Hua Hin, the next Pattaya?

[Hobiecat]

Yes!

[johnnyk]

Before I came to HH I went to Pty many times. I would not put too much stock in what the falang "newspapers" in Pty are printing.
Kendo, there are few places in central Pty that are unsafe after dark. The town goes 24/7 and there are always lots of people on the streets at all hours. Beach Road was a haven for muggers but much less so since overhead lights were installed. Some stretches along the canal road in HH can be risky after dark but central Pty doesn't have any long unlit roads like that. Personally, I think Pty is quite safe enough. Anywhere in Thailand can be dangerous for those who seek out trouble or bring a loud mouth along. That's not to say Pty is perfect. Frankly it's a dump in many ways, attracting serious dregs of society from all over the world.
But it's still a place you can have a lot of fun without much risk as long as you exercise common sense and some awareness.

[Pundi64]

Hate to disagree guys, I think that yes the OP is right.

It is getting and in time will get more and more like Pattaya a big city. The expansion of the quant HH of even 7 years ago has gone. Before travelling from soi 102 to the shell petrol station I thought it was miles out in the sticks, now it is part of the centre of town. Soon we will have bulidings all the way from Pranburi to Cha am both sides of Petchakasem. So traffic wise it is getting more like a metropolise. Pattaya! Sex industry wise I'm not sure, probably not. Mafia influenced think that it is starting.

May do a Buksi!

Once the Russkies take hold here, like they are doing (quietly), maybe un-noticed by some, all h_ell will break lose in this town.

[johnnyk]

May do a Buksi![/quote]

Once the Russkies take hold here, like they are doing (quietly), maybe un-noticed by some, all h_ell will break lose in this town. [/quote]

The HH Russians I have encountered not samesame as the Ivans in Pty. I have a very nice Russian family renting next door to me.

[JAFO]

Jafo, maybe Bang Saphan would maybe be more your flavour, but i think the underlying issue is you have retired to young and i believe that after a fair amount of time in Thailand or being married to a Thai that you do become conditioned to your surroundings and maybe a little critical of east meets west and how restrictive this country can be the more you know and all, that everything is stacked against you:D .

Thailand does not wow me anymore or bother me its just my wife's country that i come to as a guest and its nice for a holiday.

I find after 3 weeks i am getting very restless as i am only 41, and married so not doing the bar scene like a single man.I work many hours in the UK and find it hard to switch off for two long.

I personally would love to live the dream, but in reality i am not ready by a million miles yet, one of the mods commented on another thread that come over with x amount of money at a young age, and look upon it as a long term holiday for 4-5 years, sound advice in my opinion.

I really do agree with you about the rubbish plastic bags are the scourge of the countryside everywhere.

Kendo.

Kendo,

I have been here for a little over 5 years, 3 under a companies umbrella and 2 on my own nickel. I am glad I stuck with 2 very key decisions in all my time here. 1) Never buy a house and 2) Never marry. Both of those decisions have left me very open and can bounce anywhere I want. Thailand never really ever "Wowed" me. I just wanted to travel around SE Asia and Thailand is the perfect hub with the better of infrastructures. I have been to all the surrounding countries and have enjoyed them all for what they are. One thing I have told other new arriving foreigners over and over is rent to see what area suits you best and move around Thailand. Too many, IMHO, land in one place, get caught up in the whirlwind of it all, marry their cream puff and buy a place. Usually does not work out as most of us know.



I have lived north to south and traveled the rest. I have a pretty good idea of where I would want to live when I return. 10 years ago Hua Hin was a nice little beach town. It was on my list of places to live when I got here to check it out. It is now off the list for all the reasons I cited. I think a better term for Hua Hin is a "Mini Me Pattaya". It in many ways is modeling itself around all the big name tourist places here. All the same stuff, Malls, Makro's, Central malls, Cart race track, Rent ATV's, a walking street, seedy hotels, violence, dirty and run down looking, polluted beaches, garbage etc.

Anyway it is what it is. I wanted to see others responses about the area to compare thoughts and while some do not agree, I respect their POV's.

Bang Saphan is OK. Been there. When I return I will live down south much much further.

[hhfarang]

Another factor that might stop Hua Hin turning into a Pattaya is that most of the people I meet there seem to be more interested in golf than girls!

What is the difference? Aren't you trying to "hole out" with each one?

And they're both expensive and frustrating at times...

[pharvey]

Another factor that might stop Hua Hin turning into a Pattaya is that most of the people I meet there seem to be more interested in golf than girls!

What is the difference? Aren't you trying to "hole out" with each one?

And they're both expensive and frustrating at times...

Especially with lack of "ball control"!!

[Super Joe]

Think of Pattaya..sleazy girls, loud music, bad walkways, snarled traffic, litter, crime... now take a good look here when you walk around the Poolsuk/Bintablock on a weekend.. Same-Same huh?? (Well nearly..I hear that Patts DOES have a Police force willing to patrol)

A bit over the top with the comparison. Anyone who has actually been to Pattaya instead of just hearing about it will know there is no resemblance to HH.

Totally agree Johnny, it's ridiculous to make a comparison, bar scene-wise, between HH & Patts. I'm surprised you would say this U.S. as you know the scene as well as any of us... I think you're taking out your frustrations on the 'loud music' aspect of it all

It's ironic that one of the only areas that has not expanded to any great degree over the past 5-7 years, is the bar girl scene. And what comes with it... more drug demand, more dealers, more crime/violence. The irony is this is the only aspect that makes a Pattata comparison relevant. It defines Pattaya.

When I came here 8 years ago there were about 6 roads of 'beer bars', the Bintablock, the offshoot to JW's/Lucky Shot and Soi 80, and today?? there are 6 roads of 'beer bars', the Bintablock, the offsh...... you get the idea. There's far more bars down Soi 80, but there's no expansion of the bar scene whatsoever... now compare that with Pattaya. HELLOOO?

5-7 years ago if someone wanted a bit of 'seed' there was Lolita's BJ bar with it's blacked out windows, Butterfly Rock with s/t rooms & blacked windows, Lindas infamous s/t place and Queen of Flower was the 'hottest' bar, again with it's blacked out windows. City Beach 'soapy massage' place. Today?, ALL gone, or gone in that form.

1) Where's s/t bar now?... there is not one single bar afaik. Can anyone name one??
2) Can anyone name one single 'girly' bar with blacked out windows for those looking for 'seed'??
3) We all know there's not one single go-go bar. Doesn't even require a question.
4) Can anyone name a road where ladies of the night 'walk the streets'??
5) Where's the ladyboy caberet show in town... it closed down thru' lack of demand.
6) Where's the known drugs street/area? There isn't one.
7) Can anyone name a 'soapy massage' place?? Diamond Pub counts I spose, altho it is still a dodgy Thai-frequented place, not a farang joint. So maybe that counts as 1. There used to be 2.

The most infamous places in town today... are the massage parlours. Says it all.


SJ

SJ

[richard]

SJ

Agree with most of what you say but a lot of bar's do have s/t rooms but don't flaunt it as MIB want more money

Seedy goings on do occur but not in your face (to coin a phrase) but SJ as said before your drift is accurate and as I've posted before, whilst enjoying a cold one with Linda up 80, some bars were closing at 11pm as no customers

Never been to Pattaya so cannot comment Seen pictures but hey! one should never go by pictures alone

[STEVE G]

I've used Hua Hin for a base for many years and it still works for me. I've recently moved a few kilometers inland, not far from Black Mountain and it suits my needs very well. It's not far from the bypass which gives good access to Bangkok and the airport which is a very important factor for me, and it means that I can easily get to the beaches to the south around Pranburi and Dolphin Bay where I often like to drive in the day for lunch or whatever.
I'm also only twenty minutes out of the city for shopping and restaurants and bars. Another thing that is important to me is that Hua Hin has quite a large expat pub scene (as opposed to girly bar) which I enjoy with my partner.
Of course, people look for different factors in where they live but as someone who has spent the majority of my life in or near to cities, I couldn't survive for long being too far from one without going out of my mind with boredom. I enjoy the vibrance and bustle of an Asian city and can enjoy sitting on a street stall watching the world go by.
A couple of years ago I drove down to a resort further south with a few friends with the intention of spending a few nights, but after having spent the day there and seeing all that was on offer, we decided we had better drive back to Hua Hin so we could have a night out!

[Super Joe]

SJ

Agree with most of what you say but a lot of bar's do have s/t rooms but don't flaunt it as MIB want more money

Sure many bars have rooms available for s/t you're absolutely right, but I'm talking about speciality s/t bars, with blacked out windows, sofas where the girls dump themselves on you asking if you want to go upstairs within 5 minutes. Like Soi 6 Pattaya, welcome Inn etc, our equivalent were the old Lindas, Lolitas, BR and co.

In my mind they reflect the 'seedier' side of Thai nightlife, along with go-go's, streetwalkers, goldfish bowl massage places. Hua Hin doesn't have one, sadly Bars now in Hua Hin that have an 'upstairs' like Octopussy, Coconuts and some of them Soi 80 bar/massage afairs aren't infamous s/t bars or even remotely 'seedy' imo. What's on view to passers by or anyone entering the bar is normal Thai bar activity, games of pool, punters watching football or whatever.

The irony is for those who want that kind of bar scene, ie: over-and-above your average 'beer bar'... Hua Hin is a major let-down. Groups of youngesters I know who come over spend part of the trip here and part in Phuket, Pattaya or Bangkok purely for the above reasons.

SJ

[usual suspect]

Wow..This thread has hit 5 pages..and has not drifted off the original topic..proper forum stuff this.. :-)

[kendo]

If i ever meet single men that are looking for advice, because their dicks are on the dole living off of hand outs, and in need some serious rod action, i always tell them to go to Pattaya or go south or to the islands.
I always say that Hua Hin is not really that kinda place it's all really quite safe and tame with a very small bar scene.

Kendo.

[JAFO]

Its quite interesting. My OP was not directed at the bar girl scene specifically in fact I only made a passing comment about what my GF noticed and yet the last 2+ pages and probably over 60% of the overall posts were comparing the Pattaya BG scene to Hua Hin's.

My post was intended to be viewed in a much larger scope. It's about the congestion, the relentless building of houses and condo's, the dirty environment, the polluted beaches, the overpriced food and housing, the poor roads, the addition of malls and super stores. The more "western" it becomes the worse it is. Its looking run down. I do not care about the Bar Girl BS, its moot unless you frequent it. My comparison to Pattaya was the direction Hua Hin is heading. Like I said it has all the ear markings of a "small" Pattaya and with that will come all the crime, violence, suicides, rapes and girl activity that seems to be the main focus of the comparison. We are already reading about the violence and robberies and soon the Tuk Tuk wars will start. I have already witnessed a few altercations near the TMB bank and the Cicada market over the last year. I suspect this will escalate.

As I said this used to be a cool little town. It was NOT a Pattaya or a Phuket which was refreshing. Awesome little seafood restaurants, Everything was still primarily Thai life. It was kind of hidden but yet was close enough to BKK for those needed runs into the city. Its just to bad is all.

[Pleng]

Thailand never really ever "Wowed" me. I just wanted to....

but..

As I said for some of the retirees these changes are wanted, Westerners always want where they live to be like home. I never quite understood this, why move there then?

...it seems you moved to a place that never 'wowed' you, and you're unable to comprehend why people would move here and want western comforts? Yet contents of your posts in another topic complain about the things you miss about home, and the reason you want to go back. I wonder if Hua-Hin had a few more of these Nascar races, some more of the outdoor activities you love to pursue and bars to go to where you won't get hassle from girls (well, there are plenty, but you for some reason can't find them!) then you might be tempted to stay?

Why would westerners move here and then welcome changes? You assume they moved because they love small little fishing villages, are interested in Buddhism, and like to squat over the bowl when they take a dump. I'd imagine that there are quite a few people who came here because it's a relatively cheap place to stay with a lot of hot weather. Some people probably spend most their time at home by the pool and rarely venture out. And that's fine. It's not me; and it's clearly not you, o ye hardcore traveller, but where I come from I can certainly understand people wanting to move purely because of the weather.

Me, I like to think I take a healthy, if not intense, interest in the culture of the country I am living in. But I'm still quite young, you know. So my take on the culture comes from a younger generation. And they love their KFCs and MK restaurants. They wear tank tops and shorts that all the guidebooks and expat mags still declare as highly inappropriate, and they point their feet just about anywhere they like. Books on the floor still seems to be very much a no-no, though. Doesn't mean they ignore Thai restaurants, never go to the night market, and wear short sleeves around the temples? No it doesn't, it's just a more relaxed way of living, just not quite as 'pack a bottle of jack and make sure you dont come back' as the west just yet. Maybe in the next couple of generations the Thais will have caught up with America and the UK, but then they'll have probably degenerated even further so...

Anyway, Cha-Am was one of my first destinations the first time I visited Thailand. Followed by Hua Hin. (and then the usual string of backpacker havens, interspersed with a couple of oddities) I liked Cha Am so much that I went back towards the end of my stay. When it came to a point that I was realistically planning moving to Thailand, my girlfriend and I seriously considered Cha-Am. After thinking long and hard about it, we decided that probably there wasn't quite enough to keep us occupied in Cha Am. We'd probably find ourselves venturing into Hua Hin every time we fancied a bit of Go Karting, a night out, or shopping. So we plumped for Hua Hin, as it had, for us, just the right mix of 'Thainess' vs Bars and Entertainment. Of course this has swayed and will continue to sway towards Western comforts. But as that happens we will probably spend less and less time in the town centre, and more and more in the little streets, markets and bars out of town.