Weread a lot about how bad Pattaya is with the girls and walking and bars.

 

Just wondering what Pattaya is for the average expat.

Never go to Pattaya. I consider it a place where the dregs of humanity congregate.

It's great, lots of things to do, excellent for golfers, cyclists, lots of other hobbies. I can't see why people want to live in Bangkok or Nikon nowhere

And the cheap jibes have started (not unexpected) and been removed.

 

Let's play nicely shall we or this thread will get closed permanently.

 

Very little, I may go to a new attraction occasionally.

I am not a tourist, I live here.

35 years living in Thailand and I have never been to Pattaya,

just does not appeal to me , but I have been to most parts

of Thailand and Islands , but still prefer Chiang Mai ,it has 

everything I need, but in the beginning some things could

only be obtained from Bangkok or sent to Bangkok to be

repaired.....

regards Worgeordie

3 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

35 years living in Thailand and I have never been to Pattaya,

It's not too late, i avoided it for 15 years

After the usual Isaan bashing in another running thread now some Pattaya bashing?

No not from me.

I go there for a week or so.

Currently sitting at a pool in Pattaya.

See old mates. Enjoy the change.  All easy, short rides on the bike. But I wouldn't want to live there permanently. In a high rise 30 sqm condo. No thanks.

 

On the other hand it is an ideal spot for older singles who rarely speak a word of Thai and don't want or can't adopt their lifestyle.

An old age friend was in Bangkok today for a new passport. Easy trip. For me quite an expedition.

He also denies any adoption. No rice, no seafood, needs his schnitzel. Angry when a 7/11 clerk doesn't understand "ketchup!!!" ????

The best tourist parts are the islands or national parks.

We split our time between Thailand and UK. When in the UK we take a holiday somewhere like Spain or Italy.

My wife has properties in Udon and Pattaya.  Udon is a fine city but too remote. Pattaya makes a great base for traveling around Thailand and SEA in general.  We live in the Pratamnak area so the airport bus station is close by. Less than 2 hours to the airport.  Less than 3 hours to central Bangkok if you use the ARL.

We have a car and in less than 15 minutes we can be out of town. 

Basically its just a very very convenient base.  Lots of facilities within walking distance - we can have coffee and a croissant by Jomtien beach then go for a morning sauna, followed by a massage followed by lunch...

Week before last we were by the sea in Chantaburi. Last few days we spent in Amphawa with a group of friends. Each less than 3 hours drive. Next week we're heading for a tour around CM, CR and on the way back we'll stop by friends in Saraburi.

No need to visit Walking Street or Beach Road if you don't want to.  Yes, there are some rather sad and 'broken down' guys around - but nowhere's perfect.

 

24 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

35 years living in Thailand and I have never been to Pattaya,

just does not appeal to me , but I have been to most parts

of Thailand and Islands , but still prefer Chiang Mai ,it has 

everything I need, but in the beginning some things could

only be obtained from Bangkok or sent to Bangkok to be

repaired.....

regards Worgeordie

Think Soi Nana but more ugly chicks.

Is the question asked of expats living in Pattaya or those living elsewhere in Thailand who've never been here, despise it but spend every day posting on the Pattaya section of the forum ?

12 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

..........But I wouldn't want to live there permanently. In a high rise 30 sqm condo. No thanks...........

 

We live here permanently. In a high rise 150 sqm condo. Right at the sea. We did carefully choose the place before moving from abroad.

 

This is what we considered most:

1. Its relatively well developed infrastructure

2. The vast number of acceptable or even good restaurants and shops

3. The proximity to Bangkok if 1. and 2. is not satisfying enough in some cases

4. The reasonable distance to the family of my Thai wife (not too near, not too far)

 

And the reputation of the Immigration. Yes this was a criterium and we have had so far only a very good experience. We are treated very well and feel welcome.

 

We avoid the not so fortunate fellows that seem obviously to impress their image to the city. This is only Pattaya for a few and they have all the right to choose their appearance and behaviour by themselves. We are not at all affected by that. It only stands out because it is different. Like you would rarely read good news in the press (or would you be interested in a topic saying that your neighbor feels good today ?)

Went in 1986.  Returned in 2007 for one day.

Haven't been back since.  No plans to do so.

7 minutes ago, moogradod said:

We live here permanently. In a high rise 150 sqm condo.

It never hurts to have sufficient funds ????

    The perception for some is that Pattaya consists of Walking Street, Soi 6, some other bar areas, and that's it.  If you actually live here year-round you'll know that is not the case at all.  You'll also know that the 'tourist parts' are scattered all over Greater Pattaya, not just one area. 

   Some tourist spots we spend no time at, others we do.  We've so far skipped the water parks but we've been to Nong Nooch Gardens at least 4 times and will likely go again sometime.  No to all the golf courses but we've had some great boat trips, snorkeling, and island visits. 

    In our 12 years here we've walked on Walking Street I think just once, when we first moved here.  We've cut through Soi 6 a few times by car to get to Beach Road when we lived at Centric Sea.  Nothing against WS, Soi 6, or the other bar areas, it's just not how we spend our time. 

    As scubascuba3 has said, there's lots of other things to do.  We didn't transform into different people when we moved to Pattaya--just as we don't when we spend part of the month in Bangkok.  In reality, our lives here are not that different from what they were in the US--except we live better here and the weather is great year-round.  

In the 28 years I've known Thailand I've visited Pattaya just 3 times. It's OK for a lad's weekend but I can't say it appeals to me as somewhere to live. Though that holds for most popular tourist resorts in Thailand, fine for a holiday but wouldn't wish to live there. 

Preferred Jomtien when going down that way.

57 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Think Soi Nana but more ugly chicks.

Joking, Pattaya is far better than Nana, mainly old birds when i last went to Nana agogos

19 minutes ago, Stocky said:

In the 28 years I've known Thailand I've visited Pattaya just 3 times. It's OK for a lad's weekend but I can't say it appeals to me as somewhere to live. Though that holds for most popular tourist resorts in Thailand, fine for a holiday but wouldn't wish to live there. 

Sounds like you think Pattaya is just bar areas "ok for a lads weekend"  which i guess you would if you only go to bars

7 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Preferred Jomtien when going down that way.

Many seem to make a distinction between "Pattaya", "Jomtien" and "Na Jomtien". I subsume all three areas under the name of "Pattaya". Should I consider to distinguish more to avoid misunderstandings ?

 

We live at the end of Na Jomtien, technically it is even already Sattahip because of the postal number 20250. Still I consider thinking we live in Pattaya.

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

for a lads weekend

Well the question was about visiting tourist areas, and you would accept a large proportion of tourists going to Pattaya do so for the entertainment.

I came to Thailand first time in 1997.  I just went to Pattaya last week for the first time with my wife and friends from BKK.  Took about 2 hours each down and back.  All we saw was that big carved wooden temple, the Sanctuary of Truth.  Pretty neat.  Typical Thai road trip.  Next day I was on a plane to the USA.

  

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Very little, I may go to a new attraction occasionally.

I am not a tourist, I live here.

 

I live here & I spend 100% of my time in the tourist parts. It'd be boring as hell if you didn't live in the tourist district and enjoy the tourist areas.

30 minutes ago, bbi1 said:

  

 

I live here & I spend 100% of my time in the tourist parts. It'd be boring as hell if you didn't live in the tourist district and enjoy the tourist areas.

I have all the excitement I need with making videos for YouTube, playing golf, adding to my autobiography, teaching my Thai quasi-grandaughter English, and shuttling between a condo and a village. I read a lot, listen to music, and keep up with world news. Swim and exercise. Post on ASEAN.

 

Traipsing from one tourist "attraction" to another is my idea of boredom. I can remember a trip to Scotland, where I coined the acronym ABC. Another Bloody Castle.

 

 

1 hour ago, moogradod said:

Many seem to make a distinction between "Pattaya", "Jomtien" and "Na Jomtien". I subsume all three areas under the name of "Pattaya". Should I consider to distinguish more to avoid misunderstandings ?

 

We live at the end of Na Jomtien, technically it is even already Sattahip because of the postal number 20250. Still I consider thinking we live in Pattaya.

I make such distinctions because I was taught that by a mate who introduced me to the place at the end of 1997. Except that he told me that three main areas were Pattaya, Jomtien and Nakluea.

 

He didn't ever mention the Darkside and tbh I'm not sure if he'd ever heard of the place given that he spent his days getting plastered on Soi 6. Or maybe it wasn't a thing that long ago.

I have a condo in the Beverly Hills of Pattaya ( Pratumnak ) that i use twice a month for weekends.

 

Catch up with mates, maybe watch a good sporting event, drink too much beer and now get stoned all the time. Or if friends come over from Blighty.

 

Rest of the time i live quietly ( and happily ) 450kms away.

 

Best of both worlds.

15 hours ago, kinyara said:

Is the question asked of expats living in Pattaya or those living elsewhere in Thailand who've never been here, despise it but spend every day posting on the Pattaya section of the forum ?

The question was for those that live in Pattaya.  However, the haters have to jump in.

 

The Pattaya nightlife is what it is some like it some hate it.

 

What I am talking about is the people that live in Pattaya.

 

Much like in Toronto and Yonge street

Las Vegas and the Vegas strip.

 

People that live in these cities unless they have people come to visit from out of town or work there shy away from those areas.

 

I am wondering if Pats is the same

14 hours ago, PJ71 said:

I have a condo in the Beverly Hills of Pattaya ( Pratumnak ) that i use twice a month for weekends.

 

Catch up with mates, maybe watch a good sporting event, drink too much beer and now get stoned all the time. Or if friends come over from Blighty.

 

Rest of the time i live quietly ( and happily ) 450kms away.

 

Best of both worlds.

"Beverly Hills of Pattaya" - hahaha that made me laugh so hard ????????????

My first apartment in the western world was on the second floor. Underneath on the first floor was a sex shop. Now many years later my situation has improved dramatically. Now I live in the middle of the red light district Central Pattaya ????. 

 

I have been here for more than 2 decades. Good are the Baht Busses and the shopping options. Unbearable in the meantime is the noisy red light district. Wasn't like this before when I (sadly) bought my condo. Please no "why don't you move" discussions... ????