Colonel_Mustard

This having said, glad that I live in Khao Lak, and not in Phuket, more breathing space here.

Whereas I'm glad I live in Phuket and not in Khao Lak. Many more facilities here.

My main gripe about Phuket in the high season is the speed of my golf round. Too many Asian golfers who stroll round at a snail's pace, take 10 practice swings and then don't even hit the ball out of their own shadow. Played 9 this morning and took about 3 hours.

Otherwise high season doesn't affect or bother me too much.

Amanpuri.

If you can afford it, I agree

Yes, it is extremely expensive but it is the best in Phuket IMO.

Amanpuri.

I always get to Surat and overnight sleeper cabin on the train from there. I'm terrified of flying though. If I wasn't, I'd take the plane

Phuket is lovely as long as you can accept traffic like Bangkok

I can only assume you have never been to Phuket or Bangkok if you are seriously comparing the traffic.

I don't miss cat burglars breaking into my house at 4am just because I'm a farang who lives in a farang enclave; I don't miss parking almost anywhere in Patong (except Jungcelylon) only to find that some local thought I was parked in his spot and hence he keyed the paintwork of my car; I don't miss paying at least 30% more for food and drink in bars/restaurants ib Phuket than I pay elsewhere in Thailand; I don't miss the "un-Thainess" of the local population; I don't miss not having access to any semblance of a sensibly priced public transportation system.

I didn't just list positives, I listed facilities that are available here and that are important in my life.

I've lived in Phuket 12 years and of course there are some negatives. I didn't list any of the ones you did though because I was talking about from a personal point of view and they don't really affect my life. I have never yet been burgled, I don't live in a farang enclave, I haven't been to Patong in years, never had my car keyed, don't care about the supposed 'un-Thainess' of the Phuket populace (I say supposed un-Thainess as the locals are as Thai as anywhere else), rarely go to bars anymore and I have my own transport. I'm sure if those things affected me on a regular basis, I'd have a different opinion.

My main negatives here are the lack of a solid education for my kids at reasonable prices, general standard of driving, the weather (I prefer the 4 defined seasons) and I miss some of the activities that were available in places I have lived previously (skiing, opera, ballet, concerts, galleries etc). Having said that, I don't think those things are readily available elsewhere in Thailand either.

So, as I said, for me Phuket remains the best (and possibly only) to live in Thailand at the moment. However, I do understand that that might not be the case for everybody. It all depends on our personal experiences, needs and expectations.

<snip>

it still remains the best place to live in Thailand IMO.

I sincerely hope that's not true.

It is for me.

International schools, golf courses, shopping, sport and leisure centres, air quality, airport, nightlife, beautiful beaches, scenery etc.

Here you can pretty much choose the life you wish to lead. There are deserted beaches and packed beaches, lively nightlife, quiet nightlife. It's pretty much all here. There are of course some negatives but they rarely impact upon my life and there is no other part of Thailand where I could live the life I presently enjoy.

Of course when the kids grow up and I no longer have the desire to go to the beach/play golf/tennis etc, my opinion may change but for me, and for now it is still by far the best place in Thailand to live.

Oh dear. Are you sure you want to come here? Maybe reconsider your nick name?

He had no choice with the nickname, he has to defend the fact he supports Man u somehow.

I noticed that. His username and avatar are somewhat of a contradiction.

Anyway, it sounds as if you're looking at the Samkong area which I think is a decent enough area to be in Phuket Town. Close to shopping, restaurants, bars, hospitals etc.

Good luck with the move. There's a lot of negative stuff spouted on here about Phuket, and, while some of it is no doubt deserved, it still remains the best place to live in Thailand IMO.

Anything Australian will be good. Always is.

Except wine, beer, tattoo parlour sharpshooters or anything else for that matter

Never. I'm quite happy here and I might well end up spending the rest of my days here but I don't think I'll ever really think of it as my home.

Czech Republic. Wonderful country, beautiful women, amazing beer and food, great fishing and skiing, proper weather, too many great places there to mention.

I do miss it.

I think you all still missed the point, I cant speak for all government schools but the one i'm refering to is a good school, I cannot say its not when it is.

Obviously you have been quite fortunate in finding a good Thai school for your kids. Given the opportunity, I would say most expats would prefer a decent international school.

Anyway best of luck to them at their present place. There's a lot to be said for just being happy at school, regardless of what kind it is.

I send my kids to an international school as it is the best education available in Thailand at the present time. They are very expensive though and if I couldn't afford it, I'd maybe try one of the private Chritian schools, or relocate back home but I would never send my children to a Thai state school. The standard of education there is simply awful.

I know of a good one that I have used for over 10 years and he's always completed. I think his company is flat out on a hotel in Trang though at the moment.

I'll tell you why. Because the crimes committed in New Orleans are mostly in black neighborhoods and black on black. New Orleans is also a corrupt city - very much so in relationship to other US cities. In many ways it could be compared to Pattaya or Phuket. Gangs, corruption, tourism etc. Too bad Katrina couldn't finish off the job properly. Been there 5 or 6 times, its a cesspool. Would never go back.

So what happened the first 4 or 5 times? Or are you a slow learner?

Probably like most other people. Saw the place in a slow but consistent downward spiral of crime and violence and has decided enough is enough and will never go back.

True. I've been here nearly ten years. The consistent downward spiral of crime and violence in Phuket has crept up on me, but hopefully I see it now and it's not too late to get out.

Where to then?

A disturbing example of the type of outcome that 50KTHB can buy in Phuket.

50,000 baht will buy you that type of outcome everywhere in Thailand.

A disturbing example of the type of outcome that 50KTHB can buy in Phuket.

Ahh, the middle of last year we had an Australian women stabbed through her heart to pay a 300 baht bar bill.

You can be killed for a lot less than 50k here.

And anywhere else in Thailand (and it must be said anywhere in the world).

mmmmmmmmm.. such detail where was this fire? can you please tell us ...

I thought the same. I've never seen an actual event written on a forum in such a format. At first I thought I was reading an extract from a poorly written novel.

Well this is typical of Phuket and i might add Pataya. Maybe even in some places in Bkk and Chiang Mai - Chaing Rai.

Well a quick perusal of the first page of the TVF "News and Events" Chiang Mai forum shows 3/29 posts concerning a crime or death whereas the Phuket page has 21/29. You do the math.

A lot has to do with reporting. Phuket has many news sources that pick up on everything. Chiang Mai reporting isn't as thorough.

Look at over the New Year period. We had 3 threads on traffic accidents in Phuket whereas nothing on the Chiang Mai forum, yet Chiang Mai had quite a few more road deaths during that period.

If you can read the Thai newspapers, you'll see that plenty of violent crime occurs all over Thailand that is not reported on these forums unless it involves tourists or expats. The exceptions seem to be the Phuket and Pattaya forums, where pretty much everything is reported.

Phuket and Pattaya obviously have their problems but it would be naive to think that violent crime is somehow unique to those areas.

Anyway we should get back to the topic of the thread. RIP.

What I'd like to know is how your school fees at PIA are only 50k per month. I have 4 kids there and it costs me the best part of 200,000 per month.

Maybe you misunderstood my reply but it was quickly written without all details.

Its 50k x 2 so 100k a month so you're not getting ripped off.

That's a shame. I was hoping I could negotiate for some lower fees

What I'd like to know is how your school fees at PIA are only 50k per month. I have 4 kids there and it costs me the best part of 200,000 per month.

Overall I'd say our monthly budget (including schooling) would work out around 400,000+ per month.

I know a good builder in Phuket but think he's pretty fully occupied with a hotel construction at present. Maybe you could PM me the details (location, scale of job, time scale etc) and I'll see if he's interested.

So Mr Walen returns yet doesn't answer any of the legitimate questions about the Chiang Rai school that have been asked since his last visit, just replies to a 'hater' and a fanboy? Strange!

Fair point.

The North of Thailand is nice and with cooler weather. I bought some land in Chiang Rai and feel tempted to head that way when my kids finish at school here but the air quality there is a bit off putting.

I didn't think much of Hua Hin, Chumpon or any of that coast to be honest. Alright for a short holiday but wouldn't fancy living there. Same with Bali and most of the the rest of SE Asia.

I guess for me it would either be Phuket, Bangkok or back to Europe (though I wouldn't mind Singapore if there were better visa options for me).

At the end of the day, it all depends on your personal circumstances. For me it's still hard to beat Phuket at the present time.

i just came back from cha am, i do not know what words to describle it but definitely not quiet. if you went to the beach in early morning, the whole place is filled with thrashs, looks like tornado aftermath scene. maybe its the high season, its very crowded with lots of locals and tourist are behaving like barbarians.

Well Hua Hin is quiet. Honestly, if you found Cha Am too action packed, I dare say what you would describe Phuket as.

Look, I know I am a keener on the Hua Hin area, but that being said, it is cleaner, quieter, more civilized, more affordable and downright much better than Phuket or Koh Samui. I have yet to see any riff raff. My worst experience was in the local Burger King where I popped in to purchase an imitation milk shake last friday, and there were some well dressed Indian males engaged in a conversation, which entailed screaming at each other.

Plenty of quieter areas in Phuket and Samui. The OP also seems interested in the beaches and sea and frankly Hua Hin cannot compete with either on this front.

Hu a Hin is fine for what it is (and it is more affordable) but there are reasons that the majority of expats and holidaymakers choose other locations.