Your Opinion Of Phuket

[LivinLOS]

15k is only just double my elecy bill...

Add in running a car, medical insurances, visa runs, etc etc and I cant understand anyone living (not just exisiting) on 15k.. 50k is a struggle, but I know people who can do that.. But 15 ??

Do not you think its about time you stopped telling people how you are the last of the big spenders, we all get sick of b/s.

I do not doubt a person could live here on 15000 baht if they wanted to there are Thais living on less and bringing up a family.

I think Phuket is a great place to live and by following this forum most of the people doing the bitching not only on this

subject but others as well do not live here and never have.

I dont consider myself a big spender, actually pretty frugal and tend to over analyse all manner of costs, drive an old car, havent bought that triumph I want, etc..

But 15k ?? Really ?? You know any expats who live on that ?? Its a lifestyle you would wish upon someone ?? Thais living on 15k are often in shared rooms, no medical, dont have to do visa runs, etc etc etc

Even then most Thai families I know have a combined income over that.

[grumpyoldman]

From Monty Python : "The Show So Far".

My only beef and the genesis of the thread was the statement "most would agree Phuket is a shithole", which I said was invalid due to it being two posters opinions. In the result below I am not counting my favoralble nor the poster who claims "shithole" while swimming in dog turds in Patong.

From the thread here:

10.5 find Phuket NOT a shithole (HDRIDER is the .5)

1 undecided

2 agree "shithole"

3 short term visitors who will not be back, one from the early 90's (still wears a mullet hairdo probably)

10.5 to 2, I would say with those results (so far), "most would find Phuket agreeable".

(reason for edit:still can't type)

Edited June 28, 2010 by grumpyoldman

[LivinLOS]

because of longterm committments here i continue to live here and i do like it here,but i am honest enough to tell it like it is

I think thats the thing.. Some posters simply dont want to hear any negative, if theres real scams and problems, they just bury their head in the sand, or say its the persons own fault for being ripped off, that they should be more vigilant or not go to bars etc..

But shit hole it is not IMO.. People wouldnt vacation here so much if it was..

Scamming and endemic corruption just seems to be the Thai way of dealing with a tourist economy. If I choose to live in a tourist based area, I have to accept that many people will attempt to treat me as a tourist and one time transaction and rip me off.

[ScubaBuddha]

Re Living in Phuket, today I have a couple more things to add.

Last night I had delicious คางข้าว ผัดไข่ดาว for dinner which cost me 40 baht.

Today I taught diving to yet another Singaporean girl traveling alone, and, after swimming around a bit with 2 Leopard Sharks, some Sting Rays, schools of squid and giant Chevron Barracuda, and visiting with a Tigertail Seahorse, I was bumped into by a 5m Whale Shark on my safety stop. My first sighting. Afterwards I hopped on my Ninja and road home with a very big smile one my face.

Life is what you make it, wherever you live.

Edited June 28, 2010 by ScubaBuddha

[ESB7]

How do you EXIST on 15,000 a month...unless you are not counting rent and transport?....A half decent place to stay is at least 8,000-12,000 a month.....not into staying in a one room Thai apartment, seafood at 40 baht???????????.....seriously, please share your secrets and explain in detail your montly expenditure...

a small apartment with furniture, aircon, TV, fridge freezer, shower does not cost more than 3000-4000tbh what is a shithole for others can be an okay place to another, why spend more than you need, you have to stay right in the batter with Farang 300 000 or you can live in an area of imminent Thai then the price goes down.

if you own a scooter and do your weekly shopping at Tesco Lotus and not spend money on hookers and beer, so you can get by quite nicely on 15000, but if you like to drink beer and pick up hookers then becoming much more expensive

Initial cost of buying a scooter and tax insurance?..cost of Visa/runs ? Internet? TV ubc/cable/true? telephone? electric?water?health insurance?.....4000 room:bah: is EXISTING....you will be EXISTING on a few hundred baht a day...WOW!!!!! would rather stay at home on the dole in a bedsit on a sink council estate for better quality of life......

[LivinLOS]

Initial cost of buying a scooter and tax insurance?..cost of Visa/runs ? Internet? TV ubc/cable/true? telephone? electric?water?health insurance?.....4000 room:bah: is EXISTING....you will be EXISTING on a few hundred baht a day...WOW!!!!! would rather stay at home on the dole in a bedsit on a sink council estate for better quality of life......

Me too.. Would just go make some more money..

But the implication that by spending more than 15k a month, your spending money on hookers and beer to try to gain some reverse moral superiority is just kinda pathetic.

[ausinpatong]

From Monty Python : "The Show So Far".

My only beef and the genesis of the thread was the statement "most would agree Phuket is a shithole", which I said was invalid due to it being two posters opinions. In the result below I am not counting my favoralble nor the poster who claims "shithole" while swimming in dog turds in Patong.

From the thread here:

10.5 find Phuket NOT a shithole (HDRIDER is the .5)

1 undecided

2 agree "shithole"

3 short term visitors who will not be back, one from the early 90's (still wears a mullet hairdo probably)

10.5 to 2, I would say with those results (so far), "most would find Phuket agreeable".

(reason for edit:still can't type)

like i said old man..you have to make a smartarse comment about someone every time you post ..some sort of superiority complex i guess.

and as usual you got it wrong.. the dogturds are on patong beach..its human turds you get swimming at patong beach..oh well??

you do realise i presume that raw sewage is still dumped into patong bay , do you?

your interpretation of paradise is it? but i notice you have now changed to ''agreeable''...huge difference to your original ''paradise''

heres a gem specially relating to your antics on forum grumpy..very apt for you ;

Winners choose what they say;

Losers say what they choose ! dont you GOM!

Edited June 28, 2010 by ausinpatong

[F1fanatic]

I've lived here 4 years and its certainly not the 'paradise' I thought from my many holidays here.

I loved it for the first year, came close to hating it for the next 2 years, but am finally beginning to enjoy it again.

Unfortunately it has all of the worst that Thailand offers in the form of scamming, b/gs hand in hand with old farang, overbuilding etc., but then again it still has wonderful scenery and a laid-back way to live (if you can learn not to get annoyed with so many people trying to rip you off in one way or another).

Once you get over the negatives (and many Westerners can't) you can finally begin to enjoy the positives again! There are decent locals who aren't out to 'rip you off' - we just meet the others far more frequently 'cos they are the ones 'looking' for us....

[LivinLOS]

Also asking people, who have chosen to live on Phuket, if they like Phuket is like asking if an iPhone is a good device at an apple developer conference.

Ask it in other forums and I expect you would get different responses.

[Bucko]

I suspect there is much of Phuket that many residents and regular visitors of Patong and Phuket do not know exist here. Of the respondents here I wonder how many have made it up to Khaoo Phrya Taao National Park and the waterfalls, or walked the deserted beaches of Nai Yang, Bang Tao, or Mai Khao, or mountain biked around Bang Wad dam, or up Radar Hill, or ridden a off road motorcycle through the jungles east of the many beach towns, or watched the sunset from the windmill at Promthep Cape as the remote control gliders and paragliders get in their last flight of the day, or had dinner from one of the beach restaurants on Rawaii Beach, or explored the Sino-Portuguese architecture and temples of old-Phuket town, or been to the hot springs in Kok Kloy just north of Sarasin Bridge, and area now being called "Greater Phuket," There is surfing, scuba diving, ocean kayaking, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, horseback riding, mountain climbing, white water rafting, ATV tours, elephant trekking, Muay Thai camps, beach volleyball, football clubs, the list goes on and on. There is so much that can be done here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes--I would like to do a lot of the above---but on my visits i find it very hard to get around to most places easily --either the long way round there and back - via Phuket Town - in the uncomfortable song theow baht Bus which --seems to stop running late afternoon--so I could easily get stuck somewhere --or use the rip-off tuk-tuks-

Good transportation is badly needed--I cant even get a bus from Patong to Karon or further on---same goes for going the other way ---anyone got a number for a decent and fair priced taxi service---I will be back in Patong soon---Bucko

[petercallen]

I dont consider myself a big spender, actually pretty frugal and tend to over analyse all manner of costs, drive an old car, havent bought that triumph I want, etc..

But 15k ?? Really ?? You know any expats who live on that ?? Its a lifestyle you would wish upon someone ?? Thais living on 15k are often in shared rooms, no medical, dont have to do visa runs, etc etc etc

Even then most Thai families I know have a combined income over that.

The basic wage in Phuket is approx 200 baht a day or 6000 baht a month, Phuket and Bangkok have the highest basic wage in Thailand.

Other areas in Thailand have a lower basic wage, 15000 baht is 2.5 times the basic wage and most people working in shops and

restaurants are only paid the basic wage, some are lucky and receive tips which increases there income itf the tips are not kept by the management.

A retiree living in Thailand can by working on a budget live here and live better than they can in there home country and they like living here

and enjoy there lifestyle, the ones i have spoken to do anyway..

Not everyone wants to live in a villa with a swimming pool and all the extras.

Buying a motorbike is a one of purchase and would not be included in a monthly budget.

Most genuine expats i know like living here, are well treated by there Thai neighbors and know what to avoid,

They all think that phuket is a great place to live.

[HDRIDER]

The basic wage in Phuket is approx 200 baht a day or 6000 baht a month, Phuket and Bangkok have the highest basic wage in Thailand.

Other areas in Thailand have a lower basic wage, 15000 baht is 2.5 times the basic wage and most people working in shops and

restaurants are only paid the basic wage, some are lucky and receive tips which increases there income itf the tips are not kept by the management.

A retiree living in Thailand can by working on a budget live here and live better than they can in there home country and they like living here

and enjoy there lifestyle, the ones i have spoken to do anyway..

Not everyone wants to live in a villa with a swimming pool and all the extras.

Buying a motorbike is a one of purchase and would not be included in a monthly budget.

Most genuine expats i know like living here, are well treated by there Thai neighbors and know what to avoid,

They all think that phuket is a great place to live.

Hi

I guess you dont go out often, living on 15.000 what a life, Thai can do it because they are used to it, also many make more than 200 a day, i know a lot of Thais if you want to ask them. I really dont believe that anybody would have a really nice life if living of 15.000 a month.

BTW i dont know anybody living for 15.000 maybe its me there dont come out often then.

Just asked my GF, she pay her staff 240 a day and 150 for overtime per day, they like to have overtime and then 10% of the sale. I will ask her what that comes to every month.

[ausinpatong]

Also asking people, who have chosen to live on Phuket, if they like Phuket is like asking if an iPhone is a good device at an apple developer conference.

Ask it in other forums and I expect you would get different responses.

exactly, and that is why i asked grumpy mate to reword it to;...

is phuket paradise as he claimed earlier or is it in fact a shitehole?

a far different response,and one much more relevant would have come out, [that is if posters could be honest!]

[grumpyoldman]

<BR>

<BR>Also asking people, who have chosen to live on Phuket, if they like Phuket is like asking if an iPhone is a good device at an apple developer conference.<BR><BR>Ask it in other forums and I expect you would get different responses.<BR>

<BR>exactly, and that is why i asked grumpy mate to reword it to;...<BR><BR>is phuket paradise as  he claimed earlier or is it in fact a shitehole?<BR><BR>a far different response,and one much more relevant would have come out, [that is if posters could be honest!]<IMG class=bbc_emoticon alt= src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif"><BR>

As I've mentioned enough times for other people to understand my point is "most would agree Phuket is a shithole" is an invalid statement. "Not what it used to be", sure, "developing too quickly for the infrastructure to keep up",sure. But "shithole" NOT !

That I find it paradise here is my perspective.

What I find to be really strange is someone who chooses to live in a place he calls a "shithole", I think that speaks volumes. Someone that waits to go to the beach when they are back in their home country (?) what are you doing here,

Edited June 29, 2010 by LivinginKata
Unsavoury remark removed

[HDRIDER]

Also asking people, who have chosen to live on Phuket, if they like Phuket is like asking if an iPhone is a good device at an apple developer conference.

Ask it in other forums and I expect you would get different responses.

exactly, and that is why i asked grumpy mate to reword it to;...

is phuket paradise as he claimed earlier or is it in fact a shitehole?

a far different response,and one much more relevant would have come out, [that is if posters could be honest!]

HI

You have to think about that many of the people here on TV need the tourist (business in Phuket) do you really think they would say it’s a shithole? i don’t think so, i wouldn’t if i was living of tourist.

[katabeachbum]

is phuket paradise as he claimed earlier or is it in fact a shitehole?

IMHO Phuket is paradise compared to most places on earth. I came to Thailand as a tourist first time with my mum and dad 40 years ago. 7,5 years ago I moved to live permanently here, and have been in LOS 350 days a year since.

Scubabuddhas posts say most of why Phuket is such a nice place, and what is to dislike about Phuket.

Sometimes I v been fed up with Phuket, but mostly with people not born here. To get away from this I also have a home in Hua Hin.

I consider Patong a sh-thole, even if its nice to go party there sometimes. I believe most of those considering Phuket a sh-thole know nothing else than Patong and have little knowledge of thai culture and language.

Why would anyone want to live in a sh-thole anyway?

To the poster living on 15k a month, I dont believe you, but if I did I admire you. I live in my own house, but still spend 60-120k month. And enjoy it.

[stevenl]

From Monty Python : "The Show So Far".

My only beef and the genesis of the thread was the statement "most would agree Phuket is a shithole", which I said was invalid due to it being two posters opinions. In the result below I am not counting my favoralble nor the poster who claims "shithole" while swimming in dog turds in Patong.

From the thread here:

10.5 find Phuket NOT a shithole (HDRIDER is the .5)

1 undecided

2 agree "shithole"

3 short term visitors who will not be back, one from the early 90's (still wears a mullet hairdo probably)

10.5 to 2, I would say with those results (so far), "most would find Phuket agreeable".

(reason for edit:still can't type)

1 more for 'not a shithole'. Been living here for 10 years now, and would not want to live anywhere else.

[ausinpatong]

because of longterm committments here i continue to live here and i do like it here,but i am honest enough to tell it like it is

I think thats the thing.. Some posters simply dont want to hear any negative, if theres real scams and problems, they just bury their head in the sand, or say its the persons own fault for being ripped off, that they should be more vigilant or not go to bars etc..

But shit hole it is not IMO.. People wouldnt vacation here so much if it was..

Scamming and endemic corruption just seems to be the Thai way of dealing with a tourist economy. If I choose to live in a tourist based area, I have to accept that many people will attempt to treat me as a tourist and one time transaction and rip me off.

livinlos , after reading this i decided to research some previous posts from members about phuket in general but most are about west coast and particularly patong..

you all seem to be transfixed on tuk tuk and taxi mafia, jetski and rental rippoffs, touts, tailors,scammers ,timeshares,airport taxi overcharging, crazy thai driving styles etc, etc..

this puzzles me and also intrigues me.

why oh why is there such a fixation on these matters,which seems to bring out all the vitriol and cynicism and name calling from members

surely, if you are resident here as i am, these things don't impact your daily life..sure as hel_l dont let them impact mine! i agree about living in a tourist strip and all it implies...i live in a major tourist strip when in aus and you often are touted as a tourist, same same!

but you all seem to have lost sight of the real problems here in phuket!

i have to disagree with your statement above though ; But shit hole it is not IMO.. People wouldnt vacation here so much if it was...

IMO

a huge number of people holiday here to escape the northern winter....of course, to them it is like paradise..a week or two of sun, sex, relaxation...they dont see/care about most of what this forum constantly whinges about.

it is,was a cheap holiday destination and in these hard economic times, cheap is priority thats why so many come. did you notice the huge influx of 'cheap charlies from lower socio-economic counties' last high season ..some thai mates in accom,and taxis and massage etc tell me they were the worst they had seen here..mean, arrogant,rude,demanding, walking out of restaurants, massage etc without paying was happening...

[ESB7]

The basic wage in Phuket is approx 200 baht a day or 6000 baht a month, Phuket and Bangkok have the highest basic wage in Thailand.

Other areas in Thailand have a lower basic wage, 15000 baht is 2.5 times the basic wage and most people working in shops and

restaurants are only paid the basic wage, some are lucky and receive tips which increases there income itf the tips are not kept by the management.

A retiree living in Thailand can by working on a budget live here and live better than they can in there home country and they like living here

and enjoy there lifestyle, the ones i have spoken to do anyway..

Not everyone wants to live in a villa with a swimming pool and all the extras.

Buying a motorbike is a one of purchase and would not be included in a monthly budget.

Most genuine expats i know like living here, are well treated by there Thai neighbors and know what to avoid,

They all think that phuket is a great place to live.

This really is a it of a tired old cliche now...6,000 baht a month salary......5 or more years ago yes but not now. The Thais that earn that salary if they do, get their accomodation and food included so they have 6,000 disposable income, on top of that they get overtime and other benefits. Most are on salaries well over 10,000 and more, again with food and extras in their package. The Thai cleaner at my old company in bKK was on 12,000 a month for a 5 day week and had meals included. Recently a bar girl has started working in 7/11 here as the money is better, yes her salary is 12,000 a month and other benefits.

Initial cost of motorbike will be approx 40,000, so over a two year period that is already almost 2,000 a month on your budget and that is without the repairs and servicing etc.

I would still like to know where you can buy a seafood meal in Phuket for 40 baht???? that is blatantly not possile.

What is the point in saying I love living in Phuket because of all it offers, restaurants, shopping malls, diving etc etc if you cant afford to go to them, it kinda defeats the object of the post.

Yes we can all eat sticky rice or noodles every day and not go out or have a telephone etc...that isnt a life worth living,

Phuket scenery is fantastic and the water beautiful at times but it really is overdeveloped, seedy and expensive, it suits some and always will but will not suit others, thats personal choice.

[ausinpatong]

HI

You have to think about that many of the people here on TV need the tourist (business in Phuket) do you really think they would say it's a shithole? i don't think so, i wouldn't if i was living of tourist.

yes mate.. but believe me honesty is a great virtue....dishonest people will always, sooner or later pay for that lack of moral...

lack of the most basic honesty combined with greed are two of the biggest downsides in life today

Edited June 29, 2010 by ausinpatong

[KarenBravo]

I would still like to know where you can buy a seafood meal in Phuket for 40 baht???? that is blatantly not possile.

Any noodle stall (noodle soup with one of the following; prawn/squid/fishballs).

Edited June 29, 2010 by KarenBravo

[stevenl]

The Thais that earn that salary if they do, get their accomodation and food included so they have 6,000 disposable income, on top of that they get overtime and other benefits.

A lot of Thais earn 6,000 Baht, and most of them will be working for small businesses. That means normally: housing included, but no meals, overtime worked but not paid, no benefits whatsoever.

Initial cost of motorbike will be approx 40,000, so over a two year period that is already almost 2,000 a month on your budget and that is without the repairs and servicing etc.

Sorry, but here you really don't know what you're talking about.

[ausinpatong]

This really is a it of a tired old cliche now...6,000 baht a month salary......5 or more years ago yes but not now. The Thais that earn that salary if they do, get their accomodation and food included so they have 6,000 disposable income, on top of that they get overtime and other benefits. Most are on salaries well over 10,000 and more, again with food and extras in their package. The Thai cleaner at my old company in bKK was on 12,000 a month for a 5 day week and had meals included. Recently a bar girl has started working in 7/11 here as the money is better, yes her salary is 12,000 a month and other benefits.

even though this is way off topic the figures you quote are a fairytale mate.... 6000 disposable income??

some manager types may well get 10,000 plus with food and extras but no way for the average ''worker''

a huge majority of thais have an income around 6000bht monthly without accom and food and afriend of mine working in 7/ 11 earns maybe 7000 with long hours

then you have the multitude of ladys in the massage game...no customer...no pay....low season sometimes 2-3 days with no income...

same as tuk tuk drivers no customer no pay...

[petercallen]

Hi

I guess you dont go out often, living on 15.000 what a life, Thai can do it because they are used to it, also many make more than 200 a day, i know a lot of Thais if you want to ask them. I really dont believe that anybody would have a really nice life if living of 15.000 a month.

BTW i dont know anybody living for 15.000 maybe its me there dont come out often then.

Just asked my GF, she pay her staff 240 a day and 150 for overtime per day, they like to have overtime and then 10% of the sale. I will ask her what that comes to every month.

I never said i live on 15000 baht a month, i am in the lucky situation of having worked until i was over 60 i can have what i want when i want.

[HDRIDER]

Hi

My GF has a small shop/travel boot/shop whatever you will call it, her staff has around 12.000 a month with overtime and 10% of what they sell, she say that they sell a lot more when she told them they would get 10% extra, now she want to put the salery down and give tham 20% she say thay will sell A LOT if she do it, i believe her.

[HDRIDER]

Hi

I guess you dont go out often, living on 15.000 what a life, Thai can do it because they are used to it, also many make more than 200 a day, i know a lot of Thais if you want to ask them. I really dont believe that anybody would have a really nice life if living of 15.000 a month.

BTW i dont know anybody living for 15.000 maybe its me there dont come out often then.

Just asked my GF, she pay her staff 240 a day and 150 for overtime per day, they like to have overtime and then 10% of the sale. I will ask her what that comes to every month.

I never said i live on 15000 baht a month, i am in the lucky situation of having worked until i was over 60 i can have what i want when i want.

Sorry

[sadman]

I'm not fortunate enough to yet be living in Phuket more than 6-8 weeks a year, so my opinion has to be taken in that context, but I can honestly say that Phuket knocks spots off the UK in almost every category, for instance:

• Getting ripped off - in the UK it's cloaked in a veneer of respectability, but the principle is exactly the same
  
• Taxation - income tax and national insurance takes over 50% of my earnings before I even start, then there's indirect taxation.....
  
• Healthcare - on what I pay in national insurance, I'd get a fabulous package in Phuket
  
• Education - the UK may or may nor better, depending on where you live
  
• Crime - don't even go there
  
• Climate - 'nuff said
  
• Living on benefits - Uk wins hands down
  
• TV - well, when I switch on Sky, find 400+ channels yet nothing worth watching... that's about even, I would say
  
• Diving - have a guess
  
• Owning property - evens, I think
  
• Owning land - UK gets it
  
• People - people are people the world over, good and bad everywhere
  

I've been lucky enough to travel quite a bit and have settled on Phuket as my place to wish to live. Not perfect, but I accept the whole package. For me, if I can bank a pound and spend a baht, it's ideal. That's just reaping the rewards of 35 years' working - which also includes not having to live on 15k per month. I don't doubt it can be done, but I don't need to do it and certainly don't want to do it (after bringing up 5 children, I'm no stranger to an empty wallet). No bar girls, some beer, my wife and I just enjoy life.

People who agree - great. People who disagree - great. I don't need to justify my feelings and nor does anyone else. I just do what I do.

[grumpyoldman]

I'm not fortunate enough to yet be living in Phuket more than 6-8 weeks a year, so my opinion has to be taken in that context, but I can honestly say that Phuket knocks spots off the UK in almost every category

I've been lucky enough to travel quite a bit and have settled on Phuket as my place to wish to live. Not perfect, but I accept the whole package.

Thanks sadman, good post.

[LivinLOS]

even though this is way off topic the figures you quote are a fairytale mate.... 6000 disposable income??

some manager types may well get 10,000 plus with food and extras but no way for the average ''worker''

My missus wanted to work.. First job she took waitressing in a restaurant paid 12k base plus OT plus tips.. High season months were >15k for unskilled waitress and he couldnt keep staff (poor manager).. I think she said a girl we know started KFC on 340 baht per day plus OT..

I know a hotel front desk girl, no degree or anything, 30k a month..

[LivinLOS]

I'm not fortunate enough to yet be living in Phuket more than 6-8 weeks a year, so my opinion has to be taken in that context, but I can honestly say that Phuket knocks spots off the UK in almost every category

I've been lucky enough to travel quite a bit and have settled on Phuket as my place to wish to live. Not perfect, but I accept the whole package.

Thanks sadman, good post.

From someone whose never lived here and whose points are clearly biased.. UK and Thai educations systems about a draw ?? TV (who cares) about a draw ?? Even crime.. Where my mother lives she doesnt lock her doors when she goes out, a burglary in the village would be a talking point for ages, here almost everyone I know with a freestanding home has had a break in, bodies turning up in suitcases, rapes etc.. Having a bias is all well and good but it should stick to reality.

As to the taxes paid it sort of ignores the fact you make money there, real money, the kind of money that allows you to go live elsewhere.. Every year I was in the UK I make money, in asia every year I spend money.. I only visited the uk and the business and opportunities easy ways to make money was so refreshing, it got me all fired up about work until I thought about complaining about taxes to make money, when Thailand you dont make money, its kinda blinkered.