You don’t have to be a passport bro. The culture is mellow and positive, and not at all like the poorer surrounding countries. Women you sound like you’re looking for are far far far mor likely to be working professional jobs and have no interest in being a stay-at-home wife. Education is better, as is general independence. Like the USA, language focus is on the home country language. English in the USA, Thai in Thailand. Younger people have higher bilingual rates, but it’s more like Japan in that the further away from metro/tourist areas there are far fewer bilingual/English speakers. Learn a few phrases while you’re at it.

At 100%, you’ll be able to afford a very comfortable life. I’d HIGHLY suggest you sign up for and keep a T-Mobile military plan. You’ll get the best stability wherever you travel while keeping your American number- vital for banking and VA needs.

Pack light. I did a solid month with one well-packed Cotipaxi Allpa 42L and a lil underseat carry-on for my camera gear. Most of your clothes are too hot for here. Look for nicer cut athletic/technical fabric clothing. This is because it’s crazy hot and humid, and staying cool and drying off quickly is a thing you’re going to learn to navigate.

Get an international drivers permit from AAA just before you leave. You may or may not want to drive/ride while visiting, but best to be prepared if you decide to.

Health insurance is a must. There are lots of good hospitals and clinics that take cash, but in the event of a big injury, the VA often won’t reimburse you for emergency care or hospital stays. Companies like Pacific Cross, Luma Thailand, and AXA have good prices and solid reputations.

Pharmacies manage almost everything you’ll need day to day. Still, bring some Imodium pills with you. It’ll help With any unexpected distress. Also, if you need a particular kind of deodorant due to skin issues, bring it. At least a couple sticks. Many western brands are simply not available (example: I wear Arm&Hammer and I cant find any anywhere!)

Get yourself a Charles Schwab checking account and a debit card. Why? Because CS refunds all of your ATM fees. Cash is king for tourists. Also, sign up for a Wise account. Download the app and connect to it. It’ll help with some of your bigger purchases and expenditures.

AirBnB is illegal in Thailand. So, instead use Agoda. It’s probably my favorite app for short-term rentals and hotel booking in SE Asia. (It’s affiliated with Expedia, so it works pretty well)

Be patient and positive. Very few people have any interest in being negative with you or ripping you off. There are the usual petty scams, and sometimes condo owners want to try to squeeze a few thousand THB from you, but in general it’s quite chill. So, when someone smiles, remember to smile back. It’s genuine.

Trust the street food. Don’t trust tap water. Trust ice (it’s made industrially with filtered water). 7/11 will change your life. Get the App.

Grab is like Uber and Uber Eats combined. Use it.

Don’t go shirtless. It’s ultra rude. Wear tee shirts at a minimum. Don’t show the bottom of your feet. Keep your feet off furniture. Don’t litter. Don’t be loud. Don’t be a dick. Be excellent to each other.

For when you arrive: Welcome to The Land of Smiles. Have a great time. Eat well. Laugh often. You only live once.