Living in Kata good or bad

[Warren Peace]

Hi,

I am new to Phuket and we (my wife and young 2 kids) are thinking about living in Kata but we have heard both good and bad things about living there, so what do people think about living in Kata?

[stevenl]

I think he is a nice enough guy

Seriously though, I would prefer a place in the area. I have my shop in Kata but prefer living away from the tourists in Rawai. More relaxed environment IMO, although also in Kata you can find some quiet and relaxed sois, just far less.

[Warren Peace]

I think he is a nice enough guy

Seriously though, I would prefer a place in the area. I have my shop in Kata but prefer living away from the tourists in Rawai. More relaxed environment IMO, although also in Kata you can find some quiet and relaxed sois, just far less.

Thanks Steve, not sure I understand your first bit. He's a nice guy?

I assuming that Kata gets super busy in the high season. Is there nice places in Rawai close to the beach and we need good internet.

[LivinginKata]

Some one called me. Yes, I live in Kata for the past 7 years. Very nice beach, shops and facilities near by. Has busy areas and quiet areas. Never really super busy, not like Patong busy. Super quiet in low season.

[coatesy]

mate i have lived in kata for the past 8 years and have a yong family here too .... we were looking to move but could'nt find any were that i would rather live ... i think it's what u get use to ? plenty of good places to eat and good beach. with young kids u may want to think about schools ? we had our boy @ cravans ( he's 3 going on 4 ) which i would highly recomend ... he will be going to head start latter this year near central shopping center .. any way in my opinion ... kata has been good for us !

[IrishIvan]

Kata is great it has nice shopping and is safe.

[sprq]

It was good 30 years ago.

[surfinglife]

Yes, you can live in Kata.....but why?? It must be the boredom capital of Thailand! Apart from surfing in the wet season there is absolutely nothing to do apart from learning Russian (which is the main language spoken there).....

[grumpyoldman]

Lived on the hillside in Kata 2002, above the PTT station. Had a tremendous view, and in high season Kata Beach Resort would shoot off fireworks, sipping cocktails on the deck with a GF, view, fireworks, pretty excellent.

Downside up there:noise. Barking dogs, road noise, loud neighbors it all seems to go up the hillside.

[pagallim]

Kata is great it has nice shopping and is safe.

Not really wanting to 'knock' Kata, but slightly confused by the 'nice shopping' comment. I really wasn't aware that there was any, except the usual tourist shops and convenience stores. Lack of parking in the area, even in low season, is a significant factor.

Unless you have a business there, and one that needs you to be close if not actually living on the premises, it wouldn't be that great for a family I don't think.

[malt25]

It was good 30 years ago.

So ! is there something cryptic about this you'd like to share ? Doesn't really tell anything at all about what Kata's like now.

[grumpyoldman]

It was good 30 years ago.

So ! is there something cryptic about this you'd like to share ? Doesn't really tell anything at all about what Kata's like now.

Malt25, this is just the typical post by some joker stuck in hellhole wherever, wishing he was living in Kata (the place, not the person).

P.S. and reason for edit: OP can you come back to us in what you are looking for in day-to-day life for you and your family, then some might be able to point you in the right direction.

Edited July 20, 2013 by grumpyoldman

[pagallim]

P.S. and reason for edit: OP can you come back to us in what you are looking for in day-to-day life for you and your family, then some might be able to point you in the right direction.

That indeed is the crucial thing. None of the west coast resort towns are particularly geared towards resident families, catering as they do for the mass tourist markets where hotels provide the majority of services. With the exception of business owners, the expat populations of these towns also tend to be transient.

[KarenBravo]

I lived in Kata for a total of 11 years, though not in one go. If you like beaches, it has three all within a short distance of each other.

As this is a west coast destination, shops, restaurants, bars and other activities are geared towards tourists with the accompanying high tourist prices.

In some respects, Kata - Karon is even more expensive than Patong. They also have the nastiest tuk-tuk drivers on the whole island and you can imagine the stiff competition they have for that title.

[JulesMad]

Kata is still Phuket.... So you will get all the Phuket 'niceties' for free

Why do you not move to a better place than Phuket?!? Very easy to find, as everywhere in Thailand is better than Phuket....

Good Luck

[KarenBravo]

95% of Thailand is called Nakorn Nowhere and Phuket is better than 100% of that place.

[grumpyoldman]

Kata is still Phuket.... So you will get all the Phuket 'niceties' for free

Why do you not move to a better place than Phuket?!? Very easy to find, as everywhere in Thailand is better than Phuket....

Good Luck

.......and who are you? Where are you posting from? TROLL, another who wishes they could be here but is not. Sad for you (not really).

[Andre0720]

It was good 30 years ago.

The world was better 30 years ago

[Andre0720]

Kata is wonderful.

Nice inexpensive restaurants like Red Chair on Khok Thanod road, where the nice and reasonably priced Kata View hotel is located, 5 minutes walk to the beach. Most everything in Kata now cheaper than in Karon.

Short drive south to the more rural Nai Harn and Rawai.

Nice easy snorkeling in Kata Noi.

And also short drive if you wish to venture into Patong or Phuket town.

Nice place to discover Phuket.

[swerving]

I moved out of karon/kata 13 years ago as it was becoming too commercialised then, would hate to think what it is like now with all the tourists. It depends what you want, if you don't mind paying tourist prices for food etc, then kata is ok.

One of the other reasons i moved is that it is not so easy to get around, as you either have to go via Chalong or Patong to go anywhere.

As you have young kids, you also need to think about schooling and the journey 4 times a day.

Personally, having lived in a number of areas in Phuket, Kathu takes some beating. Centrally located, only 10-15 minutes from a beach. Lots of local and expat restaurants.

[hellodolly]

Well I noticed all the responses ignored the internet issue.

I am just going to take a guess as I have never been there but being as it is on Phuket Island I would imagine they have the internet.

But be aware that at it's best the internet here in Thailand can be disappointing. It would seem that every tie a carrier gets a good service set up they proceed to over sell it.

[SimonF]

Living in kata is no different from living in Benidorm, if you are European you will know what I mean, if not think about Disneyland, everything is overpriced, so unless you are really loaded look somewhere else, especially with kids. Someone suggested Rawai, yes nice place, I have just moved from Rawai off Phuket completely, but if I HAD to live on Phuket Rawai is the place I would choose. The only problem is getting there, is got the sea on three sides and a place called Chalong which 99% of the time you have to drive through, always seems to be really bad traffic, you have to see it to believe it, Phuket is not the backpacking little island that it was once, many people don't realise this. If you really want to live on Phuket or have no other options, yes go for Rawai, otherwise run for you life and look around for a different part of Thailand, Phuket isn't Thailand anymore.

[LivinginKata]

Well I noticed all the responses ignored the internet issue.

I am just going to take a guess as I have never been there but being as it is on Phuket Island I would imagine they have the internet.

But be aware that at it's best the internet here in Thailand can be disappointing. It would seem that every tie a carrier gets a good service set up they proceed to over sell it.

Not sure what you in on about Dolly. Full internet services are widely available here in Phuket from 3BB and ToT and True. Even fibre optic is widely available. 3BB just installed a fibre line past my home, box on pole.

[Old Croc]

Well I noticed all the responses ignored the internet issue.

I am just going to take a guess as I have never been there but being as it is on Phuket Island I would imagine they have the internet.

No internet here on Phuket.

Members have many different ways of getting their posts on to ThaiVisa. Some mail them in, others use courier services, Tuk Tuks, jetskis, overnight buses or visa run mini buses.

Personally, I send telegrams direct to George.

[baldi]

Consider where the kids are going to school as you probably rule out PIA if you want to live in Kata unless you just love driving in Thailand.

Sent from my SM-C101 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[stevenl]

Living in kata is no different from living in Benidorm, if you are European you will know what I mean, if not think about Disneyland, everything is overpriced, so unless you are really loaded look somewhere else, especially with kids. Someone suggested Rawai, yes nice place, I have just moved from Rawai off Phuket completely, but if I HAD to live on Phuket Rawai is the place I would choose. The only problem is getting there, is got the sea on three sides and a place called Chalong which 99% of the time you have to drive through, always seems to be really bad traffic, you have to see it to believe it, Phuket is not the backpacking little island that it was once, many people don't realise this. If you really want to live on Phuket or have no other options, yes go for Rawai, otherwise run for you life and look around for a different part of Thailand, Phuket isn't Thailand anymore.

Compare Benidorm to Patong and you have a point, but a Kata-Benidorm comparison is way of the mark.

[nosatisfaction]

Kata is still Phuket.... So you will get all the Phuket 'niceties' for free

Why do you not move to a better place than Phuket?!? Very easy to find, as everywhere in Thailand is better than Phuket....

Good Luck

.......and who are you? Where are you posting from? TROLL, another who wishes they could be here but is not. Sad for you (not really).

Mind you, if everyone tells how good it is where we live, there would be too many people coming, and the good part and fun would soon be over

Also, the neighbour's grass is always more green

[stevenl]

2 posts in this thread:

It must be the boredom capital of Thailand!

Living in kata is no different from living in Benidorm

I'm sure the truth lies somewhere in between.

[zaZa9]

People who really dont understand a beach will advocate another location , like Kathu or Pattaya or Krabi....555

Kata has two of the best beaches on THE best coastline of Thaland , facing the Andaman Sea.

These also get fairly consistent surf throughout the Low.

As for raising kids there I dont know.

It seems a bit touristy in its over all orientation.

[pagallim]

Living in kata is no different from living in Benidorm, if you are European you will know what I mean, if not think about Disneyland, everything is overpriced, so unless you are really loaded look somewhere else, especially with kids.

Actually, I'd say the reverse. Benidorm is a budget destination, and very cheap for the majority of visitors. I would also say the quality of the environment (cleanliness of the streets and beaches etc), effectiveness of policing etc is far superior in Benidorm. There are also lots of attractions for adults and children, but again, it's a holiday town, where only retirees live, not families with young children.