17 minutes ago, newnative said:

Can't remember the last time I sat on a beach--anywhere. Likely true for a lot of expats living here. You're right--there are malls and good food available in other Thai cities. But, can't think of many cities this size this close to Bangkok, this close to BKK airport. Can't think of many Thai cities with 20-some international schools--with yet another big one, Highgate, opening this Fall. You go down the list, Pattaya will check off a lot of boxes, from hospital choices to car dealerships for service to badminton courts to golf courses, etc.

The biggest thing you ignored was the choice and variety of housing stock here. You want a studio condo 20 stories up with an ocean view for under 3MB? Got it. 3-bedroom, 3-bath single-floor pool villa for under 6MB? Got that, too. And, villas for over 100MB if that's your choice.

Choosing what type of roof one puts over one's head, and what it costs, is important for a lot of people when they are choosing where they will live. Pattaya's very wide variety of housing choices to buy or rent checked one of the big boxes on our list of where we might live in Thailand. As our needs changed, we moved from a variety of various size seaview condos to a variety of pool villas on the Darkside--Pattaya had lots of choices for us, whatever we wanted at the moment. I suspect we are not much different from many of the thousands who are choosing Pattaya, because Pattaya checks off more of the boxes on a lot of want lists.

Lots of rooms to choose from means lots of people have left. I don't need a school or a hospital nor more than 1 mall. Sitting in a condo all day talking about Iran or Ukraine sounds very boring.

7 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Lots of rooms to choose from means lots of people have left. I don't need a school or a hospital nor more than 1 mall. Sitting in a condo all day talking about Iran or Ukraine sounds very boring.

Lots of rooms to choose from does not necessarily mean lots of people have left. It can also mean lots of properties have been built because lots of buyers have been found for them. Projects get built because buyers can be found for the product. Usually builders will secure a certain number of bookings before a project is started. New projects will be put on hold or cancelled if that changes.

The last housing project I lived at had about 30 houses in the 10-12MB range; all but one had sold while we lived there. When that project was succesful, the builder started another one, sold that one, and then another one after that. She continues to build and continues to find buyers.

The Riviera Group is a good example in the condo segment--now on their 7th or 8th large project. You don't keep building if you haven't sold enough to at least break even. How about resales? We've sold about 18 Pattaya condos and 4 houses so far. Buyers have been there for us for our resales.

You may not need a school or a hospital but there are lots of people who need one or the other--or both. And, many who like having some of the other things I mentioned--which is perhaps why Pattaya is boomng.

What individual people do with their time is not relevant to the discussion--but I would wager most are not sitting in their condos or houses debating Ukraine or Iran and I would also wager Pattaya offers as much to do as any other city of its size in Thailand. Obviously, it doesn't suit you--but I never said it was for everyone.

2 minutes ago, newnative said:

Lots of rooms to choose from does not necessarily mean lots of people have left. It can also mean lots of properties have been built because lots of buyers have been found for them. Projects get built because buyers can be found for the product. Usually builders will secure a certain number of bookings before a project is started. New projects will be put on hold or cancelled if that changes.

The last housing project I lived at had about 30 houses in the 10-12MB range; all but one had sold while we lived there. When that project was succesful, the builder started another one, sold that one, and then another one after that. She continues to build and continues to find buyers.

The Riviera Group is a good example in the condo segment--now on their 7th or 8th large project. You don't keep building if you haven't sold enough to at least break even. How about resales? We've sold about 18 Pattaya condos and 4 houses so far. Buyers have been there for us for our resales.

You may not need a school or a hospital but there are lots of people who need one or the other--or both. And, many who like having some of the other things I mentioned--which is perhaps why Pattaya is boomng.

What individual people do with their time is not relevant to the discussion--but I would wager most are not sitting in their condos or houses debating Ukraine or Iran and I would also wager Pattaya offers as much to do as any other city of its size in Thailand. Obviously, it doesn't suit you--but I never said it was for everyone.

It has nothing special. Bangkok has more things to do. The south has better beaches. Pattaya is not even that cheap. Last week locals were whingeing about a 5 baht songthaew price rise. They must not have much spare cash.

Do they have 10 baht gyms?

7 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

It has nothing special. Bangkok has more things to do. The south has better beaches. Pattaya is not even that cheap. Last week locals were whingeing about a 5 baht songthaew price rise. They must not have much spare cash.

Do they have 10 baht gyms?

I don't know--I have a home gym. The problem with highlighting certain things--'the south has better beaches', songthaew price increase--is you are narrow-focusing when it's much more important to focus widely, on far more than just one or two things. Far more important to wide-focus on how you actually spend your life, and what you want in it. If you want to go to the beach every day, a good beach is important. If you rarely or never go to the beach, not important--but one might still want an ocean view.

Wide-focusing is why Pattaya has proven so popular for so many people, who decide to live here despite it's, in my opinion, unfair reputation. It rises to the top for many people when they wide-focus, and when they actually live here full-time, and not as a tourist.

It really comes down to what place checks the most boxes on the list of things you want in the place you choose to live. And, everybody's list is going to be different. My spouse and I chose Pattaya because, while not having certain things, it had more of the things we wanted than anywhere else. Pattaya does it for us at this stage of our lives; where you chose to live likely does it for you.

3 minutes ago, newnative said:

I don't know--I have a home gym. The problem with highlighting certain things--'the south has better beaches', songthaew price increase--is you are narrow-focusing when it's much more important to focus widely, on far more than just one or two things. Far more important to wide-focus on how you actually spend your life, and what you want in it. If you want to go to the beach every day, a good beach is important. If you rarely or never go to the beach, not important--but one might still want an ocean view.

Wide-focusing is why Pattaya has proven so popular for so many people, who decide to live here despite it's, in my opinion, unfair reputation. It rises to the top for many people when they wide-focus, and when they actually live here full-time, and not as a tourist.

It really comes down to what place checks the most boxes on the list of things you want in the place you choose to live. And, everybody's list is going to be different. My spouse and I chose Pattaya because, while not having certain things, it had more of the things we wanted than anywhere else. Pattaya does it for us at this stage of our lives; where you chose to live likely does it for you.

I'm sure it has 80 to 90% of things many want. Too dirty and slimey for me. Locals in Pattaya are not my kind of people.

On 4/18/2026 at 11:20 AM, Ralf001 said:

Price has tripled in the past 20yrs.

Damn inflation.

Don't forget Soi 500 off Buakhao where everything is 500

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Don't forget Soi 500 off Buakhao where everything is 500

Ive not heard of that Soi.

Which end of buckhow ?

it's the small soi next to Soi Excite, parallel to Buakhao

3 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

it's the small soi next to Soi Excite, parallel to Buakhao

Gawd, 500 baht is too much for those old scrubbers.

Same birds were sat there 25 years ago when I arrived

10 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Gawd, 500 baht is too much for those old scrubbers.

Same birds were sat there 25 years ago when I arrived

new ones arrive most weeks, but there is a reason it's 500

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

new ones arrive most weeks, but there is a reason it's 500

I haven't been down there in ages, I'll go and check it out again.

Looking forward to seeing the new ones. 👀

6 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I haven't been down there in ages, I'll go and check it out again.

Looking forward to seeing the new ones. 👀

worth a drive by, but it is 500

13 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I haven't been down there in ages, I'll go and check it out again.

Looking forward to seeing the new ones. 👀

old or new...500 is game on.

5 hours ago, newnative said:

but one might still want an ocean view.

Only any good for those in their condos in daytime. See the ocean after sunset is not possible.

46 minutes ago, wil iam not said:

Only any good for those in their condos in daytime. See the ocean after sunset is not possible.

What we always wanted, and always got, was both an ocean and a shore view--some were better than others. This gave us nice, interesting sea and shore views both during the day and in the evening when all the lights came on. What we never wanted, and never had, was to be so high up that all we saw when we looked out was water--that wouldn't be that great, for us, day or night--although some might like that. Couple examples.

10 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

It is a downmarket Bangkok with bad beaches. Malls are located in every city. Good food in every city. Pattaya has good Muay Thai coaches. Probably the only highlight.

You can turn it around the other way and say if you go to Jomtiem you can get a good condo with a good gym and pool, much more food options than most other cities, all the other things many other cities have with a nice beach and sea to look at. OK the sea is dirty and Jomtiem may not have the charm of some small cities but the small cities aren't for staying in a long time. Pollution is ok for big chunks of the year. Some areas nice and quiet. Pattaya down the road and Bangkok not far. Not bad.

4 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

You can turn it around the other way and say if you go to Jomtiem you can get a good condo with a good gym and pool, much more food options than most other cities, all the other things many other cities have with a nice beach and sea to look at. OK the sea is dirty and Jomtiem may not have the charm of some small cities but the small cities aren't for staying in a long time. Pollution is ok for big chunks of the year. Some areas nice and quiet. Pattaya down the road and Bangkok not far. Not bad.

Jomtiem is a gay area and no charm at all. The south coast is much nicer.

Just now, Rockyroad said:

Jomtiem is a gay area and no charm at all. The south coast is much nicer.

No it's not. I think it has some charm but I worry they are building too many condos and will have too many wind tunnels like the Gold Coast.

Sure the south coast will have a nicer beaches and if you can live that sort of life for months at a time then could be good but if I want to stay somewhere say at least 2 months at a time where you can live a fairly normal life but in Thailand, without a car, I think it's not bad.

8 minutes ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

No it's not. I think it has some charm but I worry they are building too many condos and will have too many wind tunnels like the Gold Coast.

Sure the south coast will have a nicer beaches and if you can live that sort of life for months at a time then could be good but if I want to stay somewhere say at least 2 months at a time where you can live a fairly normal life but in Thailand, without a car, I think it's not bad.

Nothing about Thailand is normal. It is a playground. Women and food. I prefer to ride a bike.

5 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Jomtiem is a gay area and no charm at all. The south coast is much nicer.

Perhaps one day you'll be able to scrabble enough cash together to travel to Thailand, to see for yourself.

YouTube videos are misleading you.

4 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Nothing about Thailand is normal. It is a playground. Women and food. I prefer to ride a bike.

Thailand is normal, you are not.

3 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

Perhaps one day you'll be able to scrabble enough cash together to travel to Thailand, to see for yourself.

YouTube videos are misleading you.

I could see more of Thailand in 5 days then you ever will.

8 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Jomtiem is a gay area and no charm at all. The south coast is much nicer.

I agree

It seems to be over populated by gay people and not diverse enough in bisexual men and transexual identities along with lesbian identity

3 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

Thailand is normal, you are not.

You would not know. You have never been there. You live with your mum.

7 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I agree

It seems to be over populated by gay people and not diverse enough in bisexual men and transexual identities along with lesbian identity

IsmeUno lives there with his partner. They identify as all of the above.

4 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

IsmeUno lives there with his partner. They identify as all of the above.

So he is a lesbian transexual.....?

Don't be ridiculous!

5 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

So he is a lesbian transexual.....?

Don't be ridiculous!

He is a former man dating a trans.

17 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Last week locals were whingeing about a 5 baht songthaew price rise.

It was a 100% price rise!☹️

20 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

It was a 100% price rise!☹️

10 baht? Oh no.

44 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

10 baht? Oh no.

I can see why you like riding your bike.!