Why Chiang Mai?

[georgegeorgia]

As im getting older i am looking for a place to retire in Thailand.

 

I have gone off pattaya, 15 years travelling there every year and for some reason i got sick of it.

Bangkok is not for me and Udon Thani was in my sights but it seems to be hot all year round 

 

i like CM with the sometimes cool weather but im told their is smoke there sometime if the year

 

So i use to go to CM all the time but last time was about 5 years ago.

 

can u tell me why you chose CM to live ? Are you retired ?

 

what facilities do u enjoy there personally and know its for you ?

 

Edited October 1, 2018 by georgegeorgia

[stillhereandlovinit]

Because big Chang's are only 150 baht

[lipflipper]

Mountains, International Airport, cheaper everything, decent group of Expats and most important IT Ain't Bangkok or Pattaya.


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[trevoromgh]

More scenic and more character than the other places you mention, easier to get around and the wife likes it too. 

[BritManToo]

7 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

an u tell me why you chose CM to live ? Are you retired ?

I like rivers, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, jungle trails, fast internet modern amenities, never been anywhere that can match Chiang Mai. These photos were taken in the last two weeks while cycling and walking around.

 

Edited October 2, 2018 by BritManToo

[chingmai331]

Can survive quite well without any motor vehicle. But must choose location carefully. Life good here; yes could be better.

[EricTh]

Chiang Mai is actually hotter than Bangkok during the hot season.

 

It is only cooler than Bangkok during winter ie. Nov to Jan.

 

All the other months is hotter than Bangkok, so if you don't like hot weather...

[simoh1490]

4 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Chiang Mai is actually hotter than Bangkok during the hot season.

 

It is only cooler than Bangkok during winter ie. Nov to Jan.

 

All the other months is hotter than Bangkok, so if you don't like hot weather...

Are you sure?

 

https://www.holiday-weather.com/bangkok/averages/

https://www.holiday-weather.com/chang_mai/averages/

 

[Jingthing]

I know both places.

Obviously Pattaya better.

The reasons I reluctantly rejected Chiang Mai were the smoky season and the transport situation as I have no interest in running a bike or car in Thailand.

Pattaya features the almost free baht buses. You know I love them even though I often hate some of the thuggish drivers.

As far as the CM smoky season, as an asthmatic I don't think that would work for me and needing to evacuate for months out of the year doesn't really fit my budget or something I would want to do regardless.

If you don't have respiratory health issues before you move to CM, there is a good chance you will develop them because of living there. 

Depending on your Pattaya area housing location you've got the pollution clearing ocean breezes here, as opposed to the mountains trapping the garbage air in situation in CM.

Yes, it's true, CM summer is hot and CM winter much colder than Pattaya.

The nature of the expats in CM would definitely suit me much better than Pattaya. The architecture and vibe are much more charming, putting it mildly.

But weighing the pros and cons, I don't regret my choice.

But I can understand growing tired and bored of Pattaya, but if I got there I still wouldn't move to CM. 

 

Edited October 2, 2018 by Jingthing

[simoh1490]

I also prefer the polluted air from the crop burning in Indonesia rather than that from Myanmar but you can't have everything. All satire aside, there is hardly anywhere in Thailand that is totally pollution free during the burning season, it's a matter of degrees.

[simoh1490]

There's a couple of months each year when the air quality can be seriously poor, the rest of the time air quality is rarely a problem for us but much depends on where in CM you live, being surrounded by concrete and high rises isn't helpful. I reckon that it's worth putting up with that period because the rest of the year is usually good and interesting plus there's such a huge range of diverse and interesting places in the province to go and see: Pai, Doi Inthanon, the Mae Sa valley, Chiang Rai, Mae Tang etc. The other reason why I prefer CM is because of what it doesn't have and that includes a vast array of beer bars, go-go's and streetwalkers - different strokes for different folks I guess.

[jesimps]

Managed three days there a few years back. Was bored to tears after a day. Never again. I have everything I need jn the Pattaya area.

I also believe that their immig office is horrendous and the burning season is hard on the lungs.

[coxo]

From November through to Feb Udon gets cold, who told you it's always hot???

[nycjoe]

Pluses: easy transport, food hospitals, good food shopping, good restaurants, 5 malls with movies in English. Great. Expat community with many activity clubs. Great golf courses and gyms. Culture is best in Thailand. Rivers waterfalls parks mountains. Good infrastructure. 

Minuses: smoky season gets longer every year with no end in sight. Pollution from buses and autos is bad. Gridlock on small roads especially in tourist season. 

I’m you will find that there are things you are going to love and some things you will hate. The Chinese presence here in the last 5 years which has changed the experience. SOme nice folks but the older Chinese are a bit rowdy at restaurants. They can pound down the whiskey and when they do they get pretty loud. 

all in all you may love the town but expect to take a trip in the smoky season. 

[1FinickyOne]

I have seen enough of these discussions to know that it is individual... Some of the things that bother people greatly, do not bother me at all... I do have a mix of CM and other Thai places, but the thing to do is come and spend some time... see how you feel... depending upon likes/wants/budget, you might want to go a bit out of the city center... 

 

good luck - explore. 

[NaamGin]

Retired, lived in Bangkok for 3 years, spent a lot of time in the south, lived in CM for more years than I care to say.

 

1. I find that northern Thai people to be more friendly than in the south.

2. Traffic can be bad, but nothing like Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin.

3. Cost of living is a bit lower here.

4. A dozen golf courses in the area.

5. I like northern Thai food.

6. International airport without having to fly through Bangkok.

7. I enjoy the weather in the north more than the south. Not quite as hot most of the year, cool during the winter months. The smoky season is a different story.

8. Lots of foreign food choices.

9. Good medical care.

10. Can get anywhere in town in under 30 minutes. 

[EricTh]

2 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

Are you sure?

 

https://www.holiday-weather.com/bangkok/averages/

https://www.holiday-weather.com/chang_mai/averages/

 

 

Yes, I am sure because I've been to both places. 

Those so-called average that you posted are misleading and it gave me wrong info in the past. Chiang Mai average temp during hot season is actually 33 -35.

 

It's actually hotter in CM during the hot season due to it being near mountains. Bangkok hot weather isn't as hot surprisingly.

 

It's better to rely on real life experiences.

 

Edited October 2, 2018 by EricTh

[CaliTransplant]

10 minutes ago, NaamGin said:

Retired, lived in Bangkok for 3 years, spent a lot of time in the south, lived in CM for more years than I care to say.

 

1. I find that northern Thai people to be more friendly than in the south.

2. Traffic can be bad, but nothing like Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin.

3. Cost of living is a bit lower here.

4. A dozen golf courses in the area.

5. I like northern Thai food.

6. International airport without having to fly through Bangkok.

7. I enjoy the weather in the north more than the south. Not quite as hot most of the year, cool during the winter months. The smoky season is a different story.

8. Lots of foreign food choices.

9. Good medical care.

10. Can get anywhere in town in under 30 minutes. 

Nowhere is perfect but I wake up every day happy to be right here in Chiang Mai

[simoh1490]

13 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Yes, I am sure because I've been to both places. 

Those so-called average that you posted are misleading and it gave me wrong info in the past. Chiang Mai average temp during hot season is actually 33 -35.

 

It's actually hotter in CM during the hot season due to it being near mountains. Bangkok hot weather isn't as hot surprisingly.

 

It's better to rely on real life experiences.

 

Having lived in CM for the past 16 years I am relying on experience, plus, I'm also relying on stats. rather than impressions! So please, post something factual by way of evidence to support your claim.

[sanemax]

22 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Yes, I am sure because I've been to both places. 

Those so-called average that you posted are misleading and it gave me wrong info in the past. Chiang Mai average temp during hot season is actually 33 -35.

It's actually hotter in CM during the hot season due to it being near mountains. Bangkok hot weather isn't as hot surprisingly.

It's better to rely on real life experiences.

 

    You  often get a cool breeze coming in from the mountains , something you dont get in BKK .

   The tall buildings in BBK keep all the heat in 

[thaiguzzi]

11 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

and Udon Thani was in my sights but it seems to be hot all year round

Er dude, you aint been up here in Dec-Jan-early Feb.

The same periods it is cold in CM are the same periods it's cold in Northern Isaan.

Loei (one of my favourite provinces) can be colder than anywhere in Thailand. I've seen 6C up here in UT province.

And just like CM and the NW, Isaan is extremely hot in the summer season Mar-Apr-May before the rains come.

[themerg]

Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, good food, excellent prices, different culture than BKK and south. Beautiful scenery. Housing is 40-80% cheaper than The Big Mango, BKK.

Places so far away from anything and anyone that the noise you hear is the noise you make and the sounds of nature. Don Muang Airport (DMK), and Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) are a 45-minute plane ride,10-hour bus ride. No rat race. Life is slow.

[pgrahmm]

33 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Yes, I am sure because I've been to both places. 

Those so-called average that you posted are misleading and it gave me wrong info in the past. Chiang Mai average temp during hot season is actually 33 -35.

 

It's actually hotter in CM during the hot season due to it being near mountains. Bangkok hot weather isn't as hot surprisingly.

 

It's better to rely on real life experiences.

 

Don't find that the heat is oppressive here at all.....I head south & it's a whole other higher & less pleasant level....

[SpeakeasyThai]

If you like Chinese spitting on the street and poor air quality CM is for you.

[Just1Voice]

I have been here 10 years, and I can't think of any other city I would rather live in.  We live on the "outskirts" east of the city, and haven't had the smoke problem in our area in the past 7 or eight years.  

 

I find that CM has everything BKK has, but at much lower prices, and no where near the crime.  

 

We live in an extremely quiet, middle class moo bahn with most 2 story houses in the 3-5 million baht range.  On our soi, everyone is in bed before 9:00.  Couple of houses have small kids, but they aren't out running the streets, yelling & screaming.  

 

For 6 years I took motorcycle trips all over the North, Northeast, and Central Thailand, and have yet to find a city I would prefer over CM.  Overall, the people are much friendlier and accommodating.  

 

CM city is getting worse on the traffic at certain hour of the day, but if you look close, you'll see a good one-fourth of the cars sporting license plates from BKK.  And with the upgrades to the airport, now you never have to go to BKK for a flight any where you want to go.

 

My only complaint: Too damn many farangs moving here. lol

 

[blackhorse]

Booked a month and left a week early and would have kissed the ground arriving back in bangkok if it wasn't so grimy

If you want to be tucked in bed by 9 pm reading a book then chiang mai is for you!

[blackhorse]

I have been here 10 years, and I can't think of any other city I would rather live in.  We live on the "outskirts" east of the city, and haven't had the smoke problem in our area in the past 7 or eight years.  

 

I find that CM has everything BKK has, but at much lower prices, and no where near the crime.  

 

We live in an extremely quiet, middle class moo bahn with most 2 story houses in the 3-5 million baht range.  On our soi, everyone is in bed before 9:00.  Couple of houses have small kids, but they aren't out running the streets, yelling & screaming.  

 

For 6 years I took motorcycle trips all over the North, Northeast, and Central Thailand, and have yet to find a city I would prefer over CM.  Overall, the people are much friendlier and accommodating.  

 

CM city is getting worse on the traffic at certain hour of the day, but if you look close, you'll see a good one-fourth of the cars sporting license plates from BKK.  And with the upgrades to the airport, now you never have to go to BKK for a flight any where you want to go.

 

My only complaint: Too damn many farangs moving here. lol

 

"I find that CM has everything BKK has"

 

[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

 

[sanemax]

9 minutes ago, blackhorse said:

If you want to be tucked in bed by 9 pm reading a book then chiang mai is for you!

 

    There are plenty of bars , where you can go and sit with a beer until well past midnight

[sanemax]

5 minutes ago, blackhorse said:

"I find that CM has everything BKK has"

 

 

   What does BKK have that CM doesnt have ?

[Sparkles]

4 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

Are you sure?

 

https://www.holiday-weather.com/bangkok/averages/

https://www.holiday-weather.com/chang_mai/averages/

 

Lived 8 years in Bangkok ,12 years in CM.Bangkok is far more humid and has a population of 10 m +  with millions of air cons pumping out hot air.When it rains in Bangkok, and its far heavier than here, roads are flooded and the whole city comes to a standstill.

 

You get used, when working, to carry a plastic bag for your shoes and roll up your long pants and wade through filthy water.

 

Bangkok as a retirement environment? forget it the traffic alone will kill you if the bad air 24/7, all year doesnt

 

.Couldn't wait for retirement and to get out