Hello,

I'm 29 yr old with a 30yr old bkk Thai gf and a baby on the way. Lived in BKK for 3 years and now.. that my life is kinda turning into some other direction, I would like to move somewhere else. Originally thought phan nga but decided not to after some research (I never been down south). At the moment, I'm thinking Phuket or perhaps Koh Samui.

Since I'm used to BKK... and the craziness of it, it would be kinda difficult to move somewhere that's the opposite (quiet place), so I'm looking for something that has some sort of nightlife (but not the bar girl scene or a tourist bar scenes .. I really don't want to have much to do with sexpats, tourists and similar bunch.. in fact i don't even wanna see em).

I like Thai bar/restaurant types of venues that BKK has plenty.. clubs .. I don't go anymore. I like small thai "street" bars ... couple of chairs and tables on the street, country thai music playing (such as pongsit), 65-70 baht big leo, nobody speaks english, works well late into the night .. type of thing.

Are there any Thai places, or is it just big tourist island ?

Might even open something myself down there.

I'm wondering, how hard it would be to transition from bkk to phuket/koh samui ? Which one is "better" in terms of nightlife, crime, tourists (avoiding them) ?

Prices ? I would like to rent a house .. tired of living in a studio room. Willing to pay 10k/month (6 months contract), what can I get for that money ? (The closer to the beach the better )

Any up2date info is well appreciated. I googled the internet found some stuff.. but it's mostly outdated.

"I googled the internet found some stuff.. but it's mostly outdated." - as are your desired prices, for Phuket.

"I really don't want to have much to do with sexpats, tourists and similar bunch.. in fact i don't even wanna see em"

Then Phuket and Samui are out.

phuket will cost u a bit more than 10,000 to be near the beach budget 12-18,000

there are way more families ( both tourists and those that live here) here than sexpats!!!

Hard to get away from tourists, even in Phuket town, But low season is very nice

you need a place like chonburi.

Consider Khao Lak, and please drop this mindset ""I really don't want to have much to do with sexpats, tourists and similar bunch.. in fact i don't even wanna see em".

Dude you're in Bangkok............

You will not find many bars in Phuket were westerner and Thai mix.

It usually ends in trouble if they do.

If your forced to choose between Phuket and Samui id suggest Phuket. I cant think of anything better on Samui. I've been in Rawai for about 7 years and the lifestyle there is fairly relaxed. By bear in mind cost of living is higher than most other parts of Thailand, you wont get much for 10k rent, there little or no affordable public transport, and cost of gf and new baby wont be small.

Based on your original post I think you'd be better off in Chiang Mai.