I've lived in: the big city, a country town, and a rural village.

 

I do love Bangkok living. Well, I did in my younger years. Waking up, hoping on motorcycle taxi then BTS down to Sukhumvit for some English breakie, a few cold ones,and then spend hours wandering, exploring, and roaming......while trying to avoid the insufferably annoying waitresses and irritating 

 hawkers and scammers, of course.

 

I've live in a rural village. Waking up with the roasters, cup of coffee in the garden, eat some random Isaan breakfast of bamboo shoot and who knows what else and wash it down with a shot of lao kao. Enjoy the fields and buffaloes and the glorious rainy season.........minus the power cuts, bugs and mosquitos, of course.

 

I've lived in a big country town with (almost) everything you need, plenty of variety and choice, yet in close proximity to the countryside (though without much of the socioeconomic problems there), and a quick flight to The Big Mango too! 

 

I think big country town living overall provides the best quality of life, a nice mix of urban and rural. You have enough choice and  (almost) all the modern and cosmopolitan things you need and want. There's usually enough foreigners around for sensible conversation, yet you can escape the town within minutes in a car. Only problem is no great education or work opportunities for yourself and your children.

 

I am sure some love the beachy places or the mountains, but I haven't experienced those.

 

Anyway, what's your "best place" to live in Thailand?

Each to their own, one mans paradise is another mans hell. 

 

I prefer off the beaten track, but within striking distance of a town if I need anything.

Others cant survive without the hustle n bustle and "company" etc.

 

 

My hat is on the final hanger in Hua Hin having had 10+ smokey years in Chiang Mai is all I can say ????

Poll would have been good. Having travelled around Thailand I'll vote for Pattaya

Obviously in the middle of Bangkok. Somewhere between Nana and Soi Cowboy.

And just in case I feel like I need some up country feeling then I am sure I will be able to find a girl from Buriram. ???? 

 

I have lived all over and ended up in Pattaya (the last place I thought I would live).

For me, its got a bit of everything, Bangkok type urban city without the Bangkok price tag, a couple of ks from the city centre there are nice beaches, rural villages, islands. You can be part of the tourist universe, or part of normal Thai living. Expat, sexpat, tourist, quiet life, busy party life. 500 baht a day or 5,000 baht a day.

Whatever lifestyle you seek, you can find it in or around Pattaya, An hour from BKK and all the infrastructure and all the lifestyle choices.

Its unfortunate, but most of the commentary focuses on the sex tourism side of things but never mentions the other side if things.

Village life next to forest hills, mountains and parks. 

I live how I always have..... Out in a country environment, but within 20 miles of a good sized metropolitan area that checks all the boxes.....

Thinking back, I grew up when it used to be country-ish about 15 miles out of San Francisco and I've kept the same comfortable pattern....When I want noise, smog, & crowds clamoring to want to be busy; I drive in, enjoy, then drive back home....

Same as I always have....

2 hours ago, 2009 said:

insufferably annoying waitresses and irritating 

 hawkers and scammers, of course.

yikes. sounds like you're yet to master the good old jai yen yen. I regret clicking on "show this post" ????

42 minutes ago, Lemsta69 said:

yikes. sounds like you're yet to master the good old jai yen yen. I regret clicking on "show this post" ????

Love how you managed to cherry-pick one negative thing I wrote out of the numerous positive things I wrote. ????

 

Are you one of these, "You gotta love everything about Thailand" guys? ????

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

My hat is on the final hanger in Hua Hin having had 10+ smokey years in Chiang Mai is all I can say ????

If advising a middle class friend from the UK (who had not been to Thailand before but was looking at retirement locations) I would suggest that they start with Hua Hin.

 

His reaction to a month there would dictate where (if anywhere) he should go next.

Than Sadet. Hard to get to which keeps the annoying riff raff away. Quiet, beautiful, and sparsely populated- all good.

41 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

If advising a middle class friend from the UK (who had not been to Thailand before but was looking at retirement locations) I would suggest that they start with Hua Hin.

 

His reaction to a month there would dictate where (if anywhere) he should go next.

I hated what Hua Hin has become, so I'd only recommend it to an enemy. Rubbish night life and a rubbish beach- even Pattaya beach is better than that.

1 hour ago, Lemsta69 said:

yikes. sounds like you're yet to master the good old jai yen yen. I regret clicking on "show this post" ????

Thanks, I think, well, for the chuckle anyway ...

... as I didn't have to, not that I would ... ????

 

will power ... may the force by with you.

1 hour ago, hotandsticky said:

If advising a middle class friend from the UK (who had not been to Thailand before but was looking at retirement locations) I would suggest that they start with Hua Hin.

 

His reaction to a month there would dictate where (if anywhere) he should go next.

I'd say, start in Pattaya!

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I hated what Hua Hin has become, so I'd only recommend it to an enemy. Rubbish night life and a rubbish beach- even Pattaya beach is better than that.

I don't need either so its good enough for me ????

I have tried a couple of short stays in places like Isan and almost went insane.

 

I like Bangkok, but the options for everything I think are in Pattaya.  Not much I dislike about it.

35-50yo Pattaya 8 mo's a year. 50-70yo Bangkok. Both + four months Koh Tao, southern islands, travel abroad.

 

70-onwards Bangkok 10 mos a year. Few months travel in Thailand or Japan.

8 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

My hat is on the final hanger in Hua Hin having had 10+ smokey years in Chiang Mai is all I can say ????

Ditto, lived in CM, Udon Thani, out in the village east of Kalasin in Wang Sam Mo then Nong Saeng, Phuket, and BKK. Jyst bought a house in PKK HH. Still have the condo in BKK and we go back and forth as needed for appointments etc....

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I hated what Hua Hin has become, so I'd only recommend it to an enemy. Rubbish night life and a rubbish beach- even Pattaya beach is better than that.

To each there own views. Pattaya is for those wanting a night lifeand like the bar scene, yet HH has a nightlife scene if one wants it. HH is for those of us who like to chill and relax. Great beaches out towards Pranburi near our house. Of course having the condo in BKK as well gives options for weekends out if wanted.

Pattaya.

BTW I lived in Bangkok for year and never had a problem with

'the insufferably annoying waitresses and irritating 

 hawkers and scammers'

Its just city life in Asia - part of the charm

7 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

To each there own views. Pattaya is for those wanting a night lifeand like the bar scene, yet HH has a nightlife scene if one wants it. HH is for those of us who like to chill and relax. Great beaches out towards Pranburi near our house. Of course having the condo in BKK as well gives options for weekends out if wanted.

No real night life in HH. Just depressing beer bars. HH has no energy.

Lived in big cities, enjoyed the holiday experience of Phuket for many years

 

Have managed to find all I require in the Isaan countryside, about 10k from a sizeable town 

My party days are suspended by choice but family life is good ???? 

 

 

Pattaya's got it all. Obviously the nightlife, restos, sea views, luxury (or not) condos, beaches, the islands.

 

But it covers a huge area encompassing every kind of environment. Suburbia or a more rural feel? The Darkside. Small Thai town, fishing village? Naklua. So a much greater variety of expat lives in Pattaya than you'd ever imagine from listening to the mongers, proctologists, whingers, and drivel here. Large numbers have nothing to do with the nightlife, never see it, and are quite contented with their lives, happy to live here BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

 

The convenience can't be overstated. Abundance of shopping, malls, easy access to the airport, schools, hospitals, dentists, facilities. Internet's great. Downtown circus day and night for your viewing pleasure.???? 

 

And Pattaya even has better weather than most other areas.

 

That's a start. Check it ALL out, the real Pattaya, not the virtual Pattaya of the forum and youtube.

 

I just came back to our house in Loei 10 days ago, about 1 km from city center.  I'll be here about 60 days with a side trip to Vietnam. 

 

Trimmed off a few droopy palm leaves in the yard, talked to a couple of my wife's 40 or so bantam chickens, chat with relatives.  Loei Town is not much more exciting than it was in 1978.  Highlights of the day are going to the market at 5:30 in the morning and buying beer off-hours.

 

At any rate, there are some really nice houses here.  Close in but off the beaten path. 

27 minutes ago, Dominus said:

No real night life in HH. Just depressing beer bars. HH has no energy.

Nightlife isn't just about bars and that scene which expats seem to be attracted to. Plenty of fine restaurants by the ocean that stay open late and you can hang out and drink at if you want to.

7 hours ago, BigStar said:

Pattaya's got it all. Obviously the nightlife, restos, sea views, luxury (or not) condos, beaches, the islands.

 

But it covers a huge area encompassing every kind of environment. Suburbia or a more rural feel? The Darkside. Small Thai town, fishing village? Naklua. So a much greater variety of expat lives in Pattaya than you'd ever imagine from listening to the mongers, proctologists, whingers, and drivel here. Large numbers have nothing to do with the nightlife, never see it, and are quite contented with their lives, happy to live here BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

 

The convenience can't be overstated. Abundance of shopping, malls, easy access to the airport, schools, hospitals, dentists, facilities. Internet's great. Downtown circus day and night for your viewing pleasure.???? 

 

And Pattaya even has better weather than most other areas.

 

That's a start. Check it ALL out, the real Pattaya, not the virtual Pattaya of the forum and youtube.

 

You sum up Pattaya like you actually know what you are talikng about. It actually has everything and is a short drive from mountains, jungles and rice paddies, Also it has several beaches. Jomtien Beach spills into Dongtan Beach which changes to Yim Yom Beach then around the corner on Soi 4 is another beach then there is alo the beach Cozy Beach. Pratumnak is a whole different green area with a lovely park and temple. The only people who decry Pattaya simply dont know the place. For Thai style there is all of third Road Issan Music scene....

12 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I have tried a couple of short stays in places like Isan and almost went insane.

 

I like Bangkok, but the options for everything I think are in Pattaya.  Not much I dislike about it.

I disliked Pattaya for many reasons, but for nightlife it's ( or used to be ) the best place on the planet. A holiday in LOS was never complete without a few days there.

10 hours ago, Dominus said:

You sum up Pattaya like you actually know what you are talikng about. It actually has everything and is a short drive from mountains, jungles and rice paddies, Also it has several beaches. Jomtien Beach spills into Dongtan Beach which changes to Yim Yom Beach then around the corner on Soi 4 is another beach then there is alo the beach Cozy Beach. Pratumnak is a whole different green area with a lovely park and temple. The only people who decry Pattaya simply dont know the place. For Thai style there is all of third Road Issan Music scene....

IMO he does actually know Pattaya as well or better than any other poster that comments on Pattaya.

I often disagree with his posts, but not about the fundamentals of Pattaya being a great place to live.

11 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Nightlife isn't just about bars and that scene which expats seem to be attracted to. Plenty of fine restaurants by the ocean that stay open late and you can hang out and drink at if you want to.

You are welcome to it, but that sort of thing bores me immensely. I can do that in any country with a coast, if I wanted to.

The nightlife is specific to LOS and I never found it anywhere else.