Moving To Thailand - Is Pattaya The Place?

[stgrhe]

Hi everyone.

As of new year I am retired and I and my wife have decided to settle in Thailand but we do not know where for the moment. My wife is Thai and from Khon Kaen (muang) and she would prefer that we chose KK. My experience from KK is that, although this place has its merits, it is very flat and dull. I do not think I would like it there.

Some information about me. I am quite familiar with the Thai culture and their history after twenty-five years of frequent visits to the country. I have been working for a large defence contractor selling combat management systems for naval warships and Thailand was one of "my countries". However, I do not speak Thai, yet, although it is an ambition of mine to at least learn the basic to start wit. My wife is a nurse and she would have no problem to get a job should we chose Pattaya to be our home. We have two kids, a daughter 14 years old and a son 9.

We have both ruled out Krabi, my wife has ruled out Hua Hin and we are now primarily focusing on Pattaya to Rayong, and possible Phuket. I am very familiar with the area around Sattahip for the obvious reason as that is the main Royal Thai Navy base. I have hence stayed many times at the Dusit on business but those stays are not enough to tell me whether Pattaya is a good place to live in.

Anyone of you who are living in Pattaya area would be very welcomed to give me some advise on how it is to live there. I am not much into bar live but in need of a social side of life with some sort of quality.

Any advice would be most welcomed. What I specifically like to hear is:

1. How is the quality of living there given the bear bars and go go places?

2. The Pattaya area is fairly large, in which part would you recommend us to look for a house with nice surroundings and not too far from good schools and shopping, and with high safety standards? It does not need to be very near the beach but if it has some sort of public transport it is a plus. Our max budget for the house would be about 10M baht.

3. I know about Regent and St. Andrews. Are there any other good schools you can recommend?

4. I read about crimes ever so often on this forum, how safe is actually Pattaya when you exclude the bar areas? I have had a house burgled once and do not want that to happen again.

5. Any other thing you like to share with me?

Göran

[jumnien]

Try Hua Hin.

[hp8000]

Try Chiangmai

[Cuban]

1. How is the quality of living there given the bear bars and go go places?

OK quick joke on bear bars, the best place to see a bear is .....

Unless you want to live amoungst the madness within 300 meters of the Beach in Pattaya City / Jomtiem the beer bars will not affect you.

With a budget of 10 M Baht you should be looking for a place in a gated community outside the city centre, a pool is a nice to have (shared is cheaper than your own) but the prime must have is space around you. The show houses etc look great but after living somewhere for a while the thing I hear most complaints about is noise, neighbour's dog, chickens, children, motorbike repairs etc etc.

2. The Pattaya area is fairly large, in which part would you recommend us to look for a house with nice surroundings and not too far from good schools and shopping, and with high safety standards?

Safety Standards in what area? Building, Electrical Wiring, Driving, Food Handling all are subject to the MPR attitude that underscores ALL of Thai culture. Thailand does not even come close to Swedish safety standards in any area - if this is important to you and you can not accept the Thai way this place might be difficult.

...It does not need to be very near the beach but if it has some sort of public transport it is a plus.

If you do not have a car - get one. If money is not a problem employ a driver/maid couple to tend the house and grounds. Buses running to local timetables you will not find but you might find a local or two with pickups that will be availble to you for a fee - get their mobile phone numbers and you will have that problem solved. I use a Thai guy I know that lives close to a place I eat, he drives a minibus all day but I direct my friends to him when they come over for golfing trips.

3. I know about Regent and St. Andrews. Are there any other good schools you can recommend?

No Experiance sorry. I hear there are indpendent schools dotted around too.

4. I read about crimes ever so often on this forum, how safe is actually Pattaya when you exclude the bar areas? I have had a house burgled once and do not want that to happen again.

Many rich (rich compared to almost all Thais) farangs live in the area, so it is an attrative place for street robbery and house robbing. Security is important and a live sober security guard and a few dogs resolve this problem. Neighbours you know are a help, either Thai or farang.

5. Any other thing you like to share with me?

Do it.

[stgrhe]

Thanks Cuban for your comments.

Yeah, in a bear bar one could most likely enjoy a bear jamboree too in addition to a pint or two. Sorry for my misspelling - my fingers tend to slip from time to time when I use my new computer.

With question 2 I didn't the building, food or electricity but rather whether you know of an area that has a good safety record. Question 4 was meant to be a question of the overall safety against crime in Pattaya.

Rgds,

Göran

[OneMikeInBangkok]

Thanks Cuban for your comments.

Yeah, in a bear bar one could most likely enjoy a bear jamboree too in addition to a pint or two. Sorry for my misspelling - my fingers tend to slip from time to time when I use my new computer.

With question 2 I didn't the building, food or electricity but rather whether you know of an area that has a good safety record. Question 4 was meant to be a question of the overall safety against crime in Pattaya.

Rgds,

Göran

I prefer Bare Bars - but that's just me

Another area to consider is south of Jomtien

Bang Saray is going to be an exciting place as new developments go up there. If you have your own transport then this is a good compromise from "Gay" Pattaya , living by the beach but with access to schools and other amenities

[stgrhe]

Bang Saray is going to be an exciting place as new developments go up there.

Somebody elase has mentioned that to me but when looking through the real estate agents' web sites it appears to be a fairly limited number of houses available there. Do you or anyone else know of any new development there?

[CGW]

One piece of advice I would give anyone interested in buying in Pattaya is buy an existing property, that way you can see what you are going to get, the neighborhood, surroundings etc, it's a pure guessing game when you buy into a new development, as I have found out - the hard way!

There are plenty of good properties on the market, it's a matter of looking until you find Just what you want.

Good Luck.

[CGW]

One piece of advice I would give anyone interested in buying in Pattaya is buy an existing property, that way you can see what you are going to get, the neighborhood, surroundings etc, it's a pure guessing game when you buy into a new development, as I have found out - the hard way!

There are plenty of good properties on the market, it's a matter of looking until you find Just what you want.

Good Luck.

Sorry double post - TOT playing up - Again!

Edited January 9, 2008 by CGW

[Rimmer]

Bang Saray is going to be an exciting place as new developments go up there.

Somebody elase has mentioned that to me but when looking through the real estate agents' web sites it appears to be a fairly limited number of houses available there. Do you or anyone else know of any new development there?

I feel Bang Saray is just 10km too far from town to be convenient for shops and such. Have you thought of looking at Phoenix golf course In Ban Ampur which is just up the road from from Bang Saray?

I would say that Phoenix Golf Course is an ideal environment for retirement but then I am biased because I already stay there.

As a price guide line a very nice 2 bed ranch style bungalow just got sold there for 9m.

Phoenix is just 10 minutes from Lotus Pattaya and 15 minutes to Lotus Sattahip. What is not generally known is that there is a very good little hospital about one mile south of Phoenix at Wat Yaan.

Edited January 9, 2008 by Rimmer

[timekeeper]

Hi everyone.

As of new year I am retired and I and my wife have decided to settle in Thailand but we do not know where for the moment. My wife is Thai and from Khon Kaen (muang) and she would prefer that we chose KK. My experience from KK is that, although this place has its merits, it is very flat and dull. I do not think I would like it there.

Some information about me. I am quite familiar with the Thai culture and their history after twenty-five years of frequent visits to the country. I have been working for a large defence contractor selling combat management systems for naval warships and Thailand was one of "my countries". However, I do not speak Thai, yet, although it is an ambition of mine to at least learn the basic to start wit. My wife is a nurse and she would have no problem to get a job should we chose Pattaya to be our home. We have two kids, a daughter 14 years old and a son 9.

We have both ruled out Krabi, my wife has ruled out Hua Hin and we are now primarily focusing on Pattaya to Rayong, and possible Phuket. I am very familiar with the area around Sattahip for the obvious reason as that is the main Royal Thai Navy base. I have hence stayed many times at the Dusit on business but those stays are not enough to tell me whether Pattaya is a good place to live in.

Anyone of you who are living in Pattaya area would be very welcomed to give me some advise on how it is to live there. I am not much into bar live but in need of a social side of life with some sort of quality.

Any advice would be most welcomed. What I specifically like to hear is:

1. How is the quality of living there given the bear bars and go go places?

2. The Pattaya area is fairly large, in which part would you recommend us to look for a house with nice surroundings and not too far from good schools and shopping, and with high safety standards? It does not need to be very near the beach but if it has some sort of public transport it is a plus. Our max budget for the house would be about 10M baht.

3. I know about Regent and St. Andrews. Are there any other good schools you can recommend?

4. I read about crimes ever so often on this forum, how safe is actually Pattaya when you exclude the bar areas? I have had a house burgled once and do not want that to happen again.

5. Any other thing you like to share with me?

Göran

Moving To Thailand - Is Pattaya The Place?,

Pros and Cons-i think you just described most of the population!

[sattahip]

Goran,

I am certainly biased but I endorse the recommendation to consider the Ban Amphur area. I have a beachside condo and a beachfront house here and find the quiet, clean environment wonderful. Ban Amphur is a school town, no bars, naughty karaokes etc but 4 high schools and many junior schools. This is Thailand not Pattaya "farangland". No double pricing, kind treatment by the locals. Administration is also relatively efficient and "mafia" free as the town is in Sattahip County which is effectively controlled by the Royal Thai Navy.

Swedes generally seem to like the area as an exclusive Swedish development near me sold out in no time. See the web site <healthylivinginthailand.com>

Distance to Pattaya/Jopmtien is no problem for shopping or nightlife. 20 minutes tops on a 4/8 lane fully lit highway.

I am no expert but I don't think crime is a factor here- no guarantees, though I did not lock my condo door in the 6 years I lived in it!!

My beach (house and condo) is spotless with clean water. Golf courses are within minutes and there is a small local hospital down just down the road ( over-equipped because the very elderly Thai Buddhist Supreme Patriach has a residence near it).

Your questions are wide sweeping that it would be best if you have more specific enquiries about the area to PM me.

Cheers

Sattahip

[PattayaParent]

As a price guide line a very nice 2 bed ranch style bungalow just got sold there for 9m.

Phoenix is just 10 minutes from Lotus Pattaya and 15 minutes to Lotus Sattahip. What is not generally known is that there is a very good little hospital about one mile south of Phoenix at Wat Yaan.

Sounds expensive, my mate built a large 4 bedroom 2 storey house there for 10m.

Baan Amphur just down the road from Phoenix is nice too.

[PattayaParent]

Double post deleted.

Edited January 10, 2008 by PattayaParent

[Rimmer]

As a price guide line a very nice 2 bed ranch style bungalow just got sold there for 9m.

Phoenix is just 10 minutes from Lotus Pattaya and 15 minutes to Lotus Sattahip. What is not generally known is that there is a very good little hospital about one mile south of Phoenix at Wat Yaan.

Sounds expensive, my mate built a large 4 bedroom 2 storey house there for 10m.

Baan Amphur just down the road from Phoenix is nice too.

Yep believe I know the house, To build and to buy are two different things as land cost is the major cost factor when building anywhere. If you are familier with Phoenix you will know that so called A plots go for 5m plus while G plots go for 2m. The house I am refering to is central golf course with sea views an A plot in every sense. Correct me if I am wrong but the house you refer to is a G plot right?

[bobbin]

Pros and Cons-i think you just described most of the population!

Very droll!!

May I use it as a tag line?

[jrbkk64]

There are some nice houses and land plots available on the north end of the Mabprachan Lake. I am talking about a small development on top of a hill. Great views all the way to the see, close to motorway and int. schools, golf courses (Siam Country Club), 7 km from Sukhumvit. The development is gated, well maintained and the individual house owners just bought land and built their own design house. Maximum number of houses within this compound is about 10. Send me a PM if you need to know more. Land prices, depending on the view, are roughly between 14k - 18k per talang wah (1 TW = 4 sqm.) Very quiet area with great access to all facilities Pattaya has to offer for the non-sex tourist.

JR

[timekeeper]

Pros and Cons-i think you just described most of the population!

Very droll!!

May I use it as a tag line?

be my guest

[EmCross]

I also agree I think this area would be very good for you to live and the two best schools available are in Ban Chang (about 20 minutes dirve from Pheonix) REPS (Rayong English Programme School) and the Garden International school (next door to each other) at Ban Chang and also St. Andrews in nearer to this area than Pattaya, also a good school I believe (if you have the money for it).

Bang Saray is going to be an exciting place as new developments go up there.

Somebody elase has mentioned that to me but when looking through the real estate agents' web sites it appears to be a fairly limited number of houses available there. Do you or anyone else know of any new development there?

I feel Bang Saray is just 10km too far from town to be convenient for shops and such. Have you thought of looking at Phoenix golf course In Ban Ampur which is just up the road from from Bang Saray?

I would say that Phoenix Golf Course is an ideal environment for retirement but then I am biased because I already stay there.

As a price guide line a very nice 2 bed ranch style bungalow just got sold there for 9m.

Phoenix is just 10 minutes from Lotus Pattaya and 15 minutes to Lotus Sattahip. What is not generally known is that there is a very good little hospital about one mile south of Phoenix at Wat Yaan.

[michael233]

HI GORAN,

PATTAYA ISN'T THE PLACE TO BE FAR FROM IT THERE ARE ALOT FARANG AND THAI BUSINESS MEN WHO RIPP OFF FARANG-YOU MATE AND NOT FORGETTING THE GIRLS WHO WORK BARS OUT TO MAKE MONEY LOOKING TO FARANG.

THIS IS NO PLACE FOR CHILDREN WHERE THERE IS A SEX INDUSTRY,I WOULDN'T LET MY CHILDREN AROUND THEM PLACES!

RAYONG IS BETTER

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IS BEST BUT IS EXSPENSIVE.

[stevemiddie]

HI GORAN,

PATTAYA ISN'T THE PLACE TO BE FAR FROM IT THERE ARE ALOT FARANG AND THAI BUSINESS MEN WHO RIPP OFF FARANG-YOU MATE AND NOT FORGETTING THE GIRLS WHO WORK BARS OUT TO MAKE MONEY LOOKING TO FARANG.

THIS IS NO PLACE FOR CHILDREN WHERE THERE IS A SEX INDUSTRY,I WOULDN'T LET MY CHILDREN AROUND THEM PLACES!

RAYONG IS BETTER

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IS BEST BUT IS EXSPENSIVE.

They might rip you off but some foreigners can speak Thai and have no problems.

And as for ripping off tourists.............not the same in London or NY or any other major destination huh?

[britmaveric]

Rayong has quite the sex industry too. Better move mate if you are concerned about that. The truth of the matter unless you are out in the evenings in the main touristy spots - you won't even realize whats there.

[stgrhe]

HI GORAN,

PATTAYA ISN'T THE PLACE TO BE FAR FROM IT THERE ARE ALOT FARANG AND THAI BUSINESS MEN WHO RIPP OFF FARANG-YOU MATE AND NOT FORGETTING THE GIRLS WHO WORK BARS OUT TO MAKE MONEY LOOKING TO FARANG.

THIS IS NO PLACE FOR CHILDREN WHERE THERE IS A SEX INDUSTRY,I WOULDN'T LET MY CHILDREN AROUND THEM PLACES!

RAYONG IS BETTER

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IS BEST BUT IS EXSPENSIVE.

Thanks Michael and all others for your comments, they are most appreciated.

There are several reasons for why we are considering the Pattaya area is that it is relatively close to BKK and its airports and other facilities, a large variety and many houses to choose from, international schools, western style restaurants, many expats around with experiences to share, and many are English speaking. However, we probably choose something further south and Rayong is definitely something we consider.

The beer bars and the gogo places do not bother me so much since I do not intend to live near those areas. The crocked Thais and westerners are not new to me. I have seen them over the years, I am not easily conned, and I have no intention at all to socialise with these guys. As for the hookers, again, not for me thank you!

Göran

[tattoodrob]

Hi everyone.

As of new year I am retired and I and my wife have decided to settle in Thailand but we do not know where for the moment. My wife is Thai and from Khon Kaen (muang) and she would prefer that we chose KK. My experience from KK is that, although this place has its merits, it is very flat and dull. I do not think I would like it there.

Some information about me. I am quite familiar with the Thai culture and their history after twenty-five years of frequent visits to the country. I have been working for a large defence contractor selling combat management systems for naval warships and Thailand was one of "my countries". However, I do not speak Thai, yet, although it is an ambition of mine to at least learn the basic to start wit. My wife is a nurse and she would have no problem to get a job should we chose Pattaya to be our home. We have two kids, a daughter 14 years old and a son 9.

We have both ruled out Krabi, my wife has ruled out Hua Hin and we are now primarily focusing on Pattaya to Rayong, and possible Phuket. I am very familiar with the area around Sattahip for the obvious reason as that is the main Royal Thai Navy base. I have hence stayed many times at the Dusit on business but those stays are not enough to tell me whether Pattaya is a good place to live in.

Anyone of you who are living in Pattaya area would be very welcomed to give me some advise on how it is to live there. I am not much into bar live but in need of a social side of life with some sort of quality.

Any advice would be most welcomed. What I specifically like to hear is:

1. How is the quality of living there given the bear bars and go go places?

2. The Pattaya area is fairly large, in which part would you recommend us to look for a house with nice surroundings and not too far from good schools and shopping, and with high safety standards? It does not need to be very near the beach but if it has some sort of public transport it is a plus. Our max budget for the house would be about 10M baht.

3. I know about Regent and St. Andrews. Are there any other good schools you can recommend?

4. I read about crimes ever so often on this forum, how safe is actually Pattaya when you exclude the bar areas? I have had a house burgled once and do not want that to happen again.

5. Any other thing you like to share with me?

Göran

my tuppence for you goran;

1.quality of living has nothing to do with beer bars/gogo bars i think, especially if you arent living near those areas or even going to those areas and they only noticeable in nightime hours

2.east pattaya sounds good for you or maybe just outside pattaya on a very secure village ie not one where the old boy called security sleeps thru his shift.maybe pratamnak hill area or jomtien if you want to be close to beach but quieter than main town.10 mill should get you a bigger house though on east pattaya and are some nice villages around

3.no idea about schools ,sorry

4.i would say pattaya is one of the most unsafe towns in thailand even excluding the bar areas as not all the criminals live in bar areas..you could be burgled anywhere in /around pattaya but if on a real security conscious village then chances are less.if you keep to nice areas in daytime and dont wander out too late in the evenings then chances of anything bad happening are slimmer.get used to seeing the gory accidents as you will see plenty.

5.personally if i was you then phuket sounds a better place,still near main airport and must have some good schools.phuket has mod cons and expats but doesnt seem to be seedy like pattaya is.also probably a nicer enviroment for the kiddies as wont see/hear about the bad people and nicer beaches.

goodluck in wherever you choose

[PattayaParent]

Yep believe I know the house, To build and to buy are two different things as land cost is the major cost factor when building anywhere. If you are familier with Phoenix you will know that so called A plots go for 5m plus while G plots go for 2m. The house I am refering to is central golf course with sea views an A plot in every sense. Correct me if I am wrong but the house you refer to is a G plot right?

Don't know the plot lettering but I beleive it cost 2 mill and it has sea views.

[tropo]

5. Any other thing you like to share with me?

Göran

I'd recommend highrise living in the Jomtien or Naklua area with a preference to the former.

Find yourself a luxury highrise unit with a fantastic view and your set. No worry about transport because you're handy to everything and security is automatically taken care of. If you decide to move, resale should not be too difficult either.

Edited January 11, 2008 by tropo

[thaimate]

my wife my 14 year old son and i live near cholchan and the fly now outlet mall on sukhumvit north pattaya,my lad goes to assumption college in sri racha ,a fantastic school he speaks thai and english as your kids will long before you!

i wouldnt buy anything for at least a year,not untill you are sure where you want to live and if you want to buy.

your children will have no dealings with bars as wont you ,if you live in a nice area ,no need to go there,if your worried about crime get an alarm system and put a notice saying you have one ,any burgaler will go elswhere.

pattaya is a great place for your familly,just pick the right area to live ,where we are is great loads of children who go to the same sort of schools and nice middle class thais and farangs.

[sweetchariot]

Lots of people recommending East Pattaya aka The Dark Side. Just drive up Nern Plab Waan and back down soi Kao Noi or Kao To Lo (sorry about the spelling) and I think you will decide against it. There are some nice houses over there, cheaper too, but they just don't have the infrastructure in place to support the 10's of thousands who live over there. A 5km trip into Pattaya for shopping or eating could take you up to an hour.

I have friends living over there but rarely visit, I get them to come to me. For 10m I would look around the Pratamnak area, quiet and exclusive areas there, but only 10 mins into town.

[thaimate]

nern plabwan? a bloomin nightmare,thats why i said take your time looking nearly moved to a lovely estate there when we arrived 2 years ago ,then went back to see it 5pm god what traffic,and now twice as bad,personally wouldnt move to any of those sois,no matter how nice the houses are. as a footnote the lovely house we saw is still empty 2 years on

[threelegcowboy]

Pattaya has some good areas but up to you where to stay.

Rent a temporary place and investigate schools and homes.

Check the transport to and from schools etc. Check neighborhood of home at night.

Spend some time to sort this out so you will feel comfortable about where to stay permanent.

I recommend the first few days you spend at Diana RESORT/LODGE