here that are run by expats in this fashion.

    Although, on paper they only own 49% of a business, in reality they own and operate 100% of the business and this is a widely accepted practice here.
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  • Profile picture of the author billaaa777
    You obviously live in a dreamland then. Tax evasion happens everywhere. Always has done, always will do.
    Seriously, your joking right, because I was. Too bad you missed it.
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  • Profile picture of the author kellio48
    There is no problem with not paying tax in Thailand as an internet marketer.
    The easiest way to do it is to just have all the money you earn online go into your PayPal account or your home bank account.
    In this way no one can prove you earned the money while working in your hotel room or on the beach or cruising on a yacht.
    If you put it into your home bank account,you can then use an ATM to access your money although depending on your individual situation, you may have to pay income tax in your own country.
    You know what they say about death and income tax!
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by kellio48 View Post

      There is no problem with not paying tax in Thailand as an internet marketer.
      The easiest way to do it is to just have all the money you earn online go into your PayPal account or your home bank account.
      In this way no one can prove you earned the money while working in your hotel room or on the beach or cruising on a yacht.
      If you put it into your home bank account,you can then use an ATM to access your money although depending on your individual situation, you may have to pay income tax in your own country.
      You know what they say about death and income tax!
      Exactly, there is no need to employ local workers or any of that nonsense. If you're an internet marketer, your products and services are most likely going to be sold OUTSIDE of Thailand, so there's no question of tax evasion from the Thai authorities there. All the money you earn via IM will probably be deposited in Paypal or your regular home bank through a merchant account. If you need to outsource, simply outsource to the Phillippines, which is a completely different country!

      I think the majority of IMers go there for the nice weather, great beaches, and also the very affordable luxurious lifestyle which they'd have to pay a whole lot more for in ANY Western country. The benefits really are simple and clear to see, I don't understand why there's so much confusion over a simple issue like this.
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      • Profile picture of the author candoit2
        When I lived in Thailand I never went to the bars (don't drink), and I stayed away from the tourist scene.

        Thailand has lot to offer besides booze and hookers.

        Aaron
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    There are several countries around the Pacific Rim where taxes work very differently than they do here. Whereas most of us in the Western world are taxed on the money that ends up in our country, these countries tax the money that starts in their country. So while you pay taxes on anything you sell to people in that country, you can sell things to US and UK customers all day long without paying a dime in tax.

    So if you don't have any customers at all in one of those countries, you can theoretically go there and never pay any taxes. I don't know how well that really pans out in practice, but that's the idea.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

      There are several countries around the Pacific Rim where taxes work very differently than they do here. Whereas most of us in the Western world are taxed on the money that ends up in our country, these countries tax the money that starts in their country. So while you pay taxes on anything you sell to people in that country, you can sell things to US and UK customers all day long without paying a dime in tax.

      So if you don't have any customers at all in one of those countries, you can theoretically go there and never pay any taxes. I don't know how well that really pans out in practice, but that's the idea.
      I'm pretty sure it pans out very well. If you hang out at your hotel room or the beaches all day long and perhaps drink and party at night; have no visible indicators of doing business such as employees, physical merchandise and a physical store; have no local bank accounts in that country; there would be absolutely no tangible signs that would cause them to think you were making money from selling merchandise or doing business locally within Thailand. You'd just be a wealthy tourist enjoying himself there in the eyes of the authorities.
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      • Profile picture of the author Exfilius
        Lets say you are form the UK, you have an offshore bank account where affiliate networks wire you the money, you withdraw the money at an ATM in Thailand. How the tax man in the UK is going to know about the withdraw?

        Besides, in most EU countries you can only be taxed if you stay in the country for 6+ months.
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        • Profile picture of the author paulie888
          Originally Posted by Exfilius View Post

          Lets say you are form the UK, you have an offshore bank account where affiliate networks wire you the money, you withdraw the money at an ATM in Thailand. How the tax man in the UK is going to know about the withdraw?

          Besides, in most EU countries you can only be taxed if you stay in the country for 6+ months.
          I think I can answer that as I have several personal friends from the UK who are doing just that (living away from the UK for several months out of the year and have offshore accounts). The tax man in the UK will not know about your withdrawal, BUT only if your offshore location has not signed an OECD tax treaty. Here's a fairly recent list of former offshore havens that have signed the treaty -
          OECD Tax Information Exchange Agreements Signed in last 12 months

          EDIT: You can also also add Singapore to the list, as they have caved in and will now request banking records on behalf of a foreign country that suspects tax evasion on the part of a citizen.
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  • Profile picture of the author GrahamHobbs
    I wouldn't want to live there, but have considered it as a possible vacation destination. Getting the idea that doing business there is probably not the greatest though. Interesting thread.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by GrahamHobbs View Post

      I wouldn't want to live there, but have considered it as a possible vacation destination. Getting the idea that doing business there is probably not the greatest though. Interesting thread.
      Graham, I think many of the people here have misunderstood the whole intent of this thread. You are not doing business there per se, all you're doing is living there for several months at a time and doing your internet marketing at the same time. Many marketers are going there for the exotic flavor, sandy beaches and luxurious yet affordable lifestyle. Think about it in these terms - it's like the movie stars and celebrities going to Cannes in France or Tuscany in Italy for a long summer vacation, but at a fraction of the cost.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohammad Afaq
    I only have a minute so I will make it quick.

    Yes Thiland has low cost of living, girls etc. etc. but that doesn't mean it's a good place to do business.

    I don't know how you want to put it. I feel more safe in the streets of Kenner (New Orleans), Louisiana with the Kenner Police department and the american constitution protecting me.

    And about that low cost of living thing. Thiland isn't the only place where that's the case. Go to Pakistan and $1 of your will be about 85 rupees. But that doesn't mean you should buy a ticket tomorrow. What about all the terrorist attacks? What about all the other complicated stuff that comes with living in a new country (learning the laws, getting a license etc.)

    Bottom line. I don't care how someone puts it. I feel secure in this great nation of America and if I will build a business, I will do it in America where I have a chance of growing (look at all the billionaires) and where I am sure that my business is protected and I know that I have the American Court System backing me up and if some douche decides to sell merchandise with my logo on it I will take him to court and make him pay.

    Do you have this kind of protection in Thiland?

    Yes there will be some but you simply cannot argue that Thiland protects businesses more than America does.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Mohammad, I totally agree with you on the reasons for not doing business in Thailand as opposed to the US. However, we are not talking about that at all here, these marketers are selling information products that they either create themselves or are affiliates for, and are not setting up shop or business in Thailand. This is one of the great things about internet marketing - you can literally be anywhere in the world and still be able to do business, as long as you have a computer and an internet connection. After all, do you really think the subscribers on your list are going to care one way or another where you're sending your emails from?


      Originally Posted by Mohammad Afaq View Post

      I only have a minute so I will make it quick.

      Yes Thiland has low cost of living, girls etc. etc. but that doesn't mean it's a good place to do business.

      I don't know how you want to put it. I feel more safe in the streets of Kenner (New Orleans), Louisiana with the Kenner Police department and the american constitution protecting me.

      And about that low cost of living thing. Thiland isn't the only place where that's the case. Go to Pakistan and $1 of your will be about 85 rupees. But that doesn't mean you should buy a ticket tomorrow. What about all the terrorist attacks? What about all the other complicated stuff that comes with living in a new country (learning the laws, getting a license etc.)

      Bottom line. I don't care how someone puts it. I feel secure in this great nation of America and if I will build a business, I will do it in America where I have a chance of growing (look at all the billionaires) and where I am sure that my business is protected and I know that I have the American Court System backing me up and if some douche decides to sell merchandise with my logo on it I will take him to court and make him pay.

      Do you have this kind of protection in Thiland?

      Yes there will be some but you simply cannot argue that Thiland protects businesses more than America does.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Mohammad Afaq View Post

      I only have a minute so I will make it quick.

      Yes Thiland has low cost of living, girls etc. etc. but that doesn't mean it's a good place to do business.

      I don't know how you want to put it. I feel more safe in the streets of Kenner (New Orleans), Louisiana with the Kenner Police department and the american constitution protecting me.

      And about that low cost of living thing. Thiland isn't the only place where that's the case. Go to Pakistan and $1 of your will be about 85 rupees. But that doesn't mean you should buy a ticket tomorrow. What about all the terrorist attacks? What about all the other complicated stuff that comes with living in a new country (learning the laws, getting a license etc.)

      Bottom line. I don't care how someone puts it. I feel secure in this great nation of America and if I will build a business, I will do it in America where I have a chance of growing (look at all the billionaires) and where I am sure that my business is protected and I know that I have the American Court System backing me up and if some douche decides to sell merchandise with my logo on it I will take him to court and make him pay.

      Do you have this kind of protection in Thiland?

      Yes there will be some but you simply cannot argue that Thiland protects businesses more than America does.

      I would rather live in Thailand then New Orleans.

      New Orleans: One of the world's dangerous cities?

      I didn't know the constitution will protect you from violence. Great to know! It seems like you didn't really read this thread but posted anyway. No one said they should set up a business in Thailand. They were running their existing internet based business.

      I didn't realize Pakistan was a top tourist destination like Thailand.

      What do you plan on doing if people from China rip off your logo? Sue them? lol
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      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

        I would rather live in Thailand then New Orleans.
        There is no LaFitte's Blacksmith Shop, Cafe du Monde, or Marie Laveaux in Thailand.

        So no real contest, if you ask me. I'll take N'awlins.
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        • Profile picture of the author Tom B
          Banned
          Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

          There is no LaFitte's Blacksmith Shop, Cafe du Monde, or Marie Laveaux in Thailand.

          So no real contest, if you ask me. I'll take N'awlins.
          I already know that is your favorite place.

          I had fun there but living there would kill my liver.
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          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
            Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

            I already know that is your favorite place.
            LOL... I don't think I got more than two blocks from the Rue Bourbon the whole week I was there.
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Each place has its own attractions. I've been to Thailand before on vacation, and unfortunately I'm starting to salivate now over the absolutely bounteous seafood to be had there, with over 100 varieties of fish including shark, fresh lobster, crabs, scallops and gigantic tiger prawns!
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

      the absolutely bounteous seafood to be had there
      Unfortunately, while both Thailand and New Orleans offer all kinds of wonderful seafood... that's not of much interest to Jews. (Shellfish aren't kosher, and neither are many exotic types of fish.)

      And I'll bet you don't have many good synagogues in Thailand, either.
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        Unfortunately, while both Thailand and New Orleans offer all kinds of wonderful seafood... that's not of much interest to Jews. (Shellfish aren't kosher, and neither are many exotic types of fish.)
        I can understand about the shellfish and synagogues, but what exactly do Jews classify as exotic fish?
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      • Profile picture of the author paulie888
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        And I'll bet you don't have many good synagogues in Thailand, either.
        By the way, are there many synagogues in New Orleans?
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        • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
          Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

          I can understand about the shellfish and synagogues, but what exactly do Jews classify as exotic fish?
          Anything without scales, fins, and a true backbone. So eel is out, because no scales; shark is out, because no true backbone (cartilage endoskeleton with no bones); etc.

          Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

          By the way, are there many synagogues in New Orleans?
          I saw a couple on St. Charles when I was there. If they've got them in the Quarter, they've probably got them elsewhere in the city, too.
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          • Profile picture of the author paulie888
            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            Anything without scales, fins, and a true backbone. So eel is out, because no scales; shark is out, because no true backbone (cartilage endoskeleton with no bones); etc.
            That's a shame, as shark and eel are absolutely scrumptious. I know this doesn't quite fall under the category of fish, but what about frog and alligator?
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            • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
              Originally Posted by paulie888 View Post

              That's a shame, as shark and eel are absolutely scrumptious. I know this doesn't quite fall under the category of fish, but what about frog and alligator?
              The laws of kashrus in a nutshell:

              - If it flies in the sky, it must not hunt for meat or eat carrion.

              - If it does not fly in the sky, but walks on the land, it must have a cloven hoof and chew the cud.

              - If it does not fly in the sky or walk on the land, but swims in the sea, it must have fins, scales, and a true backbone.

              There are further laws related to how the animal is prepared, e.g. blood must be drained, the organs of birds removed and their body cavities salted, nothing behind the sciatic nerve may be eaten, meat and milk aren't mixed, etc.

              Basically I eat beef, chicken, and halibut. That's more or less it. But I'm not just Jewish, I'm also a fussy eater.
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  • Profile picture of the author aandersen
    comparing new orleans and thailand is just not fair to me. i put it like this, if i had to choose any where in the united states to live, hands down its the gulf coast. not necessarily in NO, but within driving distance (like gulfport/biloxi area). if i have to choose anywhere in the world, i have to say thailand. i love the hell out of southern LA and the reset of the gulf coast, but i was born there and we all have a natural desire to move away from the nest.

    and about working there. yes you can do IM there without problems, many people do it. however, if you want to get all technical about it, it is not legal. according to their laws, you must have a work permit to do any work and they will not issue a work permit for this reason. it sounds ridiculous but as they say TIT (this is thailand). again, you can still do it and no one will bother you about it but by the book, it is not legit.
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by aandersen View Post

      and about working there. yes you can do IM there without problems, many people do it. however, if you want to get all technical about it, it is not legal. according to their laws, you must have a work permit to do any work and they will not issue a work permit for this reason. it sounds ridiculous but as they say TIT (this is thailand). again, you can still do it and no one will bother you about it but by the book, it is not legit.
      Well, I understand what you're saying here, but I believe that the majority of internet marketers are just flying to Thailand on tourist visas. There is absolutely no local business conducted, everything they do is over the internet. They may go for several months at a time, leave for a while, and then go back there again. I believe that is what fellow warrior George Brown has been doing.
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  • Profile picture of the author kloker007
    People I know who wants to move to Thailand is based on these facts
    1) Value for the money-It´s cheap there, you can live like a King with the dollars you have earned from your avarage work.
    2) Thailand is beutiful and a good place to relaxe
    3) The nice weather and kind people
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  • Profile picture of the author Quentin
    I live in Thailand but still run my company out of my home country. There are lots of ways to do it here legit and have set up a few companies here and is not that hard.

    The only real obligation is that you hire 4 staff and you will get your work permit. Same pretty well as any country. Not the 4 staff but have to pay fees etc which when you work it out is about the same as hiring 4 Thai staff.

    I can't work in the US as I need a Green Card and I imagine if I came there to set up a company for IM I would find all sorts of hoops I would have to jump through as well.

    The big attraction of Thailand to me is the cost of living.

    More than happy to pay my taxes back home and live here get all the cleaning, washing and food cooked for me.

    Q
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    • Profile picture of the author paulie888
      Originally Posted by Quentin View Post

      I live in Thailand but still run my company out of my home country. There are lots of ways to do it here legit and have set up a few companies here and is not that hard.

      The only real obligation is that you hire 4 staff and you will get your work permit. Same pretty well as any country. Not the 4 staff but have to pay fees etc which when you work it out is about the same as hiring 4 Thai staff.

      I can't work in the US as I need a Green Card and I imagine if I came there to set up a company for IM I would find all sorts of hoops I would have to jump through as well.

      The big attraction of Thailand to me is the cost of living.

      More than happy to pay my taxes back home and live here get all the cleaning, washing and food cooked for me.

      Q
      Quentin, it's great to hear about your experience there. So I take it that Thailand is basically your home now and you live there year-round? Do you live in or close to Bangkok? In your case, I'd imagine you have applied for some kind of work permit type of visa in order to be able to live there on a permanent basis?

      I know what you mean about having all kinds of domestic help, it is cheap and freely available. Labor is still incredibly cheap there. I'd imagine you also have a driver to drive you around as well?

      Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author paulie888
    Chris, there's no need to get a rent contract as you can pick up fully furnished high-end condominiums and apartments on a monthly basis for well under $1000. Not sure about the health insurance part.

    Fellow warriors George Brown and a few others from the UK (can't remember their names in here) typically vacation there for several months at a time.
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  • Profile picture of the author aandersen
    $1000 is for very high end IMO... i am more of a 3500-5000 THB/mo type of guy

    but i've always been that kind of person.
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    • Profile picture of the author kellio48
      Originally Posted by aandersen View Post

      $1000 is for very high end IMO... i am more of a 3500-5000 THB/mo type of guy

      but i've always been that kind of person.
      You won't get much of an apartment or condo for that sort of money however it's worth noting that unlike most countries where tourist areas are high end accommodation cost, places like Pattaya for example are actually cheaper than Bangkok.

      Overall it's cheaper to live in Pattaya than Bangkok as "entertainment" and food is also cheaper.

      Generally speaking the "entertainment" tends to speak better English in Bangkok than Pattaya because many of them start their "careers" in Pattaya and them move on.

      That being said I find Phuket to more expensive than just about anywhere as it's marketed more to young single tourists with money to burn.

      Not that the above has anything to do with IM but just pointing out a couple of things for the benefit of those thinking about heading over there.
      As a single baby boomer...I highly recommend it.
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      • Profile picture of the author aandersen
        Originally Posted by kellio48 View Post

        You won't get much of an apartment or condo for that sort of money
        that is kind of my point... You can find apartments in that price range, but they are not the kind of places that most westerns (or high class thais for that matter) would consider living. Actually there are places for less than that but even i have my limits.

        oh yeah, and by apartment i was referring to a 20 something meter studio.

        like i said, i am just that way... in the US i have always lived in poor neighborhoods and run down apartments/housing projects. even when i make good money, i often find my self living in the hood.

        so living in a $1k per moth apt in thai just seem ludicrous to me.
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        • Profile picture of the author kellio48
          Originally Posted by aandersen View Post

          that is kind of my point... You can find apartments in that price range, but they are not the kind of places that most westerns (or high class thais for that matter) would consider living. Actually there are places for less than that but even i have my limits.

          oh yeah, and by apartment i was referring to a 20 something meter studio.

          like i said, i am just that way... in the US i have always lived in poor neighborhoods and run down apartments/housing projects. even when i make good money, i often find my self living in the hood.

          so living in a $1k per moth apt in thai just seem ludicrous to me.
          AANDERSON.
          Fair call and you are quite correct.

          Most of the Thais themselves wouldn't be paying anything like that mainly because they couldn't afford it but like yourself and me too for that matter, most Thais would consider paying that much to be vastly and unnecessarily extravagant.

          I have a friend from Belgium who's currently staying in Pattaya in the kind of studio you mentioned for 4500 Baht per month.
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        • Profile picture of the author paulie888
          Originally Posted by aandersen View Post

          that is kind of my point... You can find apartments in that price range, but they are not the kind of places that most westerns (or high class thais for that matter) would consider living. Actually there are places for less than that but even i have my limits.

          oh yeah, and by apartment i was referring to a 20 something meter studio.

          like i said, i am just that way... in the US i have always lived in poor neighborhoods and run down apartments/housing projects. even when i make good money, i often find my self living in the hood.

          so living in a $1k per moth apt in thai just seem ludicrous to me.
          Very true, it all depends on your personal tastes and preferences. Some people in this thread have been talking about living in high end condos with a housekeeper for about $1000 (besides renting a big Jeep or Land Cruiser to cruise around town in), but of course you could also be prudent with your spending, get a fairly decent $500-$700 condo, and then spend the rest on a full-time outsourcer (which should actually get you a decent ROI on the money spent). There are so many options and ways that you can utilize that $1000 each month, and a lot is going to depend on the individual and what his or her preferences are.
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      • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
        Originally Posted by kellio48 View Post

        That being said I find Phuket to more expensive than just about anywhere as it's marketed more to young single tourists with money to burn.
        I'm sorry, I can't stop giggling.
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  • Profile picture of the author sarahberra
    How interesting. I never really thought about Thailand like this, but I learn something new every day. I always wonder why someone I've been following on youtube is moving to Thailand. I thought they had less rights there. Her site is rawradianthealth.com
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    Koh Samui is more expensive than Phuket and is more suitable for singles (it is next to Koh Phagnan aka Full Moon Party). The "entertainment industry" is much larger relatively in Koh Samui than Phuket, although it is not as big as Pattaya. I haven't been to Pattaya for a long time and I don't really want to go back there because it is so seedy.

    I disagree about Thailand's seafood though, in fact it would be one of the reasons I won't want to settle there long term. The issus is not the variety of seafood but the lack of live seafood. It seems that their fishing vessels do not have the equipment to keep seafood alive. If you like eating steamed seafood, there is a world of difference between live seafood and those that have been chilled or frozen. Morover, they will refreeze any seafood that is not sold on the day. Chilled or frozen tastes stale when you steam or sauteed it.

    It may not make much of a difference if you eat barbecue, fry, or curried seafood. But I temd to avoid them because you may well be eating stale seafood. A few restaurants do have limited live seafood but you have to try hard to find them. I find the seafood in Koh Samui better than that on Phuket.

    Derek
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  • Profile picture of the author Austin12
    Thailand is cool full stop. I am born in UK but ethnically Tai. My family is actually form north eastern India but we in that part bordering Burma, which is quite heavily historically ethnically Thai. In that sense Thailand feels like home. As for IM or Ebay buisness sourcing products, i will be moving back there this winter. Like any country it has its good and bad points.
    I can see what some people say about the signle guys and the women..ad to an extent it is true its great but also illusory.. alot of these women are looking for meal tickets ..The majority that go out with "farang" are form the north east provinces namely Isaan. Having lived in Thailand throughout my life most recently in Bangkok over 2 years, i would say the average foreign man will not encounter the Thai middle class and women upper middles class suburb with mainly military and educated people, it is obvious that this scene is restuircted to areas like sukuhmvit and patpong. In more well off educated areas let me tell you there is no farang man in the whole area witha Thai woman..Fora woman form the middle class there is a "stigma" to going out with farang and peopel on the street will assume you are a hooker whether this is true or not..my former girlfriend was what you would term hi-so and owned 3 shops from a rich Thai family.
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    • Profile picture of the author Austin12
      Thailand is cool full stop. I am born in UK but ethnically Tai. My family is actually form north eastern India but we in that part bordering Burma, which is quite heavily historically ethnically Thai. In that sense Thailand feels like home. As for IM or Ebay buisness sourcing products, i will be moving back there this winter. Like any country it has its good and bad points. The cheap cost of living, great weather, food and beaches and party..well great!! & the women gorgous.

      I can see what some people say about the single guys and the women..and to an extent it is true its great for men esepcially from countries like the UK!! well if you got money..if you aint got any then who gives a s**t but its very illusory like a lap dancing club.. alot of these women are looking for meal tickets .. Its important to remember Not all the women work in the "entertainment" industry as we call it out there..Alot of Thai men are now marrying Western women sometimes for economic reasons also, so the same applies to some women also...Its amazing to see the "farang" mans self delusion of himself and thinking she really loves my fat old bald white ass..(like some of these threads suggest) get a grip man its mind boggling..They are using you just as maybe you are using them.

      Being of Tai ethnic origin and having lived in Thailand throughout my life most recently in Bangkok over 2 years, i would say its a great place to live and work for anyone form any nationality. It is a tolerant society and welcoming to everyone as long as the welcome is not abused, as often the case. As for IM in Thailand and all these IMer's out there, well why not. i will be joining them out this winter . & If you want to experience proper Bangkok Thai nightlife with "Young Thai people" away from the swarms of "working girls" and touristy prices and BS then may I suggest Lad Parao, Rachada, Ekaamai and Rangsit as some cooler venues..Though you can start for a drink at soi cowboy if you really wish ..its damn cheap for drinks there anyway..haha..
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    • Profile picture of the author kellio48
      Originally Posted by Austin12 View Post

      Thailand is cool full stop. I am born in UK but ethnically Tai. My family is actually form north eastern India but we in that part bordering Burma, which is quite heavily historically ethnically Thai. In that sense Thailand feels like home. As for IM or Ebay buisness sourcing products, i will be moving back there this winter. Like any country it has its good and bad points.
      I can see what some people say about the signle guys and the women..ad to an extent it is true its great but also illusory.. alot of these women are looking for meal tickets ..The majority that go out with "farang" are form the north east provinces namely Isaan. Having lived in Thailand throughout my life most recently in Bangkok over 2 years, i would say the average foreign man will not encounter the Thai middle class and women upper middles class suburb with mainly military and educated people, it is obvious that this scene is restuircted to areas like sukuhmvit and patpong. In more well off educated areas let me tell you there is no farang man in the whole area witha Thai woman..Fora woman form the middle class there is a "stigma" to going out with farang and peopel on the street will assume you are a hooker whether this is true or not..my former girlfriend was what you would term hi-so and owned 3 shops from a rich Thai family.
      I've just come back to Australia after having just spent yet another 3 months in Thailand.
      I've been spending around 25% of my time there for around 11 years.
      While what Austin says is true in many respects, the stigma mentioned is not readily obvious and not nearly as strong as it once was.
      I've met several high ranking ladies such as doctors and lawyers who are married to farangs with no evidence of the stigma, being attached shown by the other socialites but that's not to say they don't snicker behind their hands.
      That scenario is common in all parts of the world particularly from the fairer sex and I'm not trying to be macho. It's just a fact of life.
      As far as internet marketing from there, I find it much better than where I live in Australia simply because I live in a region with limited internet connection options.
      Technically though, if you perform any sort of work while in Thailand, you are required to have work permit, although because the money you are earning is not subtracting from the Thais because probably 100% of it is coming from different parts of the world, it would be difficult for the authorities to come down on you and should be grateful because at least you are spending it in Thailand.
      The fact that you are not paying tax on it while in Thailand could be contentious because the work you are performing is being done while in Thailand.
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      • Profile picture of the author Austin12
        Originally Posted by kellio48 View Post

        I've just come back to Australia after having just spent yet another 3 months in Thailand.
        I've been spending around 25% of my time there for around 11 years.
        While what Austin says is true in many respects, the stigma mentioned is not readily obvious and not nearly as strong as it once was.
        I've met several high ranking ladies such as doctors and lawyers who are married to farangs with no evidence of the stigma, being attached shown by the other socialites but that's not to say they don't snicker behind their hands.
        That scenario is common in all parts of the world particularly from the fairer sex and I'm not trying to be macho. It's just a fact of life.
        As far as internet marketing from there, I find it much better than where I live in Australia simply because I live in a region with limited internet connection options.
        Technically though, if you perform any sort of work while in Thailand, you are required to have work permit, although because the money you are earning is not subtracting from the Thais because probably 100% of it is coming from different parts of the world, it would be difficult for the authorities to come down on you and should be grateful because at least you are spending it in Thailand.
        The fact that you are not paying tax on it while in Thailand could be contentious because the work you are performing is being done while in Thailand.
        Yes society has moved on in many respects, and i know there are many relationships between non hostess Thai ladies & Thai men with foreigners not based on money. However i think when you go to different areas outside the sukhumvit-patpong type area you will see more of the younger crowd who are not bothered about chasing any tourist buck. They are not particularly hi-so or anything but they tend to not want to go to sukhumvit area as its not cool and full of bar girls and tourists paying 4 times as much for beer. I can tell you Rachada lad pharo and rangsit are swarming with some of the most beautiful people in the city..good people also..and its a shame maybe alot of foreigners dont get to see that side becuase they feel safer where its more touristy and people speak english. When i hit the bars in those areas i see very few westerners and english is not so widely spoken. Glad to hear internet marketing worked good for you out there. I have only worked there as a teacher with an army base but actually i can imagine it being a good place for internet marketing. Cheap cost of living and no tax!! Yes technically you are meant to declare any such earnings and have a work permit, but as its not involving physical work its hard nigh impossible for the authorities to find out. I heard they recently changed the rules so unless you have a work permit as a foreign national 3 months is the maximum you can stay till you have to leave for 3 months..The rata baaan (government) have clamped down the visa run where you could spend just a few days or even hours across the border and hop back in again to get your passport stamped. Which is a bit of bummer. I'm working in education in UK at the moment but i plan to go back Thailand in the winter. You can live well there on online earnings no doubt.
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        • Profile picture of the author kellio48
          Originally Posted by Austin12 View Post

          Yes society has moved on in many respects, and i know there are many relationships between non hostess Thai ladies & Thai men with foreigners not based on money. However i think when you go to different areas outside the sukhumvit-patpong type area you will see more of the younger crowd who are not bothered about chasing any tourist buck. They are not particularly hi-so or anything but they tend to not want to go to sukhumvit area as its not cool and full of bar girls and tourists paying 4 times as much for beer. I can tell you Rachada lad pharo and rangsit are swarming with some of the most beautiful people in the city..good people also..and its a shame maybe alot of foreigners dont get to see that side becuase they feel safer where its more touristy and people speak english. When i hit the bars in those areas i see very few westerners and english is not so widely spoken. Glad to hear internet marketing worked good for you out there. I have only worked there as a teacher with an army base but actually i can imagine it being a good place for internet marketing. Cheap cost of living and no tax!! Yes technically you are meant to declare any such earnings and have a work permit, but as its not involving physical work its hard nigh impossible for the authorities to find out. I heard they recently changed the rules so unless you have a work permit as a foreign national 3 months is the maximum you can stay till you have to leave for 3 months..The rata baaan (government) have clamped down the visa run where you could spend just a few days or even hours across the border and hop back in again to get your passport stamped. Which is a bit of bummer. I'm working in education in UK at the moment but i plan to go back Thailand in the winter. You can live well there on online earnings no doubt.
          Hey Austin.
          It's good to see someone else in here who can speak with some authority on Thailand.
          Just a tip for anyone thinking about carrying out Internet Marketing in Thailand.
          While its true that you can only get a maximum of 90 days on your visa (and you need to do that in your own country.) If you apply for a 90 day visa with multi-entry, you can go up to Vientiane by crossing the border at Nong Kai into Laos within the 90 day period, (preferably within the last couple of days of your 90 days), stay a couple of hours and then be issued with a further 90 days on re-entry into Thailand.
          I usually try to get a 3 entry visa which gives you the option to stay for a full year because at the end of your 3rd 90 days, you are issued with a further 90 days bringing it up to 12 months.
          When applying for your initial 90 day visa in your own country, quite often you will need to show proof that you have enough money in your bank to support yourself for the time of your stay by providing a recent Bank
          Statement.
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          • Profile picture of the author Merlin2279
            Does anybody have any experience buying land and/or a house in Thailand?

            I've read that expats are not allowed to own land or property, however, they can do so buy purchasing a company that owns the property. Can anybody clarify that or provide any good resources for further research? Thanks.
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            • Profile picture of the author kellio48
              Hi Merlin.
              You're quite right in in both cases however, although you can't own the land a house is built on, you can own the house. But...as you rightfully stated you can own a percentage of a company who owns the land.
              All Thai based companies need to have at least one Thai National owning shares of the company.
              However, there is way in which to control ownership of land you invest in.
              The land needs to be 51% Thai owned so what you can do is to get 2 Thais to sign their name to in 25.5% of the purchased land meaning you own 49% which gives you control being the biggest shareholder.
              This means the land can't be sold out from beneath you as has happened numerous times with unsuspecting farangs who buy land in their "Thai Wife's" name.
              The ideal situation is to have the 2 Thais who sign the dotted line, unknown to each other and keep it that way.
              The only drawback with this method is that you'll probably have to fork out 100% of the money to buy the land which means you are virtually giving away 51% of it... but it's an option which does work.
              You can find lots of info on this sort of thing at Thaivisa.com - Home
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  • Profile picture of the author affa33
    AND MAKE 50 to 60 USD daily and even more....
    No fee no requirement all can earn.
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  • Profile picture of the author affa33
    please help me in internet marketing
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    • Profile picture of the author kellio48
      Originally Posted by affa33 View Post

      please help me in internet marketing
      Affa.
      Stay with this forum for awhile and you'll learn all you need to know about Internet Marketing.
      It's where I started!
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  • Profile picture of the author tentimes
    Of all places to call the best kept secret, I wouldn't even put Thailand in the top 100
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  • Profile picture of the author konradbraun
    I hope I am not getting in trouble for reviving an old thread (actually not sure what the rules are in this regard) but I am curious: any IMers on here from Krabi/Ao Nang area?

    I myself am currently in Krabi town and would be delighted to catch up with some other IMers nearby
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  • Profile picture of the author chrislangley
    I agree that the South East does have some amazing value for money outsourcing
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