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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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 Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:53 pm Post subject: Thai city/town suggestions? |
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I'm looking for a city or town in Thailand that has cheap rent (so no Phuket or Pattaya) and is on the ocean near clean public beaches. I need to stretch my dollars on this trip.
The only other things I require are a gym (a hole in the wall gym, not a gym that requires a yearly membership, I'll only be there 2-2.5 months), good sources of protein, and possibly somewhere I can get private Thai lessons (so not a tiny village).
It's a plus if I can get around with a motorcycle too (ie foot/bicycle).
Anybody stayed in a place that fits this description? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:28 am Post subject: Re: Thai city/town suggestions? |
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| chungbukdo wrote: |
I'm looking for a city or town in Thailand that has cheap rent (so no Phuket or Pattaya) and is on the ocean near clean public beaches. I need to stretch my dollars on this trip.
The only other things I require are a gym (a hole in the wall gym, not a gym that requires a yearly membership, I'll only be there 2-2.5 months), good sources of protein, and possibly somewhere I can get private Thai lessons (so not a tiny village).
It's a plus if I can get around with a motorcycle too (ie foot/bicycle).
Anybody stayed in a place that fits this description? |
Good luck.
Cheap (rents of b3000/mo) is not near a nice beach. Expect to pay in the range of 10k + (plus utilities) if you want something near the beach.
Cheap towns/cities won't have a gym (other than perhaps Thai boxing) and won't have access to your protein powders (get used to lots of chicken breasts).
You can get Thai lessons from the local Thai "English teacher". Expect to pay about 100 baht per hour.
Go north (NOT Chang Mai), east or west from BKK and you can certainly do everything (except get your p-powder and have the beach). Get your protein powder in BKK and drag it home with you.
Bikes are easy to find. Motorbikes (as in ownership) mean a Thai D/L, work permit and blue book. (failing to have the above will usually mean that every cop you see will put the touch on your for "tea money".
Rentals are about 500baht per day from your local bar guy. Be careful. Bike accidents are the BIGGEST cause of hospitalization for foreigners in Thailand (other than medical tourism). Said bikes are usually NOT maintained and if it breaks you will be expected to pay for it.
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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:06 am Post subject: |
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Hey thanks,
Really looking for a beach.
I don't eat protein powder at all.
I lived in Chiang Mai for six months before when I was 19, had a 3000 baht apartment with everything I needed (although today I'd like wifi). I rented a scooter there for 100 baht per day, didn't have a licence. They put my passport in a safe. Crashed my bike twice out there. Fixing it was cheap but I screwed up my leg once and couldn't kick for a while. Gym had a punchcard system, was less than $2 per visit if I recall correctly.
Because I did that and boxed the whole time, and never visited a beach the entire six months I was in Thailand, I'd like to be in a city with a beach this time. I really regret not traveling around then. I don't need to be near the beach with my apartment, I just want to be in a city that has a beach.
Do you know of any smaller cities on the coast that are not Phuket, Hua Hin, or Pattaya? Nor Koh Samui which is expensive too.
I've heard a little about Chatnaburi (sp?) I think it's called. There must be more cities than just those 3. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| chungbukdo wrote: |
Hey thanks,
Really looking for a beach.
I don't eat protein powder at all.
I lived in Chiang Mai for six months before when I was 19, had a 3000 baht apartment with everything I needed (although today I'd like wifi). I rented a scooter there for 100 baht per day, didn't have a licence. They put my passport in a safe. Crashed my bike twice out there. Fixing it was cheap but I screwed up my leg once and couldn't kick for a while. Gym had a punchcard system, was less than $2 per visit if I recall correctly.
Because I did that and boxed the whole time, and never visited a beach the entire six months I was in Thailand, I'd like to be in a city with a beach this time. I really regret not traveling around then. I don't need to be near the beach with my apartment, I just want to be in a city that has a beach.
Do you know of any smaller cities on the coast that are not Phuket, Hua Hin, or Pattaya? Nor Koh Samui which is expensive too.
I've heard a little about Chatnaburi (sp?) I think it's called. There must be more cities than just those 3. |
Pick any town along the western gulf coast but the beaches tend to be mud and NOT white sand. Best bet is to try around Cha-am and Hua-Hin.
You can also look along the east gulf coast south of Pattaya. They start to get sandy again as you move toward Ko Chang.
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alwaysbeclosing100
Joined: 07 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:01 pm Post subject: re |
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| though you specified a beach all your other criteria are probably better matched in northern thailand......cheaper, friendlier, lots of language opportunities, plenty of thai boxing, great culture etc......chiang mai is probably best.... |
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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your suggestions guys.
Any islands that might be cheaper than Samui and Phuket?
Also, are you guys able to make reliable Skype webcam calls with Thai internet? Last time I was there the internet was somewhat spotty. I have to do video calls for my work and voice ones for my distance education. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| chungbukdo wrote: |
Thanks for your suggestions guys.
Any islands that might be cheaper than Samui and Phuket?
Also, are you guys able to make reliable Skype webcam calls with Thai internet? Last time I was there the internet was somewhat spotty. I have to do video calls for my work and voice ones for my distance education. |
Most of the gulf islands are cheaper than the tourist spots BUT you won't get the rest of what you were looking for.
If you are in a decent sized town then you should be able to get a DSL connection (6mpbs down and 500kbps up - b600/month). Larger cities you can get 9mbps/1mbps for about b1000 per month (900 + taxes). Faster speeds are available in large centers (up to 20mbps/2mbps). http://www.3bb.co.th/
If you are not in a larger center or if you are on one of the islands then it is not going to happen.
cheap beach towns = few "western" luxuries (not in a popular tourist area) and little in the way of modern technology.
Try Ko Chang, or if you are going to be here for a while, just grab a van from Mo Chit and work your way around the coast till you find what you are looking for (b100 goes a long way in a van).
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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 2:39 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Most of the gulf islands are cheaper than the tourist spots BUT you won't get the rest of what you were looking for. |
They won't have a gym?
By the way I really don't like the fancy/expensive gyms in Thailand like California Wow. They usually have only machines that aren't heavy enough. I would prefer a place with rusted old plates as long as it had free weights.
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| cheap beach towns = few "western" luxuries (not in a popular tourist area) and little in the way of modern technology. |
Not so worried about luxuries. I did live the life of a boxer last time in Thailand and it was fine. I just want the ability to hit the gym and eat a tonne of eggs, chicken, fish etc this time so I don't lose tonnes of weight again.
Thanks I searched this place and it looks good. Will research it more... |
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Patong Dong
Joined: 06 May 2003
Location: On Nut
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| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Phuket is expensive for Thailand, but depending how much you arrive with it can still be pretty affordable. Most to | |
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