Can you recommend small cities to live in (population between 20k and 100k ppl at most)?

[Hummin]

15 minutes ago, Angus55 said:

Not for long...Once its put all over the internet it will become like Pattaya - attracting scum from all over the world. ...happening already . 

No place will ever be like Pattaya 🙂

[thecyclist]

18 hours ago, blanes2007 said:

Prachuab Khirikan

Trat

Yes, Prachuab is a nice, beautiful bay, much nicer than Hua Hin, and less touristy. 

[Hummin]

Most of all, it is about op and where he finely finds an connection and feel home.

 

Do not rush it, since your opinion might change after first impression, and years later, feel the need to relocate. 

 

[thecyclist]

18 hours ago, Hummin said:

Bang Saen beach 80km from Suvarnabhumi. 

 

Perfect place for a relaxed life.

Gets too crowded on weekends. Lots of Thai teens partying, and when drunk farangs become a target of verbal abuse and provocations.

[thecyclist]

21 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

Is n't Chantanaburi the wettest province in Thailand?

 

It's lovely along the cost there, stayed a Peggy's Cove hotel a few times, very unique.

It's Trat. 

[spidermike007]

14 hours ago, rattlesnake said:

 

There have been more and more talks about developing it this past year. It will probably happen within the next few years…

Let us hope. They have been saying that for 8 years now. 

[spidermike007]

42 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Agree, many fine places all the way down to Chumphon, just the matter of picking one.

 

Ban Huay Yang is one of them for retirees 

I noticed that just about 50 km north of Chumporn, the beaches start improving and the communities start getting nicer. In my opinion Chumporn is one of the ugliest cities in Thailand, completely devoid of charm. 

[Hummin]

14 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

Gets too crowded on weekends. Lots of Thai teens partying, and when drunk farangs become a target of verbal abuse and provocations.

Never had any of that when I visited there, but yes, crowded in the weekends because it is in close reach from Bangkok. Week days is more quiet, and there is some quality homes there to rent or buy as well Bangpra Sriracha. 

 

 

[Hummin]

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I noticed that just about 50 km north of Chumporn, the beaches start improving and the communities start getting nicer. In my opinion Chumporn is one of the ugliest cities in Thailand, completely devoid of charm. 

I didnt mean Chumpon as an alternative, just mentioned as a reference between. 

[Celsius]

19 hours ago, Hummin said:

Bang Saen beach 80km from Suvarnabhumi. 

 

Perfect place for a relaxed life.

 

Haven'tbeen there in 6-7 years. Is the beach still one of the filthiest in Thailand?

[Yellowtail]

Sa Kaeo

Kabinburi

Chachoengsao

 

 

[susanlea]

38 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

Yes, Prachuab is a nice, beautiful bay, much nicer than Hua Hin, and less touristy. 

Nice for a week then boring. Hua Hin has many areas away from tourists. Suan Son beach for example.

[Bruce Aussie]

Alice Springs, 😄

[impulse]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I noticed that just about 50 km north of Chumporn, the beaches start improving and the communities start getting nicer. In my opinion Chumporn is one of the ugliest cities in Thailand, completely devoid of charm. 

 

How is the train service down that coast?  Looks like it only stops in Hua Hin and Chumphon, and not in between?

[susanlea]

16 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

How is the train service down that coast?  Looks like it only stops in Hua Hin and Chumphon, and not in between?

Trains stop at every town unless express.

[Yellowtail]

16 minutes ago, susanlea said:

Trains stop at every town unless express.

Is that not the same everywhere? 

[Srikcir]

Bang Khae district with easy access to MRT Blue line, BTS, extensive public bus system and two motor ways. Several large shopping malls and nearby Siam University.

Bang Khun Thian district less shopping malls, train service to Samut Sakorn and BTS, Rama 2 motor way.

Reliable and inexpensive taxi service and song taews. 

My experience is that due to lack of foreigner tourists in the area, cost of living is 10%+ less than in Metro Bangkok. 

[connda]

Nan.

[spidermike007]

8 hours ago, impulse said:

 

How is the train service down that coast?  Looks like it only stops in Hua Hin and Chumphon, and not in between?

Many stops on the local trains. 

[Yellowtail]

6 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Many stops on the local trains. 

What about the express? 

[Yellowtail]

9 hours ago, connda said:

Nan.

Butter?

[Kinok Farang]

On 5/12/2024 at 7:00 PM, blanes2007 said:

Prachuab Khirikan

Trat

Hush.

[Hummin]

If you have no connection inland or gf/wife with connection, moving to any city will be dificult for many reasons. Just for the experience, can be good, but larger investments I would be careful to do.

 

For now I live part time in Isaan, but living there after my 70'ies, I do not think I will do.

 

I will rather invest in something more central with fresh breeze of air from the sea. 

 

As long I hae energy and interest to work on the farm, I feel I have a decent life on the farm. But without my gym, the animals, motorbikes, and budget to travel often both in Thailand, and also "home" I would had gone nuts.

 

You will need something that keeps your life interesting and something that gives value. 

 

Very few manage to have quality interactions with locals, so you are depended on a good and healthy expat environment and a very good relation with gf/wife/partner and with a life partner the whole family comes with a package for good or bad. 

 

Red flags can be girls who say they have no relations with their family, or to strong bond with their family including siblings, aunties and uncles with more.  Grown up kids as well.

 

 

[Hummin]

On 5/13/2024 at 9:09 AM, spidermike007 said:

I noticed that just about 50 km north of Chumporn, the beaches start improving and the communities start getting nicer. In my opinion Chumporn is one of the ugliest cities in Thailand, completely devoid of charm. 

Have passed through here a few times, and it looks promissing. Close to airport, a few good resorts and bars/restaurants. Close to Chumphon, and nice driving to the westcoast and further south. Could be a good base. 

 

30km from city and 24km from airport

 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BXsj3EbHenkBcnyg9

[VinnieK]

Songkhla at the 100k segment

 

Phangnga town at the 10-20k

 

[digbeth]

Anything south of Hua Hin, while nice is too far. I have a place in Ban Krut myself and rarely go there anymore, while the long drive through Prachuap is enjoyable Rama2 has gotten so bad that it's not worth it, I agree with trying to distance yourself from the expat community in these size of town though, it's just the same face all the time

 

If you really want boring life with no beach or mountain, Nakhon Pathom in the west and Chachoeng Sao in the east is suitably boring and devoid of any expat or tourist oriented service, 

 

Nakhon Nayok on the other side of 'posh' Khao Yai is cheap with plenty of land but is catered towards working class Thais and can be rowdy during Thai holidays and traffic bad 

 

[susanlea]

Nothing wrong with Hua Hin. Not much traffic, plenty of things to do compared to Ban Krut.

[spidermike007]

20 hours ago, digbeth said:

Anything south of Hua Hin, while nice is too far. I have a place in Ban Krut myself and rarely go there anymore, while the long drive through Prachuap is enjoyable Rama2 has gotten so bad that it's not worth it, I agree with trying to distance yourself from the expat community in these size of town though, it's just the same face all the time

 

If you really want boring life with no beach or mountain, Nakhon Pathom in the west and Chachoeng Sao in the east is suitably boring and devoid of any expat or tourist oriented service, 

 

Nakhon Nayok on the other side of 'posh' Khao Yai is cheap with plenty of land but is catered towards working class Thais and can be rowdy during Thai holidays and traffic bad 

 

I agree. Rama II is a national disaster. Heads should be rolling over it. People should be jailed for it. 

[mrwebb8825]

On 5/12/2024 at 5:17 AM, andux said:

Some of the things I'm looking for:

 

* 1-2 hours from Bangkok

* English not widely spoken (I prefer full immersion, none to very few signs in English, etc.)

* Decent general ammenities like a few good places to eat, a gym or two, some coffee place

* Decent condos or apartments to rent/buy

 

I'm looking for something like Chanthaburi but smaller... Or like Phayao but closer to Bangkok and without the burning season 😁

 

Getting old and just want to chill, mostly. But I want to stay close to Bangkok for convenience (trips back home, the odd party night, etc.).

If you've got a car, I'd recommend driving the eastern and western edges of outer ring road - lots of little "burgs" and housing villages with local amenities. Spend a few weekends and see if something strikes your fancy.