5 Things You Won't Miss if You Move to Thailand

You might think moving to somewhere as far away as Thailand would mean detaching from your favorite American pastimes and saying goodbye to your most precious comfort zones.

But you'd be wrong.

Many of my favorite things to do and places to hang out back in the US are available, and some are even more enjoyable here in the Land of Smiles!

1. Shopping Malls

During my last visit to the US, I witnessed the slow death of shopping malls, an American institution I've always been fond of. Many of my favorite places to eat, shop, see movies, and people-watch were closing.

In the city where I live now, we have Central Festival Pattaya, a seven-floor oceanfront monument to the retail gods complete with two floors of food, a state-of-the-art cineplex, and a Hilton Hotel built in.

You'll find lots of modern, air conditioned malls in Thailand packed with stores both familiar and exotic.|©Bart Walters

However, if you want the ultimate mall experience, you'll need to visit Bangkok's Siam Paragon, which has Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World, the largest aquarium in Southeast Asia, in the basement floor. While there, you could dine at a dozen or so five-star restaurants, then take the escalator to the top floor and shop for a new Rolls Royce or Lamborghini.

While in Bangkok you should experience the granddaddy of all malls, Icon Siam on the Chaophraya River. It looks like a giant spaceship from the planet "Retailia" landed and established a colony on the riverfront. During my last visit I witnessed the Van Gogh Alive Exhibit, an immersive digital art experience celebrating the life and works of the Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh.

2. Grocery Stores

People who like to cook must see all those photos of open-air markets in Thailand and think, "Oh my God, do they have real grocery stores there?" Don't worry, there are plenty of regular grocery stores here too.

In my city, we have a Makro Pro Hypermarket the size of an airplane hangar, along with franchised supermarkets like Foodland, Villa Market, Tops, Lotus, and the massive Big C Supercenter, which is similar to a Walmart.

But there are some differences.

There are no tempting "BOGO" promotions for Entenman's donuts greeting you at the door or obnoxious brand ambassadors offering you a sample of some processed meat on a toothpick.

The produce is fresh, the staff is competent, and you can buy a whole fish with the head on. Grocery stores in Thailand are clean, fully stocked, well organized, and customer service-oriented.

3. Coffee Shops

Coffee shops like Branch Coffee Blue Beach allow you to take in beautiful sea views with your morning coffee. |©Bart Walters

Because Thailand is a coffee-producing country, Coffee Culture is a big deal here. I have three independent shops in a weekly rotation that includes my favorite waterfront cafe, Branch Coffee Blue Beach, and my socializing spot on Pratumnak Hill, King of Coffee.

But when I crave an old-school coffee shop experience, I head to Buakhao Market in South Pattaya and settle in at Benjamit Coffee Roasters. Java junkies from all over the planet congregate for their special espresso roast, homemade cakes, and impeccable service. It's a classic cafe right out of a Ludlum spy novel. The coffee is flawless, and the people-watching is epic. The frenetic energy of the open-air market… the chaotic clamor of a half dozen languages… someone might even be wearing a turban or have a pet monkey.

4. Sports Bars

Because we live 12 hours ahead of the US, you'd think watching your favorite sports live would be a challenge. But in Thailand, most sports bars are open early for breakfast. I had never seen the end of a Monday Night Football game until I moved to Thailand and it became Tuesday Morning Football. We just replace beer and chicken wings with coffee and Eggs Benedict. (Okay, possibly a Bloody Mary or two).

My local sports bar is Fraser's in Jomtien Beach, a spread-out sports palace that seats over 160 people. This week, I witnessed a packed house at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Half were watching an NFL playoff game, and the other half were young Russians who came to see a big UFC event. The vast majority of patrons at Fraser's are not Americans, so I've learned all about Rugby, Cricket, Snooker, and this nutty game called Australian Rules Football.

Tuesday Morning Football at Fraser's sports bar in Jomtien Beach, Thailand. |©Bart Walters

5. Holidays

Living on the other side of the planet can be tough when it's the family holiday time of year. However, since living in Thailand I've had some remarkable Christmas seasons.

My most memorable Christmas dinner ever was with three good expat friends of mine in Pattaya. One each from Norway, Australia, and Macon, GA. We'd been invited by Chef Ray, a big happy German who was a part of our gang as well. The meal was classic old-school European fare with Christmas Goose and Georgian wine.

By far, my best Christmas celebration was just last year in 2024, when I attended a party at the Take Care Kids Foundation, an orphanage and foster home for children rescued from human trafficking and abusive families. I wrote a story about them two years ago and was excited to visit their new facility near Bang Sare.

Of course, there was an appearance by Old St. Nick, complete with presents for all the kids. Christmas music playing… children squealing with joy… and lots of good food. It was just the right amount of Christmas for me.

If you're considering a move overseas but worry about culture shock or have fear of missing out on your favorite stuff, you should relax, we've got plenty of comfort zones in Thailand. You might even find them more comfortable here.