rangers

You could always try the Changi Village hotel, good food and bars just around the corner.

Stayed there a couple of months ago lovely rooms, good value.

IMO, the 3 posts above .. alive555, Gary, quicksilva .. offer the best advice for your situation.

Never buy unless you have lived in the area, preferably for at least 1 year full time. That's how you get to know about things like water shortages, high season traffic, neighborhoods, trends, etc.

Fully agree but add to that tradesmen you can trust, rip offs and learning the general "lie of the land"

Pattaya who needs it?

it's the other way round. Pattaya doesn't need people like you.

People like me? Please elaborate as you seem to know all about me.

Hope two gentlemen have managed to put this nasty incident behind them.

My 10 Baht's worth. Just over a year ago i went into SCB Sattahip branch and asked if i could open an account. Do you have a work permit they asked. No i am retired (type "B" visa) no way pedro came the reply, or the Thai equivalent. I go 50 yards up the road and tried the Bank of Ayudhya, handed them my passport and walked out with a savings account book and an ATM card in 15 mins.

I think they only asked if i lived in Sattahip (i do) as i had no other paperwork with me.

Roll forward a year, i happen to be in the same SCB bank with a Thai friend and i thought just for the hel_l of it, i would ask again if i could open on account. Where do you live they asked, ok they say bring passport and your house papers. It was the same girl i spoke to a year before! So back i go a week later with passport and blue house book and they open an account for me. When i had the book and ATM card in my hand i asked her why the change. I got the classic Thai answer, that little tilt of the head and the smile. Go figure.

Hello everyone!

I just found this forum today. My wife is Thai and we have been married for 4 years now. She is twisting my arm a little to move to Thailand and the Rayong area looks like the type of area I would like to retire too. Is there any place you could recommend for beach houses there and approx price for a decent one to buy, maybe in a secured area? I don't know about the crime rates or break ins, but I do keep hearing if one looks like a farang "me", chances are much higher that my house would get broken into. This is the one thing that has constantly discouraged me from moving to Thailand as we keep hearing in the news over here how Foreigners are always targeted, but I was really hoping most of it is BS and can really live a peaceful life there. Thanks in advance.

Get smart, rent in the area you want to settle in for say a year, get to know "the lie of the land". Get to know the rules, customs,rip offs etc. Don't make an expensive mistake. Take your time

300 B per serve for paella isn't so bad if it is good paella. Good Paella demands fresh seafood, probably imported rice and olive oil, imported sausage, and real saffron. I suppose they don't do single serve paella, eh?

I have been to this place and it is GOOD, however the service is slow as he cooks everything to order (but worth it). Just scof a bit more wine. I am not into Piella but my Thai wife who has tasted it in Spain rates it and yes he made one just for her.

The Us want him for selling arms to a South American country. That's rich, remember the contras and Oliver North.

Pattaya who needs it?