Their first international flight was a one-way ticket — to retire in Thailand

In July, Nicolia and Charles Connor boarded their first international flight on one-way tickets to Thailand. Their plan? To make it their new home.

The couple, originally from New York but living in North Carolina at the time, didn’t always expect to retire overseas. Although she had dreamed of living abroad, he needed some convincing.

They only began seriously considering it after a difficult stretch in which Nicolia lost four family members in three years.

“With the exception of one person, they all passed away young. They didn’t live to enjoy their retirement the way that they should,” Nicolia, 56, an interior designer, told Business Insider.

Nicolia knew something had to change. As Charles approached his 62nd birthday in April, she decided it was now or never.

“I told him, ‘I know if we stay in America, we can’t do it. But if we leave, you can retire and not have to work, and we can still live a good, decent life somewhere and just enjoy what we have left,'” she said.

In the end, her persistence paid off.

“She kept on through the years, and one day, I just said, ‘I’m ready to go.’ I was getting tired,” Charles, who worked in the logistics industry until his retirement in June, told Business Insider.

A one-way ticket out of the US

They wasted no time putting their retirement plan into motion, listing their North Carolina home for sale and selling most of their belongings over the next two months.

They also shipped their 3-year-old dog, Tallulah, to Thailand using a pet relocation service that cost about $7,000.

Nicolia says she was drawn to Southeast Asia because she wanted to live in a single-climate place that was affordable and had low crime rates. She chose Thailand because she was interested in its strong Buddhist heritage.

The couple considered living in Bangkok but thought city life would be too hectic, so they began exploring regions south of the capital.

Before settling on a location, they looked at houses.

They wanted a property with a yard and at least three bedrooms — one for their master bedroom, a hobby room for Charles to build gaming computers, and a spare room for any visiting guests.

Nicolia said she found the listing for their house in Pran Buri — a district in Prachuap Khiri Khan province in central Thailand — on Facebook Marketplace. The property is about a 25-minute drive from Hua Hin, a popular beach town.

The couple signed the lease on the house remotely for 26,000 Thai baht, or about $800, a month. Their rental came furnished and is located in a gated community of 14 homes that’s still being completed. They were among the first residents to move in.

The couple says they’re settling in well, having struck up a few friendships online ahead of their move.

Nicolia said she joined expat groups on Facebook for Thailand expats, where she could ask for advice and learn from others’ experiences. Some of her online connections have become real-life friends.

Settling into life in Thailand

The Connors aren’t the only ones making the move. Several Americans who relocated to Thailand in recent years told Business Insider they were drawn to Thailand’s safety and relative affordability.

The country is also positioning itself as a hub for extended stays. Most recently, in 2024, it launched the Destination Thailand Visa, which is aimed at digital nomads, remote workers, and those who want to participate in cultural or wellness activities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand did not respond to a request for comment on the number of Destination Thailand Visas issued in the past year.

Other long-term visa options include the Thai Elite Visa, valid for stays of up to five years, and the Long-Term Resident Visa, which extends to 10 years.

In the couple’s case, they’re applying for education visas to enroll in Thai language classes.

For the Connors, retired life in Thailand has given them more time to enjoy their hobbies and each other’s company.

“I get more sleep now. When you work the third shift, your body is different, since you come home when it’s daylight,” Charles said. He fills his time with swimming, exploring his new neighborhood, and indulging his passion for building computers.

In the US, the night shift was hard on their relationship.

“I stayed out of the bedroom so that he could rest, and now we get to spend time together,” Nicolia said.

The couple says they had no reservations about moving to a new country because they were thoroughly prepared.

“Our biggest fear was learning how to drive on the opposite side of the road,” Nicolia said, adding that they bought a car in Thailand for 180,000 Thai baht.

They’ve had good experiences with the community so far. On their second day in Thailand, the couple had lunch at a local café, which Nicolia shared a video of on Instagram.

The café owner messaged her to thank her for the post and said that Charles had dropped 2,000 Thai baht, or about $60, on the floor. A customer had found it, but they hadn’t known how to reach the couple to return it.

“He could have easily picked it up and kept moving,” Nicolia said. “That would’ve never happened in the United States.”

Moreover, there is a peace that comes with knowing that they can afford to live comfortably in Thailand.

“It’s almost like the stress is gone. It’s almost like we’ve gone from living to feeling alive,” Nicolia said. “Before, you’re just living. You’re working Monday through Friday, you’re going through the motions.”

On average, their expenses in the US were usually over $4,000 a month. Here, they have set themselves a $1,600 monthly budget.

“Because food is so affordable here, we eat out often,” she said.

Had they stayed in the US, Nicolia says she’d be working until at least 62, while Charles would likely have worked until 70. Even then, the rising cost of living would have made retirement too stressful to enjoy, she said.

Several older Americans have told Business Insider that their financial situation — including the lack of savings — forced them to return to work after retiring.

Being open to change

The couple says they’re preparing to welcome Nicolia’s 31-year-old daughter for a visit soon.

If there’s one thing the couple would tell others thinking about making the leap, it’s this: Keep an open mind.

“My piece of advice is to leave where you came from. Leave it there,” Nicolia said. “The biggest mistake I think people make when they move away from their home country is that they come not ready to embrace the new culture.”

It’s also important that people be emotionally prepared for the changes that come with the move.

“If you are going to move away from your network, you have to be someone who is comfortable with yourself, because for a period of time, that may be all you have,” Nicolia said.

Do you have a story to share about building your dream home in Asia? Contact this reporter at [email protected].

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