I need a bit of rurality. I dont like the weather where I am at right now (it doesnt matter where) and transport is only big buses and Bolt cars which are reasonable but mandate me being in the heart of the city.

I love Bangkok, but I would like a small garden and some nature or at least a nature view. I would go back to Siem Reap, but only if the border is open.

I have been looking hard at Chiang Mai and Nong Kai. Each has its personal advantages and disadvantage but my main concern is transport.

In Siem Reap, I had a regular remorque driver and could easily find one day and night via "Pass App".

What are the transport opportunities in both cities for someone lving outside the main area? I dont bike or ride MCs

3 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

I need a bit of rurality. I dont like the weather where I am at right now (it doesnt matter where) and transport is only big buses and Bolt cars which are reasonable but mandate me being in the heart of the city.

I love Bangkok, but I would like a small garden and some nature or at least a nature view. I would go back to Siem Reap, but only if the border is open.

I have been looking hard at Chiang Mai and Nong Kai. Each has its personal advantages and disadvantage but my main concern is transport.

In Siem Reap, I had a regular remorque driver and could easily find one day and night via "Pass App".

What are the transport opportunities in both cities for someone lving outside the main area? I dont bike or ride MCs

Chiang Mai and NK both have Grab and Bolt. Both cheap. NK is nice but gets boring quick. Chiang Mai is better.

Hua Hin is nice too. Bolt and Grab there.

Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Udon would be my top 3. Prachuap Khiri Khan is nice too. Kind of like Nong Khai but with beaches.

I would think Hua Hin would get boring 'real quick' if you don't have an other half.

Udon and Hua Hin have nice farang food. Chiang Mai has an excellent German buffett. All 3 have good gyms. Decent looking women in all 3.

You probably need to visit them to see if you like them. In Nong Khai I get bored after a week. In Chiang Mai never get bored and great scenary. Udon is fairly good but does get boring as there are no rivers or beaches or great views. There are 2 lakes but nothing special. Hua Hin has 5 beaches all a bit different.

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

You probably need to visit them to see if you like them. In Nong Khai I get bored after a week. In Chiang Mai never get bored and great scenary. Udon is fairly good but does get boring as there are no rivers or beaches or great views. There are 2 lakes but nothing special. Hua Hin has 5 beaches all a bit different.

Ive also been considering Vientiane.

Im trying to work this approximate schedule: Jan-March (?), April-June (Georgia/Azerbaijan/Greece), July-September (USA)Oct to Jan uary (Thailand).

Nong Khai has the advantage of being right across the river from Vientiane, where I have friends.

Off course, this could all be mooted if they reopen the border, then I can go back to Siem Reap, although my objection is based more on principle than anything else.

1 minute ago, Yagoda said:

Ive also been considering Vientiane.

Im trying to work this approximate schedule: Jan-March (?), April-June (Georgia/Azerbaijan/Greece), July-September (USA)Oct to Jan uary (Thailand).

Nong Khai has the advantage of being right across the river from Vientiane, where I have friends.

Off course, this could all be mooted if they reopen the border, then I can go back to Siem Reap, although my objection is based more on principle than anything else.

Nong Khai gets smoggy in March. 110 to 150 aqi. Not as bad as Chiang Mai. October to Jan would be great in Chiang Mai.

March is very hot too. Id choose Hua Hin. Beach breezes and swim. North is not so good in March. Hot dry winds up north plus smoke.

Im in Hua Hin in March. My grandma let me out from the basement.

12 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Ive also been considering Vientiane.

Easy to get around Vientiane, several mobile apps. LOCA is the best taxi hailing app, very reliable Uber like, works in Vientiane, Savannakhet and Luang Prabang. There's also Xan SM not used them, and I was told Maxim works in Vientiane too. If you're feeling adventurous and happy travelling in a little orange tuk-tuk there's the Kok-Kok app.

1 hour ago, Yagoda said:

I need a bit of rurality. I dont like the weather where I am at right now (it doesnt matter where) and transport is only big buses and Bolt cars which are reasonable but mandate me being in the heart of the city.

I love Bangkok, but I would like a small garden and some nature or at least a nature view. I would go back to Siem Reap, but only if the border is open.

I have been looking hard at Chiang Mai and Nong Kai. Each has its personal advantages and disadvantage but my main concern is transport.

In Siem Reap, I had a regular remorque driver and could easily find one day and night via "Pass App".

What are the transport opportunities in both cities for someone lving outside the main area? I dont bike or ride MCs

Take a trip up to Nan. You might like it. Talk to BritManToo about Chiang Mai. The nice thing about the Chiang Mai area is that a 15 minute drive in any direction out of town will put you into rural, or what is now becoming suburban, Chiang Mai. Me? I live in rural Lamphun province sandwiched between two mountain ranges with national parks on all sides. On the plus side, Highway 11 puts me a 1 hour drive out of the center of Chiang Mai city. On the double-plus-good side, I'm squarely in rural Thailand.
Another thought is just outside of Lamphun city. A lot or rural areas around the city, especially to the east of the city. Or you can find a place between Lamphun city and Sarapii. The rail line to Chiang Mai goes through that area - or - there are a steady stream of songtaews and air-con buses traveling between Lamphun and Chiang Mai on HW 106 if you don't like to drive.

9 minutes ago, connda said:

Talk to BritManToo about Chiang Mai.

Yeah, he likes it a lot. He has always urged me to check it out.

11 minutes ago, connda said:

The nice thing about the Chiang Mai area is that a 15 minute drive in any direction out of town will put you into rural, or what is now becoming suburban, Chiang Mai.

So how does one get into town if one doesnt drive. Tuk Tuks? Is there a tuk tuk app up there?

The other thing I am trying to figure out is Visas and air. The only months that are "good air" are Oct to December, right? April and May?

Uggg. Planning. Ugggg.

46 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Yeah, he likes it a lot. He has always urged me to check it out.

So how does one get into town if one doesnt drive. Tuk Tuks? Is there a tuk tuk app up there?

The other thing I am trying to figure out is Visas and air. The only months that are "good air" are Oct to December, right? April and May?

Uggg. Planning. Ugggg.

June to Jan has good air. June is the best time to go.

Bangkok is very well connected for public transport.

Place like Hua Hin are okay if you stay almost around your hotel for public transport.

But if you want to go a bit out of the area and even not that far, it gets tricky to impossible, to find reasonably priced public transport. Hua Hin is not the best place if you want good public transport to move outside of the city area. And the main "city" area being very small, I would not recommend Hua Hin on the top list for those wanting reliable and reasonably priced public transport to move around. But that's only my opinion.

Local transport maybe a problem wherever you choose. Same where I live, no taxis only local Saleng. Plus where I am there is almost zero rentals for housing.

So based on your requirements I don't think I can recommend it apart from the rural/view part. Everything is here just not the local transport; if you don't have a car or ride a scooter. Unless you enjoy a nice walk say 2kms.

Nonthaburi. Purple line runs all day and half price for us older guys. Never far rom major shopping and facilities and plenty of housing with land. If you're far from the MRT where the houses are cheaper there's any number of motorcycle taxis to ferry you around. Once you're on the main road (Rattanathibet) you'll find a taxi within minutes.

1 hour ago, Sigmund said:

Bangkok is very well connected for public transport.

Well it wasnt 40 years ago but it was in December when I left.

My problem with Bangkok is the air and the government. I was talking to my bud a bit ago up in Vientiane and he is loving it, but their Visa rules are a pain. I still like Siem Reap but the border hassle between the Cambodians and Thailand really piss me off, even though Cambodian visas are a breeze and I get a free Angkor Pass.

The beauty of Siem used to be being able to run to Bangkok for about $10 and 7 hours on Bus and Train with 150 meter walk across the border as opposed to flying with 300 meters of airport schlepping and standing on line at DMK for $125 plus, 6-7 hours total.....

1 hour ago, DaLa said:

Nonthaburi. Purple line runs all day and half price for us older guys. Never far rom major shopping and facilities and plenty of housing with land. If you're far from the MRT where the houses are cheaper there's any number of motorcycle taxis to ferry you around. Once you're on the main road (Rattanathibet) you'll find a taxi within minutes.

Yes. I was looking there earlier, especially as I used to live in Bang Pho right on the border and I liked the area. I would love to find a river view place....

Cheap up there too, you can get what looks to be decent for 5,000 a month...but I will only be there for maybe 5 months since I refuse to mess with their retirement Visas...

I was even looking at Ayyuthaya...

I dont think I could handle Hua Hin, too small and too many old tourists :)

6 hours ago, Sigmund said:

Bangkok is very well connected for public transport.

Place like Hua Hin are okay if you stay almost around your hotel for public transport.

But if you want to go a bit out of the area and even not that far, it gets tricky to impossible, to find reasonably priced public transport. Hua Hin is not the best place if you want good public transport to move outside of the city area. And the main "city" area being very small, I would not recommend Hua Hin on the top list for those wanting reliable and reasonably priced public transport to move around. But that's only my opinion.

Bolt and Grab prices there arent that bad. Easy to book cars and move around. Hua Hin has 3 decent night markets, nice beaches, 2 malls and loads of cheap rooms. Hotel there with excellent gym and pool for 8000 a month.

AirAsia from BKK to Siem Reap - cheap flight!

Def look at sakananakhet

Deep chill, just about zero tourists, a bit like LP due to the old buildings. Beautiful Mekong setting.

Female companionship of both kinds available

My GF lives on the river in Nonthaburi. 7,000 a month for a 22nd floor studio with a view. 25 for a massive 3 BR with a wrap around balcony.Pretty green. I may migrate from Soi33.

I did a search here and all the Nonthaburi people had moved on to Suraburi. She says it’s too far from her work. A bit too rural for me, so it’s always interesting to parse out your exact squeal point.

You can’t complain about quiet places being boring. That sort of comes with the territory.

17 hours ago, Yagoda said:

I would go back to Siem Reap, but only if the border is open.

Yeah, can forget about that. The border with Kampuchea won't reopen anytime soon. RTA has been doing a good job. Now that RTAF have honed their precision weapon skills the Khmer rouge are defecating themselves.

15 hours ago, Yagoda said:

My problem with Bangkok is the air and the government.

Air in CM is better most of the year (although still polluted for my taste) but then it's catastrophically worse for a couple months every year. If air is your concern then you need to write off the entire north of the country.

Needing public transport is a problem for that city though. If you live outside the actual city center it turns into a sea of housing projects and highway networks. It's too spread out to walk anywhere so you'd need a taxi to do anything. Do they even have motorbike taxis in CM? I don't know if I've ever seen one before.

7 hours ago, simon43 said:

AirAsia from BKK to Siem Reap - cheap flight!

More hassle than a bus/train

4 hours ago, Prubangboy said:

My GF lives on the river in Nonthaburi. 7,000 a month for a 22nd floor studio with a view. 25 for a massive 3 BR with a wrap around balcony.Pretty green. I may migrate from Soi33.

I would love a River View. If I could find something like that, I would even consider a retirement visa again

4 hours ago, Peter Crow said:

Yeah, can forget about that. The border with Kampuchea won't reopen anytime soon. RTA has been doing a good job. Now that RTAF have honed their precision weapon skills the Khmer rouge are defecating themselves.

I do agree with the fact that Thailand kicked butt on the Cambodians who were shelling the border, my village included, and will always be grateful for that at the least. The Khmer Rouge hasn't been in power since 1979, so I'm thinking that was sarcasm on your part.

18 hours ago, DaLa said:

Nonthaburi. Purple line runs all day and half price for us older guys. Never far rom major shopping and facilities and plenty of housing with land. If you're far from the MRT where the houses are cheaper there's any number of motorcycle taxis to ferry you around. Once you're on the main road (Rattanathibet) you'll find a taxi within minutes.

And it has its own immigration office.👍

I would have to say it must be The Vatican City.

Hard to get lost in the Vatican City.

Figuratively lost, though, might be possible.

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

The Khmer Rouge hasn't been in power since 1979, so I'm thinking that was sarcasm on your part.

Not entirely, as their great popular leader, Hun Sen, IS a Khmer Rouge battalion commander, who defected when Vietnam freed what was left of the country. Ever since, he has been working hard a getting a new virginity, and ended up becoming a Mafia leader. A huge fraction of the [former] Kampuchea population presents the same background: mediocre IQ, as they killed everyone with clean hands, but busy piling up cubic meters of Riels in the back of their garages, behind their Mercedes. I have seen it with my own eyes, in 1989 when most of PP still didn't have electricity.

2 hours ago, Yagoda said:

More hassle than a bus/train

...

Well, not right now!!

Da Nang.?

6 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Well, not right now!!

Well obviously, it was one of the reasons I left LOL

46 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

Not entirely, as their great popular leader, Hun Sen, IS a Khmer Rouge battalion commander, who defected when Vietnam freed what was left of the country. Ever since, he has been working hard a getting a new virginity, and ended up becoming a Mafia leader. A huge fraction of the [former] Kampuchea population presents the same background: mediocre IQ, as they killed everyone with clean hands, but busy piling up cubic meters of Riels in the back of their garages, behind their Mercedes. I have seen it with my own eyes, in 1989 when most of PP still didn't have electricity.

I've heard all about this from my school owner friend here in Kantharalak. His words were teach them a lesson now so they stop the nonsense.