Hello everyone,

 

After weighing the pros and cons of living in the Pattaya area for the last year or so, I

Sorry I cannot help with specific recommendations in the Bt. 12,000 range, as I do not rent and have no experience of renting. But here are a few thoughts.

 

I am sure you can get smallish condos at that rate further out of the city at the extremities of the Skytrain and subway systems. I have met several young Thais who rent in the Ladphrao area for a lot less than that but know that those cheaper rentals do not have air-con. However, Bt. 12,000 should no a problem with air con included. That could be one area on your list.

 

Another area I’d suggest is much closer to the centre - near the Malaysia and Ibis hotels. Bordered by Ngamduphli, Sribumphen, Suwan Sawat and Rama 4, this is an older district that is slowly being developed. Several guesthouses have recently opened up in both new and older buildings, and I assume also apartments. This is especially true on Soi Sribumphen; less so on Soi Suwan Sawat which links Sribumphen with Rama 4. The area has lots of inexpensive cafes and restaurants, and a pleasant, rather country atmosphere, yet it is very near Silom. It‘s quite close to the Lumphini MRT subway station, but not a 2-minute walk. My guess it’s closer to 10 minutes, but there are motorcycle taxis on the sois. Like the Skytrain, the MRT stops around midnight, but a taxi back from the Silom area at night will cost not more than Bt. 45 – 50.

 

A third area might be on the north side of Chongnonsri Skytrain station. I don’t know it well, but there are several less expensive hotels around there and it looks as though there should be a few older apartment blocks.There you are just one stop from the main Silom bar area.

 

Lastly, I know of some Thais who have small condos at around that price on the western side of the Ratchathewi area not far from Phaya Thai and Victory Monument Skytrain stations. I will try and find out more about them for you.

 

Hope this helps as a starter.

hello FYM.

No, no specific recommendations, but some general thoughts/advice:

1.that area you lived in was Klong Toey-it is just 1 of BKK's +50 districts and an enormous variety (both BKK';s most maligend slums and its best hi-rise hotels are in it).

2.12k/month is feasible, but do not expect the Ritz. And do make it certain if that would include utilities or not and if fur(niture) is included or not. often you can choose-pay a little more for scratched items in it. CLoseness to the BTS certainly inflates prices.

3.general areas I would rec: on the BTS (though I think this ''advantage'' is often much overstated): around Onnut (current end of it- will be extended further on from 12/8) or the Sapan kwai area (op north, a ''local'' small gay area and very close to Weekend market). Soi Sukhumvit 101=Udomsuk might be upandcoming, as the extended BTS will stop there too-but then you are quite far from BKK's innercity (but can board a Pattaya-bound bus at the doorstep). These areas have all needed shopping, hypermarkets and local markets and services right by.

4.there are no www-sites that cover all aprtmts in the lower bracket. it goes mainly by word of mouth or simply very old-fashioned: stay in some HTL a few days and walk along and ask. A site named like tee-pak (=place to stay) might have some useful lists, or maybe try the relevant ajarn etc forums on thaivisa or ajarn.com- loads of englsih teachers also in the same search. NEVER commit yourself right on-try it out for a few days, pay by day and find out the hidden minuses-in these price bracket there are always unsaid potential negatives. Decide yourself if you can live with them (noise is generally the most disturbing factor in big city BKK) or want to go on searching.