stretching out your stay in Pattaya

[piquetjnr]

Hi there, Looking to do a long stay in Patts, got about 5000 grand to last me, how long do you think I can last with that amount of money. Obviously if I am going to make it last as long as possible it would have to be sensible with my money, just general living really costs, rent, food and drink with the odd short time here and there.

 

Has anyone done this before? Any tips?

[leeds]

be interesting to see how long it lasts exchange rates not good , you can find cheap rooms , eat thai food , go easy on beer , avoid Walking Street bars, short time from beech road .chill out on beach free , keep us updated good luck

[Muso]

5000 grand?? you mean £5000?...... Well I was there for 47 days WITHOUT air fare and hotel spent £4500......I budget 5000 baht a day average, and am never far out.

[piquetjnr]

5000 grand?? you mean £5000?...... Well I was there for 47 days WITHOUT air fare and hotel spent £4500......I budget 5000 baht a day average, and am never far out.

 

Yes, sorry 5 grand. Doh!

[lbfmlover]

I stayed just under 7 months and spent £15500 and i had an amazing time. didnt stay in patts the whole time.

The exchange rate was 70 baht to the pound then though. I think you could do 2 months and still have a crazy time or alot longer if you really didnt take to many ladies.

[R-KivE]

well I can go for around 6 months on 7k GBP to give you an idea.

 

Mostly staying in samui and paying 10k bhat per month on room. only p4p i pay for is a couple of short times a week as I kinda have a thai bird I shag for free over there.

 

Eat thai food youl save around half your food budget if you were to buy falang food.

 

If you can fill up your fridge and have a few drinks in your room or a friends house before hitting the bars, can save alot compared to going out and sitting in a bar early in the night.

[granty108]

just done 2 months out there myself! spent about £3,300... a friend of mine has just done 3 months, he did £4,600.... it can be done out there on a budget, but takes some personal discipline!

[piquetjnr]

wow, that sounds promising, thanks for the posts so far.

[papatex]

If you like and do girls, booze and party you won't last long.

 

I know people who came with less money 20 years ago and are still here.

Edited March 10, 2010 by papatex

[my_name_mark_u_like_me]

i go to pattaya every july ans stay for 2 months. i usually take £5000 for the 2 months i pay around £500 for my hotel for the 2 months and the rest is for beer clothes girls etc. if i really wanted i think i could stretch £5000 out to 3 months no problem. most times when i go over i get a girl who is sponsored who doesnt work the bar,this saves me a lot of money means i am not paying any barfines and most sponsored girls will not ask you for money everyday so saves me a bomb.

 

so if you are good with your money and budget it you could stay in thailand for 3 months no problem with £5000,also when you are in thailand for this long you wont be partying everynight so when you sit in a few nights that saves you alot of money.good luck mate.

[El Cata]

Last Songkran I stayed for 5 weeks & just about managed it on £2000. I had a few mad days ~10 000B during the first week; 5000B on drinks, 1500B LT from BBs, few massages on Soi Honey etc. However, I spent the last 4 weeks with my GF, which cut down on costs significantly!

 

All good advice above. My 2 groats:

 

Stay in a guest house instead of a hotel. Why pay for a pool you rarely use & a breakfast you rarely eat? You can pay 100B per day to use the pool at many hotels, some for free.

 

Alternate your 'party' days with 'rest' days. Rest days can be exciting too. A trip to Koh Larn during the day, with a DVD & Sangsom in your room at night (more exciting with GF ). This can extend the length of your holiday by 50-100%.

 

Peace.

Edited March 10, 2010 by El Cata

[yogi100]

You can still live cheaply in Pattaya despite the weak pound. But it's the birds and the booze that soak up your cash. Moderate your boozing and you'll tend to make less stupid decisions where the crumpet is concerned and if you want your cash to go a long way do not BF gogo girls. You should be able to have a good time on 1500 quid (about 70,000 baht) a month including digs. I manage on considerably less but I'm probably older than you and accordingly have less of a sexual appetite, I stay for a long time and sometimes I just can't be asked going out every night.

 

Avoid Walking St unless you just go in the gogo bars to watch and drink draught beer which is available in most places for about 60 baht for just under half a pint. Above all in these places don't get suckered into buying ladydrinks, when they ask just say no and they'll soon move away and try it out on the next mug. Remember a LD is at least 100 baht and these birds try it on with every punter they think will oblige. When you decline they will soon scarper as they will be as embarrassed as you will be at refusing them. Once you've done it a few times it will come naturally and will be like water off a duck's back.

 

Take a lap top with you and spend a bit of time on the internet or bring some books if you like reading. Discipline yourself not to go out too early and not to drink before 9 pm and your money could last you for 4 months or at least 3 which is convenient Visa wise.

Edited March 11, 2010 by yogi100

[Soi Six Snatch Sniffer]

If you like and do girls, booze and party you won't last long.

 

I know people who came with less money 20 years ago and are still here.

just a friendly observation. dont your 2 statements here contradict themselves..

[papatex]

just a friendly observation. dont your 2 statements here contradict themselves..

 

That's an astute observation and correct.

 

...but am I missing something?

[Expat46]

5000 Pounds gives you 240.000 baht today.

 

30.000 Thb month gives you 8 months as a very cheap charlie, room 4.000, songtaew, and freelancers only.

50.000 Thb month gives you 5 months as a average farang, room up to 7.000, rent motorbike, hitting the bars 2-3 times a week.

[jonerich]

Heres a link to a teaching forum I belong to a lot of people write about their day to day and expenses with totals for the month it a good read might help you out. Keep in mind these are mostly Bangkok prices and pattaya is a little cheaper.

cheers

 

 

cost of living

Edited March 11, 2010 by jonerich

[papatex]

Heres a link to a teaching forum I belong to a lot of people write about their day to day and expenses with totals for the month it a good read might help you out. Keep in mind these are mostly Bangkok prices and pattaya is a little cheaper.

cheers

 

 

cost of living

 

 

Thanks for the link.

 

The question about cost of living in Thailand comes up often and this is the best I have seen yet.

[El Cata]

Heres a link to a teaching forum I belong to a lot of people write about their day to day and expenses with totals for the month it a good read might help you out. Keep in mind these are mostly Bangkok prices and pattaya is a little cheaper.

cheers

 

 

cost of living

I agree. I'm a member of the ajarn forum also.

 

Those whore mongering TEFLers really know how to stretch every satong.

 

Peace.

[Soi Six Snatch Sniffer]

Thanks for the link.

 

The question about cost of living in Thailand comes up often and this is the best I have seen yet.

i will second that....

[pubstud]

Yes, you can stretch it out, stay in a rented room at a monthly rate. Eat Thai tucker, good tasty cheap food. Look out for the balloons and eat for free. Buy your beers from the 7-11s not Walking Street bars. Look to get a Thai GF rather than pay bar fines and pay for pokes all the time. Get in with some expat groups like the Hash House Harriers. Beer & Birds is where most of your money will go so if you can get into cheap drinking at the tables outside minimarts, and find cheap gals, the money will stretch further. A couple of years ago when I was living in Patts I'd ride around on my motorcycle and pick up gals from the side of the road, got BJs & bangs for 200Bt.

[splitpin]

When your in Farangland do you go out every night? i doubt it. Same in Thailand, when i am living there i just go out mainly at the weekends, i love lounging around my apartment, reading or watching movies with a few beers from my large fridge downstairs call 7/11. Major savings with this lifestyle, also you don't get jaded with the scene.

 

I have learnt the hard way, that its much better to budget yourself for the long term, than blow your capital in a few years and have to return to the grim, also spend a little more on your accommodation that's pleasant to spend time in, rather an just a cheap room were the four walls drive you crazy, balcony with a nice view is very important to me.

 

Monthly budget B35,000 maybe less as i get older. A modest £85,000 should last you 10 years at today's exchange

[jerry]

Just have a good time , and when the money is gone it's over .

When you have to worry all day about can/cannot it's not really fun !

[sinbinjack]

Hi there, Looking to do a long stay in Patts, got about 5000 grand to last me, how long do you think I can last with that amount of money. Obviously if I am going to make it last as long as possible it would have to be sensible with my money, just general living really costs, rent, food and drink with the odd short time here and there.

 

Has anyone done this before? Any tips?

Hi,I go every year for between 2 and 4 months.I know I do not drink (alcohol)so that makes it cheaper but, a cheap condo and there are a lot of good ones,and not buying presents, I could live in Pattaya for 4+ months on £5000.Last year in my 2 short months, with an exchange rate of 53.5baht to £, I spent under £2400 and that included my airfare. I am a bit different from the norm in Pattaya as I don't jump on everything I see having an average of 2 girls a week ST/LT,so that cost is low and my main source of entertainment is Pub quizzes,to which I go 5 nights a week.I do however spend a quite lot on food as I am not too big a fan of Thai food other than Green and red curry.When I did my 4 month stay the exchange rate was 70Baht to £ and I spent less than £3800 including airfare which was approx £400.So It can be done on a budget.You could do even better than that if you stay at one of the very cheap ,and small (26sq mt) condos like The NIRUN condos,which rent for between 4-6000baht a month + services.Pm me if you want any specific info.

PS do you live in Hull,then you would save a few more quid by going to the consulate and not paying for the expensive postage they charge to send your Visa.

Edited March 17, 2010 by sinbinjack

[Photog88]

When your in Farangland do you go out every night? i doubt it. Same in Thailand, when i am living there i just go out mainly at the weekends, i love lounging around my apartment, reading or watching movies with a few beers from my large fridge downstairs call 7/11. Major savings with this lifestyle, also you don't get jaded with the scene.

 

I have learnt the hard way, that its much better to budget yourself for the long term, than blow your capital in a few years and have to return to the grim, also spend a little more on your accommodation that's pleasant to spend time in, rather an just a cheap room were the four walls drive you crazy, balcony with a nice view is very important to me.

 

Monthly budget B35,000 maybe less as i get older. A modest £85,000 should last you 10 years at today's exchange

 

a wise observation for any lifestyle anywhere on the planet ...

 

David G.

[kid_in_candy_store]

Yes, you can stretch it out, stay in a rented room at a monthly rate. Eat Thai tucker, good tasty cheap food. Look out for the balloons and eat for free. Buy your beers from the 7-11s not Walking Street bars. Look to get a Thai GF rather than pay bar fines and pay for pokes all the time. Get in with some expat groups like the Hash House Harriers. Beer & Birds is where most of your money will go so if you can get into cheap drinking at the tables outside minimarts, and find cheap gals, the money will stretch further. A couple of years ago when I was living in Patts I'd ride around on my motorcycle and pick up gals from the side of the road, got BJs & bangs for 200Bt.

 

 

The above post is great advice .... the best money saving tips are

 

Rent a condo by the month, Eat thai food for most meals or cook yourself, don't go out and BF girls - try to find a girl friend that will stay with you for a monthly rate and reduce the amount of beer/spirits you drink.

 

I would think you should be able stay for 4-6 months with that amount