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Sounds ideal based on the above. Any alternatives you have in mind as backup?

Comparing Hua Hin to Phuket. Hua Hin is not as hot,

less expensive and also has a beautiful beach. Phuket has

dozens of beautiful beaches but is way more crowded.

Hua Hin is a modern city at least what I have seen I only

spent a few days there. I live in Phuket

Hua Hin is Still a Good place to retire but if you want it quieter Cha Am would be my choice, just next to Hua Hin you can find condos near the beach, am living in the VIP condo it’s one of the few condo’s right on the beach 100 feet from the water.  We have a ocean front condo for 500.00 a month but we had to do some work before we moved in the wall paper was peeling off the walls from the heat of being closed for many years, we had the wall paper removed and had the whole apartment painted including the balcony, replaced the furniture, bought a tv, new curtains, new bed and sheets.  We have been living here 3 years.  We paid for the remodeling but the owner said she would never raise the rent.  So we lease for 12 months renewal every year.  the prices on other move in condo’s are a lot more expensive and the places are much smaller and more than 200 metres from the beach.  You can’t beat the price or the view.  They have many condo’s available in this building but in order to get a Good price I would recommend you have the work done yourself. Labor is cheap in Thailand.  Good Luck  Patrick

Interesting.

@California4me

Thanks.  So Cha Am is about 30Km/20 Miles north?  Average time to get down to Hua Hin?  How accessible are the type of things that made Hua Hin attractive (besides beach   ), like golf, medical, music scene for blues/jazz/R&R, classical), other activities?

Would expect to stay the first few nights in a hotel, but can you point me to anyone whom I can contact in advance to set up viewings of prospective 3 month rentals?  I would expect to be 4 - 6 weeks in before making the decision to extend, or go on to next prospective country Vietnam.

What is the situation in Vietnam? Didn't think they have a retirement visa but maybe a different visa works. Danang and Hoian are nice. Probably better off living in Danang or maybe in Hoian near the beach. The old town gets pretty busy with tourists.

Dalat is meant to be good but not been.

@Intl guy jim

Welcome! Your background in languages is impressive—Thai being your 6th language means you already have the 'linguistic muscle' needed for the tonal challenges here.

Regarding Hua Hin: The 'misinformation' usually comes from the fact that Hua Hin has grown. It’s no longer a sleepy village; it’s a linear city. However, it still holds that 'royal resort' vibe compared to the frantic energy of Pattaya. If you want that oceanfront, high-floor experience, look at the Khao Takiab area (just south of the center) or the northern end towards Cha-am. They offer exactly that breeze and view without the Soi Bintabaht noise.

For your Thai studies: Since you’re used to 4-hour daily immersion, I highly recommend checking out TLC (The Language Centre) in Hua Hin. They are known for being more structured than the usual 'holiday-style' schools. If you’re really serious about immersion, you might also look into ALA (Advanced Language Academy) — they often use the Union Method (all-Thai from day one), which seems to fit your learning style perfectly.

One tip for May/June: It's the start of the rainy season. It doesn't rain all day, but the humidity jumps. Make sure your apartment has good cross-ventilation or you'll be living with the AC on 24/7.

Good luck with the 3-month trial! It’s the best way to see if the 'International Living' dream matches your reality

@daviddomoney

Thanks, after investing a fair amount of time and some expense into a visa application process in one of my LatAm stops, I decided to not get too deep into the weeds until I was pretty certain I knew I wanted to stay longer term. 

Appreciate the suggestions for places in Vietnam.  I've been trying to back track to a suggestion a year ago (+/-) to what I understood was a low cost, laid back island with some expat related services and activities.  Does that sound like any you mention?

@sitewithsoul

Thanks!  I had not taken seasons into account.  I wish I had been able to stick to my original intended timeline to get there late Feb....  Some family responsibilities made me push my departure....

As far as tonal ear, it will be an interesting challenge!  My 4th language is/was Mandarin Chinese ('84-'85) and I struggled with the tones.  Sadly I've lost most of it from lack of use, though a few weeks in China 15 years ago started bringing it back.

Regarding schools.  You mention that the ALA starts with nothing but Thai from day one (similar to the French I learned as a teen in LatAm at the Cultural outreach of the French Embassy..)   Am I correctly interpreting that the TLC starts out slower, with some of the instruction in English?

Again, thanks for your detailed suggestions!

What is the situation in Vietnam? Didn't think they have a retirement visa but maybe a different visa works. Danang and Hoian are nice. Probably better off living in Danang or maybe in Hoian near the beach. The old town gets pretty busy with tourists.
Dalat is meant to be good but not been. - @daviddomoney

Dalat is a very liveable city with a climate similar to central France.

I think the island you talk about might be Phu Quoc

@daviddomoney

Thanks, the descriptions I get from Google Maps sound like it might be, though also some negatives.  Might select someplace else as an initial base and see about going for a day or two to scope out (if I don't immediately feel like Thailand is my goal... 

At this point Vietnam is probably going to be one of my 90 day Thai exit destinations,,,

Or maybe was Can Dao Islands, Nam Du Islands, Hon Son, Cat Ba, Cham Islands

Have you considered Indonesia and Philippines also?

Or maybe was Can Dao Islands, Nam Du Islands, Hon Son, Cat Ba, Cham Islands - @daviddomoney

Nam Du islands and the Cham islands are all wonderful for a few days, but you would find it very strange to live there as a westerner.

@daviddomoney

I had, though further down my list.  I went early to Jakarta for business a couple of decades ago, and got over to Jogjakarta for a few days.  Loved it to visit, but understand it could be dangerous for foreigners in more recent years.  I do have Bali and an adjacent island on my longer term search list.

Never made it to the Philippines, but again, maybe....  though I am more likely to head over to check out (living vs. visiting for business) a couple of places in Europe first.....

@daviddomoney

A wealth of choices!  Thanks!  Probably the only way I will know if one was my original recommendation will be to track down the source.

@Malcolmleitrim

Thanks, Malcolm.  I'm curious what leads you to say that.  Is it language issues (I'm pretty much committed to learn the language of anyplace I decide to settle, and will dedicate some effort to picking up the basics of anyplace I'm scoping as part of my decision-making process), or lack of infrastructure we tend to take for granted, or ???

There is always positive and negative about any city (and other things).

You are not going to find out before go and stay there for some time.

Like me, I dislike every Tourist City I/we have stay at.

It is not what i was looking for.

Pattaya and Jomtien beach area is bad in my opinion, being there many time, But never in the water.

Sometimes it was the look of the water, Other time the smell.

Pattaya have many hospital and social group.

Pattaya is build in a hull, and have bad sewer system.

So medium to heavy rain and people have to walk in the sewer water.

Be sure if you pick Pattaya to not live in area that happen to.

Now outside Pattaya down to Rayong, in the area where Thai navy try to keep it clean is very nice.

They is bus, piggy car, Grab cab, so transport is easy, And if you ride motorbike.

You can buy a use one pretty cheap.

Hua Hin beach is not me.

The Rip current and the rocks in the water all ways get some people hurt.

There is a horse (All the time we go there) that ride full speed on the beach.

So one might get sand in you face, food, drinks.

The beach vendors are the worst i experience in Thailand.

Every 2-5 minute the same come.

If you dont respond, They stand so shadow from them hit you, pull you toe, Talk to you.

I was all so shock first time coming there from Bangkok, To see how much more everything cost.

Dont worried about learning Thai.

It is not as hard as many like to tell you.

Get a REAL teacher 3-4 times per week, And practise a few hours per day you self.

Get a teacher that give you homework, You have to do in Thai.

Dont worried about making mistakes, Thai are very good to understand what you trying to say.

And Thai like when we try to speak Thai.

I stay away from language schools the all so give Visa -- Extension.

As i have use them, And have found they normal dont use real teacher.

They train them in the house for 20 minuter or so.

And now they can teach.

Out of the 13-15 teacher i have, Only 3 was real teacher.

Hope you find what you looking for.

Kindly.

@Never done that

Thanks!  I appreciate all the detailed responses.  I think I will check out Hua Hin (area) first, but without any commitments that make it hard to move on if I don't like some detail.

I have had the opportunity to learn about language learning/instruction in a variety of ways.  I feel like I can walk into a place and have a good sense of whether it will work for me.

Thanks, Never Done That!

I mentioned I have some experience with language learning.....  Spanish, my second, I learned by complete immersion the first year my Dad's job took us overseas.  2nd grade school where nobody spoke English, neighborhoods for 9 years in two different countries where the neighborhood kids didn't speak English.

French, my third, was a program developed by the government of France and offered through the cultural office of the French Embassy.  4 hours a day, five days a week, for two monthlong classes.  In the 160 hours of instruction the teacher finally broke down and told us the Spanish translation of a word she was unable to convey to us by other means only once!

After a year of Chinese/Mandarin (4th language) studies in grad school, my excellent traditional scholar professor got tired of my begging him to lead us to do more conversation in class, and told me that if I wanted to study that way I should go study in China.  In my late 20's, I said, "Watch me."  One of the best summers of my life, in a program that was very like the French.  I probably doubled the advancement of the full two semesters of study in those six weeks.

So I'm hoping to find a program like the ones that have worked for me across multiple languages, and hope that at my retiree age my old brain still has the flexibility to handle it!

SiteWithSoul, thanks again for your language school recommendations.  My first e-mailed response from The Language School left a little bit to be desired, but hopefully someone will read my follow up more carefully....

@Malcolmleitrim
Thanks, Malcolm. I'm curious what leads you to say that. Is it language issues (I'm pretty much committed to learn the language of anyplace I decide to settle, and will dedicate some effort to picking up the basics of anyplace I'm scoping as part of my decision-making process), or lack of infrastructure we tend to take for granted, or ??? - @Intl guy jim

Because I have visited both places and they are quaint and charming, but very ethnic and as you will probably be the only westerner living there you will be lonely. When I was in Nam Du, sitting on the beach eating charcoal grilled sea urchins and oysters, a vietnamese tourist came up to me and asked very politely, "excuse me sir, but do you mind if I ask how you got here?" That's how out of place you will be.

Thanks, Malcolm, I appreciate the explanation.  If Vietnam were to end up being my choice it might be a good way to speed up my learning the language!

interesting thread. I was looking at hua hin too before I started leaning more toward south america. one thing that kept coming up in my research was the healthcare — bumrungrad and bangkok hospital hua hin seemed solid but I never got a clear answer on whether private insurance there actually covers you at those places or if it's all out of pocket with reimbursement. anyone here doing that?

Hi Arthur,

I started my retirement home search in LatAm, since I spent 1/2 my childhood there, speak Spanish with complete bilingual fluency, and had traveled the region extensively for business.

I paid, out of pocket, for excellent medical attention in both countries, and ended up covering a lot of different "bases" in Argentina.  I estimate that the full expenses cost less than I would have paid in just co-pays in the US, even with good company benefit provided care.

I investigated insurance for the private hospital chain that was recommended to me, and it was very reasonable.  It would have reduced my medical expenses even more if I had made the plunge early in my stay.

@sitewithsoul

Thanks again, Sitewithsoul.  I made a mistake in a prior message.  I found and have initiated communications with The Learning Center.  I have not been able to find the Advanced Language Academy online.  Do they have a website, or a contact e-mail?