The Bangkok groups know every condo on the Sukhumvit line. They don't know the khlong boat, the Ari lunch place or the rule about feet. A Bangkokian does.
What the groups do well#
| Question | Where |
|---|---|
| Condos by BTS station, deposits | Housing groups |
| Visa runs, extensions, 90-day reports | General groups, with care |
| Banks, SIMs, drivers' licences | General groups |
| Schools, paediatricians | Parents' groups |
| Sukhumvit vs Ari vs Sathorn | Everyone |
Etiquette#
Search first, post with a station and a budget, give back.
The scams#
Deposits before a viewing, visa agents, fee-charging "teaching jobs", mentors, partners. Bangkok scams to avoid.
What a local answers better#
Where to actually live: best neighbourhoods in Bangkok, Sukhumvit guide, Ari. The rules: how to meet locals in Bangkok. The city: Bangkok like a local, street food guide, the canal boats. Working here: Bangkok digital nomads guide.
The person#
A Local Friend from Bangkok lives here, spends a few hours with you at a rate they set, and walks the neighbourhood before you sign. Ask on Roavi Community and a Thai local answers. Rent a local friend in Bangkok. More: digital nomad Facebook groups, a travel buddy in Thailand.
Ask someone from Bangkok, not the group.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
What Facebook groups are there for Bangkok expats?
Large general expat groups, condo and housing groups by area, a women's group, digital nomad groups, teaching-jobs groups and parents' groups. Between them, every logistics question has been answered.Where do most expats live in Bangkok?
Along the Sukhumvit BTS line (Phrom Phong, Thong Lo, Ekkamai, On Nut), Ari for a quieter crowd, Sathorn and Silom for offices, and Bang Na and the suburbs for families near international schools. The groups will argue about which.What scams are in Bangkok expat groups?
Condo deposits before a viewing, visa agents who take passports, 'teaching jobs' with fees, forex and crypto mentors, and 'business partners'. Never pay from a DM.What do expat groups get wrong about Bangkok?
They answer Thai questions with expat answers: the food they know, the areas they live in, the rules they half-understand. A Thai local gives the other 90% of the city.Is there an alternative to Bangkok expat groups?
For the city itself, Roavi: ask a question on the Community that Thai locals answer, post your arrival with dates, and message a Local Friend from Bangkok who shows you the neighbourhood and the social rules.
