I have been to Thailand but only the obvious tourist spots so I was wondering if I could find my idea of comfort elsewhere. So here goes my list.

A nice 2 bedroom house to rent for 7k or less a month

This is really important. The house must be in a lively area. Doesn't need to be in a big city but I would like to walk out of my door and feel that life is going on. I'm no saddo perv, but I love a bit of eye candy in the neighbourhood. No ageing mooban or suburbs for young families for me.

I love power walking and jogging so need pavements or a good place to run/walk near my house. Light traffic a real plus.

Hmmm this is almost two separate posts as thats one initself, but on top of that.

A city with a good chance of hanging out/working(teaching) with a few decent guys preferably near my age (40)

A town with a few bars with live music and hopefully a beer for around 100bht (640 ml)

A bowling alley and cinema would be a plus.

Near a national park/ great hiking a real bonus.

A couple of art gallerys too much to ask?

I have a total budget for my monthly living expenses of 37k to 40k so Phuket/ Bkk is probably out.

So there you go. A bit much to go through I know. And maybe a bit too anal in it's detail, but I just want a simple life in a relatively lively ish place. Really need some good friends, a few beers and a bit of activity. I have the 40k in outside income though I may teach to be a part of/contribute to a community.

Anybody got any suggestions?

I know its not meeting all your criterias, but I think Pattaya would fit you best.

Chiang mai. got all u need

Udon/Khon Kaen too, pretty much fits most places in Thailand.

Chiang mai. got all u need

Actually, I change my suggestion to Chiang Mai aswell. Dont know how I could forget Chiang Mai...

Samut Prakarn isn't bad too!

There a lot Townhouse Villages where you can find 2 Story Townhouses with 2 Bedroom, 2 Toilet, 1 big Livingroom, Kitchen and Carpark starting by app. THB 3,000 a month! And you still near to bankok and the new AirportCheers.

Hua Hin. Chiang Mai

I have been to Thailand but only the obvious tourist spots so I was wondering if I could find my idea of comfort elsewhere. So here goes my list.

A nice 2 bedroom house to rent for 7k or less a month

This is really important. The house must be in a lively area. Doesn't need to be in a big city but I would like to walk out of my door and feel that life is going on. I'm no saddo perv, but I love a bit of eye candy in the neighbourhood. No ageing mooban or suburbs for young families for me.

I love power walking and jogging so need pavements or a good place to run/walk near my house. Light traffic a real plus.

Hmmm this is almost two separate posts as thats one initself, but on top of that.

A city with a good chance of hanging out/working(teaching) with a few decent guys preferably near my age (40)

A town with a few bars with live music and hopefully a beer for around 100bht (640 ml)

A bowling alley and cinema would be a plus.

Near a national park/ great hiking a real bonus.

A couple of art gallerys too much to ask?

I have a total budget for my monthly living expenses of 37k to 40k so Phuket/ Bkk is probably out.

So there you go. A bit much to go through I know. And maybe a bit too anal in it's detail, but I just want a simple life in a relatively lively ish place. Really need some good friends, a few beers and a bit of activity. I have the 40k in outside income though I may teach to be a part of/contribute to a community.

Anybody got any suggestions?

Nakhonsawan ...near the sawan Park Area....although art gallery i haven't seen. Townhouses are pretty cheap so it will be within your budget....decent guy's? not a lot of Foreigners here...but those i've met were quite OK.

Powerwalking and joggin in sawan Park ...plenty space there and paved too ...early morning 5-6am it is actually quite busy there. National park is Mae Wong and approx 80 km out of town.Another nearby point is Bung Boraphet(8 km )...Thailand largest freshwater swamp... Bowling alley,cinema is at Big C Supercenter/V-square. Take a House at location that is perhaps near sawanviti road....or near srisawan hospital ...those are the liveliest areas. Few bars around Sawan Park and Collection Pub(pimarn hotel) has live music . Beerprice....is appr. 65 THB /singh , chang .

Not sure if there are a lot of teaching opening , but there are 3 or 4 Unis & ECC so i guess that should give you some opportunities. other than that , you'll find Tesco & Makro here, if not enough, take a Bus /Train/Car to Bkk ( by car takes about 2,5-3 hours- only 240km ) shop ,and come back the same day...

downsides? I am here too long so i can't see them anymore....

hope that helps,

rcm

Pakchong.

Pakchong.

Rubbish....

Only Khon Kaen fits the bill.

Being selfish for a moment a decade ago I felt I had the city to myself...now there are Farangs everywhere

Sorry but Pattaya is out as your budget would not allow you to do the things you want. You could find accommodation in your price range but then everything else would be too far away, unless you lived in some crap run down condo.

I reckon you'll have to head up north (or south) or compromise.

Phuket has it all except the art galleries. For local people 40k THB would be considered a very high salary.

Phuket, Bangkok,Pattaya - No

Khon Ken yes. from reading this forum it costs near nothing to live there

Phuket has it all except the art galleries. For local people 40k THB would be considered a very high salary.

But for a foreigner it is not practical really is it if you want to enjoy yourself rather than just exist ?

Phuket has it all except the art galleries. For local people 40k THB would be considered a very high salary.

But for a foreigner it is not practical really is it if you want to enjoy yourself rather than just exist ?

I guess it depends how you enjoy yourself :-)

Yes I am spending a fair bit on a nice place to live but often the simple things can be great – riding around on a scooter, eating street food, going for a walk along the beach at sunset…

can't even get a decent 1 bedroom on samui for 7k, 2 would set you back at least 20.

How about Nong Kai? Great little town by the river. Voted one of the best retirement spots a few years ago by some mag, not that that means anything. But it really is very pleasant there. Haven't been in years, so I dunno it if has all the facilities you require.

Suggest you look at the visa situation before you make too many plans.

Udon Thani will fit the bill just fine and I think a higher %age of the population is farang than any of the other mentioned places. Check www.udonmap.com for details.