wicketkeeper Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 I live in Chiang Mai and like the town. If it was on the coast it would be perfect, but it wouldn't be Chiang Mai. Where's the best place to live on the coast - town, village or island - for a 60+ retired, single Brit who likes bars, mountain bikes and used bookshops, not necessarily in that order. Not Pattaya, not Phuket, not Hua Hin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seajae Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 trang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Smith Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Chumphon or Nakhon Si Thammarat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post CharlieH Posted February 24, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2014 "One mans food is another mans poison", as they say, best you go look and wander and experience for yourself, the further you get away from the touristy hotspots the more likely you are to find your own Utopia. I have heard that the coastlines below Hua Hin are well worth exploring, Cha Am and region is becoming increasingly popular by all accounts. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slipperylobster Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 On the shore Line. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HalcyonDays Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 60+ retired, single Brit who likes bars, mountain bikes and used bookshops Do you mean normal bars or slut bars? If the former, try Songkhla; if the latter; try Samui. I believe there are used bookstores in Had Yai & NST. Some people prefer the Andaman to the Gulf Coast. The water is often clearer. Some places in the south are quite isolated and you can go a long time without seeing another farang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hedghog Posted February 24, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2014 As your a Brit. Scarborough, or Bridlington. Don't forget the knotted hankey. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeLoveKohChang Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Hey why not take a look at Trat province and nearby chilled out islands of Koh Chang. Great mountain biking region, close to the Mu Koh Chang National Marine Park. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rgs2001uk Posted February 24, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2014 Chanthaburi. Get there quick before its spoiled and turned into another shithole. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wym Posted February 24, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted February 24, 2014 "One mans food is another mans poison", as they say, best you go look and wander and experience for yourself, the further you get away from the touristy hotspots the more likely you are to find your own Utopia. I have heard that the coastlines below Hua Hin are well worth exploring, Cha Am and region is becoming increasingly popular by all accounts. This. Just pack light and head out, spend a few months in places you l.ike but don't settled down until you feel you've tried all the likely candidates. If you're on a low budget ask a mate to store your stuff so you don't pay double rent, and sacrifice short-term (spend less on unnecessary entertainments) for greater long-term happiness. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bermondburi Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 got a soft spot for Ranong, not Rayong, no typo. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdrunkandstupid Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 +1 Ranong 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umbanda Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I am retired on a very small budget. In 2012 I was living in Chiang Mai, renting a small and nice furnished small one bed house out the town for 3500THB/month....I took one month vacation in Cha Am renting there a studio/condo/hotel by the main beach for 6000THB for the month. I loved Cha Am and started thinking about moving there. I found a 3 bedrooms 2 stories furnished townhouse 1/2 block from the main beach leasing for just 5000THB/month. ....on a nice street too. Visiting Hua Hin, just 20 minutes away, I do not like it at all..and a similar property was renting for 3 times more....I took too long in make a decision, and the townhouse was rented in few days..if not...Still in my mind...Cha Am is a wonderful coast town, close to everything, very convenient, not so much tourist or expat movement, with a very nice weather....and principally.....low cost of living. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umbanda Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I am retired on a very small budget. In 2012 I was living in Chiang Mai, renting a small and nice furnished small one bed house out the town for 3500THB/month....I took one month vacation in Cha Am renting there a studio/condo/hotel by the main beach for 6000THB for the month. I loved Cha Am and started thinking about moving there. I found a 3 bedrooms 2 stories furnished townhouse 1/2 block from the main beach leasing for just 5000THB/month. ....on a nice street too. Visiting Hua Hin, just 20 minutes away, I do not like it at all..and a similar smaller property was renting for 4 times more....I took too long in make a decision, and the townhouse was rented in few days..if not...Still in my mind...Cha Am is a wonderful coast town, close to everything, very convenient, not so much tourist or expat movement, with a very nice weather....and principally.....low cost of living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdecas Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Somewhere with a sea view is always nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Khun Loong Posted February 25, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2014 Australia, the beaches are clean and no R*****ns swimming in their underpants. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazygreg44 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 in the south, it's Krabi and a little beyond in both direction south and north, and there are bars. ... Ranong area and Ko Payam Island is very nice and there are very few tourists, so don't expect any bars except the local karaoke, many unspoiled places. North of Trang/ Pak Bara it's mountaineous land, the beach changes from mangroves to sandy beaches and back every few miles . . . some nice spots can be found, but as it's away from the main tourist sites, no bars, only the local tikki tukka. In the East, it's Koh Chang and the mainland along the coast west and east of Chantaburi . Backing Chantaburi there are beautiful mountains, and on Ko Chang you will find a biking paradise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoZth Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Have a couple of nights in Bang Saen and see what you think to it.. I've been here since 2010, it does me.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertthebruce Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 As your a Brit. Scarborough, or Bridlington. Don't forget the knotted hankey. Also ''Blackpool'' or ''Brighton''... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackflash Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 > Australia, the beaches are clean and no R*****ns swimming in their underpants. Just wait, now that the Mad Monk is in charge it won't take long... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 If they put two dozers and a chain across koh samet and cleaned it up and start again I would try there. Sent from my TR736 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve73 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Some of the beaches in Rayong are good, with a few farang expats around here, and many more long term visitors during the cool season. Plenty of places to rent to suit all tastes & budgets. Ban Phe has a great used bookshop with over 12,000 used books, and they rent mountain bikes as well. There are some pretty active local bike clubs who regularly get off into the hills. Not much choice of bars (or "bars") though, but reasonably good seafood and western places to eat, although Ban Chang on the western side of Rayong does have a bit more "night-life". You should visit for a week or so, rent a bike and explore the local area - see what you think... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappap Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Khanom or Sichon area, although the Gulf waters aren't as inviting, as the Andaman, (not sure about that now after just reading about Phuket!) Just in between Surat and NSThamerat, both about an hour away, lovely people. National Parks in mountains close by, I presume be good for biking, not many farangs but slowly growing, not too quick I hope!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wicketkeeper Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Thanks to all for very helpful and stimulating responses so far. It's great to get the benefit of local knowledge. I'm planning a safari in March by car to the Malaysian border covering Andaman and Gulf coasts to check out your suggestions. Trat and Ko Chang will have to wait a while. This may take a few weeks but what the hell, I'm in no particular hurry. Any further thoughts are always welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbeam1 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Have a couple of nights in Bang Saen and see what you think to it.. I've been here since 2010, it does me.. We are moving there next week. jb1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbeam1 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 As your a Brit. Scarborough, or Bridlington. Don't forget the knotted hankey. Also ''Blackpool'' or ''Brighton''... Not forgetting Sunny Hunny of course. jb1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve187 Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 anywhere along the coast from ban chang to koh chang would be good in my opinion. all areas slightly different but not too far from 'civilisation', ( no offence meant to the country dwellers) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunPer Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Try to check out some places of interest, for example a week or couple of weeks each place. Mountain for biking, some amount of bars (not too crowded) and bookstores – a beach or near a beach at Koh Samui may be an option worth checking… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tetleythedog Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 <script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script> trang Definitely NOT Isaan !!!! Try Monaco............................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinot Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 Chanthaburi. Get there quick before its spoiled and turned into another shithole. I happen to be vacationing in Chanthaburi at the moment. I was going to recommend it. It is a special place that remains mostly untouched but the Russians hordes. Very little here for the farang though, except the unspoiled beaches. Hua Hin does nothing for me. Pattaya is just awful. Phuket is where it's at. Go to any of the beaches communities besides Patong and you'll find an active community of farangs with their own hangouts. Making friends is easy and you can put up with the influx of tourists for a few months. It's where I will probably live for the rest of my life. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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