logo
A former flight attendant found unexpected peace in Bangkok. She left the Midwest to move there alone.

A former flight attendant found unexpected peace in Bangkok. She left the Midwest to move there alone.

What began as a short trip to Bangkok ended with Antoinette Yvonne moving there alone in 2023.
She is now living in a $660-a-month apartment with views of the Thai capital's skyline.
She said that while things may cost less in Bangkok than in the US, people shouldn't assume everything is cheap.
When Antoinette Yvonne arrived in Bangkok in 2023, it was supposed to be just a two-week trip.
It was her second visit to Thailand 's capital city, but this time, something clicked. Those two weeks stretched into three months, and by the end of that extended stay, the full-time YouTuber and boutique travel agency owner knew she'd found her new home.
"The skyline literally is what sold me on Bangkok. I knew that I wanted to live in the city, where it's just so beautiful. And the cost of living here, I mean, it didn't hurt. So I was like, 'OK, let me do it,'" Yvonne, 37, told Business Insider.
She returned to the US for the summer and got ready to make the big move. By November 2023, she was back in Bangkok — for good.
The allure of living abroad
Yvonne is no stranger to living abroad.
Originally from Indiana, she moved to Spain in 2013 and lived there for about three years. Part of the reason she made that move was because she was burned out and looking for an escape from her corporate investment banking job.
"I saw the movie 'Eat, Pray, Love,' and I was like, 'OK, I want to be Julia Roberts and go abroad.' Six months after watching that movie, I was living in Barcelona," Yvonne said.
That experience of living abroad gave her a taste for adventure. She became a Delta Air Lines flight attendant for three years. When the pandemic hit, she left her job and spent two years exploring the US and Mexico while living in a van she had converted.
Her parents weren't shocked when she told them she was planning to move abroad again. "I always followed through with crazy ideas," she said.
But it did surprise her parents, who still live in Indiana, when she told them where she was going.
"When I mentioned Bangkok to them, they were like, 'What? Bangkok?' A lot of people are shocked to hear that," she said.
Bangkok has long been a hot spot for expats. Data from the Bureau of Registration Administration of Thailand indicates that there were 102,189 foreigners living in the city as of the end of 2024.
Compared to many Western cities, Bangkok offers a relatively low cost of living. With two well-connected international airports, it is also a hub for travel around Asia.
Several Americans who moved to the Thai capital previously told BI that they were drawn to the city's vibrant lifestyle, good food options, and relative affordability.
In July last year, Thailand also introduced the Destination Thailand Visa, or DTV, in an effort to attract remote workers and digital nomads.
Building a life in Bangkok
Apartment-hunting was a breeze since Yvonne already knew what she was looking for: Unobstructed views of the city skyline, a balcony, and a convenient location.
"I wanted to be near a 7-11, within a 5-minute walking distance. I knew I wanted to be near a regular grocery store, and as far as the unit itself, I needed a washer and dryer," she said.
Thanks to a real estate agent she connected with through a Facebook group, Yvonne found her one-bedroom apartment within a week of her move. Rent is 22,000 Thai baht, or about $660, each month.
She finds it hard to pick a favorite spot in her apartment.
"I love being in my bedroom because it has floor-to-ceiling windows, and the view is absolutely amazing," Yvonne said. "But I also love my balcony too."
Her building has a gym, a pool, and a large coworking space with private call booths.
Yvonne didn't know anyone in Bangkok before she moved.
When she first arrived, she started using Bumble BFF — the friendship version of Bumble — as well as an expat Facebook group to connect with new people.
"You go to different meetups, and then one friend literally turns into two, and three, and four. You just build from there," she said.
Yvonne has been working on learning Thai, as the language barrier has been the biggest challenge of living in Bangkok so far.
"When I speak their language, they just light up, and they're more welcoming. I just feel like you connect more, and I think that's important," she said.
Finding peace in the Thai capital city
Yvonne says she feels more relaxed compared to when she was living in the US.
"In 2019, when I was still a flight attendant, I was on the go so much. It was always fast-paced. I was go, go, go, go, go. Even when I was off work, I was still trying to keep up with the Joneses," Yvonne said. "Whereas now, although Bangkok is a city — and a busy city at that — I find peace in the city. It's so weird."
Part of it, she says, is due to the flexibility of her job. Being an entrepreneur gives her the freedom to arrange her schedule.
Apart from filming and uploading videos onto her channel weekly, Yvonne also travels often, both for leisure and as part of the group trips that she hosts under her travel agency.
Although things in Bangkok are relatively affordable compared to the US, it would be a generalization to assume that everything is cheap, she said.
"While it can be very cost-effective, and for us Americans, my dollar stretches further, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is cheaper," she said. "Especially if you're going out and spending so much money on dinners and things like that, it can add up."
That ties into the biggest piece of advice she has for anyone who wants to move to Thailand.
"A lot of people come and think that $2,000 will get them by for several months at a time. No, I think that doing the proper research on condos and what it really costs to live here is the way to go," she said.
Yvonne also encourages people who move here to get to know the locals.
"I think having local friends is a great way to get familiar with a country. They can help you when your expat friends are not able to," she said.
Regarding her long-term plans, it's hard to keep her wanderlust at bay.
"People ask me, 'How long will you be in Bangkok?' I don't know. I'm here until I'm not," Yvonne said. "So it is just until I feel like I'm called somewhere else, but for now, it's Bangkok."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Travelers Plan To Spend $4,600 On Vacations This Summer, Up 16% From 2024
Travelers Plan To Spend $4,600 On Vacations This Summer, Up 16% From 2024

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Travelers Plan To Spend $4,600 On Vacations This Summer, Up 16% From 2024

This summer, 53% of Americans plan to take leisure summer vacations, up from 48% in 2024, according to a new report from Deloitte. Deloitte conducted two rounds of the survey, one in late March before President Donald Trump's new tariffs were announced, and one in mid-April after the tariffs were set. While plans in some areas remained the same, like how many trips Americans planned to take and how long those trips were going to be, the second round of surveys found that Americans were planning to spend less on their vacations in light of recession fears. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . Initially, the annual summer travel budget was expected to grow 21% year over year, to $4,967. In the second round, however, travelers said they only planned to spend $4,606 on vacations, up 13% from last year. Additionally, planned spending on marquee trips, those that are either bucket list items or intended to mark a specific occasion, shrank from $3,987 per trip to $3,417, just a 1% increase from last year. "We still see a strong summer travel season, but perhaps with a more frugal approach," Deloitte's transportation, hospitality and services sector leader, Kate Ferrara, told CNBC, Trending: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. Those surveyed reported that they planned to alter trip length, in-destination spending, lodging type, and airfare class to make their trips more budget-friendly. For example, the average number of trips respondents have planned this summer is 3.1, but quick getaways of three nights or less comprise a large number of those planned vacations. In the same vein, 24% of travelers plan to stay with family or friends while on vacation, and 19% plan to drive to their destinations rather than take a flight. "The root of all of our hacks for saving this summer is flexibility," lead economist at travel site Hopper Hailey Berg told CNBC. Planned travel spending is also not equal across all income levels and generations, Deloitte found. Those who make over $100,000 now account for 49% of vacationers, up from 44% in 2024. Middle-income earners, who make between $50,000 and $100,000 each year, have shrunk from 37% of vacationers to 33%, while those who make under $50,000 have stayed largely the same, declining just 1% from 19% to 18%. Millennials and Gen Xers make up roughly the same share of summer travelers as last year, 29% and 24% respectively, while the number of Gen Zers has increased as boomers begin to slow down, according to the survey. Read Next: Wall Street's Missing This AI Surgical Tech — You Don't Have Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Travelers Plan To Spend $4,600 On Vacations This Summer, Up 16% From 2024 originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio

Average American only gets this much time a month to themselves
Average American only gets this much time a month to themselves

Miami Herald

timean hour ago

  • Miami Herald

Average American only gets this much time a month to themselves

The average American would pay $2,521 for a day of peace and quiet - while parents would pay $1,147 more. That's according to a new survey of 2,000 Americans (30% of whom are parents), which explored the importance of quality time to recharge and the barriers to getting enough of it. Results showed the average respondent only gets 9.5 hours per month to themselves with the biggest barriers being family obligations (50%), work commitments (32%) and financial constraints (24%). Social obligations (22%) and guilt for finally getting free time (13%) were also listed as reasons respondents don't get the alone time they crave. A little over half of respondents (53%) said they need more alone time than they're currently getting. And the lengths respondents said they'll go to were surprising. Nearly 38% of respondents admit to lying to a partner, friends or family in order to get some time to themselves. The most common lie shared among participants was "I'm not feeling well" (54%), followed by "I have a lot of work to do" (40%), "I have a headache" (33%), "I have an appointment" (33%) and "My phone's about to die, so I can't talk" (32%). The survey, conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Apple Vacations, pinpointed the dollar amount people attribute to certain elements of relaxation and found the average parent polled values a lazy morning to themselves at $325. It's no wonder then that people would be willing to pay an average of $339.8 for just one extra hour of sleep. And the feeling extends to vacations, with 40% of respondents saying they've booked a trip specifically for peace and quiet. "In a world where silence feels like a luxury, it's clear people aren't just craving quiet," said Dana Studebaker, Vice President of Marketing, Consumer Brands, Apple Vacations. "They're willing to invest in it. Everyone deserves moments that are truly their own." How would respondents spend this precious, uninterrupted time alone? One in six said they'd be happy doing anything as long as it wasn't a chore or obligation. And one in eight said they'd want to binge TV or movies (13%) or spend the day at the beach (12%). Interestingly, two-thirds agreed (66%) that visiting family does not count as a restful vacation. "When people are willing to spend hundreds - or even thousands - just for a little peace and quiet, it says a lot about how rare true rest has become," added Michael Lowery, Head of Global Consumer Brands, Apple Vacations. "Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give yourself is time without expectation." Survey methodology: Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans (18+ who traveled in the past 12 months); the survey was commissioned by Apple Vacations and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 22 - April 28, 2025. We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are: Traditional online access panels - where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentiveProgrammatic - where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan. Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value. Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample. Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes: Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speedersOpen ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant textBots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify botsDuplicates: Survey software has "deduping" based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access. The post Average American only gets this much time a month to themselves appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.

I've been to over 90 countries. I'll never travel somewhere new before asking these 8 questions.
I've been to over 90 countries. I'll never travel somewhere new before asking these 8 questions.

Business Insider

timean hour ago

  • Business Insider

I've been to over 90 countries. I'll never travel somewhere new before asking these 8 questions.

What are the public toilets like? When I first started traveling, I quickly learned that there is no one right way to use the toilet. Many Americans take the "porcelain throne" for granted, but in some parts of the world, it's common to squat over a hole in the ground. I've also visited countries where it's customary to pay an attendant a nominal amount for a square or two of toilet paper. In some countries' restrooms, you won't find toilet paper at all — but instead, a bidet or bucket of water to wipe yourself clean. To prepare for any and all bathroom situations, I try to bring a roll of toilet paper and plenty of hand sanitizer on every international trip. Can I brush my teeth with tap water? Many Americans, myself included, are used to turning on the tap and having fresh, clean water to drink and brush their teeth. However, this isn't the case everywhere. My travel experiences have taught me that nothing will ruin a trip faster than gastrointestinal distress from unsafe drinking water. Now, before I travel, I always check the US Department of State website to see if I'll need to stick to bottled water. If the country's tap water isn't safe to drink, I'll attach my toothbrush to a bottle with a rubber band. This helps me remember not to rinse my toothbrush under the tap — a mistake that's easy to make in the early morning. Do I need to apply for a visa ahead of time? If you have an American passport (like I do), you can visit some countries worldwide without being granted permission. However, there are many exceptions. Countries like India, Cambodia, and China require Americans to apply for a visa before visiting; and as of this year, Americans and Canadians need an Electronic Travel Authorization to enter the UK. To visit some countries, you'll have to go to a consulate and apply in person. For others, you can apply virtually. If you don't have the right type of visa, you might not be allowed to board your plane — or you might even be turned away at the border. As a frequent traveler, I always check whether I need a visa to travel as soon as I book a trip. Most countries' embassies will have this information on their websites. How can I get cell service without paying a fortune? When I'm traveling, I'm always terrified of being left without cellular service — but I also want to avoid pricy roaming fees and daily charges. To save money, I usually use a service like Airalo or Holafly to purchase an eSIM card when I travel out of the country. That way, I can access a local carrier and control costs. This method has worked for me all around the world. With an eSIM, I can still access my primary number's voicemail and text messages as long as I'm connected to WiFi. How will I charge my devices? Speaking of phones, you'll want to make sure you can actually charge your devices. Outlets are different all around the world, and I've learned the hard way that even adapters labeled as "universal" usually aren't. A quick online search will tell you which kind of adapter you need to stay powered up. Preparing ahead is important here — although airports usually sell adapters, they tend to be more expensive than ones you can order online. Do I need to get any vaccines, or prepare for any potential illnesses? I am up-to-date on all of the standard vaccines in the United States. However, several diseases that are largely under control in the US pose a significant threat abroad. My years of travel have taught me to always check and see if I need any additional vaccines before a trip. In preparation for trips abroad, I've taken live typhoid pills and been vaccinated against yellow fever. For other trips, I've taken pills to prevent malaria. At my doctor's recommendation, I've even packed antibiotics to bring to countries where they might not be readily available. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website to see which vaccines and medications are recommended for your destination. Once you know what you need, your local pharmacy may be able to order the recommended vaccines for you, or your primary care physician might be able to call in a prescription. Will my credit cards work? Many Americans are used to paying for just about anything they need with the swipe of a card — or even a phone if they use Apple Pay. However, some countries are still largely cash-based societies. If that's the case where you are traveling, always come prepared with an ATM card — and make sure your bank account has enough cash. Finally, keep your budget in mind. If you don't have a credit card specifically designed for travel, remember you may be hit with expensive foreign transaction fees for every purchase. Are there any unusual laws I need to know about? Through my travels, I've come across a lot of unexpected laws. For example, some countries in the Caribbean ban civilians from wearing camouflage. In France, you're not allowed to buy or even wear counterfeit clothing, including purses. Moreover, some countries have restrictions on the type of medications you can bring in, even if they were legally prescribed in your home country. It's important to me to respect local customs and stay on the right side of the law — so I always do a quick online search to see if there are any rules I need to know about before I travel.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store