Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Since Justin is making a big jump (he didn’t ask, I’m volunteering this), and some of you have shown interest in eventually moving, I thought I’d write something about what I’ve learned needs to be done before leaving the States and moving here! Some things are no-brainers, but others are lessons learned.
1. Set Up a Home Base in the U.S.
First, find a family member or close friend whose address you can use as your home base. They can look through your mail, forward important things, or at least warn you about things like replacement credit cards or official correspondence.
- Change all bank and credit card addresses to that home base.
- American credit card companies don’t like sending new cards to Thailand. JC and I have both dealt with this.
- Banks and CC issuers sometimes treat international accounts differently and may require you to reapply for a card issued under a different system.
2. Dealing with Calls & Account Security
It’s not as easy as you’d think to call the U.S. from Thailand!
- Skype and WhatsApp are the main options, but Skype requires payment, and WhatsApp only works if the other person is also on the app.
- This makes it hard to talk to companies when you need to verify your identity.
- Many accounts use SMS verification, but if you no longer have access to your old U.S. phone number, you’re screwed.
3. Don’t Overpack!
Try not to bring too much stuff.
- Electronics: Most U.S. electronics won’t work unless they support 220V.
- Things are cheap as hell here, so don’t stress about bringing household items.
- Carrying huge suitcases around while you’re looking for a place to rent is a nightmare.
4. Be Smart About Renting
- NEVER rent directly from a landlord without having a lawyer look at the contract.
- Use FazWaz or a trusted agency—they protect tenants.
- Tons of expats lose their deposits because they went through a landlord with no protection. This happens all the time!
5. Ease Into the Lifestyle
- Start slow. Don’t move directly into the party zones. After a month, you’ll slow down on partying, and it’s much easier to relax outside those areas.
- Start in Bangkok first—moving from there to other areas in Thailand is way easier.
- Living in Pattaya is a completely different experience than living in Bangkok—believe me!
6. Finding a Place is Harder Than You Think
- Just because a listing says “available” online doesn’t mean it actually is.
- Some places come with hidden problems—party noise, bad traffic, bad landlords.
- It took me over a month of searching every day, and I settled too fast the first time.
- 45 square meters wasn’t enough for me—especially if you plan to have company over. You might be fine, but I wasn’t!
7. Banking & Money Transfers
- You WILL need a Thai bank account.
- U.S. and Thai banks don’t communicate well because of different routing number systems.
- That’s why you need Wise (formerly TransferWise) to move money around easily.
Final Thoughts
These are just my opinions and experiences to help you avoid some of the mistakes I made. If you think your bank will cater to you just because they did in the U.S., think again! Feel free to ask questions, and I’ll answer if I know for sure.
