In about 6 weeks time, I will relocate from Jomtien Beach to Krabi. I've been working in Jomtien for almost a year, but prefer a more rural/relaxed location near to the coast. Although I previously lived in Phuket, I've decided not to return there, but to use the Krabi area as a base for my software work, (which is going very well, hence the need to find a permanent base for the company).

I'm coming down to Krabi later this month to check out facilities, locations, houses for rent etc.

If anyone knows of a house to rent, then please do PM me. I'm seeking a 1 or 2-bed house in a rural location. I have my own car, so beach front is definitely not required. Rental budget is up to 15,000 baht (so I'm not expecting the jacuzzi to be ensuite...).

Any suggestions are most welcome

Simon

Don't even dare to ask me if I'm jealous or not

LaoPo

Hi LaoPo, well I think you already know that I'm not happy living in Pattaya/Jomtien! My SMS software job has been going well, and I have also developed my own SMS applications which are launching in the USA in about 2 months. It's now time to find a more permanent base in Thailand. For various reasons, Phuket is off my list.

I've visited Ao Nang/Krabi on many occasions, and it looks a relaxing area. The plan is to rent for 6 months and use that time to carefully check out the area etc. I would like to find a rural location where I can use my amateur radio equipment, (which has stayed in boxes since I came to Jomtien last year).

Simon

Hi LaoPo, well I think you already know that I'm not happy living in Pattaya/Jomtien! My SMS software job has been going well, and I have also developed my own SMS applications which are launching in the USA in about 2 months. It's now time to find a more permanent base in Thailand. For various reasons, Phuket is off my list.

I've visited Ao Nang/Krabi on many occasions, and it looks a relaxing area. The plan is to rent for 6 months and use that time to carefully check out the area etc. I would like to find a rural location where I can use my amateur radio equipment, (which has stayed in boxes since I came to Jomtien last year).

Simon

Good to hear Simon, but how are you going to communicate through internet if you are so remote in a rural location, or is that a dumb question?

PS: did you hear or find anything about the house you're looking for ?

PPS: It's exciting to read about your own SMS applications to be launched in the US...WOW! Amazing you did that, realizing of what you've been going through in the past few years!

Chapeau

LaoPo

Hi, well Krabi is not that remote . In any case, I have several different 'dongles' which allow a fast internet connection over the mobile network. I really only need medium speed internet to be able to access my servers in the US. My employer has confirmed that I can work from Krabi and make a visit to my Jomtien office every couple of weeks. Might need to have my Krabi address added to my work permit!

About the SMS application, it is using my previous SMS apps that I made my money to build the Phuket hotel, (and before that, to build a big house in the UK). So I am fairly confident that targeting the US consumer is a good move. This time round, I am going to allocate 30% of the net profit from my SMS services to provide direct support for educational purposes here in Thailand, such as providing bursories for kids from very poor families. A small amount of money can go a long way when the contribution is made directly, or is made in kind (such as pens and paper etc).

I'm just waiting on the US mobile networks to complete their tests of my app and then it can go live.

As for finding a house in Krabi, I will drive down in a couple of weeks and stay for a week. Best to contact some agents beforehand, but I'm sure that I can find something that is suitable. It would be good to find a house on a hill, since I want to dust off my amateur radio transmitter...

Simon

Hi, well Krabi is not that remote . In any case, I have several different 'dongles' which allow a fast internet connection over the mobile network. I really only need medium speed internet to be able to access my servers in the US. My employer has confirmed that I can work from Krabi and make a visit to my Jomtien office every couple of weeks. Might need to have my Krabi address added to my work permit!

About the SMS application, it is using my previous SMS apps that I made my money to build the Phuket hotel, (and before that, to build a big house in the UK). So I am fairly confident that targeting the US consumer is a good move. This time round, I am going to allocate 30% of the net profit from my SMS services to provide direct support for educational purposes here in Thailand, such as providing bursories for kids from very poor families. A small amount of money can go a long way when the contribution is made directly, or is made in kind (such as pens and paper etc).

I'm just waiting on the US mobile networks to complete their tests of my app and then it can go live.

As for finding a house in Krabi, I will drive down in a couple of weeks and stay for a week. Best to contact some agents beforehand, but I'm sure that I can find something that is suitable. It would be good to find a house on a hill, since I want to dust off my amateur radio transmitter...

Simon

I'm impressed about the % you're willing to give to the poor

Good for you and good for the kids !

LaoPo

I rented a House in Ao Nang for one Year. The Owner has another 2 Houses to rent here, 2 Bedrooms, one Toilett with warm Shower, Terace, green around.

Adress 299 Na Thai, think about 3 KM away from Beach. Rent about 12.000, can share my Wireless for 600 a Month.

Kind regards

Gougouluxembourg - That is of interest. I am in Krabi from Jan 25-30th and would be interested to visit if the owner still has a house available

Simon

Gougouluxembourg - That is of interest. I am in Krabi from Jan 25-30th and would be interested to visit if the owner still has a house available

Simon

Hi Simon, you are wellcome. If u like, just give me a Call when here. 0840523676 my mobile.

Kind regards

Well, this is just to say that I'm very thankful for those who have offered to show me accomodation in the Krabi area, but I am already sorted

I drove down to Krabi a few days ago and realised that every woman, man and dog seems to have a house for rent! There are 'house for rent' signs everywhere...

After visiting a few houses, I have rented a beautiful rural 'log-cabin' style house a few kms from Ao Nang beach for just 8,000 baht per month, with no damage deposit, no upfront deposit and pay 8k every month as long as I need the house. It has a private garden and phone line outside. The house is in a Muslim area, so no noisy dogs either. Internet access is fine by wireless 'dongle' and I can also get the landline telephone connected.

The location is very peaceful and ideal for both my radio amateur hobby and exercising by bike/jogging...

I'll return to Pattaya in a few days and relocate permanently towards the end of February.

Thanks again

Simon

Well, this is just to say that I'm very thankful for those who have offered to show me accomodation in the Krabi area, but I am already sorted

I drove down to Krabi a few days ago and realised that every woman, man and dog seems to have a house for rent! There are 'house for rent' signs everywhere...

After visiting a few houses, I have rented a beautiful rural 'log-cabin' style house a few kms from Ao Nang beach for just 8,000 baht per month, with no damage deposit, no upfront deposit and pay 8k every month as long as I need the house. It has a private garden and phone line outside. The house is in a Muslim area, so no noisy dogs either. Internet access is fine by wireless 'dongle' and I can also get the landline telephone connected.

<snip>

Hi Simon

What does a "house for rent" sign look like, I can't read Thai?

Looking fwd to a report from you, on living down there as another member and myself are interested in houses in Krabi to rent.

Good Luck!

GD

What does a "house for rent" sign look like, I can't read Thai?

You don't need to be able to read in Thai. Those signs in Ao Nang are all in english

^^^^ Thanks!

Well, I've just returned from my one week holiday in Krabi and, as requested by GungaDin, here is a short report about my experiences. Please bear in mind that my comments are based upon my own experiences which might be totally different from others. So take what I say with a pinch of salt!

It would be very useful for those who live in this region to add their comments

A little background. Over the past 8 years, I have lived in Bangkok, Phuket, Nongkhai and Pattaya (my current location). The different locations were generally down to where I was working at the time, (being too young and too poor to retire...)

My reason for visiting the Krabi area was to see if it was a nice place to relocate to. My employer in Pattaya is happy for me to visit their office once a month. At other times, I'm just checking my emails, if you get my drift

As I indicated in a thread in another forum, I'm not fond of Pattaya! I'm there because of my job - and no other reason!

Together with Mrs Simon43 (not the mad ex, but someone I knew long before the mad one), I drove down to Krabi on a Saturday. I've travelled this route many times before and it's always a clear and easy drive after Petchaburi. We stayed at the Thip Boutique Hotel, just outside of Ao Nang. Our double room with free (and working) wifi was 1,200 baht per night, including a hot breakfast.

Our first task was to search for a house to rent. If you are not looking for a mansion with swimming pool, then there is a huge choice in the 7,000 - 20,000 baht range, with plenty of 'House for rent' signs in English. We settled for a log-cabin style of house for just 8,000 baht a month, with no deposit. I did not see many houses to rent which were in the mnsion-with-pool cateory.

The majority of the local population in the Krabi and Ao Nang area are Muslim, judging by the number of mosques. (I assume that Muslims predominate in the coastal areas due to influx of fishermen from overseas many years ago). Outside of Krabi, we encountered many Buddhist and the occasional Chinese communities, particularly when we drove into the hilly, national park areas east of Krabi town. I guess that many of the business owners in Ao Nang are Buddhist who have relocated to the region for business reasons.

Living in a Muslim area has advantages and disadvantages. There are no noisy dogs. Our rented house is not near any mosque so we should be able to sleep soundly.

In Ao Nang, there are many busy restaurants offering both Thai/Issan and foreign foods. Prices seemed very reasonable. On the local beaches I saw no deckchairs, parasols, hawkers or hookers! It was relatively unspoilt, and Swedish seemed to be the language of choice after Thai!

I saw no gogo bars, only a few decent-looking beer bars on the beach. Inland a few km, there were the usual Thai karaoke shacks along the main roads. If you enjoy nightime 'companionship' (and especially if you speak some Thai), I do not think it would be difficult to find a suitable partner (for a few hours...)

Krabi has the usual major stores, such as Big C, Tesco Lotus, Homepro, Macro and a Cineplex. I understand that there is no private hospital, so a trip to Phuket may be required for major surgeries etc.

To sum it all up - both me and the mrs were very happy with the area and we'll be moving in a few weeks

Simon

Thanks Simon, very good and accurate report. I fully share your statements. Although the Krabi population is predominant Muslim, I don't see it as a disadvantage. They are very moderate and there are no radicals like in the three Southern provinces.

However, you have to think about health care, which is insufficient in Krabi with the lack of major private hospitals. In a realy emergency an ambulance ride may take 2-3 hours or longer, if the ambulance located in Krabi is not stationed there due to another transport just before your emergency. For minor treatments local clinics are ok, many doctors speak english. But the Krabi public hospital urgently needs an upgrade, although I admit, they did a great job after the tsunami when about 2000 injured were delivered within 24 hours.

Thanks Simon, very good and accurate report. I fully share your statements. Although the Krabi population is predominant Muslim, I don't see it as a disadvantage. They are very moderate and there are no radicals like in the three Southern provinces.

However, you have to think about health care, which is insufficient in Krabi with the lack of major private hospitals. In a realy emergency an ambulance ride may take 2-3 hours or longer, if the ambulance located in Krabi is not stationed there due to another transport just before your emergency. For minor treatments local clinics are ok, many doctors speak english. But the Krabi public hospital urgently needs an upgrade, although I admit, they did a great job after the tsunami when about 2000 injured were delivered within 24 hours.

Ao Nang now have their own ambulance car of the Phuket International Hospital. In addition to this, there is now another car of the "Bangkok Phuket Hospital, but is stationed in Krabi town.

The new ambulance is usually at the office of the SSS pressure chamber in Ao Nang, with whom one shared by the office together. Telephone you can reach the ambulance under the number: 081 270 8,001th The other ambulances in Krabi town is still under the number 1719 to reach.

Both hospitals are, as the name suggests, on the island of Phuket and perfectly meet European standards, if not better. The ambulances are designed to bring patients in an emergency to better treatment in the hospitals after Phuket.

Yes, the hospital situation does concern me. I also understand from a previous discussion with Bangkok Phuket International hospital, that their emergency helicopter that is stationed at Phuket Airport covers the 'greater Phuket' area - Phuket Island, Krabi, Phang Nga.

Quite how one summons the use of that helicopter in an extreme emergency is not clear to me. I think it's probably best to prior register at BPH with all insurance details...

Simon