The Bangkok Survivors Handbook: A Guide to Living in Asias City of Angels [Paperback]

Robert Hein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2006

While this book is a valuable resource for anyone visiting Bangkok, it is especially useful for those persons who are going to live in the city. Here, you will find the facts you need to know for planning, setting up, and maintaining your Bangkok base.

It describes how to choose and apply for the visa best suited for your needs and provides details on visa renewal, the most important elements for a successful, long-term stay in Thailand. Listings of appropriate government offices are included.

It gives you a step-by-step method for determining where in the city to live, choosing an apartment, obtaining the best rental agreements and utilities costs. The information is backed-up with listings and photos of apartments with rents ranging from $100 to $500 a month.

It shows you how to make money transfers, open Thai bank accounts, as well as ATM and credit card usage. Included are listings of Thai and US banks and agencies.

The topics of health care quality and costs are covered in depth and include listings of hospitals, clinics and health insurance providers that are favored by the foreign community.

It also provides details for city transportation and fares, shopping center locations, sports clubs and social organizations for foreigners, schools for foreign students, cultural customs, parks and recreational areas, and income opportunities.

Many more topics are included in this book and covered in detail with text, listings and photos that will ease your move to The City of Angels, Bangkok.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

The information in this book is intended to assist the foreigners who are moving to Bangkok for work assignments, health care services, retirement, or an extended holiday. It contains no references to the nightlife activities of the city that are covered in other publications.

About the Author

Robert Hein has lived in Thailand for 12 years during which time he worked as a writer for business and in-flight magazines, English language newspapers, and ad agencies. His articles on living in Thailand have appeared in Transitions Abroad magazine, Sawasdee magazine, Business in Thailand Magazine, The Bangkok Post Newspaper, The Nation Newspaper and other publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 241 pages
• Publisher: Expat Publications; 2nd edition (February 24, 2006)
• ISBN-10: 0974050202
• ISBN-13: 978-0974050201
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,582,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filled with details, a gripping read!, January 16, 2004

By 

Gordon P Foreman (Los Alamos, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bangkok Survivors Handbook: A Guide to Living in Asias City of Angels (Paperback)

I spent 9 months in Thailand in the Peace Corps many years ago, and visited the LOS again last May. I have started fantasizing about retiring there, so I bought "The Bangkok Survivor's Handbook" to add more fact to my fantasy. Most guidebooks are a struggle for me to read, but this one is such fun that I finished it in one sitting, interrupted only by supper.
It is definitely targeted at individuals who are considering living in Thailand for an extended period, rather than visiting as tourists, and where it is location-specific, it refers primarily to Bangkok, but there is still a wealth of detail on virtually everything one would need to know to move to Thailand for more than just a vacation. And based on my limited experience, RH did not make any claims or statements that I considered to be wrong or inaccurate.
Topics addressed include, but are not limited to, obtaining and renewing visas, finding and renting an apartment, obtaining medical care, work opportunities, shopping, dining, internet service, English-language schools [for English-speaking families with children], banks and transferring money, etc.
The most delightful aspect to TBSH however, is that the writing is very good. It flows smoothly, with a comfortable but not excessive level of humor, and I did not note any sentences that I had to read twice to make sense of them! It is reasonably current, having been published in January of 2003, and includes many web sites and e-mail addresses for those who want to learn more. Best in Class!!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Information, January 23, 2004

By 

Kyle B Dukelow (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bangkok Survivors Handbook: A Guide to Living in Asias City of Angels (Paperback)

My wife and I are thinking of visiting Thailand, and a friend recommended we read this book. After reading the book, I would love to move there! It is obvious that Hein has spent a great amount of time in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand. His writing skill is excellent and keeps the reader interested and entertained at the same time.

The book is chock-full of practical information (e.g. where you can teach English, who to contact for an apartment, local hospitals, etc...). In addition, the book also offers many vignettes of the friendliness of the Thai people, customs to be aware of, and how to get around the city.

Although the author stresses that the book is mainly for people that plan on living in Bangkok, I would recommend it to anyone that is interested in visiting, or even just knowing a little bit more about the city.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!, July 21, 2005

By 

Suzanne Greer (Huntsville, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bangkok Survivors Handbook: A Guide to Living in Asias City of Angels (Paperback)

I have been studying and reasearching my move to Bangkok for a year and this book gave me more information in one place than any website, book, or article that I have found before or since. I would recommend this book to anyone planning to live or visit for an extended amount of time.