Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chungbukdo]

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?

[ttompatz]

[chungbukdo]

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.

[ttompatz]

[alwaysbeclosing100]

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....

[chungbukdo]

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.

[ttompatz]

[chungbukdo]

[Patong Dong]

Phuket is expensive for Thailand, but depending how much you arrive with it can still be pretty affordable. Most tourists don't want to stay in Phuket town for example. If I was going for just a couple of months I think paying around 10 000 baht/per month would be a great deal.

[Patong Dong]

First one I looked at for Phuket Town to see what costs are like compared to when I lived there ( I lived in Patong, not Phuket Town, and it was always known for being a bargain.) You said 2.5 mos. so if you go for the fan or air-con and lose a couple of weeks you can get the 3 month rate. With the amenities (especially a pool) seems like a great deal to me.

http://phuketindex.com/patramansion/index.htm

[young_clinton]

Chiang Mai is very cheap about 115 US dollars a month including aircon, free WiFi at Tarntip Courts. You don't particularly want to live anyplace other than around Bangkok or Chiang Mai, and Chiang Mai is the best and cheapest. Things get very primitive in the provinces. I know I live in the provinces now after spending over a year in Chiang Mai.

[Louis VI]

Chiang Mai is best combination of affordability and urban services. The only thing it doesn't have is oceanside beaches and clean air (half the time).

[chungbukdo]

[chungbukdo]

[TECO]