Why Move To Hua Hin

[powderhound]

HI everyone

Ok heres the inevitable, im thinking of moving to Thailand to live post.

Firstly I am a long time expat of 25 years. I know its not all SSS and S, although occasionally thats good. My criteria for my english wife and I are these.

we are active and in our 50's so we need a country club close at hand that has tennis, golf, pool etc. which is the best local option that offers these?

We are social so, good social events, parties, bridge club/poker nights etc

we will buy a villa but want another for rental income that are priced up to 8m baht a piece, so where might that be? were are good rental locations for holiday lets or long term lets?

Has anyone got any suggestions/advice as a starting point for our search

any views or advice will be appreciated.

thanks

Powderhound

[Bazw57]

Hi I assume you understand the foreign property ownership rules in Thailand?

I don't live in Hua Hin but I have a good Farang friend who does and I think Hua Hin is an excellent choice for a retirement location.

I will leave to locals reading the forum to suggest properties or specific locations.

I hope to do something similar in a couple more years myself.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[PattayaPhom]

Black Mountain is a good place to start. Research property ownership in Thailand for Foreigners. 8Mil villa wont give you a very good return in HH. Central/beach location isalways best for rentals although this commands a higher purchase price and not necessary a better return.

[kiniyow]

Banyon Tree golf resort is a very nice community to live in...Near the city center and well guarded for safety...

[Torrens54]

Suggest you come for an extended holiday and THEN decide.

While you are here, have a good look around and you can also check out restrictions on Land Ownership for Foreigners.

Hua Hin is indeed a great spot but take some time and have a look at Chiang Mai. We LOVE it!

By the way, watch out for "shifty lawyers." Just like everywhere, there are The Good, The Bad and the Downright UGLY!

[Topcroc]

Palm Hills Golf and Sports Club have everything you want.

A few condo/town houses for sale in your range.

[beachyhead]

Thaivisa Property have a Lounge Bar in Hua Hin oppostite the Hilton, pop in there to view properties.

[jimth123]

Suggest you rent for 3 or 4 moves, than decide, for obvious reasons.

[Barney R]

100 % agree with other posters . Rent first there are many options . Hua hin is probably your best bet with good hospitals ect and Chiangmai is great also but if you have sinus or lung problems stay away because of the burning off that takes place there from November to March I know quite a few that moved for this reason .

[spidermike007]

Suggest you come for an extended holiday and THEN decide.

While you are here, have a good look around and you can also check out restrictions on Land Ownership for Foreigners.

Hua Hin is indeed a great spot but take some time and have a look at Chiang Mai. We LOVE it!

By the way, watch out for "shifty lawyers." Just like everywhere, there are The Good, The Bad and the Downright UGLY!

I would be living in Chiang Mai, if it were not for the horrific air quality. Most of the time I have visited, it is considerably worse than Los Angeles, on a bad day. Of course, the city offers a lot, the population is fairly sophisticated, the city is very, very progressive, the food is amazing, the prices are very fair, and on, and on, and on. The most attractive part of Hua Hin is the proximity to the gulf. How about the areas south of Hua Hin? Between there and Chumporn? Anyone know about nice spots? Near, or on the beach? Some ex-pats living nearby? Some services like post offices, shops, restaurants, etc? Thanks.

[ozyjon]

You will not be in Palm Spring nor will you be in Honolulu either,, you will be in Thailand, a very corrupt country full of piranhas trying to steal

your money or your shirt, or both, once you wake up from your rosy coloured world you will realize that in Thailand you will be a second or third class citizen, you have no rights only the right to spend money then leave, OH lastly what will you do if either of you get sick? Who will inherit your estate, listen to other people who have experienced life here, and left, sometimes penniless.

[HUAHIN62]

Suggest you come for an extended holiday and THEN decide.

While you are here, have a good look around and you can also check out restrictions on Land Ownership for Foreigners.

Hua Hin is indeed a great spot but take some time and have a look at Chiang Mai. We LOVE it!

By the way, watch out for "shifty lawyers." Just like everywhere, there are The Good, The Bad and the Downright UGLY!

I would be living in Chiang Mai, if it were not for the horrific air quality. Most of the time I have visited, it is considerably worse than Los Angeles, on a bad day. Of course, the city offers a lot, the population is fairly sophisticated, the city is very, very progressive, the food is amazing, the prices are very fair, and on, and on, and on. The most attractive part of Hua Hin is the proximity to the gulf. How about the areas south of Hua Hin? Between there and Chumporn? Anyone know about nice spots? Near, or on the beach? Some ex-pats living nearby? Some services like post offices, shops, restaurants, etc? Thanks.

Bangkrud (+- 2 hours south of HH) is very nice but as soon as you go south, you move away from good medical services. I would suggest you rent in HH and then travel around. ALL coastal properties are very expensive, even in a small town like Bangkrud its B 5 mil minimum per rai for beach front and you struggle to get smaller than 5 rai. Be careful in the Bangkrud area the land on the beach side of the road do have chanotes but you cannot build a permanent structure on the land. HH is great place to live in, the only negative is the lack of an proper air link. A lot of development taking place between HH and Cha Am and the Energy now opened with 6000 new condo's, fitness centre, close to beaches, Makro, Cha Am market and a 6 star hotel on the way on the property. From there you are close to Palm Hill and Springfield golf clubs. If you want a more slowed down life style stay away from living in the town centre, the traffic can be bad and its going to get worse in future, with a new mall on the way just south of Market village. Suggest that you get a place to stay outside town centre and buy a condo to rent out inside town centre. Personaly I would look at Palm Hill for your own place to stay, its higher up than the other golf estates and have a cool breeze many a day.

[davidmann]

TryThe south Of France

[umbanda]

Retired and married?...with a foreigner?

Why Thailand??????

Are you planning in dump your wife and get a young lover?

Better for you and your wife to come here and rent a place first before any long term commitment here, or in your country..

Looking for an active cultural expat life in...... Thailand???.

If you are from America....married....look in Chapala, Guadalajara, Mexico.....

If you are from the UK......married....look for Ubud, Bali, Indonesia...

Hua Hin????....Pattaya??? Phuket??? it is not Thailand....are transplanted polluted beaches of South California...plus a very hot weather!

If you like the mountains, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai may be an exception.....but again...hoping that you are in a happy marriage.

Thailand "landscape" is tooooo beautiful!

[hhfarang]

Unless you're avid golfers (with plenty of money) or like (British) Bar Quizzes, the social life you described you are looking for here will be tough to find. Social life in Hua Hin revolves around golf and bar stools. I've been here ten years and have no social life whatsoever. I got tired of sitting in bars after the first couple of years and golf became unaffordable and miserable in this heat. In the U.S. I had a very active and varied social life so stay put and enjoy the social life you have if you can.

[lucifer666]

Lived all over the world and i retired to Hua Hin ( it has everything you could possibly need in my opinion) Have tried Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chonburi, Sisaket ETC, but Hua Hin is my home, love it here

[hhfarang]

^ Yes, I agree, other than possibly Chaing Mai, in Thailand Hua Hin is the best. My point was that there are probably a hundred places better to retire in the world if you don't have a Thai wife.

[JimHuaHin]

Suggest you come for an extended holiday and THEN decide.

....

Hua Hin is indeed a great spot but take some time and have a look at Chiang Mai. We LOVE it!

Agreed.

I spent about 6 months in Thailand in the second half of 2012, visiting numerous locations which seemed good from my Internet searches during 2011 and the first half of 2012, and ended up spending about 3 months out of the 6 months in the Hua Hia area, from Petchaburi down to Pranburi.

I have been renting in Hua Hin since mid 2013, but looking around for other options. The area I live in looked wonderful 7 months, but now am next door to a new condo construction, with the associated noise from about 8.00 am until generally 10.00 pm, and at times 2-3.00 am!!! My nature views are being eroded by this construction, and another nearby new condo construction.

Thus, be very careful before you buy or enter a long-term lease.

[lovinglife]

I live at Dolphin Bay and highly recommend it, beautiful, peaceful area with fabulous restaurants at low prices. Air quality is excellent, Pranburi hospital 10 mins away and a further 25 mins to bangkok hospital in Hua Hin which is superb.

I avoid Hua Hin at weekends now as the traffic is horrendous, go in on a weekday and it is fine. Sea Pines and Majestic golf courses are 25 minutes away and there are plans for a new resort town and golf course near Pranburi.

Quite a few expat retirees in the area and many husband and wives, people regularly meet up at one of the local restaurants or at someones house.

[boatguy]

1) Any place down in that area to put a 'floating house or cottage'??

2) Are there flood-prone areas that raise big questions about feasibility to build traditional foundations and/or stilted ones?

Naturally I talking about back away from the gulf waters shoreside directly, as I recall those very nasty wind and wave conditions that are experienced a year or so ago.....I believe it was?

Just wondering if one could have a nice little 'floating capable' cottage down in that area on an inland water area, or even on a pond area inland,....that maybe someday could be moved (towed by water) to another area to the south or east

..a bit more sophisticated and secure than this, but you get the idea?
http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/117683-post16.html

...something like this, but Thai styled

http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/145964-post25.html

[maccaroni man]

Palm hills has golf, country club and plenty of space to roam freely within a safe and secure environment however the OP seems to be looking to network in a more social level is there am expat club in HH?

[hhfarang]

Palm hills has golf, country club and plenty of space to roam freely within a safe and secure environment however the OP seems to be looking to network in a more social level is there am expat club in HH?

To my knowledge the only expat clubs in Hua Hin revolve around Golfing societies. There are also pool leagues, and darts leagues, and other groups that revolve around a certain indoor or outdoor sport if you can call those expat clubs. There used to be an informal American expat club that met weekly but as far as I know that no longer exists. I have heard of a Swedish expat club but I don't have any details or know whether it is currently in operation or not.

1) Any place down in that area to put a 'floating house or cottage'??

2) Are there flood-prone areas that raise big questions about feasibility to build traditional foundations and/or stilted ones?

Naturally I talking about back away from the gulf waters shoreside directly, as I recall those very nasty wind and wave conditions that are experienced a year or so ago.....I believe it was?

I don't believe there is any inland lake or waterway in or near Hua Hin where you could do this other than maybe in Pranburi where there is a river with a couple of small marinas.

[Bazw57]

The river down around Pranburri could be suitable.

Or I think there is a lake inland and south of Hua Hua perhaps 1 to 2 hours away by car

Check google maps and you should find it

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[stgrhe]

Unless you're avid golfers (with plenty of money) or like (British) Bar Quizzes, the social life you described you are looking for here will be tough to find. Social life in Hua Hin revolves around golf and bar stools. I've been here ten years and have no social life whatsoever. I got tired of sitting in bars after the first couple of years and golf became unaffordable and miserable in this heat. In the U.S. I had a very active and varied social life so stay put and enjoy the social life you have if you can.

That very much used to be the case, however, one year ago some Thai business women formed the Hua Hin Women's Club and since then the high-end solical life has taken a turn for the better. This loosly organized club works for the integration of Thais and Westerners living in the Hua Hin area and most of the member ladies are married to Westerners. The ladies are well connected in the local society and arrange own parties as well are participate in parties arranged by others. The parties are usually takin place at any of the major hotels here.

Since my wife joined last October we have been to sex parties, the first was a gala dinner at the Hilton, then we have been twice at the Sheraton, twice at Centara Grand and once at Banyan. I attache a photo from the Hilton gala dinner.

One doesn't need to be a Thai - Western couple to join these events and they have been great fun and also given us new friends.

Also, another group once a month organizes a multi-cultural event every last Thursday of the month, usually at the Hilton and for a moderate fee of 1,000 baht that includes a fine buffet.

[Bazw57]

Unless you're avid golfers (with plenty of money) or like (British) Bar Quizzes, the social life you described you are looking for here will be tough to find. Social life in Hua Hin revolves around golf and bar stools. I've been here ten years and have no social life whatsoever. I got tired of sitting in bars after the first couple of years and golf became unaffordable and miserable in this heat. In the U.S. I had a very active and varied social life so stay put and enjoy the social life you have if you can.

That very much used to be the case, however, one year ago some Thai business women formed the Hua Hin Women's Club and since then the high-end solical life has taken a turn for the better. This loosly organized club works for the integration of Thais and Westerners living in the Hua Hin area and most of the member ladies are married to Westerners. The ladies are well connected in the local society and arrange own parties as well are participate in parties arranged by others. The parties are usually takin place at any of the major hotels here.

Since my wife joined last October we have been to sex parties, the first was a gala dinner at the Hilton, then we have been twice at the Sheraton, twice at Centara Grand and once at Banyan. I attache a photo from the Hilton gala dinner.

One doesn't need to be a Thai - Western couple to join these events and they have been great fun and also given us new friends.

Also, another group once a month organizes a multi-cultural event every last Thursday of the month, usually at the Hilton and for a moderate fee of 1,000 baht that includes a fine buffet.

While sex parties sound like great fun I assume you meant to say you have been to six (6) parties? :-)

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ChrisY1]

I built near Cha Am.....looked at Hua Hin a few years ago in the 7-8Mill range....plenty of stock available....small developments with 40 or so homes...nearly all empty.....robbers often clean them out eventually!

Hua Hin is becoming too crowded...too expensive...too many rip-off people...poor quality buildings with dodgy contractors. Parkings very difficult.

Renting a property for income is not always easy....once the place is empty, it's hard to let....The farang land agents here are often shady characters, tho' not all of course.....I've had dealings with them, as many have, some time ago.

Others have advised you to rent first for several months.....there's always plenty of rentals available...prices are negotiable...and with so many new developments under way....(one project has 7000 units!) you won't have a problem.

[beautifulthailand99]

Thaivisa Property have a Lounge Bar in Hua Hin oppostite the Hilton, pop in there to view properties.

[robert1950]

hello

We live here now for 6 years.

We are moving to 'n other place and can offer you 3 houses about 8 km west of Hua Hin center.

We also have a plot of land on Palm Hills golf course.

one of the houses is already rented out for long time.

let me know if you are interested.

[roly]

Palm hills has golf, country club and plenty of space to roam freely within a safe and secure environment however the OP seems to be looking to network in a more social level is there am expat club in HH?

Apparently there is a Swedish expat club in Hua Hin. You're not Swedish are you? (Sorry I'm too lazy to read the rest of the post)