Where would YOU live...

[JaiDee]

Ok, so you won the lottery or were given 1 million bucks from your rich ol' uncle; or even just figured out a way to make the big move to the place you have always dreamed of. Now that you can do it, and if cash really wasn't a major concern, where would you live?

[daveduke007]

Samui

[JaiDee]

I started off with Phuket, don't really care for Samui; and I could move there anytime, I am just biding my time and making sure I choose the right PART of Phuket to live in, it won't be Patong Beach.  Once I make the big move to Thailand I want it to be one time only so I am taking my time  and planning it right.

I'm guessing Pattaya would win this poll and as usual we will hopefully get a lot of voters expressing their preference.

[daveduke007]

(JaiDee @ Jul. 27 2010,15:11) I am just biding my time and making sure I choose the right PART of Phuket to live in, it won't be Patong Beach.  

Or a Place without any of these signs    

[Bumpa STIKKA]

I chose before I read the list of options...

YOUR fault! I didn't realize that I had a million bucks at my disposal!

If I had a million bucks then obviously... Hua Hin.

[thegame925]

With real money, if I am to live in Thailand, then I would choose somewhere on the sea around the Phang Nga area of Phuket which is 28 Kms north of Phuket Airport.

This location is 30 minutes from the airport, 75 minutes from Phuket Town and 90 minutes from Patong.

There are beautiful residential developments in the area; plenty of staff availability; good supermarkets plus fresh fish and seafood markets nearby.

I would go into Patong when I needed to change housemates or just wanted to stay ovenight in town, or fly to Bangkok and then to Pattaya if I needed variation.

[Foggy]

(daveduke007 @ Jul. 27 2010,21:09) Samui

What colour do u want your room Dave I'll be finished soon

5 an half months in, definately the right move, my only gripe is the stupid BKK airways prices

[Jake_Sully]

Quite curious how this turns out too but for me I won't be making any decisions for a while, will visit all the places I am interested in, then do a pros and cons of what suits me personally and then make the decision.

Because on paper things look very different than how they are in person after experiencing them for example, how close your bank, doctor is.

[JaiDee]

so far no Pattaya choices, which is rather surprising

[Ivor Biggun]

I'd split it- part of the year Chiang Mai (probably high season) and Phuket 'Summer Season. I'm starting to get pissed off with the people who have changed the demographics of the place over the past couple of years. i used to come to Phuket to get away from the type of people who went to Pattaya( no offence meant to the serial Pattaya-ites) more and more of them are coming here though. I may come across as a snob but it's getting really down market here. Luckily I can steer clear of it and still choose to live in Patong, with no plans to changein the near future. Further up the coast is getting raped as well, I'd consider East of Heroines Monument or Chalong long term.

The thing I like about Chiang mai is the seasons. OK its gonna be cold in Dec/Jan but its fun stripping the layers of woolies off a BG.

Isaan has never appealed to me but I've never been there so it's not really fair comment. I know more expats are headed Kohn Kaen and Kalasin and my have a look around there as well. Infastructure wise its all getting there now and I know a few guys who are happy there.

Although i grew up in a city (Vancouver) I don't think I could hack Bangkok. Because I'm so confused my vote had to be 'other'

[JaiDee]

(Bumpa STIKKA @ Jul. 27 2010,21:46) I chose before I read the list of options...

I didn't realize that I had a million bucks at my disposal!

If I had a million bucks then obviously... Hua Hin.

well, doesn't really have to be a million.....my poll was geared more towards people who are ready soon to make the big move to Thailand and money not really being an issue....so, not necessarily RICH, but having enough money to live well in any city in Thailand.

Ivor, not a bad idea.....however, I am still not sure if I can 'do' Thailand for the whole year, I tend to get really bored after 5 or 6 months and miss some things about the west......if I could afford it I would do Prague from May till October and Phuket the rest of the year.


Thailand attracts me as a place to live permanently, however, because it's cheap, I can afford to live there; it's also fun and has great beaches and weather.

[daveduke007]

(Foggy @ Jul. 27 2010,17:43)

(daveduke007 @ Jul. 27 2010,21:09) Samui

What colour do u want your room Dave I'll be finished soon    

5 an half months in, definately the right move, my only gripe is the stupid BKK airways prices    

Ive noticed the prices have shot up quite a bit now

I did a multi-city Flight with Bangkok Airways a couple of years ago with the ex g/f which consisted of U-Tapao - Phuket - Samui - U-Tapao and it was as "cheap as chips"

Might just take you up on that offer of a loom my friend.

Samui is defenitely on the agenda for myself and you know who ( ) in the future

[TTChang]

Depends if I was on my own, or with the LB of my dreams (who liked the beach).  I love cities.

My avatar reminded me that she's not been to Samui, and neither have I.  So that would be an option.   But I live in Bangkok most of the year now, and a very private villa in a hi-so area of the City (or a penthouse overlooking the river) would probably be my first choice.

I did look at buying in Hua Hin a couple of years ago. With the right lottery/uncle money, that would be attractive too. Pattaya wouldn't feature!

[El_hefe]

I don't know.... all you guys looking at Phuket or Samui...... I would be afraid of getting "island fever" after a few months from lack of mental stimulation, same weather all the time, ie., really hot & humid, limited choices for going out to eat, or hear good music, live or otherwise.... dealing with "pidgin" english or worse constantly, small town life.... it just seems to me that for many it could become boring pretty quick.

For that reason I am more interested in exploring areas near Pattaya like Jomtien or Ban Amphur that are close to Bangkok, Chiang Mai or even, if there is a quiet haven somewhere, in Bangkok near mass rail transit. I need a bit of "culture", diversity & other expats (who aren't drinking themselves to death) to stay engaged.

Perhaps it's those who come from small towns where the weather is cold & damp & awful that gravitate successfully to the tropical island lifestyle full time?

Interesting question that I have been working through myself the past year, I'm thinking that after 7-10 months I may need to head out a bit & so am now considering the feasibility of being "bi-continental": winter there & summer here, ie., maintaining 2 residences.  I think I could do it, but it would mean working more years than I care to to have to, but....  

Honestly if it wasn't for the ladyboys, women & food I should be looking more closer at Panama, Colombia & Argentina & learning Spanish now....

If $$$ was no concern, I'd buy a quiet villa somewhere in a nice area of Bangkok, I'm assuming they're there.

[PigDogg]

I was really impressed with the Nang Fa Resort.  I was told that's a Balinese style villa.