Where To Move My Family Near Inter School

[Sakeopete]

My wife and I have decided a few months ago to sell our beautiful home and move near an international school. As I don't do business in Thailand I can live where ever I want.

The hard part is choosing what city to live in. We though about Chiang Mai but the pollution, flooding and earth quakes and distance from the sea has turned us off that idea.

Bangkok, not a chance in hell I will live there.

Easter seaboard has decent schools and Ban Chang is a possibility. However I am concerned about the proximity to Mataput industrial area.

I have read that air pollution isn't bad in Ban Chang because of the prevailing winds from the sea. However I worry about local produce and water as there is a lot of contaminated soil near by. Thailand isn't known for following regulations regarding food safety and I'm sure many Thai growers will sell contaminated produce in markets.

I know there is a chance every where in Thailand to buying such produce but the proximity to Mataput increases that chance significantly.

Samui is a not an option, they do have a international school but the island has too many issues.

Phuket is also not an option, same as Samui.

Pak Chong seems decent though it is far from the coast. However the environment seems relatively clean and being near Khoa Yai is a bonus. They have what seems to be a decent international school also.

Anyways if anyone has a suggestion or first hand experience please share them.

I am looking for a nice relatively clean area to raise my children that is near an international school.

** I am not bashing Thailand so for those who always reply "go back to your home country" don't bother.

Edited September 19, 2011 by Sakeopete

[aussiebebe]

Hi, I see you joined this forum in 2006, so there's an excellent chance you know more about Thailand than I do, however, I would urge you to reconsider Bangkok. You seem to be concerned with air and available food quality balanced with International Schools, I think the south of Bangkok offers such a balance. Okay, there is horrible pollution and congested roads, but the area I'm thinking of is towards the airport, Pravet going west towards Bang Na. Still Bangkok but bordering on Samut Prakan which is quite close to the ports. There are a whole range of international schools from Charter in Pravet, to Patana which is close to Samut Prakan. There are areas of congestion, but lots of other quite green areas, like the Rama 9 park with the lake for water sports. You could quite easily forget you're in Bangkok, but the air quality might be comparatively dismal if you happen to measure such things.

Buying great quality food is no problem as malls such as Paradise have a range of organic shops, as good as any you could find in Thailand.

[beano2274]

Nonthaburi near ISB.

[PattayaParent]

You don't have to buy local produce in Ban Chang, just take a trip over to Pattaya once a week and stock up on imported food and produce.

[Sakeopete]

Hi, I see you joined this forum in 2006, so there's an excellent chance you know more about Thailand than I do, however, I would urge you to reconsider Bangkok. You seem to be concerned with air and available food quality balanced with International Schools, I think the south of Bangkok offers such a balance. Okay, there is horrible pollution and congested roads, but the area I'm thinking of is towards the airport, Pravet going west towards Bang Na. Still Bangkok but bordering on Samut Prakan which is quite close to the ports. There are a whole range of international schools from Charter in Pravet, to Patana which is close to Samut Prakan. There are areas of congestion, but lots of other quite green areas, like the Rama 9 park with the lake for water sports. You could quite easily forget you're in Bangkok, but the air quality might be comparatively dismal if you happen to measure such things.

Buying great quality food is no problem as malls such as Paradise have a range of organic shops, as good as any you could find in Thailand.

Thanks for the reply, I have actually been in Thailand since 2002 but joined TV in 2006. Though Bangkok can have terrible air quality what concerns me most is travel time to school. Some kids are up @ 0500 to catch a van to school because of the horrible traffic. This may be alright for Thai people but I'm not having my children spend 3 hours/day traveling to school and back. Finding reasonably priced homes near International schools is near impossible too. Honestly I hate Bangkok it is too crowded and too dirty.

[Boo]

Have you thought about Khon Kaen, some really great schools there & property or land is reasonable. They also have a tops, boots, big c & tesco but retains the real thailand feel that I personally love.

[Sakeopete]

Have you thought about Khon Kaen, some really great schools there & property or land is reasonable. They also have a tops, boots, big c & tesco but retains the real thailand feel that I personally love.

Yes I have but my wife is dead set against it, same a the curse word "Buriram". She worries Issan women will try and steal me from her.

[venturalaw]

Have you thought about Khon Kaen, some really great schools there & property or land is reasonable. They also have a tops, boots, big c & tesco but retains the real thailand feel that I personally love.

Yes I have but my wife is dead set against it, same a the curse word "Buriram". She worries Issan women will try and steal me from her.

You're serious?

I would not rule out Chiang Mai (unless she's concerned about CM women too). There are plenty of great homes available close to international schools and the climate is cooler, cost of living significantly less than BKK, and with a small town feel. Virtually no traffic congestion - compared to BKK that is. The air quality is a problem some years (wasn't this year but for just a few days).

[phuketrichard]

Why is Phuket NOT an option? Yea Patong and Karon have problems with Tuk tuks and jet skies but living here u wont be using either, its very safe and plenty for kids to do an with an international airport an hospitals we have it covered. No smog, little traffic, Great selection of food, shopping and things to do and u cant beat the Andaman sea

There are some very good International schools here in Phuket ranging for BIS and PIA to QSI to Headstart and Kajonkietsuksa just opened a new international school that goes along with their bi-lingual school.

ALL have homes nearby with rentals from 12,000 baht/month to......... depends on what u want

BIS and PIA run about $15,000/year for secondary

Qsi is $11,000 ( the only one with a American curriculum)

Headstart $9,000

I have been here over 25 years and my daughter spent her primary years at BIS (when it was Dulwich) then 2 years in an experimental school and now at QSI for her senior year. I love living here.

Don't discount living here until u have at the least visited.

Edited September 25, 2011 by phuketrichard

[seaeagle]

Rather than asking about where to live to be near an International School, you should be asking yourself what your kids will do, and where they'll need to be, AFTER they've had a wonderful international education.

The answer to this will narrow it down to a very, very short list!

[phuketrichard]

Rather than asking about where to live to be near an International School, you should be asking yourself what your kids will do, and where they'll need to be, AFTER they've had a wonderful international education.

The answer to this will narrow it down to a very, very short list!

why would u say that? My daughter is looking at schools in the States, Sweden, Australia and Bangkok, ( most affordable English program)

[samran]

Hi, I see you joined this forum in 2006, so there's an excellent chance you know more about Thailand than I do, however, I would urge you to reconsider Bangkok. You seem to be concerned with air and available food quality balanced with International Schools, I think the south of Bangkok offers such a balance. Okay, there is horrible pollution and congested roads, but the area I'm thinking of is towards the airport, Pravet going west towards Bang Na. Still Bangkok but bordering on Samut Prakan which is quite close to the ports. There are a whole range of international schools from Charter in Pravet, to Patana which is close to Samut Prakan. There are areas of congestion, but lots of other quite green areas, like the Rama 9 park with the lake for water sports. You could quite easily forget you're in Bangkok, but the air quality might be comparatively dismal if you happen to measure such things.

Buying great quality food is no problem as malls such as Paradise have a range of organic shops, as good as any you could find in Thailand.

Thanks for the reply, I have actually been in Thailand since 2002 but joined TV in 2006. Though Bangkok can have terrible air quality what concerns me most is travel time to school. Some kids are up @ 0500 to catch a van to school because of the horrible traffic. This may be alright for Thai people but I'm not having my children spend 3 hours/day traveling to school and back. Finding reasonably priced homes near International schools is near impossible too. Honestly I hate Bangkok it is too crowded and too dirty.

I guess my powers of persuasion would be wasted on you then, but I too would give greater consideration to BKK

I hear you about the travel times though.

Some nice suburbs of BKK are Aree, back of Thonglor and Ekamai. And around mid-Sukhumvit especially between Asoke and Ekamai. All near the skytrain and commutable in under an hour, perhaps 30mins if you know what you are doing.

If you are choosing Pattana school then there are some good estates around Soi La Salle.

As for Khao Yai? Forget it. St Stephens campus there is a bit of a dumping ground of hard to control kids (in their parents eyes) according to my wife, who used to teach at the campus in BKK.

[seaeagle]

Rather than asking about where to live to be near an International School, you should be asking yourself what your kids will do, and where they'll need to be, AFTER they've had a wonderful international education.

The answer to this will narrow it down to a very, very short list!

why would u say that? My daughter is looking at schools in the States, Sweden, Australia and Bangkok, ( most affordable English program)

Exactly!

In Thailand, it would be a VERY short list. In your case, just Bangkok, but with many more options for their futures outside of this country..