For many expats, moving to Phuket starts with a holiday and evolves into a new life and home. A couple of weeks of palms swaying in the breeze, the warm tropical sea, and legendary Thai hospitality leave most people’s minds wandering to the possibility of this being everyday life. However, a holiday experience and long-term living are two vastly different things. So what exactly inspires so many expats to stay for years or even make Phuket their forever home?

The Place

Thailand’s largest island, Phuket, is incredibly beautiful. The natural beauty and landscape seem to never get old. The Andaman Sea is always warm and offers plenty of opportunities for activities like diving, sailing, and fishing. The west coast beaches and their powdery sand are considered some of the best in the world. The jungled hills create a dynamic landscape with more opportunities for activities like hiking or mountain biking.

For expats, however, the attraction goes beyond simply having beautiful scenery to take selfies with. Daily routines like a morning swim, an afternoon paddle, a sunset stroll, or weekend island excursions can become part of normal life rather than just a holiday activity. The perpetually warm tropical climate means outdoor activities are possible year-round – even though the rainy season can be unpredictable, it’s usually a warm rain and often doesn’t last long.

Pace of Life

Another aspect of life in Phuket that attracts expats is the more chilled-out pace of life. While Phuket is getting more urbanized and bustling, there’s still a distinct island vibe. Life just feels a bit less formal and hurried than in many Western cities. Traffic, tourism, and the busy high season can make parts of the island surprisingly hectic, but outside the most popular spots, it's still possible to have a lifestyle with long lunches, beach days, exercise, and time with friends and family. It can be hard for some expats to adjust to a slower pace, but once they do, it makes it hard to leave.

The International Community

What started with Chinese immigrants coming to labor in the island’s tin mines centuries ago slowly turned into a handful of ragtag Westerners taking up residence a few decades ago, and is now home to a community of tens of thousands of expats from around the world. Our diverse community consists of retirees, families, entrepreneurs, remote workers, hospitality professionals, and people working in the marine industry. Add to that the Thai families that have been here for generations and thousands who flock to Phuket in search of opportunity, and it’s quite the melting pot.

In addition to all of the interesting people you get to meet and cultures to learn about, this community makes it a less daunting foreign destination to move to. English is much more commonly spoken, and many businesses are accustomed to dealing with international customers.

Balance

If you’ve seen photos of Phuket that look like some far-flung tropical island, this certainly is not the case. For the most part, you have access to many modern conveniences that you might expect. You’ll find an international airport, major shopping centres complete with luxury brands, private hospitals, international schools, a seemingly infinite amount of restaurants with all types of cuisine, and well over 1,000 hotels and resorts. Basically, the point is that you don’t have to make many sacrifices in this regard when you decide to establish a life in Phuket.