Thinking to move to Phuket from Los Angeles :)

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

sir, nobody moves to thailand because he wants to. we are all here because we HAVE to.

in other words, we are economic / psychological refugees / rejects of out home countries.

and i guess you are on your way to here too.

because seriously, why would you ask so many settling down questions about a place you never even visited?

[zzzzz]

10 hours ago, kynikoi said:

IMO this is a very bad idea for 36yo to move here permanently especially now.

 

No matter what is floated in the press you will be visa grubbing continually and imo it will not be easy.

 

Even spending four months here in cool season will be problematic as soon as a few years. Everything will return to normal and that means sour immigration and consular attitudes.

 

Settle in Cambodia and trip here in cool season as you can for the beaches.

LOL:
you do know 90% of things (outside of Alcohol  an cigarettes') cost more and value for $$, Thailand wins hands down

[XtraFly]

4 hours ago, zzzzz said:

LOL:
you do know 90% of things (outside of Alcohol  an cigarettes') cost more and value for $$, Thailand wins hands down

I’m glad you get it your comment is right on point, It is funny to me, how some ppl are just so judgmental and jump into conclusions without even knowing you just hearing 36yrs old and they start assuming what seems to be FACTS in their opinions. If it was me and I have nothing positive or helpful to say I would maintain my silence instead of projecting my fears and insecurities on others. Well people will always be people. That message is not for you of course I love and appreciate your comment.

 

To the rest I will be settling nowhere else but LOS, and I’m going to LOS because I want to not because I have to and also the Elite card is an option so no need to worry about visa grubbing. And I’m not a reject of my beautiful USA or psychological or economic refugee I’ll maintain life between the two beautiful countries and get the best outta both worlds. Thank you all

[zzzzz]

9 hours ago, XtraFly said:

I’m glad you get it your comment is right on point, It is funny to me, how some ppl are just so judgmental and jump into conclusions without even knowing you just hearing 36yrs old and they start assuming what seems to be FACTS in their opinions. If it was me and I have nothing positive or helpful to say I would maintain my silence instead of projecting my fears and insecurities on others. Well people will always be people. That message is not for you of course I love and appreciate your comment.

 

To the rest I will be settling nowhere else but LOS, and I’m going to LOS because I want to not because I have to and also the Elite card is an option so no need to worry about visa grubbing. And I’m not a reject of my beautiful USA or psychological or economic refugee I’ll maintain life between the two beautiful countries and get the best outta both worlds. Thank you all

People always jump to conclusions here, its what the keyboard warriors do>>> as to my point about 90% more, i was referring to Cambodia vs Thailand

When i was 32, set out on a 18 month bicycle trip thru SE Asia and than moved to Thailand when i was 34
Never Looked back

 

Go For IT

[Bohemianfish]

Watching a lot (or not enough) of Rob's 20 Seconds in Thailand?

[XtraFly]

2 hours ago, zzzzz said:

People always jump to conclusions here, its what the keyboard warriors do>>> as to my point about 90% more, i was referring to Cambodia vs Thailand

When i was 32, set out on a 18 month bicycle trip thru SE Asia and than moved to Thailand when i was 34
Never Looked back

 

Go For IT

When I was 18 I took a one way trip to the US for a summer vacation, and I'v been calling it home since then, but I'm in search for my next summer vacation if you know what I mean. LOL

[sucit]

Reading his op, I think he should do a tentative move, don’t go all out. Stay a good six months. Figure out the questions you are asking on the ground. And go from there. 

[XtraFly]

4 hours ago, sucit said:

Reading his op, I think he should do a tentative move, don’t go all out. Stay a good six months. Figure out the questions you are asking on the ground. And go from there. 

Can’t agree more with you. My plan is

1- follow the Covid news and probably land in samui by December- January if things get back to semi normal.

 

2- stay for 60-90 days come back to the US for 30-45 days and then go again for 6 months and start from there just so I’m able to see how I feel between the two and decide where I’m gonna spend the most of my time, for some reason I feel it’ll be LOS but I’m aware the grass is always greener on the other side. Thank you for the advice.

[billythehat]

17 hours ago, XtraFly said:

I’m glad you get it your comment is right on point, It is funny to me, how some ppl are just so judgmental and jump into conclusions without even knowing you just hearing 36yrs old and they start assuming what seems to be FACTS in their opinions. If it was me and I have nothing positive or helpful to say I would maintain my silence instead of projecting my fears and insecurities on others. Well people will always be people. That message is not for you of course I love and appreciate your comment.

 

To the rest I will be settling nowhere else but LOS, and I’m going to LOS because I want to not because I have to and also the Elite card is an option so no need to worry about visa grubbing. And I’m not a reject of my beautiful USA or psychological or economic refugee I’ll maintain life between the two beautiful countries and get the best outta both worlds. Thank you all

“If it was me and I have nothing positive or helpful to say I would maintain my silence instead of projecting my fears and insecurities on others.”

 

Sir, you asked and they responded. If you don’t want to hear replies that are, indeed, contradictory to your plans and visions, don’t ask the question. Most of the replies will be from well-meaning (young at heart) old codgers that have been there since the last ice-age and just passing on their own life wisdom and experience; those still in possession of some semblance of sanity, of course.

 

It is with some reluctance that I have to agree with some of the advice given by some of the venerable turkeys’ on this forum, the most sage I would suggest is the practice of ‘try before you buy.’  Yes, most definitely go but should you hear the words “I lub yoo too mutt!” run, sir, yes run, run like the wind.  
 

[The Hammer2021]

On 7/19/2021 at 1:28 AM, sallecc said:

That's also not fair... Phuket is not only Patong, same as BKK is not only Soi Cowboy, it's great city with much more to see, same as Phuket is great island with many more beautiful places then Patong.

I like Phuket old Town. But the coastal area is spoilt by the lack of transport. The thuggish locals are off putting especially taxi and tuk tuk drivers who offer little fair service and seem to be trouble makers. Phuket has no depth, scale or width and a real absence of any sense of size. It has quite a few well organized outdoor activities. Nightlife is much less varied and much more expensive than Pattaya. But I also found the locals in general off putting being southern Thais not the Issan people who populate Pattaya. Finally the type of young male tourists who visited Phuket seem a lost cause..I prefer genuine mongers out on the town with girls. The guys I saw could have just stayed home drinking watching TV. What summed up Phuket for me was the game where people hammer nails into a piece of wood. What a noisy, time wasting, vacuous waste of energy! It's all irrelevant now. Both Phuket and Pattaya are finished now but with its greater areas of natural beauty and coastal beauty spots Phuket will have beach appeal and thus attract the scuba, boat, beach set. I have zero interest in beaches sand or Seaside apart from evening meals. The best experience I had in Phuket was not my two two week holidays but the madly explosive, pyrotechnics and self mortification of the nine gods vegetarian festival. Absolutely brilliant!

[XtraFly]

6 hours ago, billythehat said:

“If it was me and I have nothing positive or helpful to say I would maintain my silence instead of projecting my fears and insecurities on others.”

 

Sir, you asked and they responded. If you don’t want to hear replies that are, indeed, contradictory to your plans and visions, don’t ask the question. Most of the replies will be from well-meaning (young at heart) old codgers that have been there since the last ice-age and just passing on their own life wisdom and experience; those still in possession of some semblance of sanity, of course.

 

It is with some reluctance that I have to agree with some of the advice given by some of the venerable turkeys’ on this forum, the most sage I would suggest is the practice of ‘try before you buy.’  Yes, most definitely go but should you hear the words “I lub yoo too mutt!” run, sir, yes run, run like the wind.  
 

I LUB YOU THOO Billy ????

[bermondburi]

On 7/17/2021 at 6:11 AM, 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

Plenty of great places in the South that have great beaches, that aren't a ripoff. You just don't know about them. 

[bermondburi]

4 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Beaches-sand and water dont impress me...Ive lived all my life on the east coast  been there done that...Im in LOS as an expat --not a tourist-- i stay put up north

That's fine. Just your personal preference.

Like I said, plenty of places in the South that aren't a tourist rip-off, you just don't know about them.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 7/17/2021 at 6:58 PM, simon43 said:

Phuket?  Hmm, let's see what happened to me and my guesthouse business over the 10 years or so that I lived in Phuket:

 

- 2 of my staff shot dead - police didn't bother to investigate.

- My personal car stolen and crashed by a druggie - police not interested

- My $100,000 investment guesthouse 'invaded' by druggies and I physically ejected - police supported the druggies because they (the police) were the druggies' main customer

- Me threatened at gunpoint by druggies and warned never to return to the island - I didn't

 

Yep - I had a lovely time there NOT ????

I love posts like that because they support my contention that farangs should abide by the 3 golden rules

1/ don't buy property in LOS

2/ don't start a business in LOS.

3/ never put more into a Thai relationship than one can afford to lose.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 7/24/2021 at 1:25 PM, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Beaches-sand and water dont impress me...Ive lived all my life on the east coast  been there done that...Im in LOS as an expat --not a tourist-- i stay put up north

5555555555

Unless one has PR or citizenship IMO one is still a tourist, but with an extendable visa.

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

OP has clearly selected Phuket and called for related advice.

I have generally addressed his specific points & added important others.

 

non- Phuket, anti- Phuket, anti- Beach, up country preference posts not relevant. OP has been compelled to dismiss such & repeat his needs.....

 

limited living up country is simply going native not being an expat.

expats stay internationally connected, enjoy modern high end facilities and western tropical lifestyle. cannot Sail or Scuba or Sea Fish much up country. few or no intl. schools / hospitals/ restaurants/ airports, etc. ....your choice not his......

 

[XtraFly]

5 hours ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

OP has clearly selected Phuket and called for related advice.

I have generally addressed his specific points & added important others.

 

non- Phuket, anti- Phuket, anti- Beach, up country preference posts not relevant. OP has been compelled to dismiss such & repeat his needs.....

 

limited living up country is simply going native not being an expat.

expats stay internationally connected, enjoy modern high end facilities and western tropical lifestyle. cannot Sail or Scuba or Sea Fish much up country. few or no intl. schools / hospitals/ restaurants/ airports, etc. ....your choice not his......

 

Well said! And well done.

[Pracha Duang]

c

[Pracha Duang]

The Beverly Hills of Phuket is Laguna. You will fit in there. All the crypto billionaires and wealthy American expats live there. Steve Jobs’ mentor lives in Laguna part-time. Many celebrities live / have homes here actually. Barak Obama has a place in Naithon Beach at Mailawana for example. 

[VocalNeal]

5 minutes ago, Pracha Duang said:

The Beverly Hills of Phuket is Laguna. You will fit in there. All the crypto billionaires and wealthy American expats live there.

Sounds positively ghastly. 

[spidermike007]

Come and stay for a month or two and see how you like life on Phuket. It is very hard to evaluate the islands right now, as most have been very hard hit by Covid. For some, that might be a good thing. For me, I find it sad, as you see the shells of former lives everywhere, so to speak. 

 

I lived on Samui for a decade. Loved it at first. As it got more and more developed, and fewer and fewer of the locals remained, I was dealing with mostly jaded Thais, who were sick of foreigners. All that may change. We are a novelty now. Far fewer of us around, and many things are cheaper than before, especially homes and villas. Some are stupid cheap right now. Have a friend on Samui renting a seaview villa, with a pool and 3 bedrooms for 20,000 baht a month. Many owners are desperate.

 

Doubt that will change soon. Even after Covid, I don't expect tourism to return for a very long time, for a dozen good reasons. 

[VocalNeal]

^ Spidermike. Have you changed your hair?

[VocalNeal]

On 7/18/2021 at 11:03 AM, VocalNeal said:

Thinking to move to Phuket from Los Angeles ????

 

Well at least you will used to the traffic 

Two posters were confused by my response. I apologise. I was under the impression the traffic was bad in Los Angeles

[Eibot]

1- Is Kamala Beach area a good, clean and safe area or no ?
At the moment it's very quite. Normally it's a decent place but not with the best beaches.

 

2- Do you recommend areas in Phuket for me to consider based on my preferences ?
I would say look at Chalong/Rawai. Especially if you're looking a little younger crowd. 

 

3- How's the mosquito situation there lol?
I have found mosquito's to be not much. Ofcourse it depends where you stay (near tree's/still water/time of day). At my place (Chalong) they only come out when the sun goes down. I found the mosquito problems inland WAY worst.

 

4- How's the Internet connectivity and wifi at homes with good fast plan ? reliable ?
Very reliable. I use 3BB. I have about 330 MPS on avarage and never (fingers crossed) had an outage.

 

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

Chalong/Rawai. Atleast the younger people. This is due to a high concentration of good Muay Thai gyms in that area.

 

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

How crazy it might sound, I sometimes have trouble finding good Thai food here. Foreign food all over the place and you will have no problems with finding those dishes.

 

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

Have lost power once in the last 12 months (for about 10 min). It does happen here and there though, but mostly resolved quickly.

 

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

Lol, yeah. If you stay in a really cheap place, they might not have hot water, but other than that I have always encountered hot showers.

 

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

Freedom. I have (as you) my online business and I was working from home 4 years already. Mostly the climate, food and lifestyle brought me here. Also buying power increases.

 

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

I'm happy. Would I have been more happier if I stayed? Who knows. Most important thing is that you're happy with no regrets.

 

Also, don't mention that you're working online on this forum. All the pensioners that had to wait years and years before they could finally settle down in Thailand will become jelous and bite. In regards to visa/set-up, seek some legal advice when you're here. 

 

You won't regret it ????

[Eibot]

On 7/17/2021 at 11:13 AM, chalawaan said:

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. ????

Haha, you mean broke alcoholics expats figuring out that Phuket is actually the most expensive part of Thailand. Personally, I don't mind. It keeps a certain expat community. Not so many toothless alcoholics drinking the cheapest beer and barely get by. Many families, couples with second home and expats who have some money to burn.

[Eibot]

On 7/17/2021 at 11:40 AM, KhunBENQ said:

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?

Elite, Education, volounteer. If he finds a girl; Mariage and if he has kids; dependent. 

 

Seems pretty straight forwards.

[Eibot]

On 7/17/2021 at 1:58 PM, simon43 said:

Phuket?  Hmm, let's see what happened to me and my guesthouse business over the 10 years or so that I lived in Phuket:

 

- 2 of my staff shot dead - police didn't bother to investigate.

- My personal car stolen and crashed by a druggie - police not interested

- My $100,000 investment guesthouse 'invaded' by druggies and I physically ejected - police supported the druggies because they (the police) were the druggies' main customer

- Me threatened at gunpoint by druggies and warned never to return to the island - I didn't

 

Yep - I had a lovely time there NOT ????

Never had any problems as long as you play by the rules. Ofcourse my business doesn't involve girls or is in Patong.

[Eibot]

On 7/20/2021 at 10:23 AM, Robin said:

Think about the language;  English, or American is not a widely spoke in Phuket as it is in LA.  Unless you are fluent in Thai you will need a 'trusted companion' to help you negotiate with locals.

I have a rule that anything I bring to Thailand will stay in Thailand.  That applies to any financial investments you make.

if you worry about constant hot water, then Thailand is probably not for you, as it is mostly a country here nothing works properly.

You will be absolutely fine is you don't speak a single word of Thai in Phuket. The rest of Thailand no so much. lol

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, Eibot said:

you mean broke alcoholics expats figuring out that Phuket is actually the most expensive part of Thailand.

Not all expats who don't live in Phuket are broke?

 

Just came back from the pub. Sorry.

[simon43]

1 hour ago, Eibot said:

Never had any problems as long as you play by the rules. Ofcourse my business doesn't involve girls or is in Patong.

I played by the rules.  No dodgy business and I was in north Phuket, not Patong!