Places to live coming from U.K.

[newnative]

   Rayong? My Thai partner and I were bored silly after a few months and I didn't like being the only farang at lots of places we went.  Chiang Mai?  Like to visit, and we have 3 times, but we wouldn't want to live there year-round.  For us, it's the beach life and I recommend the greater Pattaya area.  Plenty of choices whether you want to be in the city itself or in the suburbs.  Wide variety of housing at a wide variety of prices.  Good hospitals and great shopping and restaurant choices.  Movies in English.  Lots of nice expats.  A variety of golf courses.  Bangkok just 2 hours away.  Worth a look.

[steve187]

26 minutes ago, newnative said:

   Rayong? My Thai partner and I were bored silly after a few months and I didn't like being the only farang at lots of places we went.  Chiang Mai?  Like to visit, and we have 3 times, but we wouldn't want to live there year-round.  For us, it's the beach life and I recommend the greater Pattaya area.  Plenty of choices whether you want to be in the city itself or in the suburbs.  Wide variety of housing at a wide variety of prices.  Good hospitals and great shopping and restaurant choices.  Movies in English.  Lots of nice expats.  A variety of golf courses.  Bangkok just 2 hours away.  Worth a look.

lots of traffic as well, together with some flooding now and again, just been into pattaya from phala, nice to visit nicer to leave, age makes a difference to a suitable location to settle

Edited January 7, 2019 by steve187

[khunPer]

On 1/5/2019 at 9:17 PM, phannam31 said:

Ideally we would like to be out of major towns and near a beach/coast ...quiet /but not with little

[ ... ]

Suggestions appreciated. As regards places to live we are ideally looking at 10000 baht and below but that is open ended a bit.. just an idea of a figure of decent areas where we can settle ?

There are plenty of possibilities out of major towns, and near beach, and quiet, and 10.000 baht budget (presume a month for renting). It's like a rubber band, i.e. what do you expect, or need, to live in..?

 

Normally best advise is to take a long vacation trip to Thailand and mover around to potential areas, and check them out for yourself. What I think is "paradise", might be the opposite for you; however many doors are open, it's mainly a question of expected life-style.

 

With little more facts about what you expect, or are looking for, you might get a handful of excellent replies.

????

[phannam31]

To assist and clarify:

Without working I would have available £1400 income per month U.K. money plus savings if needed but do not want to use ideally .hence why I envisage return to U.K. for a few months to do a little extra work per year to build up reserves .

Yes ideally would like a peaceful area but not remote so boring or no English speaking people around especially whilst we settle in.
Initially we are happy with one bed place to rent ideally ... in proximity to a nice beach... and to amenities .

Hope that clarifies a little?

Responses appreciated.




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[newnative]

3 hours ago, steve187 said:

lots of traffic as well, together with some flooding now and again, just been into pattaya from phala, nice to visit nicer to leave, age makes a difference to a suitable location to settle

     Yes.  Traffic and flooding.  Also found in Bangkok.  And, other areas--certainly plenty of traffic in Chiang Mai and Rayong.  Also had bad traffic in the desirable and expensive area where I lived in America--traffic is often the by-product of popularity.  Normally no flooding where I lived in the US but snow storms and ice storms to contend with.  I'll take flooding now and again over a long winter of snow and ice.   

     No place is perfect and you have to weigh the pros and cons with a mental list of what you would most like to have in the place where you live.  Phala apparently works for you, with visits now and then to Pattaya.  In the case of my partner and I, greater Pattaya does it, with visits fairly often to Bangkok.

[baansgr]

Try Cha am, long beach, many expats(retired) restaurants and bars, have darts night, quiz nights etc.Close enough to Hua Hin so have shopping and hospitols. Buses run every few minutes so you wont even need a car.

Accommodation is mostly houses but a few new beach condos have opened the past years. 

[chicowoodduck]

On 1/5/2019 at 1:40 PM, MrTrip said:

You mentioned Chiang Mai and Ubon which are about as far away from beaches as you can get in Thailand. Both very interesting cities with masses of interesting places within a short distance.

I actually love Ubon and the area to the west out to the Mekong, fascinating countryside but no real beaches unfortunately.




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Yup, sticking near the water is never a bad idea......will calm you once you start to deal with all the hoop jumping...????

[phannam31]

Try Cha am, long beach, many expats(retired) restaurants and bars, have darts night, quiz nights etc.Close enough to Hua Hin so have shopping and hospitols. Buses run every few minutes so you wont even need a car.
Accommodation is mostly houses but a few new beach condos have opened the past years. 

Thanks

Someone I know stayed in place called rain condo in cha am for short time and said liked it... property seems bit more for rent there but get what pay for like all properties.


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[phannam31]

     Yes.  Traffic and flooding.  Also found in Bangkok.  And, other areas--certainly plenty of traffic in Chiang Mai and Rayong.  Also had bad traffic in the desirable and expensive area where I lived in America--traffic is often the by-product of popularity.  Normally no flooding where I lived in the US but snow storms and ice storms to contend with.  I'll take flooding now and again over a long winter of snow and ice.   
     No place is perfect and you have to weigh the pros and cons with a mental list of what you would most like to have in the place where you live.  Phala apparently works for you, with visits now and then to Pattaya.  In the case of my partner and I, greater Pattaya does it, with visits fairly often to Bangkok.

Thank you.

You say phala,, would it be phla? As on property sites sussing out a short list of areas to visit in coming year ? Would this be how it appears on sites ..shows as rayong district? And can I ask areas you mean by greater Pattaya ?


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[steve187]

6 hours ago, phannam31 said:

You say phala,, would it be phla? As on property sites sussing out a short list of areas to visit in coming year ? Would this be how it appears on sites ..shows as rayong district? And can I ask areas you mean by greater Pattaya ?

phala, pala, phla, all the same, in the rayong provience, just outside ban chang, so to the south of sukhumvit road, there is phayun beach, phala beach. hat nam rin beach, https://www.google.com/maps/@12.6802482,101.0906688,16.24z

 

i would like to know what is greater pattaya, i would assume away from the beach and the other side of the sukhumit road.

 

[sandyf]

On 1/6/2019 at 4:42 AM, phannam31 said:

Thank you... yes those two areas I’ve friends who have visited for a few months at a time and love them but different living there? Hence as per my other note was going to get some beach type/ coast options and research and then choose maybe 3/4 areas to take a physical look at and see how feel in each... or have too many options and never get around all and spend time in each to get a feel..
yes ubon a lot rate highly it seems.


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You should have a look at Bang Saen. Plenty of decent accommodation at reasonable prices, good hospital on the doorstep and a variety of large shops nearby. Good transport facilities and Pattaya, Bangkok and the airport not that far away.

[newnative]

8 hours ago, phannam31 said:

 

 

Thank you.

You say phala,, would it be phla? As on property sites sussing out a short list of areas to visit in coming year ? Would this be how it appears on sites ..shows as rayong district? And can I ask areas you mean by greater Pattaya ?


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    I think your first questions were already answered.  When I say 'greater Pattaya', I'm referring to Pattaya itself and outer areas such as Jomtien and Na Jomtien, Nakua/Wongamat, all the places to the east of Sukumvit Road known as the Dark Side, Ban Saray, and so on.  Greater Pattaya to me extends from Sattahip in the south to Si Racha in the north.  

    The point I was trying to make by using 'greater Pattaya' was to say that there are a lot of different areas to live depending on what you want--smack dab in the heart of things; close to city center but somewhat quieter in Jomtien, Pratamnak or Naklua/Wong Amat; still quieter and farther away from things in places on the Dark Side, Ban Saray, etc.  Any area still allows you to avail yourself of all that Pattaya has to offer when you want it.

     

     

[wreckingcountry]

What a joke that someone can get married and get free health card!


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[KittenKong]

16 hours ago, steve187 said:

lots of traffic as well, together with some flooding now and again, just been into pattaya from phala, nice to visit nicer to leave, age makes a difference to a suitable location to settle

I say exactly the same about Pala: nice to visit for an afternoon but would be far too boring and remote to live in.

 

I like Jomtien because it is just the right distance from Pattaya, and I'm as old and curmudgeonly as you can get. And my condo never floods.

[newnative]

7 minutes ago, KittenKong said:

I say exactly the same about Pala: nice to visit for an afternoon but would be far too boring and remote to live in.

 

I like Jomtien because it is just the right distance from Pattaya, and I'm as old and curmudgeonly as you can get. And my condo never floods.

  Yes, totally agree.  My partner and I when we first moved to Thailand started out with a beach condo near Ban Phe in Rayong.  We soon discovered it was, as you say, 'far too boring and remote to live in'.   

[steve73]

11 hours ago, phannam31 said:

...but get what pay for like all properties.

 

 

 

Not always do you "get what you pay for".

In many of the older condo blocks there are some great deals to be had.. especially if you are looking for longer term (and prepared to pay upfront).

eg... a unit might be asking say 10k per week in peak season (i.e. Dec/Jan), or 10k/mon for a 6-12 month lease, but perhaps only 60k (if paid upfront) for 12 month... 

 

And if many of the long stayers start to make plans elsewhere there could be even better deals coming up.

[khunPer]

15 hours ago, phannam31 said:

To assist and clarify:

Without working I would have available £1400 income per month U.K. money plus savings if needed but do not want to use ideally .hence why I envisage return to U.K. for a few months to do a little extra work per year to build up reserves .

Yes ideally would like a peaceful area but not remote so boring or no English speaking people around especially whilst we settle in.
Initially we are happy with one bed place to rent ideally ... in proximity to a nice beach... and to amenities .

Hope that clarifies a little?

Responses appreciated.

Thanks.

 

£1,400 is equivalent to around 56,000 baht if it's after income tax, which you can have an Okay life for in Thailand, but depending of life-style, and also depending of any child or children are going to be supported from the income. Some can live fine for less; and some with a lot more can fell they have too little.

 

Living away from a big city/town, and a quiet place near a beach, but still with foreigners or expats speaking English to mingle with, I could think of somewhere south of Hua Hin, or further south on either the Phuket side, or – if you can accept an island life – on Samui or Phangan. All these places you can find decent rental accommodation in the range of 10,000 baht a month; often it's location that mainly sets the price, so little more distance to major activities can result in a lower price, or better accommodation for a similar price.

 

As I said in my earlier post, the best advise is to come to Thailand and look at potential locations. You can begin with a few days in a hotel or resort, check the various local areas, and then see if you can find something to rent on short term for a few days, or a week, in an area you like and "test live" there. Things like shopping, distance to this-and-that, including hospital, and transportation are important matters; plus of course that you like the area and neighborhood. Especially transportation is a major factor when living little quiet, and thereby more remote, in Thailand; both due to traffic culture, and due to what kind of transportation are available, everything from bus or song thaew (called bath bus some places) to buying you own motorbike or car.

 

When I was seriously considering to settle in Thailand, I visited a number of potential places for me – including Chiang Mai, which I originally like much, but also the Phuket area, and Hua Hin, and Pattaya – I ended up on an island.

 

It would be worth for you to include an island, when looking, even the saying is that an island is (little) more expensive than living on mainland. That difference is however so small today, that it's not something to account for – major chains like BigC, and Makro, and Tesco-Lotus have made shopping prices equal, together with convenient stores like 7-Eleven and Family Mart, and a chain like Tops. So looked at daily prices it's very few things that costs more in certain areas, like a bigger island, where it's mainly gasoline that is a few baht more per liter, and building construction also costs more due to transportation and "imported" labor.

 

Just as an example: On the island where I live, one can find a nice bungalow, or smaller house, in the area of 10,000 baht a month within a short distance to a beach, might even be walking distance. There also also plenty of quiet areas, only some 30 minutes drive to major shopping, cinemas, entertainment, hospitals, airport or ferry. On top, the island seem to be loaded with English speaking foreigners, including native to that language originating from from Australia, and Britain, and Canada, and not forgetting USA (they do speak kind of English language, don't they?????.

 

Livings costs are very dependable of life-style; i.e. do you cook at home, or will you dine out; do you have a pub-habit spending hours a place like that almost daily; drinking and smoking habits, where both could be relative expensive in Thailand; and so on. In average two persons can live fine for between 500 to 1,000 baht a day in "normal" daily need; however "normal" is a relative factor. A 50k to 60k baht monthly budget of course sets some relative limitations, but it's very possible to live fine of for two adults; even on an "expensive" island (I talk from experience).

 

One thing should should take into consideration is health, either insurance, or self-insured with a reasonable lump sum. In general, always have a "rainy day account", health insurance or not, with some cash available for emergency, and enough money for a ticket back "home" if suddenly urgent needed to get there (could be family, funeral, or for yourself).

 

You have plenty of possibilities, seek the right places, and you shall find.

Fell welcome to ask questions. I wish you good luck with your plans...????

[chicowoodduck]

16 hours ago, steve187 said:

phala, pala, phla, all the same, in the rayong provience, just outside ban chang, so to the south of sukhumvit road, there is phayun beach, phala beach. hat nam rin beach, https://www.google.com/maps/@12.6802482,101.0906688,16.24z

 

i would like to know what is greater pattaya, i would assume away from the beach and the other side of the sukhumit road.

 

Oh my Buddha, Hat Nam Rin beach is a hidden treasure for sure....my go to spot when taking visitors for a look see in the area...????

[phannam31]

Khunper

Been a while but have been investigating.. come back to your suggestion of island life as be nice to be near a beach not too commercialised but not too remote as settling in.
We been checking out places just for the purpose of getting an idea and a feel for areas and prices through DDProperty site... like all countries getting something when in the country is better and could be cheaper etc I’m sure.. but that site doesn’t seem to give a flavour of what’s available on island type properties?
Are there other sites you can recommend?
Islands to check out?


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