Because the yr ends a brand new chapter begins – one which’s taken a for much longer time to type out that I had initially thought!

2025 has been all about getting a Vacation spot Thailand Visa (DTV) and shifting to Thailand – In case you didn’t see my 2024 yr in overview – you would possibly need to learn that first.

What’s the Vacation spot Thailand Visa (DTV)

Earlier than I am going additional, I really feel I ought to clarify what the DTV is rapidly. The DTV is a 5 yr a number of entry vacationer visa for Thailand.

There are two classes – ‘Workcation’ and ‘Delicate Energy’. Workcation is geared toward digital nomads and distant employees working for corporations outdoors of Thailand. Whereas delicate energy is for many who need to keep in Thailand and take part in actions like studying the Thai language or taking a Muay Thai coaching course.

As a digital nomad, I went down the workcation route – however I don’t need my yr in overview to go on an excessive amount of about all of the ins and outs of getting a DTV as your expertise will range relying on what nation you might be from, the place you apply, and whether or not you apply for workcation or delicate energy.

In case you are interested by making use of, probably the most helpful data I discovered was on the Thai Embassy web site however you don’t want an agent to use – the official web site for making use of is the Thai E-Visa Official Web site.

There are additionally teams on-line just like the Vacation spot Thailand Visa Fb Group that are a useful supply of details about this comparatively new visa. You also needs to maintain updated with present adjustments – visa guidelines can change rapidly in Thailand!

Proper, now that’s out of the best way, let’s get on with my yr in overview and the way it went for me…

Getting my Vacation spot Thailand Visa (DTV) in Sri Lanka

In December 2024, I took an incredible journey round Sri Lanka with my Mum the place I additionally took the chance to use for my Vacation spot Thailand Visa (DTV)

I really like Sri Lanka and hope to return once more as quickly as doable however the DTV software didn’t go as easily as deliberate. I believed it was a purely on-line course of – however I bought known as into the Thai embassy in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, for an interview at 9 am the very subsequent day, after we have been on the opposite facet of the island!

The embassy have been understanding and rescheduled the interview for after we had accomplished our deliberate loop of the island. I needed to cancel my return flight to Goa and lengthen my journey to remain alone in Colombo for a number of days, however the interview was fairly easy.

I obtained an electronic mail that my software was profitable whereas I visited the well-known Gangaramaya Temple quickly afterwards. The temple options a mixture of Sri Lankan and Thai golden buddhas that appear to drift on a lake – it felt very auspicious! Thanks Sri Lanka and Thailand for this thrilling new alternative 🙂

One Final Christmas and New Years In Goa

I returned to Goa simply in time for Christmas and New Yr and regardless of all of the speak of Goa’s tourism being on the decline, I had by no means seen a few of the seashores so crowded and chaotic!

This tremendous busy vacation interval of late December – January is once I want to remain at residence to keep away from the crowds and get work accomplished! I discover it too busy to get pleasure from Goa throughout this time these days.

Epic Journey Planning Fails

Understanding that these digital nomad visas change their necessities repeatedly, I used to be eager to get my accomplice, Damien, his DTV visa as quickly as doable.

The factor is – you may’t apply in Thailand and you may’t apply in India (except you’re an Indian citizen.) So one other journey was on the playing cards….

Plan A – Vietnam

We started working planning a visit to get my accomplice’s DTV Visa – which concerned some epic journey fails! At present, the most effective locations to get the DTV are Vietnam and Indonesia.

Initially, we booked flights to Vietnam, however then realised it was Tet – Vietnam’s Lunar New Yr Vacation which meant that each one the workplaces could be shut for at the least 10 days.

Tet is Vietnam’s largest competition, a time when the entire nation travels again residence to their villages for an prolonged interval. After realising the workplaces could not work for a month, and the aim of our journey was to get a visa, we determined it was greatest to cancel our journey to Vietnam.

Plan B – Bali & Thailand

On to Plan B – Damien determined to go to Bali to use for the DTV, whereas I went to Thailand to a yoga retreat on Koh Yao Noi, a tiny peaceable island solely half-hour from Phuket, after which we might meet up in Thailand to search for a spot to lease.

Nonetheless, as a result of flight delays, Damien bought caught in Delhi which meant that the visa course of took longer than anticipated so it will not be authorized in time for his flight to Thailand.

And, after my retreat ended I struggled to seek out any lodging wherever in Southern Thailand – I considered going up north however heard that the burning season had already began.

Morals of the story –

• At all times guide connecting flights with the identical airline so that they have a duty to get you to your vacation spot in case your first flight get delayed.
• Making use of for a visa can take for much longer than anticipated, and generally requires requests for extra data or interviews.
• Be sure to guide your lodging nicely upfront for those who plan to go to southern Thailand in peak season and concentrate on the burning season in northern Thailand.
• At all times examine the climate and if there are any main native festivals taking place whereas planning a visit.

As I struggled to seek out any first rate lodging in the entire of southern Thailand and with Damien caught in Bali awaiting information on his visa and and not using a flight to Thailand – I made a decision to take a final minute flight from Phuket to Bali!

Because it was the height of the wet season in Bali there was loads of reasonably priced lodging – and in addition loads of rain!

Fortunately Damien’s visa bought authorized and we spent a wet week in Bali catching up with pals and having fun with our favourite yoga courses, spas, vegan cafes, temples and rice subject walks minus the crowds.

Bali’s one other place I identified very nicely by now so take a look at my guides on the place to remain in Bali, issues to do in Bali and yoga retreats in Bali for those who’re considering of visiting – however go between April and October for higher climate!

Whereas in Bali, we continued trying on-line for lodging in Phuket, however good choices have been nonetheless sparse so we went again to Goa to regroup.

Returning to Thailand

We loved March in Goa catching up with pals, revisiting our favourite locations and booked an Airbnb in Thailand for 1 month in order that we had someplace to remain whereas searching for a long run rental – you simply can’t flip up and wing it anymore nowadays!

By April the warmth in Goa was getting insufferable and we headed to Thailand to start out home looking. We arrived in Phuket simply in time to have a good time Songkran, discover the island from vibrant Outdated City Phuket to a few of the world’s greatest seashores and the island of Koh Lanta.

We additionally lastly visited Koh Phi Phi – the film ‘The Seashore’ actually impressed me to start out touring and go to Thailand however I’d been delay visiting for therefore lengthy as a result of I’d heard it was ruined. Learn my weblog – ‘Is Koh Phi Phi price visiting’ for my sincere take and information to Thailand most well-known island.

As we already had plans to go to Portugal for a buddy’s marriage ceremony and go to household within the UK we couldn’t decide to something long run however fell in love with the Rawai space of Phuket.

We discovered an off season deal on a seashore entrance rental with beautiful swimming pools inside strolling distance to nice retailers, cafes, coworking areas and gymnasiums – nevertheless it wasn’t obtainable long run.

The issue with dwelling in paradise is that everybody needs a slice!

A Fast Journey To Europe (UK & Portugal)

I go to my household within the UK yearly and this yr was no exception  – I loved lengthy seashore walks and catching up with my household and in addition made one other journey over Portugal to attend a buddy’s marriage ceremony.

I additionally loved spending some extra time in Lisbon – a metropolis I’ve grow to be fairly acquainted with by now! Learn my Lisbon itinerary and Journey Information for those who’re considering of visiting the enchanting Portuguese capital.

Home Searching in Thailand

In June we returned to Thailand, DTVs in hand and able to decide to a long run rental, nevertheless it wasn’t as simple because it had been earlier than.

Thailand has gotten much more costly lately and I had fairly an extended record of necessities, which made the search harder. I have to dwell someplace with good infrastructure, quick and dependable wifi, and near airports and hospitals and many others – however didn’t need to dwell in a giant metropolis like Bangkok.

I grew up within the Suffolk countryside – I simply can’t deal with cities for greater than a couple of week. I all the time knew that Bangkok could be an excessive amount of for me – I really like visiting but when I keep for greater than per week it begins to get too draining – 3-4 days in Bangkok is right however I all the time really feel higher in nature (ideally by the ocean!)

After spending so lengthy dwelling in Goa, lengthy seashore walks and swimming have grow to be such part of my routine that I wished to dwell inside strolling distance of a seashore.

I additionally actually wished a home with a pool however quickly realised that was going to be out of our finances, so we switched from home looking to seeking out the most effective condos with a gymnasium and swimming pool – it’s one of the simplest ways to train in a sizzling nation like Thailand.

Many condos in Thailand are actually small (some folks simply dwell in a single room and eat out on road meals every single day) however I wanted one thing spacious with a kitchen, good wifi and pool close to a seashore – so I realised I used to be nonetheless trying on the larger finish of the property market.

Within the final couple of years we’ve explored throughout Thailand and I’ve lived for 3 months in each Koh Phangan (which is now loopy costly and doesn’t have the infrastructure I want) and Chiang Mai – the place you may nonetheless get cheaper homes, condos and rooms, particularly in older buildings.

However I really like the seashore a lot and Phuket felt like the right mixture of pure magnificence and comfort – it has nice infrastructure, world class facilities, lovely seashores and nice locations to remain.

So we selected Phuket however sadly discovered the Rawai space (which is greatest for digital nomads) too crowded, noisy and costly. It was actually exhausting to discover a rental that wasn’t subsequent to a development web site which was a giant no no for me – I actually need my peace and quiet now!

Giving Chiang Mai One other Go

After a month of trying to find an reasonably priced, long run rental on this fashionable space of Phuket with none luck we determined to present Chiang Mai (the place we began our Thailand digital nomad journey) one other go. I believed that as an alternative of the stylish Nimman space the place I lived earlier than, possibly someplace on the riverside or outskirts of city might work higher for me.

We spent a month in Chiang Mai, by this time it was raining A LOT – the clouds hung gray and heavy over town and the roads have been flooded. I really like plenty of issues about Chiang Mai however I’ve been spoilt after spending time in Phuket and being in a gray, wet metropolis actually wasn’t why I wished to maneuver to Thailand.

We headed out to Doi Saket which was a stunning retreat simply outdoors town, and Pai which has beautiful nature and an incredible vibe, however is simply too removed from hospitals and many others. Having, already frolicked in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao final yr so there was only one extra place to strive – Hua Hin!

Exploring Hua Hin

Hua Hin is a seaside resort and former royal retreat a number of hours drive south of Bangkok – fashionable with retirees and Bangkokians on the weekend.

It was actually fascinating spending 1 month in Hua Hin, admiring the previous railway station, discovering the nice night time markets, taking lengthy walks on abandoned seashores and exploring Sam Roi Yot Nationwide Park the place you’ll discover the superb Phraya Nakhon Cave. (I’ll end my information to Hua Hin quickly!)

Hua Hin is unquestionably price a go to and has plenty of potential, nevertheless it wasn’t the best place for me proper now – the airport has very restricted flights and there’s restricted coworking areas – it attracts primarily retirees and simply didn’t really feel like we might make any pals there or have easy accessibility to journey choices.

We’d heard Hua Hin was an inexpensive choice for lodging, however, like-for-like, it’s truly simply as costly as different beachside locations in Thailand and lacked a few of the vital services we have been searching for.

By this time we had realised that wherever that we’d truly need to dwell in Thailand was not going to be as low-cost as we had thought, and that since this new DTV visa has are available there was plenty of competitors from folks additionally searching for long-term condos and homes similar to us.

By this time I used to be making a bit extra money and getting new initiatives, so we upped our finances and headed again to Phuket – the one place that met all our necessities – hoping that we might be capable to discover someplace we might afford now that it was the height of the wet season in Thailand.

Burning Out

I believed we have been touring slowly however, even doing 1 month in every vacation spot, ended up feeling too rushed. It could take per week to discover and settle in, then I’d get per week or two to be productive, after which it was onto enthusiastic about the subsequent vacation spot and searching for the subsequent place to remain.

Residing out of Airbnb’s and accommodations was getting actually costly, plus, it’s actually exhausting to seek out locations with ergonomic workspaces. We ended up having to purchase bits and items for every place we stayed, and ended with extra baggage than we might carry!

My again, neck and shoulders have been hurting, I felt unable to make pals or to settle right into a routine after we have been shifting each month. Plus, I simply couldn’t sustain with my workload or a wholesome train routine.

So again to Phuket we went. Simply in time to have a good time the competition of Loi Kathong. This time I used to be fairly certain the place I wished to be, and I used to be ready to pay the premium value for the right location close to to trendy convivences and exquisite seashores.

Phuket airport is significantly better related than Hua Hin or Koh Samui, plus it has a very fairly and enjoyable Outdated Phuket City space stuffed with historical past and distinctive structure. For me, it’s issues like this that set it aside from the favored islands like Samui. If you examine Phuket vs Koh Samui when it comes to long run dwelling, I really feel that Phuket wins palms down.

Nonetheless, once I arrived again at this good location in Phuket, I discovered there was a brand new development web site proper subsequent door to the complicated I wished to remain at. The height season costs at this place make a London flat look reasonably priced, so there weren’t any items obtainable for long run rental as a result of the landlords make more cash renting them brief time period only for the height season months and letting them sit empty or as (typically unlawful) each day leases for the remainder of the yr.

We tried different locations that have been extra reasonably priced however discovered that it’s not doable for 2 folks to dwell and work in a ¬30 sqm room subsequent to a development web site or a busy street! A few of these condos are tiny and I felt that my dream of a luxurious pool villa would rapidly flip right into a nightmare if I ended up dwelling in certainly one of these shoe containers.

It was this disappointment, together with the realisation that I hadn’t spent greater than 6 weeks in a single place for over a yr, that made me lastly succumb to burn out. I used to be always careworn and it was badly impacting each my sleep and my psychological well being.

I actually wanted a house – however extra journey was on the playing cards….

Kuala Lumpur Metropolis Break

The DTV permits you keep in Thailand for as much as 180 days at a time. There are debates on-line about whether or not you may lengthen this, nevertheless it looks like some folks have had unhealthy experiences attempting to take action. So we determined the most effective factor to do was to go away for a number of days and head to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. .

Kuala Lumpur (KL) is a metropolis I’m very acquainted with by now having visited dozens of instances. It’s a fascinating and multicultural metropolis, stuffed with issues to do and see – however this time I wasn’t feeling as much as seeing and doing all of it once more.

Despite the fact that I didn’t actually really feel as much as touring, I loved spending a number of days in KL. I bought my India repair by visiting the temples and consuming in Little India. I visited a few of the metropolis’s parks and nature spots, and loved a spot of purchasing within the big malls.

Nonetheless many instances I go to KL, I all the time discover one thing to discover! KL is a lot greater than a layover – for those who’re considering of visiting learn my Kuala Lumpur Itinerary and Journey information.

Lastly Getting a Base

After we returned from KL to Phuket, we determined we needed to increase our search to extra off beat areas, and inside a few weeks managed to safe a 6 month rental lease at an afforable value, near the seashore! We’ve needed to spend a bit further so as to add work desks and chairs into the rental, however that’s OK – it was enjoyable purchasing for residence furnishings and it helped me to start out feeling a bit extra settled.

It’s not good, nevertheless it’s approach higher than nothing. There’s nonetheless some development on the far facet of the complicated, and there’s no coworking locations close by (but). However I can get up to the sights of nature and the sound of the birds as an alternative of the roars of superbikes and drills of jackhammers, and I can nonetheless stroll to the seashore in underneath ten minutes. So I’m glad. 🙂

It may not be a perpetually residence, however I couldn’t proceed with dwelling and dealing on the street, always packing and unpacking, and worrying about the place I used to be going to remain subsequent..

The burn out will go, and it feels good to be ending the yr with a spot to relaxation for some time and comfortably compensate for all of the work that I couldn’t do whereas always on the transfer. The truth of being a journey blogger and digital nomad isn’t as simple, or as glamorous, because it seems on Instagram!

Going Forwards (and Avoiding Burnout) in 2026

Now that we’ve discovered a spot to remain in Thailand for a number of months I’m going to proceed exploring Thailand and I’m additionally dreaming of lastly taking a visit to Korea and Japan!

On the weblog facet of life, Ai remains to be sizzling on my heals and my social media attain simply retains getting extra restricted. So I’m making a new World Gallivanting publication to attach with readers that need to observe my travels, and to cut back my reliance on massive tech for producing visitors to my journey guides.

I’m going to be diversifying my journey weblog with a spread of recent merchandise – together with complete offline journey guides, unique maps, and enjoyable journey items – and I additionally need to join extra with different digital nomads.

I need assistance with preserving on high of all the pieces (and avoiding burn out!) so I’m contemplating taking over an off-the-cuff assistant to assist with admin duties, and writers so as to add extra locations to the weblog in order that I don’t really feel like I’ve to run round seeing doing and documenting all the pieces myself!

One factor I’m going to do is begin taking days off, and spending much less time on social media. I do know I want to start out separating myself just a little from my weblog/ enterprise as a result of it has been my entire life 24/7 for over a decade, and I want another hobbies!

Engaged on turning into European once more

Whereas I really like Thailand, this DTV visa has plenty of limitations. It doesn’t mean you can open a checking account, purchase a home or land, work for a Thai firm, and isn’t a path to citizenship.

Europe looks like the most effective long run choice for me, and it will be nice to be nearer to household and pals within the UK – to be a brief hop away as an alternative of an extended haul flight.

Within the subsequent yr I’m hoping to enhance my revenue additional in order that I can apply for a digital nomad visa in both Spain or Portugal and be on monitor to turning into European once more!

In case you are contemplating getting the Thai DTV visa as a digital nomad I’d nonetheless suggest it. Simply be ready for a number of surprises alongside the best way because it’s nonetheless comparatively new, and know that there are limitations that include it.

There’s a great deal of information in on-line teams just like the Vacation spot Thailand Visa Fb Group the place you may ask questions in addition to learn and study from different’s experiences.

Be a part of my new Journey E-newsletter!

Should you discover my web site helpful and need to be in contact by receiving month-to-month updates with useful guides and journey suggestions from an actual particular person (not an A.I bot!) then please contemplate signing up for my new journey publication!

Within the publication you will discover vacation spot inspiration, journey guides (from somebody who’s truly been there!) detailed itineraries, cash saving suggestions, low cost codes and unique content material. For instance, I’ll solely be posting private posts like this yr in overview and life updates in my publication subsequent yr. You possibly can enroll right here! 😉

Thanks for studying! How was your 2025? Did you journey or transfer wherever new? 

Do you will have you any suggestions for avoiding burnout as a digital nomad? 

Are you planning to go wherever thrilling subsequent yr?

Completely satisfied New Yr and Completely satisfied Travels 

Anna x

P.S. Should you’re additionally enthusiastic about visiting or shifting to Thailand you would possibly discover these blogs helpful:

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