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What are some chill and trendy areas near Bangkok for expats looking for an authentic experience without needing to go downtown?

Bangkok Expats Living in Thailand Beaches near Bangkok Trendy neighborhoods Non-touristy areas Public transportation Visa and immigration questions

Jun 25, 2024

8 months ago

Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hey everyone! I grew up in big cities so don't have much interest staying in downtown Bangkok. Does anyone know of a place on the outskirts if the city that's chill and trendy but also authentic and not too far on the BTS from the beach?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post seeks recommendations for chill and trendy areas on the outskirts of Bangkok that maintain an authentic vibe, particularly for expats not interested in staying in downtown Bangkok. Various comments highlight that there are no beaches within Bangkok, with the nearest being two hours away. Suggestions include locations like Bang Saen Beach, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Cha-am. The conversation underscores the rarity of finding a combination of trendy and authentic, and that suitable areas are accessible via public transport.

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Vitico ********

Look up central bangna mall or seacon square srinagarindra/train market. Far enough from downtown to be chill and not touristy and have “authentic” thai neighborhoods but still enough cool places for food and shopping and subway and public transportation nearby. No beaches in Bangkok though.

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Vitico *******

Thanks a lot for this man. i really appreciate the help. Quick question, did you visit Thailand before making the leap or just took a leap of faith?

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Vitico ********

@Jan ****************

yeah of course you should just visit a few times first. I would come every winter and summer for a few weeks. Its much easier to move here once you are familiar with the city and know your way around. You would not want to do that being completely lost. Come a few times just to visit first

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Vitico ********

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Marisa ********************

Stay in khanom or sichon nakhon sri thammat, krabe, surat thani 50mins to khanom..Sriracha near to pattaya and Ranong..(beach area).

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Connor *******

A beach close to the BTS? Have you ever looked at a map?

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Oh, I see, you're right! Because the BTS has those secret doors that lead straight to the beach. Forget about the map, I’ll just follow the signs for "Sandy Shores Express" next time!

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Connor *******

@Jan ****************

You have terrible reading comprehension.

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Connor *******

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Duncanc **********

Chonburi

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Armando **********

There is no beach in Bangkok. Have to go to jomtien beach in Pattaya for that.

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Rob **********

Try Cha-am, definitely chilled out, has a nice beach and only a 2 hour drive to Bangkok.

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John ***********

I can imagine you joining the line for BTS tickets in your bikini and sunnies, with your towel draped over your shoulder as you flip-flop your way to the platform to catch your train to the beach. (Sorry - just realised you're a bloke!). I am going to give Hua Hin a try this time after a couple of weeks in Bangkok. I think you'd be happier there too. It's the rainy season so you might be spending a lot of time indoors.

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Greg *********

Koh BKK is beautiful this time of year 🏝

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Mike *******

There are no beaches in Bangkok. Your best (closest) option is Bang Saen Beach. Depending on time of day, it’s about 70 to 90 minutes driving time, and you can take an AOT “Limousine” from BKK Airport (I recall it’s 2,000-2:500 Baht one way, but it’s much easier to arrange your return trip at the same time). In Bang Saen, accommodation near the roundabout is most central to everything. Good luck.

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Tysm for this

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Mike *******

@Jan ****************

No worries. Enjoy.

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Mike *******

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Luc ************

Ah first timers 🤪😄

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Luc ***********

Every veteran traveller was once a first timer.

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Linhof *********

@Jan ****************

this group is whack, grain of salt

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Linhof ********

How so?

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Linhof *********

@Jan ****************

commenters

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Linhof *********

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Andreas *********

a BTS station near a beach? There is nothing such, The fartest the BTS can carry you is KEHA station. from there, a taxi ride can get to the the shoreside

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Robert *********

What month?

A combo bud ferry gets to super chill Koh kood no mass tourism

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert ********

August

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Robert *********

@Jan ****************

then not Koh kood ,enjoy

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Robert *********

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Stéfan ********

Trendy and authentic is a rare combination. Maybe Kanchanaburi?

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Karim ***************

@Stéfan *******

I would say Chiang Mai… Beaches everywhere 🤣

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Stéfan ********

@Karim **************

true 5555. I ignored that one.

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Stéfan ********

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AliJames *****

Singapore

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Kami ******

🤣🤣🤣

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Kami ******

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Tin **********

Hau hin

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Juha *******

Hau Hau is better 🐕

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Juha *******

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Martin *****

There's no bts near any beach...

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Marc ********

What beach?

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Doesn't matter

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Marc ********

@Jan ****************

There is no beach in bangkok, either Pattaya or Hua hin. Cloest nice beaches I'd say are down on Koh Chang and the islands close by. Still with flying and ground transportation not a day trip. Check out some youtube videos.

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Ok this helps! Tysm

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Jan *****************

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Braulio *********

Oh please

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Braulio ********

oh please

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Karim ***************

@Jan ****************

pretty strange post.

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Karim **************

What's strange about asking a simple question ❓

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Jan *****************

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Michael ***********

Jomtien

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Robert *********

@Michael **********

he said chill ...

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Karim ***************

@Robert ********

it is…

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Robert *********

@Karim **************

seriously?

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Robert *********

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Bonnie *******

Pattaya!

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Joseph *********

Jomtien

Plenty of units listed under View Talay for 8000 to

*****

THB/M

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Robert *********

did you see the chill part?

Definately not chill

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Jon ********

@Robert ********

out by the Lake it’s as chill as it gets…nice living .

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Robert *********

you obviously have not traveled Thailand ...only tourist land

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Jon ********

@Robert ********

I have lived in Thailand for 10 years, 3 of those years in Pattaya....you are clueless about Pattaya.

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Robert *********

lived there for 6 years .

It has its charm

Being laid back is not one of them

Welcome to your opinion

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Jon ********

@Robert ********

Well you have obviously never been to Lake Maphrachan......and your opinion.....LOL !

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Jon ********

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Karim ***************

@Robert ********

dark side! 🤣

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Karim ***************

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Michael ********

Talat Phlu can get train to hua hin from there

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James *********

Try Pattaya

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@James ********

I will! TYSM 🙏🏻

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Jan *****************

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Nongnuch ********

there is nothing like a "beach" in the vicinity south of Bangkok, still within Bangkok. You have to drive over 100 kilometers before you hit the first sandy beaches outside of Bangkok. The coastline east and west used to be Mangroves, which have mostly been eradicated and replaced with industry and shrimp farms. So if you want to be near a beachside, the next opportunity is moving either to Bang Saen Beach, or to Hua Hin

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Jan *****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

Hua non sounds nice. Thanks so much for your insight 🙏🏻

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Jan *****************

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Nigel **************

The nearest beach is a 2 hour drive from Bkk

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Nongnuch ********

@Nigel *************

it's 105 kilometers and one hour from Central Bangkok to Bang Saen Beach, which is the first real "sandy beach" in the south of Bangkok. However from Bangkok to Cha Am, it is a 2.5 hours ride

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Jeffrey **********

@Nongnuch *******

if you're driving at 3:00 a.m. on a Sunday that might be true most other times their traffic and it takes quite a bit longer

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Nigel **************

@Jeffrey *********

yeah I think Bang Saen would be at least 1.5 hours on a good day.

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Nigel **************

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Nigel **************

@Nongnuch *******

nowhere near the BTS either 😅😅😅😅

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Nigel **************

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Tom ********

Bangkok riverside

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Oliver ********

The beach?

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Oliver ********

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