Whats great about living in Phuket

[Sailing into trouble]

In Ireland Guinness is either cold or super cold. Times have changed, yet good ale you buy for the taste, so ice cold kills the taste. Green man had a sad feel about it. Had a couple of pints of Guiness in the Irish pub in the mall in Phuket Town. Jist for old times sake

[petercallen]

In Ireland Guinness is either cold or super cold. Times have changed, yet good ale you buy for the taste, so ice cold kills the taste. Green man had a sad feel about it. Had a couple of pints of Guiness in the Irish pub in the mall in Phuket Town. Jist for old times sake

If you are talking about the one in Jungceylon that is the Irish Times
I do not know of a Irish pub in Phuket town although i am sure there is one
8 years ago a pint of Guinness in Australian pub cost 240 baht and i am sure its gone up in price since then

[Gnasher]

I am an expat but I live in Crete and am moving to Phuket later in the year. I used to read TV but could not believe the number of wingers( all expats) Is it because they are not happy with their lives in mother country and move thinking the new country will magically make things Ok. It doesn't!!. The OP is happy with Phuket. everyone wants something different. Please don't make this forum like TV, it appears much more reasonable. By all means give advice but dont just moan. I for one would find constructive advice useful.

[Bobcock]

number of wingers

Gotta have the speed, but these days they are getting bigger and bigger..... I blame Lomu....

[Mr Earl]

In Ireland Guinness is either cold or super cold. Times have changed, yet good ale you buy for the taste, so ice cold kills the taste. Green man had a sad feel about it. Had a couple of pints of Guiness in the Irish pub in the mall in Phuket Town. Jist for old times sake

You can still get proper 7% Guiness export in Malaysia. I still can't figure how they let the 4.5% draft pass the muster in the homeland.

[Whiteasian88]

Beer is super expensive in Malaysia.

[rickschoppers]

I am not intending to live in Phuket, but I have always thought about buying a condo there since I sold my place in Koh Samui 9 years ago. I have chosen Phuket for a number of reasons and one is because it has some deep sea fishing available which is hard to find in Thailand. Since I already own a house in the NE, this would be more of qan investment and a place I can come from time to time. What do people think about condo ownership in Phuket? Can one be rented out fairly easily, or am I dreaming? I do understand a lot depends on the location. What are the hot locations now, or should I just go for the cost?

If this is a bad idea, give me your thoughts since I can always rent.

[petercallen]

I am not intending to live in Phuket, but I have always thought about buying a condo there since I sold my place in Koh Samui 9 years ago. I have chosen Phuket for a number of reasons and one is because it has some deep sea fishing available which is hard to find in Thailand. Since I already own a house in the NE, this would be more of qan investment and a place I can come from time to time. What do people think about condo ownership in Phuket? Can one be rented out fairly easily, or am I dreaming? I do understand a lot depends on the location. What are the hot locations now, or should I just go for the cost?

If this is a bad idea, give me your thoughts since I can always rent.

Just rent when in Phuket if you do not intend to live here
New unsold completed condo's everywhere and plenty of buy off the plan projects
that will never be completed in my opinion
Some offer 7% return on your investment for the first 2 years, the only way they can do this is include it in the selling price,in other words you are paying the rent for the first 2 years to yourself after the management take their cut

[baconandeggs]

So Peter are you still enjoying living there?

[petercallen]

So Peter are you still enjoying living there?

YES I DO STILL ENJOY LIVING IN PHUKET, TRAFFIC IS A LOT HEAVER NOW BUT ITS THE SAME EVERYWHERE ELSE I HAVE BEEN IN THAILAND
INFRASTUCTURE IS GOOD AND GETTING BETTER AND AIRPORT IS HANDY IF YOU WANT TO TRAVEL, ITS A GOOD RETIREMENT BASE

[baconandeggs]

Good to hear.

[rickschoppers]

Peter, it has been awhile since I have been in Phuket, but I plan to come down for a visit in the near future. You are right about traffic being heavier everywhere thanks to the government assistance with regard to buying a car. Udon used to be pleasant to drive in 5 years ago, but is a clusterfuck today and I really dislike driving around town anymore.

When I do come down, I will probably rent a place in Rawai. I used to stay in Patong, but can only imagine what it is like there now. I always tell westerners that Phuket is worth a visit since it has many western conveiniences, but I personally would not want to live there. Just my personal opinion. Chiang Mai is another place I suggest to visit and if they want to see Bangkok, a couple of days is enough. Phuket is not the true Thailand and if my visitors want to see that, I just show them around some less inhabited areas.

Quite the spectrum of environments available in Thailand and if you like beaches along with the party crazziness, then Phuket fits the bill.

[baconandeggs]

Chiang Mai is just as touristy as Phuket. For true Thailand I wouldnt recommend Chiang Mai at all. Most tourists say they want local culture but really they dont. They want western stuff and a few visits to temples and a museum and that's about it.

[chassamui]

They want western stuff and a few visits to temples and a museum and that's about it.

And you know this how?

[baconandeggs]

They want western stuff and a few visits to temples and a museum and that's about it.

And you know this how?

Common knowledge.

[rickschoppers]

Chiang Mai is just as touristy as Phuket. For true Thailand I wouldnt recommend Chiang Mai at all. Most tourists say they want local culture but really they dont. They want western stuff and a few visits to temples and a museum and that's about it.

Disagree: Population of Bangkok 8.5 million
Population of Chiang Mai 1.5 million
So not really just as touristy. Chiang Mai does not have near the bars or restaurants as BKK. Chiang Mai has mountains very near the city that has mountain tribes to visit and BKK doesn't. Chaing Mai is a much prettier area than BKK and is overall less touristy than BKK.

All my visitors enjoyed the countryside much more than the hustle and bustle of a city and do want to see more than just a few temples or a museum.

[baconandeggs]

Chiang Mai is just as touristy as Phuket. For true Thailand I wouldnt recommend Chiang Mai at all. Most tourists say they want local culture but really they dont. They want western stuff and a few visits to temples and a museum and that's about it.

Disagree: Population of Bangkok 8.5 million
Population of Chiang Mai 1.5 million
So not really just as touristy. Chiang Mai does not have near the bars or restaurants as BKK. Chiang Mai has mountains very near the city that has mountain tribes to visit and BKK doesn't. Chaing Mai is a much prettier area than BKK and is overall less touristy than BKK.

All my visitors enjoyed the countryside much more than the hustle and bustle of a city and do want to see more than just a few temples or a museum.

I never mentioned Bangkok

[baconandeggs]

Chiang Mai province has 1.6m but the city doesnt. Centre of CM is far more touristy than Bangkok.

Bangkok city is much larger so the extra bars and restaurants are there mostly for locals not tourists.

[chassamui]

Common knowledge.

No it isn't. It's your opinion, and that opinion is clearly based on a lack of knowledge, experience and understanding.

[baconandeggs]

City centre of CM has just over 200,000 people and millions of annual tourists.

[baconandeggs]

Common knowledge.

No it isn't. It's your opinion, and that opinion is clearly based on a lack of knowledge, experience and understanding.

So you've never heard of the banana pancake trail?

[baconandeggs]

You havent noticed that CM, Phuket, Samui, Hua Hin get millions of tourists but places like Prachuap KK, Mukdahan and Phayao get very few?



Knowledge and experience

[rickschoppers]

You are right bacon. I was comparing BKK to Chiang Mai. Must be the alcohol. I think each known tourist destination has a lot of the same, but the scope varies. I personally prefer visiting destinations less known, maybe because I have already been to all the popular ones. My personal list of favorites when it comes to well known tourist destinations is as follows starting with most liked down to least liked.

1. Chiang Mai
2. Phuket
3. Koh Samui
4. Hua Hin
5. Bangkok
6. Pattaya

I usually ask any visitors what they are interested in and then develope a tour to make sure they fulfill their wish list which seems to vary from person to person.

[chassamui]

^^Woosh

[rickschoppers]

^
You noticed.