Auckland, NZ: 11 hours          New York, USA: 16~17 hours

Dubai: 6~7 hours                   Stockholm, Swe: 10~11 hours

Jo'burg, RSA: 10~11 hours    Sydney, Aus: 8~9 hours

London, UK: 12 hours            Tokyo, Jpn: 6~7 hours

Data provided by oag.com

Yes, it is true that many Thais do not speak English well. However, while this would be tricky for those living in a village or remote town, it isn't a problem in Hua Hin -- Thailand's oldest seaside resort and host to thousands of tourists from around the globe every year!

Yes, Thailand has had coups -- 18 since World War 2! However, these coups are centred on Bangkok, and no one would seriously consider retiring to Bangkok! The Thai elite, including the king, come to Hua Hin for peace and relaxation, so the troubles of the big city aren't allowed to reach us here. No tanks on the street, no roadblocks, just life as normal.

A very low cost of living: In the Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost Of Living Index, Bangkok was rated at 100, compared with Jo'burg at 82, Honolulu at 72, Lisbon at 54, Miami at 51, Wellington (NZ) at 33, Sydney at 14, and (of course) Tokyo at number 1!  To put it another way, if New York City is zero, then Tokyo is 43 and Bangkok is -36! What this means for you is that your pension can buy you a much nicer standard of living. Things like hiring a maid or gardener, dining out on a regular basis, etc., can become more than affordable. (See our 'Living Costs' page.)

Nice Environment: Nowhere in Hua Hin is more than a few minutes walk or drive from the Gulf of Siam, and so visiting the beach is as difficult as going to the post office back home! (See our  Beaches page.) However, if mountains are more your thing, then Hua Hin has plenty, forming a scenic backdrop to the town and visible from almost anywhere.

Friendly People: There are few more friendly people in the world than the Thai's. Whereas some Asian races may sometimes dislike Westerners, or feel a kind of religious prejudice to Christians and Jews, Thais do not. Tolerance is a way of life here, and although they might, just might react badly to displays of disrespect, they will normally treat you even better than you treat them!

Beautiful Climate:  The figures speak for themselves. Even in Bangkok (and we're not suggesting  you retire in Bangkok), the lowest average temperatures (in December) are 23 ~ 31c (73.4 ~ 87.8f). Oh, and don't worry too much about the heat. There are many Scandinavians living here, and they wouldn't if it ever got TOO hot!

Excellent Location: Hua Hin is only 2~3 hours by road (50 minutes by plane) from Bangkok, and so if ever you feel like a taste of the bright lights, go for it! (See our 'Transport page.) Also, Bangkok Airport, which is served by more airlines than any other airport in SE Asia, is within easy reach. What's more, you can also reach places like Phuket, Koh Samui and Malaysia pretty easily. For train buffs, Hua Hin is one of the few stops between Bangkok and Malaysia for either the State Railway of Thailand's sleeper service or the famous Eastern and Oriental Express!

Reasonable Property Prices: Hua Hin is far from crowded and so homes are generally pretty large, with plenty of greenery around if you want it. Condos, bungalows or houses, -- near the beach or in the mountains --  the choice is yours.  (See our Property pages.)

Enhanced Security: The much revered Thai king has 'retired' here, living in a palace whose name translates as "Far From Worries". (See our Things to See page.) This means plenty of police around the town, as well as several army camps, the Border Police training camp and three warships constantly moored offshore, which means enhanced security for us all! Crime does exist here, but not on a western scale.

Staying Active: If you want to put your feet up and have a quiet life, no problem. However, Hua Hin is NOT dead or dull. There's plenty to see and do here, with festivals of culture, Buddhism, food, kites, vintage cars, and jazz! (See our Events calendar.) What's more, if you're a golfer (or have taken it up only after retiring, as I did), remember that there are several top class golf courses here, including Thailand's oldest, the Royal Hua Hin. (See our Golf page.) There are other sports available, of course -- Thai boxing, anyone?

Eating Well: If you like spicy food, you'll love Hua Hin! However, if you prefer your food less fiery, there's plenty of other choices. For example, Hua Hin is great for fresh seafood, being a working fishing port with a busy market. You can also enjoy Chinese, French, Italian, German, Japanese and Indian food, as well as 'Pub Grub' and the usual McDonalds, KFC and Burgerking. (See our Everyday Life page.)

P.S.: When a reader asked the British 'Telegraph' newspaper's website about the best place in Asia to retire to, he received six replies: One suggested Australia (Less than cheap and almost impossible to obtain permanent residency after age 45), one suggested Vietnam (rather undeveloped and non-working foreigners cannot own property or obtain permanent residency),  and four suggested Thailand!