As a potential retiree to either, I am wondering what it is that the Ex Patriate in Bangkok holds above his counterpart in Pattaya, and vice versa.  Both venues are magnets for immigrants.  Both locations have bars and boyz catering to people like us; expatriate communities to enhance the monotony; and reasonable links for commerce, logistics, and communication.  In Pattaya you can sit at the beach but daren't go swimming, and water in the tap might be scarce.  Bangkok has water but no beach.

So I'm wondering if any of our readers currently resident in Bangkok or Pattaya, might suggest what in their experience, their city has going for it over and above their immiedate rival.  And if they aren't too pleased with their current lot, where might their ideal Thai city be?



If you are not currently resident in Bangkok or Pattaya, please don't reply as I would prefer to hear it from those actually there right now.

Dick

Edited by: Dick  at: 29/10/05 7:57 pm

There is no contest - Pattaya is full of ghastly tourists and represents a disneyesque version of the real deal. Bangkok is Thai - Pattaya is not. The people that one meets in Pattaya are harder by virtue of having been exposed to legions of revolting oiks over the years.



I rarely drop anchor in Pattaya thesedays unless there is a free drink and a finger buffet on offer:



The Second Annual Sawatdee Forum Meet and Greet







 

"Bangkok is Thai - Pattaya is not."....in all fairness I think a Thai would tell you both these cities are like Disneyland and very un-Thai.  Dick, the real question is how important the beach is to you.  I know retired farangs in both cities and for retirees in Pattaya the beach is a most important part of their lives.  You will also meet more farangs your own age (thinking ahead) in Pattaya and develop friendships something that is more difficult to do in a large city.

And, also how important it is to see blue skies from time to time, and cleaner air?



The main reason I left Bangkok was that the sky was rarely blue.  Granted, it's not ALWAYS blue in Pattaya, but much more often than it is in Bangkok.



There seem to be fewer black-smoke-belching vehicles here in Pattaya, too.  Either that, or with fewer high rises maybe the winds can blow the soot away faster?  In my Bangkok apartments (I lived in three), if I left the windows open for "fresh" air, the bottoms of my feet would be black if I didn't mop the floor every day.  Here in Pattaya, it takes a week or longer before they get black.  If feet get that dirty from the floor, imagine what your lungs have to put up with.

Quote:

---

I'm wondering if any of our readers currently resident in Bangkok or Pattaya, might suggest what in their experience, their city has going for it over and above their immiedate rival.

---

Having spent the majority of my 15 years in Thailand working in Pattaya I have now relocated to Bangkok in the same job of work.



As has already been said, Pattaya is a fairytale centre for the tourist and those whose only ambition is to be in the hub of the sex trade. It is far divorced from the true Thailand



Pattaya has it beaches but they are far outweighed by the many large open air parks in Bangkok. My wife and two daughters find there is much more in the way of leisure activities here in Bangkok and if you expend the energy to walk away from Silom/Surwong and Sukhumvit Roads then the traffic fumes are not as bad as people make out.



Sure we have smog some mornings but by mid-morning the city is clear. The quality of life ( except for those who must have their go-go bar within easy walking distance of their home far exceeds that of Pattaya.



From a business point of view Bangkok has greater advantages for commerce than Pattaya will ever have

( even with the new airport). The city (Bangkok) has far more credibilty about it where serious business is concerned and from the international view Pattaya is a non-starter for business ventures when compared with Bangkok.



Houses here in Bangkok are ( if you are prepared to search for them) more plentiful than in Pattaya and a greater variety of locations.



We purchased a house that was comparable to the one we had in Pattaya complete with pool and full A/C for about the same as we sold the Pattaya house.



For swimmers there are plenty of public swimming areas and the pool in Lumpini Park offers the latest filtration technology and is well staffed for safety. There are plenty of health clubs here that provide pool facilties so if swimming is your thing then that is another advantage over Pattaya.



If you really must visit a beach then from the city centre a two hour drive will take you to a beach.



So all in all IMHO Bangkok is a far preferable place to live offering far more amenities and a better quality of life than Pattaya does.And of course Bangkok does have water   

Edited by: King Kong at: 31/10/05 6:54 am

You have not considered Chiang Mai?  

If you want to meet a Thai that doesn't charge by the hour Bangkok is far better.  



If you want a greater selection of things to do and see, and of people to mix with, Bangkok is better.



Pattaya has the beach and the sea, which is great. Pattaya has a better selection of moneyboys.



Bangkok is a real city, a place so big I will never get to see it all.



When I have been to Pattaya for a few days it feels good to be back in Bangers.  

I agree with Silom - there is nowhere like Bangkok! She makes you feel alive!

Quote:

---

in all fairness I think a Thai would tell you both these cities are like Disneyland and very un-Thai.

---

What a strange thing to say! How is Bangkok "un-Thai"? I haven't a clue what you mean by this! Please explain for me - I am always willing to learn.

Quote:

---

develop friendships something that is more difficult to do in a large city.

---

Not true. Bangkok expats are a different breed from their Pattaya counterpart. It's easy to make friends in Bangkok but it depends on you. If your life is centred around your cock then maybe Pattaya is the best bet.

Edited by: Dr Anne Thrope at: 31/10/05 12:34 pm

Quote:

---

If you want to meet a Thai that doesn't charge by the hour Bangkok is far better.

---

Agreed - they charge by the month!  17,000B seems to be the going rate.

Dick mate,



You have way too many working years ahead of you yet to be planning your retirement!!



Plus I owe you dinner for all your kindness and support to me over the summer......



Email me and we can arrange it!!



Your question is a good one, the two settings are so different..........with thirteen years to go I am happily dreaming of both of them...........  

Thanks guys for the viewpoints. Much to ponder, but perhaps in the end my Bangkok loving bf will have his way



I didn't include Chiang Mai Silom as I didn't think too many on the board were resident, but you make a valid point.  Equally I might have included Phuket or Hua Hin (I love the Khao Takiap beach) but then you aren't comparing like with like given the larger gay ex pat contingents and 'entertainments' available in Bangkok or Pattaya, although when under the bf's thumb the expatriate community will be of greater significance than the boy bar scene.  But it does no harm just 'looking'.



Thanks Trickyrich... I haven't forgotton your kind invitation... just trying to rememeber where I left my Michelin guide  

Dick

Gone Fishing is on your IGNORE list.