I have visited CM several times but look like moving there to try it out on a longer term basis. I can either rent a small house, share, or rent a condo. Can anyone help by letting me know if there are any really dodgy bits outside the main Muang that should be avoided.

Thanks

I don't think there is any bad place, maybe some are not so clean put the Thais are all ok thought. PM me if you need help to buy or rent a home, I own a real estate company in CM

I agree with Cmweb, there are not, in my experience, any places that could be considered dodgy. I have been here a little over a year and lived in three different areas. The best one, IMHO and for my purposes, is the area I live now, Chang Pueak (north-east of the moat). It is primarily a Thai neighbourhood with very few falang but some nice new buildings. It is friendly, not too many soi dogs, tons of good Thai restaurants/bars. Walking distance to practically everywhere etc. BTW – I have walked all over CM and have never had an ounce of problems anywhere. It's a good place to live.

Just do not move too close to Spicy.

I agree with Cmweb, there are not, in my experience, any places that could be considered dodgy. I have been here a little over a year and lived in three different areas. The best one, IMHO and for my purposes, is the area I live now, Chang Pueak (north-east of the moat). It is primarily a Thai neighbourhood with very few falang but some nice new buildings. It is friendly, not too many soi dogs, tons of good Thai restaurants/bars. Walking distance to practically everywhere etc. BTW – I have walked all over CM and have never had an ounce of problems anywhere. It's a good place to live.

Thats right "Al" it was only a few weeks back you "threaded" that the biggest problem was literally where you live....I am recalling the words condoms/lemons/gay hotel

So I think you can highlight your vicinity as dodgy mai chai?

Watch out for noisy dogs and loudspeakers.

I agree with Cmweb, there are not, in my experience, any places that could be considered dodgy. I have been here a little over a year and lived in three different areas. The best one, IMHO and for my purposes, is the area I live now, Chang Pueak (north-east of the moat). It is primarily a Thai neighbourhood with very few falang but some nice new buildings. It is friendly, not too many soi dogs, tons of good Thai restaurants/bars. Walking distance to practically everywhere etc. BTW – I have walked all over CM and have never had an ounce of problems anywhere. It's a good place to live.

Thats right "Al" it was only a few weeks back you "threaded" that the biggest problem was literally where you live....I am recalling the words condoms/lemons/gay hotel

So I think you can highlight your vicinity as dodgy mai chai?

Mai! One stretch of garbage by one (or two) irresponsible business owners does not make an area dodgy. I talked to one owner and they cleaned up their act. I did not mention anything about condoms and the gay friendly hotel is never a problem so clearly you made that bit up for some reason, don't know what your problem is today but, maybe another cuppa would help. Have a nice day.

Watch out for noisy dogs and loudspeakers.

Would they be so noisy without the loudspeakers?

Sumtitam - avoid it!

Sumtitam - avoid it!

Why pray tell?

Sumtitam - avoid it!

Why pray tell?

He's trolling again. It's one of the most vibrant and up-coming areas these days, as you probably know.

It's a gay, noisy and violent area. Dodgy Burmese prostitutes. My Thai friend was stabbed in the stomach at the self service petrol station there a few years ago for 100 bloody baht! Not my cup of tea! No thank you.

Anyway, there may be small pockets of places where I wouldn't live, like Wiang Ping road, maybe Sitthiwong Rd, but no larger area that you can readily identify.

Ok, I didn't mean to tar all of Samtitam with the same brush. But I wouldn't personally live anywhere on the main road,the firestation, the roundabout or within ear shot of any of the many noisy Karaoke places!

too close to food, Akha Ama coffee, and too many college girls in the area.

Sumtitam - avoid it!

Why pray tell?

too close to food, Akha Ama coffee, and too many college girls in the area.

Sumtitam - avoid it!

Why pray tell?

When I lived in Santitham in the early 90's it was bloody awful mak mak. I used to get woken up by inebriated bar girls and invited to their rooms on a regular basis.........a guy simply has to get his sleep. I wouldn't recommend that lifestyle to anyone.

Santitum is changing and has been for years. But it used to be a very sleazy run down place.

I believe all the students from CMR have helped turn it into an up and coming trendy area.

CMU has Nimm

Payap has JJ

CMR has Santitum

I really don't consider Santitham to be a trendy, upcoming area. I think it's rather dirty, congested and run down. There is a bit of crime there too among the Burmese population and a lot of strung out people on yabaa and whatever else. But there a lot of interesting business all throughout the area and the market is great. I just wouldn't live there.

I agree with Cmweb, there are not, in my experience, any places that could be considered dodgy. I have been here a little over a year and lived in three different areas. The best one, IMHO and for my purposes, is the area I live now, Chang Pueak (north-east of the moat). It is primarily a Thai neighbourhood with very few falang but some nice new buildings. It is friendly, not too many soi dogs, tons of good Thai restaurants/bars. Walking distance to practically everywhere etc. BTW – I have walked all over CM and have never had an ounce of problems anywhere. It's a good place to live.

Thats right "Al" it was only a few weeks back you "threaded" that the biggest problem was literally where you live....I am recalling the words condoms/lemons/gay hotel

So I think you can highlight your vicinity as dodgy mai chai?

Mai! One stretch of garbage by one (or two) irresponsible business owners does not make an area dodgy. I talked to one owner and they cleaned up their act. I did not mention anything about condoms and the gay friendly hotel is never a problem so clearly you made that bit up for some reason, don't know what your problem is today but, maybe another cuppa would help. Have a nice day.

yes I will take your advice; and apologise for an overactive and embellished memory. I hope the fact that I actually live in your vicinity doesnt make it dodgy also.

too close to food, Akha Ama coffee, and too many college girls in the area.

Sumtitam - avoid it!

Why pray tell?

When I lived in Santitham in the early 90's it was bloody awful mak mak. I used to get woken up by inebriated bar girls and invited to their rooms on a regular basis.........a guy simply has to get his sleep. I wouldn't recommend that lifestyle to anyone.

well I hope I am popular as you when I get into my 90's

Although not dodgy, I would stay away from Chiangmai Land as it is prone to lots of flooding. Believe me. I have first hand experience. After a major flood years ago and being told by Taksin there would be no more floods there, we had 2 more large floods within a month. Needless to say, me and about a quarter of the other residents moved out. So make sure you don't move to any area that gets a lot of water runoff.

Flooding is probably your major problem as Farmer Joe says. check out areas prone to it, they are the main 'dodgy areas'

Your best bet is to look for areas that appeal to you then talk to potential neighbors, or post more specific questions on TV. As noted above, though, you probably don't want to live close to Spice unless you plan to spend your nights in that dive. It's also worth noting that some areas near the river flooded last year and had some significant flooding six years ago.

Quite a bit of hate for Santitham hey? I find it quite all right here. I have some lovely neighbours and my little soi is at least quite quiet except for the chap that sometimes has his Harley out at odd hours. But I dont mind that, if anything on this street is going to be stolen it will be his bike, I am happy for him to draw any unwanted attention

Its close to nimman, KSK and CM Ram without suffering too much from congestion, and there is a decent market. The roads could definitely be a bit better though, they are quite run down even compared to the general standards of Thailand which aren't exactly stellar.

Don't stay too close to the airport unless you enjoy the sound of jets flying over your place.

Thanks for the heads up everyone - lots of good info to think about.

Love Santitham and have lived here for many years now. During that time it has changed almost beyond recognition, and still the construction goes on and on and on. It's reputation is not entirely justified, mixed with the packed student areas are several quiet back streets with some very nice houses occupied by very rich Thai's. The bad areas have been seriously curtailed and many Burmese have moved east as their old cheap lodgings have been demolished.

The influx of young people to the area has brought plenty of new business with loads of options for coffee, food, drink and plenty of entertainment venues. The whole area has a vibrant buzz without being pretentious like Nimmanheminda. It's biggest downside is the infrastructure development has not kept pace with the rapid population rise.

But, it's real Thailand, albeit a young modern version, and not the Farang friendly fantasy land to be found around parts of downtown. And best of all, you won't find any of the kind of whinging Farang who've posted about Santitham on this thread living here

Don't stay too close to the airport unless you enjoy the sound of jets flying over your place.

I live well within a kilometre of the airport and I can honestly say I rarely notice a plane at all. You seem to become completely immune to their sound very quickly - and there aren't many planes anyway...

If you choose to live on the South side of town (where the airport is) just be sure to not be directly under the flightpath; that is for sure unpleasant. If you are out to the East or West of the runway, even just by 3 or 400 metres, it really is a non-issue - and I like the South side of town very much; very hassle free. We're are also a good distance from the river - NO flooding here.

PS The planes are a hell of a lot quieter (if you notice them at all) than the tuk-tuks and kids on souped up motorbikes that used to wake me up when I lived in the old city... You can't help but notice them at 4 in the morning! Noisy bas***ds.

Can't find Santhitam on the map - can you give a few landmarks and general directions please?

Can't find Santhitam on the map - can you give a few landmarks and general directions please?

It's in Chang Puek district inside the area North West of the moat and North of Huay Kaew Road, bounded on the East by Chang Puek Road and north and West by the Superhighway.

18.801841,98.978233 is Haa Yak Santitham (the traffic circle on Santitham Road Thai's often use in directions)