Originally Posted by
Backspin
The only liveable place IMO is Phuket, but not in the tourist enclaves of Patong, Kata, Kamala etc which suffer from the same overpricing issues as Samui. Phuket Town, a piece of history associated with the Malacca Straits settlements, ethnically diverse, stunning Sino-Portuguese colonial buildings, nicely developed due to trillions of tourist baht heading into the island over the past 30 years, perfectly sized with 80,000 people, lively Thai-themed nightlife, several cool night markets, and some of the world's best beaches a few minutes drive away.