Pratumnak Hill

[MAC10]

I have been looking into this area for a weekend getaway and on the map it looks like a very good location. After doing some basic research I found where people were complaining there was problems in the area, mostly thievery. Maybe some would care to elaborate on this that live there? I understand there is crime all over Pattaya but how could it be worse here than other areas? Is there some kind of dirt bag condos or the Thai version of a American trailer park in the area?

Is crime related to all the construction workers in the area? This has been a problem in the past as work crews tend to know the neighborhoods and if they see anything they can drag off its gone. Has there been violent crime on Pratumnak Hill? Will the crime rate ever be resolved or is it a lost cause on the hill? Are there any good condos available with active security?

[Tokay]

It's been a few years since I lived up there, but at the time the bamboo scaffolding the construction workers put on the outside of the buildings, doubled as monkey bars and ladders for thieves to climb at night and get into the neighboring building, no matter how many floorr it was tall. I saw them break into units on the 5th and 6th floor, one of them jumped OUT of a 5th floor balcony when the owner came home and saw the Thai in the room. 5 floors down, landed on concrete and RAN AWAY. I don't even know how that is possible, but he did it.

I would not stay in a place next to a construction site there for any amount of money. You are just begging for a break in.

If you stay in a building with no monkey bars, I think you will be OK.

[tropo]

There are break-ins all over Pattaya, so precautions need to be taken wherever you live.

Pratunnak Hill is one of the best locations in Pattaya. One side of the hill - Pattaya, the other side - Jomtien, down the hill - beach, up the hill - huge park...all this and very quiet.

I've lived on the hill for 3 years and love it. I've never had a break-in or any other problems. Wouldn't live anywhere else.

[PattayaParent]

Thise that don't live on Pratumnak Hill spread stories of rampant crime.

Those that do live on Pratumnak Hill don't disabuse them of this notion as it keeps the undersirables away and the area peaceful.

[Tokay]

Thise that don't live on Pratumnak Hill spread stories of rampant crime.

Those that do live on Pratumnak Hill don't disabuse them of this notion as it keeps the undersirables away and the area peaceful.

I'm sure there is some truth to that. However, I moved out of there and will admit there was a lot of crime there when I was living on the hill. 99% of it was due to construction scaffolding from the buildings next doors. As I said before, I would not get a room next to a construction project where they could use the bamboo to climb into my window. Besides that, it's a great place to live.

[melonf]

Its a great place for stories to tell back home, a couple of weeks ago we had the tragedy at Pattaya Park swimming pool, a week ago, we had the gogo owner who was dramatically arrested by the police, and this week we had the grenade attack at the condo construction.

Always something to keep gossiping about...it's great

[Guderian]

I lived there for a year, and doubt if I would move back unless they were giving away free condos. The basic problem is that it's almost entirely a residential area, so there are very few facilities like shops or bars or restaurants. That probably also explains why there is so much burglary - it is indeed very quiet, apart from the incessant yapping of soi dogs (perhaps disturbed by all the burglars? ). Oh yes, there was a recent thread on the subject of soi dogs related to Pratumnak, and there have been others before, I suggest you search for them. It's basically an overpriced wasteland that appeals to a certain type. If they are happy there, then good for them. But if you enjoy bars and drinking and a bit of nightlife (not to mention a few decent shops), it's really a waste of time and money.

[tropo]

But if you enjoy bars and drinking and a bit of nightlife (not to mention a few decent shops), it's really a waste of time and money.

Yeah, if you enjoy bars, drinking and nightlife, get an apartment in Soi 6, 7, 8 or Walking Street. That way you can get wasted and stumble home... this appeals to some types.

Like any area, there are good places and bad places to live. Look around Pratumnak Hill a bit and you'll find gems. It's by far the most civilized place to live in Pattaya/Jomtien and you can get away from the noise sought after by the above types.

[norrona]

It is the 'Beverley Hills' of Pattaya as someone oince described

[bobright]

There are break-ins all over Pattaya, so precautions need to be taken wherever you live.

Pratunnak Hill is one of the best locations in Pattaya. One side of the hill - Pattaya, the other side - Jomtien, down the hill - beach, up the hill - huge park...all this and very quiet.

I've lived on the hill for 3 years and love it. I've never had a break-in or any other problems. Wouldn't live anywhere else.

you're not trying to make a quick-sell of your property on the hill, are you? like the hype-up tone of your promo of your locale in this down -the -hill economy of thailand.......my property is not too far from yours on the same hill.....wish i can be equally optimistic....bought mine some fifteen years ago and yet to see any real increase in value due to the yoyo years of the thai foreign currency exchange rate....i'm not moving though ////love pattaya too much, you see.....

[Tokay]

Its a great place for stories to tell back home, a couple of weeks ago we had the tragedy at Pattaya Park swimming pool, a week ago, we had the gogo owner who was dramatically arrested by the police, and this week we had the grenade attack at the condo construction.

Always something to keep gossiping about...it's great

When I lived there we had a pretty large police arrest in the building next door to ours. It turned out that it was a porno production studio!

I'm not sure how I missed all of that but it may have been worth becoming a "peeping" Tom over.

Always something going on at the top of the hill.

[bobright]

There are break-ins all over Pattaya, so precautions need to be taken wherever you live.

Pratunnak Hill is one of the best locations in Pattaya. One side of the hill - Pattaya, the other side - Jomtien, down the hill - beach, up the hill - huge park...all this and very quiet.

I've lived on the hill for 3 years and love it. I've never had a break-in or any other problems. Wouldn't live anywhere else.

the royal cliff condos or nothing ...... all else around it is not too safe. observation here is based on some thrity years living off and on in pattaya......long before the cliff took deep roots in pattaya...

"scarface" is making his appearance on prathumnak hill.... look at the way they are slowly scarring the face of the beautiful hill with one condo after another with no controls of building qualities and standards and of course the low- and high budget sites squeezing at each other's 'throats'..........wait till the road extensions gets completed and watch your property slide down the hill with the monsoon rains.........and debris from the recent bombings.................... URBAN BLIGHT WILL SOON ARRIVE ON THE BEACON'S HILL OF PATTAYA????????

Edited July 28, 2009 by bobright

[bobright]

It is the 'Beverley Hills' of Pattaya as someone oince described

...IT "WAS" IS THE WORD HERE. could have been the TOWN OF MT. ROYALE TOO!

[bobright]

I lived there for a year, and doubt if I would move back unless they were giving away free condos. The basic problem is that it's almost entirely a residential area, so there are very few facilities like shops or bars or restaurants. That probably also explains why there is so much burglary - it is indeed very quiet, apart from the incessant yapping of soi dogs (perhaps disturbed by all the burglars? ). Oh yes, there was a recent thread on the subject of soi dogs related to Pratumnak, and there have been others before, I suggest you search for them. It's basically an overpriced wasteland that appeals to a certain type. If they are happy there, then good for them. But if you enjoy bars and drinking and a bit of nightlife (not to mention a few decent shops), it's really a waste of time and money.

UNLESS BY-RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE ENFORCED SOON, YOU MAY WANT TO RECONSIDER MOVING BACK.... LOOK CLOSELY AND NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM HOTEL ASIA, MINI-BARS AND SALONS ARE POPPING UP ALREADY AND THE BEACHES STILL DO NOT SMELL TOO BAD COMPARED TO BEACH ROAD. SOON YOU WILL ENJOY ALL THE FRILLS MINUS THE STENCH AND FILTH OF BEACH ROAD, NO MATTER HOW WELL THEY TRY TO DRESS UP THE BEACH ROAD STRETCH......

[bobright]

There are break-ins all over Pattaya, so precautions need to be taken wherever you live.

Pratunnak Hill is one of the best locations in Pattaya. One side of the hill - Pattaya, the other side - Jomtien, down the hill - beach, up the hill - huge park...all this and very quiet.

I've lived on the hill for 3 years and love it. I've never had a break-in or any other problems. Wouldn't live anywhere else.

ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN...you will, like the song goes, soon be losing that "lovely feeling" of the place - a place that could have been a gem for the whole eastern seaboard. aaaaggghhhhhh.......

[tropo]

There are break-ins all over Pattaya, so precautions need to be taken wherever you live.

Pratunnak Hill is one of the best locations in Pattaya. One side of the hill - Pattaya, the other side - Jomtien, down the hill - beach, up the hill - huge park...all this and very quiet.

I've lived on the hill for 3 years and love it. I've never had a break-in or any other problems. Wouldn't live anywhere else.

ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN...you will, like the song goes, soon be losing that "lovely feeling" of the place - a place that could have been a gem for the whole eastern seaboard. aaaaggghhhhhh.......

I don't know what your problem is, but the location will always be unbeatable. That's a geographic fact. Of course the place will get busier with time and I'm looking forward to more restaurants and businesses in the area...but thanks for the warning. No, I won't be moving to the dark side or far end of Jomtien.

[BiggyD]

Lived on Pratumnak Hill for over 8 years both in condos and the last 3 years in a house. Never once had a break in.... never felt threatened.... I also feel the area is improving dramatically. The roads were terrible a few years ago. Access to both Pattaya and Jomtien could not be easier and food deliveries are still piping hot when they are received!! Peace, quiet and convenience for me.

[Heng]

Love the area. Quiet, no flooding, sea air, close to everything. I'd be tempted to sell up some of my Bangkok properties and invest more here if I weren't so conservative.

Downside: (city) water pumping issues. We have 5 x 2,000 liter tanks and during holidays where the hotels are fairly full and sometimes when they cut a line somewhere because of construction (which seems to be ongoing for a couple years now), the hotels' stronger and more massive capacity hogs the supply somewhat. Sometimes we'll go through half our supply before the water is running again. Seems like they often also cut it off all day and then turn the water back on for a few hours at night like some kind of war time rationing system. Folks I know with one or two tanks, or worse with no tank supply have to go through drought like conditions dealing with it.

[PattayaParent]

But if you enjoy bars and drinking and a bit of nightlife (not to mention a few decent shops), it's really a waste of time and money.

Yeah, if you enjoy bars, drinking and nightlife, get an apartment in Soi 6, 7, 8 or Walking Street. That way you can get wasted and stumble home... this appeals to some types.

Like any area, there are good places and bad places to live. Look around Pratumnak Hill a bit and you'll find gems. It's by far the most civilized place to live in Pattaya/Jomtien and you can get away from the noise sought after by the above types.

Yes it's odd that some people can be disturbed by the noise of soi dogs that bark at ALL people that pass by but can quite happily recomend living amongs the blaring music coming from beer bars and the caterwauling of karaokes.

[NanLaew]

Love the area. Quiet, no flooding, sea air, close to everything. I'd be tempted to sell up some of my Bangkok properties and invest more here if I weren't so conservative.

Downside: (city) water pumping issues. We have 5 x 2,000 liter tanks and during holidays where the hotels are fairly full and sometimes when they cut a line somewhere because of construction (which seems to be ongoing for a couple years now), the hotels' stronger and more massive capacity hogs the supply somewhat. Sometimes we'll go through half our supply before the water is running again. Seems like they often also cut it off all day and then turn the water back on for a few hours at night like some kind of war time rationing system. Folks I know with one or two tanks, or worse with no tank supply have to go through drought like conditions dealing with it.

That's exactly the same water supply issues that I had in Naklua when the first house was built over 20 years ago. Constructed 2 water tanks made from well pipe in the backyard for the 'dry' spells. No problem nowadays of course.

Back then 'the Hill' was a total wilderness on the seaward with the Asia Pattaya Hotel and the golf course somewhere on the far end while the developments like Jomtien Nivate were slowly creeping up the landward side.

Ahhhh.... progress.

[oneforthepot]

Its a great place for stories to tell back home, a couple of weeks ago we had the tragedy at Pattaya Park swimming pool, a week ago, we had the gogo owner who was dramatically arrested by the police, and this week we had the grenade attack at the condo construction.

Always something to keep gossiping about...it's great

Mr Gossip, whats great about the death of a young lad in a pool ? IDIOT

[moo9]

Never ever again Pratumnak. Crime, break ins out of control and much worse than in other areas. Although, the location is good, but what does it help. Yes, the only safe place to stay there are the Royal Cliff Condos, although the building lack some atmosphere imho.

Alternatives: Wongamat for Condos, The East for Houses.

[Heng]

Back then 'the Hill' was a total wilderness on the seaward with the Asia Pattaya Hotel and the golf course somewhere on the far end while the developments like Jomtien Nivate were slowly creeping up the landward side.

Ahhhh.... progress.

Yeah, I recall the area, as we'd use to stay at the Royal Cliff on holidays here. Total jungle. Plenty of disagreement during that time about buying "jungle land" connected with a few dirt roads here. Now (at least our branch) we wish we had bought more.

There still are a handful of slums (and likely crime centers from which Pratumnak thieves and burglars operate) though, several owned by Bangkok families that don't have the time and/or will to develop it and at the same time aren't selling up, instead of pushing the issue on the next generation of their families. But like all slums, especially on land less than a kilometer or two in each direction from the ocean, they're only going to be there so long until someone 'Chuwits' them. Crime is a non-issue though for anyone with their own detached home or building who is willing to spend a few hundred to a few thousand $ on some good lighting and in the worse case $200-$500 a month for a security guard (and there is... so I hear, even a few decent falang operated companies if you don't want to leave it to the locals) or two to walk around your fence. These aren't professional gangs, mostly just poor people trying to survive.

Edited July 29, 2009 by Heng

[simon43]

It's basically an overpriced wasteland that appeals to a certain type

[\quote]

I've been living 'on the hill' since relocating from Phuket in April. Absolutely no problems at all, very nice area.

Just moving into a brand new 5 x 12 meter 4th floor studio with secure car-park, air-con, bathroom, kitchenette and a great sea view of the islands, only 300 meters from the park.

Hugely overpriced at 2,500 baht per month :D

Simon

[NanLaew]

That was then.

I moved from Phuket to Pattaya-Jomtien a few months ago because I started a new job and my US employer had offices in the town. I can say that the only thing that keeps me in Pattaya is my job. I know that I will probably get flamed by some members for saying this, but the town is the absolute gutter of the universe

I lived in Phuket (not Patong) for several years, and the change from a small village environment to Pattaya is obviously huge. As soon as I have saved some money from my job then I will be relocating to somewhere more 'normal' in Thailand.

Sorry - Pattaya is not my cup of tea

Simon

This is now.

I've been living 'on the hill' since relocating from Phuket in April. Absolutely no problems at all, very nice area.

Just moving into a brand new 5 x 12 meter 4th floor studio with secure car-park, air-con, bathroom, kitchenette and a great sea view of the islands, only 300 meters from the park.

Hugely overpriced at 2,500 baht per month :D

Simon

Hmmmmm... what changed your tune in the space of what.... eight days?

[johng]

I've been living 'on the hill' since relocating from Phuket in April. Absolutely no problems at all, very nice area.

Just moving into a brand new 5 x 12 meter 4th floor studio with secure car-park, air-con, bathroom, kitchenette and a great sea view of the islands, only 300 meters from the park.

Hugely overpriced at 2,500 baht per month :D

Simon

2,500 baht per month !!! surely thats a typo ????

[tropo]

That was then.

I moved from Phuket to Pattaya-Jomtien a few months ago because I started a new job and my US employer had offices in the town. I can say that the only thing that keeps me in Pattaya is my job. I know that I will probably get flamed by some members for saying this, but the town is the absolute gutter of the universe

I lived in Phuket (not Patong) for several years, and the change from a small village environment to Pattaya is obviously huge. As soon as I have saved some money from my job then I will be relocating to somewhere more 'normal' in Thailand.

Sorry - Pattaya is not my cup of tea

Simon

This is now.

I've been living 'on the hill' since relocating from Phuket in April. Absolutely no problems at all, very nice area.

Just moving into a brand new 5 x 12 meter 4th floor studio with secure car-park, air-con, bathroom, kitchenette and a great sea view of the islands, only 300 meters from the park.

Hugely overpriced at 2,500 baht per month :D

Simon

Hmmmmm... what changed your tune in the space of what.... eight days?

The 2,500 baht per month rent.

[simon43]

NanLaew - nothing has changed my tune at all. Given the choice, I would not live or work in Pattaya-Jomtien at all. But my employer is here and so I have to make the best of it. At 2,500 baht a month for a seaview studio, I think that's pretty good.

Have you nothing better to do that research old posts?

Simon

[ace]

NanLaew - nothing has changed my tune at all. Given the choice, I would not live or work in Pattaya-Jomtien at all. But my employer is here and so I have to make the best of it. At 2,500 baht a month for a seaview studio, I think that's pretty good.

Have you nothing better to do that research old posts?

Simon

2500 - <deleted>?

Explain yourself - I have paid Thai prices before for a room but you dont get no sea-view.

[simon43]

Ace, I'll take a photo and post it...

Simon