What are the best cities in Thailand for expats looking for genuine relationships and a good social scene?

@Michael *******

100% agreed!

@Michael *******

nor should one want to understand the culcha, arm’s length is just fine.

@Sylvia *******

Sylvia how much Thai have you learned. Hahaha.

Everyone she is my friend. We talk about how hard Thai is to learn.

@Jarek ***********

HH is called God's waiting room!

@Bill ********

The girls have children so there is someone to take care when they get older, there is no social security here, not many girls with children actual ever went through a marriage ceremony, it does not mean anything here the Thai blokes just piss off whenever they find another girl.

@Bill ********

Thats for you. Specific advice contrary to what the OP asked.

@Siriwan ***

hi. Good advice.

@Siriwan ***

Small seaside town, how quaint, if only that were true. I owned two houses there, but the day I got a parking ticket in a quiet side street away from the main drag where I had parked for years, is when I realised it had changed. Live in real thailand not some warped disney version all sparkle and hookers and overpriced places. I speak as someone who has three cars here several houses and condos and four businesses, so I am not talking out of my pocket, If you want a lovely, full of flowers, scenic and friendly place, I have not found better than Nakhon Si Thammarat. The girls and women are not interested in Falangs down there, there are genuine women who dont see you as an ATM, its not full of hookers, lots of great hotels, lively night life at times that does not revolve around hookers. Best drive in Thailand up to Khanom, and Samui and Phucket in reach if you want islands. Trains and planes to everywhere from there. And the air is good all year around. Property and rentals are cheap.

@Mma ******

Exactly, just shack up. I'm always perplexed about the attraction to marriage. Leave your options open!

@Patrick *******

perfect advice, just like I the western world finding the ideal partner may take a couple of years.

@Patrick *******

Well he ain't gonna just breathe in some of the places suggested, if he moves there it would literally be the last thing he does. And a lot quicker than for others.

@David ******

Three of those are so polluted, lung cancer will be your long term friend, though you might meet a nice nurse during treatment. Why do people keep selling the crap about places that are at times among the most polluted in the worl. At one time in the last two years Chiang Mai was actually measured as worse than the busiest road junction in Lahore. People usually selling hard have businesses there that tourists are shunning because of pollution or they have unsaleable property and are trying to shift it. Look at the maps from NASA to see Thailand aflame in the burning season, then pick somewhere not too bad.

@Belinda *****

Yes if you want great food the Mall is the place to go. NOT

Aaand there you have it: one person thinks HH is too busy and prefers somewhere quieter with fewer westerners.

And the second person thinks HH is too quiet and boring.

So basically it will come down to your personality type: are you an introvert (getting your energy from being isolated with few human interactions - so Isaan) or an extrovert (getting your energy from being around like minded people - so say Phuket or Bangkok) ?

HH is somewhere between the two. Too quiet for me but I have several friends who love living there.

@Don ********

Its overcrowded, polluted with hardly any places to park in season and twice as dear as most places where there are mostly Thais and less falangs.

@Don ********

A couple of years!? Lol! I didn't last a week; wayyyy too boring. It's okay for maybe a weekend trip, but bring your own companion. I found a couple bars, but the girls there were, shall we say, rather "seasoned" and certainly had not missed any meals! Bangkok is the place to be...love it here!

@Dana *****

raised in the country side and lived in many famous cities. Give me the comforts of a family farm life with the ease of a car to travel in comfort

@Dana *****

l live near Pakham about 40 minutes highway drive from Buriram and love the village life style and still close enough to enjoy other cultures and life style. Very cheap option but you really need a car for convenience but not mandatory

@Dana *****

yeh agree,burriram is a good place to try retirement,rent 6 months first

@Dang **********

it's a gt8 place to live if you play golf there's plenty of courses

@Dang **********

and you have unbreathable air four months a year, I should know I live there, except for 4 months a year.

@John *********

and very near the problematic 3 southern departments with Muslim terrorism. I spent 2 weeks there, must admit it didn't feel too bad. But just be aware

@John *********

Just my opinion, but I think it feels more Malaysian than Thai.

@John *********

hmmm how is the separatist activity down there now though, Patani has seen an upsurge in violence being perpetrated.

@Deeze *********

Does e po nine mean big boss

@Deeze *********

Gold and house?