I am not a fan of Pattaya. Too much vice related activites there and the place is controlled by Russian mafias.
How about Hua Hin? Less vice and almost same distance from Pattaya to Bangkok. Of course Hua Hin is in the South West of Bangkok and Pattaya in the South East.
Acutally Chiang Rai is a good place to retire if you want to venture north.
I am looking at Pattaya because of:
a) the facilities. With so many expats living there, the infrastructure is in place to support them.
b) close proximity to BKK & the airport. In the future there are plans to upgrade the nearby airport to an international airport & connect Pattaya to BKK's MRT system.
c) During the last flood, Pattaya was not flooded.
I haven't been to ALL of LOS just to some of the bigger cities, so that is why I'm still looking.
I doubt there is a single ideal place to retire. As we age our requirements change. Currently I still want access to malls to window shop, the food courts, fast internet,..so I will want to visit BKK. As I get older my priorities may change & I may choose a different city
That is why I'm not rushing to buy property.
I don't have to rush into anything because money wise I'm ok & I still enjoy the travelling. I don't mind the vice activities because you find it everywhere in Spore, Malaysia, Indonesia,.... In Pattaya I notice that there are now fewer bars & they are being pushed out of the central tourists areas being replaced by malls and hotels. The same thing is happening in Geylang.
I'll be making my way to the north soon to look around. Every time I plan a visit to the north I get distracted & end up elsewhere