Pattaya should be on any list of places to retire abroad where English is spoken

[Jingthing]

I came accross this article and noticed that they included specific cities as well as entire countries on their list of places to retire abroad where English is spoken. Such as Boquette Panama and Ajijic Mexico. 

 

Best Places to Retire Overseas Where English Is Spoken | Retirement | U.S. News (usnews.com)

 

Obviously this list is not inclusive. Like where is the Philippines for example?

 

But they clearly missed out on listing Pattaya, Thailand!

 

You can live in Pattaya (and Jomtien etc.) and never speak a word of Thai!

You can do all your important business such as banking and immigration all in English.

Pattaya has its pros and cons but the the fact that you can easily live here just with English is definitely one of those pros.

 

So there.

 

 

[newnative]

11 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I came accross this article and noticed that they included specific cities as well as entire countries on their list of places to retire abroad where English is spoken. Such as Boquette Panama and Ajijic Mexico. 

 

Best Places to Retire Overseas Where English Is Spoken | Retirement | U.S. News (usnews.com)

 

Obviously this list is not inclusive. Like where is the Philippines for example?

 

But they clearly missed out on listing Pattaya, Thailand!

 

You can live in Pattaya (and Jomtien etc.) and never speak a word of Thai!

You can do all your important business such as banking and immigration all in English.

Pattaya has its pros and cons but the the fact that you can easily live here just with English is definitely one of those pros.

 

So there.

 

 

     Totally agree.   Great place to retire to.  One of the big plusses is the huge variety of housing available, both to either rent or buy, in all price points--important with housing usualy beng one of the biggest monthly expenses.   Nice selection of neighborhoods to choose from, good services, shopping, entertainment, recreation, and health care.  Bangkok and Swampy less than 2 hours away on a good motorway.

[lopburi3]

Believe you know enough of such lists that they should be taken as opinions of individuals.  In this case not even a travel related source.

 

Remember the high recommendations for Nong Khai years ago, likely by land speculators?

 

As for English - you can live in most cities here using it but today's report, https://www.ef.com/wwen/epi/

placing Thailand last in Asia and 101 out of 113 in English says a bit about the quality of general understanding.  Add to that the very poor computer translation abilities does not make Pattaya that attractive to most (not really a beach town and trying to not be a party town so in flux at best).  But agree it is a good value option for many.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

I hope if I go to Pattaya after I stop working I can enjoy the nice accommodation with the pool and gym and nice promenades on the beach and the wide range of foods from around the world and the fun lifestyle and the ability to converse reasonably easily and nice people and not be turned off by the incessant heat and sometimes problematic pollution and traffic and unsavoury characters you hear so much about. Hopefully it will be fun. 

[Jingthing]

16 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Believe you know enough of such lists that they should be taken as opinions of individuals.  In this case not even a travel related source.

 

Remember the high recommendations for Nong Khai years ago, likely by land speculators?

 

As for English - you can live in most cities here using it but today's report, https://www.ef.com/wwen/epi/

placing Thailand last in Asia and 101 out of 113 in English says a bit about the quality of general understanding.  Add to that the very poor computer translation abilities does not make Pattaya that attractive to most (not really a beach town and trying to not be a party town so in flux at best).  But agree it is a good value option for many.

I haven't needed to hire a translator even once living in Pattaya. That says a lot compared to most other options, particularly in Latin America.

[Jingthing]

Just now, Fat is a type of crazy said:

I hope if I go to Pattaya after I stop working I can enjoy the nice accommodation with the pool and gym and nice promenades on the beach and the wide range of foods from around the world and the fun lifestyle and the ability to converse reasonably easily and nice people and not be turned off by the incessant heat and sometimes problematic pollution and traffic and unsavoury characters you hear so much about. Hopefully it will be fun. 

There are pros and cons.

Avoidance of and filtering out of unpleasantness is a skill you can acquire.

[Nick Carter icp]

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

I hope if I go to Pattaya after I stop working I can enjoy the nice accommodation with the pool and gym and nice promenades on the beach and the wide range of foods from around the world and the fun lifestyle and the ability to converse reasonably easily and nice people and not be turned off by the incessant heat and sometimes problematic pollution and traffic and unsavoury characters you hear so much about. Hopefully it will be fun. 

 

   Do you intend going to the go-go bars often ?

[scubascuba3]

29 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I haven't needed to hire a translator even once living in Pattaya. That says a lot compared to most other options, particularly in Latin America.

i started learning Thai then gave up, you just don't need it, plus i like not understanding what some of them say

[KhunLA]

Not a fan of Patts, so even if fluent in Thai, I wouldn't live there, or anywhere, just because English might be spoken a bit more.  Been around the whole country, and yet to 'need' the Thai language.   Less so now with G-translate.

 

Easier if knowing the very basic Thai, but simply not needed.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

44 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Do you intend going to the go-go bars often ?

Never been into that sort of thing to date. Which may make Pattaya seem a strange potential choice but I can't think of somewhere else in Thailand that has all the stuff you want nearby. But not as hectic or polluted as Bangkok. 

[Fujionrye]

English is widely spoken in the Philippines. School is taught in English, all subjects.

[bignok]

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

There are pros and cons.

Avoidance of and filtering out of unpleasantness is a skill you can acquire.

Too many chavs, bogans, hookers, ladyboys and bad traffic.

[daveAustin]

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

i started learning Thai then gave up, you just don't need it, plus i like not understanding what some of them say

Not many Thai mates then? I would be embarrassed attempting to solely converse in English in a banking situation etc. Each to their own; I guess in a place like Pattaya one doesn't need to make the effort. But travel around the country to the back of beyond and speak a bit of the lingo and the response will likely blow your hair back. Agree with the last bit though. 

[bignok]

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

i started learning Thai then gave up, you just don't need it, plus i like not understanding what some of them say

Farang kii nok

Farang kii niaw

Farang khun bar

Farang mai gaeng

[Jingthing]

19 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Not many Thai mates then? I would be embarrassed attempting to solely converse in English in a banking situation etc. Each to their own; I guess in a place like Pattaya one doesn't need to make the effort. But travel around the country to the back of beyond and speak a bit of the lingo and the response will likely blow your hair back. Agree with the last bit though. 

Bingo.

In Pattaya no need to bother and no need to be embarrassed.

[mstevens]

Pattaya is a great place to retire if you are on a tight budget and / or wish to avail yourself of the services of the city's many thousands of hookers.

 

If you have a decent budget and / or hookers aren't your thing, I really think there are a lot of much better places to retire.

[1FinickyOne]

8 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

i started learning Thai then gave up, you just don't need it, plus i like not understanding what some of them say

just add a couple of reps or whatever it is you like to do...

 

I learned to love the Thai language and culture... you are missing out and rationalizing... but at least you are fit. 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

just add a couple of reps or whatever it is you like to do...

 

I learned to love the Thai language and culture... you are missing out and rationalizing... but at least you are fit. 

I explored Thai culture when I first moved here.

I don’t like it.

I don't like American culture either.

[scubascuba3]

6 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Not many Thai mates then? I would be embarrassed attempting to solely converse in English in a banking situation etc. Each to their own; I guess in a place like Pattaya one doesn't need to make the effort. But travel around the country to the back of beyond and speak a bit of the lingo and the response will likely blow your hair back. Agree with the last bit though. 

yeah just don't need it, otherwise i would have persevered 

[scubascuba3]

6 hours ago, bignok said:

Farang kii nok

Farang kii niaw

Farang khun bar

Farang mai gaeng

some very annoying farang speak Thai, Thais must feel the same, but just don't need it

[scubascuba3]

4 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

just add a couple of reps or whatever it is you like to do...

 

I learned to love the Thai language and culture... you are missing out and rationalizing... but at least you are fit. 

Do you live in Nakonowhere? if isolated learning Thai is important

[Fat is a type of crazy]

4 hours ago, mstevens said:

Pattaya is a great place to retire if you are on a tight budget and / or wish to avail yourself of the services of the city's many thousands of hookers.

 

If you have a decent budget and / or hookers aren't your thing, I really think there are a lot of much better places to retire.

For people in the latter category what would you suggest as the best places to retire in Thailand.. or would you suggest elsewhere

[mstevens]

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

For people in the latter category what would you suggest as the best places to retire in Thailand.. or would you suggest elsewhere

 

The nicer developed countries like Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy. The nicer parts of some developed countries like California, Florida etc. Just a few examples. There are many - but like I said, the proviso is that you are not on a tight budget.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

4 minutes ago, mstevens said:

 

The nicer developed countries like Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy. The nicer parts of some developed countries like California, Florida etc. Just a few examples. There are many - but like I said, the proviso is that you are not on a tight budget.

Good point. I live in Australia so I'll likely be spending 6 months in Australia so Thailand is a nice difference. 

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

But not as hectic or polluted as Bangkok. 

It is getting there don't you think? 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

9 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

It is getting there don't you think? 

To be honest I've been around Thailand a lot but been to Pattaya for a total of 3 days.. hoping what I see on Youtube etc is somewhat  correct.. For what it's worth I'll likely book 2 or 3 months in 2024 and go to a few places for a month each and see what works.. if it is a shocker like some say then go somewhere else... 

[PJ71]

9 hours ago, Fujionrye said:

English is widely spoken in the Philippines. School is taught in English, all subjects.

Phillipines is not Thailand tho.

[koolkarl]

10 horses couldn't drag me to that cesspool.

[hotandsticky]

5 minutes ago, koolkarl said:

10 horses couldn't drag me to that cesspool.

 

 

Don't worry, you won't be missed...

[scubascuba3]

16 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Not a fan of Patts, so even if fluent in Thai, I wouldn't live there, or anywhere, just because English might be spoken a bit more.  Been around the whole country, and yet to 'need' the Thai language.   Less so now with G-translate.

 

Easier if knowing the very basic Thai, but simply not needed.

Pattaya has lots to offer outside the bar areas, not compulsory to go there