Pattaya, Why Are You Still Here ?

[Johnsen]

Because I can't get any pants action in my own country..

[Banzai99]

Because I can't get any pants action in my own country..

Prostitutes in your own country won't go with you ?

[BlackPuddingBertha]

With the Village Chippy shutting down on 3rd road,not much to stay for really

Never been. When is it closing? Perhaps I should try it before it happens?

Is it any better than the 100B F&C at the Golden/Jolly Friar in Jomtien?

[pinfold]

Yes, the Russians will probably kill this place stone dead if they dont all up and leave overnight for some reason before it's too late.

I also think about Spain and the Canaries and (more often) Portugal, but the tax hit would be just too huge at the moment. Maybe if/when I have regular medical bills to take care of, unless I'm lucky enough to die first.

With the Village Chippy shutting down on 3rd road,not much to stay for really

Never been. When is it closing? Perhaps I should try it before it happens?

Is it any better than the 100B F&C at the Golden/Jolly Friar in Jomtien?

Upped and gone.

Those villas in Spain are true bargains now,cannot believe prices there,rents dirt cheap too

[Awohalitsiktoli]

Anybody can offer any alternative countries/cities to retire? Certainly there must be some that can match up with Thailand/Pattaya?! Interested in feedback from people who know the world....PF.

Head up north if you want to stay in Thailand. It is lovely up there in some of the mountain cities.

Medellin, Colombia would be another place to look into if you want to leave Thailand. There is a large ex-pat community there.

Anybody can offer any alternative countries/cities to retire? Certainly there must be some that can match up with Thailand/Pattaya?! Interested in feedback from people who know the world....PF.

Head up north if you want to stay in Thailand. It is lovely up there in some of the mountain cities.

Medellin, Colombia would be another place to look into if you want to leave Thailand. There is a large ex-pat community there.

I know people who work there. They say Colombia is not what it used to be, that is, very unsafe. Apparently, there are places that everyone knows to avoid (common sense). Avoid those places and it is fine. Colombia is on my short list, along with Panama. And if Sihanoukville ever gets its act together, it might be a good alternative to what is amounting to a "sinking ship."

[BlackPuddingBertha]

Never been. When is it closing? Perhaps I should try it before it happens?

Is it any better than the 100B F&C at the Golden/Jolly Friar in Jomtien?

Upped and gone.

Oh well, one less thing to worry about.

Those villas in Spain are true bargains now,cannot believe prices there,rents dirt cheap too.

I'm inclined too think of the prices in Spain as having (finally) got back to where they should be, having been at an absurdly over-inflated level for many years.

I expect exactly the same to happen here at some point.

[SparklingCascades]

With the Village Chippy shutting down on 3rd road,not much to stay for really

Never been. When is it closing? Perhaps I should try it before it happens?

Is it any better than the 100B F&C at the Golden/Jolly Friar in Jomtien?

Sad to see farang nickel & dime, even over a meal. Never was the case few yrs back when I was at school. Noticed a change in farang-type.

[Potosi]

I agree with the OP's post completely, but the plus's are good climate, lower prices than UK, Buddhist culture, wonderful food, easier/slower pace of life, no dress code, great night-life, to name but a few.

All the OP's comments are a downside to Pattaya, which I agree with, but overall we as ex-pats can have a much better lifestyle, which is why we are here. We all winge about this and winge about that, coz we compare what we choose to compare from our native countries. I look at the bigger picture to keep my sanity.

Where-else in the world could be a better place to live ??

Have you considered to work for Foxnews?

[BlackPuddingBertha]

Is it any better than the 100B F&C at the Golden/Jolly Friar in Jomtien?

Sad to see farang nickel & dime, even over a meal. Never was the case few yrs back when I was at school. Noticed a change in farang-type.

There's worse; some have just become small-minded, condescending and malevolent.

And it seems to have escaped your attention that I was asking about whether it was better, not whether it was cheaper.

[yoslim]

With the Village Chippy shutting down on 3rd road,not much to stay for really

Never been. When is it closing? Perhaps I should try it before it happens?

Is it any better than the 100B F&C at the Golden/Jolly Friar in Jomtien?

Sad to see farang nickel & dime, even over a meal. Never was the case few yrs back when I was at school. Noticed a change in farang-type.

Prices are also way different from a few years ago... everything used to be so cheap, now the bill quickly ads up if you're not careful on your choice of establishment

We are not all born with a silver spoon and have unlimited purchasing power, and in those times where there is no real safe haven for savings I rather stay on the cheap side than overspend and end up sleeping on beach road...

[pinfold]

With the Village Chippy shutting down on 3rd road,not much to stay for really

Never been. When is it closing? Perhaps I should try it before it happens?

Is it any better than the 100B F&C at the Golden/Jolly Friar in Jomtien?

Sad to see farang nickel & dime, even over a meal. Never was the case few yrs back when I was at school. Noticed a change in farang-type.

Prices are also way different from a few years ago... everything used to be so cheap, now the bill quickly ads up if you're not careful on your choice of establishment

We are not all born with a silver spoon and have unlimited purchasing power, and in those times where there is no real safe haven for savings I rather stay on the cheap side than overspend and end up sleeping on beach road...

Wasn't the meal,or the price ,just one of my favourite places,just like the lawn bowling now kaput.Not much left here anymore either Just been to new Index store BangNa,twice the price of same stuff back 'ome,now if there is one store that will fail in Thailand that will be it,just a massive gamble that will crumble, a shame,so many reminders of 'ome too.

Feel sorry for the girlfriend,approaching 50,looks after me like mom did,Ill miss the care and attention,but she ain't coming to Spain with me,but am taking the soi dog back though,just want that final push ,be it visa,worsening exchange rates,medical whatever,to justify my leaving Look forward at going,but leave a sorry woman

[guzzi850m2]

Wasn't the meal,or the price ,just one of my favourite places,just like the lawn bowling now kaput.Not much left here anymore either Just been to new Index store BangNa,twice the price of same stuff back 'ome,now if there is one store that will fail in Thailand that will be it,just a massive gamble that will crumble, a shame,so many reminders of 'ome too.

Feel sorry for the girlfriend,approaching 50,looks after me like mom did,Ill miss the care and attention,but she ain't coming to Spain with me,but am taking the soi dog back though,just want that final push ,be it visa,worsening exchange rates,medical whatever,to justify my leaving Look forward at going,but leave a sorry woman

So you bring the dog and not your GF? Do you think she fell sorry? You dump her for a soi dog.

Enjoy Spain with your soi dog, I think you will fell bad about yourself when you look at your(selfish)self in the mirror.

[richard_smith237]

I personally think Pattaya is the armpit of Thailand for the simple reason of a few ruining it for the many - Thats why I couldn't live there.

Pattaya appears to attract increasing amounts of the dregs of society (Western and Thai) ruining it for the many decent folk who choose to live there.

It is a real shame as Pattaya could be so much more.

Poor planning, money hungry development and corruption have and are destroying what could be a much better city.

As a Westerner its very difficult to be somewhere like Pattaya (and Phuket and Samui for that matter) and be treated ordinarily.

I don’t expect to go anywhere and receive special treatment, but I don’t expect the negative treatment often displayed in these area’s. I feel as though we (as foreigners) are all tarred with the same tourist brush of subhuman indifference.

While it’s not for some, I find Bangkok cosmopolitan enough that it’s easier to simply blend into a part of a normally functioning society where the treatment of expats is fairly equal to the treatment of Thais; nothing special and overwhelming, but nothing impolite, rude or indifferent either.

I walk / drive around Bangkok and receive normal treatment. Nothing special, nothing terrible, just exactly as I would expect to be treated in my home country.

This ‘normal’ treatment is not afforded to us in some tourist area’s where money hungry Thai’s struggle for position to secure the Tourist Baht.

Accompanying this struggle is often a level of displayed contempt. When this is combined with impolite and debaucherous tourists the level of anonymity between Thai’s and Tourists increases to such a degree displayed in certain areas of Pattaya.

That’s not to say all of Pattaya is like this. There is much more to Pattaya than the overwhelmingly objectionable ‘dodgy’ parts – But, this appears to be spreading along with the apparent crime levels.

Of course, Bangkok is no gem, but IMO it more similar to other Capital cities with its better and worse areas and as a foreigner I feel I more normal in Bangkok than I could in Pattaya (or Phuket or Samui)…

I don’t wish to knock those who have chosen Pattaya (or other places mentioned), but I do find that it would be difficult to live there and live what for me is a normal life, integrating with society, having large numbers of Thai and Western friends whom I’m socialise with and who’s company I enjoy.

This is just and opinion… and like all Opinions, they are like <deleted> – everyone else’s stinks.

[SparklingCascades]

Is it any better than the 100B F&C at the Golden/Jolly Friar in Jomtien?

Sad to see farang nickel & dime, even over a meal. Never was the case few yrs back when I was at school. Noticed a change in farang-type.

There's worse; some have just become small-minded, condescending and malevolent.

And it seems to have escaped your attention that I was asking about whether it was better, not whether it was cheaper.

Your correct, how cud we miss it, you were only comparing with "the 100B F&C"! Farang-quality has changed from the Thailand I knew just five yrs back. Edited February 10, 2013 by SparklingCascades

[guzzi850m2]

I personally think Pattaya is the armpit of Thailand for the simple reason of a few ruining it for the many - Thats why I couldn't live there.

Pattaya appears to attract increasing amounts of the dregs of society (Western and Thai) ruining it for the many decent folk who choose to live there.

It is a real shame as Pattaya could be so much more.

Poor planning, money hungry development and corruption have and are destroying what could be a much better city.

As a Westerner its very difficult to be somewhere like Pattaya (and Phuket and Samui for that matter) and be treated ordinarily.

I don’t expect to go anywhere and receive special treatment, but I don’t expect the negative treatment often displayed in these area’s. I feel as though we (as foreigners) are all tarred with the same tourist brush of subhuman indifference.

While it’s not for some, I find Bangkok cosmopolitan enough that it’s easier to simply blend into a part of a normally functioning society where the treatment of expats is fairly equal to the treatment of Thais; nothing special and overwhelming, but nothing impolite, rude or indifferent either.

I walk / drive around Bangkok and receive normal treatment. Nothing special, nothing terrible, just exactly as I would expect to be treated in my home country.

This ‘normal’ treatment is not afforded to us in some tourist area’s where money hungry Thai’s struggle for position to secure the Tourist Baht.

Accompanying this struggle is often a level of displayed contempt. When this is combined with impolite and debaucherous tourists the level of anonymity between Thai’s and Tourists increases to such a degree displayed in certain areas of Pattaya.

That’s not to say all of Pattaya is like this. There is much more to Pattaya than the overwhelmingly objectionable ‘dodgy’ parts – But, this appears to be spreading along with the apparent crime levels.

Of course, Bangkok is no gem, but IMO it more similar to other Capital cities with its better and worse areas and as a foreigner I feel I more normal in Bangkok than I could in Pattaya (or Phuket or Samui)…

I don’t wish to knock those who have chosen Pattaya (or other places mentioned), but I do find that it would be difficult to live there and live what for me is a normal life, integrating with society, having large numbers of Thai and Western friends whom I’m socialise with and who’s company I enjoy.

This is just and opinion… and like all Opinions, they are like <deleted> – everyone else’s stinks.

It's a good & fair post but I don't entirely agree. As a family man here in Pattaya I fell that I get treated as a part of society (sometimes) especially when I am out with my wife & kid. When I am alone, I am just another tourist. As late as yesterday I got stopped on my motorbike on Beach Road but when I showed them my Thai driver licence I was sent on my way.

Living in a quiet Moo Baan just outside Pattaya is like living in one in BKK I guess, everybody says hello to each other and the kids can play on the roads very safely.

I been living in BKK myself and I don't miss it, goes there a couple of times pr year for shopping and taking in the sights but after 3-5 days I want to go home again.

I really like Chang Mai but the yearly burning keeps us from moving up there (can't just move away during that period with a boy in school).

[BlackPuddingBertha]

I personally think Pattaya is the armpit of Thailand for the simple reason of a few ruining it for the many - Thats why I couldn't live there.

Pattaya appears to attract increasing amounts of the dregs of society (Western and Thai) ruining it for the many decent folk who choose to live there.

It is a real shame as Pattaya could be so much more. ...................

There is much more to Pattaya than the overwhelmingly objectionable ‘dodgy’ parts – But, this appears to be spreading along with the apparent crime levels.

Actually the dregs and the perverts were here decades before the first "decent" family folk arrived, and it is these johnny-come-lately decent family folk who are ruining the place with their banality and shopping, and also attracting all the crime which hardly existed 20 or 30 years ago. The more middle-class mass-market family tourists there are the worse the general attitude of Thais to them becomes, and it doesn't surprise me at all.

[SparklingCascades]

I personally think Pattaya is the armpit of Thailand for the simple reason of a few ruining it for the many - Thats why I couldn't live there.

Pattaya appears to attract increasing amounts of the dregs of society (Western and Thai) ruining it for the many decent folk who choose to live there.

It is a real shame as Pattaya could be so much more. ...................

There is much more to Pattaya than the overwhelmingly objectionable ‘dodgy’ parts – But, this appears to be spreading along with the apparent crime levels.

Actually the dregs and the perverts were here decades before the first "decent" family folk arrived, and it is these johnny-come-lately decent family folk who are ruining the place with their banality and shopping, and also attracting all the crime which hardly existed 20 or 30 years ago. The more middle-class mass-market family tourists there are the worse the general attitude of Thais to them becomes, and it doesn't surprise me at all.

Speaking for myself - I like banal if it rakes in more money, love shoppers who point & pay, love middle class mass market looking for more than a cheap retirement or tight budget holiday. The changes in Bkok, HuaHin, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang.........are not all good but change is bringing in more dollars to Thai family-owned businesses; than the old business model of bar, brothel, beach & tight budget. Edited February 10, 2013 by SparklingCascades

[pinfold]

Does not feel much like Fun City with all the suicides. another one,young farang topped himself today(Soi Excyte.)

[yoslim]

Does not feel much like Fun City with all the suicides. another one,young farang topped himself today(Soi Excyte.)

sadly some guys realize to late that the girls only care for one thing, that is money.. there is no thai-falang love to be found in pattaya, RIP

[mogo51]

I had read through all the comments here, having spent a great deal of time in Thailand, Pattaya mainly but also some country time, I say it is 50% cheaper to live in Pattaya than Australia. Australia is now officially the most expensive country in the world to reside.

I have many of the concerns expressed in these posts, but believe if you stay out of questionable areas and situations, they will not worry you.

I have given a lot of consideration to philippines, but infra structure there leaves much to be desired. I did not feel less safe there than Pattaya.

The plus side there is the amount of English spoken compared to Thailand.

Country Thailand is just so boring, could not stand it, I like to be able to catch up with other expats and discuss matters of common interest and meet people from other countries to discuss the things that make the world different. The Russian thing is very much an increasing problem in my view.

[OnMyWay2]

The nightlife can't be beat as far as I know, but I'm open to other suggestions.

[PoodMaiDai]

Head up north if you want to stay in Thailand. It is lovely up there in some of the mountain cities.

Medellin, Colombia would be another place to look into if you want to leave Thailand. There is a large ex-pat community there.

I know people who work there. They say Colombia is not what it used to be, that is, very unsafe. Apparently, there are places that everyone knows to avoid (common sense). Avoid those places and it is fine. Colombia is on my short list, along with Panama. And if Sihanoukville ever gets its act together, it might be a good alternative to what is amounting to a "sinking ship."

I used to spend a few months a year there, and without question is has places where you simply do not go. Unlike Thailand where if you wonder into the wrong area you are ok, there you will get robbed or possibly killed during the robbery. But once you know where not to go, it's all good. I'm considering a full time move there myself.

Panama is a good option too. If you have the money you can get citizenship there.

The Russians, Chinese, and Koreans are buying up Cambodia. No telling what the future holds there. A slight promise there but I'm not holding my breath. By the way, I've heard Cambodia is going to start offering paid citizenship in the near future. But I do agree Thailand is a sinking ship. It is moving backwards and unraveling at the seems, simply refusing to change anything to better itself or to help the people. It's where I am now but I'm also looking into relocation in the future, as the future looks very dark for Thailand. If I'm lucky I have 45 - 50 more years in me and I'd rather not spend them in a quagmire of a country where I have to check in with someone every 90 days as if I'm on parole and jump through changing hoops to do it.

[jbrain]

If I'm lucky I have 45 - 50 more years in me and I'd rather not spend them in a quagmire of a country where I have to check in with someone every 90 days as if I'm on parole and jump through changing hoops to do it.

I guess Europe is the place to be for you then, or do you know some places in Asia that give you unlimited visa's without any obligations ?

[Awohalitsiktoli]

To JBrain: The way you phrased the question is a bit restrictive In the real world, both Cambodia and the Philippines are far easier to stay long term than Thailand. Yes, there are "obligations," but the obligations are easily met, especially Cambodia, which really has no serious obligations to be met.

To PoodMaiDi: There are a growing number of expats--especially those who have been here a long time--that totally agree with you. I think the word has gotten out about Panama and Colombia.

To me, Thailand--Pattaya-Jomtien in particular-- used to be very good, at least in the 80s and 90s. It was so nice back then. Things started going downhill around 2004. It is the downside of "growth" that most people still fail to recognize. We are caught in a "all growth is good, more growth is always better" trap. It is like we have turned into cancer cells who shout "all growth is good, more growth is always better." Of course, we are paying for it and so too will future generations.

[pattayadingo]

GIRLS,GIRLS,and GIRLS

pattaya-4.jpg

That is an altar or several to worship at.......

On your knees, boy!!

[meatballs]

I personally think Pattaya is the armpit of Thailand for the simple reason of a few ruining it for the many - Thats why I couldn't live there.

Pattaya appears to attract increasing amounts of the dregs of society (Western and Thai) ruining it for the many decent folk who choose to live there.

It is a real shame as Pattaya could be so much more.

Poor planning, money hungry development and corruption have and are destroying what could be a much better city.

As a Westerner its very difficult to be somewhere like Pattaya (and Phuket and Samui for that matter) and be treated ordinarily.

I don’t expect to go anywhere and receive special treatment, but I don’t expect the negative treatment often displayed in these area’s. I feel as though we (as foreigners) are all tarred with the same tourist brush of subhuman indifference.

While it’s not for some, I find Bangkok cosmopolitan enough that it’s easier to simply blend into a part of a normally functioning society where the treatment of expats is fairly equal to the treatment of Thais; nothing special and overwhelming, but nothing impolite, rude or indifferent either.

I walk / drive around Bangkok and receive normal treatment. Nothing special, nothing terrible, just exactly as I would expect to be treated in my home country.

This ‘normal’ treatment is not afforded to us in some tourist area’s where money hungry Thai’s struggle for position to secure the Tourist Baht.

Accompanying this struggle is often a level of displayed contempt. When this is combined with impolite and debaucherous tourists the level of anonymity between Thai’s and Tourists increases to such a degree displayed in certain areas of Pattaya.

That’s not to say all of Pattaya is like this. There is much more to Pattaya than the overwhelmingly objectionable ‘dodgy’ parts – But, this appears to be spreading along with the apparent crime levels.

Of course, Bangkok is no gem, but IMO it more similar to other Capital cities with its better and worse areas and as a foreigner I feel I more normal in Bangkok than I could in Pattaya (or Phuket or Samui)…

I don’t wish to knock those who have chosen Pattaya (or other places mentioned), but I do find that it would be difficult to live there and live what for me is a normal life, integrating with society, having large numbers of Thai and Western friends whom I’m socialise with and who’s company I enjoy.

This is just and opinion… and like all Opinions, they are like <deleted> – everyone else’s stinks.

I personally think Pattaya is the armpit of Thailand for the simple reason of a few ruining it for the many - Thats why I couldn't live there.

Pattaya appears to attract increasing amounts of the dregs of society (Western and Thai) ruining it for the many decent folk who choose to live there.

It is a real shame as Pattaya could be so much more.

Poor planning, money hungry development and corruption have and are destroying what could be a much better city.

As a Westerner its very difficult to be somewhere like Pattaya (and Phuket and Samui for that matter) and be treated ordinarily.

I don’t expect to go anywhere and receive special treatment, but I don’t expect the negative treatment often displayed in these area’s. I feel as though we (as foreigners) are all tarred with the same tourist brush of subhuman indifference.

While it’s not for some, I find Bangkok cosmopolitan enough that it’s easier to simply blend into a part of a normally functioning society where the treatment of expats is fairly equal to the treatment of Thais; nothing special and overwhelming, but nothing impolite, rude or indifferent either.

I walk / drive around Bangkok and receive normal treatment. Nothing special, nothing terrible, just exactly as I would expect to be treated in my home country.

This ‘normal’ treatment is not afforded to us in some tourist area’s where money hungry Thai’s struggle for position to secure the Tourist Baht.

Accompanying this struggle is often a level of displayed contempt. When this is combined with impolite and debaucherous tourists the level of anonymity between Thai’s and Tourists increases to such a degree displayed in certain areas of Pattaya.

That’s not to say all of Pattaya is like this. There is much more to Pattaya than the overwhelmingly objectionable ‘dodgy’ parts – But, this appears to be spreading along with the apparent crime levels.

Of course, Bangkok is no gem, but IMO it more similar to other Capital cities with its better and worse areas and as a foreigner I feel I more normal in Bangkok than I could in Pattaya (or Phuket or Samui)…

I don’t wish to knock those who have chosen Pattaya (or other places mentioned), but I do find that it would be difficult to live there and live what for me is a normal life, integrating with society, having large numbers of Thai and Western friends whom I’m socialise with and who’s company I enjoy.

This is just and opinion… and like all Opinions, they are like <deleted> – everyone else’s stinks.

Haven't had any problems here whatsoever. I've lived as an expat here for many years. Thais here in Pattaya have been very kind to me and rarely display such greedy attitudes as you suggested. Although I do agree it's gone downhill in the last few years. Takes a special person to live here full time. It's not for everyone.

[the jude man]

Boozeses.