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

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Cha Am is ok but limited, does not have the same level of facilities and access as BS.

Personally I would much rather have a day out or an overnighter in Pattaya than Hua Hin.

 

 

True.

 

 

[newbee2022]

Everywhere YOU will like it.

Depends only on yourself!🤗

[brianthainess]

23 minutes ago, StraightTalk said:

My wife and I have always had a soft spot for the island. It was my first choice for settling down, but unfortunately, that never came to pass. We haven't visited in several years but have fond memories of a restaurant diagonally opposite Cookies Hotel, run by a Belgian (if I recall correctly). We enjoyed great food there, like green mussels, French onion soup, and pizza. In the evenings, the owner would play bass guitar with his small band. We're planning to visit the island for a holiday before the end of the year.

I hope you have a good time. try to avoid arriving or leaving on weekends as the queue for the ferry can be quite long, especially if its a long holiday weekend.

[cjinchiangrai]

18 hours ago, Hummin said:

Where? 

 

Cant recall any of those places had bad internet, but Im not doing any online work, so? 

 

Im not picky about internet connection, as long I can stream tv and movies on my lap top, Im happy. 

We get 5G in a rice village in Chiang Rai, The internet is great.

[Chadnik]

Single male -

 

Pattaya or Bangkok during rainy season, southern islands during cool season, get out for a few months high season (or BKK)

 

 

[Will B Good]

Just now, Chadnik said:

Single male -

 

Pattaya or Bangkok during rainy season, southern islands during cool season, get out for a few months high season (or BKK)

 

 

 

 

Pure genius.....just need to be single (I wish) and I would do that.

 

 

 

[Kinnock]

Depends so much on your personal needs ..... and while a small island sounds nice for shorter term stays, for long term I wanted to be within easy travelling distance of Bangkok and the major airports, plus not too far from a Central mall and a Homepro/Thaiwatsadu for when you need stuff .... but also near a beach and with easy access to some nice islands.  Plus not too noisy and not too many foreigners.

 

That meant East Coast area but not too near Pattaya (but also not too far from Pattaya in case of an urgent need😀).

[Jeff the Chef]

I love driving all around Thailand, if you take the Thai test and can adapt to the Thai style of driving it doesn't matter where you live.

The GF has a house and family in Phitsanulok, son in Bangkok, sister in Hua Hin, came up for a weekend 2 years ago, brought a car and have never looked back, don't speak Thai, cook all my own food and get on with the locals, if you go with the flow, life's easy, 20 mins from decent shopping, rarely see another "Falange".

[black tabby12345]

18 hours ago, NanLaew said:

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

 

Also known locally as 'Zombieville'.

 

Just a question out of my curiosity.

Why is it called Zombieville?

[black tabby12345]

The best place for long-term settlement in Thailand?

All up to what you want.

 

If you are a Beach Goer, Scuba Diver, southern regions with easy access to the clear sea.

 

If you are after this nations' biggest Red Light District, Pattaya.

 

If you want quite life with low-cost of living, Chiang Mai.

 

Anyone, any other suggestions?

 

 

 

[rughead]

Hat Yai - Songkhla Province !!

[JimTripper]

Chiang Mai is pretty good during the rainy season. It much cooler here and therefore easy to go out and do stuff. None of the sweating problem that I hate or needing a/c. Decent weather makes a huge difference.

[Burma Bill]

22 hours ago, Conan The Barbarian said:

I am planning to settle in here love the culture.

 

It all depends on you and your life style - hence so many differing replies.

 

Being a UK "country bumpkin"  my area of choice was Lanna and its Provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao and Lampang with their mountains, forests and lakes. I then moved across to Isaan (Khon Kaen Province) with its rural countryside.

Sandy beaches, palm trees, condos, beer bars and prostitutes were of no interest to me. My choice, so no further comment from me.

[pest]

Phukets ok ive been here now 20 years my kids brought me here via Udon as i needed a good schooling for them

[Scouse123]

Totally silly question, suitable only for mind-readers to answer, with no inclination as to what you are actually looking for.

 

Do you want quiet, beaches, rural, cheap living, city life?

 

Far too many options in this vast country with no inkling as to what is required by the OP.

 

It's the same type of question such as ' How much do I need to retire in Thailand ' whilst giving no clue as to eating, drinking, lifestyle, spending habits of the person asking the question.

[crazykopite]

If you like quiet island life Koh Phangan 

If you like sex in the City Pattaya and Phuket

if you like overpaying for goods then Samui 

[arick]

3 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

We get 5G in a rice village in Chiang Rai, The internet is great.

Yes the internet is better in the fields then in central bkk.

[AgMech Cowboy]

Northeast of Bangkok in the NC Group properties that are situated around or near Thanya Golf Club.  Our security is excellent.  We only have some small annoyances with noise, which comes mostly from the temple Northeast from the properties. (They almost always shut down by 23:59 hours, but usually around 22:00 hours). 

 

I've lived here 19 years. NC Group have opened new projects East of us, South of the golf course. There are a number of houses available in my Village for resale.  People move...  Some houses built as speculation, but never lived in...  The area is off Lamlukka highway Soi 71, or as we know it Lamlukka 71.  Drive North on 71 about 2 kms. Village 2 is about 3 kms.

[IsaanExpat]

Udon Thani

Not really a Tourist area so much as us Expats who've settled down with our partners. It's got everything I need and English is becoming more common among the younger locals.

[black tabby12345]

3 hours ago, rughead said:

Hat Yai - Songkhla Province !!

 

Songkhla, another nice place; not touristy and lower cost of living due to big student population.

[cjinchiangrai]

43 minutes ago, arick said:

Yes the internet is better in the fields then in central bkk.

If you are in a condo, you may be sharing a switch with a lot of people, Sorry about that. You might be able to get an independent connection.

[diveasia666]

21 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Pattaya has all that and a lot more of it

diving sucks in Pattaya, though.

[newnative]

   For long-term living I would choose Pattaya hands down.  I often say Pattaya is actually a better place to live than as a tourist destination to visit for a few days.   It has all the things you'd want in a place to live, either year-round or for shorter terms.  Great selection of neighborhoods, each with its own vibe.  You can choose beach side, with a number of different choices.  Or, you might want the quieter, less touristy Darkside, with lots of terrific housing projects to choose from. 

   Great selection of housing choices at all price ranges--hugely important in a place to live--whether you are renting or buying.  You can, and my spouse and I have, live in everything from a studio condo on the beach to our current 4-bedroom pool villa.  As our housing needs changed, Pattaya easily accommodated us.  Tremendous choice.

   Also so important, very good health care, eye care, and dental care available with a number of large hospitals and clinics. Terrific shopping choices with two very good shopping malls, furniture and hardware stores like Home Pro and Index, good grocery store choices, a large number of car dealers offering a wide brand selection, and a huge number of different restaurants.  Plus, cinemas in English, golf courses, scuba, snorkeling, fishing, badminton and tennis courts, etc.  

     And, the added bonus of being an easy drive on the 4-lane Motorway to both a big city and two major airports.  Three if you count U-Tapao.  The cherry on top is the large and diverse expat community living here.  You'll likely make some new friends--we have.  

[scubascuba3]

38 minutes ago, diveasia666 said:

diving sucks in Pattaya, though.

Have you tried SamaeSarn area? dive boats leave from there, of course won't be as good as Koh Tao or Khao lak

[scubascuba3]

15 minutes ago, newnative said:

   For long-term living I would choose Pattaya hands down.  I often say Pattaya is actually a better place to live than as a tourist destination to visit for a few days.   It has all the things you'd want in a place to live, either year-round or for shorter terms.  Great selection of neighborhoods, each with its own vibe.  You can choose beach side, with a number of different choices.  Or, you might want the quieter, less touristy Darkside, with lots of terrific housing projects to choose from. 

   Great selection of housing choices at all price ranges--hugely important in a place to live--whether you are renting or buying.  You can, and my spouse and I have, live in everything from a studio condo on the beach to our current 4-bedroom pool villa.  As our housing needs changed, Pattaya easily accommodated us.  Tremendous choice.

   Also so important, very good health care, eye care, and dental care available with a number of large hospitals and clinics. Terrific shopping choices with two very good shopping malls, furniture and hardware stores like Home Pro and Index, good grocery store choices, a large number of car dealers offering a wide brand selection, and a huge number of different restaurants.  Plus, cinemas in English, golf courses, scuba, snorkeling, fishing, badminton and tennis courts, etc.  

     And, the added bonus of being an easy drive on the 4-lane Motorway to both a big city and two major airports.  Three if you count U-Tapao.  The cherry on top is the large and diverse expat community living here.  You'll likely make some new friends--we have.  

also very good for cycling, many people come for cycling holidays. My ride today, great roads and coffee overlooking Samaesarn fishing village

[Irish star]

On 9/12/2024 at 2:31 PM, maesariang said:

 

 

"Hey man, no worries! I’ve been living in Bangkok for decades too"

And you can’t afford KFC lol

[Irish star]

22 hours ago, Hummin said:

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

Article said tourist outnumber locals 118 -1 

[khunPer]

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

I am planning to settle in here love the culture.

Where to settle in Thailand is extremely dependent on life style and income, if you don't have a Thai partner that wish your settlement to be in the partner's area.

 

When I was searching for where to settle in Land of Smiles about 20 years ago, I visited places of potential interest, before I made my decision. If you also do that, make visit both in the dry season and in the rainy season – some places you might need jetski or boat during the wet period – and up north also in the cold season.

 

I finally settled on a southern island, as I both like the sea and the view of same, and furthermore "all year summer" and the party life. Island-living is often little more expensive than mainland, and tourist areas often little more expensive than more rural destinations; so, ongoing cash flow can also be part of a choice.

[bkk6060]

1 hour ago, newnative said:

   For long-term living I would choose Pattaya hands down.  I often say Pattaya is actually a better place to live than as a tourist destination to visit for a few days.   It has all the things you'd want in a place to live, either year-round or for shorter terms.  Great selection of neighborhoods, each with its own vibe.  You can choose beach side, with a number of different choices.  Or, you might want the quieter, less touristy Darkside, with lots of terrific housing projects to choose from. 

   Great selection of housing choices at all price ranges--hugely important in a place to live--whether you are renting or buying.  You can, and my spouse and I have, live in everything from a studio condo on the beach to our current 4-bedroom pool villa.  As our housing needs changed, Pattaya easily accommodated us.  Tremendous choice.

   Also so important, very good health care, eye care, and dental care available with a number of large hospitals and clinics. Terrific shopping choices with two very good shopping malls, furniture and hardware stores like Home Pro and Index, good grocery store choices, a large number of car dealers offering a wide brand selection, and a huge number of different restaurants.  Plus, cinemas in English, golf courses, scuba, snorkeling, fishing, badminton and tennis courts, etc.  

     And, the added bonus of being an easy drive on the 4-lane Motorway to both a big city and two major airports.  Three if you count U-Tapao.  The cherry on top is the large and diverse expat community living here.  You'll likely make some new friends--we have.  

You should write for a travel magazine.

🙂

Nothing negative but the constant traffic now probably worse then ever, tour buses everywhere, constant road construction, air quality during the high season is terrible, the quality of tourists jamming up every where are probably the lowest of the low who visit. And possibly most important are the accidents and crime.  Fights, stabbings, drugs, theft, etc. seem to be reported daily if in town got to be very careful.

The place is not Nirvana just sayin.

[Prubangboy]

Just moved from Chiang Mai to Suk, Soi 11.

 

Can't fault it; it's like living in a very chill version of Times Square. Tremendous restaurant selection.

 

AnotherFarang said that Bangkok IS Thailand. I agree.