Spending winter in Thailand over 50 means swapping Belgian or French grey skies for blue ones for one to three months. You still need the right region, the right visa and the right flat. Here is what I have learned between Liège and Bangkok.
Which region for which months
From November to February, most regions enjoy their driest season. From March, the heat climbs sharply until May.
Hua Hin, the quiet choice
About three hours by road from Bangkok, Hua Hin is calm, flat and well equipped: private hospitals, supermarkets, a long beach. Ideal for a first long stay.
Pattaya and Jomtien, everything close at hand
Pattaya is lively, but Jomtien and Pratumnak move at a gentler pace. You will find everything there, about two hours from Bangkok.
Chiang Mai, lovely but not at the end of winter
Cool mornings in December and January, temples, low prices. But from February to April, agricultural burning and forest fires push up fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), often peaking in March. Sensitive airways? Aim for December and January.
Koh Samui, on its own calendar
In the Gulf of Thailand, rain falls mostly from late October to mid-December, with November often the wettest month. Go from January to April instead.
Visas and length of stay: what changed in 2026
Since 15 September 2026, visa-free entry for Belgian and French tourists has dropped from 60 to 30 days. A 30-day extension can be requested in Thailand, at an immigration office, for 1,900 THB, at the officer’s discretion.
- One month: the 30-day exemption is enough.
- Two months: exemption plus extension (not guaranteed), or a tourist visa.
- Three months: the tourist visa (TR), applied for online before departure, gives 60 days, extendable once by 30 days in Thailand. Around 40 euros, depending on the embassy.
- Longer: the Non-Immigrant O-A visa, for people aged 50 and over, allows one year, subject to financial conditions (for example 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account or a monthly income of 65,000 THB) and health insurance. The O-X, over five years, is open to French but not Belgian nationals.
These rules change quickly: check with the Thai embassy in Brussels or Paris before booking, and fill in the digital arrival card (TDAC) online before you land. Full details in my article on Thailand visa requirements in 2026.
Renting by the month: condos and rough prices
For one to three months, rent a condo by the month instead: a furnished studio or one-bedroom flat, often with a pool.
- Chiang Mai: about 8,000 to 15,000 THB for a studio, 12,000 to 22,000 THB for a separate bedroom.
- Hua Hin: about 10,000 to 18,000 THB for a one-bedroom in the centre, more towards Khao Takiab.
- Jomtien: about 8,000 to 20,000 THB for a one-bedroom, depending on the building and the distance to the beach.
These prices (checked in 2026) apply to long contracts. For one or two months in high season, from November to February, expect to pay around 30% more. Electricity is billed separately and a deposit is almost always required.
What monthly budget to plan
At roughly 37 baht to the euro (October 2026), here is a ballpark figure for a couple living simply, excluding flights and insurance:
- Accommodation: 15,000 to 25,000 THB.
- Food, mostly local cooking: 12,000 to 18,000 THB.
- Electricity, water, internet: 2,000 to 4,000 THB.
- Transport, outings, unexpected costs: 6,000 to 10,000 THB.
Total: about 35,000 to 57,000 THB, or 950 to 1,550 euros a month.
Health, insurance and pace of life
I am not a doctor. Talk about your plans with your GP a few weeks before leaving. Take your prescriptions, with the generic names of the medicines, and enough medication for the whole stay.
Ask your health fund or national health insurer how long it covers you abroad, and check the maximum trip length of your travel insurance. For three months, long-stay insurance covering hospital care and repatriation is essential: Thai private hospitals are expensive.
As for the heat: go out in the morning and late afternoon, stay somewhere cool at midday, drink often. Life slows down, and that is the whole point.
Staying in touch and planning the return
Three months is a long time for the family. With a Thai eSIM, video calls cost next to nothing. Set a weekly call with the grandchildren. Time difference: six hours ahead of Belgium and France in winter, five after the clocks change at the end of March.
To head home, aim for March or early April: the real heat arrives in Thailand, spring arrives back home. Book your flight early, especially around Songkran in mid-April.
Mr Schaka’s practical tips
- Book the first month from home, then choose the next one on the spot.
- Never go past the date on your entry stamp: the fine is at least 500 THB a day.
- As soon as you arrive, locate the nearest private hospital and pharmacy.
- For the basics, read my guide to travelling in Thailand over 50.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay three months in Thailand without a visa?
No, not since 15 September 2026: 30 days, extendable once by 30 days. For 90 days, get a tourist visa.
Which region for a first winter?
Hua Hin or Jomtien. Chiang Mai is lovely in December and January, less advisable from February to April because of the smoke.
What budget for a month there?
For a couple living simply, about 35,000 to 57,000 THB, accommodation included, excluding flights and insurance.
The book
Mr Schaka lives with pulmonary fibrosis and has been travelling in Thailand for years. In The Season of Breath he tells the story of that journey, one step at a time, with humour and no self-pity.
