Winter is well and truly on the way in the UK. With Storm Chloe following hotly on the heels of the destructive Storm Boelo, Brits could be forgiven to longing wistfully for warmer climes.
One European decided to take action and discovered a country with sweltering 30C November temperatures that is 6,000 miles away. Another added bonus is the cheap property prices, which are apparently incredibly cost-effective.
Pensioner Luis, 68, decided to quit Spain and enjoy his retirement in Thailand. And it sounds like he doesn’t regret the move.
He told YouTuber Sergio Castillo Calderon: “With 20,000 euros (£16,700), you can build yourself a house and live a peaceful life.” Luis lives in the Isan region in the north-east of the south-east Asian country, far away from the traditional tourist haunts such as Bangkok, Phuket and the island of Ko Samui.
Luis says he built his house for the extremely small amount of money on land owned by his wife, who is a Thai national. There is a catch though – foreigners face restrictions regarding land ownership in Thailand, so it is important to understand the local laws before making a move.
The expat says his usual day can begin as early as 3.30am or 4am when he makes coffee and sits on the porch. He then takes his dogs for a walk and plans his day, noting that he no longer has the sense of urgency he had while living in Europe.
Luis also highlighted the cost of household expenses, which are understandably far lower than in Britain and in western European countries. His electricity bill comes to around 60 euros (c.£50) a month.
The decision to move to the other side of the world wasn’t based solely on economic factors, however. Luis values the atmosphere in his local community and appreciates living a less fast-paced life.
He said: “You realise that many things weren’t as important as you once thought. I don’t even have a TV. It’s more relaxing this way.
“Here, no one honks their horn, no one shoves you. If something doesn’t go as planned, it’s no big deal.”
He doesn’t have an alarm clock and there are no traffic or urgent phone notifications to disturb him.
Luis says his move to Thailand has not been without its downsides, though. The retiree says he has found it difficult to get private medical insurance due to his health history.
Thailand is blessed with high temperatures throughout the year, with the average high monthly temperatures ranging from 29C in December to 37C in April. Anyone thinking of moving to Thailand does have to cope with the rainy season, though, which generally runs from May to October, peaking in September and October.