I hope to move to this area of Thailand

[Earth]

By the way, i didn't want to scary you away....

[Siani]

Getting back to your original question at the top--My Thai wife and I like Hua Hin quite a bit. Close enough to Bangkok to get there and back in a day if necessary for any serious medical or other need but far enough away to enjoy a laid back lifestyle. We lived there for over a year and sold our house but having a new one built so we will be back in July. Lived over the hill and like the feel of the countryside there. Can go into the city in 10 minutes when necessary and mix with all the traffic and lack of parking there but when done, it is a refreshing to live in the relaxed and much quieter countryside. If we want to go to the beach you can go either north or south of Hua Hin and enjoy some beautiful uncrowded and uncluttered beaches. Just enough shopping places that should satisfy your shopping needs but not get lost in it.

if you lease for 6-12 months before considering purchasing you should be able to learn of the developments and builders that are and are not reliable and honest.

Thank you for taking the time to write to me. I am glad you like Hua Hin, it does look and sound like a lovely place to be. It is comforting to know that medical help is not far away in Bangkok, it is always in the back of your mind when you get older...."what if I get ill". We are thinking of renting for a while. I really want to be sure that the house we purchase is the right one. Having gone through selling our home here in the UK , hit by price drops etc, am not too keen to rush things. Anyway, the rentals look to be really good. I would want to look for something with a pool, air conditioning and internet. Even if it cost a little more for 6 months it will be worth it. I really cannot wait to come there. Thanks again Siani

[Big Boy]

If you're looking for rented accommodation, we have properties listed here http://property.huahinafterdark.com/pro ... pe=H&for=R

[kendo]

With the Baht being so strong agains GBP is now the right time to make the move.
Kendo.

[chiangmaifarang]

Earth -

Thank you for the link about the unfortunate people who have been violently attacked and nearly killed in Hua Hin. These are very horrifying attacks and I had already read the article and also the comments made at the end of the article and this has made me very concerned about moving to Hua Hin to set up a business. That's why I registered to this website because I want to know if the comments made at the end of the article by Andrew Drummond are truly representative of the local Hua Hin farang culture. Do people really live in fear in Hua Hin or are these isolated incidents? My impression of Hua Hin was it was a quiet peaceful place but now I'm not so sure if this is true or not. If no one wants to talk about this on this website I think I can understand why this might be.

Maybe Hua Hin is the same as anywhere else in Thailand but what I've read makes Hua Hin seem worse.

[Lev]

If no one wants to talk about this on this website I think I can understand why this might be.

These are isolated incidents but they do happen in Hua Hin and any other tourist town that attracts shady types looking to make quick money from those unfamiliar with the territory.

This is why the internet is such a valuable tool, there is no excuse to be uninformed, however as a public forum I'm sure you can understand why we cannot publish names of people or companies that may or may not have been involved in such incidents unless we have the police report and solid evidence.

We have also been threatened enough times by the types indicated in such articles.

This discussion maybe better continued in the thread you started here: http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/vi ... 26&t=14685

[Siani]

As brianks said is right "if you lease for 6-12 months before considering purchasing you should be able to learn of the developments and builders that are and are not reliable and honest"

For sure!!, to remind that this information is "true" and worth to considered if want to purchase---no matter with the farang firm!! or Thai firm. Otherwise you will meet the situation like the unfortunately UK farang who just got beaten last month... (you can read in Huahin local newspaper and see in link below)

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/tag/keith-burbage/

Oh dear, looks shocking! Will take note of dodgy builders. I do intend to lease first just to make sure. I am not one to jump into things. Being an antiques dealer for all these years has given me some caution with villans! Still you think you know people, when really you don't always! Kind regards and thanks Siani

[magnum]

And as for your elderly mother it will put years on her.

Excuse me !!!

Oops meant it will take years off,

[johnnyk]

Renting is a good choice. You can learn a lot with no risk and who knows, HH may not be to your liking. I tell people that those expats who live or own in HH like it a lot. Those who don't go elsewhere.
HH is a safe place. With a very few exceptions those who find trouble in HH are often looking for it. There's trouble everywhere on earth if you are drawn to it.
There are dodgy builders everywhere, too. Just don't rush into committing largish sums without checking carefully from as many different sources as you can being wary as well of barstool experts and those with vested interests.
Good luck, HH is a nice town.

[Siani]

With the Baht being so strong agains GBP is now the right time to make the move.
Kendo.

Well, when is the right time? I am not going to buy property immediately so hopefully the exchange rate will improve. Thanks Regards Siani

[Siani]

By the way, i didn't want to scary you away....

Wel, not really, but you have put me on my guard! Thanks Siani

[Siani]

If you're looking for rented accommodation, we have properties listed here http://property.huahinafterdark.com/pro ... pe=H&for=R

Excellent. Thanks will have a good browse through. Regards Siani

[margaretcarnes]

You needn't miss out on the monthly trip to Tesco in HuaHin Siani! There is a huge choice of shopping now with Market Village especially (think big mall rather than 'village') - and certainly no shortage of new housing developments.
Personally I preferred HuaHin - and it's facilities - the way it was before the housing boom there. Now it seems that a lot of expats live in farang occupied seclusion on the outskirts and barely touch town apart from the Tesco run. Even that isn't exactly 'in' the town.
I know that's a biased view - and that to new settlers it will seem normal. Horses for courses. An older person who is maybe new to the language might feel more comfortable having farang neighbours. But please do rent for a few months or more to get the feel of the place, and decide on your best location.
I'm curious to know just how 'young' your Mum is? I'm guessing she maybe won't be too keen on getting a motorbike, so consider transport options and availability as well for her. Also health insurance (check out other threads on this.)
Getting prescription medication is usually easy. Most drugs are sold over the counter, but just check on availability of whatever you need. The climate and diet can work wonders, but despite new hospitals finding the right treatment for specific problems can still be fraught IMO, and much depends on personal recommendations.
On the plus side there is always internet access now - even if you have to use an Internet Caff at first - so there's always plenty of info and advice available.

[Earth]

As Siani said
"Well, not really, but you have put me on my guard! Thanks Siani"

Yes, so are better beware!!.... rather than easily believe!!! and trust then.... hurt!!

[Siani]

As brianks said is right "if you lease for 6-12 months before considering purchasing you should be able to learn of the developments and builders that are and are not reliable and honest"

For sure!!, to remind that this information is "true" and worth to considered if want to purchase---no matter with the farang firm!! or Thai firm. Otherwise you will meet the situation like the unfortunately UK farang who just got beaten last month... (you can read in Huahin local newspaper and see in link below)

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/tag/keith-burbage/

Gosh a bit of a shock..Siani