Living in Pattaya
Pattaya is one of the most popular places in Thailand for foreigners to settle. Some regard it as a sleaze pit, none-the-less more than 12,000 expats have made this lively seaside town their base in Thailand. The beach life, plenty of foreigner-friendly services and a relaxed party atmosphere contribute mostly to its allure.
Living in Pattaya has plenty of advantages, it’s just 80 minutes drive from the new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport, and a little further to Bangkok. It has a well established infrastructure to cater to westerners, such as bars and restaurants, comfortable condos, business services and range of activities such as golfing and watersports.
However, let’s face it, the majority who come to Pattaya do so for the abundance of nightlife fun, particularly available women. This gives Pattaya’s crowd a bit of sexpat image, attracting mostly middle aged men, but it would be wrong to stereotype the place. It’s quite feasible to ignore all this and spend your time in refined bars, plush malls and upmarket residential area, or lounging on a quiet Naklua beach while planning your afternoon’s golf or a spa session.
Living in Pattaya is popular because one of the most rapidly developing areas in the country, especially from a property perspective. There are plenty of jobs in the area for foreigners, as well as business opportunities in the city, which itself is more progressive than most other places in Thailand. It’s also particularly gay friendly.
Here is an introduction to all the important aspects of living in Pattaya.
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VisasGet the low down on living long term in Pattaya with the right kind of visa, or simply doing a visa run, up to date advice... more |
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Cost of livingPattaya can be a cheap stay in paradise or a money burning extravagance, depending how you live, find out...more |
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PropertyFinding a decent pad in Pattaya isn’t difficult, there are plenty of condos under development, or you can retire to a house in the suburbs... more |
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Speaking ThaiYou might get by without it, but Thai isn’t difficult to learn the basics, you’ll get ripped off less and more smiles from the girls!...more |
Traveller tale: Living in Pattaya
Thailand’s most popular seaside resort has everything, from pulsating nightlife to mouth-watering, inexpensive cuisine, world-class golf courses and a full set of other spine-tingling outdoor and indoor activities...more
