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More than enough travel guides and websites about Thailand give fantastic advice on hotels, sightseeing, nightlife and restaurants. If you've already read such guides, you already know what kinds of clothes you should bring and that the currency is in Baht. But for someone who intends to live in Thailand, there are many questions, concerns and needs not addressed in the travel guides.

Bangkok is a thriving, cosmopolitan metropolis with an abundance of activities and culture. Chiang Mai has become far more °µÍø½ûÇø friendly, with many coming to retire or to take advantage of work opportunities and a milder climate.

Some cities in the northeast (Isaan) are thriving centers of commerce, such as Khon Kaen and Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) but this is the region to be if the slower pace of village life is what suits you, as most of Isaan is rural.

The south has Phuket and the other tourist destinations and many °µÍø½ûÇøs live and work in the tourist hospitality industry there. More centrally are the Hua Hin and Cha-am areas along the Gulf of Thailand and Pattaya; all three of these resort cities have many retiree communities and large numbers of °µÍø½ûÇøs.

These regions have the largest numbers of °µÍø½ûÇøs, so if you live elsewhere than these areas, you're likely to visit one of these towns or cities, and you're certain to come to Bangkok on occasion.

We all have our reasons for choosing a life abroad with Thailand as our host country. My intention is to make your transition easier or if you're researching a country to retire to, you can decide if Thailand is right for you and arrive knowing what to expect. This lens will cover quite a few, but not nearly all, of the concerns that people have about moving to and living in the Land of Smiles.