My Wife is twisting my arm to move to Thailand. She suggested Mae Ramphung Beach area more or less. Is it easy for a westerner to live around there? Also noticed on some pics that Mae Ramphung Beach can really litter up badly and was wondering if this is still a problem.

Any suggestions of beach areas in Rayong where a white guy does not stick out like a sore thumb would be appreciated. I'm really open to what you have to say if you have visited or lived around there. I don't want to live around Pattaya, but Bang Chang onwards would be fine.

She suggested to go even more east to beaches around Chantaburi, but I got a feeling it may be too Thal for me around that area and I would probably feel a little too lost and foreign I think.

Just "visit" and take a look around for yourself. As most people do before they move permanently to anywhere. (A lot of people have leapt here before they looked and ended up very unhappy). No one can advise you other than your own eyes and experience.

Ban Phe is a lovely place, and still affordable. Good luck.

Ban Phe is a lovely place, and still affordable. Good luck.

And if it's a falang presence you want. loads and loads of "white guys" around Ban Phe, and the general area. Many are Swedish, although other nationalities are represented - French, American, Canadian, other Scandinavians, etc.

Have you ever been to Hat Mae Rumpheung?

The place is as dead as a dodo during the week, only gets going at weekends and public holidays, plenty of cheap rentals to be had, I wonder why.

Where would you want to live given the choice, are your choices limited by a lack of Thai skills?

Your budget will usually determine to a large extent where you live.

Is your mrs from Rayong area?

Reason for asking, most Thai women I have met are like homing pidgeons,they all seem to want to go back to their village/province.

What do you intend doing here, retiring and playing golf or looking for work?

Personally I prefer Chan area, Ban Phe not for me no thanks, would rather live in Ban Chang.

Individualism , different strokes for different folks. Ban Phe is lovely.

Ban Chang is good for foreigners, plenty decent drinking/dining options, the beaches are good, Tesco, 7/11's etc. easy access to Rayong or Pattaya whatever the mood takes you.

Thanks for all your suggestions and sorry for the late reply. Had password problems that stopped me from posting. PW seems to work now, but not sure why it would not work for weeks even when I used the forgotten password link.