I am looking for recommendations for a town anywhere in Thailand with the following:

 

1. On the sea

2. Not overly touristy

3. Clean town and beaches

4. Hospital

5. ability to walk around to shops and restaurants

6. Non hostile Thai people to seniors

7. tropical beach environment

 

Just a good place to spend the last years in a good place

 

(not concerned with nightlife)

 

Is there such a place?

 

Thank you.

Phuket, plenty of beach areas to choose from.

 

One of the only places with decent beaches & hospitals.  Those 2, definitely limit your choices.

 

The Gulf is not for anyone that actually wants nice beaches.  Rest of the Andaman Sea side isn't developed enough.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Phuket, plenty of beach areas to choose from.

 

One of the only places with decent beaches & hospitals.  Those 2, definitely limit your choices.

 

The Gulf is not for anyone that actually wants nice beaches.  Rest of the Andaman Sea side isn't developed enough.

What beach area of Phuket is not over touristy?

3 hours ago, KIngsofisaan said:

What beach area of Phuket is not over touristy?

Yea, that's a bit of a question mark.  Now and next 5 ish years, should be fine.  As every new bug will be causing hysteria.  They'll probably reinstated mask wearing soon, and tourist will go elsewhere next high season.

 

Only other place I can think of, is Trang, being developed enough to check off most of the boxes, though not sure about hospitals.  Although if living just west of the ring rd., you're still 30 kms from the sea.  To me living surfside, means you can walk or cycle to it.

 

Any decent beach area is going to be overly touristy, and that's relative.  Patong, Karon & Kata are the main touristy beaches, which still leaves 10 good ones left to visit or live by. 

 

You didn't state your transport options, so Phuket was only one I thought of that has nice beaches and some public transport around the island & hospitals.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Yea, that's a bit of a question mark.  Now and next 5 ish years, should be fine.  As every new bug will be causing hysteria.  They'll probably reinstated mask wearing soon, and tourist will go elsewhere next high season.

 

Only other place I can think of, is Trang, being developed enough to check off most of the boxes, though not sure about hospitals.  Although if living just west of the ring rd., you're still 30 kms from the sea.  To me living surfside, means you can walk or cycle to it.

 

Any decent beach area is going to be overly touristy, and that's relative.  Patong, Karon & Kata are the main touristy beaches, which still leaves 10 good ones left to visit or live by. 

 

You didn't state your transport options, so Phuket was only one I thought of that has nice beaches and some public transport around the island & hospitals.

Thank you for all the information.

 

Agree with being walking distance from the surf, small cafes, shops, etc would be ideal.

 

 

Why is this in the cannabis section?

13 minutes ago, bbko said:

Why is this in the cannabis section?

Because you have to be as high as a kite to consider living in Phuket nowadays ????

 

But seriously, there are still deserted, beautiful beaches in Phuket, such as Mai Khao beach.

Prachuap Kiri Khan, though might be a big slow for you. Ao Manao beach is nice. If you want fun, just nip up to Hua Hin. 

Cha Am.  Good mix of nationalities and thus services for non-Thai.  Great expanse (10km+) of beach, which is accessible and varies from very busy to very quiet depending on which part you visit. Cheap rents and plenty of options (mainly low rise). A local government hospital and private hospitals 30 minutes away in Hua Hin or Phetchaburi.  Golf courses and open scenic areas (Kaeng Krachan national park). Technically it also has part of an airport presently serving .....well no where really, but when flights land they land in Cha Am and then the terminal is in Hua HIn. Close to Bangkok (around 3 hours) for BKK airport, specialist hospitals and business that requires a visit to the capital.

 

In the last few years there have been 3 supermarkets built locally with some attempt at stocking provisions  for non Thai. Obviously plenty of 7-1's etc, a very busy Wednesday market by the (new) train station ( 3 hours to Bangkok but shortly to be shortened to 2 hours 59 minutes) and finally a few girlie bars, barely enough to warrant an area that could be noted for nightlife as they all left for the farm 2 years ago.

Yes there is ! I live in it and no I dont want others finding it thanks, I like it the way it is. ????

1. I remember someone here once gave a glowing report on Phang-nga (north of Phuket) - which I think has most of your requirements ... I've not been there, but you might investigate it.

 

2. Where ever you do end up, please report back here on what you found.

On 7/20/2022 at 10:04 AM, daveAustin said:

Prachuap Kiri Khan, though might be a big slow for you. Ao Manao beach is nice. If you want fun, just nip up to Hua Hin. 

Our hospital / PKK, leaves much to be desired, and not sure HH is any better.  The surf is nice to look at, the bays are beautiful, but the water to swim in, is nothing like the Andaman, and I rarely bother.  Been here 5 yrs, and been in the surf, maybe 5 times.   Last 2 times, I got an ear infection, and something I'm not prone to.

On 7/19/2022 at 6:33 AM, simon43 said:

Because you have to be as high as a kite to consider living in Phuket nowadays ????

 

But seriously, there are still deserted, beautiful beaches in Phuket, such as Mai Khao beach.

Mai Khao is a great Area especially around the Marriott resort Area, if one has the money then that's where they should head.

11 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Mai Khao is a great Area especially around the Marriott resort Area, if one has the money then that's where they should head.

We stayed up there during one of our recent outings, and quite enjoyed it.  Actually first time actually staying in that area.  There's a lot more to Phuket besides Patong, Karon, Kata.

 

Phuket Town is stellar, especially the Sunday Walking Street, during covid anyway, and not too crowded.

Just now, KhunLA said:

We stayed up there during one of our recent outings, and quite enjoyed it.  Actually first time actually staying in that area.  There's a lot more to Phuket besides Patong, Karon, Kata.

 

Phuket Town is stellar, especially the Sunday Walking Street, during covid anyway, and not too crowded.

Not that far of a drive really from PKK, and a great weekend getaway, stop along the way in Krabi and you can make it a week trip.

16 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Not that far of a drive really from PKK, and a great weekend getaway, stop along the way in Krabi and you can make it a week trip.

We usually head south for our out & abouts.  Really only go North to visit daughter (BKK), or Imm (HH).  Besides living in NE for 16 yrs and doing the N to death also.

 

Ban Krut, Chumphon, Surat Thani/Khao Sok, NST (friends there & KhiriWong area), Phatthalung, Krabi, Phang-Nga.  Could live in any of those areas, but picked PKK as closer to daughter, and simply lovely area on its own.

 

Only Phuket or Krabi might have a decent hospital.  Hence no recommendation for the OP, aside from Phuket.