Where to live?

[Vonnegute]

We have decided to live in Thailand from January to May, 2018.  I am hoping to get input regarding which town we will fit in best.   Here are some relevant thoughts.  Warning:  we are just starting our research so please excuse any ignorance I reveal.

·      We prefer a town or village to a city (maybe with a population range between 2,000 – 15,0000).  Best option would be one that is within a couple hours of a city that would be large enough to provide for most modern needs.

·      We prefer that town to be predominately Thai, not Tourist.  However, we would appreciate an ex-pat presence since we don't speak the language or know the culture.

·      Cost of living is also a consideration.  We would like to pay local prices not jacked up tourist prices.

·      We love the ocean, but while stuck on land we hate high temperatures (85 f) and higher and high humidity.  Are the only mountainous villages in the north?

·      We plan on chartering a catamaran a couple of times out of Dream Yacht Charter where we have a relationship (located near Phuket airport, or Langkawi, Malaysia).  All else being equal, we would choose the town closest to their base.

·      If we end up living far away from the charter base, what is the bus service in Thailand like?  Would we go crazy on a 20 hour bus ride?  What do national airline flights cost?

·      We prefer laid-back and casual to night-life and fancy.

·      We love nature.

·      We're in our 50s.

Please feel free to keep the thread going or send us a private message.  Any input will be helpful.

[schlog]

NAI YANG

Congratulations you found your new holiday home base. BTW don't worry to much 4 month are quickly over!

[williamgeorgeallen]

1 hour ago, schlog said:

NAI YANG

Congratulations you found your new holiday home base. BTW don't worry to much 4 month are quickly over!

it is a great spot and close to the airport. great advice.

[Pinot]

Check out Kamala Beach

[Jono136]

Google is a wonderful tool. Try https://www.travelfish.org/weather/thailand for climate - obviously, the north is cooler than the south. You can also google for rental accommodation in your chosen location. You are coming for peak season - so prices will rise.

 

You probably won't want to use the bus. Air fares are quite cheap for internal flights - about the same as the bus if you travel at anti-social hours. Taxi fares in Phuket are high though.

 

There are Thai places in Phuket (Thalang, Choeng Talay) where you can rent reasonably, but still be close to expat communities. Look at the Internations web site if you want to meet local expats. Beaches are best on the west coast - eg Surin, Bang Tao - marinas are on the east coast.

 

Good luck.

 

 

[Psimbo]

How about reading one of the MANY threads that already cover this.

[Old Croc]

A couple of things:

Your thread has been highlighted in the Thaivisa newsletter as "Where to live in Phuket" when you have actually asked about where to live in Thailand. This may have confused some of the answers you have received here.

Also I note you have posted an almost identical thread in the Real Estate forum and have already received many replies there, some actually helpful.

To travel to a tropical country and expect a cool climate is asking a little much. As some have pointed out, the only places that meet that criteria would be in the mountains in the north of Thailand. Phuket has a height limit on development so you can't live up high here. 

It should be noted that there are swimming pools and oceans to swim in, and cars, dwellings, etc. usually have air-conditioning (an exception might be a cheap rental in a Thai village)

Perhaps choose a town in the north. close to amenities (supermarkets, etc.) and an airport so you can fly to your yacht charter base. Domestic flights are fairly cheap. Do not use the long distance bus service if it can possibly be avoided.

Money seems to be an issue for you.

Phuket, as the 16th most visited tourist destination in the world, obviously has inflated prices in the tourist areas.  Expats know where, and how, to shop here to get prices not very much higher than elsewhere in Thailand . However, if you are not Thai you will cop higher prices everywhere in Thailand. The only real answer is to use a local to shop for you.

[ThaiWai]

This is in the Phuket forum but then you speak of living up North and taking 20 hour bus rides so not sure if you are specific on Phuket or not.  Budget would have been helpful.

But, I would say Laem Panwa and not let 1 or 2 40 minute trips to the airport area or a northern Phuket marina dictate my 5 month stay location on the island.  In my opinion it ticks most of your boxes.  

 

 

 

 

Edited July 17, 2017 by ThaiWai

[bbi1]

Patong Beach is the perfect place to live. Oh so good.