Thailand Remote Work Forum

Can anyone recommend a good accommodation website for Chiang Mai?

Hello World!

I'm an experienced Digital Nomad and after being in Lockdown in Bangkok and Germany for one year I would like to team up with someone to visit a new place. Or just doing some exchange about what destinations would be interesting currently.

I take the virus seriously and still I think we can still be able to take our life in our own hands. So I'm aiming for cities/countries which are not in full lockdown, are not too complicated about immigration (I'm looking at you Thailand, your state quarantine costs like 1k USD and is basically a prison) and is also rather safe regarding the virus. I tend to stick for rather big cities and like culture. I'm not a beach or nature person. I'm pretty flexible about the money topic.

I’m curious to know how many people learned some Thai before going there. Learning languages is a hobby of mine but I’m very put off by how complex the writing system is, and if I decide not to learn it I’ll probably cross Chiang Mai off my bucket list. I prefer to be at least conversational in a language before I do an extended stay in a country. I’m curious how people who learned no Thai did getting by. And I’m curious, from people who did learn some, if it’s any easier than it seems? Thanks!

Hey everyone,

Looking for blogs by individuals who document their progress/business in South East Asia - ideally Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos - but also Thailand/Myanmar too.

Thank you,

Haiducci

Hi everyone,

I’m currently in Chiang Mai and will be here for Christmas. Maybe for NYE too. Planning to go out and meet people and enjoy the holiday season. Any events or places to recommend?

I’d love to meet new friends too. Leave me a message if you are interested in hanging out.

Cheers!

Hey all,

i am trying to find a monthly based condo in SUKHUMVIT in BKK becaue i am staying 1-3 Months in BKK. But somehow its nearly impossible to find a nice one. Except Air BnB 1000$+ …

How do you find your Condos in BKK?

Greetings Vesko

Normally, when I go abroad for a longer period of time, I try to take as much medication with me from my home country as I can for that period. Which so far has worked well for me.

But if I’m going to be a full-time nomad that won’t work anymore. Mainly because I’ll then unregister from my country. Which has some downsides like not being able to have my current health insurance anymore. Other health insurance companies won’t cover existing conditions, so I’ll have to buy my medication “over the counter”.

But since I need some medication which in The Netherlands (and I assume other countries) is only available on a doctors prescription. I was curious how people here arrange that (if there are any in the same boat as me).

The main medication I think would be hardest for me (and most expensive) to get is Epoetin-Alpha (Aranesp) injections.

Since there’s not really a ‘world wide standarized’ doctor prescription form, how do you get the medication abroad? Do you have a checkup there again at a local clinic before you can get the medication? (That would probably add to the cost too).

I’m currently in Penang, Malaysia and I was thinking to head to Thailand next. What are the best islands in Thailand to get some work done? I was considering either Ko Lanta or Ko Phangan because those both islands have coworking spaces. I might need to take some client calls, also video. Is the wifi good enough? Are there any other differences between the islands?

You can look up the Iglu company in Thailand. It is a legal way of working in Thailand with a work permit for digital nomads. Are there other companies in Thailand offering work permits for digital nomads? They charge you 30% of your salary, which is a lot. Are there other companies charging less than Iglu or have a different pricing scheme?

Hi experienced nomads!

I’ve been nomading around SE Asia, HK and China for the last 4 to 5 months. I’ve been moving a lot and now I need to settle down for 3 months to finish some work. So the idea is to be in a stimulating city where I can find nomads, start-ups, self growth, self improvement, spirituality environments.
I already been for one month in Chiang mai, and liked it a lot in this respect, but wanted to try somewhere new, so was thinking to go to Ho Chi Minh or Bali. As I will be working mainly most of the time, the idea is not to spend much this three months, so my idea is to spend around 1200usd per month.

Would appreciate any opinions on this.

Best place to sit down and work for three months on a 1200usd budget a month?

Thnx

As an American Citizen, would it be safe to fly into Thailand without a visa? You can get a 30 day upon entry right?

The reason I ask is, I’m in the process of getting my passport. I’d like to leave basically as soon as my passport arrives in the mail. I’m unable to apply for a Thai Visa until I have my passport, so that would require an even longer wait.

Would I be able to fly into Thailand with no visa, then get a 30 day entry, then apply for an education visa while inside the country? Once I go, I’d like to not have to return to the US. I don’t mind if I have to take a bus/flight to a neighboring country for however long if I must leave while I wait for an education visa.

Hey - I’m heading to Bangkok for a month from the 14th November to see how it feels living and working there for a month in terms of productivity/lifestyle/etc. I’m a FX/Futures trader so just generally require a decent computer and internet connection.

As far as the basics:
Housing: airbnb in Chatuchak
Workspace: The Hive
Gym: Traininggroundbkk

Any must see’s / advice / from those who have been to BKK would be appreciated. Likewise If you’re planning on being there over the same period drop me a line!

Cheers

Hello,

I am moving to Chiang Man for two months and am looking for a good Muy Thai gym. I have some previous training experience but am at the novice/intermediate level.

Can anyone who has trained Muy Thai in Chiang Mai recommend a school?

Hey everyone,
We are nomad couple looking for some house we can stay for year or more.
Are there any known good places, like new villages with modern houses or something like this that we can check? Or any place you can recommend to look for a good (for European) house for rent?
Thx in advance for your help!

Thailand - Krabi vs. Koh Lanta in March

Hey Nomads -
So I’m looking to leave my current base in Chiang Mai, Thailand to head back down south in March to escape burning season.
I’m looking at staying for a month in either Krabi or Koh Lanta. I already spent a month on Koh Samui which was ok but I’m looking to explore the other side now and it seems this will be a good time of year seasonally to be on those islands.

Here are my main considerations and would love any thoughts:

1. Housing - As the islands are much more expensive, I think it would be the most sensible to get an apartment or rental for a month. I got a good deal in Samui when I stayed for a month.
   -A/C is a must

• Strong, Hi-speed wifi where I’m staying as I need to do video calls from home

2. More walkable (or as much as possible) areas are preferred as I don’t use a motorbike and transportation back and forth to restaurants, etc. can get expensive
   Walking distance to the beach would be great but price is a big more important factor

I don’t necessarily care about being near a co-working space as much of my work on video calls requires me to work from home anyway for privacy.

Anyone stayed on Krabi or Koh Lanta & have any suggestions?
TIA!!

Hello Nomads,
I would like to move in Thailand for 6-9 months starting from August.
I’ll definetely stay in Chiang Mai as base for most of the time but I’d like to do the first month (August) in Bangkok or somewhere else.
What place would you recommend to visit first?
Would Bangkok be a good place to be during August?
I was also checking at the east coast isles but I got a little frightened out by the moonsoon idea but still, it would be cool to go to beaches and have some sun during that month .
Would the moonsoons or the rain really be a problem?
I’ll move to Chiang Mai from september anyway but I would just like to start somewhere else since I have to wait for my girlfriend to come during september.

Thank you in advance for your advices,
Sorry for the bad english,
Andrea

We’re setting off on our first venture for new digital nomad life in 20 days!

• starting in Chiang Mai as our home base
• 1 year ED visa
• planning to bounce around all over

Right now, I’m utterly baffled and confused by trying to figure out how we’re going to be able to get more cash or transfer money from our bank accounts in Canada. Either at all or without getting charged insane fees.

I’ve looked through the forum and a lot of solutions put forth with no real luck. Hoping that some Canadians may chime in with solutions, experience or advice.

Thanks!

We’re headed to Chiang Mai in July looking at our options for visas and came across this: http://www.cmlocals.com/1-year-ed-visa-hand-to-hand-combat/

Has anyone done it?

It looks amazing and beneficial for many reasons, but I’m a little skeptical without being able to read external reviews or hear of experiences from people who’ve successfully done it.

Thoughts and other options are appreciated!

p.s. right now we have a one-way ticket and are wanting to keep our options open to stay longer if we love it (which we’re anticipating)

My girlfriend and I started our DN life this March and went straight to Chiang Mai because of it’s ease of living. We love it. CM is great – we got a scooter for 2700 THB, a nice apartment for 8000 THB all in, we get our laundry done for 50 THB, eat out at nice places every day for less than 100 THB etc. Arriving here needed nearly no preparation – it just worked out all by itself.

We are still on tight budget and don’t want to give up much of CM’s quality of life but we want to see other places and we are now thinking about what could be our next destination. We are not really willing and able to spend more than what we spend now. Bali seems to be a good place according to what you all wrote.

How does it compare to Chiang Mai or Thailand in general?
CM can get very hot and we often acknowledge that we should have chosen an apartment with a pool here. Can I rent something in Bali for a few months with a pool for less than 250 USD?

Are there any Nomad-houses or similar projects at the moment that make it easy to connect to other people?

We don’t really hang out in co-working spaces, more in cafés. We source products in China and sell them to customers in Europe through e-commerce.

Any tips or experiences are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Any recommendations? Looking for temporary crown.

The apartment manager suggested kaidee.com, but nothing there. Any suggestions anyone?

Hello everyone!
I’m currently touring South East Asia and I’m now in Koh Lanta (Thailand). I was planning to visit Chiang Mai on friday, but I’ve read the air quality in this period is so bad due to fires that are using as a method of cultivating crops there in the north. Is it something to take in consideration or just nothing to care about?
Thanks in advance!
And by the way, if anybody is in Chiang Mai and would like to grab a coffee would also be cool!

I have been tempted by the digital nomad lifestyle for quite some time now.

I purposefully built a business that allowed me to work anywhere that has my PC and an internet connection, but then ended up renting an office and just going about life business as usual in the town I grew up in.

I finally booked tickets for a few months in Asia, and will be landing in Chiang Mai on the 17th of March

(which someone pointed out to me is actually the smokey season, which i’m reading about now)

For a first time digital nomad, what would you recommend as the first point of call when landing in a new city?

thanks for any shared wisdom all

Joshua

Im planning to go to Koh Samui at the end of April for a month. Does anyone know good areas where to live there and have good internet connection (maybe close to coworking space). Or also after reading some info here in nomadforum - some people say its better to go to Koh Lanta. Any thoughts about that?

Cheers

I’m planning on 6 weeks in Chiang Mai soon and most of the stuff I’ve read about finding a place there says the best thing to do is to look in person. Considering the short time I’m there, I would prefer to prebook to say a couple of days of apartment hunting.

I was wondering about the options for short(ish) term accommodation and if pre-booking is worthwhile or if I’ll just get fobbed off with the worst room/apartment available.

I’m just looking for something basic - so long as it has air conditioning. Having a work space would be a definite advantage as would closeness to coffee. Other than that, things like a pool, gym, kitchen aren’t that important to me.

Hola, nomads! I am currently living in sleepy Ajijc, Mexico, and love having my easy 6 month tourist visa. However, I’ve stayed in Chaing Mai before and my heart is pulling me there again. Yet I’m daunted by the headache of visa runs. I’m American, so it looks like my options are that I can get a 6 month Multiple Entry visa, which does require me to leave every 60 days.
Does that mean I just cross borders via land and I’ll be good for another 60 days? The websites I’ve seen haven’t been very clear.
Also, it looks like you need a minimum of $7,000 USD in the bank to get that visa. I don’t have that, though I could do a cash transfer to my bank account from my credit card for a month to show it. How many bank statements do I need to show there’s $7,000 in my account?
Also, can I apply for the Multiple Entry from Thailand or only outside of it?
What visas do you use if you’re there longer term?
I also looked into the Student visa, but the school I looked at required 8 hours a week of class. I work too much to do that.
My understanding is that if you are there, you can get a 2 month visa (possibly called the Single Entry visa), then have to fly out and come back from an international airport, and you can get another month, then do an extension for one more, then fly again. Am I correct? If so, that is a lot of traveling and extensions…
Insight is appreciated!!

Thinking about Trang, but need at least a 5M download internet
Will be hard to get it?

any suggestion about Trang is welcome (need to find a cheap apartment, and need also to stuck in front of my laptop to work

Hi guys, my wife and I are planning on spending 2-3 months in Chiang Mai in February and wanted to know from experienced people if there is anything we can learn or do beforehand to make it a productive and exciting trip?

We’ve traveled together before so that’s all good, we know what to pack and have been spending time reading these forums and related blogs for ideas on living costs etc.

Also, Chiang Mai seems like the place to go if you want cheap living but we’re totally open to other suggestions in the area, for example looking at Saigon or other places.

Any suggestions or pointers would be most appreciated!

I’m wanting to travel to Thailand in February and I’m a little overwhelmed with travel arraignments (I have only left the US once) and what I’m going to do once I’m there.

So far I’m wanting to be in Thailand for a month. It looks like I’m going to need shots: Hepatitis A and B and typhoid. I can take care of that no worries.

I was looking into the Visa requirements, it looks like I can just arrive in Thailand and get a 30-day tourist visa?

As for housing I was thinking AirBnb. My goal while in Thailand is to work primarily. I have a project I need to wrap up and I’d like to do that in Thailand without a lot of distractions.

Now I’ve joined NomadList because it seems I can join up with others to Thailand? Looking at nomadtrips I have no idea how it works… but that seems to be the place to link up with others? Or maybe I’m wrong. I’m looking at: https://nomadtrips.co/chiang-mai-thailand

What’s the best way to communicate with this group about meet ups, etc?

Hi all,

I am looking to get some advice from the collective on where to set up a temporary base for 4-6 weeks in either BKK, Cebu or Manila.

I’m looking to spend 4-6 weeks somewhere with my wife and 3-month-old boy as a trial run on being a little more nomadic in work / life balance. In the months leading up to the birth of my son, my work situation become a lot more flexible. So, although I am doing all my work from my home-base, I really am not tied to being here for any other reason than it is where I am at present.

I am keen to spend a few years slow travelling with my family while working as a DM. My wife is open / curious about this but needs a little more experience and convincing, hence a trial run somewhere.

Why these cities?

My wife is a Philippino-Australian so we have family and familiarity with Manila and the Philippines (although neither of us have been to Cebu).

BKK I have been too several times in the last couple of years - we both like the city and have a few contacts there.

Requirements

• Relatively safe
• Not too remote - for hospitals etc w/ a young child
• A house / condo / decent apartment at a good cost
• Possibility to hire assistance / nanny
• As relatively low cost as possible
• Reliable and as fast as possible internet access

I currently spend time mentor at some of the accelerators schemes in Australia - so I’ll be interested to also explore and network the startup / entrepreneur and nomad communities while I am there. As well as having potential conversations around hiring local staff, either as remote workers or if I come back to open up a business.

By way of a little background, I have a history in digital marketing, internet marketing startup consultancy, mentorship and business advisory services.

Based on the above - which location would you recommend that best fits the criteria? any recommendations on property rental? tips or advice for DCers on the ground?

I’m in BKK for DNX in a couple of weeks if anyone is attending and/or interested in meeting up for a coffee or talking further.

Cheers

Jon

Hi,
we’re having trouble deciding where to go in the fall (September, October, November) or over the winter for that matter. We loved Chiang Mai, Ubud, Vienna, Prague, Lisbon and we’re looking for a similar place to stay for 1-2 months. We’ll be in Germany and have a car. We wanted to go to Italy, but we’re not getting excited about any place in particular - or we just don’t know where to go. Any ideas?

What do we like? Pleasant weather, open minded people (whose eyes don’t fall out when they see a black girl), healthy food (in restaurants and supermarkets) with vegetarian options, a chill vibe. Nice rentals (we use Airbnb a lot). A nice compromise between nature and not feeling like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Oh, and no bugs or mosquitos please (they love us, but our bodies hate them. We get huge welts that stay for weeks).

Thanks!
Rich & Chinny

As simple as that. I’m going to start working on my startup as a digital nomad in January, and Chiang Mai is one of the places where I am going to stay. At present, what are the best coworking spaces here? Any suggestions?

Hi,
I’d like to have an idea about the costs of yoga classes in Ko Phangan. I’ve checked a few yoga studios websites, but can’t find much info…
What’s a drop in class price and what e.g. a month membership. I’m interested in particular in the area around Beachhub.

Thanks!

Where in Chiang Mai can you go purchase tech equipment for english speakers. Equipment such as laptops, tablets, smartphones and etc.?

Hi everyone!
I’m searching for places to work from in Pai, i.e. cafes or restaurants.

I am looking for:

• Quiet place - not full of customers nor just next to a road
• Comfy seats
• Regular height table - not breaking my back using my laptop
• Open until at least until 18:30 - many places seem to close early in Pai
• Good coffee or food would be great
• Good WiFi is optional, I usually use my smartphone 3G hotspot

So many DN coming from Chiang Mai to escape the city life, I hope this thread will help a few of us stay in Pai a bit longer than usual

Hi nomads!

I’m intending to become a proper digital nomad in January at the latest, and I am just starting to take some initial steps. I am a software developer and I intend to create an app and build a startup. Which one of these places would be best for that?

• Ko Samui (Thailand)
• Ko Lanta (Thailand)
• Goa (India)
• Chennai (India)

My idea is to develop my business in any of those places and open it here in Australia later on. Obviously, one of the main reasons why I have picked those places is that they are very affordable so that I can make the most of my savings from my current contract Goa would probably be my favourite pick since is quieter and not as crowded as Chennai (I think), plus living costs are about half of what they are in Ko Samui and Ko Lanta.

However, due to the nature of my business plan, Internet is a must. I have read your article about Goa and you said that Internet access is pretty bad, however I noticed that you wrote that a year ago and I also heard that this is currently changing. What’s the situation right now?

Cheers!

I will be in Chiang Mai during summer and have read it will be very hot there and then the rain season starts.
Will the nomad community still be strong there or are you moving to an other part of Thailand?

Hey nomads!

Will be flying into Bangkok from NY the second week of March to start off my travels & then move to the South of Thailand.

Anyone have any recommendations for stay in Bangkok?

Thanks nomads!

Hello everyone,
i am currently in Bangkok and looking for a coworking place where taking some calls would not be a problem. I understand that i.e. programmers need silence to work, so what is the solution?

For my work i have to make calls, but i will try to keep my voice down. What is the policy at the coworking spaces, how do others manage?

Thanks
djar

Hi,

I will be traveling in Thailand from november to december and would like to know which internet option I should choose. I need to use internet for writing and research and also 1-2 skype calls a week.

I need what’s best in Krabi and Phuket… I already have an unlocked pocket Wi-Fi that allows both 3G and 4G, so I only need a Sim Card filled with internet. Unlimited data would be the best, but in reality I would be fine with around 10 GB if the speed is good.

So which options do I have and what are your experience?

Regards!

I am really a lucky guy.

On my way to Koh Lanta, i dropped my MacBook from about 10cm. Enought to brake the fan, which is now making starnge noises. Good start to my first nomad experience.

I think i have to fly back to BKK to get this fixed. Any recommandations? There is no official apple store in Thailand i think.

Can anybody recommand a good store that performes on site repair? Price is secondary, as this is my primary working tool.

Thanks
David

Hi, tried to find an answer on the internet & in this forum, but no luck…

With the changed visa requirements/visa runs how do you guys stay in Thailand for an extended amount of time? Currently living in Rio de Janeiro - but would love to spend +6months (up to 12) in Chiang Mai, without following Thai classes

Thanks!

When I’m in BKK, I usually work at Hubba, but there’s been a lot of new spaces popping up recently. I’ve heard about Launchpad, The Hive etc.

What’s your favorite place to work in Bangok?

I’ve realized that if I really want to be a DN entrepreneur, I need to get my ass to a DN hub.

My income (around $1000 USD/month) and some research I’ve done point to Saigon, Chiang Mai, and Medellin as 3 great choices to start out with.

I know some people who could “plug me in” to the DN scene in Medellin and Saigon, but not Chiang Mai.

The primary goal of me moving is to build relationships with DN entrepreneurs, and get great work done. Quality of life for $1000 USD a month is very important too, as I know how much a lack of money can degrade one’s quality of life.

Any advice from people who have lived in 2 or more of these cities? Any particular ways I should be thinking about this?

Right now my initial, probably wrong impressions are:

Medellin -
Pros: Culture and language are more interesting to me than Vietnamese or Thai culture.

Cons: More dangerous than SE Asia, not sure how much more. Higher cost of living than SE Asia. Thriving community, but not as much as SE Asia.

Chiang Mai -
Pros: Lowest cost of living. Very friendly, safe. Probably the easiest to integrate into, and least stressful.

Cons: Harder to connect with locals than in other locations (I know a decent amount of Italian, so Spanish seems easier, and apparently a decent amount of Vietnamese living in Saigon speak English.)

Saigon:

Pros: Seems to have the best community for what I am looking for. Very exciting entrepreneurial atmosphere. Cheaper than Medellin.

Cons: Pollution, could get old living in super urbanized area (stressful perhaps)

Right now I am leaning towards Saigon haha, but I am hoping for others’ experience based perspectives as I am just spouting theory right now

Also, it seems like maybe I should be just thinking about Medellin vs either of the other two cities, since I could literally just fly between Saigon and Chiang Mai for cheap and see how I like either of them.

Hi everyone,
I’ve been in Chiang Mai, for a month, and would like to go down south for another 2 months. My priority is finding a location where I can work from, preferably somewhere that is not too touristy, yet not too remote either. Do you have any recommendations in regards to finding a place that is both attractive (beaches, scenery, outdoor activities etc.) and ideal for getting work done (co-working spaces, cafes, not too overcrowded)?

I’ve been looking into the Krabi region (Ao Nang, Lanta, Koh Lipe) and the Surat Thani region (Ko tao, Phangan and Samui). Since I have never visited any of those places, I am not quite sure if they are well suited for working as much as doing touristic activities.

Thank you

I need to get a few documents legally certified and am not really sure where to start. Whatever certifying remarks (if any) would need to be in English. Anyone have any ideas where I could find this service without paying a law firm a small fortune for the 2 minutes it would take to do it? Would an embassy (like US Embassy?) be able to do something like this?

What’s up dreamers?

Do you have any recommendation on where to do online shopping in Thailand?

I just got an external screen & accessories from Lazada.co.th: the price was good & delivery of the screen (to Koh Lanta) took only 3 days…! This was way beyond my expectations.

Any other tips (& shared experience) would be appreciated.

ps. created the same conversation on the DN Thailand facebook group if you prefer participating over there https://www.facebook.com/groups/1069582656437496/permalink/1075943859134709/

Hi to all Nomads living on Ko Samui or Ko Phangan!

Are there any good coworking spaces on the islands of Thailand? (I only found one in Ko Lanta, but nothing on the Eastern islands like Ko Samui or Ko Phangan where I would like to stay.)
If not, what are the best internet cafes to work comfortably and quietly?
How fast and how reliable is the internet connection?

Thanks so much!

Hey there! I’m planning on working and hanging in the Gulf of Thailand for about a week before heading up to Chiang Mai. Any tips/preferences between Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan? Would love any and all recs!

We are planning our next trip in Chalong, Phuket.
Is there a co Working place around? What to see around Chalong? What about the nightlife?
Does anyone have experience, would be happy about a few tips.
Thanks for help.

Hi Guys, we are looking for our final candidates for a co-work/adventure trip through several Islands in Thailand - mid/late February. Come join us?!?

Hello,

I’ll have a Skype interview in a few days. Does anyone have recommendation for a good place to do this ?
Coworking spaces sound like a good solution (Hubba or TheHive ?), but it seems like I would need to rent an entire meeting room, is that right ?

Thanks

As I don’t know how long I may be in Thailand so can’t commit to a minimum term like a 12-month contract (1-month rolling is ok).

I’m hoping to find the best SIM to stick in my phone and get as much data as possible - ideally enough for laptop tethering when Wi-Fi isn’t immediately available also.

Is it possible to either sign-up in advance and get it delivered; or to get it from a shop and activate it that day? Or is there a waiting time of days for it to be sent and activated?

I have just been reading up on the new Thai visa situation and I am very confused as to whether I can extend my ‘visa exempt 30 days stay" by another 30 days at a local immigration office whilst already in Thailand or not? According to the Austrian Foreign ministry website I cannot but then several recently updated travel blogs say you can? And visa runs seem to be more or less out of the question now since the authorities are crackin’ down on that since the Bangkok attacks?

Any EU Europeans had any recent experience with that? Just want to make sure I can avoid trouble.

I’m expecting to make the transition to a nomadic lifestyle starting January. My first stops will be roughly three months across various areas of Thailand. Aside from my (9-5) remote work and exploring the region, I’m interested in doing some local volunteer and/or non-profit work.

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of organizations which accept individuals looking to give their time and help out on the weekends? I’m going to start doing some searching but figured why not inquire here as well.

Thanks!

My fiancée(who is British) is on her second 30 days visa exemption in Thailand. We’re considering getting the visa exemption extension for 30 days and staying longer.

Our only worry is: Does this mean we would hit 90 days in total? We need to return in March to fly home from Bangkok. We are worried we’d be refused entry in March as they might count the visa exemption extension against us.

Any advice is appreciated!

Cheers

I’m heading to Phuket in mid January. Thinking about staying in the Karon neighborhood. I saw some posts that said there are lots of beach cafes in Phuket, and that most cafes in Thailand have wifi. Not sure if that logic extends to Phuket and Karon in particular?

I plan to be in India for the next 3 - 4 months and then move to Thailand to work.
I plan to keep my MacBook at home till then.

Can I trust the mail in Thailand with it?
Is it safer to take it with me to India? (I really prefer not to…)

To be more specific, by Thailand I mean Chiang Mai or Phuket

Hey! Moving to Thailand from January-March, looking for some epic coworking places to work and stay. It has to be somewhere in the nature. Any suggestions? Tnx!

I tried Kohub, but enjoy more spending some time in various bars and restaurants with view on the beach and serving fruit shakes, or even lunch. Do you know any place like that with good wifi?

I’m moving to Bangkok in November, and shooting to find an apt. with wifi for under $500 / month, for probably just a one month stay.

More curious about which neighborhoods to look for, something lively and fun as well. And any methods too, I’ve been looking at Airbnbs but get the feeling that it’s a little inflated on there.

Thanks!

I’m inviting all the digital nomads on a mini get together in a not so distant gate away in Thailand. Space comfortable for work and for personal life, which will help you get perfect balance

Limited special offer for digital nomads Would be happy to hear from everyone. Art projects, startups, events, small conferences are most welcomed

For details look www.workingretreat.com

When looking for places in Chiang Mai to stay, what are good districts that I should target? I don’t want to find myself either too far from everything or somewhere that is super shady.

So either if I choose the 30day-no-visa way, or the 60-day-visa which I have to apply for in the embassy, they require that I have a flight ticket to go back from Thailand, or a ticket to go into another country.

But but… I was thinking of getting out of the country with a different means of transportation, maybe bus/train/boat to go to Cambodia/Laos/Malaysia. Can I explain this to the authorities when they ask me for the 2nd flight ticket, so I don’t need to buy a roundtrip/multi one?

Thanks in advance

This is a FAQ, a “lightning rod” of sorts, and there are whole sites dedicated to discussion about the topic, but what is the real Thai visa situation in 2015 for nomads?

I’ve spent hours reading about this, but with all the tangents and pointless debate in various forums, it’s difficult to get straight facts and answers (to the extent possible, understanding that this can be a gray area).

One one hand there are people talking about staying 10+ years, but then there’s advice from, for example, @CoffeeShopCEO, saying: “Thai consulates are also beginning to reject people who have back to back visas in their passports, so after a year or so, go do some travelling.”

It seems confusing to talk on one hand (as so many video series and similar money-making ventures do) about all the great deals on apartments and long-term stays, and on the other about taking all your stuff with you on border runs, because you may not be coming back.

I imagine the best answer is “YMMV,” but it seems like a precarious way to live while trying to build a business: stretching the truth–or outright lying–about reasons for travel, hoping you don’t get the wrong government representative on the wrong day, trying to get the foreign income exemption without paying taxes in the destination country, etc.

From the glut of videos by Chiang Mai-based foreigners alone, it would seem that many are living (and selling) this lifestyle successfully, but it isn’t quite as simple as portrayed, no?

Hey!

I want to live in Chiang Mai (just like everyone else). I’m an NZ citizen and I’ve been staying in Malaysia the last year-ish on a tourist visa doing runs every 90 days. Immigration are giving me a hard time so I have to leave and Thailand is the place I want to be.

I would love some info from anyone especially NZer’s about getting a 1 year multi entry visa to Thailand. I want to do this all myself and save on third party fees so please give me some advice, I’ve spent a few hours doing research but I’m still totally confused.

Thanks

Hi all!

My girlfriend and I are moving to Bangkok in 2 months. We’ve both been there a few times, but only on holiday.

We would like to know if there are any tips of where to best find an appartment.

Also which area do you think is best to live and why?

Thanks in advance for your help and answers!!

Douwe

I’m trying to organize my winter 2016 getaway and plan to spend a couple of months working from a beach in Thailand.

So far I have my eyes set on Ko Lanta and/or Ko Phangan as these two seem to offer good co-working spaces and lots of great beaches.

I would love to hear from anyone who has been to either of the two (or both) and what you liked/disliked about them or if you’d recommend one or the other?

Thanks!

Hey ! I’m starting to plan my next move and I came across Hua Hin in Thailand. I would like to stay there at least a month so I’d love some general inputs (cost of living, accommodation, nightlife…).

Hey all, I know I should probably be asking this on a travel forum but I figure there are plenty of you in Chiang Mai that would have the answer for me… I’m coming for two months Dec/Jan (yay!) and looking at tickets for a side trip by plane to Krabi… round trip is ~$76 right now (probably not including checked back). I’m always anxious and book things too far in advance, but was wondering if I can expect to get a price like this (i.e. at least under $100 return, nonstop) closer to last minute. Especially since January is busy travel season for Thailand… thanks for your input !!! Can’t wait to meet some of you in Chiang Mai.

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some advice from people who are dual citizens. I hold dual Italian and British citizenship and I want to visit Thailand later this year. I was planning to get a 3 x 60 visa on my Brit passport, but it looks like I might need to travel out of Thailand a month after first arriving there. I don’t really want to burn one of my 60 day entries like that so I thought, what if I first enter with my Italian passport and just get the normal 30 day visa on arrival? Then when i return I can use my first 60 day on the Brit passport.
does any one have experience of this and is it doable/OK?

Many thanks!
Sara

Hey everyone, I haven’t actually set out into the digital nomad lifestyle yet, but plan to within this year. Bangkok is (was) a place that I was looking into very deeply as my first location to go.

But today a bomb went off near the centre of the city:

This scares me massively, and worries me to ever travel there… after this event would you still recommend going to Bangkok?

I hope everyone who is in Bangkok that is apart of this forum is okay, I’m pretty sure I read that 6 foreigners died in the blast… RIP to all the souls who were lost.

As for my tastes: I was more fond of Ao Nang than Phuket, and generally enjoy a peaceful paradise non-urban vibe for living, but with people and things going on nearby. Considering 1-3 years, and just hope to hear about personal tastes and impressions. Thanks!

I picked up my Thailand visa today. I wanted a double or triple entry visa but forgot to specify this in my application. This is my first visa ever and thus a rookie mistake. I told the lady who gave me my visa that I had made a mistake and asked how I could get a double instead. She was of zero help unfortunately and said maybe next time.

But I know there is a way! Any help is greatly appreciated. I fly out on Friday, July 3 so my time is kind of limited although I can apply for a visa and pick it up just 2 days later.

On the front page of nomadlist.com, the first photo of Chiangmai says “$722/m” and when I click it, it says “chiang mai costs $511 per month to live and work remotely”. what is the real cost? I don’t understand. I want to live there in an apartment and work remotely, use wifi, and eat out everyday. I’m thinking of relocating there. thank you

Hi there - I’m planning a coding retreat with my two cofounders somewhere in Thailand or Vietnam for a month.

Are there any nice beach towns outside of Phuket in Thailand that have fast internet and are relatively cheap in Thailand?

Hey,

I’m living and working in Saigon, for an online company…and I need to plan our business retreat that will be held in Thailand later this year. I’m trying to decide between Phuket and Krabi Ao Nang- so I would really appreciate talking to someone on the ground in either location!

I could use some opinions/suggestions about whether either of these places would be suitable for a group of over 100 people to stay and the convenience of planning daily activities for such a large group? (I’ve already been looking for accommodations, and it seems like there are many options in each place- so really, it would just be nice to get some personal opinions from being in these places Thanks!

Hello folks

I’ll be visiting Thailand for the month of May after a yearlong stay in France. I’ve heard that getting dental work is super affordable in Thailand and I was hoping to get a cleaning + checkup before returning home to Canada in June.

Anyone have any experience with this? I’d love to get your thoughts/experience.

Thanks,
Ryan

Has anyone stayed through the burning season in Chiang Mai before? I’ve been here for a few days (I wasn’t aware of burning season before I got here) and saw some reports about air quality that are a bit alarming. Does anyone have firsthand experience?

If you’ve stayed through it before, did you notice any health effects? I know it’s supposed to clear up soon-ish, so I’m mostly looking to find out if my concerns are paranoid or if I should be legitimately worried.

Thanks!

Hello!

I’m planning on staying in Chiang Mai for a month-ish in May. So far I’ve been using Airbnb to book places but was wondering if there are any other options that might be a bit cheaper.

Looking for a two bedroom.

Thanks

Hey everyone!

I’ve seen a lot of nomads here who are based out of Chiang Mai. Given the changes in visa rules lately with Thailand making it harder to do visa runs, etc. I have a few burning questions that I would love to get some insight on:

1. Taxes - Does Thailand still not tax internationally earned income? As in, if it’s earned outside Thailand, and stays outside Thailand, it’s not taxed? (I read somewhere that this was the case but just need some solid answers…)

2. Visas - How do you now manage to stay in Thailand for more than 60 days? Or do you just get a double entry 60 day visa back home from the consulates and then stay 120 days (with a short trip outside), or do something else? It seems like having to move around every few months can be quite a hassle, especially without a guarantee of getting in again. To frame this differently, what is the easiest way to get a longer term residency in Thailand? What is everyone doing these days now that the duration of the visa exemption on arrival at land borders has been shortened?

3. Do any of you bank locally or is everything in offshore accounts or incorporated elsewhere?

4. Is it possible to avoid farang rates after you stay for a while and most importantly, is it possible to integrate at all with the local populace given the language/cultural barrier? To put it differently, did you manage to make any/many Thai friends or do you mostly hangout with expats?

Just a few questions I had because Chiang Mai looks like a lovely place to settle down for 6 months to a year but especially on the visa front there seem to be some administrative hurdles.

Thanks in advance for any info

Hi everebody,

I am new on nomadlist. We are from Holland but are now living in Spain.
We have a home based telemarketing company which is based in Holland. We work with a Voip connection in Spain where we call to Holland. This works perfect.

We are thinking of moving to Bangkok. Best way to find out is to test offcourse, but before that I was curious if there is someone here who has experience with a good voip connection from Asia to Europe.

Thanks in advance for your answers!

Douwe