Pattaya now verses Pattaya before.

[lamyai3]

On 5/7/2019 at 10:31 AM, Joeinchaiyaphum said:

If B.J. (Bobby Jones) is still around I’m sure he still has stories of those days

Bill Jones - think he's still here in soi 3 after moving (I often enjoyed his 55 baht breakfast on the beachfront near soi 1)... 

https://www.pattayamail.com/diningout/a-trip-down-memory-lane-at-bj-holiday-lodge-11972

[bkk6060]

I first came for:

Lots of female company

Golf

Variety of restaurants

Making friends

Inexpensive rent and overall living expenses.

 

Now:

More opportunities for female company

More Golf course options

More restaurants.

Have more friends then ever.

And, I would argue that rents have generally decreased over the past 3 years or so.

 

As far as price increases get real unless you are in some sort of time warp, that is life I guarantee prices in your home country have mostly risen higher then here. And geez,  certainly seems some on here are "all about the money".

 

Thailand is still rated in most major publications as one of the top ten, many in the top five places for overall costs, etc. to retire in the world.  So, if one cannot cut it here good luck....

 

 

[elgenon]

19 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Ugly dresses. Yes, they were pretty awful back in the 90s, plus their idea of what was sexy was at odds with reality.

Remember the 6 inch soles on the shoes?

Least attractive item had to be the horrid knee high boots gogo girls all wore for a while. One fashion I was happy to see gone.

I gave up on gogos though, when the djs all started playing that revolting noise way too loud.

 

 

How about the huge "Frankenstein" shoes? They were kinda cute but the girl couldn't walk anywhere they were so heavy.

[lamyai3]

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

As far as price increases get real unless you are in some sort of time warp, that is life I guarantee prices in your home country have mostly risen higher then here. And geez,  certainly seems some on here are "all about the money".

This comparison is between 2000 and now, of course it's going to be largely about the money. Anyone here less than a decade is barely qualified to even comment on this aspect of things.

 

Regarding home country prices, I was back last month in the UK, and for the first time in history, Singha beer is cheaper in a UK supermarket than it is in the cheapest supermarkets in Thailand. 

[JSixpack]

13 hours ago, swissie said:

- But still a unique place IMHO. I will keep visiting until the day comes when every GoGo and Massage Parlor has been converted into a "masturbation-chamber" and Pattaya has definitely ended up as a Family/Sports Resort. Then, I will stop  visiting Pattaya. Not before.

Or, maybe it will come to this again. You know, not gettin' enuff smiles & wais. ???? Canary Islands, Hua Hin, 17 pages.

 

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- Another poster asked if there would be an alternative to Pattaya? I clearly say NO. Not in this universe!

 

Addicted2Pattaya, on 2008-10-13 00:39:08:

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If pattaya did die. where would be the next best place ?

Sommaz, on 2008-10-13 10:47:57

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Heaven of course.

 

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If I had any say in this, I would suggest that certain areas of Pattaya should be added to the UNESCO "Word Inheritance Fund". (Walking Street, Soi 13, Soi 6, for example), instead of some decayed castles somewhere in Transilvania.

Great idea, though, as shown in the thread, most of our old pensioners would insist the whole city should have been added no later than 1995. 

[robint]

I first came over in 1988. I was on a package tour and stayed at the Thai Orchid.  I remember 38B/£.  It was quite expensive then. I met this delightful girl lustrous hair down to her pert butt. No english at all. So we muddled along and rooted like rattle snakes.  I thought I was in heaven.  That started the inevitable addiction to LOS and as they say the rest is history

[OneEyedPie]

I first came over in 1988. I was on a package tour and stayed at the Thai Orchid.

If not by complete coincidence the Chinese also visit on package tours.

[VBF]

15 hours ago, OneEyedPie said:

<snip>
If not by complete coincidence the Chinese also visit on package tours.

 

That's a cultural thing though. They (and Koreans) tend to do everything en-masse as it's how they've been educated (indoctrinated?) through life or possibly due to finabcial imperatives.

 

Having said that, I met 2 Chinese couples at different times in Pattaya this year - all nice people and travelling independently of groups or tours.

Here's the thing...... they were all in their twenties, so slowly, the Chinese way of travelling might change as the youngsters grow up.

 

And as i write this it occurs to me....when Brits started to go to Spain and Greece in the 60s and 70s, package tours were the norm.  Now, many many people travel independently with some moving to live in the areas. Is history repeating itself?

[DrTuner]

2 minutes ago, VBF said:

Here's the thing...... they were all in their twenties, so slowly, the Chinese way of travelling might change as the youngsters grow up.

At some point China will crack down on the travel. Can't have the indoctrination broken by letting them know what's behind the great wall.

[NanLaew]

On 5/11/2019 at 8:57 AM, robint said:

I met this delightful girl lustrous hair down to her pert butt. No english at all. So we muddled along and rooted like rattle snakes.

Oh God yes! Noi was absolutely amazing wasn't she?

[NanLaew]

9 hours ago, VBF said:

Having said that, I met 2 Chinese couples at different times in Pattaya this year - all nice people and travelling independently of groups or tours.

Here's the thing...... they were all in their twenties, so slowly, the Chinese way of travelling might change as the youngsters grow up.

That's the same thing that I have picked up on during my more infrequent, sporadic forays in my former home town. Younger Chinese couples that talk quietly, know exactly what to order at the counter at Burger King, pay with their WeChat enabled smartphones and empty their trays and cups in the big bin and stack their trays like proper tourists. Many Chinese-centric back-packery lodgings on just about every Soi including on Beach.

[gk10002000]

On 5/6/2019 at 8:42 PM, newnative said:

   Three pages of posts, almost all bemoaning the weight of today's bar girls vs. those of the past.  I suppose if that is your only measurement criteria then Pattaya might not be as good as it was.  But, for some of us, other factors weigh in.  In my case, I arrived in 2010 and the Pattaya of 2019 is, in most cases, the same or better than it was 9 years ago. 

    I like living in a beach community, like sitting on my oceanfront balcony with a cold drink and a good book, watching the boat activity and listening to the waves.  Meals that I take at home are on the balcony with an ocean breeze.  Occasionally walk the beach.  Like a place big enough to have good health care and good hospitals.  Love the movies so need to be somewhere with movies in English.  Like to eat out so want plenty of restaurant choices of all kinds.  Want to be in a place with good shopping choices for food, clothing, housewares, furniture, art, books, etc. Someplace big enough to have interesting shops.  Not too far from a major airport.  Good weather year-round.  Good housing choices at a variety of prices let me live just about anywhere in Pattaya, whether I want close-in or a quieter, outer area.  And, I need a place with an interesting mix of residents to socialize with.  

    Pattaya fits the bill for all of the above, and more I didn't mention.  9 years has seen a hospital added plus a Bangkok Hospital health clinic in Jomtien.  Old Central Center transformed into Central Marina.  Terminal 21 with another movie theater, grocery, and lots of restaurant and shopping choices.  Big, new hotels like Mytt and others, like Amari, doing nice expansions. Two huge new water parks.  Some infrastructure improvements such as the tunnel and the new outer highway soon to be done.  The ocean is still dirty but Pattaya Beach is wider and cleaner than before--and, apparently, Jomtien Beach is next for widening.  

     Of course, it's not all good but you weigh the good and the bad with any city and then decide if you want to live there.  Some posts have mentioned all the new Chinese as a negative but they have been a plus for me.  The last 3 condos I sold were to Chinese buyers and likely the next one I sell will also be to a Chinese.  So, this resident prefers the now rather than the before.

yeah.  the biggest thing I hate is the quality of the swimming water.  Never swam in Pattaya bay anyway, but used to enjoy Jomtien.  I don't like the upscaling and more malls, but that is not a big factor.  I do miss the lesser traffic and being actually able to walk across second road!

[Lumbini]

I see more attractive girls in a Bangkok mall in one hour than I do in Pattaya in a day.

Maybe in 5 minutes

[swissie]

On 5/11/2019 at 8:43 AM, JSixpack said:

Or, maybe it will come to this again. You know, not gettin' enuff smiles & wais. ???? Canary Islands, Hua Hin, 17 pages.

 

 

Addicted2Pattaya, on 2008-10-13 00:39:08:

Sommaz, on 2008-10-13 10:47:57

 

Great idea, though, as shown in the thread, most of our old pensioners would insist the whole city should have been added no later than 1995. 

WELL OBSERVED SIXPACK.
I for myself have found an ideal solution.
I visit Pattaya 3 times a year. But never more than 1 month at the time. (That way, it never get's "old" or "routine"). Have found out, if I stay longer than 1 month, the "negatives" start to compete with the "positives" in Pattaya.

The rest of my time I spend in Home-Country or the Canary-Islands. Works best for me.
I realize, the older one gets, "mobility" will eventually decrease and I will no longer be able to adhere to this frequent travel routine. But until then...

[Delight]

  I attach 3 jpegs

 

Pattaya  and Chiang Mai circa 1981

[Mr22Tim]

On 5/5/2019 at 10:57 PM, Thaidream said:

a w

I have been here since  1979 and I see the problem as too many Johnny come lately’s making night life in Pattaya look like an assisted living home. Fat, bald, semi immobile geezers who should have arrived 30 years ago before the

supply and demand for pretty girls flipped 180 degrees. Now on fixed incomes and viagra they wonder were the young honeys are. Well, what real honeys there are are in bars with 1500 Baht bar fines, private. clubs or working as escorts on and off line. The guys with no financial restraints get what they want

but nothing will bring back the pre-1987 golden age of Trollips

A lot of guys are just going to have to do the best you can with what’s available in  your price range and experience and language abilities. Put some effort into learning the local’s lingo as it will pay off with the quality of females who will stay still long enough to give

you a chance. 

 

[topt]

On 5/19/2019 at 12:02 AM, Delight said:

  I attach 3 jpegs

 

Pattaya  and Chiang Mai circa 1981

 

 

Interesting to see the exchange rate back then............

[fhickson]

The loud bars with drunk dudes were bs last time i was there. For me it was all social app action, eating out and beach relaxation away from the main areas.

[Delight]

On 5/21/2019 at 11:17 AM, topt said:

Interesting to see the exchange rate back then............

 This was time when the Baht rate was fixed  $1 -- 25 Baht

That all change post 1997 crash. Briefly it was £ 1  --90 Baht

Suspect those days have gone forever!

[bkk6060]

On 5/20/2019 at 11:12 AM, Mr22Tim said:

I have been here since  1979 and I see the problem as too many Johnny come lately’s making night life in Pattaya look like an assisted living home. Fat, bald, semi immobile geezers who should have arrived 30 years ago before the

supply and demand for pretty girls flipped 180 degrees. Now on fixed incomes and viagra they wonder were the young honeys are. Well, what real honeys there are are in bars with 1500 Baht bar fines, private. clubs or working as escorts on and off line. The guys with no financial restraints get what they want

but nothing will bring back the pre-1987 golden age of Trollips

A lot of guys are just going to have to do the best you can with what’s available in  your price range and experience and language abilities. Put some effort into learning the local’s lingo as it will pay off with the quality of females who will stay still long enough to give

you a chance. 

 

Or maybe be intelligent and educated enough to have a future financial plan for your life.

Which unfortunately, most here have no idea about.

 

PS: Anyone who has been here for a significant time and are paying 1500 b bf and complaining about it, may be the stupidest most clueless idiots in this town.  

 

[mike787]

On 5/6/2019 at 12:35 PM, CGW said:

You observations are spot on? ???? 

Though I think you are being generous with the "beautiful girl" ratings. ????

OP and you are dead right...Pattaya and surrounding location has devalued itself to the point where it's best to be avoided.  Seems like much of Thailand is evolving much the same.  Chiang Mai's 4-5 months of air pollution and immigration overregulation it's not the land of warm smiles it used to be...rather a nightmare hangover.

[marcusarelus]

On 5/7/2019 at 9:11 PM, Pique Dard said:

i visited bkk and pattaya for the first time in 1987. when i see  to-day's pattaya i've got to check the stamps in my old passport or read the old leaflets (i've kept some) praising pattaya's charms to make sure i'm not fooling myself... pattaya has become a concrete jungle, but worse, the petite, gracil and slender thai girl is nowhere to be seen anymore...she has gone with the wind,  replaced by obesity.

Ya I know what you mean.  Look at those fatties.