2018 LOS Trip Report

[arjay]

I made a return pilgrimage to LOS earlier this year (Feb - March).

I started and finished my trip in Bangkok, and in between spent time in Phuket, Nong Khai and Pattaya.

Although I have previously lived in Phuket, I have to say I was quite disappointed with it, specifically, the over-commercialisation, exploitation, heavy traffic congestion, over-pricing of things and the fact that development continues apace without the infrastructure keeping up. I wondered how I had previously lived there for several years!

Traffic from the airport was very congested, - what used to be a 40 minute trip now takes up to 1.5 hours. Patong was one big traffic jam. Taxis now costing 800 baht from the airport to Patong or Kamala. A couple of years back, they were c 350 baht. Thai food in average restaurants cost 170 baht. A latte 100 baht. I realise that seaside holiday resorts charge a premium, but prices were unjustifiably high, and without any increase in standards or infrastructure to match or compensate.

A coffee latte in Nong Khai 40 bt, in Pattaya from 45 bt, in Bangkok from 45 bt to 100 baht depending on type of establishment.

The pavements in Patong and Pattaya were jammed with Chinese tourists who were oblivious to others, stopping and chatting in groups in the middle of already congested pavements.

It was nice to visit Kamala beach again (where I had previously lived), which has something of a more upmarket and niche feel to it, though prices reflected the fact, and I enjoyed swimming in the sea there again.

It was also nice to visit Nong Khai again, which has a tranquil riverside feel to it, but for me there is little to do there, and too many people know me there to do anything I shouldn't!

In Bangkok I felt the bar scene had become ever more mercenary, with excessive drink prices and girls with expectations beyond realistic, - wanting money for nothing or for simply being there! And bar beer drink prices were often dearer than go-go bar prices.

The exchange rate obviously didn't help with the cost of things, along with the fact I was now staying in hotels, rather than living there. I am now looking to see if there any alternative locations to visit in the future.

[747man]

I made a return pilgrimage to LOS earlier this year (Feb - March).

I started and finished my trip in Bangkok, and in between spent time in Phuket, Nong Khai and Pattaya.

Although I have previously lived in Phuket, I have to say I was quite disappointed with it, specifically, the over-commercialisation, exploitation, heavy traffic congestion, over-pricing of things and the fact that development continues apace without the infrastructure keeping up. I wondered how I had previously lived there for several years!

Traffic from the airport was very congested, - what used to be a 40 minute trip now takes up to 1.5 hours. Patong was one big traffic jam. Taxis now costing 800 baht from the airport to Patong or Kamala. A couple of years back, they were c 350 baht. Thai food in average restaurants cost 170 baht. A latte 100 baht. I realise that seaside holiday resorts charge a premium, but prices were unjustifiably high, and without any increase in standards or infrastructure to match or compensate.

A coffee latte in Nong Khai 40 bt, in Pattaya from 45 bt, in Bangkok from 45 bt to 100 baht depending on type of establishment.

The pavements in Patong and Pattaya were jammed with Chinese tourists who were oblivious to others, stopping and chatting in groups in the middle of already congested pavements.

It was nice to visit Kamala beach again (where I had previously lived), which has something of a more upmarket and niche feel to it, though prices reflected the fact, and I enjoyed swimming in the sea there again.

It was also nice to visit Nong Khai again, which has a tranquil riverside feel to it, but for me there is little to do there, and too many people know me there to do anything I shouldn't!

In Bangkok I felt the bar scene had become ever more mercenary, with excessive drink prices and girls with expectations beyond realistic, - wanting money for nothing or for simply being there! And bar beer drink prices were often dearer than go-go bar prices.

The exchange rate obviously didn't help with the cost of things, along with the fact I was now staying in hotels, rather than living there. I am now looking to see if there any alternative locations to visit in the future.

Richard, Didn't even know you had left LOS,Thought I'd Not seen you in Tesco's Lately LOL !! So are you back living in The U.K Now & Do you find it MORE Expensive than when you left there previously ?? Mind You,YOU Do have one benefit at least.....Free Medical Treatment & Medicine....I Miss That !!

[747man]

Would have nice to get at least a Reply.......But then again That's Arjay !!!!!

[arjay]

Alan (747),I hadn't immediately replied to you, as I was trying to avoid getting drawn off topic or discussing personal matters on an open forum, and I was wanting to allow others to respond to the OP. I prefer to keep my private life, private.

Suffice it to say I left LOS due to a combination of reasons, which included:- health reasons, plus weariness with the usual things that grate after many years in LOS, such as travel/driving against the background of advancing old age; the fact that I was getting bored in NK and didn't want to spend the rest of my life in bars; the fact that upon reaching retirement age and living in LOS I would not receive cost of living increases on my UK state pension, plus the fact my partner is not from Thailand.

Yes, the UK is more expensive than Thailand, but certainly less so than previously. The gap is closing, mainly due to increasing costs in LOS and the exchange rate. Housing related costs e.g council tax are the biggest cost components of living here. A coffee latte in Starbucks in Thailand is dearer than a latte in the UK (locally about £2.40 for a latte).

I would be happy to answer personal questions etc by PM.