Everything you (or your family) might want to know

Active, independent Australians 55+ (and couples) who want community, warmth and adventure — without doing it alone.

No. English is widely spoken, and our team handles anything in Thai for you.

Not at all. Hua Hin is walkable, the local songthaew is about ฿15 (AUD $0.65) a trip, and Grab (the ride app) is cheap and everywhere. Most members never need a car. If you'd like to drive or ride while you're here, we'll point you to how to do it safely and legally.

We apply for and handle it for you — a Tourist Visa for the 3-month program, a retirement (Non-O) visa for the 6-month. You pay the government fees at cost (both the initial visa and the in-country extension); we do the work.

In a vetted apartment in a lovely beachside neighbourhood, close to your cohort. We show you honest photos and help you choose and book before you fly — so your home is waiting when you arrive. Accommodation is separate from the program fee — around ฿20,000–30,000/month (roughly AUD $850–1,280), paid directly with no mark-up.

Never. Everything is optional. The community is there when you want it, and your time is your own when you don't.

Our programs are for active, independent living. If you or a family member needs care, talk to us — we can point you in the right direction. (Care navigation coming soon.)

We're a registered Thai company licensed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (Licence No. 11/13834). Payments are staged — a small deposit, then instalments — never a big lump sum up front, and a written agreement comes before you pay anything. If a cohort doesn't reach its minimum group size, you receive a full refund or a free transfer.

Absolutely — Hua Hin is an easy, lovely place to visit, and families are very welcome. See our For Families page for more.

The program fee covers the Bangkok Welcome Tour (with 4-star accommodation and meals), settling-in support, activities, the support line, and all your visa and paperwork. Your Hua Hin accommodation and daily living are separate — you pay those directly (we help you find and book a lovely apartment, around ฿20,000–30,000/month (roughly AUD $850–1,280)). We keep it this way so you have choice and there are no hidden mark-ups. We're always happy to walk you through a realistic total budget. See How It Works for the full list.

Yes — comprehensive international health insurance covering treatment, emergency evacuation and repatriation is required for all SawasdeeLife participants. See our Health & Safety page for more on how this fits with local healthcare.

Single occupancy — your own room, no single supplement — is standard. If a second person shares your accommodation, a couples discount is available. The exact discount isn't published here as it depends on your program and accommodation choice, so please ask us for current details.

You'll meet your cohort on Day 1 of the Bangkok Welcome Tour, and spend four days together exploring Bangkok before travelling to Hua Hin as a group. From there, you'll typically be living close together, with regular community activities to keep everyone connected.

Every cohort needs a minimum group size to run. If a cohort doesn't reach that number, you choose: move your deposit (and any other payments made) to the next available cohort, or receive a full refund of everything you've paid. We never run a half-empty cohort — the group is the whole point.

Try Hua Hin is SawasdeeLife's first-ever cohort — our founding cohort — departing Wednesday 20 January 2027. Founding members receive special pricing, first pick of everything that follows, and a place in the story from the beginning. It's limited to just 10 founding places. Arrange a friendly chat and we'll be in touch.