Help for moving to Trat

[EnigmaBurn]

Hello guys!

I will be moving to Trat to live and wanted to get any information/insights/recommendations you folks might be able to offer. Now I have lived here for a while so I am not a complete n00b, and I have got moving my my crap, the drive and a topical overview sorted. What I was hoping for was spcifics about living in Trat - connect with anyone already there would be great - and to find out about getting a rented house apartment to stay in.

Now I don't need to live in town center, or even in Trat town proper for that matter, but I do like to be somewhat centrally located usually. I am hoping for a small house or apartment, it is just me, nothing luxurious but decent, nice. Air conditioning is pretty key, clean and newer if available. Internet is pretty damned important but I think I got that sorted already with my True Move H | 3G USB stick. Oh, western plumbing would be lovely and it doesn't need to be air conditioned throughout (unless a studio or tiny), just the bedroom.

Any help and information you guys can offer is most appreciated. Cheers!

[Pinot]

I was in Trat for a couple of days last month. I've been on an extended tour of Thailand and seen much of the country during that time. I have to say, I was not impressed with Trat. I'll let you discover that on your own. Maybe you'll find it a fascinating place, but there wasn't much there and few farangs. I would suggest you plan on living in a downtown, centrally located, hotel for a few weeks.Get to know the area and then make a decision about where to live. The good news is that it is a very inexpensive part of Thailand. You might be able to find something special. There are very nice beach areas close by. Good luck.

[EnigmaBurn]

Ha! Thanks Pinot! What you described sounds very similar to where I am staying right now!

Did your travels happen to take you to Sam Roi Yot? *Surely you didn't stay here if they did* Besides I don't think there is actually any place to stay here?! Sam Roi Yot town is about 1.5 km north-to-south along Petchkasem Road and there is freaking NOTHING! A 7-11 and mini Tesco (next to each other!?) make up the 'dowtown' farang shopping district. Everything else is Thai style, but there isn't even much more of that. Truly a one-horse town and I am pretty sure that the horse ran away!

From what I have read here, elsewhere and what you said make Trat sound positively URBAN! The fact that Trat even has places to stay downtown, somewhere I saw they have a nightmarket and they have a proper Tesco-Lotus. Yes, that's urban compared to here!

Oh, and I am the ONLY farang here. Yes, the only one. I teach here and within a week of getting here everyone knew who I was. Everyone! Kids -and some adults - already looked at me like I was an alien, greet me, 'hello teacher', anywhere I go. People at the opposite end of the tiny town know my dining preferences even though I have never been there before. It is eerie! Like Stephen King’s ‘Children of the Corn’ or something! Or I guess, ‘Children of the Pineapples’ would be more appropriate.

Anyway, many thanks for your advice and taking a moment to reply!

[Chanthaburi]

I'm living currently in Trat too. Moved here this month. Living in Thakum about 10km from city center. Couple nice looking restaurants (both look better than any in Chanthaburi example) I have spotted but I have no idea about street names Here is couple pizza restaurant what is owned/managed by "falang". One is little after Tesco Lotus, left side on road. Another one is on city center, not easy to spot because because you don't see it to the road but there is some kind sings near it, I try to look address. I have not eat those but heard they make good pizza there (after pizza company pizza's everythink taste good...)

[Chanthaburi]

Spotted also Swedish flag one day when I was driving back from Makro to Thakum.

[Chanthaburi]

Here is couple "maps"

up circle where I try to make number 1 is one pizza place, it's little after lotus about there what I marked.

down circle with number 2, about there is another falang pizza/stake house

That picture on left up, is from restaurant what I spotted when driving and it looked pretty good.

http://i58.tinypic.com/6539ya.png

And this amazing map... Somewhere here is gas station lpg (it's little before PTT when you coming from Trat to Chantaburi), there is also restaurant and it looks really good, big china style doors there. That road on right down corner is same road what go to lotus)

http://i62.tinypic.com/25660x3.png

Edited March 18, 2014 by Chanthaburi

[EnigmaBurn]

Chanthaburi - WOW, nice! This is great info! Of course as farang, coming to Trat and know where to find some good food (pizza), is very useful! I look forward to it!

Thanks for this and making an amazing effort with the maps!

[baneko]

I know Pol Pot lived there for some time. Must be nice!

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