Phuket, the Pearl of the Andaman

Hello, my name is Martino, I live with my wife (THAI) and my 2-year-old son in Phuket, Thailand, I'm the author of the site: It may seem strange to you, but my journey, which began in these lands in '99, still hasn't ended, and I hope it never will! In these pages I'll try to describe day by day my emotions, my feelings, what it's like to discover this part of the East. Go to my site to see photos and get advice on organising a trip to Phuket and around...

CHAPTER 1

Why live in Thailand? Thoughts of a journey that began and never ended in the land of smiles...

I think everyone has dreamed at least once in their life of running away, of going off to live in the warm tropical sun among white beaches and palms... That dream became a reality for me, but you shouldn't reduce it all to climate and sea! Living in this land means finding a compromise between our culture and Thai culture. Sometimes it isn't easy to come to terms with a way of life so different from ours; my wife helps me a lot with this, but it takes courage and a lot of patience... Many people ask me for advice on starting a new life in Thai, perhaps by working, getting married, etc.

To them I only want to say that even the most beautiful rose has its thorns, and here in Thai there are many for foreigners! As a tourist it's OK, but to live here everything changes, many rules to respect, especially for the residence visa! There are two ways to live permanently in Thailand, though with very many limitations: by getting married, or as a pensioner over 55, then paying into a Thai account 8000€ for married people, 16000€ for pensioners. This money must stay put in the bank as a guarantee; every year, if all is well, the visa is issued. Alternatively, those over 55 must pay their monthly pension of at least 1200€ into a Thai current account.

(this is a brief explanation but the procedure for applying for the visa is very long and complicated, I refer you to the official site) In Thailand a foreigner has no rights; he must pay for everything himself, from hospitals to the most ordinary services. He can't obtain any Thai right, not even citizenship after years! (only married people and those over 55, after 3 years of consecutive renewal of the -O- type visa, can apply for permanent residence) To open a business, work, buy houses and land the rules are even more complicated, you need a lot of money and excellent lawyers not to get ripped off! Online you'll find sites in Italian with explanations and brokerage agencies dedicated to work in Thailand, buying and selling property.

The current Italian economic situation has created a sort of "common dream" — I drop everything and run away — but I believe it's pointless to delude people that the solution lies in Thailand, perhaps with a minimum pension or with paltry investments! With these few lines I don't mean to discourage anyone, only to invite the reader to reflect and above all to inform themselves about the rules and laws in force in Thailand. Try doing some research on the Web, read forums, contact people who have had previous experiences, put it all together and then set off on a trip of "exploration".

Having done this, you'll have your own "baggage of personal experiences", because it's pointless to ask yourself in advance: can I live in Thailand on a minimum pension of 600€? Can I open a business with 30000€ and live off it for the rest of my life? Don't get "stuck" on the economic question alone, it's quite wrong... The East, in its laws, customs and society, is very different from the West; you have to be able to adapt and have someone trustworthy to help you settle in, to explain the rules, to stand by you in case of need.

For information: Italgate (Thailand) Company Limited Proposals and solutions for investments Handling of bureaucratic paperwork

Costs and Long Stay procedures: Tourism Authority of Thailand with all the explanations for obtaining the visa

Personal advice:

To all those who have seen Phuket and Thailand on holiday I only want to say:

On holiday everything is a dream, all perfect, like when you're engaged and it seems like eternal love! As soon as you're married everything changes, perhaps after a few months the divorce comes... Living in Thailand isn't like coming here on holiday for 15 days, especially for us men, who find in the charms of Thai women the fascination of the East and, blinded by passion, want to crown improbable love dreams.

(Inform yourself about the procedures for a marriage with a Thai citizen; from personal experience I assure you it's a very long and above all costly bureaucratic procedure) To pensioners I recall that the hospitals (Phuket) are excellent but very expensive; if you have conditions that force you into particular treatments, inform yourself in good time, because here they don't insure you and in case of problems you pay out of your own pocket! (Here there's no national health service; I miss the Italian one!) For anyone who wants to work or open a business, a perfect written knowledge of English is essential (official documents are valid only in English or Thai) A substantial bank account, but above all a LOT, LOT of desire to WORK!! In Phuket with the usual restaurant-bar it's very hard to "get by", too much competition; for running hotels etc... they quote eye-watering figures.

My personal opinion, conclusions:

Reading carefully the laws that regulate the visas for entering Thailand, you soon reach a conclusion: Tourist yes, resident no! Try checking directly on the site: ( For the tourist the 30-day visa is free, the only two categories of possible residents, married or pensioners, must have a "guarantee fund" in the bank; of the two categories perhaps the married one has the better advantages...

In Phuket, as far as businesses go, they've now invented everything possible; investing money in a business greatly helps the Thai economy, but certainly not that of the foreigner who invests! Just check online, there are hundreds of businesses for sale (always and only restaurants, hotels, bars — the few possible ones reserved for foreigners); if something works, why sell it? Then by now the figures to open a business here have reached very high levels; if someone has that much money they buy a house in Italy! In Thailand tourism is the greatest source of income; the tourist brings money and spends it willingly, uses all the services, restaurants, hotels, spends in the shops, etc...

Residents (from personal experience) tend to economise on everything, they watch the cents! Here the "taxes" are very low, which is why a resident doesn't bring great benefits to the country's economy! However, there is a solution for living here even if not permanently. In Italy you can get a double-entry visa, 2 months + 1 extension, one exit, and then another 2 months + 1. The visa costs about 120€, the extension about 40€; in total with 200€ and one exit from the borders you can stay 6 months in Thailand. Once the six months are over you have to return to Italy or leave every month. This solution is certainly the cheapest and lets you live here without many problems. After months, years of experience, one day maybe you'll decide to move here permanently as I did. But honestly, dropping everything to come here isn't simple, I confirm that for personal experience...

Write to me, I'd like to explore these "thoughts" with those who have already come to these lands, and with those who will decide to leave for the first time and want to understand.