Moving back to Bangkok - but where ?

[torrenova]

A move back to Bangkok is on the cards next year and I'm starting my homework on just where I want to be.

Aside from distance from a BTS/MRT station, I am not sure where I want to be but a decent area with enough going on locally is probably a good barometer.

Not interested in living in P4P ghetto.

Where would you live ?

[think_too_mut]

BKK is a big place. Get something near the shopping malls. Big C or Loutus Tesco. No need to live along the Sukhumvit. Long term, you would not be shopping at the premier supermarkets, like Emporium.

[bust]

Thong Lor Phra Khanong Pratunam Chatuchak

[think_too_mut]

We were renting a condo at Ekkamai (Soi 42), it was a studio, 42sqm, 12,000 THB. Then we moved to Phra Khanong, a brand new 1BR, 46sqm, 20,000 THB. That worked somehow while my wife was attending University. When she graduated, the question came up: why are we here? We don't need SkyTrain anymore, for shopping we still go by car (Rama 4, Lotus).
Then we bought a brand new 2BR, 66sqm, 2bathrooms, 2 balconies, a pool larger than any hotel would have, brand new. Security parking included. Around are Starbucks, KFC, Top supermarket, not less than 6 shops 7-11, walking distance to local cluster of sit down restaurants (Thai office people come there lunch time, en masse), Central Shopping mall, MEGA, Big C, Villa Market. A hospital on pair with Samitivej. You hardly need a car, maybe max 60THB taxi if you really have to venture more than 200m from the compound. New "Yellow line" is 10 mins walk, if needed (never needed so far).
Foreigners renting there told me 15,000 THB for furnished, 13,000 THB unfurnished. Plenty like that in Bangkok.

Last time I went on the SkyTrain was in 2013, to have lunch with my colleagues, Phloenchit, the same office building where the Kokura Hotel is.