Chiang Dao Travel Forum

I am just wondering if Chiang Dao North Thailand would be a suitable location for special type of holiday resort especially targetted for older people ( above 40s and young active retirees ) where they can stay for a week, 4 weeks to even all year round.
Would a 200 units lifestyle resort development ( single and double storey houses only with country clubhouse facilities and landscaped gardens) over 3 years be too large for this place?
Thank you.

My personal opinion would be...
No, it would not be a good location for a retirement home. Even though the town has beautiful suroundings, there are some hazzards:
1. The town has a huge population of drug addicts. During the past few years, several people have been shot in drug related incidents. Two people have just been shot within the past three months.
2. There is a high rate of thefts and break-ins.
3. There have been mixed reports about the small hospital here and people with medical problems should consider Chiang Mai or closer to Chiang Mai for their retirement (I think)
4. Traffic is extremely dangerous on Highway 107 in this area. Big trucks race through town, hardly slowing down for anything.
5. There are not many services for the elderly in Chiang Dao.
6. There are other dangers and anoyances in Chiang Dao, that I would rather not discuss in this friendly forum. The good news is, that the police is taking an active part in ridding itself of the criminal elements. Within a few years, hopefully the town will be cleaned up.

Personally, I could not see myself moving into a resort style seniors home, as mentioned above. Here in Thailand it is so easy to find good, inexpensive help to take care of you and your needs in your own home. Costs are minimal that way... Maybe 4000 - 6000 Baht per month for a live-in maid plus your food and rent if you don't own your own house already. Then you preserve your personal freedom and can choose who looks after you and most likely at a much cheaper rate than a resort would offer.

For people who like living in Senior Resort style accommodations, I would suggest building one close to Chiang Mai in Sen Sai, Hang Dong or maybe out towards Doi Saket. That way, they will have access to more foreigner style restaurants as well as all the big food stores such as Carrefour and Rimping, who carry many items for foreigners. It would also solve the transportation problem, because even though there are buses to Chiang Dao every 30 minutes until 6:30pm and also Song Theaws if you come from out of town, there are no Song Theaws or taxis in Chiang Dao to take you around the area. Someone living in a Senior Style resort, unless they have their own wheels, they would be stranded there or would have to depend on the good will of the management to take them places. (Management in most cases would much rather keep you there, so you spend your money in the resort instead of town, I think)

My personal experience is that I go nuts after a while, if I don't find my own food. If it wasn't for Mon and Kurt's Restaurant and Chiang Dao Nest 1 restaurant, in Chiang Dao, who both serve very good meals, I would not last here for very long.

Chiang Dao is a very beautiful place to visit and a great place to spend a few weeks for a holiday to go trekking of just to kick back without the polution of the city. I would however think twice before moving here.

Globalgypsy