What's wrong with Phuket?
Phuket - Kata Noi Beach
A few years ago I visited Phuket. That suited me fine at the time. We stayed within walking distance of Patong Beach. The food and entertainment was fine. The beaches were beautiful, especially Kata Noi beach, where we stayed many times. I remember the beautiful sunsets of which I made beautiful atmospheric photos.
Still, Phuket impressed me less than the rest of it Thailand. Why? I can't give a clear answer.
But there is something else that strikes me. When you look at the readers and comments on Thailandblog, it's never about Phuket. I now know quite a few Dutch expats who live in Thailand. You will find them everywhere, Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and even in Isaan. But I don't know any Dutch expat living in Phuket.
I follow the news from Thailand closely. In addition to the English-language newspapers, Twitter and other blogs, I also set up Google Alert. I get the news in my mailbox neatly every day via Google Alert. The list for Phuket is always the shortest. Rarely if ever are Dutch articles about Phuket included.
Hence my question: “what is wrong with Phuket?” Why is Phuket not alive among the visitors of this blog? Who oh who has an explanation for this?
Before the tsunami I don't know, but after the tsunami many people did not want to settle there. I know expats who ended up living in the Bangkok and Hua Hin area. Pattaya itself and Mabprachan area, for example, is also popular because it is located far above sea level. Anyway, as a Dutchman you are a bit tired of your own people, it's still a good tip 😉
Of course it is a beautiful 'piece' of Thailand !!
It is indeed beautiful if you look beyond Patong. The fact that the Dutch will not live there, assuming that they are not tied to work and can choose, will have to do with the price level.
don't we have our fairly regular poster stevenl, on various Thai forums, who works there as a diving instructor?
What (ssht-this is a gossip from the tourist industry) is disappointing is the mentality of the Phuket people: squeezing way beyond the pain threshold. Tuktuk drivers who extorted people who ended up on a hill after the tsunami and didn't know the way until 5/1000 bt to take them back. the taxi mafia is very Thai in its own right - but un-Thai in the extent to which they limit their overpaid services as a racket to others. Pattaya still pales in comparison to sweet sweet boys.
And in recent years it has been going through the wind there because of luxury resorts, which Russians (also a deterrent name for many Dutch tourists) and Koreans (very popular as a honeymoon, but they are more or less like the uneducated Russians next to the polite Japs). And the lust for money through the sale of holiday resorts, time shares, summer villas, etc - the crash is already naked.
The Scandinavians have already seen it: their winter charters are already going directly to Krabi.
I know several Dutch people there, I don't feel like blogging, it's so expensive if you make it yourself, beautiful area just less real Thailand….
What's wrong with Phuket? I first came there almost 20 years ago. Looking at the situation now, I think Phuket has become too touristy.
Maybe for some the prices also count. Phuket is more expensive than any province in Thailand.
Phuket is the skimmer of Thailand. The free state of Thailand with its own mafia laws such as the taxi mafia, jet ski mafia and the real estate mafia, etc. And if you want to get real food poisoning, you go to Phuket, perhaps a tip for the fat fellow man who wants the necessary kilos in the short term to fall off.
ps I wouldn't want to bury my dog there.
I largely agree with the previous writers. I first came here to Phuket in '78 and it was paradise then. Patong consisted of 1 hotel, 2 bars and 1 tailor. Now it's overcrowded. Every square meter is built up. I personally will never go to Patong again as there is nowhere to park. So you do your shopping elsewhere. the rest of the island is also fully built. You used to be able to walk everywhere, now there is barbed wire everywhere. Entire hills are excavated for housing and hotel construction. The land is becoming more and more expensive and hardly any houses are being sold: there is a lot of vacancy, but construction continues happily.
But yes, who understands the Thai economy.
Yes, it is expensive here, but I live well and of course there are advantages.
And the mafia will never disappear: high officials own the mafia.
When I first came there was 1 dive shop, now there are 150!
Phuket digs her own grave and kills the goose that laid the golden eggs
I think there is nothing wrong with Phuket.
You just have to differentiate between Phuket Island, Phuket Town, and other cities like Patong.
There are enough expats living all over the island.
Mi has no business in Patong for an expat, the more well-off will be in Kata, Karon or Kamala.
Relatively fewer expats will live in Phuket (town), it is more of a city to do your shopping.
I want, in fact, even have to respond to this article. There are plenty of Dutch expats on Phuket who are very happy here. Most expats are people over 50 and live in quieter places than Patong, Kata or Karon. We live on the southernmost tip of Phuket, wonderfully quiet and yet close to everything.
Phuket does indeed seem more expensive than the rest of Thailand, but it all depends on how you want to spend your money. If you do all your shopping at one of the daily local markets, you will certainly not be more expensive than in the North. Fish is much cheaper even here.
Phuket has much more luxury than the rest of Thailand. We have lived here for 4 years now and still enjoy being here every day. You don't have to miss anything. There are luxury Western supermarkets, where you can buy all the items that you will also find in the shops in the Netherlands, at least if that is what you are after. It makes sense that you pay a little more for this than in the Netherlands, these items must of course be imported from afar, are seen as luxury items, which means that they are also additionally charged with a higher tax percentage. But as far as I'm concerned, all those Dutch people who are so busy with their money can stay away from Phuket.
As for the friendliness of the Thais on Phuket, I can only say that they are very friendly once they get to know you and know that you are not such a rude tourist who thinks you can do everything to his / her hand here in the 2 or 3 weeks they stay here. Foreigners can really offend the Thais, while in the Netherlands we require all foreigners to behave according to our standards and values. Well: foreigners, do the same here!!!!
@ excellent explanation thank you. Good to get a response from someone who lives there. What about the mafia? They would have a big role when it comes to taxis and tuk-tuks and their prices?
As far as I know, the taxi prices are of a fairly normal level. Ride of 25 km. is about 200 BHT. Surcharge from paid airport parking (this is the area directly at the entrances and exits of the arrivals and departures hall)) is 100 BHT.
Just like BKK watch out for the limos, which are more expensive.
Patong is dominated by the tuk-tuk mafia. So you're in a trap there. Rides from Patong you are tied to them. No taxi driver to pick you up on the street. No prices known to me.
I just want to respond to all the stories about mafia. Well, it just depends on what circles you move in. Most expats have their own means of transport and they therefore have nothing to do with it. We only hear Cowboy stories from Patong and other touristic places. When we have family or friends to stay, we of course also go to Patong and take a Tuk-Tuk jester home. No problem, never encountered mafia practices. Yes you pay a bit more than usual because you want to go back home in the middle of the night. But as long as I'm still taken by taxi from our house to the airport (48 km) for 500 baht, you won't hear me complaining about mafia or whatever. We just have to be realistic. Here too, the fuel is becoming more expensive (in 2006 we paid 29 baht and now almost 40 baht), so that the prices have also increased, seems to me a very logical consequence.
Have the complainers forgotten how things are in Europe or what about it? We cannot expect Thailand to continue to serve us for a pittance. What are all these complainers talking about? If you don't feel comfortable here, and only get stuck in lamentations about corruption, mafia, crime, etc., then you just have to go back to where you came from and you will soon find out why you came here in the first place.
well, that's how it is again, come years on pucket, rarely experienced anything
wasn't fun,
don't complain, or else stay home
gr Cor
@phuketlover
true story I think, there is not much wrong with Phuket, you will be met that way, many EU people think they are smarter than the 'natives', forget it -:)
Can someone explain to me what an expat is???
Ever heard of Google?
Thank you Khun Peter, a truly Dutch response.
I have been coming here for 33 years and have lived here for a total of 8 years. Overall, it's still enjoyable, but the island's future is shattered. Everywhere is being built, necessary or not, and it ends in vacancy. The most beautiful places are destroyed with barbed wire and excavations. Not to mention the traffic: almost as bad as Bangkok.
And it is more expensive: yes
And every Thai thinks that every farang is very rich and has a private ATM.
But I still live well there, so I will stay and many Dutch people with me
hello Lex am planning to come to Phuket in December. It would be nice to meet you after so many years. [email protected] . regards Dave
We are whining again, there is nothing wrong with Phuket, I have been coming there for years, the conditions are no different from the other tourist cities, you just have to be careful, just like the rest of the world.
I say to everyone have a party.
greetings, france.
After some conversations with acquaintances and friends; crime, sometimes unfriendly attitude of the middle class and service providers, an unwise price level for Thailand of goods, but also especially services.
Phuket little Thai, you can also have a nice beach holiday in Italy, Spain or Portugal.
And last but not least, never thought of it before, the rainy season is very different from the rest of Thailand, can be very intense, few dry periods remain. Several friends are unpleasantly surprised. Myself ?? … know nothing about it, never been to Phuket, prefer the M, N and NE, more thailand for less money.
Dutch expats do live in Phuket, but the reason that there are so few is that Phuket is just a bit more expensive than the rest of Thailand, until 6 months ago you had 2 places in Patong where the Dutch and Belgians came together for a chat in patong the dutch inn with chris in a side street of bangla and at tip top with andre, andre has unfortunately sold his guesthouse and left for the north with his wife. Andre's terrace was full all day, I will miss it, no more steak, sate, and homemade croquettes.
I've lived in Phuket for 30 years now, and yes it's getting busier.
But people forget that it is an island of 50 km long and 1 million inhabitants.