What’s the best area in Thailand for expats to settle for long-term living?

[NanLaew]

Nong Sai, just beyond the favelas on the east side of Udon Thani.

 

Also known locally as 'Zombieville'.

[sidjameson]

What do you want your social life to look like? Budget? P4P important? Air pollution worry you? What is your preference for transportation? Age?

[scubascuba3]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

 

I would resettle at Koh Phangan anytime 

You like doing nothing? beaches are boring, certainly daily 

[Cameroni]

So true. I lived on 7 mile beach in the Caribbean. Paradise for a short while but after a year you're bored to death.

[brianthainess]

Some don't like Island life, but Koh Chang has been my choice now for many years, If I had to move Ban Chang would be first choice, not to far from BKK or Pattaya. 

[Hummin]

18 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

You like doing nothing? beaches are boring, certainly daily 

You would love the hills there bicycling.

 

Koh Phangan have more to offer than Pattaya. I am kayaking, sup padling, dirt road motorbike, diving, freediving, and Koh Phangan have great restaurants and also great afternoon beach parties which ends early. 

 

Also large parts of Island are quiet in the evening, especially low season. Did I forget anything? Oh, great fishing

 

The professional lady marked I have no idea how it is, since I mostly mingled with westerns while I lived there as single

[Cameroni]

5 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Some don't like Island life, but Koh Chang has been my choice now for many years, If I had to move Ban Chang would be first choice, not to far from BKK or Pattaya. 

Is there night life on Koh Chang?

[Hummin]

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

Is there night life on Koh Chang?

What night life you looking for?

[maesariang]

1 minute ago, Cameroni said:

Is there night life on Koh Chang?

Little bit. Some girly bars and Irish pub. Low key stuff.

[scubascuba3]

7 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Koh Phangan have more to offer than Pattaya. I am kayaking, sup padling, dirt road motorbike, diving, freediving, and Koh Phangan have great restaurants and also great afternoon beach parties which ends early. 

Pattaya has all that and a lot more of it

[scubascuba3]

5 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Is there night life on Koh Chang?

Yes bit limited, boring after 1-2 days

[Hummin]

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Pattaya has all that and a lot more of it

I know Pattaya vedy well, so I do not understand why you always want to convince others you have an better opinion of what is best for others 😄

 

No Pattaya do not have great kayaking, hills, fishing, diving or freediving, and K forgot hiking and trekking in the jungle. Neither do Pattaya have quiet beaches and beach front bungalows

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 hours ago, Conan The Barbarian said:

What’s the best area in Thailand for expats to settle for long-term living

 

I am planning to settle in here love the culture.

If you are going to be like a few members here on AN forums, who are sat behind the keyboard from sun up to sun down, it makes no difference where you are located. 

 

 

[Cameroni]

7 minutes ago, Hummin said:

What night life you looking for?

Music, bars the usual.

[Hummin]

11 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Music, bars the usual.

If great night life is essential, Pattaya and BKK is those two places to consider. Patong used to be good, but I cant say how it is now. Havent been back since covid, and before that 2007. 

 

Koh Chang I havent been since 2008. 

 

I have retired from the clubbing, so nightlife now is limited and not so interesting anymore, except live boxing and some world games occasionally 

 

More on the restaurants and a few drinks only. My wife do not drink, so it is limited to meet a few friends for a night out a few times a year

[brianthainess]

27 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

Is there night life on Koh Chang?

Depends what you mean by Night Life, yes there are girlie bars, and live music venues, good restaurants,  but all that is behind me now, at 73, I  don't spend my time or money in them anymore, + I'm married. No pollution here, rarely any flooding, very low crime rate, no real traffic problems, no traffic lights. When the ferry stops running around 7.30 no traffic. Cons have to go to the Mainland for a decent hospital, even the Govt. hospital in Trat is very good. There are no surgeons on the island. 

[scubascuba3]

12 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I know Pattaya vedy well, so I do not understand why you always want to convince others you have an better opinion of what is best for others 😄

 

No Pattaya do not have great kayaking, hills, fishing, diving or freediving, and K forgot hiking and trekking in the jungle. Neither do Pattaya have quiet beaches and beach front bungalows

Of course Pattaya has those things, all within 30 minutes, Samaesarn, Nang Ram, jungle treks khao mai kaeo, you just don't know those areas. kho Phangan not a patch on Pattaya area, used to be just full of druggies

[impulse]

I always lived where they mailed my paycheck.  I don't see where the OP is planning to get a job, work from his laptop, or retire.

[grain]

My top pick is Hua Hin. The best place for retirees in Thailand IMO.

[brianthainess]

27 minutes ago, maesariang said:

Little bit. Some girly bars and Irish pub. Low key stuff.

Irish Pub 'Paddys' is now closed and been up for sale a long time. Next door The White Elephant do some good food and Guinness. Oh yes and they have just put new Bitumen up and over the 'mountain' and beyond.

[JimTripper]

Why are you asking if it's so great?

 

Your problem should be having too many choices, not where do you move

[brianthainess]

22 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Of course Pattaya has those things, all within 30 minutes, Samaesarn, Nang Ram, jungle treks khao mai kaeo, you just don't know those areas. kho Phangan not a patch on Pattaya area, used to be just full of druggies

Are you kidding me Pattaya is full of 'Druggies' weekly stories of people off their head, shootings, stabbings, punch ups, that is almost unheard of on KC.

[brianthainess]

23 minutes ago, impulse said:

I always lived where they mailed my paycheck.  I don't see where the OP is planning to get a job, work from his laptop, or retire.

Post offices are everywhere as are banks and ATMs what are you talking about ?

[impulse]

1 minute ago, brianthainess said:

Post offices are everywhere as are banks and ATMs what are you talking about ?

 

"where they mailed my paycheck" is slang for "where my office was"  Or "where the company wanted me to live".  If the OP needs a traditional (good paying) job, that severely limits the places he can choose from.  Tough to find an office job, for example, on Koh Chang.

 

[Jerzy Swirski]

Doesn't really matter which province you live in.

Just make sure you live far enough away from the peasants so that you cannot see, hear or smell them.

[JimTripper]

Just now, Jerzy Swirski said:

Doesn't really matter which province you live in.

Just make sure you live far enough away from the peasants so that you cannot see, hear or smell them.

Without the natives, it's just land. 🤣

[brianthainess]

Just now, impulse said:

"where they mailed my paycheck" is slang for "where my office was" 

I have never heard of that expression ever, is that an American thing ?

[brianthainess]

Just now, JimTripper said:

Without the natives, it's just land. 🤣

Or just using your hand ...................

[impulse]

4 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

I have never heard of that expression ever, is that an American thing ?

 

Might be a Texas, or even just an oilfield expression.

 

It went along with "Mungo only pawn in game of life" when we were talking about where we'd move for our next assignment.  We usually had no say, except whether to accept the next assignment or walk on down the road kicking rocks.

 

 

[scubascuba3]

18 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Are you kidding me Pattaya is full of 'Druggies' weekly stories of people off their head, shootings, stabbings, punch ups, that is almost unheard of on KC.

You've got the wrong end of the stick again i was referring to koh Phangan