10 hours ago, save the frogs said:

 

you don't need to be rich to enjoy retirement. 

although money can enhance retirement, it's not that necessary to live decently.

 

pattaya is 1000 times better than the craphole I come from, with the miserable winters. 

phuket might be better than pattaya, but pattaya is good enough. 

 

Agree 100%.

I preferred Pattaya but C M was cheaper, and I had a great life even without a pension, till the money ran out.

Lifestyle there a zillion times better than now.

8 hours ago, shdmn said:

It is pretty hard to beat the combination of things Pattaya has to offer.   Checks all the boxes for most people.  Phuket not so much.  Especially for longer term stays.

Dirty, poor beaches. Ticks the nightlife box and shopping centres.

Pattaya, Phuket......both cesspits! Almost as bad as those who have to ask without getting off their butts and actually GO HAVE A LOOK!

2 hours ago, susanlea said:

Dirty, poor beaches. Ticks the nightlife box and shopping centres.

    The beaches are neither dirty nor poor.  Pattaya's beach has been widened and now they are working on widening Jomtien's beach.  Both are being kept clean.  If you actually knew Pattaya, you'd know that it 'ticks' far more boxes than the two you mentioned, as a post before yours by shdmn attests to--and lots of us enjoying living here don't even have the 'nightlife box' as one to tick.