Moving To Pattaya or Hua Hin

[Neeranam]

I'm looking to buy  anew house either in Pattaya or Hua Hin. 

The reasons, I want to be near my daughter at university in Bangkok and want a good international school for another daughter. 

I also want to meet other expats to play golf, join a sports club and be near good restaurants. 

My concern about Pattaya are  -  

Is there are decent beach? Previous visits, the main beach was not very attractive.

How do normal Thais treat you? Do they automatically think you are a sexpat, and treat you thus?

Is it possible to integrate into a local community? I have lived in Thailand for nearly 30 years and have assimilated into my local Isan community. 

Looking for some insights into where to buy, Pattaya or Hua Hin -  cost, pollution, etc

 

 

 

 

[Pravda]

Lol, Hua Hin beach in 10 times worse than Pattaya

[guzzi850m2]

You should go and spend one month at each location, best way to judge.

There are pros and cons for both.

 

I live in Pattaya and are happy here, son goes in a very good school.

Edited March 20, 2021 by guzzi850m2

[Dart12]

I've been a visitor (with a partner) in Pattaya for a year and have only been treated well by Thai's (in English at least lol).

[Dart12]

Also sounds like you may prefer Jomtien or Pratumnak near pattaya better (when it's a tourist town again).

[Neeranam]

9 minutes ago, Pravda said:

Lol, Hua Hin beach in 10 times worse than Pattaya

Hmm, I found the opposite. 

[J Town]

I've been living in Jomtien for years. If you like a quiet place with affordable beachfront condos, it's perfect. Also close enough to Pattaya so if and when the itch hits, you can get anything you want scratched.

[bkk6060]

28 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

How do normal Thais treat you? Do they automatically think you are a sexpat, and treat you thus?

?

As opposed to abnormal Thais? And what treatment of your sexpat comment are you referring to?  

 

[Surelynot]

Need to check out the situation re: the immigrant population. Might find a lot of Nigerians frequent these locations.

[Neeranam]

4 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

?

As opposed to abnormal Thais? And what treatment of your sexpat comment are you referring to?  

 

I mean those not in the 'tourism' industry.

Derision, double charging, etc.

I've lived here a long time and know that in general Thais don't like foreigners. This is even more obvious to me when talking to those who have lived in Pattaya. Also, the guys I know who have 'Pattaya' gf's come to visit and the girl very often doesn't wai me. This is very disrespectful. Also, they seem very surprised that I can speak Thai, and some don't like it.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 20, 2021 by Neeranam

[Pravda]

6 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Hmm, I found the opposite. 

 

Hua Hin beach if filthy. I live in Bangkok and often go to both Hua Hin and Pattaya because of proximity. Granted I did not visit Hua Hin and Pattaya since pandemic, but when tourists were around Hua Hin beach had a lot more trash, specifically plastic bottles and bags. I am talking about the main beach near Hilton as well as main Pattaya beach.

 

Pattaya military beach is much nicer than anything Hua Hin has to offer.

[Dart12]

9 minutes ago, J Town said:

I've been living in Jomtien for years. If you like a quiet place with affordable beachfront condos, it's perfect. Also close enough to Pattaya so if and when the itch hits, you can get anything you want scratched.

might be where you got the itch? ha

[Neeranam]

7 minutes ago, Pravda said:

 

Hua Hin beach if filthy. I live in Bangkok and often go to both Hua Hin and Pattaya because of proximity. Granted I did not visit Hua Hin and Pattaya since pandemic, but when tourists were around Hua Hin beach had a lot more trash, specifically plastic bottles and bags. I am talking about the main beach near Hilton as well as main Pattaya beach.

 

Pattaya military beach is much nicer than anything Hua Hin has to offer.

OK, I always stay at Takiab beach.

[petermik]

7 hours ago, Neeranam said:

 Also, the guys I know who have 'Pattaya' gf's come to visit and the girl very often doesn't wai me. This is very disrespectful. Also, they seem very surprised that I can speak Thai, and some don't like it.

 

 

 

 

Respectfully suggest you stay where you are then.

[jacko45k]

30 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Need to check out the situation re: the immigrant population. Might find a lot of Nigerians frequent these locations.

What, Pattaya and Hua Hin? Thought it was a Bangkok thing.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

Interesting post. I didn't see any good beaches in Pattaya and the surrounding area. Some look nice but not good for swimming. Thought Rayong might be an option but that seems to be heavily industrialised. Seemed like you had to go as far as the Chantaburi area to find a half decent beach. The town is nice too but a half hour from the beach and getting a long way away from things.

Possibly Jomtiem is a good solution.. beach not flash but a bit quiet and nice surrounds and not far from bigger city stuff. 

[Neeranam]

7 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Interesting post. I didn't see any good beaches in Pattaya and the surrounding area. Some look nice but not good for swimming. Thought Rayong might be an option but that seems to be heavily industrialised. Seemed like you had to go as far as the Chantaburi area to find a half decent beach. The town is nice too but a half hour from the beach and getting a long way away from things.

Possibly Jomtiem is a good solution.. beach not flash but a bit quiet and nice surrounds and not far from bigger city stuff. 

My favourite beach is Koh Mak, so I would like to be near there. That's one advantage of Pattaya over HH, closer to the nice beaches. Mind you, I guess HH is nearer Samui, PaNgan.

[Kerryd]

As in the other thread, you may find yourself happier in the Huay Yai area, or even further south towards Sattahip.

With the next Highway 7 extension and on ramp locations, it's much easier to get onto the toll highway to Bangkok (or get back from there) for the areas south of Pattaya.
https://www.google.co.th/maps/@12.7956786,100.9413291,12.87z?hl=en

Pretty much any city that relies heavily on tourism is going to have people that resent the fact their livelihood depends on foreigners. Also, a lot of people in those areas are accustomed to the foreign practise of not waiing everything that moves.
And therefore they probably don't think you'd find it offensive if they don't wai you. With my friends, I wai them, they wai back. They wai me, I wai back. It's no big deal. I noticed the people on my soi don't (normally)  wai each other non-stop as well, just like they don't wai the som tam vendor, the security guy, the garbage collectors, etc.
One of my neighbours is a cop. When I see him in uniform, I wai and say "sawatdee khrap". If he's in civvies (or in a towel while sweeping up the poop from his dogs) I'll wave and say "good morning" (or afternoon or whatever).

Many people (everywhere in the country) are surprised if you speak to them in Thai, because they are accustomed to foreigners who, even after living here for years, can't pronounce simple words correctly. (If I had a satang for every time I heard a foreigner say "bath" instead of "baht" or mispronounce simple words, I'd have nearly enough for a litre of benzine by now !)

One of the biggest gripes I have here is that when I try to speak Thai to someone and mispronounce a word, they never correct me ! It's frustrating, especially when I ask them if I'm saying it right and they won't say ! I went for years saying "eat knee" (gin khao) because I was pronouncing "khao" in a "middle tone" instead of a "high" tone. Nobody ever corrected me as they knew what I was trying to say and apparently the idea of telling me I was saying it incorrectly never crossed their minds.

(Living in Pattaya is probably the worst thing one can do if they want to learn how to speak Thai properly.)

I'd look long and hard at the roads from Hua Hin into Bangkok and compare them to the ones going from Pattaya, especially if you plan on going there (Bangkok) fairly often. From my experience, Pattaya to/from Bangkok is much easier (any time) than the Hua Hin/Bangkok route (at least on a motorcycle). 

Everything else being equal (between Hua Hin and Pattaya), the roads could be a deciding factor. Personally, I found most of the beaches to be somewhat "less than pristine" though they do a better job of keeping the Pattaya/Jomtien beachs clean these days. And less <deleted> being flushed into the water as well (compared to years past).

Nowhere will ever be perfect so you have to weigh the pros and cons and decide which outweighs the other. No one can do that for you.

[stupidfarang]

What about samut songkhram as an alternative, between Bangkok and Hua Hin, beautiful houses next to the river

[Eindhoven]

48 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Hmm, I found the opposite. 

 

I rarely think of stepping on the the central Pattaya beach. I don't know why you keep banging on about the beach. What is the likelihood of you moving to central Pattaya? I would state very low if what you write about your reasons are true.

Why take the chance of seeing prostitution on the beach road or walking past a bar in the centre?

Stay in a part where none of that takes place and be happy. It doesn't bother me because I don't live amongst it.

I live near a beach because I love the sea air. Health promoting. There are no houses available to you on the beach road and there is no requirement for you to visit the beach at central Pattaya since there are many others you can visit.

Everyone can find their favourite nook and cranny. Best to not share it.

Previous time I was in Hua Hin, a policeman tried to scam me for 1,000 baht. I made him regret it.

If you want to know about HuaHin, try posting on the HuaHin forum.

 

[Ventenio]

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Do they automatically think you are a sexpat, and treat you thus?

Not always.  If you are more than 5000 km from Thailand for years, they might think for one second you are not.  Or simply dead.   I am sure 99% of all expats know the reputation and fit the mold. 

[couchpotato]

@NeeranamDude you definitely have  issues. You state you have been here 30 years (and apparently speak Thai), so there is no way you don't know anything about Pattaya or Hua Hin, so your post is a bit trolling I believe. Also why do all your friends girlfriends have to wai you. Same at my house, some do, some don't, not a big issue.  I also speak Thai, and have never had any Thai person seem offended because I speak it, actually most compliment me. Also after 30 years you should know Pattaya and HH are not inundated with Nigerian immigrants..basically none at all. Areas of Bangkok (namely lower Sukhumvit) is their main area.

If you haven't travelled to these places in 30 years of being here, then maybe a good idea to get out of the house and do a bit of travelling. Have a good trip.

 

Edited March 20, 2021 by couchpotato

[BangkokAlan]

If you want to be closer to your Bangkok daughter then Pattaya is more practical, Huahin is a difficult journey to make regularly taking twice the time travel to Bangkok, I also believe there are more International schools in Pattaya.

For best beaches Jomtien beach is good about 3KM from start of the beach closer to Nah Jomtien end. I have a condo in this location which i use when not in Bangkok and its quiet and the beach is kept very clean by vendors further up there is a lot more commercial activities bringing the usual foot traffic and rubbish.

You can easily enjoy Pratumnak and Jomtien as an expat but if you want to integrate into a Thai community then Sattahip or Bang Saray may be better for you as most people in Pattaya are expats or servicing the expat community not really a large Thai community. There are expat clubs and specific bars in Pattaya that are frequented by golf enthusiasts.

[internationalism]

Pattaya and the whole chonburi is closer to bkk and has a proper motorway.

Pollution is same, but closer to the sea the cleaner, because of breeze.

Good beaches start from bang saen.

I would look first at available schools, probably some 10 of them, you need to get her there and from every day. 

When she ends school in some 5 years you can easily sell the property with a large profit and move further away from bangkok, where is cheaper, cleaner

 

[RobMuir]

4 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Do they automatically think you are a sexpat

Yes.

Pattaya has that reputation. That is the main attraction for western male tourists and the Thais are not stupid, they know it and will assume you are a sexpat.

It is a weird scene there, bargirls there are very open about it and it is normal to see pretty bargirls and their much older, much heavier ugly customers holding hands, shopping and eating together in public, carrying on as if they are in a real relationship without any shame.

It is obvious, and the Thais are not blind, but mostly they won't say anything. If a fat grandfather walked around in Australia with a petite girl in her twenties some people would have a go.

I have the same view when I meet someone from Pattaya, especially if they chose to relocate there. Pattaya is  world famous for its sex industry, Hua Hin isn't.

 

 

[NCC1701A]

i have lived in Hua Hin seven years. 

it is much safer than Pattaya with less police corruption and much friendlier Thais. No Baht bus or motorbike taxi corruption like in Pattaya. 

the expat demographic is VERY different. Up to you to know what I mean by that. 

the tourist demographic is MUCH better. Families. Both Thai and Farang.  

the good beaches in Hua Hin are not near downtown, they are south down the coast. 

much less traffic than Pattaya, much safer to get around on a scooter. 

dual track train from BKK will be complete in two years goes right to the center of town. 

so if you are at least 65 years old and married or incapable of getting an erection, like a small town with basic conveniences then Hua Hin is for you. Villa Market X2, Gourmet Market and Tops Market. 

Be warned everyone will know your business and you will see the same people everywhere you go. you may like that. 

far less ocean view condos. rents while very low are slightly higher than Pattaya. 

HH has very good bicycle paths, the best gym in Thailand, world class tennis and golf. 

but if you are still looking for a hookup then no place on this planet can compare to Pattaya. The girls in HH are third string. but it does not smell like a open sewer like Pattaya does. 

and there are FAR more choices for restaurants in Pattaya with much better Farang food, the beach road is great for jogging with a proper sunset over the water unlike Hua Hin.   

shopping for anything is much better in Pattaya. far more selection. 

Good luck. 

 

 

Edited March 20, 2021 by NCC1701A

[Oldie]

"How do normal Thais treat you? Do they automatically think you are a sexpat, and treat you thus?

Is it possible to integrate into a local community? "

Central Pattaya is perhaps the biggest open air brothel in the world - but without any prostitution. It is easy to integrate. Simply pay lady drinks, ring the bell and don't hesitate to pay at least short time fees. You will be integrated instantly.  And often activities here have a happy ending. And if you have a sleep disorder you are at the best location. You can listen to a lot of bar music around you while you lie around awake. You will have a lot of entertainment during such boring times where you can't sleep. So make your choice. 

[roo860]

4 hours ago, Eindhoven said:

Previous time I was in Hua Hin, a policeman tried to scam me for 1,000 baht. I made him regret it

How did you do that?

[Paul DS]

5 hours ago, Pravda said:

Lol, Hua Hin beach in 10 times worse than Pattaya

Rubbish....look again!

[bangsaenguy]

Might have a look around Bang Saen. Nearer Bangkok. Been here 17 years. Only issue is weekend traffic with everyone from Bangkok getting out of the city for a break