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

[Hummin]

6 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

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.

Now it is not an option anymore, but back then when I was climbing every day almost, it was a paradise, and less longtail boats and less tourists. The diving spots was still healty, and it was a great place to kayaking for a whole day around the islands and visits untouched beaches with alsmost no garbage on them. You cant find places like that anymore, they are all gone. Maybe in Mayanmar there is still places like this, but who wants to go to Mayanmar? 

[bkk6060]

21 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

Moving to a place like Khorat without a GF in tow seems like a guarantee of alcoholism

?

Korat and Khon Kaen are some of the better places in the country to find a GF. Not tainted and sick in the head like Pattaya.

And, not want-a-be in debt hiso like Bangkok.

[Henryford]

On 9/12/2024 at 3:09 PM, BigStar said:

Pattaya has everything, look no further. Ignore the bashers; they know only a few streets. Large, diverse area; choose your lifestyle. 

 

Agreed Pattaya has everything. A great nightlife if you want or very quiet if you are a few KMs outside. Plenty of good restaurants, shops and English widely spoken. OK beaches and good weather. Easy to get to the airport for travel around SE Asia. What more could you want.

Edited 2 hours ago by Henryford

[OneMoreFarang]

Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok - obviously.

 

[Captor]

57 minutes ago, Hummin said:

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.

Interesting that you mention hospitals as that was my next question🙂.

 

I agree in full that hospitals not too far away is important as I am getting older and maybe will need one. I understand from you mention helicopter that the hospitals there are not the biggest or best.

[Hummin]

2 minutes ago, Captor said:

Interesting that you mention hospitals as that was my next question🙂.

 

I agree in full that hospitals not too far away is important as I am getting older and maybe will need one. I understand from you mention helicopter that the hospitals there are not the biggest or best.

Bangkok and the bigger army hospitals around in Thailand, will always have better equipment and drˋs than smaller hospitals on the Islands. As well having a heli rescue insurance covers you all over Thailand and the world depending on your terms. 

[Hanaguma]

Quite liked the beaches in Rayong, south of Pattaya- Laem Mai Phim and Mae Ram Pheung. Quiet, miles of sand, good for walking, sunsets. Not much nightlife, but you can scoot up to Pattaya in less than an hour when the mood strikes.

[ThaiFelix]

I guess if youre looking for confident long term safety and security you should be going for those the government lables "family friendly" destinations.  How could you go wrong?

[simon43]

On 9/12/2024 at 4:53 PM, 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

I visited KP about 2 months ago, with a view to resettle there (I lived there about 2.5 years ago at Ban Chaloklam).

 

Wow! How it has changed in that short time.  Just 1 big building site, rent prices hugely increased, and what seems like half of the Russian population living there.  I left in disgust...

[Hummin]

5 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I visited KP about 2 months ago, with a view to resettle there (I lived there about 2.5 years ago at Ban Chaloklam).

 

Wow! How it has changed in that short time.  Just 1 big building site, rent prices hugely increased, and what seems like half of the Russian population living there.  I left in disgust...

I was there 21-22 and it might have been some changes since then when it comes to russians. But overall, everywhere you have been, there is changes, no matter how you look at it. 

[simon43]

8 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I was there 21-22 and it might have been some changes since then when it comes to russians. But overall, everywhere you have been, there is changes, no matter how you look at it. 

I settled in Khao Lak, no Ruskies there!

[BigStar]

On 9/12/2024 at 4:53 PM, Hummin said:

I know Pattaya vedy well

 

No.

[scubascuba3]

3 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I settled in Khao Lak, no Ruskies there!

Expensive there? i went just before the tsunami which killed 2000 people. At the time lots of Swedes and Germans. Remember to run up hill if you hear sirens 

[jeannot]

On 9/12/2024 at 9:37 AM, Cameroni said:

Bang Na in Bangkok. Great air quality.

😂

[Hummin]

21 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I settled in Khao Lak, no Ruskies there!

Khao Lak is nice, but the rainseason there is harsh and beaches good for surfing only 😁

[Hummin]

40 minutes ago, BigStar said:

 

No.

Yes I do, how can you know? 

[simon43]

48 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Expensive there? i went just before the tsunami which killed 2000 people. At the time lots of Swedes and Germans. Remember to run up hill if you hear sirens 

 

Not expensive for me.  I live 'in the hills'. 9,000 baht/month for a brand new 'studio' house in a garden, with a mountain stream just metres from my door.

 

As for the beaches, plenty of people swimming in safe areas. I don't recall hearing of drownings, (unlike Karon/Kata beach in Phuket).

Edited 5 minutes ago by simon43

[scubascuba3]

5 minutes ago, simon43 said:

 

Not expensive for me.  I live 'in the hills'. 9,000 baht/month for a brand new 'studio' house in a garden, with a mountain stream just metres from my door.

 

As for the beaches, plenty of people swimming in safe areas. I don't recall hearing of drownings, (unlike Karon/Kata beach in Phuket).

In Khao Lak they brush over the fact 2000+ people died there, prefer to pretend it never happened