Aussie expats on Samui

[mcullen57]

Hello! I'm looking to make contact with Aussie and Kiwi expats living on Koh Samui. My wife and I are Aussies, currently retired and living in Hua Hin. We want to learn about expat life on Koh Samui. Best places to live, rental costs, other living costs, etc, etc. We love hearing peoples stories and getting first-hand info from people already doing it. Thinking about making a short exploratory trip mid-September - so getting contacts and starting conversations now would be ideal!

Cheers, Michael

 

[carmine]

Why limit yourselves to just aussies and kiwis?  

 

I would advise you coming any later than mid september as our rain season starts in october.  Generally speaking the weather in september is still quite nice.

Edited September 2, 2017 by carmine

[mcullen57]

Many thanks, Carmine and good to know about the weather situation. Not restricting ourselves and it would be good to talk to retired expats on Samui, including Aussies and Kiwis as we have similar backgrounds.

[khunPer]

On 9/1/2017 at 10:45 AM, mcullen57 said:

Best places to live, rental costs, other living costs, etc, etc. We love hearing peoples stories...

Best places etc. etc. is really a question of life-style, and budget/funds, as Samui can offer you anything between a (relative) cheap bungalow to fully-serviced high-end luxury villas; and the latter don't come cheap, which again is relative, but looked through my glasses.

 

It's a really good idea to take a exploratory trip, before making any decisions, and especially try to stay a few days at various places of interest, to feel the atmosphere and learn the about the local environment.

 

I may not be a typical retired expat – if there are such a thing... – and I'm not from "down under", but a Scandinavian European, but I've been living permanent on the island for 10+ years. As nobody from down-under hasn't given any hints; if I should give you a few, without knowing further details, I would suggest:

 

1) Places, take a look at especially the Northen beaches Bang Por and all the way out to Plai Laem and the Northern tip of the peninsula, and again the area from Chaweng Noi and down to Lamai. Google map on Satelite-view is often a good help, and the Street-view can take you to some of the beaches.

 

2) Rental costs, you can find a nice bungalow or small villa in the range from 10,000 baht a month, depending on location; typically expect to pay around 20,000 baht a month – presuming you are looking for a "normal" modest life-style – in the more luxurious end and/or beach-front you shall expect anything from about 60,000 baht a month and up.

 

3) Other living costs are almost same as other places in Thailand – i.e. shopping daily needs in malls and super markets like BigC, Makro, and Tesco-Lotus; eventually some stuff from local so-called mum-and-dad shops or 24-hour convenient stores – but some things are slightly higher priced, due to Samui being an island; i.e. gasoline has little higher price than on the mainland. However competition bring most prices at general level.

 

4) You will often need some kind of transportation, as public transportation is limited to song thaews between 6am and 6pm, and taxis can be costly. The traffic on Samui can be chaotic, so a car is recommendable. You can make a long-time rental agreement, if you don't have your own car; also for motorbike.

 

5) Samui is in some ways quite different from Hua Hin – it's an island, so just that makes a difference – in some areas are mainly younger party guests, whilst other areas are becoming mainly family oriented. But it's really a question of interests and life-style where to look, and if Samui has what you're looking for.

 

Wish you good luck...

 

 

 

[mcullen57]

Khun Per, thanks so much for your info! It's exceptionally helpful and along the lines of what I was looking for so greatly appreciate you taking the time to answer my queries! Many thanks, Michael

[mcullen57]

Khun Per, another question for you!?

Can you recommend any reputable real estate people on Samui we could connect with?

People who handle renting nice bungalows or small villas in the range from 10,000-20,000 baht a month, for somebody or couple looking for a "normal" modest life-style.  And they maybe also sell 2 to 3 bedroom villas, houses of bungalows in the 3.5 to 6 million baht range.

Want to view  Many thanks, Michael

[khunPer]

1 hour ago, mcullen57 said:

Khun Per, another question for you!?

Can you recommend any reputable real estate people on Samui we could connect with?

People who handle renting nice bungalows or small villas in the range from 10,000-20,000 baht a month, for somebody or couple looking for a "normal" modest life-style.  And they maybe also sell 2 to 3 bedroom villas, houses of bungalows in the 3.5 to 6 million baht range.

Want to view  Many thanks, Michael

My best advice is to come down here at Samui, and book into a resort for a few days in a area that seem interesting – eventually try two or three different areas – and take a look around yourself for what might be attractive, both areas and bungalows/houses.

 

Often the best bargains are not from an agent, but from looking around locally. There are plenty of options, also brand new villas for rent/lease. We are heading toward low season, so there will be resort space (almost) everywhere.

 

Rent a car and drive around, you'll see many signs with villa for sale – also some in gated communities – and even Samui has become a bit up-priced the last decade or so, something in the level around 5 million baht (plus/minus) is certainly possible. IMHO it's much better to look around in real-time, if one has the option, than searching a web-page; and just take it easy, so you know the location a bit, before getting too deeply interested in anything. For a reasonable price you can both rent – and buy – a bungalow or a villa in a nice location close to a beach; but here are many different beaches, and locations, each having their own kind-of-life...

 

And by the way, ThaiVisa also has a Real Estate section to search, with numerous Samui options...

[oldsailor35]

If you are looking for a quieter life, keep away from Chaweng or Lamai. Where i live in Maenam there are many retired ex pats with a very good beach although not quite as good as my home on the Sunshine Coast, but i like it.

[oldsailor35]

At the resort where i live, there is a very nice ,almost  new  1 b/r   fully furnished bungalow for rent, With flat screen TV for BHT 14000 month. I have a similar one but 2 years older Bht9000. So there are places around here at Maenam for well under Bht 20000

Edited October 12, 2017 by oldsailor35

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎9‎/‎15‎/‎2017 at 1:01 PM, mcullen57 said:

Khun Per, another question for you!?

Can you recommend any reputable real estate people on Samui we could connect with?

People who handle renting nice bungalows or small villas in the range from 10,000-20,000 baht a month, for somebody or couple looking for a "normal" modest life-style.  And they maybe also sell 2 to 3 bedroom villas, houses of bungalows in the 3.5 to 6 million baht range.

Want to view  Many thanks, Michael

You might want to wait a bit on the buying anything till you've actually lived there for a few years. TVF has many stories on the pitfalls of buying in Thailand, and you would do well to research a lot and wait a long while. You should be aware that you can never own the land, and more than a 30 year lease is apparently a scam.

If it goes wrong you will most likely walk away with nothing. The legal system does NOT work like in Australia. Plenty about it on the internet. Check out the Brit that got well and truly done in Phuket.

 

Other advantage of waiting is that Samui is but one island to live on, and is on the expensive side compared to elsewhere. I could be wrong, but 10,000 baht a month seems exceptionally low for anything "nice" on any Thai beach now. You might get an apartment in a Thai area in a town for that.

I used to love Samui, but now I won't stay on it ( IMO it's been destroyed by concrete ), preferring Phangan, but you'll only know if you stay on both, and in multiple locations, as every beach is different.

 

Someone mentioned Hua Hin. I hate the place, but many love it. Only way to decide is to stay in the places for at least a month, and preferably longer.

If you like deserted beaches, South of Chumporn is ideal.

 

You can talk to all the people you want, but everyone has different opinions.

If I was going to live on a Thai beach, it'd be Chaloklum.

[thaibeachlovers]

25 minutes ago, oldsailor35 said:

If you are looking for a quieter life, keep away from Chaweng or Lamai. Where i live in Maenam there are many retired ex pats with a very good beach although not quite as good as my home on the Sunshine Coast, but i like it.

While I like Mae Nam beach and stayed there a few times, let's be honest, it's not a VERY good beach. Compared to Chaweng, or others on Samui, it's only average, IMO.

Edited October 12, 2017 by thaibeachlovers

[khunPer]

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

While I like Mae Nam beach and stayed there a few times, let's be honest, it's not a VERY good beach. Compared to Chaweng, or others on Samui, it's only average, IMO.

 

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

You can talk to all the people you want, but everyone has different opinions.

Some people voted Maenam Beach as number 9 in an Asia's Top 10 beaches (on some Travel Site I have forgotten the name of) – commented as quiet, swinable at all times (no tide problems, but not swimable during monsoon storm), and good view (to Phangan...) – only one more Thai beach came in the Top 10 (as #4), and that's not Chaweng, nor any other Samui or Phangan beach...

 

So for the different opinion: I prefer Maenam Beach, just so much better than Chaweng and Lamai beaches...

[oldsailor35]

59 minutes ago, khunPer said:

 

Some people voted Maenam Beach as number 9 in an Asia's Top 10 beaches (on some Travel Site I have forgotten the name of) – commented as quiet, swinable at all times (no tide problems, but not swimable during monsoon storm), and good view (to Phangan...) – only one more Thai beach came in the Top 10 (as #4), and that's not Chaweng, nor any other Samui or Phangan beach...

 

So for the different opinion: I prefer Maenam Beach, just so much better than Chaweng and Lamai beaches...

Spot on KhunPer !

[Samui Bodoh]

15 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

While I like Mae Nam beach and stayed there a few times, let's be honest, it's not a VERY good beach. Compared to Chaweng, or others on Samui, it's only average, IMO.

IYO indeed!

 

I believe that it is the best beach on the island, especially compared with Cheweng or others

 

I truly cannot imagine why you think it is not "VERY good", but if so I would ask what is wrong with it? IYO?

 

Personally, I love it and wouldn't go anywhere else.

 

Cheers

[oldsailor35]

22 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

You might want to wait a bit on the buying anything till you've actually lived there for a few years. TVF has many stories on the pitfalls of buying in Thailand, and you would do well to research a lot and wait a long while. You should be aware that you can never own the land, and more than a 30 year lease is apparently a scam.

If it goes wrong you will most likely walk away with nothing. The legal system does NOT work like in Australia. Plenty about it on the internet. Check out the Brit that got well and truly done in Phuket.

 

Other advantage of waiting is that Samui is but one island to live on, and is on the expensive side compared to elsewhere. I could be wrong, but 10,000 baht a month seems exceptionally low for anything "nice" on any Thai beach now. You might get an apartment in a Thai area in a town for that.

I used to love Samui, but now I won't stay on it ( IMO it's been destroyed by concrete ), preferring Phangan, but you'll only know if you stay on both, and in multiple locations, as every beach is different.

 

Someone mentioned Hua Hin. I hate the place, but many love it. Only way to decide is to stay in the places for at least a month, and preferably longer.

If you like deserted beaches, South of Chumporn is ideal.

 

You can talk to all the people you want, but everyone has different opinions.

If I was going to live on a Thai beach, it'd be Chaloklum.

YES You are wrong. My bungalow is 2 yrs old very nice 1 b/r and  just Bht 9000 there are older ones here in equally good condition Bht 8000.