Five Reasons to Consider Moving to Pattaya, Thailand

After nearly 30 years in Thailand, people still sometimes ask me why I decided to move here.

The answer has changed.

The reasons that brought me here all those years ago are no longer the reasons I stay. Thailand is simply home now. I may have a Dutch passport, but somewhere along the way I developed a Thai heart.

So perhaps the better question is this: Would I still recommend Thailand, and Pattaya in particular, to somebody considering the move today?

Absolutely.

And these would be my five reasons.

1. A More Laidback Lifestyle

Life here generally moves at a different pace.

That does not mean doing nothing. Pattaya can be incredibly busy and energetic. But there is often less of the constant pressure, formality and rushing around that many people are trying to escape from.

You can work hard, run a business and still enjoy life along the way.

That balance matters.

2. Wonderful Thai Food

This one is easy.

Thai food remains one of the great pleasures of living here. From a simple roadside stall to some of Thailand’s best restaurants, good food is everywhere and usually never far away.

After almost 30 years, I still eat Thai food virtually every day.

When I travel abroad, I have even been known to carry my own nam pla and chilli flakes.

Enough said.

3. The 24/7 Vibe

Pattaya does not close.

Breakfast at sunrise, shopping during the day, dinner at midnight, live music, a late massage, a supermarket run at some ridiculous hour - you rarely need to organise your life around opening hours.

I like that freedom.

There is always something happening, but equally, nobody forces you to participate.

People who still think Pattaya is only bars and nightlife obviously never been to Pattaya.

4. The Climate

Coming from Northern Europe, this remains difficult to complain about.

Warm weather, outdoor living, swimming pools, beaches, terraces and sunshine become part of normal daily life rather than something you wait all year to enjoy for two weeks.

Yes, we have a rainy season.

But I would still choose a tropical downpour over a cold, grey Dutch November.

5. Cost of Living

Thailand is certainly not as cheap as it was when I arrived, and Pattaya has changed enormously.

But compared with many European cities, you can still create a very comfortable lifestyle here without spending a fortune.

Housing, eating out, personal services and everyday conveniences can still represent excellent value, particularly when you understand where and how to spend your money.

Cheap is not the objective.

Quality of life for what you spend is.

Would I Do It Again?

In a heartbeat.

But perhaps that is the wrong question too.

After nearly three decades, I do not wake up thinking that I am a Dutchman living abroad.

I wake up at home.

Dutch passport. Thai heart.

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