I wanted to retire to Krabi but that place has gone downhill. Ao Nang is a train wreck now. Used to be a charming little spot. Lanta as well was nice now a Russian enclave. Phuket forget about it.

 

The north is getting worse with smoke. So that leaves not many options. You have Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen as holding their own or maybe getting a tad better.

Rayong, many nice beaches there, maybe some waterfalls too 😉

The problem is that many people like better locations.

And when many people come to such locations, they get worse, because of all those people...

 

All the cities are getting worse. Too many people.

There is smoke in Chiang Mai, but only for a few months. You can head to Phu Quoc during those months. Without the smoke I still think Chiang Mai is the best city in Thailand, due to cafe culture, restaurants, pricing and massage culture.

9 hours ago, maesariang said:

I wanted to retire to Krabi but that place has gone downhill. Ao Nang is a train wreck now. Used to be a charming little spot. Lanta as well was nice now a Russian enclave. Phuket forget about it.

 

The north is getting worse with smoke. So that leaves not many options. You have Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Khon Kaen as holding their own or maybe getting a tad better.

So many quiet rural villages left. Lousy internet, next hospital 100 Km away. By not speaking Thai, one will remain an "alian". The pretty girls have left for the "city". The remaining girls want some "marriage-commitement" before lifting their scurts.

Better stay in the "wicked" cities of Thailand, as hotel and real estate prices in rural Thailand have increased 600% since 2011.

 

That would be all the ones you haven't heard of, and or, visited.

 

Why we settled down where we did, as 10-15 of visiting and not much has changed.  A lot more building of course, and land prices skyrocketing.   What bought a nice rai less than 10 years ago, only buys a 1/4 rai now, if you're lucky.

 

The addition of Global House, Makro & HomePro is nice for the consumer.  Not sure about the ma/pa shops.

 

Tourist development, not much has changed, as most won't venture pass Hua Hin.  Ain't zip for nightlife here, so keeps the sexpats & sex tourist away.  Damn boring as hell if you don't have a decent vehicle and funds to go O&A quite often.   Only takes about a year of so to explore all things local.  Since only 15 ish kms wide, there is no East or West to explore.  1.5 hrs gets you to Hua Hin north, and 1.5 hours gets you to more of Nakhon Nowhere going south 

 

If you can't self entertain, you may want to stay in all the place you've heard about.  If on a budget, you definitely want to stay where owning a car isn't a necessity, unless you enjoy your 15 minute city, and never venture out.