Thailand and poker

RasTa

Sure about that? I wouldn't spend that in Ireland.

1stimpressions

Iago wrote: »

So can anybody give a reasonable real-life insight into what's required in €'s per month for a comfortable living in either Thailand or Vietnam?? (will read the 2+2 threads later as they're blocked in work)

I'm considering taking an extended (possibly 1year+) break in one of the two and I'm trying to figure out what i'll need. Would ideally like a decent broadband and cable tv service where I'm staying although it may be too much to ask

From the research ive done. $1000 is definately doable. The average wage is like $450 a month so work up from there. From the forums ive seen some westerners make do with that alone! The western-type area of bangkok rents start at E150 a month. If you want decent cable and internet and most likely a shared pool and gym its can be had from E200. These are internet prices from sales agents so actually doing a deal out there is quite possible to get a better deal. (This is my own plan as renting a hotel room for a week or so will be pretty cheap.) Now this is bangkok and from as far as i can see this is the highest cost of living in thailand and probably Vietnam too.

If you plan on getting ****faced 5nights a week, constantly eating in the dearest restaurants, or want to live in a mansion then that will obv. cost you more. It depends on your general kevel of degeneracy.

craigb

im planning on living off 2.5keu for 3 months in phuket but thats with acc covered and also stickin to strict diet due to training... i fly out sunday at 4pm:D:D:D back in time for the io:)

jpr1973

I spent nearly 7k eur in 3 months travelling asia but that includes everything including losing /replacing cameras and phones a few times and drinking two days on/two days off for the 3 month duration. If you go on a proper irish style drinking session over two days you will end up spending about 160 euro, more depending on what city your in, vietiene cheaper than bankok, bangkok cheaper than kuala lumpar etc.

spectre

Damnit, I'm so tempted to feck off back to Bangkok and live it up on the backs of the online small stakes donators.

latenia

As others have said, the broadband in hotels is tilt inducing. My best piece of advice is to not play at all for several weeks after you get there-even going as far as using the self-exclusion feature on sites to make sure you're not tempted. Get the acclimatisation, time zone and crazy benders out of the way first and get yourself settled into a routine.

1stimpressions

Just a thinly veiled ... update. I convinced a couple of mates along so heading to Bangkok for at least 3months, hopefully much longer.

The visa takes a few working days from the consulate in Dublin.

The vaccines i got costed E170 all-in. I used the TMB.ie who specialise in vaccinations and had the vaccines on site around the country. Recommended. I plan on hotelling it to start and have a place after a week or so. Anyone in the area can buzz me here if they want and il try to give some info on living in Thailand.
Il be arriving on the 20th of January.

Thanks for the info in this thread and any more would be much appreciated. gg Ireland.

dK1NG

shoutman wrote: »

Was in Thailand during the summer, BKK is nice, Phuket is to be avoided imo, way nicer places such as Koh Phi Phi.
It really is dirt cheap and the street food is very decent.


Enjoy.

Gotta disagree with IanMc - Phi Phi was one of my fav spots. Was there in 2004 (3 wks before Tsunami hit it), although admittedly it was a backpacking holiday. I dont think it would be a good spot to set up house, but for a visit for a week or two you cant go wrong imo!


Doing English teaching, or some other job, would also be a great idea as s/o suggested above! Best of luck with it!

Mullicker

Heading tuesday, can't wait:D. I don't think i'll be staying long term in bangkok though, only booked 5 days in a hotel to start, probably head down to Phuket for a week and then to Chiang Mai, thinking of staying in Chiang Mai long term but won't decide for definate until i have seen each place. GL in Bkk.

The Snapper

Gl guys and keep us updated

RoopeHattu

Hi guys! I've been in Bangkok for 6 days now. Internet connection has worked here perfectly so if you want to play poker here I would recommend Sourire@Rattanakosin Island.

I'm planning to go to the islands on Sunday. Koh Phi Phi interest me most. Please tell me how can I play poker there. I really don't want to stay in Phuket

latenia

I don't know about Phi Phi but on other islands you'll be using satellite internet which is almost unworkable in terms of reliability and cost.

1stimpressions

So im three months in Thailand. Ya that playing poker went out the window for a few months as i saw the country but im grinding away the last few weeks.

Bangkok is an amazing city to live in and because of the cost and ease of transport to the rest of the country (flying) id say it would be an ideal place to base yourself for most people. If you must live near a beach then that is different. Chaing Mai is far more relaxed and certainly cheaper than Bangkok. I spent only a week there but it made a nice impression. Phuket or possibly Samuai are your only options if you want GOOD internet connections long term. Transport is not cheap on Phuket because of a cartel so a mode of transport would be a must in the long term. Whereas in Bangkok taxis are extremely plentiful and extremely cheap. Im also living near the cleanest subway ive ever seen in the world and a skytrain which are both efficient.

There really is an amazing amount of stuff going on in this country. If you are interested check out the 2 + 2 forums. There must be hundreds on that site alone living here.

Im going to stay at least another three months so if anyone wants any up to date info i will do my best to help them through PM or here.

Mullicker

Been here 4 months, i'm in chiang mai, love it here, but will be movin on to oz soon. Chiang mai is cheap, my apartment is really really f nice, and for roughly 200 euros a month, i have a scooter for getting about, for about 80 euro a month, after that have electricity and water charges, which is depends mostly on the amount of aircon around 1000 baht on avg, spend about 300euros a month on food, eating out a ton. After this it depends on how much you like to spend on yourself, entertainment and shopping and doing tourist stuff. 40 euro a month internet. I trained at muay thai gym once a day 5days a week for 80 euro a month, done this for 2 months, but gave it up because i wasn't playing much poker when doing this.

I'd say you would want 1k euro a month here at least. The idea of living here is to get more living for your money. You could get away with less staying in cheaper apartments, eating exclusively thai food or cooking for yourself, going out once a week etc. Sorry for my costings in mix of thai baht and euros, also the exchange rate has gone from 1euro=45baht, to 1euro=40baht since i've been here.

1stimpressions

Mullicker wrote: »

Been here 4 months, i'm in chiang mai, love it here, but will be movin on to oz soon. Chiang mai is cheap, my apartment is really really f nice, and for roughly 200 euros a month, i have a scooter for getting about, for about 80 euro a month, after that have electricity and water charges, which is depends mostly on the amount of aircon around 1000 baht on avg, spend about 300euros a month on food, eating out a ton. After this it depends on how much you like to spend on yourself, entertainment and shopping and doing tourist stuff. 40 euro a month internet. I trained at muay thai gym once a day 5days a week for 80 euro a month, done this for 2 months, but gave it up because i wasn't playing much poker when doing this.

I'd say you would want 1k euro a month here at least. The idea of living here is to get more living for your money. You could get away with less staying in cheaper apartments, eating exclusively thai food or cooking for yourself, going out once a week etc. Sorry for my costings in mix of thai baht and euros, also the exchange rate has gone from 1euro=45baht, to 1euro=40baht since i've been here.

I got almost 49 baht for the euro the day i arrived i think! Just over 40 today. Thats a big swing! its not the strength of the baht as such but the euro that is diving. Wish i changed a lot of money in January Ya the money still goes pretty far though. Quality of life is pretty good when compared to Irish costs of living.

Royal Irish

The strength of the Baht is mostly due to the trouble in Greece and the eurozone in general. I would expect the Baht to lose some strength against the Euro come june/july as thats the second rice harvest of the year, the last one being in January. It usually lowers to help rice exports as rice its Thailands biggest physical export. If you look over the years the Baht usually goes in a W shape with High season for tourists and rice exports.

Hopefully I will be able to catch the tail end of my expected good rates come september as I will be in Bangkok for 2 weeks.

I also heard a rumour that the Thai central bank were keeping the Baht high to add extra cost to Thaksin pumping money into the country for the red shirts. I dont buy into that at all.

5Aces

what is the weather like june-august in Bangkok?

Royal Irish

Not too hot, but expect alot of rain.