Why I’m Moving to Pattaya!
Some of you might not be expecting this seeing that I love Chiang Mai so much however I've made a decision to move to Pattaya! For someone who doesn't like bar girls moving to Pattaya might seem like a strange decision to make but honestly it's something I've been thinking about for the past 6 months.
I first went to Pattaya with my dad 15 years ago and some of the best and most funniest times I've ever experienced were had in Sin City. I've been to Pattaya maybe 20 more times since then though the past few times I honestly didn't like it so much. It was hot and humid bunch of Russian tourists and an endless see of dark ugly Isaan girls trying to squeeze 1000 baht out of me.
After that sentence you're probably even more intrigued why on earth I would concider moving to Pattaya. I really love Chiang Mai and still think Chiang Mai is probably the best city in Thailand to live in but after three years here I kind of feal like the big fish in the small pond. Even though Pattaya has statistically less people living there than Chiang Mai it does have more some things that Chiang Mai doesn't.
Why I'm moving to Pattaya
First of all Pattaya is only a few hours from Bangkok, I have some business opportunities that I'd like to explore and being close to Bangkok would be very handy without actually having to live in Bangkok (though moving to Bangkok might be something I do after moving to Pattaya).
The mountains and areas surrounding Chiang Mai Mae Dtang and Mae Rim are beautiful places to visit and discover, I've been to most of the best places now and while I love the nature here I'm one to get bored pretty quickly and need a change. While I love the jungle and forests I really miss living near a beach.
When I get to Pattaya again I'll be the small fish in the big pond and that sounds exciting to me. I like change and am not one to settle in once place and right now it's time to move on. I may hate it and move back to Chiang Mai after a few months (as most people are telling me) but since there is so much to discover and explore I doubt it will be because i'm bored.
Right now is the beginning of the low season (though you wouldn't know it in Chiang Mai tourism is booming!) and moving to Pattaya now seems like a good idea since I'll be able to negotiate on rent and find a decent apartment within budget. Rent a Pattaya Condo it is.
Final reason for the move of course is the girls. As you should know by now I prefer the light colored Northern girls over the dark tanned Isaan girls (which are abundant in Pattaya) but the problem is with Northern girls are they are too sheltered, lazy, and honestly not that kinky in bed. My girlfriend will be accompanying me to Pattaya and she can't wait! She prefers the Isaan and central girls over Chiang Mai girls any day (she is central Thai herself) and tells me constantly one of our first goals after getting an apartment is to find a nice girl to come and shag us a few times a week. Wouldn't you want to move to Pattaya too?
Preparing to move to Pattaya
I'm one of those people who doesn't plan much at all especially when I'm travelling or moving to a new country. 10 years ago I moved to California with $4000 in my pocket had no idea what it was like or even how I would get a job I lost a lot of time not doing any research (especially for getting a job) but in the end I think it actually helped because of the mistakes I made actually prepared me for becoming successful in a place where so many people fail. My move to Pattaya is quite similar know nothing but expect everything.
The one thing I have prepared though is getting connected with some girls in Pattaya I've used Postjung to talk to a few girls who live around Satahip (away from Pattaya) who I am going to rely on to bring me up to speed about the going ons. One thing I know about Pattaya is the girls that work in the bars there have no idea about where anything is. They're from Isaan and around the country mostly and what I need is a local perspective. Someone who was born and bred in the area to show me around, someone whom I don't have to pay to show me a good time.
This isn't a spare of the moment decision either as I said i've been thinking about moving to Pattaya for a while now about 6 months or so but the move is quite sudden (only decided a few days ago. I'm going to miss all the expat friends I've made and the Northern girls I've laid. But it's time to move and make new friends and new girls. If you're living in Pattaya right now and have any suggestions for where to live (budget is 4000baht a month) and/or would like to meet up please don't hesitate. For all my friends in Chiang Mai most of whom I know have never even been to Pattaya hope you'll come down to visit.
My move to Pattaya is your gain
There are already some great resources from forums to blogs about Pattaya the go-go bar scene, the bar scene, the beach road scene and news about Pattaya. I think this blog has been successful because I'm the only person literally that has covered the Chiang Mai nightlife scene in it's entirety. So what could I offer to readers of this blog about Pattaya that noone else has provided? Comments for ideas are appreciated.
My strengths are that I speak Thai very well and I'm not afraid to explore or enter the "Thai world". My last several trips to Pattaya I never left soi's 6,7,8 beach road and walking street while fun there is much more to Pattaya than that. I'm pretty sure most people who go to Pattaya do the same circuit and once you've been going for years it becomes a little more than boring.
Just like I did the Mongers guide to Chiang Mai I'll be doing a similar guide to Pattaya, and if you search on google you won't find a decent map and up to date record of the soapy massages in Pattaya, the nightclubs in Pattaya, Karaoke houses, bars which cheap beer and free hostess girls even cool Thai bars that the Farang don't know about. I'm taking it upon myself to build these pages so that when you go to Pattaya you know exactly where to go and what to see.
Most people go to Pattaya for 1 or two weeks and from what people tell me it takes a lot of time hitting the pavement to find out where the happening places are at. Just like what i've done with Chiang Mai I'll be doing the same for Pattaya. Anyone already on the ground in Pattaya I'd appreciate your help getting me up to speed quickly.
Another gain for you is for anyone living in Pattaya who are sick and tired of the bar girls and trash that's walking around and want to know where to and how to find the good girls in Pattaya this is where I can help you the most. There are a few universities around Pattaya with girls that want to find a Farang and the girls down there are much more open to an intercultural relationship than they are in the North. Have your fun at the bars but I'm going to show you how and where to find non-bar girls in Pattaya.
Weather in Pattaya
The rainy season is approaching which totally sucks for living anywhere in Thailand which is why the low season is called the low season. No One wants their holiday ruined by the gods.
If you look at the weather forecast for Chiang Mai next few days (though I havn't seen any rain yet) you can see it actually gets more hot in Chiang Mai and more humid than it is in Pattaya. BUT the nights are still warmer down there compared to Chiang Mai. Late nights I still need a jacket, I might need to put the jacket into long term storage.
About the blog
This week I won't be posting a new Thai girl of the week mostly because of the time it takes to source the photo's and prepare it so I must apologize for that. Moving can be a little stressful and no doubt I just don't have the time to do it I'm going to need some time to find a place to live. So I might not be posting every day like I normally do as I have some other business commitments to attend to as well but I'll try to keep everyone updated with what's going on as much as I can.
If anyone has a story they want to share on the blog feel free to send it to me and I'll post it this will help me keep a few stories going as well as give me some time to settle into my new home.
When I'm moving to Pattaya
I leave for Pattaya tuesday night on the Nakon Chai Air bus direct to Pattaya 725 baht (I'm scared of flying and have a lot of crap to take with me). This bus service is great comfortable and has a very good track record for accidents important especially since it's expected to rain.
I'll arrive in Pattaya 12 hours later (incredibly long ride) dazed and sleep and will be staying at the AT Center Guesthouse which I found on Agoda hasn't got many reviews but what people have said it's clean and quiet at they have motorbike rentals as well which will be helpful since I need some wheels to get around. Though if anyone knows of a cheap motorbike rental place by the month down there let me know.
What I'll miss about Chiang Mai
I've lived in Chiang Mai for 3 years now and there is so much I will miss but here's what I'll miss the most.
- The girls at the Always Drunk Bar
- 45 baht steaks near Chiang Mai gate
- The Mae Gnat Dam
- The waterfalls along the road to Pai
- All the great friends I've made in Chiang Mai
- The numerous Curtain hotels
- Chiang Mai Karaoke!
- Hot Chiang Mai Uni Girls
It's been great but time to move on, though won't be the last time I'll be in Chiang Mai!
Sweet! Finally! What you can do is provide a much better map of the places to go. There are a couple of Soi6 maps that are detailed but you may want to be less detailed but talk about places all over pattaya and jomtien. I don’t know of any places that are 4k baht but they definately exist, Might be easier with a TGF to do the negotiation no matter how well you speak. Looking forward to seeing you.
Madness! Pattaya is a dump to be visited when bored but only tatooed rejects live there and you are not one of those! It is:
Low class
Angry
Hard
Embezzeling
Shitty and
Has the culture of nana plaza and a dogs arse rolled into one!
Chiang Mai is softer, kinder and far more sophisticated than that splurge of excrement! Don’t do it!
I wouldn’t say everyone is like that though there is more than the average place in Thailand for total rejects living in Thailand. Let’s see if I can’t find a good group of friends to hang with. Chiang Mai has it’s share of of scum girls included.
So where can I get that mongering guide you were talking about?
still working on it takes a long time to write up these things bro and my calender is now full since I broke up with my ex. be patient it’s coming
talk about night and day! pattaya has changed over the years,first time for me was 1980! i have avoided it as alot of crazy stuff happens there such as people jumping,pick pockets on walking street. last year i was there for thai new year and had a great time.i stayed on soi buakhao which i found better then soi 6. it is alot of noise down by walking street and i perfer my quite area in bangkok,still its cheap there. beer’s 35 baht in same places. wish i was there now. hope you have adventure there!
Thanks mate.
Chris,
I live here in Pattaya and have so for about 7 years now. I travel back to Arizona once a year to visit, but call Thailand my home. I know I would enjoy meeting you. Send me an email and I’ll give you my phone number. I’m sure I can help in many ways when you get here.
Regards,
John
Thanks for the offer John, once I get settled I’ll reach out.
Your not going to find anything in Pattaya that a cock roach would be willing to live in for 4,000 Baht a month.
Always appreciate your comments Pete. You are right in Pattaya you can’t find anything for 4000 although the surrounding suburbs you can find half decent deals obviously there is no website in English you could find a place but the Thai sites are abound, this place looks ok for the money from the pictures but we’ll see how things go when i get on the ground. I’m ok to spend 10,000 a month for accomodation but most of them won’t do month to month and I’d hate to lock in at that rate when i move in and hate it. Best to go for a cheaper Thai place to start till I figure out where the best place and best fit for me is.
youre wrong there my freind i stop at my g/f around about 4000 a month with elec and water soi 15 ;;ok basic ,,,,but good enough safe and freindly run family just past soi bukawo loads of places
all the very best , i am sure you will get us some more useful info on pattaya nightlife more than we have read or know . looking forward to your post .
Cant see the attraction and think you will be pining for chiang mai after the newness has rubbed off! I cant believe anyone would trade chiang mai for that dump – they are scammers and althou you might meet the odd ‘ok’ person it is like trading a porche for a 30 year old Ford Anglia 😉
Hmmm, I am surprised. Chiang Mai is lovely and fairly relaxing, Pattaya is frenetic 24/7 city life with terrible traffic which can easily become tiring.
I’m usually there now in March (8 out of the last 9 years) and would have been pleased to give you some pointers, but this year I can’t make it due to unexpected business problems 🙁
As for your 4k bht accommodation, there are of course so many areas of Pattaya & Jomtien. You’re not going to get anything fancy for that money. I doubt you will find anything as good as you might have had in CM for the same money.
Try here: 2nd road to the stop light junction with Pattaya Klang (Central) by Tops. Turn right. Walk about 200 mts, pass the food market on the left, then left into the soi down the side of the market. Head on down there and there’s quite a lot of Thai style accommodation in that area. Probably best to send the gf in to negotiate.
Its a quiet area but also very central.
Good luck with your move. Check out “The Darkside” (the other side of Sukhumvit, away from the beach) for less expensive, more Thai-style accomodations.
Hi Chris I’ll be in town from 22nd can I PM you or something. I’ll look you up.
cheers
Mr Hoy
No problem mate, when you get into town use the contact me page and leave your number.
Hey Chris, the new adventure begins, pattaya is fine, and you are looking for something new, you will find it here. Been here for the last 5 months, have 2 more months to go before heading back to LA, to work for 6 months, then come back to Thailand for 6 months. I have heard of places in the 3rd road area having places for between 4-5000 a month, at least thats what my GF says. Also look at the “Dark Side” area other side of Sukhumvit, past train tracks, i think you will have the best luck there. Motor bike rentals are everywhere, I pay 2700 a month for a Honda Click, on a month to month, I think that is fair, maybe you can find a little less, plenty of places, with tons of bikes, so should be no problem on that.
Email me, when you get settled in, and I’ll buy you a few beers and we can trade some bars and street info.
Its the least I can do for all the info you have passed on to me from your website over the last year.
Dennis
Thanks Dennis once I find a place and my girlfriend gets a job i’ll be ready to get out and play, sure it won’t take long then we’ll get those beers.
I am amazed that you sell a book claiming income of B100,000 per month is possible (that we assume you are at least one person who is living proof) allows you only B4000 per month for accommodation.
Income, only half this amount would give you two apartments, one in Pattaya and one in Chiang Mai. And in Pattaya, not a great cultural exchange with Chiang Mai, the seedy B4000 apartment will be matched only by the greater proportion of seedy women (and men) you find there. In fact, it is just as likely they will find you!
Neither the women or the beaches in Pattaya are worth moving your life for, especially from Chiang Mai.
Is it my imagination or an unfortunate coincidence that your current preference for Pattaya appears to mirror the general tone you portray on your website every week?
But I wish you well, and hope you are aware of a higher level of vigilance needed to survive in the den of iniquity(even if most of that is from reputation only) that is Pattaya.
My motto is live less than your means. If I made 30,000 baht a month I wouldn’t want to spend more than 1000 baht a month on accomodation which is entirely possible in Thailand granted you would need to share a room with a few people. But if you spent 5000 a month with a 30,000 a month salary how much money would you be able to save? none.
I grew up in the western suburbs of Sydney and lived for a while on what was named “the most dangerous street in Sydney” but was also home to real hard working class people. In Australia I’ve been house invaded more than once, robbed, mugged, shot at, rolled and had my car stolen all in Australia. I think i’m prepared for Pattaya.
I don’t know my neighbors now and likely I won’t know the people next to me when I move, funny thing is people keep saying this but you know what, in Chiang Mai your likely living next door to the same seedy characters as you would be living down there (in fact there is a gambling den right accross the road from me here in Chiang Mai). Rent some fancy apartment you could be living next door to a Russian gangster, i’ll take my chances with the Thai’s and save my money for when I really need it.
Well I hope you’ll follow my progress and if I don’t survive Sin City then I guess this will be a case of “I told you so” and something for the Thai Visa crowd to comment on.
Really Chris you got this wrong – you cannot compare a few seedy characters in CM with the professional scum you will find in Pattaya – organised Russian mafia and scum you would not believe! You need to take care dude or you’re another ‘crazy farang who jumped from a highrise’.
Really I think your nutz – but good luck of course!
Yes I’m crazy nutz but a little adventure is needed Chiang Mai is all too easy. I have not determined my length of stay if after a few months it’s not for me, back on the bus to Chiang Mai, all my stuff can fit in a suitcase, no biggie. Guess your not coming to visit huh?
Well you certainley got a reaction!
It’s not that I don’t ever visit Pattaya, I do, but after a few days I can’t wait to escape! It’s a crazy, dangerous place for a few days of madness and I could have understood more ‘I’m moving to Bangkok’ but Pattaya?
Anyway it will be interesting to see how you like it once the novelty wears off.
It IS true to say Chiang Mai is more a retirement city and I use it as such – travelling around (I’m now in Philippines for 3 weeks) so I, too, like to escape Chiang Mai but I wouldn’t choose any other ‘base’ for all the reasons I have outlined which is why I am quite shocked at your decision but wish you the very best down the bottom end of the pool – just dont forget you will be surrounded by bottom-feeders and stay safe.
Sort of surprising, most people tend to go the other way. But I sort of understand why, I only visited CM for 4 days and I could see how you would feel like a big fish pretty quickly.
Best of luck, looking forward to getting the new articles on Pattaya. Let me know when you need some help on the Phuket ones
Will do, according to the news Phuket is more dangerous than Pattaya, though I don’t know the real truth to that. I’m hoping to make it to Phuket by the end of the year so will email you when it comes close and will need some help knowing where to go.
Yes thats typical of someone who visited chiang mai for 4 days!!!
And YES people go the ‘ other way ‘ for a REASON!!!
wow chris wtf..this is a suprise..good luck and be careful..what about the donuts..does this mean minicost is coming to pattaya hahahaha..tell lurie and orapin i say hi…i like foward to hearing of your adventures hahaha..it’ll be good
I bet MiniCost Pattaya would be a smashing hit! Laurie said today they are now number 1 in lonely planet for Guest houses in Chiang Mai! Well deserved I think and no wonder you have to book in advance for a room. I’m bound to get into more than a bit of mischief down there.
Congratulations Chris!
It will be great to have you closer and providing your excellent service- (info, reviews, tips,…) I’ll look forward to meeting-up with you in the not too distant future. I’m only a 2 hour, (113 baht) bus ride north in Bangkok. Best wishes for your exciting new adventure and I’ll send you what little (insider) info I have on Pattaya soon.
🙂 คลิฟ
Nice move Chris!
Please let us know when you’ll organise your first drinking evening. Surely I would like to be there!
Glad someone asked about this! I did a lot of meetups in Chiang Mai where people got together made new friends and got to see some new places in Chiang Mai, hope to do the same in Pattaya, will let you know.
Goodluck. I am sure you’ll fit in fine in Pattaya… in fact, I am surprised you’ve waited so long with moving to there.
lolz
I can only wish you the best of luck and I hope you carry on with your Web sight! Pattaya , as you know is a Mafia kinda situation. I am sure you have “Friends”, aint Chang mai Khun Chris. I hope you can keep this up for more than 6 months in Pattaya, reporting, never mind your liver! Best of luck that’s for sure—-Get a job at Patttay Mail!–your witty writing and good humor would make me pay for 3 yrs!
We don’t want to lose you!
Thanks for the comment, don’t think anyone would pay me to write, my spelling is too bad.
Can you pay 6,000? Clean free wi-fi just a walk to Tukom? Maybe not.
Maybe make a Satthip newsletter?—–The place needs someone like you! 17.000-24000 baht to start at a Private School, pain in the ass 10 hours a day!—sucks!—–packed with falang like me looking for work. Who want’s to leave Pattaya?—teach High School Girls. Unlike them we are rich or can speak Thai–or both. Easy for you!
You seem to be good at the web. Maybe we can chat and make some money.
Mr. John
Chaing Mai is for China Man. Useless and mostly overpriced bar’s. I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, although I have sent some unlucky hippie backpackers there. Only a fool, under 5’4 would take a bus. You must have been broke, it’s only 300..00 bucks more! —for the two of you====anyway, your in Pattaya now I hope!
Strange comment dude, I’m scared of flying and the extra baggage charges would be 600 bucks! Not broke, just wise with my money.
I hope you make it safe. Keep your sight up for 6 months. Let me know if you make it Jomptien, Pattaya, or interwoven?
Be cool if you make it 2 months!—-as far as your lez gal, there a dime a dozen. Check the blues club after 3:00 AM.
If you are looking for an inexpensive studio which is centrally located. I would recommend The Nirun. However, be aware that this is not a classy place. It is not fancy. It is like it’s own little village. It would be better to spend more, and get a place at View Talay 1 or 2 in Jomtien. But this would cost you more like around 1200 BHT. You are still likely to have to settle for a 6 months rental agreement.
I meant to say 12000 BHT per month.
Train is always a good way to travel in Thailand.
Slow, much safer than buses, relaxing, friendly and cheap. Take as much extra luggage as you like.
Pattaya is a big enough city these days that you choose your own lifestyle. Those who denigrate Pattaya as a sleazy dump evidentially only hang out at the sleazy end of town.
Ordinary working locals can only afford 4,000baht/mo rent, so digs in that price range will be available and your neighbours will be more likely to be plain working folks than slime balls.
The trouble with living on the dark side is the traffic; which makes Dark Siders lazy to visit the real Pattaya.
Good luck with your move!
I can only wish you the kick ass best! I almost went to that Ghost Town with it’s so called “on hold for Pattaya chicks”.
Be great to run into you sometime!
You are the most informative and enterprising writers up North.
Write something very nice to start with, about a restraunt or public works. Write funny like you do for a few months, then, be careful. I hope you will be around in 6 months. Why you don’t go Soi Day/Night–Pattaya mail?—-Up to you/.
Hi Chris;
That’s great news. While I always appreciated all the fantastic news regarding CM and the Northern region, I’m prepping for future winter retirement in Pattaya/Jomtien. (5 Years to go with condo in Jomtien as current investment/rental property)
Regarding apartment search, you may try Pattaya 3rd road. With TGF help, your cost range and accommodations should be doable.
Meanwhile; Congratulations! you are living the dream. I’ve been on a long-time quest for a TGF who enjoys threesomes.
I’m only able to visit TL once a year for 3 weeks or less; so P4P is my best bet for now.
Definitely looking forward to your upcoming Pattaya Blog and any local Uni-girl info, Pattaya 2nd & 3rd road bar action along with Jomtien tips are always appreciated!
btw: Been diving out of Sattahip and that area seems to have alot of talent. Look forward to any future reports.
Cheers & best of success;
JC
Seattle, USA
I was going to suggest Nirun Condo as well ,I have spent a lot of time in that area of Soi Arunathai over the years and find it a friendly area with plenty of quiet bars and good restaurants ,,,and close to Big C Plus (old Carre Four ) shopping centre My friend also has a hotel in LK Metro called Billabong ,,,he has rooms but more expensive ,,but can show you around ,,,not just Walking st soi 6.7.8.etc
If you are looking for a good cheap motorbike rental, I suggest you try Kesaya rentals. The owner’s name is Mark and the rentals are 2,000 per month and he delivers and picks up the bike. If you haven’t tried I also suggest you look thru Pattaya Addicts (I beleive you would have already known this site) anyway I will be in Patts for 3 months starting from March 25th if you want to catchup for a few beers.
Mark
http://www.kessayamotorbikerentals.com
0877440945
Hey Chris,
About time you came to where the action is – wise move. I’m an 42hr old Aussie living in Pattaya 5 years – love it. Run a number of web sites and web related businesses from here and earn a great living. Read and write Thai (private lessons for 5 years), recently invested in a local business to generate some Thai baht cash flow. Dont live to far from Soi Khorpai so drop me an email when you settle in and I’d be happy to give you a local (rational) perspective. Know the GoGo scene and owners well, also a heap of younger Aussie expats (eg 30-40s) who are living/working in Pattaya (not your usual retirees).
Cheers
H
Chris, Good luck With the move. Looking forward to
meet you, when I visit next time. You are one of the nice friends
I met.
hi Chris,
Always good to read up to date info from on the ground sources. Best of luck with your move to Pattaya, hope you enjoy and all goes well. Keep up the good work.
Mike.
Thanks Mike
Chiang Mai is like the retirement capital of Thailand for old retired white Senior Citizens looking to stretch out their pensions. For me personally, I dunno how Chris lived in Chiang Mai for so long without getting bored out of his mind. Chris is too young to be living there and wants to be where the action is. I completely get why he wants to move to Pattaya. Gald you made the move, and hope to see you around Bangkok as well! In fact you might as well start looking for a apartment in Bangkok too, since eventually you’ll move here next.
You’re right, after Pattaya Bangkok is the next step I suppose. Most people do it all the other way as someone else mentioned, Bangkok, Pattaya, then to Chiang Mai or Phuket.
Poor old chiang mai getting a battering!
Yes people retire here and yes it’s quieter – which is why I live here and visit and travel very regularly many other places (currently in Manila) and I go to Pattaya too sometimes but I would not choose to live there and if you think chiang mai is full of old white retirees then don’t come! 😛
We like the laid back atmosphere here and wish Chris all the best but Pattaya will get old very quick. Its a love thing… You can love Chiang Mai but only lust at Pattaya and like all lusts in rarely lasts too long. :p
Anyway all the best Chris but be careful 🙂
Chiang Mai really isn’t for everyone, especially the younger crowd and the hard core monger crowd I get that, just like Phuket, Bangkok, and Pattaya have their own styles. Nothing wrong with Chiang Mai for me, just time to try something different, glad I didn’t say I was moving to Khon Kaen or Korat then the question marks would really be flying. Hey if you do come down to Pattay make sure you hit me up k!
Sounds like a great idea to me. I have never been to Chiang Mai, but the big cities I have been to are all pretty much the same. Some just have more of one thing than another place does. There’s fun spots and quiet spots everywhere. I have been lucky to have been able travel a lot, so moving was never a big deal to me. Just another place. Have fun!
Small fish in a big shit hole 😉 I’ll give you 4 weeks!
Good luck Chris. I m sure it will work out for you.
and i think you think the same as me, something like:
if it goes right, i will be better off and if it goes wrong i will better off as well.
Great move Chris,
Let me know when you get settled in, I would love to have a beer with you. I have been in Pattaya for 6 months now. It is an acquired taste to stay any longer than 2 months, but hey, I like the taste. I understand why you want to “stretch your legs” a little. I hope you enjoy your stay in Patts, at least for a little while.
Write a blog on your experiences in Pootaya, whoops sorry Pattaya, it will make interesting reading – just write honestly as you usually do. There are very different views on here and it will depend on whether you’re up for a fast, low-end lifestyle or you get tired of all the scams, noise and shit and yearn again for the peace and quiet laid-back lifestyle here.
Run a poll for how long you will be in Pattaya – I’d vote for 6 months top but that doesn’t mean I dont wish you all the best but:
It’s like going from a stunning, educated chiang mai Uni graduate to a nana plaza parking lot reject :p
Anyway have fun and get it out of your system 🙂
Be carefulo Chris! I’ve been here since december, I takes looking to find food close to as good as in CM for price, not really possible in fact. (I was in CM 3mo.s last Summer)
I live off Sukhamvit about 4km from the beach. You can find a place on the east side of the road for your price. The traffic can be bad to get to the beach, what truly worse is the drunks on the way back late! Thai driving leaves no room for error! Use a car or taxi if you stay late.
The beach is ok, the ones around the islands are better. I got something on my face from a south Jomtien beach. My real beef is there is no surf. Only from boats. Boring! (I’m from CA)
But I just had my ATM card cancelled by my bank because someone somehow withdrew $350usd from my account with my pin# from a bank in POLAND! I saw on the news a week ago 14 Russians were arrested for filming people typing their pins, make sure to cover your hand!
Also, I’ve noticed Russian guys with several hot Russian and Thai girls. Imports! You can imagine the business, real professional looking. Be careful, Chris. You might find good reasons to go back! The girls are better in Bangkok, too.
Wed; 14 March Reply back to Brian Sumpter & Chris.
fyi: Everyone should be careful and check their Bank statements. I had the same ATM Fraud situation with the Poland Hackers and lost over $600 from my US Bank account. I had used a debit card twice in January during my last T-land trip at a Jomtien bank. Interestingly the hackers waited and hit my account just over a week ago. Luckily I had randomly checked the account and noticed the activity. (My Bank refunded $$ so okay; but still major hassle. And if not quickly reported; here in U.S. the customer is ultimately responsible).
Regarding life in Pattaya, I think it is what you make of it.
The same as most anywhere. In recent years, I don’t enjoy the traffic, over-crowding and some of the rude, low-life element; expat, tourist, import etc. But Pattaya still is the REAL VEGAS; good, bad and/or ugly… And that’s why most guys like it.
Chris; I suggest Jomtien as a viable rental option. It’s more quiet with a laid-back vibe. And there are many condos sitting empty there. I think some owners may be willing to negotiate on the rent $ and term for a reliable tenant.
Cheers; jc
Chris,
It is a really fun city but be careful. To put things into prospective, the mayor of Pattaya is the son of Kamnan Poh, Thailand’s most notorious crime boss who is now a fugitive for murder. That should tell you everything you need to know about how Pattaya operates. The criminal gangs who work for the police and Mayor do so with impunity. Then you’ll know where you stand in Pattaya and exactly how corrupt the place really is.
There are many foreign gangs using ATM skimmers to copy debit and credit cards. They arrest a few guys every week or two, but they are dinging people for lots of money. Research this before you stick your card an in ATM there. It is a huge problem.
Don’t swim in in either beach. They dump raw sewage into them. You can actually see the sewage pipes that are draining into them in some areas, pumping raw black filth into the sea. That’s why your skin itches. And never, ever rent a jet ski. This is a mob controlled activity where they will charge you for breaking a jet ski you didn’t actually break. This same scam is now starting on rented scooters. The same group is also now kidnapping (yes, you read that right) tourists at night using fake police vehicles. You can guess who their boss is.
Best of luck to you mate and be careful. You will have more sex than you can ever imagine. You can honestly shag yourself to death in Pattaya 24 hours a day.
If you really want to fit in, knock out a tooth or two and get some really bad tattoos on your forearms.
Pattaya: Where the worst of the east meet the worst of the west. 😉
Cheers,
Milbrath
Hey Chris,
Congratz on your decision and good luck to you on your new adventure! Wow, from what people write it really sounds like a shithole and you know what, you might have some bad experiences but you’ll probably have a lot of good times too and whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger!
What are your business plans in BKK? What if you go around to businesses in Pattaya and help bridge the divide between Thai businesses trying to get Farang customers? Use your Thai language and programming skills. Maybe something like a Groupon for Pattaya?
Why don’t you look up our friend Am to show you the ins and outs of the place? Email me for her #. Good luck to you man and if you stick it out for a while, maybe I’ll see you there in a few months!
Didn’t realise she was down here, sure i’ll give her a buzz. I’ll email you the rest of the details dude.
You are an inspiration to me chris,I went to phuket in july and came back wanting to go back to thai more than anything.I’ll be in pattaya in december and wil hopefully move over next year been researching for the past few months,still undecided as where to go so I’ll take a few holidays and then choose,phuket was great keen to see what pattaya has to offer.best of luck mate enjoy
I’m thinking to move to Bangkok or Pattaya.Someone can tell me how to get a job and where to find it?
depends on what job your looking for bro
Marco, I’ll be honest if you don’t know how to get a job or where to find it in Thailand then I think your chances are slim. You didn’t give any information. Nationality? Where are you now? what do you do for a living? etc.
If you are one of the millions of foreigner guys who wants to live here and does not have an extremely skilled job that is needed in Thailand. Not much luck of a job.
Just like most countries you can’t just do any job, you are limited and Thailand is no different. Besides, the pay is poor and you’ll need all these things like visa’s, work permits etc.
Again based only on the fact you left a question so open and without detail to tell us you already know about the minefield here, I’d say, just save your money and retire or figure a way to make consistent money on the internet.
I visited Pattaya in 1992 and had a great time. I still remember the places I visited. There was the Diamond Beach Massage Parlor, Caligula’s, Marilyn A Go Go. Are those places still around?
Your dad took you to Pattaya? What a hero!
Any father who doesn’t introduce his son to commercial sex is a full-blown arsehole.
Yeaa… Pattaya, I like this place, all so very cheaps, nice to spent time on Holiday
You sound like the perfect douchebag candidate to live in shithole Pattaya. And for 4000 baht you’ll get the right type of sleazy shithole to live in. Sounds like you’ll fit right in!