Pattaya, Thailand or Johor, Malaysia - which and why?

[Chillaxalready]

Anyone living in these areas / kids at school in these areas who could offer some insight into what it's like there?

I'd be ever so grateful - option to move to either and need to decide soon!

I can help with Thailand and Johor, but not Pattaya. Feel free to PM me.

Teaching job? Never lived in Pattaya but not appealing AT ALL. Johor very dull but singapore just across the causeway.

Already worked out to avoid the town itself but areas out of Pattaya look quite nice with loads of activities. Hubby said Johor looked depressingly boring and soulless so we won't be going there!!

I had friends in Johor, they moved there because it was cheaper than singapore but the dh still commuted to singapore for work. Kids went to Marlborough college in Johor, great school (many kids commute there from singapore every day). Much more space than singapore, cheaper to live etc.

I have a friend also who moved from singapore to pattaya. Most expats in Asia view pattaya as one of the least desirable transfers in the region. Mostly oil workers looking for thai girlfriends and famous for its nightlife as far as I have heard..... But still only 2 hours from Bangkok.

DH has looked at the housing near Marlborough College and the distinct lack of anything to do in Johor apart from visit Legoland or go to another country(Singapore) for entertainment and emphatically declined. In his words 'it's not just that it doesn't excite me, but it actively makes me feel depressed at the thought of living there'. Singapore doesn't really appeal much either.
Guess that's a big NO for Johor! Shame, as my job would have been at MCM which looks absolutely fantastic

We're going for Thailand but won't be living in Pattaya itself! So much to do for families and kids in the area and it is so green!! The houses actually have some character...and pools!!

Don't know about schools etc but have been to Thailand on holiday and went to Bangkok and pattaya, pattaya was pretty seedy at the town, lots of lady boys, lady's of the night and everything else you wouldn't want your kids growing up with.

But it was still a fab holiday

On the subject of seediness, you really don't have to engage with that and it certainly isn't invasive in everyday life.
I felt like that before living in Amsterdam ( 1990ies!) and it turned out to be the most peaceful green lifestyle I experienced in a big European city.
Same goes for Bangkok. Everyday family life is completely removed from that. I can only imagine that Pattaya will be the same.
Its great to hear you stand firm with your choice and ready to make the most of it. In my experience it's one of the best ways to make it work!
All the best

At the weekend you can go to Koh Samet which is an island about an hour's drive south of Pattaya- Tubtims resort is really chilled out and cheap(if basic). Nice clean beach and awesome mojitos.

Thanks for some 'positives'! Really Leo's. And laptop, I love Amsterdam too - would be one of my fave European cities, not that I have ever lived there. Just visited frequently...
Maybe we really have made the right choice to reject one of the top schools in SEAsia!!!

Really Leo's?? I meant reassuring! Thanks phone...

Have you accepted Pattaya and rejected Marlborough? I have lived in one and live very near the other. I would opt for Marlborough hands down if you still can.

Marlborough isn't considered one of the top schools in SE Asia!

Mmgirish - apart from Patana,UWC, Tanglin and Alice Smith, what are considered the top schools? Believe those from the U.S. have a completely different list to the Brits also...