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

[crazykopite]

Depends what you like I’m a beach lover so I live on the beach have lived on both Samui and Phangan both are as good as each other but Samui is a lot busier but be warned the two islands I mentioned are the most expensive in Thailand but still cheaper than the western world 

[Hummin]

1 hour ago, BigStar said:

 

Nobody cares if you don't think Pattaya suits you. The topic is about the best place for expats to settle for long-term living. Why not just give your recommendation and be done with it? Yet you absolutely needed to perpetuate superficial stereotypes about Pattaya that merely revealed you don't know much about the place. In the course of which, we discovered your objections didn't make a lot of sense. And so you realized, as is evident by your refusal to answer questions.

 

Meanwhile, you carefully failed to mention the notable disadvantages of living in your chosen paradise. Actually, some of these aren't a matter of mere preference. For older expats, having excellent government hospitals and a variety of good private hospitals nearby and conveniently accessed, as in Pattaya, is a matter of necessity--for those not in denial. 

 

 

It's only matter of public duty to debunk your Pattaya stereotyping, whether you cooperate or not. Losing battle, to be sure.

 

 

Oh my, I guess you prove my point. Get well, good luck 🤗 Thank you

[itsari]

Chiang Mai is ok if you have a good set of lungs.

Pre COVID life was better here in my opinion.

[ModdaPunk]

Anywhere north of Hua Hin.

Mentality in the south is terrible.

Bangkok is ok if you like big polluted cities.

Pattaya / Jomtien is great.

Isaan is pretty peaceful and relatively lively if you settle in Khon Kaen or Udon Thani.

The Chiang Mai area has a serious pollution problem as well due to agriculture but is really beautiful.

[LespaulAN]

I am here at Jomtien beach for 5 months. I think its the best for me cause I like amenities and a reasonable quiet environment. If I stay in at the condo, it is quiet and peaceful. IMHO, Pattaya really offer a little bit of everything someone want. Don't be restricted by your view thru the media or own bias and think Pattaya as only the tourist central/beach/Buakhao area.

You never know until you try living in any area. To qualify my view, I came from a city live style of Singapore. 

[Hummin]

The most important when moving to Thailand, is to have a plan B, and if first buying some place to live permanent, have the possiblity to travel during the different seasons to other places. Be it the worst heat and burning seasons if your place is affected. 

 

I do not know the average age here, but my guess around 70 years old? Im 55 so I might have different view than most of you guys and for the OP, I guess he trying to be a younger guy, but he seems just to start treads and not reply to much or if ever. 

[GypsyT]

18 hours ago, Hummin said:

The most important when moving to Thailand, is to have a plan B

Spot on!

 

[black tabby12345]

On 9/13/2024 at 1:16 PM, crazykopite said:

if you like overpaying for goods then Samui 

 

LOL.

[KhunLA]

On 9/16/2024 at 4:47 PM, Hummin said:

I do not know the average age here, but my guess around 70 years old? Im 55 so I might have different view than most of you guys and for the OP, I guess he trying to be a younger guy, but he seems just to start treads and not reply to much or if ever. 

Good spot ... he's started 34 topics, with only 66 posts 😎

[save the frogs]

8 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Good spot ... he's started 34 topics, with only 66 posts 😎

one of the mods?

what about bob smith?

[GypsyT]

I found it! Nuevo California for home sick Gringos.... like me (who some times miss LA / CA of '80s). The location is great, short drive from BKK. Way too expensive for me but seeing is free.

I'll go and see since I plan to scout the whole beach area south of Bangkok, in Samut Prakan.

Nobody knows anything about that beach, or if there is a beach?

 

https://www.homes-thailand.com/projects/thailand/samut-prakan/bang-phli/bang-kaeo/magnolias-southern-california

 

Looks like copy cat of fake Italian Villages which come-n-go like Sattahip Vine area or Khao Yai's "Palio". When I was there they wanted entry fee! No double pricing here... I though stupid to pay to see houses for sale and asked a local man and he told "Go back side dirt road, no fee". I did and there were nothing to see. Many shops closed and the whole place was semi run down.

https://www.tourismthailand.org/Shop/palio-khao-yai

 

[newnative]

1 hour ago, GypsyT said:

I found it! Nuevo California for home sick Gringos.... like me (who some times miss LA / CA of '80s). The location is great, short drive from BKK. Way too expensive for me but seeing is free.

I'll go and see since I plan to scout the whole beach area south of Bangkok, in Samut Prakan.

Nobody knows anything about that beach, or if there is a beach?

 

https://www.homes-thailand.com/projects/thailand/samut-prakan/bang-phli/bang-kaeo/magnolias-southern-california

 

Looks like copy cat of fake Italian Villages which come-n-go like Sattahip Vine area or Khao Yai's "Palio". When I was there they wanted entry fee! No double pricing here... I though stupid to pay to see houses for sale and asked a local man and he told "Go back side dirt road, no fee". I did and there were nothing to see. Many shops closed and the whole place was semi run down.

https://www.tourismthailand.org/Shop/palio-khao-yai

 

The houses, from the photos I saw, look like the Silk Road project in Pattaya.

[Conan The Barbarian]

On 9/17/2024 at 9:07 PM, KhunLA said:

Good spot ... he's started 34 topics, with only 66 posts 😎

I wonder why people like you have so many assumptions but if that's makes u happy good for u 

[KhunLA]

Just now, Conan The Barbarian said:

I wonder why people like you have so many assumptions but if that's makes u happy good for u 

That's not an assumption, just the numbers.  Not assuming anything, just pointing out the not so obvious.

 

As was pointed out, you do seem to start a lot of threads, but don't return to comment on.  Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you enjoy.

 

As first reply pointed out ... you couldn't get any more vague with your query.  Some would wonder, what's the point.

 

You even come back to comment on my post, but ignored all the rest, that may actually wanted to help you decide with some advice.

 

Just a general 'thanks' probably would have been appreciated.  But you're not alone in that aspect, as few return to express their appreciation for assistance.

[Conan The Barbarian]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That's not an assumption, just the numbers.  Not assuming anything, just pointing out the not so obvious.

 

As was pointed out, you do seem to start a lot of threads, but don't return to comment on.  Nothing wrong with that, if that's what you enjoy.

 

As first reply pointed out ... you couldn't get any more vague with your query.  Some would wonder, what's the point.

 

You even come back to comment on my post, but ignored all the rest, that may actually wanted to help you decide with some advice.

 

Just a general 'thanks' probably would have been appreciated.  But you're not alone in that aspect, as few return to express their appreciation for assistance.

I appreciate everyone who responded, and I’ve read all your replies. If I didn’t respond, it wasn’t because I didn’t read them but due to personal reasons, as I wasn’t feeling well. I’ve mentioned before that I’m new to the forum, but some people continue making assumptions that it’s AI or something else. Just because I didn’t reply doesn’t mean it’s AI. This is a forum, and the question isn’t just for me but for others who may have the same inquiry. Thanks again to everyone who contributed.

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, Conan The Barbarian said:

I appreciate everyone who responded, and I’ve read all your replies. If I didn’t respond, it wasn’t because I didn’t read them but due to personal reasons, as I wasn’t feeling well. I’ve mentioned before that I’m new to the forum, but some people continue making assumptions that it’s AI or something else. Just because I didn’t reply doesn’t mean it’s AI. This is a forum, and the question isn’t just for me but for others who may have the same inquiry. Thanks again to everyone who contributed.

 

 

I might have missed it, but have drawn any conclusions?

[Conan The Barbarian]

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

I might have missed it, but have drawn any conclusions?

I hope it will be clear to all of them I do love this forum and got a lot of help from all those who engage with the questions I have asked until now.
 

[Will B Good]

Just now, Conan The Barbarian said:

I hope it will be clear to all of them I do love this forum and got a lot of help from all those who engage with the questions I have asked until now.
 

 

Thanks...but I meant where to live?

 

 

 

[Conan The Barbarian]

2 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Thanks...but I meant where to live?

 

 

 

Well for now we are thinking of staying here in Bangkok but near Bangna to avoid more crowds or traffic 

[Will B Good]

Just now, Conan The Barbarian said:

Well for now we are thinking of staying here in Bangkok but near Bangna to avoid more crowds or traffic 

 

 

That would be my choice......a kind of Pattaya, but with the wider benefits of a big, capital city.....and 'easy' to get away to Mu Si, Cha Am etc..... when it becomes too much.

 

 

 

 

[Conan The Barbarian]

5 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

 

That would be my choice......a kind of Pattaya, but with the wider benefits of a big, capital city.....and 'easy' to get away to Mu Si, Cha Am etc..... when it becomes too much.

 

 

 

 

Yes Agreed 

[Prubangboy]

Can't fault Pattaya if you want a cheap place with lots of western amenities, close to a beach.

 

If I were a beach person, I'd be there -as places like Ko Chang or even Phuket would be too small town for me.

 

If you're not a beach person, it's either Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Moving to a place like Khorat without a GF in tow seems like a guarantee of alcoholism

 

Did CM for two years and found it to also be a little too small town for me.

 

Living on soi 11 with an air purifier working full time is the happiest I've been to date. Plenty of meetups, tremendous food options, the BTS and metro are a godsend to get anywhere I'd want to go pretty fast.

[KhunLA]

19 minutes ago, Conan The Barbarian said:

Well for now we are thinking of staying here in Bangkok but near Bangna to avoid more crowds or traffic 

Chose wisely in BangNa district, as some areas are extremely congested with gridlock traffic half the day.

[GypsyT]

3 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

Plenty of meetups,

Do you mean these;

https://www.meetup.com/find/?location=th--Bangkok&source=GROUPS&distance=twentyFiveMiles

 

https://www.meetup.com/los-angeles-hiking-group/?eventOrigin=find_page&recSource=group_search&recId=f38bc7da-547e-4468-b158-ce2a00000117&searchId=b2e7bf98-c5f1-49c3-ab9d-cef266ef6150

 

Various hiking clubs were my "second homes" in LA. Wonderful people!

 

[Captor]

On 9/12/2024 at 10:07 AM, Hummin said:

My next neighbour working as an online teacher, so I guess it was good enough. But I did not stay beach front there, just up the hill 300m  with beach view

How was the moisture there? I guess more than in Hua Hin?

[eggzthaioz]

Up to you? 

[Irish star]

On 9/12/2024 at 2:24 PM, Conan The Barbarian said:

I am planning to settle in here love the culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s your budget we aren’t mind readers lol hobby’s anything what do you like ? 

Edited September 20 by Irish star

[newbee2022]

The best area is that what YOU like most 👍

[Hummin]

2 hours ago, Captor said:

How was the moisture there? I guess more than in Hua Hin?

I can't say I had any issues november to February with the climate there. Very little rain at all post rainseason. 

 

The good thing with Koh Phangan it is a very diversed island with different climates and water quality climate from one side to another depending on the season. For a healthy young retired there is alot to do, fresh air and good quality with very little pollution. 

 

And have hospitals close by within range and no traffic. 

 

Still I would have a insurance including helicopter ambulance transfer if I was living there permanent.

 

Still as I have said many times, when I get older I want options, and not gamble on one location only, because we do not know how the future will be. 

 

To many rely on status q, and the world will not change.

[Patong2021]

On 9/12/2024 at 4:24 AM, Hummin said:

Where? In Thailand?

 

Depending on the season, but back in the days it was Railey beach,.

Difficult to get to. In the event of a medical emergency, death is often the end result.

Nice beach but very overcrowded and the longtail boats have polluted the bay.

I walked inland towards the cave and there were piles of trash everywhere.