To Live In Phang Nga Or Phuket?

[osmar]

Has anyone lived in Phuket and Phang Nga?

What are the advantages or disadvantages?

I live in Phuket and my Thai wife wants to move to Khok Kloi or Thai Mueang (no relatives there).

Thanks for any serious replies.

[stevehaigh]

we moved to the middle of no where outside Cha-am, Hua hin area a couple of years ago.

personally i hated the place, hot, no rain, absolutely nothing to do, 30-40 min drive by car to villa market or any decent shopping or food or entertainment. phang-na certainly doesn't have the no rain problem but the other items apply.

the wife fit in quite well with the locals even though she;s from up north. but some thais may have a problem fitting in an area they are not from would be my guess.

[petercallen]

Depends on the lifestyle you like, if you are not into the bar scene and enjoy rural life

Phang Nha is about 1 hours drive from Phuket town, there is quite a lot to see and do in the area

But not many tourist attractions, its like a Australian country town

[Iolare]

I’m feel compelled to answer your question because my wife and I have homes in Chalong and in Phang Nga. We got the Chalong house when we moved here about 5 years ago, then found land and built the Phang Nga house which has been our primary residence for the last two years. The differences are pretty obvious, and your preference is entirely lifestyle dependent.

I think of Phuket as a place that couldn’t decide whether to become a Singapore clone or remain a resort island, and by a lack of planning, settled into an unhappy suburban compromise between the two. The obvious advantages Phuket offers to a Farang include the widespread use of English and the availablility of western food, goods, and services. Sadly, the price for those conveniences has become noise, pollution, crowding, crime, and traffic gridlock.

Our place in Phang Nga is on the edge of a village across the water from the Yacht Haven Marina. The advantages include ample natural land, sea, and forest without crowding, a contented local population with almost no crime or violence, and an abundance of local food and wildlife. Instead of urban hustle and bustle, we have eagles, sea and land birds, squirrels, monkeys, moniter lizards, and sea otters. We have fireflies and the sound of frogs at night, and rise to the sound of chickens in the morning. It’s a pleasanat lifestyle, but only if you prefer the country over the city.

It’s a 60 kilometer road trip from one house to the other and the and the transition seems to occur at Thalang. The northern 30 k of the trip is never congested, and the southern 30k is never traffic-free. We’ve found 4 or 5 good restaurants in the Khok Kloi area which are all primarily Thai/seafood. Farang food can be had in the resorts, but it’s expensive. Khok Kloi is developing into a regional trade center, and has most of the banks and car dealerships, and has adequate pharmacies, home improvement stores, etc.. It recetly got a Tesco Lotus as did Thai Muang, but both of them are express-type stores and were a disappointment to everyone up here. Most locals were expecting a store on the order of the one recently built in Thalang, and the area could support a better, larger version, as it is surprisingly prosperous up here. There are rumors that Big C is coming, and hopefully they will do a full store. Phang Nga Town is a very charming place, and they have a Big C shopping center.

Your wife may find that she has trouble understanding the southern dialect, as my wife does. She can communicate, but it takes careful listening and concentration. If you don't speak Thai, it's a bigger disadvantage here than down in Phuket. But I've found that being a willing buyer with money, I can generally end up getting whatever is needed or wanted, so it's manageable.

I golf with some long-time expat Phuket residents who say that my place is what Phuket was 15 to 20 years ago, and they miss it. It seems that they’re not alone in their thinking because there seems to be a developing trend of migration north. We're down in Phuket town once or twice a week for shopping or dinner, but I suspect as we get to know our way around Phang Nga Province better, we'll be coming less often. Anyone want to rent a house in Chalong?

[osmar]

Many thanks for taking the time to reply to my question.

It is much appreciated indeed.

[stevehaigh]

Phang Nha is about 1 hours drive from Phuket town,

by Ferrari enzo at 3am on sunday morning maybe

[petercallen]

Phang Nha is about 1 hours drive from Phuket town,

by Ferrari enzo at 3am on sunday morning maybe

I did say about a hour its about 90 KLM from Phuket town to phang Nga town and once past the airport there is very little traffic

[Tony Cowan]

An interesting debate. My wife and I have a place in Thalang and also just outside Phang-Nga town, where my wife is from. The two places are chalk & Cheese in terms of Farang provision and both have their own charms and issues. While our home in Phuket is handy for the airport, beaches and shopping, the tranquility of Phang-Nga and closeness to the National Park, waterfalls, white water rafting and jungle trekking makes it an entertaining area. Phang-Nga also, seems equal distance between Phuket, Krabi and Khoa Lak making it ideal for visiting the different areas, should you wish.

Phnag-Nga, doesn't seem overcrowded and the only other Farang I tend to bump into are those passing through the town and stopping for provisions. In Phang-Nga town we have a Big C and small retail outlets which provide all we need but should we need something more unusual or western we can drive into Phuket 1 1/5 hours away and make a day of it.

My personal choice between the two is Phanga-Nga, although my wife has a tendency more for Phuket as most her friends live there. I also, believe the medical facilities in Phuket are better than Phang-Nga, something to consider as we grow older. I love both places and count myself lucky to be able to enjoy both and the rest of Thailand.

[pagallim]

We don't often get across the bridge, however today was an exception. I do quite like Phang Nga for all of the reasons that have been described above, though I think living there full time wouldn't suit me at least. Iolare and Tony Cowan seem to have it cracked, having homes in both Phang Nga and Phuket.

Anyway, the purpose of today's excursion was to visit a restaurant a few kilometres the other side of the bridge, called 360 Coffee (I think it's also called 'Andaman View Point'). I'm guessing that it's about 3 or 4 kilometres travelling south before the bridge on the left hand side, immediately after a Weigh Station.

It's situated at the top of what really is a hillock, and seems to be quite busy, or at least it was on a Sunday lunchtime. The menu is reasonably extensive, and whilst the food wasn't bad, it was pretty average. Not particularly cheap, in fact my banker (wife) said the check bin was comparable to one of our favourites, Mamtrio in Kathu, but nowhere near Mamtrio's quality. Better to stick to a coffee (very good selection) and one of their extensive selection of cakes (not all were available from the menu though).

The views, whilst pleasant, weren't anywhere near as wonderful as some of our favourite spots on Phuket, particularly on the east coast.

It is very family orientated, and has quite a few facilities for children, so if you have a young family and are in the area, I would recommend it. Some photos of the place in general, and the food. Click on a photo to enlarge it.

[Grifter]

^ Nice pics, looks well worth a visit.

Although it must be lovely having two homes having one within daytrip distance of the other seems a bit of a waste. If I'm lucky enough to get to the stage where I'm thinking about another home I think I would make it in the Krabi region, somewhere like Ao Thalane. The difference between those two regions is far more noticeable and the Krabi countryside is breathtaking, it would make it feel more like a holiday than just popping an hour up the road.

[pagallim]

^

Always subjective of course, with a balance that needs to be struck between the love of quiet, scenery and peace, and the mundane of shopping and everything in-between that normal life entails.

Great thing is choice, and here in Phuket, that is in abundance. If nothing else can be taken from the viewpoint of the 360 Coffee place, it's it is indeed a good move to look wherever you are, all around, and sample and taste as much as you can.

[petercallen]

Lots of places and things to see if you take your time and look around

We did a trip through ranong as far as Chumporn and back down the east coast

getting of the main roads and looking around

Also south to Krabi Ko lanta and across to Ko Samui, same thing having a good look around

but you still miss things worth seeing

Next trip will will start looking around north of Champorn not trying to get to any set destination in a hurry but looking at thinks worth seeing and stopping to look for accomadation at 4PM where ever we are

[Iolare]

Now I’ve heard of two people who decided to come up to Phang Nga province to visit the View Point, and that disturbs me a little; not that I can’t appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit behind it’s creation, but because it seems like more of a tourist trap than terrific view point. It’s sort of like going to Minnesota to see the world’s largest ball of twine, instead of the 10,000 lakes.

Just speculating, but I’ll bet the owner of the land realized that his highway frontage will be very valuable in a few years and he needed to do something with it while awaiting the appreciation. He could have planted pineapples I suppose, but chose instead to sell coffee. Nothing wrong with that and more power to him.

But as for view points in Phang Nga, there are many that are superior and some that have truely breathtaking views. When you’re at the Sarasin Bridge, get out of the car and walk on the old bridge and go up the stairs. Look at the Province and note the many hills (I don’t think the view point is one that you’ll notice). If you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle explore a few of them and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what it’s like up here. Or you can take the road that goes east from the 402 and makes it’s way to the Khlong Khian Pier. It’s a beautiful drive in it’s own right and you can find marvelous viewpoints off that road. The views of the Bay and the limestone karst formations are spectacular.

[osmar]

Thank you for all these comments. What about price of houses e.g. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.?

Thanks again for taking the time to write such help.

[Iolare]

Thank you for all these comments. What about price of houses e.g. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.?

Thanks again for taking the time to write such help.

I haven’t seen much planned subdivision housing up here and that is, frankly, a large part of the appeal of the place for me, so there isn’t a lot of guidance I can give you about the cost of a typical 3brm 2 bath house. You see everything from bamboo huts that cost next to nothing, to mansions on the beach that cost millions. Most farang-type housing here is one-off, custom built, and there is a lot of information in the housing section of TV about building such a place that you can review for insight about the challenges and costs. I did notice an ad in the Gazette recently for a 3/2 on 4 rai near Kho Kloy for 10MTB.

Getting back to your original question about the advantages and disadvantages, another disadvantage is the quality of the public schools and the cost and distance of private ones. If you have them, or are planning for kids, that’s a factor to consider.

Another issue that other posters have raised is the remoteness/boredom factor, and I know from talking to a few expats that some localities in Phang Nga get to feel remote for full time living. I’m thinking of a fellow I met who lived up in Khao Lak, and also a few guys who moved to Thai Muang to be near the golf course that subsequently closed. But It’s my opinion that if you locate reasonably close to the bridge you can en joy the best of both worlds.

You need to think in terms of time and not distance. The five kilometers or whatever it is from Rawai to Central Festival can take longer than going to the International airport from my place in Phang Nga. So if someone wants to meet me at the Ao Po marina or the Phuket Airpark to give two examples, I figure on around 1/2 hour drive time, Blue Canyon is a little less. The new Thalang shopping center is about 1/2 hour also. Getting into Phuket Town is about 45 minutes depending on time of day, but the further south from Thalang you go, the more traffic is congested (these are not Ferrari times either). As a guy who lived and worked in LA, those times aren’t bothersome to me. What I hate is being gridlocked on Choafa West road and going nowhere; that is too much like Bangkok or LA, and is what I thought I was getting away from.

As for the other amenities of life that people have mentioned here that give quality or spice to living in the south of the island, I can report that you can actually have a beer and find a girl who thinks you’re a “Handsome Man” in several venues north of the Heroine’s Monument; and there are some good restaurants, too, so it’s not the wilderness that some have said, if you consider yourself as having one foot on the mainland and one foot on north Phuket Island.

[Markie69]

Hi ~

I am a teacher in the Trang province. Been here for 6 years and now been offered a position in Phang Nga. I don't know much about Phang Nga, but I do know, I love the town and it's surroundings. . .

I'm male, Canadian, single with a small docile dog. I'm looking for a "house" ... preferably not row-housing, rather a detached home, small ok, but need garden space ~ outdoor space.

Is there a service that can help me find a home ? Does anyone know of a home that is for rent ?

Any information is much appreciated !

Thanks in advance,

Markie

[lavender19]

We don't often get across the bridge, however today was an exception. I do quite like Phang Nga for all of the reasons that have been described above, though I think living there full time wouldn't suit me at least. Iolare and Tony Cowan seem to have it cracked, having homes in both Phang Nga and Phuket.

Anyway, the purpose of today's excursion was to visit a restaurant a few kilometres the other side of the bridge, called 360 Coffee (I think it's also called 'Andaman View Point'). I'm guessing that it's about 3 or 4 kilometres travelling south before the bridge on the left hand side, immediately after a Weigh Station.

It's situated at the top of what really is a hillock, and seems to be quite busy, or at least it was on a Sunday lunchtime. The menu is reasonably extensive, and whilst the food wasn't bad, it was pretty average. Not particularly cheap, in fact my banker (wife) said the check bin was comparable to one of our favourites, Mamtrio in Kathu, but nowhere near Mamtrio's quality. Better to stick to a coffee (very good selection) and one of their extensive selection of cakes (not all were available from the menu though).

The views, whilst pleasant, weren't anywhere near as wonderful as some of our favourite spots on Phuket, particularly on the east coast.

It is very family orientated, and has quite a few facilities for children, so if you have a young family and are in the area, I would recommend it. Some photos of the place in general, and the food. Click on a photo to enlarge it.

Not being funny pagallim,but just wondering.Do you take photo's of every meal you have?

[pagallim]

We don't often get across the bridge, however today was an exception. I do quite like Phang Nga for all of the reasons that have been described above, though I think living there full time wouldn't suit me at least. Iolare and Tony Cowan seem to have it cracked, having homes in both Phang Nga and Phuket.

Anyway, the purpose of today's excursion was to visit a restaurant a few kilometres the other side of the bridge, called 360 Coffee (I think it's also called 'Andaman View Point'). I'm guessing that it's about 3 or 4 kilometres travelling south before the bridge on the left hand side, immediately after a Weigh Station.

It's situated at the top of what really is a hillock, and seems to be quite busy, or at least it was on a Sunday lunchtime. The menu is reasonably extensive, and whilst the food wasn't bad, it was pretty average. Not particularly cheap, in fact my banker (wife) said the check bin was comparable to one of our favourites, Mamtrio in Kathu, but nowhere near Mamtrio's quality. Better to stick to a coffee (very good selection) and one of their extensive selection of cakes (not all were available from the menu though).

The views, whilst pleasant, weren't anywhere near as wonderful as some of our favourite spots on Phuket, particularly on the east coast.

It is very family orientated, and has quite a few facilities for children, so if you have a young family and are in the area, I would recommend it. Some photos of the place in general, and the food. Click on a photo to enlarge it.

Not being funny pagallim,but just wondering.Do you take photo's of every meal you have?

No, normally only if going to somewhere we haven't been before, and I think it worthy of a favourable mention and I happen to have a camera in the car. We eat out reasonably often, and mainly repeat visits to the places that are consistently good. I also like places where the surroundings and ambience are worth a mention, as well as the food. I've also used quite a few recommendations that have been made on this forum, and generally agree with the comments that others have made. Unfortunately, restaurants can also change negatively, so I might put the occasional repeat word in for somewhere that delivers quality each and every time. Never expect everyone to agree of course, as we all have our personal tastes and preferences. If someone else posts a recommendation with a photo or two I appreciate it, so try and reciprocate.

I should also say that photography is one of my hobbies

Edited March 21, 2013 by pagallim

[Phronesis]

Due to the construction at Central, it is now faster to drive to the airport from klok koi than from Chalong

[muppy7]

Hi all!

I'd like to revive this topic by asking about places to rent in Phang Nga for the longer term (ie. 5 months). Can anyone advise about what options there are and how much will I be paying?

Any and all advice appreciated!

Thanks.

[LivinginKata]

Hi all!

I'd like to revive this topic by asking about places to rent in Phang Nga for the longer term (ie. 5 months). Can anyone advise about what options there are and how much will I be paying?

Any and all advice appreciated!

Thanks.

Wow - that's like saying 'how long is a piece of string'. Might be good if you listed your housing requirements before members can comment.