I have lived in Phuket during several winters over the last seven years, and each time I came back I noticed further over development, more noise, traffic, pollution, and rudeness. However I also read on several posts that Phuket has bee cleaning up its act. I'm wondering if this is true so I posted this question and poll on the Koh Samui forum and someone suggested to be fair I should post the same poll and question on the Phuket forum.

So here it is. To those of you who have spent time on both Phuket and Samui, and taking things into consideration such as traffic, crime, noise, polution, ect. which would you consider to have the best standard of living. Phuket or Samui?

Any feedback and participation in the above poll is greatly appreciated.

FYI The Koh Samui post and poll is here.

http://www.thaivisa....ats-diifferent/

Thanks

Don't you think the answer is self explanatory??

I predict, that the vast majority of people who live in Samui will say Samui is better, and the same for people who live in Phuket. I think that's probably why thay chose to live where they did!

Having said that, there were a few people on here recently, that live in Phuket but were adamant Pattaya was a better place to live. So perhaps your survey will uncover a few more people who got lost on the way to the place that actually wanted to be.

For me, Phuket wins hands down (suprise, suprise) Samui may be just as good as Phuket to holiday to, but no where near as good a place to live.

Hopefully we will see through the 2 polls if that is in fact true BangTaoBoy. However if for example more people on the Phuket poll choose Koh Samui that would be a pretty good indicator that Koh Samui is better for overall living. People in Phuket or Koh Samui may aslo feel the other is better but are unable to move due to family, business ect. Overall you are probably right but I still feel its interesting and worthwhile to have the poll on both local forums.

I couldn't imagine being landlocked on a tiny island with either a ferry or a monopolized airline as my only ways to get off the island.

I couldn't imagine being landlocked on a tiny island with either a ferry or a monopolized airline as my only ways to get off the island.

and no decent Hospital, small crowded roads, lack of nice grocery stores and lack of car- and bike garages

Id prefer Tower Hamlets or Haringay to either of them

I couldn't imagine being landlocked on a tiny island with either a ferry or a monopolized airline as my only ways to get off the island.

and no decent Hospital, small crowded roads, lack of nice grocery stores and lack of car- and bike garages

you can say that again! Phuket's infrastructure, though nothing to boast about is far superior.

People in Phuket or Koh Samui may aslo feel the other is better but are unable to move due to family, business ect.

That's always been a weak excuse for my money. Whenever you question someone as to why they are coming on to the Phuket forum to slag Phuket off, they always say it's not their fault they have to stay, but work commitments. So I can only assume some body must have put a gun to their heads and made them take the job!

If I was living somewhere I didn't like, because my own bad decision making, I personaly would keep quiet about it, I wouldn't blame the place, but myself.

I couldn't imagine being landlocked on a tiny island with either a ferry or a monopolized airline as my only ways to get off the island.

That's a very good point. I think mild clostrophobia would kick in if I lived there for too long. I know people that have lived on Phi Phi for long periods of time, up to a decade with out hardly leaving. If that was me I'd be a dribbling mess after a couple of months. I know obviously Samui's much bigger but I think I'd feel the same going round and round on the one road every day.

For me Samui is less well equipped, worse roads, bad travel options / connections, less amenities in general.. But I like being there more for short stays. It provides a more island vibe, has better beach bars and clubs, and I have Thai friends via my wife there who I like a lot.

Long term livable I would have to say Phuket offers more.. Short term (few months) visiting, Samui does.

Just my 2c.