I have pictures of downtown Rayong from 1968. It was a sleepy little fishing village just like Pattaya was. I went to the beach with pine trees the trees were no thicker than my arm. There was one little bungalow there. We have a little girl 3 baht for watching our close even though no one else was around. Good times in a beautiful unspoiled country.
I've been to Rayong, twices or 3 times... My uncle stay there... Very nice places & beaches... The city is quite busy... Regards from Federal Territory, Malaysia (🇲🇾)... 🙂👍🏻...
I've been to Rayong and I can tell you it is not clean. The beaches are fine but there is a huge industrial area looming to the north and the air is polluted. Also there is not much to do there. So many other interesting places to visit in Thailand I wouldn't waste my time visiting again. I also had money and my phone stolen but that par for the course throughout Thailand. Many thieves in Thailand unfortunately. And many scams too.
Shame you got your stuff stolen. There is plenty to do around Rayong. Golfcourses, Daytrips to the islands, Loads of local Markets, Suphatraland, Khao Chamao, Ziplines over the djungletop, Bicycling, Waterparks.... If you found it boring there then you did not look around. Rayong has the best weather in thailand, Tsunami free, Close enough to Pattaya to party, but far enough to be calm and friendly.
There are even more serious crimes elsewhere in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Cambodia, mind you. Thailand is considered much safer and more developed in terms of quality of living. You are some of the white Europeans, Australians or Americans who only like to criticize Thailand so much before understanding how much worse it is in other neighboring countries of Thailand.
Nakarin S. I have been 3 times to Krabi ao Nang and felt perfectly safe and welcomed. Hardly saw any police and no crime . Will certainly be going to Thailand again..Love it :)
The beaches are filthy! The crap is thrown in by fishermen and sea gypsies. The water is polluted by ships 'tank washing' and overboard discharges! Your skin after swimming! Koh Samet is nice but a bit of a tourist rip off! The prevailing winds from the South / west blow all the crap from Map Ta Phut to Rayong City. You need to be a certain kind of person to enjoy Rayong beaches! Going inland to look for wild elephants is much better!
