Thailand still maintains its appeal to visitors, with its golden, palm-fringed beaches, its jungle-clad mountains, its welcoming people, its vibrant nightlife and world-renowned cuisine. And our experience shows that “there is no better time than 09” to visit!

Whilst Thailand has not suffered the economic woes to the same extent as experienced elsewhere across the globe, it has definitely seen a decrease in visitor arrivals in 2009. In a country that is so dependent upon tourism to prop up its foreign reserves and to provide employment for its nationals, the importance of reacting quickly to the situation has not been missed, and every effort is being made to lure visitors back to the kingdom.

So what does this mean for us, the guests?

To start with, getting to the country has become cheaper. Oil prices have collapsed and air tickets are now considerably less expensive than in 08, and numerous airlines have special offers for trips to the major aviation of Bangkok. 

Upon arrival, visitors have reported noting to a new attitude: whilst the Thais have always been welcoming to foreigners, there is a suggestion that whilst a steady flow of guests had previously been taken for granted, there is now a genuine desire to ensure all visitors are welcomed with open arms. 

When it comes to recommending where to stay and what to see, our suggestions have now changed in the new climate. The visitor to Thailand will find best value in seeking out properties either owned and operated by locals, in their home towns or provinces (to which they have returned after a period of economic migration to the capital), or properties owned by foreigners now feeling the pinch and needing to seek a return on what were once dream holiday homes for personal use.

So by all means book yourself a hotel in Bangkok for the beginning and end of your stay (and insist on a good package or deal!), but between these capital breaks, sandwich a relaxing holiday in your own private house or villa. 

Finding and renting a holiday house may not always appear simple, but if you target reputable sites specializing in Thai holiday homes, or identify professional sites from standalone villa owners, you will not go wrong. We recommend Thailand Holiday House with its limited listings of only five or so privately held villas, usefully sorted by region or province, with a description of the area itself. Most of these villas have private swimming pools, and many offer full service when required, making your vacation so much easier.

As an example of the kind of private villa stays available in Thailand in 09, check out this Thai country villa in the northeast of the country. The oddly named Gecko Villa and its large private swimming pool is surrounded by rice fields, off the beaten track in the plateau of Isaan. Book this property and you will enjoy your own large rural house, and delicious Thai meals prepared especially for your each day, as well as an introduction to the local area, its sights and unusual activities, for those who wish to get “under the skin” of the country. At just over US$200 / night, a family of four will stay in comfort, have no additional expenses and get to see a fascinating side of the kingdom.

When arranging your travel around the kingdom, buff up on the possibilities. Rather than heading straight for the national carrier, Thai Airways, check out the budget airlines which will get you to your destination in equal comfort and safety, such as Nok Air and Air Asia. If you rent a car, Budget and Avis currently have attractive deals in place, and local Thai rental companies are also making some hard to beat offers – but do make sure you get full insurance!

And finally, remember that Thailand is also the major gateway to many of the countries formerly labelled as “Indochina”. Why not get the most out of your trip and combine a stay in one of Thailand’s provinces with a trip across the nearest border to visit the neighbouring culture? After a stay near Udon Thani, head up to Nong Khai and cross the Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River into the capital of Laos, Vientiane. Or, after a stay in Trat, head to the border and over into Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat.

So in short:
- There’s no better time than 09 in Thailand
- When you book your hotel, request a discount. Don’t be shy!
- When flying domestically, review the airline options.
- For stays out of the capital, try a private villa
- Go local
- Then go beyond borders – combine your trip with a neighbouring country.

Purchasing a land or property in Thailand is regarded as a great option for investment as well as for residence and retirement purposes. Due to its infancy and strong potential for a profitable future, Thai land and property is becoming popular and attract all categories of property buyers.

Further, since the tourism sector in the country has grown from an established position into an even more productive economy, Thailand, acknowledged as ‘the Spain of the East’ provides superb opportunities for property investment. Above all, Thailand boasts of some excellent land or property development and that too for astonishingly cheap prices.

No wonder why many expats including Americans and Europeans invest in Thai property such as villas, condos, and other housing options. But, investing in a Thai property is based on your requirements, location ie whether near supermarket or beach, and lifestyle, ie, whether you prefer a Thai or a mixed neighborhood.

For retired foreigners seeking tranquility and solace, a best option would be to invest in property located in destinations like Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. If you want to have an easy accessibility to almost all facilities, then it would be better to invest in cities including Bangkok, al though prices would be exceptionally high compared to other parts of the country.

However, certain restrictions have been imposed on foreign investors in order to own a land or property in the country. In other words, the property law in Thailand does not allow foreigners or non Thais to have a freehold land in the country. But, there are certain exceptions in the law with regard to this issue. Al though a foreigner cannot purchase land or property in his own name, he has been given some alternatives to acquire a property in Thailand according to the Section 86 of the Thai Land Law, which are as follows:

Buying a property through Thai spouse – Thai property law allows a foreigner with a Thai spouse to invest in a property or land in the country. But, the land or property must be registered under the name of the Thai. It is also important for the foreigner to specify that the funds used for the purchase of a property are of a Thai spouse. However, this option may sometimes become a problem in a divorce case, since a foreigner may find difficult to prove that it was a marital property.

Buying a property in the name of a Thai company – As per the property law, a non Thai can own a property in Thailand through a Thai company, provided 51% of the company’s share is Thai and 49% is foreign.

Buying a property through Investment (BOI) – A foreigner can acquire a limited amount of land or property with considerable investment of fund. Under the Thai Property Law, a non Thai citizen investing 40 million baht for not less than five years can purchase up to 1500 square meters of land and that too for only residential property. But, a prior permission should be obtained from the Ministry of Interiors. Likewise, this option cannot be availed by foreigners who are looking to invest in his second house or retirement homes.

Structure Ownership – In this case, a foreigner may be granted a Right of Superficies by a Thai spouse or a Thai company. This in turn provides foreigners to have rights over all kinds of constructions on the land. The Right of Superficies usually last for a period of ten years with options to renew it again for 30 years, if required.

Leasing – This is perhaps the least complicated option for a foreigner to acquire a property or land in Thailand. Mostly, the land is leased to a non Thai for a period of 30 years, which can be again renewed for a period of 30 years. Leasing a land in Thailand is quite simple and does not require much maintenance.

Despite these options, it is important to make a thorough analysis of title deeds prior to investing in Thai property. Title deeds usually include three main types such as Chanot (Nor Sor 4), the Nor Sor 3 Gor, and the Nor Sor 3.

But, there is not any restriction for a foreigner to own or purchase a condominium in the country except for that he should bring in the whole money for buying a condominium in foreign currencies. Further, a foreigner could own only up to 49% of units of a condominium block.

With a myriad of real estate agents and property builders in the scenario, it is not at all a chaotic process to own a land or property in Thailand. Majority of them provide assistance to deal with complicated Thai law for acquiring a property in the country. Some of them even provide legal advice and conduct investigation and consultation in order to acquire a property. There are also firms providing management, project planning, and development in connection with a property.