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What are some good places in Thailand for expats seeking a quieter, budget-friendly location with amenities?

expat living Thailand Chiang Mai budget travel southern Thailand beach destinations wifi availability apartment rental gym facilities

Feb 4, 2023

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi! (I hope it´s the right group for my question)

Wanna escape the smog in Chiang Mai from March to April (2 months)

Can you recommend some good places in Thailand?- South??

Requirements:

* No tourist area or less visited by tourists, yet not toooo boring

* Cheaper area (apartment and food - e.g.: apartment rent max. 6000 Baht per month? I know Chiang Mai is very cheap)

* Need strong WiFi (availabe everywhere in Thailand I guess)

* Gym available (weight-lifting )

* Beach nearby would be nice

TIA!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An expat is looking for recommendations for less touristy areas in southern Thailand to escape the smog in Chiang Mai from March to April. They seek affordable places with strong WiFi, nearby gyms, and close proximity to beaches while keeping apartment rents under 6000 Baht. Suggested locations include Songkhla, Trang, Surat Thani, Chumphon, and Krabi town among others, with a note on the availability of strong WiFi in less populated areas.

Kool *******

Cha-Am. The tourists go to HuaHin. Expats go to Cha-Am.

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Terary **********

Phuket. There are some tourist areas (Patong), some expat areas (Rawai), and there are some native areas (Everywhere else).

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Alex *******

@Terary *********

Phuket is very expensive

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Terary **********

Expense is relative to comfort. A person could sleep on the beach and eat seaweed for almost nothing.

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Alex *******

@Terary *********

If you read the question, you will see that the OP is looking for "Cheaper area (apartment and food - e.g.: apartment rent max. 6000 Baht per month? I know Chiang Mai is very cheap)". Please kindly advise where this is possible in Phuket😉

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Terary **********

Please read the the OP carefully. The OP does not mention any thing about 600/day. If you would like to know where in Phuket you can stay for 600/baht a day, please post a new question and not hijack the Original Post.

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Terary **********

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Paul *******

Seriously, you're better off in a tourist area. However, places that are less well known among foreigners but meet your requirements include:

1. Prachuab Khiri Khan, or Thap Sakae or Bang Saphan (all in the same province)

2. Chumphon, particularly the northernmost Beach district

3. Somewhere just south of Ranong, Koh Chang (Ranong) or a little outside of Khao Lak in Phang-nga

4. Trang coastline

Strong wifi isn't a given at all. Wifi signals can be poor in less populated, more remote areas.

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James *********

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Vic *********

Chumpon

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Todd *********

Surat Thani. Krabi town. Khanom. Hat Yai. Pak Meng

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Kyong ****

Malaysia

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Paul *******

I was there in December.

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Paul *******

Penang is very nice

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Kyong ****

Will be in Georgetown this fall :)

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Kyong ****

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Jae *****

Songkhla/Trang/Satun

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Paul *******

Songkhla isn't the best place to live, although Hat Yai is home to quite a few foreigners. Songkhla city doesn't quite have the vibe most foreigners are looking for. Koh Lipe in Satun is OK and so is Trang, which is very nice.

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Paul *******

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Jared **********

So you don’t want a tourist area….but you want touristy stuff lol

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Andre ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you! 🙂

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Andre ****

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