They say what to do now in Thailand and is it worth moving there to work remotely.
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Remote work and life in Asia was a visible trend among Russian entrepreneurs, programmers and freelancers in the early 2010s. And today, downsifting has a new meaning - if all the work has become remote due to coronavirus, then why not move closer to the ocean. We understand the advantages and minuses on the example of Thailand and those who spent there all 2020 during a pandemic.
Sergey, Pattaya
The most "hard" quarantine in Pattaya lasted from about from March to May 2020:, massage salons, gyms did not work, supermarkets closed at 9 pm. The boundaries between the provinces were closed -. At some point, even access to the beaches were closed - it was necessary to go to the neighboring province 150 kilometers there and back to swim. And then closer to the evening.
For the last time, everything was closed for quarantine in January 2021, after the outbreak of coronavirus in Bangkok. Some restrictions are still preserved - supermarkets work up to 11 pm, and not around the clock, at the entrance to shopping centers and markets check the temperature, there are free sanitizers everywhere, the percent of Thais's ninety continues to wear masks every day. But all major tourist places are restaurants, hotels, zoos, water parks and temples - have already opened.
You can navigate through the islands and provinces of Thailand without restrictions - aircraft, bus or by car. We were still only on the three islands :. Nature on the islands is amazing, especially on Khanga. After each trip you feel how to fill with energy for new things.
I did not plan to spend 2020 in Thailand. Initially, I wanted to go to Bali for a couple of weeks in January. But the wife suggested overreating the whole family in Thailand. Flight tickets Moscow to Bangkok on us with my wife, a child of 6 years, a dog and a cat cost about 80 thousand rubles.
In March 2020, the countries and we thought, where it is better to wait for a pandemic: in Russia with free medicine, friends and parents or in Thailand in warm and next to the sea. We decided to stay - I wanted to extend the stay at sea, and tickets to Moscow rose sharply in price.
We have our own business with your business - the Digital Marketing Agency for Projects in the Sphere of Cryptovaya and Blockchain Decent Marketing Agency - Promote Cryptoprojects in Asia countries. We work with clients from different regions and time zones, so you have to adjust the schedule: go to bed at 2 o'clock in the morning, we get up around 11 am on Bangkok.
We shoot a house with a swimming pool, so when the pandemic began, there were no problems with the presence of a living space - each has its own room, there is a separate space where we are going together, and a gazebo on the street.
When we arrived here (at the height of the season), a house with three rooms, a swimming pool and parking took place for 30-35 thousand baht per month - this is about 70-85 thousand rubles, plus electricity and water. . One-bedroom apartment in five minutes from the sea will cost 5-6 thousand baht per month - about 12-15 thousand rubles.
Now a great time for a trip to Thailand is no crowd of tourists, many places are open: temples, shrines, islands, and there is no fear to get coronavirus. Freelancers are better to move to Phangan - there is an active youth party deletener and freelancers. For family people with children, Pattaya will come up.
In Thailand, you can live on any "wallet" - at least $ 3,000, at least $ 1 thousand. And there will always be warm, sea, fresh fruits and seafood on "pleasant" prices. In addition, it is very safe here.
- After an arrival you need to spend two weeks in quarantine, so it is better to go to Thailand with a tourist visa. It is easy to extend for a month for 1900 baht - 4500 rubles. This can be done in the migration office in Thailand.
- Pattaya has cafes and restaurants for every taste - Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Italian, Georgian cuisine. But.
- Select accommodation in advance. If urban life is important: shops, cinemas, nightclubs, it is better to live in the city. There are fewer houses there and they are more expensive - most likely they will have to remove condo.
- Be sure to try water entertainment when you arrive in Thailand - hydrocycles, wakeboard.
I spent a pandemic on the island of Samui, for all the time there was 5 cases of diseases. Compared to other parts of Thailand and, moreover, with the rest of the world, the situation is calm.
On Samui, I moved from Novosibirsk 6 years ago. Friends opened yoga-hotel here and invited me to work. I am a meeting manager: corresponding with guests on the Internet, booking rooms, answer questions. The hotel in which I work is the official Thai organization, so I have, which I periodically extend.
The island - it was impossible to leave nor come here, did not recommend attending public places, and in stores and supermarkets it was possible to walk only in a mask. But the fear was not infected. I perceived this situation as a big vacation: I lived calmly, rested, enjoyed all the advantages of Thailand - the sun, the sea, fruit.
Of course, lacks travel. Before Pandemic, I am in Malaysia and Philippines. Already a year I can not go anywhere and there is a small nostalgia. But while you can freely explore Thailand, for example, 20 minutes from Samui is the island of Phangan, I usually go there early in the morning and returning to the evening.
Now a good opportunity for freelancers, and those who work remotely, live on the islands: there are almost no tourists, the beaches are empty, and the prices for housing are low - apartments for a month can be removed for $ 200 (15 thousand rubles), a good family house - from $ 330 (25 thousand rubles) per month. Most salons and shops are running. You can travel around the country, resting in nature, ride the sea, waterfalls.
There are no strict restrictions on Samui. You need to wear masks, but there were no cases of infection for a long time. Life goes on. Our Yoga Hotel Satva Samui Hotel works - just guests have become less. Previously, we worked more with Russian tourists, and now with foreigners - switched to domestic tourism. We are coming from Bangkok, from other parts of Thailand - within the country, you can move freely. We offer part of the services online, for example, yoga classes.
Try local fruits: Mango, Durian, Mangoustin. Durian should be fresh, just open, then he will like it. In June, the mango season begins ,.
Visit Chiang Mai - an ancient city in the north of Thailand. There are many temples and unusual architecture.
Try a local unusual dessert - "Pile Rice" - rice, which is prepared for a couple and serve with mango.
- Trave out to Tao. This is a small island with ideal conditions for snorkeling and diving.
- If you arrive in the rainy season, then you will definitely visit the waterfalls - on Samui them about 20.
- On Samui, more than 20 Thai temples and 2 Chinese. In the temple on the mountain, at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level, standing the statue of the Golden Buddha, which was recently renovated and overlooking the whole island.
When the pandemic began, in Phuket, it was impossible to move between the districts. Forbidden the work of bars, clubs, massages, shopping centers. Only food stores worked. But after removal of restrictions, it became "exhausted."
I moved to Phuket from Moscow 7 years ago. I went to relax, I really liked it - I decided to move. She first worked in local real estate, then in tourism, but with the beginning of the pandemic, the company closed. There was even a thought to leave, but still I decided to stay and later found a remote job with a marketer and online sales.
The work is that I communicate with customers and consult them. Difference with Moscow 4 hours. Therefore, before o'clock the day I am engaged in household matters: I clean up, I go to the store, I go to the sea, I meet with friends, I go somewhere. And from the day and up to 9-10 pm I work at home: I call clients, I communicate with colleagues, consult. . I'm not sitting at the computer all the time - I can go for lunch or at sea - swim or look at the sunset.
Now everything works in Phuket, but the pandemic still influenced my consumer behavior: I began to spend less. It takes about 10 thousand baht per month (about 25 thousand rubles), rent apartments - 7 thousand baht (approximately 18 thousand rubles), Internet - 500 baht per month (1300 rubles). I have my own car and a motorbike, so I'm not spending rent for rent. I am not particularly much - 1500 baht per month (3500 rubles) comes to gasoline.
In economical mode, you can live by 50-60 thousand rubles. In Moscow, even though there is a housing, my spending would be much more. 2020 was complex in Thailand - in terms of income. But on the other hand, here is safe, good ecology, there is a sea, sun and fruit.
Russians with a pandemic left a lot ,. You can always find with whom to meet, chat "live", find out where to buy or repair one or another thing, ask for help, organize a joint event - a tour, sports meeting or fridiving. Everyone became closer.
Olga tips:- In Facebook, there is a group of unified reference on Phuket - there you can communicate with Russians living on Phuket, discuss different questions.
- Now for a trip to Thailand you need to take insurance, tickets, visa and quarantine hotel.
- Be sure to travel through the islands, for example, Phephi or Similan - there is very unusual nature.
- Get a visa if you are going to come more than 30 days. If you arrive for a shorter time, the visa is not needed. An application for any visa can be submitted online, not less than 15 working days before the date of departure. You can extend for money. In the case of this can be done once. The visa itself - for 60 days, extension is another 30. It is worth the extension of $ 40. It is issued for 90 days and then it can be extended for the same period two times (only 270 days). Its extension costs $ 80. Therefore, if you want to stay for a long time, lay the costs in the budget.
- Get a certificate of entry. This is a mandatory requirement in any case - you fly with a visa or without. You can apply online.
- Prepare a package of documents for registration on the flight: passport, certificate of entry, visa, hotel reservation, medical insurance, two references - about the absence of COVID and on permission to the flight.
- Prepare documents for customs control in Thailand: passport, return ticket, immigration card, Form T.8.
- Book a hotel and complete quarantine in a special hotel for 15 nights. Quarantine is a prerequisite for entry into Thailand. The hotel is paid by the tourist alone.
Now in Thailand you can easily move through the islands and the entire territory of the country. And the main costs of expenses for life - rental housing and transport - decreased by double.
Learn the latest news, to prepare for the trip and the tourist management of Thailand will help to plan the journey.
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