Thinking to move to Phuket from Los Angeles :)

[XtraFly]

Hi There,

 

I'm 36 years old US Citizen I own my online company and can run it from anywhere online so no problem with the income part here. I'm very familiar with the covid situation and Bs' happening now with the sandbox so I'm thinking to visit by November or even January hopefully the image will be clearer, my questions are (and feel free to respond directly to my inbox) I really appreciate you in advance.

 

 I like to live in a nice quite clean safe high end neighborhood by the beach or close to the beach, and when I need the nightlife and hustle and bustle I can go to Patong, etc.

 

1- Is Kamala Beach area a good, clean and safe area or no ?

2- Do you recommend areas in Phuket for me to consider based on my preferences ?

3- How's the mosquito situation there lol?

4- How's the Internet connectivity and wifi at homes with good fast plan ? reliable ?

5- Where do most Americans/ Europeans live in Phuket ? (families and older crowd 30+)

6- Can I find Italian, Indian, Persian, Arabic, greek food easily there or it's mainly Thai food ?

7- Do you lose water and power on regular basis there or it's reliable ? (asking since it's an island)

8- Do you get hot water for showers there easily and does it lasts during the shower ? (sorry I know my questions are interesting)

9- What made you guys move from America or Europe, etc. ?

10- Are you happy/happier there compared to where you moved from, or you have doubts or regrets?

 

Thanks

[utalkin2me]

You shouldn’t necessarily say you are working online when you come here. 

The foreign food isn’t going to be nearly as good as what you can get now, but it’s passable. It’ll be worse and a lot more expensive. But the Thai food will be good, of course. 
 

The cold water is warm, but you will always have warm water. I don’t live in Phuket but did have power go out a few times when I was there during a storm. 
 

I think you can be happier there, for example, if your life just revolves around say scuba diving, and you are currently land locked room somewhere with crappy scuba conditions. I don’t think people just become happier when they move there though… I’d lean more towards it is filled with unhappy people who live there and have realized they are unhappy there too. 

Seem like a genuine op, so I will be genuine, I think your biggest problem will be with other foreigners. I also think Phuket is basically the worst of Thailand when it comes to Thai people. The businesses there and the taxi services are just completely gonna see you as an atm. It’s much better in other parts of the country, you can actually have authentic interactions. 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

What inspired you to think about Phuket?

Did you visit Phuket or at least Thailand before? For weeks or months?

 

Thailand is very different from "the west". Some people get used to it, others get crazy trying.

And Thais can be very nice people and they can get very fast very aggressive. Use one of those 4 letter words which many Americans love with the wrong Thai person and you are lucky if you only end up in a hospital.

 

And especially about Phuket. It's a (allegedly) mafia controlled island. Basically everybody will overcharge you, and some will overcharge many 100%. A short ride with a taxi in Phuket is probably more expensive than in the USA.

 

So better think about your priorities and why you want to go there. There is more to Phuket than white beaches.

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Went there in 2008 for first trip--planned on a month stay--was done in a week------never went back....settled up north in CNX...too many jaded thais down south

I was there first time in 1993 after I was in Koh Samui for 10 days. Koh Samui was relaxed and fun. Phuket, or at least Patong, was at that time already a ripoff. 

About 10 years ago I had to go for business to Patong for one day and I decided to add a weekend holiday to my Friday business. On Saturday I wanted already to fly back to Bangkok.

 

I am sure if people live there long enough they will get used to some things. And it's for sure a good idea to have your own transport (probably a bike and a car). But there are definitely lots of nicer places in Thailand with a lot less hassle.

[zzzzz]

phuket is a lovely destination to move to for a week, month or years ( I've been here for over 34 years, ( past 21 in Kamala)>
plenty of great restaurants, good choices for accommodation starting as low as 5,000 baht/month up to 200,000/
interest 200 gig up and down 600 baht
Hot water??

People do NOT rip you off as much as some her think<

Expats living all over the island
YES taxis are expensive, but if you live here you will buy a motorcycle or car so who cares what they charge?

Lots of things to see and do, especially if you love the water.

 

Give it a try BUT dont burn any bridges back home

[Dart12]

Take a month or two and stay several places in Thailand to make your choice.  Tourist towns rent is 1/3 of what it was.

My answers are Thailand , not phuket only.

Food choices not going to be great per what you asked.  But you can find what you want in the western focused areas like phuket.

Nothing is as it was right now.  Everything is closed.  America might be better if you have and like an active life.
I don't.  I am online all day, work out, hang wiith the lil Miss after.

You are not a citizen, so buck up to the rules.  ie.  You get a sniff of covid here, to go to covid jail and pay 100k baht for the privilege.

All that said, you'll fine all the first world ameneties you want and need work just as good as home.  

I'm considering going home because Thailand has no plan, and are locking down more and more for even just 90 deaths a day out of 70,000,000 people .  Almost 0 statistically.  It's gonna get worse numbers wise...so what will they do next?  idk.

That said, I'm staying as I like it here, I like that the morals and philosophy are more 1995 than woke 2021 cancel culture.

But honestly, again, I live a boring life.   I was already in my house by lockdown curfew time of 9pm lol.  So I only get crabby is when they take my avenues to health away, and covid jail sentences don't excite me either.

If non covid I give it a two thumbs up to get over here, though.

[digibum]

What kind of visa do you plan on getting?  Truthfully, that will likely be your biggest issue residing in Thailand long-term.  
 

Given you didn’t mention a visa, I’ll assume you don’t have that part figured out and you’ll likely be paying some dodgy visa agent to get you some BS visa like a volunteer visa or you’ll go the ED visa route for a few years before the Thai government says you’ve overstayed your welcome.  
 

So, be aware of that reality.  Under 50, not married to a Thai citizen, unless you’re working and have a work permit in Thailand, your life will be based on dodgy visas and you’ll constantly be one visa renewal away from being kicked out.  
 

Why did you pick Kamala?  It’s fine, but your reason for choosing it might give some insight into what other parts of the island may suit you better (or equally).  
 

If you’re worried about mosquitos, SEA isn’t for you.  LOL.  
 

Internet connectivity is something you can easily Google.  
 

There is no one place expats live.  Again, this is really basic stuff you can Google.

 

Cherngtalay, Kathu, Surin, Bangtao, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai, Chalong, Phuket Town.  There’s some overlap as some areas are regions rather than towns but Google them.   
 

People choose different parts of the island for different reasons.  
 

For instance, I prefer Rawai because of the community and beach-town feel.  
 

Some people don’t like Rawai because it doesn’t have a westward (sunset) facing beach and Rawai beach itself is not really a sandy lounging beach.  
 

But for me, it’s fine because Nai Harn beach is close by and I can be in Kata in 10 minutes if I want to watch a sunset.   
 

In terms of food, again, easily googleable.  Literally, pull up Google Maps for Kamala and zoom in at the restaurants around there.  
 

I don’t mean to sound like a jerk but it sounds like you need to spend a little more time doing research.   
 

I say that because being an expat is more than just moving somewhere different.  
 

You don’t have the lifelines you have back home.  
 

You often have to figure stuff out on your own. 
 

The people most enthusiastic to help you often do not have your best interests at heart.   
 

You have to do your own research so you can sift through what people are telling you and figure out what’s helpful and what’s BS.  
 

This kind of post tends to get the best response when you’ve narrowed things down and you need specific recommendations.  
 

Like, rather than asking about internet connectivity, you’ll likely get a more helpful response if you’re asking about the differences in service between True and 3BB.  
 

Also, based on your last few questions, it sounds like this may be your first time living overseas.  
 

I would recommend that you come here on an extended vacation first.  
 

Spend six months or a year.  Leave your lifelines at home in place in case it’s not for you.  
 

Expat life isn’t for everyone.  

[LivinginKata]

You must define which part of Phuket you want to live. Phuket offers many different life styles.  Phuket town is closest we have to city life. Patong is party life.  Family style tourist beaches like Karon and Kata. Working fishing towns like Rawai and Chalong. Kamala is a mix of working and tourist. The northerm end more rural and quiet.

 

Forget about all this rip off nonsense. That does not happen once you learn the ropes, buy your own vehicle, know wher to shop and eat out. All the many beaches are fantastic, especially now as empty. Internet is as fast as you want to pay for. I pay less than 700 baht for 3BB fiber 50 Gigs, Problems are solved at most by next day from phone call service number and they do speak English.

 

For sure there are power out  especially when heavy rain and transformers short, but electric truck rolls out in an hour and pop the fuse back in.  Water supply is usually Ok but check with land lord before you make a long term lease. Hot water depends on accommodation style. At least an instant hot water shower unit. At best full hot/cold throughout house, all sinks, showers, etc.

 

Take you time, look about all the areas, try a few short term rentals, find a good land lord/owner. I arrived Phuket 26 years ago on a 6 day  break and settled  here right away.  Full timer. 

[digibum]

32 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I was there first time in 1993 after I was in Koh Samui for 10 days. Koh Samui was relaxed and fun. Phuket, or at least Patong, was at that time already a ripoff. 

Patong is like the Las Vegas Strip.  
 

Nobody that lives in Vegas lives on the Strip.  Most of the casino staff lives in residential communities 10 - 20 miles outside of Vegas.  
 

If you go to Rawai or Chalong and talk to people there, many of them haven’t been to Patong in months or sometimes years.   

 

37 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And it's for sure a good idea to have your own transport (probably a bike and a car).

Other than maybe going to the airport and not wanting to leave your car/bike there, local expats don’t really interface with the taxi mafias because they do have their own transport.  
 

I feel this is one of those things that gets a little blown out of proportion by digital nomads who, really, aren’t expats and never buy their own transportation here, so they do a lot of complaining about the lack of public transportation.  

[J Town]

1 hour ago, utalkin2me said:

<snip>
Seem like a genuine op, so I will be genuine, I think your biggest problem will be with other foreigners. I also think Phuket is basically the worst of Thailand when it comes to Thai people. The businesses there and the taxi services are just completely gonna see you as an atm. It’s much better in other parts of the country, you can actually have authentic interactions. 

 

I lived in Phuket for a month and can absolutely attest to this. Glad I had the experience, more glad that I moved away.

[OneMoreFarang]

45 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Finally visited pattaya after 12 yearly visits to LOS...left the next day...not my scene.....nor is the south as a whole..ripoff

Try Phuket and you will love Pattaya.

[OneMoreFarang]

38 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

YES taxis are expensive, but if you live here you will buy a motorcycle or car so who cares what they charge?

And what do you do if you go out for a few drinks?

Maybe you think 500B for taxi is not much if you spend 5000 for drinks. But personally I hate it when I know people rip me off - anywhere in this world. In many places people can avoid those rip-offs. It seems in Phuket you have to live with them. 

[TimBKK]

21 minutes ago, digibum said:

What kind of visa do you plan on getting?  Truthfully, that will likely be your biggest issue residing in Thailand long-term.  
 

Given you didn’t mention a visa, I’ll assume you don’t have that part figured out and you’ll likely be paying some dodgy visa agent to get you some BS visa like a volunteer visa or you’ll go the ED visa route for a few years before the Thai government says you’ve overstayed your welcome.  
 

So, be aware of that reality.  Under 50, not married to a Thai citizen, unless you’re working and have a work permit in Thailand, your life will be based on dodgy visas and you’ll constantly be one visa renewal away from being kicked out.   

Elite visa would get him sorted.  Google it.

[thaibeachlovers]

50 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I was there first time in 1993 after I was in Koh Samui for 10 days. Koh Samui was relaxed and fun. Phuket, or at least Patong, was at that time already a ripoff. 

About 10 years ago I had to go for business to Patong for one day and I decided to add a weekend holiday to my Friday business. On Saturday I wanted already to fly back to Bangkok.

 

I am sure if people live there long enough they will get used to some things. And it's for sure a good idea to have your own transport (probably a bike and a car). But there are definitely lots of nicer places in Thailand with a lot less hassle.

We might have been there at the same time. It was the first place I was scammed at, and by a policeman no less.

However I did like the place and Phi Phi and went back many times.

 

By the end of the century I despised the place and only went back after the tsunami as wanted to see how bad it was and got a great deal on a newly refurbished hotel.

Couldn't believe how devastated Phi Phi was. I couldn't even work out where the places I'd stayed were.

 

Regardless, IMO it's a mistake to decide where to live in LOS till one has tried different places for longer than a few days.

[rumak]

Please remember :   Who goes to Phuket stays in Phuket 

 

public service announcement from    LTELE  

[chalawaan]

If I had a dollar for every falang that moved to Phuket, got handed their butt financially, then ended up in a far better part of Thailand, I'd be the CEO of TAT. ????

[In Full Agreement]

1 hour ago, utalkin2me said:

I don’t think people just become happier when they move there though… I’d lean more towards it is filled with unhappy people who live there and have realized they are unhappy there too. 

 

Well put.   Thailand is definitely  not the panacea some seekers are hoping to find.

[rumak]

Sorry,   Rumak's cynical little demon is having a laugh today.    It is nice that some of you ( even some i like  lol)   are giving well-meaning advice and pointers to yet another (possible) newcomer.   Note: why do the newbies , first post, always have names like XtrA FLY   or  UniTraveler   or ???   say what ?

 

I mean Jerry  would do, no ?    WELL, anyways,   the good advice can be read by some of the more recent

newcomers,  like 6 months to 2.years  and can help to add to their experiences.

As for the true newbie walking off the plane... and even many i meet who have been here a while........

Some get it ,  some never will.    And some are somewhere in the middle. 

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, XtraFly said:

1- Is Kamala Beach area a good, clean and safe area or no ?

I visited Kamala for the Fantasea experience. Nice enough but I wouldn't live there.

 

Any place in Thailand is only quiet till someone opens an all night karaoke or some such.

It's never advisable to advertise one is wealthy in LOS. Many were living on a pittance, and it has to be very much worse now.

2 hours ago, XtraFly said:

6- Can I find Italian, Indian, Persian, Arabic, greek food easily there or it's mainly Thai food ?

The closest to Italian I've seen is Pizza Hut, but others may have seen the real deal.

Never seen Persian or Greek, but others may have.

 

 

 

The place for Arabic food has to be Pattaya, as full of Arabs. Also Sukhumvit Rd in Bkk at the Soi 3 end.

Personally, I've never seen the point of moving to Thailand and then just eating western food.

 

They often have no idea about making western food, so it behooves one to eat what they do make well. Eg, my "egg salad" consisted of .................. boiled egg slices.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, XtraFly said:

 

8- Do you get hot water for showers there easily and does it lasts during the shower ? (sorry I know my questions are interesting)

Most hot water showers in LOS use an electric on the wall heater, so as long as the water runs and the electricity is on one gets hot water.

 

Pays to check that the unit is earthed and has a safety cut out as people have died from unearthed/ unsafe shower heaters.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 minutes ago, rumak said:

Sorry,   Rumak's cynical little demon is having a laugh today.    It is nice that some of you ( even some i like  lol)   are giving well-meaning advice and pointers to yet another (possible) newcomer.   Note: why are the newbies , first post, always have names like XtrA FLY   or  UniTraveler   or ???   say what ?

Indeed. Sometimes they are pretty obvious, and other times not so, but I see nothing wrong in giving benefit of the doubt.

[thaibeachlovers]

51 minutes ago, digibum said:

Also, based on your last few questions, it sounds like this may be your first time living overseas.  
 

I would recommend that you come here on an extended vacation first.  
 

Spend six months or a year.  Leave your lifelines at home in place in case it’s not for you.  
 

Expat life isn’t for everyone.  

Worth repeating for every newbie that thinks livin' in LOS will be paradise on earth.

[rumak]

51 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Forget about all this rip off nonsense. That does not happen once you learn the ropes,

right on.   and that pretty much sums up "life in Thailand for Farangs"  .    IF i wrote a book it would have

many chapters.   Almost surely the beginning would have trials and tribulations.  Stories of loves found and loves lost.   Money lost.   Arms broken  (need some violence to keep people interested).   Narrow escapes

from Kymer sorcerers  (they can put a spell on you ! ).                      

And then,  who knows?   Maybe a happy ending (the enduring type) .    But,  as is common knowledge, 

some will never enjoy the good things they could have.

[rumak]

Just now, thaibeachlovers said:

Indeed. Sometimes they are pretty obvious, and other times not so, but I see nothing wrong in giving benefit of the doubt.

You're right ,  why not .  I just did say that giving pointers and relating experience can be helpful to even those here for a while.    In fact,  maybe more so than the newbie who doesn't yet have a clue.

 

i enjoy your experiences and suggestions   tb

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

Phuket the very best all round place to live ...for myself & others...on balance.

having travelled & worked around the world and assessed many places.....

But DO get the very long term visa:Investment (10 Years) or Elite (5 Years).

Malaysia should be checked also but from your OP might be too dull.....

LOTS of Due Diligence ! This forum will provide solid source expat knowledge.

[OneMoreFarang]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Worth repeating for every newbie that thinks livin' in LOS will be paradise on earth.

When I arrived in Thailand 25 years ago I had little money and not much income.

In the hindsight that was very good. Because I was no target for scammers and even if I would have believed any of them I wouldn't have had the money to "invest".

And the same with the girls. If they spent more time with me I was sure it wasn't about my money. Because there wasn't much of that.

[chalawaan]

15 minutes ago, In Full Agreement said:

 

Well put.   Thailand is definitely  not the panacea some seekers are hoping to find.

Here's a funny thing, Portugal is well governed, safe, sunny, humane, and relaxed. Yet I felt thoroughly miserable and alone there. Thailand was never on my list of countries for retirement, and just look at my tagline!

Yet, on a personal level, I'm happier here than I was in Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, Mexico, Austria, Portugal, UK, US, Caribbean, Portugal and the PI.

[OneMoreFarang]

6 minutes ago, rumak said:

right on.   and that pretty much sums up "life in Thailand for Farangs"  .    IF i wrote a book it would have

many chapters.   Almost surely the beginning would have trials and tribulations.  Stories of loves found and loves lost.   Money lost.   Arms broken  (need some violence to keep people interested).   Narrow escapes

from Kymer princesses.                      

And then,  who knows?   Maybe a happy ending (the enduring type) .    But,  as is common knowledge, 

some will never enjoy the good things they could have.

Luckily there are some good books.

Private Dancer from Stephen Leather can't be mentioned often enough.

 

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, digibum said:

What kind of visa do you plan on getting?  Truthfully, that will likely be your biggest issue residing in Thailand long-term.  

Looks like you are the first to post THE relevant question?

36 year old, working "online".

What visa and permission to stay based on what?

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, rumak said:

You're right ,  why not .  I just did say that giving pointers and relating experience can be helpful to even those here for a while.    In fact,  maybe more so than the newbie who doesn't yet have a clue.

 

i enjoy your experiences and suggestions   tb

Thank you.

Even if I have "suspicions", others may benefit from my advice, slight though it may be, gleaned over decades of livin' and lovin' in LOS.