All you need to know about enjoying life in Pattaya, Thailand

My name is Pete and I am one of the founders of the Pattaya Expats Club, which is dedicated to all of us expats enjoying the good life in Pattaya, and those of you across the world that would like to join us here.

The Pattaya Expats Club is all about expats helping expats and all Nationalities are welcome. Whatever your question or problem, you can be sure there is another expat in the Club who has "been there, done that". New friends who are ready to share their experience and expertise on anything and everything to make your stay in Pattaya more enjoyable. Free assistance on Visas, medical insurance, home buying etc., so find out the facts BEFORE you make an expensive mistake.

If you are ever lucky enough to find yourself in Pattaya one Sunday, you will find a warm welcome at any of our Sunday lunch meetings. We meet every week at the Grand Sole Hotel at about 11am.

So what better group to explain to you why they wake up each morning with a smile on their face, happy to live in this beautiful corner of the world. We have in excess of 10,000 expats living in Pattaya, and we all have a different story to tell, but I have tried to distill the experience of many of our members to explain the magic of living in Pattaya, so here goes:

If you are middle aged, or older, you can be sure that living in Pattaya will knock at least 10 years off your age, and probably 30 years off your attitude to life. You truly will start thinking like you did as a young man or woman, full of anticipation in each new day, and happy to be alive.

Need some proof of this? Just spend a few days in Pattaya and try to explain the smile of contentment on the faces of expats young and old.


The magic is in the people of Thailand, and particularly in the friendliness of the young Thai women. Where else in the world would a 70 year old be greeted by a friendly smile from a beautiful and graceful Thai girl as you walk along the beach? And that smile is a genuine expression of her happiness that you are visiting her country - and you will be walking on air all day!

A cartoon in the Pattaya Mail recently said it quite succinctly:

Before moving to Pattaya: 68 years old, wife died, no job, small pension, lonely, family never come to see me, neighbors do not speak, body aches with rheumatism and arthritis, rain 11 months of the year, high gas, electricity and food bills, savings being gobbled up, crap TV, nobody cares. Just waiting to die.

After the move to Pattaya: 68 years old, widowed, pension, never lonely - who cares if the family visits? Neighbors are so friendly, rheumatism and arthritis gone, sunshine all year. Cheap gas, electricity and food bills, savings intact, pension goes farther. TV great, football, movies, no license fees. Best sex in 40 years. Lovely people, thank you God, thank you Thailand.

And here is a similar view from one of our members:

The friendly welcome I always get from Thai people, young and old, rich and poor. A beautiful smile as you pass a stranger in the street that makes you feel on top of the world and happy to be alive in Pattaya.

Beautiful weather, even the rain is warm!

Breathtaking beaches, just take a bike ride down Jomtien Beach Road in the morning.

Low cost of living, you can live like a King on $1,000 a month or less!

Something about the Buddhist religion that seems to help people get along with each other.

The joy of getting to know Thai families and their beautiful and well behaved children. The nice feeling you get when all of the neighbors come to your home to share a meal in the cool evenings.

The relief to be able to live an uncomplicated life without the day to day stress that is just a normal part of life in many Countries.

Delicious food with a fantastic abundance of fruit and vegetables, fish and seafood etc.

Excellent medical care, knowing that the doctors and nurses really care for you as a human being, rather than a calculation about how many dollars you can be charged. No waiting, well trained staff and low, low prices.

Thank you Pattaya, thank you Thailand.

All I can tell you is that young or old, man or woman, rich or poor, fat or thin, healthy or not so healthy, you are missing out on the time of your life if you do not visit Pattaya at least once. But, be careful, odds are that you will fall in love with the place and start to plan full time living here in the Land of Smiles.

Not only is Pattaya a fun and exciting place to live, but here it is possible to enjoy life very comfortably on US$1,200 per month, or about 40,000 baht.

This would be enough to rent a comfortable, two bedroom home for yourself and your partner, and take care of all of the essential expenses, and with enough left over to enjoy your leisure time - golf for instance or any other sports, and a night on the town every so often etc.

Here are some typical examples of the essentials - with low end, moderate and luxurious options. These examples are for a couple, say an American or European etc., with a Thai partner. Everything is in Thai Baht and US$'s and the cost is per month. Note that the exchange rate varies somewhat but the baht numbers are accurate.

Low end, Moderate, Luxurious

Rent home
4,300 ($100), 12,000 ($300), 20,000 ($500)
Electricity
400 ($10), 1,000 ($24), 3,000 ($70)
Cable TV
300 ($7), 300 ($7), 300 ($7)
City water
350 ($8), 430 ($10), 645 ($15)
Drinking water (delivered)
80 ($2), 160 ($4), 250 ($6)
Food (groceries)
2,500 ($58), 4,500 ($105), 8,000 ($186)
Fresh fruit and vegetables
1,000 ($23), 1.500 ($35), 2,500 ($58)

And here are some individual items for comparison with home prices in Thai baht and (US$)

Jar of Chivers Marmalade: 12oz 100($3.00)
Bottle of HP Sauce: 255 grams 90 ($2.70)
Can of premium beer: 35 ($1.05)
1 Kilo various fruits in season: 30 ($0.90)
Large Pineapple: 10 ($0.30)
One Pound of bananas: 5 ($0.15)
Motor scooter rental, 1 month: 3,000 ($91.00)
One year Health Insurance: 12,000 ($364.00)

And how about eating out?

American Breakfast (Eggs, bacon, toast, coffee) 45 baht ($1.36)
English Breakfast (Egg, Bacon, Sausage, Fried Bread, Toast, Tea)
65 baht ($2.00)
Thai lunch (Chicken soup and chicken breast on rice) 30 baht ($0.90)
American Soup and Salad Bar 100 baht ($3.00)
Draft Beer (half pint) - Happy Hour 30 baht ($0.90)
Draft Beer - regular prices 50 baht ($1.50)
British Sunday Roast Beef dinner etc 230 baht($7.00)
First Class Continental dinner 350 baht($9.00)
American Fast Food Chains - complete meal) 90 baht ($2.70)
Ice cream cone 7 baht ($0.22)

The cost of medical and dental care in Pattaya is very reasonable. Although you do not need a Doctor's prescription to purchase antibiotics for instance, there are some excellent drug stores here (including Boots the Chemist of England) where you can get excellent free advice. As an example, a 5 day course of antibiotics would cost about 200 baht or under $5. Boots also provides an excellent value health insurance vacation package (up to one year) for coverage while you are traveling, but you need a UK address. Check out the details at the Pattaya Expats Club for this and other options.

There are two or three excellent hospitals in Pattaya, with European or USA trained doctors, and the service here is excellent. As an example I recently had to go to the Emergency Room at the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital after a motor cycle accident. I required X-rays to my head and foot (luckily nothing broken), a check over by the doctor, dressings on my foot, and several medications for 10 days. Including one follow up visit, the total cost was 1,690 baht or $51!
Earlier in the year I had two moles removed by a specialist in Dermatology there - no waiting, excellent care and a total bill of 1,300 baht or $39. Compare that to my experience in the USA where I had planned to have the moles removed. There was a wait of 3 months to see the Dermatologist, a minimum fee of $300 just for him to tell me the moles should be removed and then who knows how much for the actual surgery!

Golfing - Pattaya has 18 world class golf clubs in the immediate area and the greens fees vary from 400 to 600 baht (about $12 to $18) for guests during the week, to about 1,000 baht ($30) on the weekend.

Unlike the United States, Thailand is very serious about its immigration policies and while it is very easy to obtain the Visa you need, please do not make the mistake of trying to stay in the Country without a valid Visa.

Most visitors to this friendly part of the world are welcomed with a 30 day Visa on Arrival. Just book your flight to Thailand and, upon arrival, your passport will be stamped with a 30 day visa, however, if you are planning on staying longer than 30 days, new rules make it very difficult to extend your visa by more than an additional 7 days.

If you are planning a long stay (60 days or more), what you need is a simple 'tourist visa' (allowing a
60-day stay) which is readily available at most Thai Consulates - and available in packages that allow 1, 2 or 3 extensions, thus allowing 60, 120 or 180 days in Thailand with just 2 trips to the Border. And
this is just the minimum as each extension can be extended for an additional 30-days, although you have to watch the dates on the original visa stamp.

With careful planning, it is possible to arrive 1 January say, and stay (with 2 border runs) until 25 September the same year. Now that's a vacation!

Here's how: Obtain a Visa from your country's local Thai Consulate - lets say late December. Arrive Thailand 1 January - get permission to stay for 60 days until 1 March.

Extend stay at local Immigration Office for 30-days 1900 baht - which takes you through to 31 March.
Go to Cambodian Border on 31 March. Re-enter Thailand 31 March - get permission to stay for 60 days - through 29 May.
Extend stay at local Immigration Office for 30-days 1900 baht - 28 June.
Go to Cambodian Border on 28 June.
Re-enter Thailand 28 June - get permission to stay for 60 days - 26 August. Extend stay at local Immigration Office for 30-days 1900 baht - 25
September.

This will give you a total stay of 268 days (8+ months) - all perfectly legal, using a 3-entry Tourist Visa + 3 extensions + 2 trips to Cambodia.
Total cost in Thailand around 10k baht (204 Euros). Available to all.

Here's a link with complete details for obtaining short and long stay Visas for Thailand

Health care in Pattaya and the surrounding areas is generally excellent and surprisingly inexpensive. And perhaps the best way to provide you with the information that you need is to detail the various options open to you.

One word of caution - wherever you are treated (pharmacy, clinic, hospital etc.) there seems to be a general tendency to over prescribe prescription drugs. Often a simple sore throat or fever will result in you taking home four or five different medications, so use common sense in limiting the variety of prescriptions. Find out exactly what each medication is for, before you start taking it.

Pharmacies or Drug Stores:

There are many excellent pharmacies in Pattaya, two of them open 24 hours, but our recommendation is to use one of the Boots the Chemist branches - there is one in the Royal Garden Mall and another on Walking Street.

Here there is always a pharmacist on duty and you can rely upon the quality of the drugs prescribed. There are sometimes accounts in the newspaper about fake drugs on sale (such as look alike versions of Viagra) so it is prudent to purchase your drugs and prescriptions at a large, well known company.

Remember that many of the drugs and medications available in your home country may not be available in Thailand. For instance, Lotrel is a medication for hypertension that is widely prescribed in the United States, but is just not sold in Thailand. However, there are equivalent drugs (in this case two tablets to replace one capsule), so you need an experienced pharmacist or doctor to recommend the available drugs. At Web MD, and at other similar sites, you can find information about your particular medication, and its equivalent if necessary.

Fascino Pharmacy in Pattaya is also a very good alternative with probably the best prices in town and they also offer a Membership Card which gives you a further 10% discount.

Clinics or Doctor's Offices:

There are literally hundreds of these health care Clinics in Pattaya, many of them specializing in a particular field (urology, dermatology etc) but often claiming expertise in everything from sexual dysfunction to plastic surgery!

Many of these Clinics are well run but the licensing regulations appear to be quite lax, so unless you have a specific recommendation from someone you trust, be careful about risking your health care at these Clinics - even though they are so convenient and are open sometimes round the clock.

My recommendation for a General Practitioner is Dr. Oliver who has an excellent office off Third Road. I have no connection with Dr. Oliver (other than as an occasional patient) but all of the expats I know, who have used his services, recommend him highly. He was trained in Switzerland and then took the exams all over again in Thailand, when he married a Thai wife and moved to Thailand. Here you will get the best of care at a reasonable price, and with very little waiting.

One other tip - if you are paying for your Thai partner to attend one of the many Clinics in Pattaya, do not go with them when they seek treatment. The cost probably will be inflated if a rich "Farang" is about to pay the bill.

Hospitals:

There are four or five hospitals in the Pattaya area, all providing excellent care but at widely varying prices. However, compared to the United States the cost at all of them is minimal (even if you have no insurance) and the convenience (access to specialists, little waiting time) sure beats service in the United Kingdom.

Two hospitals go out of their way to provide health care services to foreigners with up scale facilities, packaged health care options and no language barriers with the nurses and doctors. There is the Pattaya International Hospital and the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, but, unfortunately, their prices are not too competitive.

A better bet, if you do not mind a pleasant 30 minute bus ride, is Samitivej Hospital in Sriracha.

This is a smaller, friendlier hospital with really attractive pricing - right near the beach. The Director there is Dr. Somchai who is an excellent cosmetic surgeon who specializes in facial surgery and is keen on attracting overseas patients.

More details on health care in Thailand at Thailand4Healthcare.

Also, please check out our blog.

Health care in Pattaya and the surrounding areas is generally excellent and surprisingly inexpensive. And perhaps the best way to provide you with the information that you need is to detail the various options open to you.

One word of caution - wherever you are treated (pharmacy, clinic, hospital etc.) there seems to be a general tendency to over prescribe prescription drugs. Often a simple sore throat or fever will result in you taking home four or five different medications, so use common sense in limiting the variety of prescriptions. Find out exactly what each medication is for, before you start taking it.

Pharmacies or Drug Stores:

There are many excellent pharmacies in Pattaya, two of them open 24 hours, but our recommendation is to use one of the Boots the Chemist branches - there is one in the Royal Garden Mall and another on Walking Street.

Here there is always a pharmacist on duty and you can rely upon the quality of the drugs prescribed. There are sometimes accounts in the newspaper about fake drugs on sale (such as look alike versions of Viagra) so it is prudent to purchase your drugs and prescriptions at a large, well known company.

Remember that many of the drugs and medications available in your home country may not be available in Thailand. For instance, Lotrel is a medication for hypertension that is widely prescribed in the United States, but is just not sold in Thailand. However, there are equivalent drugs (in this case two tablets to replace one capsule), so you need an experienced pharmacist or doctor to recommend the available drugs. At Web MD, and at other similar sites, you can find information about your particular medication, and its equivalent if necessary.

Fascino Pharmacy in Pattaya is also a very good alternative with probably the best prices in town and they also offer a Membership Card which gives you a further 10% discount.

Clinics or Doctor's Offices:

There are literally hundreds of these health care Clinics in Pattaya, many of them specializing in a particular field (urology, dermatology etc) but often claiming expertise in everything from sexual dysfunction to plastic surgery!

Many of these Clinics are well run but the licensing regulations appear to be quite lax, so unless you have a specific recommendation from someone you trust, be careful about risking your health care at these Clinics - even though they are so convenient and are open sometimes round the clock.

My recommendation for a General Practitioner is Dr. Oliver who has an excellent office off Third Road. I have no connection with Dr. Oliver (other than as an occasional patient) but all of the expats I know, who have used his services, recommend him highly. He was trained in Switzerland and then took the exams all over again in Thailand, when he married a Thai wife and moved to Thailand. Here you will get the best of care at a reasonable price, and with very little waiting.

One other tip - if you are paying for your Thai partner to attend one of the many Clinics in Pattaya, do not go with them when they seek treatment. The cost probably will be inflated if a rich "Farang" is about to pay the bill.

Hospitals:

There are four or five hospitals in the Pattaya area, all providing excellent care but at widely varying prices. However, compared to the United States the cost at all of them is minimal (even if you have no insurance) and the convenience (access to specialists, little waiting time) sure beats service in the United Kingdom.

Two hospitals go out of their way to provide health care services to foreigners with up scale facilities, packaged health care options and no language barriers with the nurses and doctors. There is the Pattaya International Hospital and the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, but, unfortunately, their prices are not too competitive.

A better bet, if you do not mind a pleasant 30 minute bus ride, is Samitivej Hospital in Sriracha.
This is a smaller, friendlier hospital with really attractive pricing - right near the beach. The Director there is Dr. Somchai who is an excellent cosmetic surgeon who specializes in facial surgery and is keen on attracting overseas patients.

More details on health care in Thailand at Thailand4Healthcare.
Also, please check our blog at Thailand4Healthcare

And finally, there is Queen Sirikit Hospital - a military hospital donated to Thailand by the United States after the Vietnam war. If you can speak Thai or have a friend that can help, this is the place for the lowest prices and good medical care.

Health Insurance:

There are a variety of health insurance plans available, from several different companies, but the Buyer should beware. Even though you may have purchased a comprehensive policy on paper, the real test is the amount of the bill that is actually covered and the speed with which your claims are settled.

And finally, there is Queen Sirikit Hospital - a military hospital donated to Thailand by the United States after the Vietnam war. If you can speak Thai or have a friend that can help, this is the place for the lowest prices and good medical care.

Health Insurance:

There are a variety of health insurance plans available, from several different companies, but the Buyer should beware. Even though you may have purchased a comprehensive policy on paper, the real test is the amount of the bill that is actually covered and the speed with which y

Luckily, accommodation is not a problem in Pattaya, with rooms, hotels, condominiums to rent or buy and homes of every sort to rent or buy. All at reasonable prices but with the best bargains available during the slow season, from May through September each year.

Hotels:

You can spend as much as 4,000 baht (US $120) and up per day at some of the luxury hotels (the Dusit Resort for instance) and this is still a bargain compared to many other Countries, but here I will try to give you some suggestions for the more typical hotels.

But first, unless you are arriving at the peak of the high season (November, December or January), it is preferable not to book in advance. Unless you have stayed at a particular hotel before, it is nice to be able to see the room being offered before you pay for it, and often, you can negotiate a lower rate at Reception - especially for long stays.

If you are nervous about arriving in a strange place with no hotel arranged, then my recommendation would be to book for one night at a reasonably priced hotel (800 to 1,000 baht or about US$24 - $30) and then find the hotel of your choice for however long you are in Pattaya.

If I was asked to recommend a hotel to my family or friends, these would be my choices:

Luxury - the Dusit Resort in North Pattaya. Estimate 4,000 baht per night (about US$120)

Mid Range - the Silver Sand Villa on Jomtien Beach. 800 to 1,500 baht (US$24 to US$45). I stayed there for 3 months a couple of years back and there are two beautiful pools and the service is so friendly. Highly recommended.

Low End - good, clean, quiet, comfortable rooms, with air conditioning will cost just 450 baht (about US$14) per night at the Apex Hotel in Central Pattaya. I have stayed there myself a couple of times and I can tell you that this hotel is a real bargain.

Of course there are many, many other excellent hotels, from 350 to 4,500 baht per night, so it is easy to find the perfect hotel for you, in the right location and at the right price. And if you need help with this, just e-mail Pete at info@pattayaexpatsclub.com

Rooms:

If you are planning on a long stay of 3 months or more, and you are on a limited budget, then you may want to consider renting a room - normally in a low rise or high rise apartment block.

These are pretty basic, with a fan rather than air conditioning, and everything in one room (except the bathroom) but at really low prices of 4,000 to 5,000 baht monthly (US $120 to 150).

This includes electricity and water (but no telephone normally) and you can make yourself quite comfortable in this basic accommodation. In fact it sure beats a cold, unfriendly bed sitter in rain swept England! And at these prices, you can spend your cash on enjoying the good life in Pattaya.

Renting a Condominium:

There is an over supply of condominiums in Pattaya and Jomtien, so if you look around a little you can find a beautiful place (with a great view) at a very reasonable rent.

You will be required to sign a contract for at least 6 months, probably be required to pay the first and last months rent upon moving in, and the rental will be about 8,500 to 15,000 baht monthly, plus electricity and telephone bills of course.

So for approximately US$250 to $450 per month, plus US$55 for moderate use of electricity and the telephone, you would typically have a large living and dining room, a kitchen, separate bathroom and shower, a nice bedroom and the use of the community pool and spa.

Add your choice of a live-in partner and the fun of living in Pattaya and you will wake up each morning with a smile on your face - guaranteed!

Renting a Home:

This is another good choice if you enjoy getting to know your neighbors - chances are that the local Moms and Dads and their well behaved children will often be sharing a meal with you in your front garden.

Even if you eventually plan on buying a home or condominium, it's a good idea to live in the neighborhood for a while before buying. There are normally many homes available for rent - single and two story for about 8,000 baht to 15,000 baht (or more if you are looking for a luxury home). US$250 to US$450 per month plus utilities of about $55.

For 2 years I rented a nice bungalow in Suksabai Villas. This is in South Pattaya, off Theprasit Road, and has a nice mix of about 60% foreigners and 40% Thais in the development. Just $320 per month

Most of the expats are from the USA, UK, or Germany etc., with most having permanent Thai partners. Just on our road there are 4 or 5 families with very young children (6 to 18 months) so it is a great place to make friends in pleasant surroundings.

Many of the homes have gardens - with either lawns or tiled areas for outdoor picnics, and there are flowers growing everywhere. You just have to put a dead looking stick in the rich soil and in 3 weeks you have the start of a papaya tree!

My home had a huge living room with a separate kitchen and dining room, 2 bedrooms, two bathrooms and air conditioning. The rent is 10,500 baht per month (US$320) and the only other monthly expenses for the home are:

Electricity 1,000 baht (US$30), telephone (mostly computer use) 800 baht (US$24), water 200 baht (US$6), cable TV 350 baht (US$11). So estimate about US$375 a month for your home expenses.

Buying a Home or Condominium in Pattaya

How do you go about it? Very carefully seems to be the best advice, so do yourself a favor and join us at the regular Sunday morning breakfast meetings of the Pattaya Expats Club - before you commit to buying a home.

Here you will find many expats who have "been there, done that" and you will get invaluable, free advice on buying your home, and many other aspects of life in the land of smiles.

Here is some general information, but please e-mail Pete at info@pattayaexpatsclub.com if you need answers to specific questions not covered here.

Can I buy a condominium in Pattaya?

Buying a condominium, is perhaps the simplest and easiest option available to foreigners. The only restrictions on purchasing a condominium, are that the percentage of units sold to foreigners cannot exceed forty nine percent (49%) of the total number of units in the condominium block; and that the funds used to buy the condominium have been remitted from abroad and correctly recorded as such by a Thai Bank. Purchases of condominiums by foreign individuals come under the jurisdiction of the Condominium Act B.E. 2535 (1992).

The owner of each condominium is issued with a certificate of unit ownership. The certificate also has a statement saying exactly what percentage of rights over the common areas of the building each owner has.

Can I own a house and land in Thailand?

The short answer is NO - at least not in your own name which, as you can imagine, opens you to all kinds of risks. There are some options but just make sure you have a reliable attorney. For instance, there is no such thing as Title Insurance so you could end up buying property from someone who does not have clear title to it.

Since starting the Pattaya Expats Club, during the first quarter of 2002, and especially through our web site at www.pattayaexpatsclub.com, I must have received several thousand emails from folks all over the world - each with a common interest in this exciting and super friendly place that is Pattaya, Thailand.

Like many, many of us expatriates now living in Pattaya, our first visit to this Country was enough to convince us that here would be a wonderful place to spend the rest of our lives.

And almost without exception, the friends that I have made in Pattaya, whether they come from the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Denmark, India, Saudi Arabia or hundreds of other Countries around the world, have but just one regret - the fact that they did not move here sooner!

But still, the vast majority of letters from the folks who have not made it here yet, explain that they will be here:

"As soon as I have enough in the bank to retire on"

"As soon as I get over this latest complication with my surgery"

"As soon as my spouse gives me a divorce"

"As soon as my daughter or son gets married"

"As soon as, as soon as, as soon as ......."

And what is so sad is that, for many of these folks, "as soon as" never happens.

All of us are different of course, with different constraints, family situations, financial status and personal circumstances. But after seeing the stress that is so evident when one of my friends arrives in Pattaya from his home Country, and the wonderful transformation in that individual after just a few days here, I would like to end this lens with just a few thoughts:

1. It is really simple to just come and live here. Buy a ticket, find a nice place to live and just start enjoying the good life in Pattaya.

2. You have just one life to live. An old saying but very appropriate here.

3. There are no problems that do not seem less important once you arrive in Pattaya - and don't sweat the small stuff.

4. It's a given - once you are living here you will regret not making it happen much sooner.

5. And if all else fails, you have the friendly folks at the Pattaya Expats Club to help you over life's little bumps.

Well my friends, my sincere hope is that you have found this information of some help, and that it will encourage you to visit us soon. I can tell you that my friends and I enjoy every moment of our life in Pattaya, and wake up every morning with thanks that we are able to live in this friendly Country.

So, wherever you are in the world right now, don't leave it too long before you are strolling down Walking Street some balmy evening or enjoying yourself in the company of the friendly folks of Thailand - truly the Land of Smiles.

Please email info@pattayaexpatsclub.com if you have questions not answered here, and check out our web site sometimes at www.pattayaexpatsclub.com for continuously updated information.