Moving to Thailand, Ko Samui or other beach location.

[tvmax]

I am looking to live in Thailand for at least 4 months a year. It is to cold in the winter in the US. What would I be looking at for rental cost or to purchase a condo. Is the snorkeling and fishing good? Any information about things to do would be appreciated. Is it possible to stay for 4 months at a time or longer? I am retired but I am 59.

[tonray]

Best advice is to come and experience Thailand for a few months and see if you like  it enough to relocate. Rental/purchase can be cheap or expensive...it's all up to what lifestyle you want to pay for.

[Amusements]

There are some great places for snorkeling, and boat fishing is popular here.

As for living here, I would take tonray's advice. There are parts of the island, that suit different lifestyles, and you would need to pick a part of the island that suits you.

[KhunLA]

Scratch the Gulf, it's <deleted> when cold in US.  Look to the Andaman Sea side, and that's why it's high season there.

 

I live on the Gulf, when I want a 'beach holiday', I go to Phuket or other Andaman Sea location.

[khunPer]

11 hours ago, tvmax said:

Is the snorkeling and fishing good? Any information about things to do would be appreciated. Is it possible to stay for 4 months at a time or longer? I am retired but I am 59.

Snorkeling is best from close by Koh Tao - about 1½ hour speed boat ride away - while fishing is good from Samui, either from beaches or on arranged fishing trips, which there are a number of.

 

What to do depends of your life-style and expectations, mine might be different from yours, so you might not wish to join me when I'm partying, and I will definitely not join you on an unbearable boring fishing trip...

 

When over 50 years old you can apply for a non-immigrant O-visa, which will give you 90 days (3 month) stay in Thailand. You can do a so-called visa-run to a neighboring country and re-enter for 30 days visa exempt that even can be extended by another 30 days.

 

Another option is the so-called retirement visa, non-immigrant O-A, but that has little more strict requirement to capital - however, in your home country - and health insurance while in Thailand. O-A will give you permission to stay for one year at each eantry, however your health insurance shall also covers you for one year.

 

As long as it's available an STV - special tourist visa, which might be prolonged as future visa for digital nomads - will give you 90 days of stay on entry and the stay can be extended twice, each time with an additional 90 days without leaving Thailand.

 

As a member mentioned it in an above post, the weather on Samui can be little challenging from October till around New Year due to the monsoon in the Gulf. It can both be excellent calm and sunshine or a couple of weeks with high waves, quite windy and lots of downpour. Phuket can also get pleasure of remaining parts of the northeastern monsoon in October and November, while December is normally good on Phuket. January till mid April is dry sunny periodes on both sides. Koh Chang might downpour-wise be the best destination for the period November till March, however the remaining part of the year Koh Chang gets double as much rain as all other parts of Thailand.

 

As mentioned in other posts, my best advise is also to come and check it out by yourself. Get around and check both different areas on Samui, and other potential parts of Thailand also. It's easy to rent something, and that also gives your more freedom than be owner of a condo, which you shall not consider as an investment, but be happy if you can get your money back when selling it. Time share might also be a possibility, but if me, I would rather rent and being a free bird.

 

On Samui there are excellent bungalows and villas for rent in short walking distance from the beaches - or even beachfront, if you are prepared to pay for it - many might have a full service option. A reasonable bungalow, or small villa, can be rented from around 15,000 baht to 20,000 baht a month; full luxury several bedroom pool villas will be more, or much more. There are probably many more bungalows and villas available, than condos.

 

Take a trip and come down and check it out for yourself...????

[Tropicalevo]

11 hours ago, tonray said:

Best advice is to come and experience Thailand for a few months and see if you like  it

 

5 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Scratch the Gulf, it's <deleted> when cold in US.  Look to the Andaman Sea side, and that's why it's high season there.

 

I live on the Gulf, when I want a 'beach holiday', I go to Phuket or other Andaman Sea location.

And it is schitte on the Andeman side as well in monsoon season. Luckily they have rainy seasons at different times. Everywhere in Thailand has the monsoonal weather.

 

Looking at your post, I guess that you would prefer to live on the coast in the south of Thailand. It can get chilly up north.

The four main populated areas are:-

Phuket. Pretends to be an island but more like the mainland.

Koh Samui. You know that you are on an island, with added cost/transport times. More quiet than Phuket.

Pattaya. On the mainland to the east of Bangkok. Pre Covid times it had a large entertainment area.

Hua Hin. On the mainland to the west of Bangkok. More genteel than Pattaya

 

All four areas are popular with tourists. Both domestic and International.

 

If you are coming for four months, then why not spend a month in each. For more peace and quiet, drive around outside the main towns. English is spoken almost everywhere in these locations, less so the further away that you go outside. All four areas have good medical facilities.

 

Good luck.

[gearbox]

There is no good snorkeling in Samui...in fact on many of the beaches you won't be able to see your legs in the water, the water visibility is that poor.  Nearby only Mae Haad on Koh Phangan offers some reasonable snorkeling, you need to head to Koh Tao to get some good snorkeling.

If you are just snow birding for 4 months no need to purchase anything IMO,  there are plenty of places to rent by the month everywhere in the tourist areas. If you like snorkeling you should plan to spend some time at Koh Lipe on the Andaman side.

 

[gearbox]

7 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Scratch the Gulf, it's <deleted> when cold in US.  Look to the Andaman Sea side, and that's why it's high season there.

 

I live on the Gulf, when I want a 'beach holiday', I go to Phuket or other Andaman Sea location.

From mid October to end of November both Samui and Phuket are pretty much write off (Samui is worse), so it is difficult to get a decent beach location for the cold parts of October and November anywhere in Thailand.

[OneMoreFarang]

Obviously the idea to live somewhere on a beautiful beach on an island it good. And it might be wonderful if you are at that beach.

But you should be aware that living on an island in Thailand has often lot of problems. I.e. the taxi mafia. Depending where you live it will be expensive to get a ride to anywhere. And likely sometimes you have to use them even if you have a vehicle. And personally it p@$@$@$ me off if I have to pay 5 or 10 times of what would be reasonable.

Something similar is true for medical service. Hospitals in Phuket and Samui are very expensive compared to a lot better hospitals i.e. in Bangkok. And if you need urgently a speedboat from an island be prepared to pay enormous amounts of money. 

Even if you can afford all this it likely will leave a bitter feeling.

Places like Hua Hin or Pattaya have also beaches. And in general they are not super bad rip-offs like some islands.

 

Rent first to get an idea what expects you.

[Tropicalevo]

45 minutes ago, gearbox said:

There is no good snorkeling in Samui.

A very general statement there. The problem with general statements is that they are not 100% accurate.

I checked a guest out today who said that he had found a great place for snorkelling. (sw coast.)

47 minutes ago, gearbox said:

in fact on many of the beaches you won't be able to see your legs in the water, the water visibility is that poor. 

This depends on the monsoons. Now - pretty bad everywhere, especially on the e and ne east beaches.

Earlier this year, friends were snorkelling off Chaweng beach and saw stingray. They said that the waters were crystal clear. (I posted about it at the time - somewhere on this site.)

[gearbox]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Obviously the idea to live somewhere on a beautiful beach on an island it good. And it might be wonderful if you are at that beach.

But you should be aware that living on an island in Thailand has often lot of problems. I.e. the taxi mafia. Depending where you live it will be expensive to get a ride to anywhere. And likely sometimes you have to use them even if you have a vehicle. And personally it p@$@$@$ me off if I have to pay 5 or 10 times of what would be reasonable.

Something similar is true for medical service. Hospitals in Phuket and Samui are very expensive compared to a lot better hospitals i.e. in Bangkok. And if you need urgently a speedboat from an island be prepared to pay enormous amounts of money. 

Even if you can afford all this it likely will leave a bitter feeling.

Places like Hua Hin or Pattaya have also beaches. And in general they are not super bad rip-offs like some islands.

 

Rent first to get an idea what expects you.

I'm not familiar with the Pattaya's beaches, but Hua Hin has really mediocre muddy beaches. I stayed once for a couple of days there,  will never go back.

I live in Samui and never had to take a taxi to anywhere. Most of the times I use my bicycle to move around.

Health care can be an issue, tthe Samui private hospitals are generally quite small, I think some of the specialists are fly-in fly-out from Bangkok. But Thaksin Hospital in Surat Thani is pretty good and reasonably priced.  The Phuket hospitals are larger.

IMO one really needs to be a "beach person" to be worth living on the islands. It means to enjoy swimming,snorkeling,kayaking,sailing...not just going to the beach twice an year.

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

3 hours ago, gearbox said:

There is no good snorkeling in Samui.

A very general statement there. The problem with general statements is that they are not 100% accurate.

I checked a guest out today who said that he had found a great place for snorkelling. (sw coast.)

It all depends on what you expect.

I remember someone asking about snorkeling on a beach. The local asked him: Where did you snorkel last? And the visitor answered: The Maldives. After that the local said: Then forget about snorkeling here.

[The Hammer2021]

Koh Lipe

[bbko]

No reason to limit the 4 months to just one location.  Pick 2-3-4 Thai hotspots and spend some time in each, they all have their pros and cons, it's up to you to determine what you like best.

Samui, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Phi Phi, Koh Phangan are some good places to start.

[gearbox]

3 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

A very general statement there. The problem with general statements is that they are not 100% accurate.

I checked a guest out today who said that he had found a great place for snorkelling. (sw coast.)

This depends on the monsoons. Now - pretty bad everywhere, especially on the e and ne east beaches.

Earlier this year, friends were snorkelling off Chaweng beach and saw stingray. They said that the waters were crystal clear. (I posted about it at the time - somewhere on this site.)

Sure it is a general statement...and is 100% correct. One can't just put a mask and snorkel on any beach in Samui and expect to see clear water with corals and fish as pictured in doctored photos. I can provide a detailed statement as I've landed on most of the Samui's beaches (even the beaches claimed as "private") but it would just repeat what I've said. I've snorkeled at hundreds of beaches around the world and have a good base for comparison.

Most of the Samui snorkeling tours go to Koh Tao, some go to Koh Ma (Phangan) and a few go south of Samui on the east side of Ko Taen. There are tours to Ang Thong as well,  although most of the tourists are taken to sites with poor snorkeling. The Ko Taen site is closest but again it could be exciting for people who never snorkeled before in a good location. 

However if one is into kayaking or open sea swimming Samui is a great place to be.

[gearbox]

6 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Koh Lipe

Known as "The Maldives of Thailand"

[Taco]

Koh Phangan best all around island to live seasonally. Large supply of 1-2 bedroom rental houses. Surprisingly good restaurant scene. Big box stores when you need them. Beautiful beaches with decent snorkeling and amazing sunsets. Fishings a bit tough but your in Asia so most been netted up already. Interesting international crowd living here ranging from vegan yogis to Harley driving motorcycle gang guys to stoned party cats.  30 minute boat ride to Samui to catch flights. 

[brianthainess]

Koh Chang. 

[Hummin]

My experience is when you live in Thailand, you stop doing what you where thinking you where going to do, and start something new, and also change preference where you want to live as well, and rather go to those places you thought you wanted to live for "holidays", to get a change in the daily routines. 

 

I thought I never would say this for some few years ago, but I would looked at Hua Hin, Krabi and Pattaya. Right now easy to get cheap long term rent, easy to store your things safely while leaving for coming back. Travel more and suddenely you end up with a girl, and you will move closer to her family, which was nonsens and and utterly stupid thought before I have been here for a few years. 

 

Things changes, your ideas changes, and maybe you just want to leave for Philllippines instead. Who knows. 

 

Island life getting boring for most if you do not have something that connects you there. Social life through diving, pool playing, and so on. 

 

Good luck

[Expat68]

Just arrived back to my base in Thailand from a island hopping holiday in Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta and Koh Jam, I talked to several people on my travels Foreigners/Thais, they all said the same Koh Lipe is the best snorkeling/diving in the whole of Thailand, I went for a days snorkeling and the coral has grown back great since covid19. The rental could be expensive, no cars on the island, you can walk everywhere, motortricycle 50 bhat everywhere

[Hummin]

11 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

Just arrived back to my base in Thailand from a island hopping holiday in Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta and Koh Jam, I talked to several people on my travels Foreigners/Thais, they all said the same Koh Lipe is the best snorkeling/diving in the whole of Thailand, I went for a days snorkeling and the coral has grown back great since covid19. The rental could be expensive, no cars on the island, you can walk everywhere, motortricycle 50 bhat everywhere

Koh Lipe is one of the most claustrophobic island during high season before covid, and even in january we got moonsoon experience, stuck on island, heavy rain and storms over weeks. 

 

The most crowded island I have been to. Would rather go to Kao Lak, Ranong and Koh Phayam then with Similan Islands and outside Mayanmar cost line for snorkeling and diving. 

[PoorSucker]

On 12/15/2021 at 6:23 PM, Tropicalevo said:

Pattaya. On the mainland to the east of Bangkok. Pre Covid times it had a large entertainment area.

As been living in Pattaya now for three months after 12 years on Samui. 

Don't stay in the city (bad air). 

Take a look at the Bang Saray 40 min south of the city, got a Samui wibe. 

[robertson468]

On 12/15/2021 at 7:51 PM, gearbox said:

There is no good snorkeling in Samui...in fact on many of the beaches you won't be able to see your legs in the water, the water visibility is that poor.  Nearby only Mae Haad on Koh Phangan offers some reasonable snorkeling, you need to head to Koh Tao to get some good snorkeling.

If you are just snow birding for 4 months no need to purchase anything IMO,  there are plenty of places to rent by the month everywhere in the tourist areas. If you like snorkeling you should plan to spend some time at Koh Lipe on the Andaman side.

 

Rubbish!

[Expat68]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Koh Lipe is one of the most claustrophobic island during high season before covid, and even in january we got moonsoon experience, stuck on island, heavy rain and storms over weeks. 

 

The most crowded island I have been to. Would rather go to Kao Lak, Ranong and Koh Phayam then with Similan Islands and outside Mayanmar cost line for snorkeling and diving. 

I must have seen Lipe at its best, this was my first time????Nobody there, completely deserted

[Hummin]

4 minutes ago, Expat68 said:

I must have seen Lipe at its best, this was my first time????Nobody there, completely deserted

Alot of cruise ships used to stop there on their journey from Singapore and KL, as well crowded of foreign tourists as domestic tourists.

 

And the weather in January was on level with some areas in Philippines.

 

BTW if OP looking for snorkeling and diving, Philippines is a great place, and Thailand can't compete with their Snorkeling, hands down, just walk out from many resorts, but it is also on a downhill there due to reckless abuse by fishermen and tourism

[gearbox]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Koh Lipe is one of the most claustrophobic island during high season before covid, and even in january we got moonsoon experience, stuck on island, heavy rain and storms over weeks. 

 

The most crowded island I have been to. Would rather go to Kao Lak, Ranong and Koh Phayam then with Similan Islands and outside Mayanmar cost line for snorkeling and diving. 

True,  Lipe can get very crowded. However some of the islands around are very quiet retreats with magnificent snorkeling  if you are prepared to sleep in a tent and forget about sunset cocktails. They also offer the best snorkeling locations, the day trips from Lipe go there.

 

Even better if you have a kayak to go around, there are some beaches where there is nobody after 3-4pm. Beware of the monkeys.

 

https://www.travelfish.org/location/thailand/southern_thailand/satun/ko_rawi

[KhunLA]

3 minutes ago, gearbox said:

 if you are prepared to sleep in a tent

Don't think OP is looking to move to Thailand and live in a tent for 4 months ... ????

[Hummin]

1 minute ago, gearbox said:

True,  Lipe can get very crowded. However some of the islands around are very quiet retreats with magnificent snorkeling  if you are prepared to sleep in a tent and forget about sunset cocktails. They also offer the best snorkeling locations, the day trips from Lipe go there.

 

Even better if you have a kayak to go around, there are some beaches where there is nobody after 3-4pm. Beware of the monkeys.

 

https://www.travelfish.org/location/thailand/southern_thailand/satun/ko_rawi

I have been living in Krabi, and most of the secret hidden reefs are discovered, and even you arrive at sunset, it doesn't take long time before you are surrounded during it's prime time. Be it underwater scooter, tourist who kick and step on the reefs and also grab the reefs often braking off pieces. Sad, really, and most of them also <deleted> in the water as there is no septic tanks on the boats and everything ends up in the water. 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, Taco said:

Interesting international crowd living here ranging from vegan yogis to Harley driving motorcycle gang guys to stoned party cats.

 

3 hours ago, Taco said:

Koh Phangan best all around island to live seasonally.

What is it? One or the other. It can't be both at the same time.

[Stargeezr]

You may also try Jomtien Beach in the south part of Pattaya, lots of condos there to rent or

purchase. and you can take the ferry to Koh Lan and Koh Phai,  just off shore from Pattaya.

The city of Pattaya has lots of shopping, and restaurants. Terminal 21 Big C, etc. and lots of restaurants along

the beaches. It is also only about 2 hours from Bangkok and has a good bus system that can get you to 

the Bangkok Swampy airport, and bus terminals. My cousins lived in Hua Hin, but likes Jomtien better as he says it is a bit cheaper 

to live at.  That is my 21 cents worth.