10 Reasons to Consider Making Phuket your Home!
Phuket is commonly known as a travel destination and a popular one. However, what if you made that lifestyle full-time? Here are ten reasons you should consider making Phuket your home!
1. The Culture
The culture within Thailand is a truly unique experience. It is incredibly distinct with influences from ancient religions, past civilisations, and a mix of strong Indian influences and Chinese traditions, making it a rich culture. While they are proud and loyal people, Thais simultaneously have a very laid-back attitude towards life. At the centre of this attitude is a common expression, “Mai phen rai” (never mind). “Mai phen rai” reflects their overarching approach to life. They are content with what they have and are polite, respectful, warm and happy. No wonder Thailand is referred to as “the Land of Smiles”!
To read more about Thai culture, the SBS Cultural Atlas have put together a thorough guide on their website.
2. Versatility
Phuket is an incredibly versatile place and has something for everyone. There are adventure activities, relaxation, shopping, luxury, culture, delicious food, music, festivals, parties, nightlife, bargains, sports, friends and incredibly scenic areas.
Families
Phuket is an incredible place to take your children. It is bustling with culture, and nature, and offers so much learning and development for them as young people. There are international schools available, high-quality international medical practices, and not to mention fun-filled weekends! There are plenty of child-friendly activities to do in Phuket. Phuket is home to numerous water parks, kids clubs, wildlife reserves, mini golf courses, aquariums and plenty more!
See here for a comprehensive list of child-friendly activities.
Ex-pats
Home to a large community of ex-pats, Phuket is home to 115,000 ex-pats from around the globe. Phuket is the perfect place to retire. It has been made incredibly easy to do so with their Retirement Visas, low cost of living, ease of travel, high-quality hospitals and the all-around gorgeous lifestyle it offers.
To read more about retiring in Phuket, click here.
Digital Nomads
It is no surprise that Phuket is one of the best locations for Digital Nomads to settle down. It is home to a vibrant and bustling café culture, boasts a low cost of living, and has some of the fastest internet providers in the world. There are also many co-working spaces available for like-minded people, such as:
- CocoVille Phuket
- BAYACO Coworking Space Phuket
- Regus – Phuket, Royal Phuket Marina
- Lubd CoWork Phuket Patong
- The Garage Society
3. The Food
The food in Phuket is off this planet, one is spoiled for choice when looking for something to eat. From street vendors, high-end restaurants, homely local restaurants, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh seafood and copious amounts of markets. While Phuket is known for its spicy Thai cuisine, there are many other outstanding options and other culinary experiences to have! We have created a list of The 6 Best Restaurants to Try While in Phuket. However, there are many, MANY more, with no shortage in options.
4. The Shopping
While on the topic of not lacking in options, the shopping in Phuket is extensive, to say the least. In Phuket, shopping becomes more of an experience. It is no longer for necessities but for entertainment, fun and escaping the heat! There are multiple shopping experiences, for example, Phuket Night Markets, Phuket Shopping Malls, Street Stalls, Bazaars, Tailors, Fresh Markets and Outlet stores. Most importantly, there are bargains to be found! However! There is an appropriate time to bargain, such as the night markets and street stalls, but not in a shopping mall or outlet store. You will quickly learn which shops allow this practice and which don’t!
8 of the Best Shopping Malls in Phuket
5. Reasonable Cost of Living
As mentioned multiple times earlier, the cost of living is low! Phuket is in the top 22% of the least expensive cities in the world. For example, a couple can comfortably live on $2800 USD per month. However, this can easily be blown out when shopping in international grocery stores for imported items. If you shop locally, purchase fresh fruit and vegetables and use farmer’s markets, you will save money while supporting locals.
6. Amazing Health Care
Another desirable factor of Phuket is the growing popularity of its health systems. Known as “Medical Tourism”, Phuket has become a health tourism destination. This means many specialists and doctors travel to Phuket to practice, giving Phuket a wide range of international professionals who speak different languages. There are several international hospitals located around Phuket, all offering affordable services.
7. Festivals
Phuket has many vibrant and culturally significant festivals that happen throughout the year. Some of the festivals you must experience are Phuket Old Town Festival, Songkran, Wat Chalong Fair, Phuket Vegetarian Festival and Loi Krathong.
Read more about these popular festivals in Phuket here
8. Great Weather
The weather in Phuket is very much consistent. It’s always warm, ranging from 25 – 34°C all year round. They only experience two seasons, a dry season and a wet season. The dry season begins in December and lasts until March. It is the best time of year for weather and a popular time for tourists to visit. Then there is the rainy season which begins in June and goes until October. Phuket experiences stronger winds and higher humidity during this time, with a rainfall of 2500mm. It’s not all terrible in the rainy season, however! Due to the lower amount of tourists during this time, prices are dropped, bargains are more frequent, and hotel rates are often halved.
9. Recreation
This category is a little obvious and goes without saying! There is plenty to do in Phuket: nature walks, wildlife, zoos, boat tours, island hopping, jet ski tours, 4WD tours, dinner cruises, a plethora of landmarks to visit, snorkelling, shopping, and cultural experiences, and they’re just off the top of my head. Being a popular travelling destination for people around the world has its perks! If you become bored… I don’t know what to tell you! Maybe it’s time for a cocktail on one of the many beautiful beaches Phuket has to offer!
10 best adventures to experience while in Phuket
10. Many Visas Available
There are many visas available to use in Phuket. I’ve listed some below with a quick explanation. We encourage you to use the Thai Embassy Website to make an educated decision.
Thai Elite Visa
A long-term visa (5 – 20 years). Best for digital nomads, retirees, investors, and business people as it allows you to reenter the country multiple times.
Tourist Visa
Tourists aren’t required to get a visa if their stay is under 30-days. However, if you plan on staying longer, you must apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa. If you wish to extend your stay further than the 60-days will have to convert to a non-immigrant visa.
Non-Immigrant Visa
A single entry visa, valid for 90 days.
One Year Non-Immigrant Visa
A multiple entry visa, valid for 1 year. You can stay up to 90 days per entry but require a visa stamp every 90 days from immigration.
Marriage Visa and Retirement Visa
These two visas have financial and situational requirements for the application. For a marriage visa, you must show proof of income and be married to a Thai National, and for a retirement visa, you must have proof of income or means to support yourself and be over 50.
Business Visa
Designed for people who want to do business in Thailand. It allows you to get a work permit and a Thai bank account. However, you will still need a stamp from immigration every 90 days.
Permanent Resident Visa
To qualify for this visa, you have been in Thailand for 3 consecutive years with a one-year visa extension or be married to a Thai National for 5 years and earn 30,000 Baht per month. Singles will need proof of a minimum income of 80,000 Baht per month.