Advice needed please

[stuarty 2]

Hi newbie here, looking for some advice planning on visiting pattaya in november.was thinking of 6 months, bearing in mind ive never been before do ya think that might be too long to start with. Also how mutch spends would be needed for 6 months staying in a half decent room out 4 nights at least, i know everyone's different just looking for a rough idea. A friend who stayed 2 weeks in pattaya reckons 3 grand (pounds) would be plenty but im not so shure.

any advice apreciated

Congrats on a great site

cheers

[Feileacan 32]

Hi newbie here, looking for some advice planning on visiting pattaya in november.was thinking of 6 months, bearing in mind ive never been before do ya think that might be too long to start with. Also how mutch spends would be needed for 6 months staying in a half decent room out 4 nights at least, i know everyone's different just looking for a rough idea. A friend who stayed 2 weeks in pattaya reckons 3 grand (pounds) would be plenty but im not so shure.

any advice apreciated

Congrats on a great site

cheers

3 grand for 6 months !!! That 500 a month or 125 a week. On your first trip, you'll never live on this, unless you don't drink and BF girls sparingly. If you do drink you will go through 6 K in the first 2 months as you will lose the run of yourself. It takes a few trips to get your head around Pattaya to the extent where you can budget properly, even then it's difficult. Really you need to give more info

 

1. Drink Habits

2. Girl Habits

3. Internal trips & sightseeing

 

The first two can eat into your money easily, especially for a newbie

[Braveheart 0]

Don't think cheap. I spent over $10,000 USD on a 6 week trip my first time there. You can do it cheaper but it really depends what you are going to do with your time and how comfortable you want to live.

[stuarty 2]

Aye i'll be swallying at least 4 nights a week mate , a girl most nights as well. No up for mutch sightseeing. Might just go for 3 months see how i get on with that. 6 months does seem a bit daunting.

[stephentaylor 54]

if its your first time in pattaya i reckon you will spend that £3000 in three weeks maybe a month because there is so much to experience, like all your fantasies.

[psychodad 0]

Newbies mostly spent too much money becouse 'its so damn cheap'.

And thats the big problem: Dont compare pattaya/thailand with your home town. If you pay 200$ for 30 minutes in your hometown then you might think that 100$ for 1 hour is a bargain. Dont make this fault. Check the prices carefully first so you know how much you have to give a girl.

Food/Drinks are cheap, rent a appartment and you dont need more then 100$ a day including girls. Without girls only 10% of it

[EDP 0]

Starting out with a month is time enough!!!! And you wont burn out or come home totally broke. If you can.. have an open return ticket<<<<< Important!! My first trip over we didnt have all these message boards so I burned money so fast had to go home early... Also if you can avoid it dont bring all that cash with you ATM cards work great over there!!!

 

Read the board carefully before heading over. Safety is not an issue. Youll be fine. Just getting scammed is another thing!!

 

It pays to do your homework in advance:-)

[handle 0]

Aye i'll be swallying at least 4 nights a week mate , a girl most nights as well. No up for mutch sightseeing. Might  just go for 3 months see how i get on with that.  6 months does seem a bit daunting.

Not on your budget you won't

3000 GBP

202,713.25 THB / 180 days = 1126 THB per day

hotel 500 baht

food (3 meals at food cart) 60 baht

Baht bus 20 baht

1 Leo beer (bought from Big C by the case) 37 baht

Total 617 baht

 

leaves you with 509 baht a day for other expenses.

 

Looks pretty tight to me.

 

Do the month deal, see how much you need to save for the 6 month trip.

[Braveheart 0]

You might want to look into a monthly accommodation instead of paying by the night. You can find many worthy places for 5-10k per month.

[Eneukman 1]

I've been here for almost 9 months and would agree that £3,000 isn't nearly enough for a 6 month stay. I budget for 80,000 baht per month of which 20,000 baht goes on rent. You will certainly be able to find somewhere less expensive than that. My own thoughts are that at closer to £6,000 would be the minumum required.

 

If you are coming for 6 months, get a multiple entry nonImmigrant O visa before you come as this will mean you will only have to do one visa run after 90 days. The Royal Thai Consul in Hull are very helpful.

 

Also, apply to join the members' area if you havem't already done so as no bar girl talk in this part of the board.

 

Alan

[achillesdave 0]

I stayed 9 nights last month and planned to spend 5000 to 6000 bht a day. But when you get here and party till 3 to 5am its hard to stay in a budget. I spent about a 1000 pounds during my stay but I could have done it much cheaper. I was takeing 2 go-go girls at a time and thats over 5000 with barfines before any drinks. The last 4 days I kept the same girl at 1500 a day, she was saveing me money but I was getting bored with the same girl and missed the drunken adventures of my first few days. Theres brits who live here on less than 500 pounds a month but i dont think they indulge in the nightlife at 1000bht a day. Nothing could be worse for me that to have to stay in my room when I know whats waiting outside in funtown

[PokerUpFront 0]

... Nothing could be worse for me that to have to stay in my room when I know whats waiting outside in funtown

those are the thoughts of the jumpers

[stuarty 2]

Thanks for the advice

need to rethink my plans i think either that or get some more overtime in

[Mescalito 19]

Budgets, like plans, go out the window once you arrive, particularly on your first trip. I usually go for 2 weeks at a time (work obligations prevent going for longer), and I usually budget for about $3,000 USD + airfare for that much time. On my last trip in November, I actually had to transfer some funds from my E-Trade account into my checking account 3 days before I came home to make sure I was covered! Oops!

 

 

And with this, I make my 500th post!

[EDP 0]

Sorry if the posts got you down a little bit. Its only because many gents have gone over thinking we had enough but like previously mentioned You never know what is going to develope!!! Every day can be a new adventure!!!!!!

 

Get yourself excited and pumped up!! Man I wish I could say I had 6 months to go over and kick back!!!!!

 

I can tell you this. Pattaya will get old after you have been partying non stop. Plan a few side trips to islands, scenic places and the rest. Just to get out of town for a few days. Then its exciting when you come back again!

If your in Pattaya there are many travel offices to hook you up with side trips.

They will pick you up right at your hotel/house door so just menader down with your hangover and jet!!!

 

If you try to take a nice lady with you for an adventure try somone from a stand bar. the go go girls will cost you an arm and a leg to stay with you out of work etc.

 

Wishing you the best!!!

 

Ed

[stuarty 2]

Its not getting me down mate , ive not booked anything yet just glad ive found this site the info is great. Think i'll just try 2or3 months to start with seeing ive never been before. See how i get on, can always plan a longer trip the next time and i'll know the lie of the land better. Its certainly a lot cheaper than Amsterdam where i currently visit a lot.

[BigDUSA 71]

I spent a month in Pattaya two years ago and spent 30,000 baht including hotel. I had a live in BG that cost 6K per month. I didn't go out every night but I had a good time. It's doable but tight. Figure the first month you'll spend more till you get pussied/drink out. One member, Soi7 does it on 20K per month but he doesn't drink. Send him a PM for good budget tips. Open return ticket is a good idea and use ATM excellent way to budget.

 

BTW, I'm a cheap Charley.

Edited March 4, 2006 by BigDUSA

[biggles 509]

Thailand is a very cheap place to live, backpackers can manage easily on your 1200 a day budget, but they are not in Pattaya having fun. your intended holiday is not gonna work on this budget for 6 months. I spend about 2000 baht a day on average but only pay 6000 a month for accom (share a house), have female company every second night and am a very moderate drinker and have my own motorbike. Some guys here spend my daily budget just on beer and women. Give the hotel idea away, find a long term condo/room for around 5-6000 a month and cut your trip down. Better a shorter stay and a good time than 6 months which is boring as hell.

[Eneukman 1]

As a very rough guide, I spent between September last year and the end of February this year just over half a million baht. OK, this includeds the cost of my retirement visa, multi re-entry permit (6,000 baht combined), a hard drive video camera (28,000 baht), flight and visa to Vietnam later this month (17,000 baht), travel and contents insurance (12,000 baht), medical expenses for an eye infection (5,000 baht). Split these costs over a 12 month period rather than 6 months and my monthly expenditure comes out at just under 80,000 baht.

 

My expenditure could be reduced if I were to move into a small studio condo, but I prefer the extra space I have. However, space isn't so important for shorter stays. I think you're wise opting for a 3 month stay rather than a 6 month one unless you can get the extra cash required.

 

If you're only coming for a 3 month stay, a single entry non-Immigrant O visa should be sufficient, which can be extended for, I think, up to 30 days if required. Whatever you do though, DO NOT OVERSTAY YOUR VISA.

 

Alan

[deadman 0]

Hi newbie here, looking for some advice planning on visiting pattaya in november.was thinking of 6 months, bearing in mind ive never been before do ya think that might be too long to start with. Also how mutch spends would be needed for 6 months staying in a half decent room out 4 nights at least, i know everyone's different just looking for a rough idea. A friend who stayed 2 weeks in pattaya reckons 3 grand (pounds) would be plenty but im not so shure.

any advice apreciated

Congrats on a great site

cheers

your expenses will vary depending on what you do but from experience you will need more for that length of time. i went in january 06 for 2 1/2 weeks & i spent close to £2000 & i was still running short towards the end. i couldv'e spent less but my impatience & the thought of leaving pattaya for one last time got the better of me!!!

 

BUT i may be returning in june for one last time!!!

[WeezinGeezer 2]

I don't drink yet I averaged $40 per day in bar tabs on my last two trips in 2003. Then there was the $60 per day for the girls. I eat cheap and the hotels cost less the the puppy hotel here for my dog. I'm an old fart on holiday so I do liberally spread the lady drinks around. On the way in 10 days.

[Emil 0]

As mentioned earlier the Soi Dog, I mean Soi 7 does it on 20,000 a month. Not only doesn't he drink alcohol he has a live in GF so he's not spending money on barfines and lady drinks. When he was renting his place it cost him about 4500 baht a month. With a girlfriend he also has many of his meals cooked at his place and she does the laundry. He doesn't have any baht bus cost because he's not afraid of walking and in the process lost over 20 kilos. He's almost a monk because he doesn't butterfly although I wonder about Emma. There are ways to keep your costs down if you know your way around Pattaya and how the system works. If your going to Pattaya to shag it can be done on your budget, if your going there to drink it can't be done.

Edited March 5, 2006 by Emil

[PigBoy#1 28]

Newbies mostly spent too much money becouse 'its so damn cheap'.

And thats the big problem: Dont compare pattaya/thailand with your home town. If you pay 200$ for 30 minutes in your hometown then you might think that 100$ for 1 hour is a bargain. Dont make this fault. Check the prices carefully first so you know how much you have to give a girl.

Food/Drinks are cheap, rent a appartment and you dont need more then 100$ a day including girls. Without girls only 10% of it

I am just the opposite. This is my 9th trip to Thailand and every trip I spend more per day. I also earn quite a bit more so that helps. Tonight my budget for food, drinks and TG is 10,000 to 14,000 baht. Yes I buy a lot of lady drinks. My first trip in 2000 I allowed myself 4000 baht per day. If I were to stay in LOS for 6 months, my budget would be about 3000 baht per night.

 

Ty_

[neil324 0]

Done a 4 month trip and a 2 month, about 1000 per month is about right to budget, but you need to spend as little on accommadation as possible about 10000 per month somewhere on soi buckhow

[York 0]

I did a 6 month trip few years back. It wasn't bad at all for 40,000 baht (US$1,000)per month, I lived very comfortably.There is a BIG difference between being a tourist or expat. If you live in Thailand, everything is much cheaper since you know where to go to get the best prices on everything. And you don't go out every night. After awhile, you get tired and bored going out drinking and buying p-ssy everyday. In the early years, I used to spend much more to impress bar girls and other farangs but after awhile, you learn your lesson and cool down and live and spend more reasonably. This happens to most farangs. Bar girls and farang owner love those "suckers", especially to newbie to Thailand. Many farangs who hadn't had women in years in their own country go crazy in Thailand with young bar girls 1/2 or 1/3 his age. And when the money runs out, they get very depressed and suicidal. Read PattayMail newspaper for sad stories.

 

My expenses on my 6 month trip was;

 

1. Rent 5,000 baht/month for condo.

2. Food 100-300 bhat per day.

3. Short-time 500 baht plus bar fine 200 baht.

4. Transportation 20-50 bhat per day.

5. Drinking 100-500 baht per day.

6. Other entertainment/costs 100-500 baht per day.

7. I got a live-in girlfriend later on and cost me 6,000 per month.

 

There are thousands and thousands of expat retirees living on 20,000-30,000 bhat per month and live very comfortably. They stay on "Thai side" of Pattaya and don't adventure out to tourist area except during happy hours. Checkout Soi Buaukow to 3rd road and beyond for best prices. It all depends on your lifestyle.

Edited March 12, 2006 by York