Journal
Notes from the island, since 2022.
The questions we get most often, answered honestly. No filler, no SEO bait. If you came here from Google looking for "real cost of living Phuket" — start here.
Legal · Featured
The three contract clauses we always negotiate
Most rental contracts in Phuket are reasonable. Three clauses are not. Here's what we change before our families sign.
Relocation
What goes wrong in the first 30 days (and how to prevent it)
Five mistakes we see every month. The 90-day immigration report, the wrong driving license, the rental contract clause that swallows your deposit. None are dramatic. All are preventable.
Workcation
Working remotely from Phuket: the setup that actually works
Wifi, power, time zones, co-working. The practical infrastructure questions for a remote-employed family moving here.
Cost of living
The real monthly budget for a family of four on Phuket in 2026
Most online cost guides quote ฿120K. Reality for families with international schools and a villa lifestyle is ฿250-450K. Here's the line-by-line breakdown from the families we've actually placed.
Schools
The Phuket school year and when to actually move
Most international schools start in late August and want applications by April. Move in June or July to settle before term, line up the visa and villa first, and apply early for the popular schools.
Schools
How to choose between UWC, BISP and HeadStart — a real framework
Curriculum is third-most important, not first. Here are the four questions we ask families before recommending a school.
Legal
The long-stay lease clauses that actually matter
A six-to-twelve month villa lease is mostly boilerplate — but a handful of clauses decide whether you get your deposit back and whether the owner can end your lease early. Here is what to read closely.
Family
Moving with toddlers is easy. Teenagers are not.
Ages 0-7 adapt within weeks. 8-12 takes a school year. 13+ requires their buy-in or it doesn't work. The age-specific moving plan.
Visa
Five DTV application mistakes that cost families a month
The visa is straightforward on paper. In practice, every embassy interprets it slightly differently and these five errors cause 80% of delays.
Pets
Relocating a pet from the EU or UK: the 90-day timeline
Microchip first, rabies second, import permit third — the order matters more than anything else. Here is the day-by-day plan for bringing a dog or cat from Europe to Phuket.
Districts
Cape Yamu: the quiet east coast for families who want space
An Andaman bay rather than a surf beach, Cape Yamu offers large plots, privacy and sea views at better value per square metre — if you can live with calmer water and fewer amenities.
Pets
We moved our dog from Moscow to Phuket. Here's what 90 days actually looked like.
Microchip, two vet visits, one government office, one cargo airline call and three trips to a notary. The full story of a Russian Shepherd's relocation.
Districts
The Ko Kaeo and Boat Lagoon corridor for BISP families
BISP sits on the east side near Phuket Town and Boat Lagoon marina. The families who live close by trade beachfront living for school proximity, hospitals, and better value per square metre.
Districts
Living near UWC: villas in Thalang, Cherngtalay and Mai Khao
UWC Thailand sits up in Thalang, which opens up the quiet north of the island. Here is the trade-off between nature and solitude versus the shops and beach clubs of Bang Tao.
Districts
Bang Tao vs Rawai: which is right for your family?
Both are family-friendly. Both have international schools. But they attract different kinds of families, and we can usually tell which fits within 30 minutes of meeting you.
Districts
Bang Tao, Cherngtalay and Layan: the family heartland, compared
Three neighbouring areas feed the same school cluster but offer three different lifestyles — most infrastructure, best value, or most calm. Here is how to choose between them.
Banking
Opening a Thai bank account and moving your money across
It used to require a work permit. With a long-stay visa, a lease, and a Thai SIM, it is now doable — but the rules vary branch to branch. Here is the realistic path.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Phuket: hospitals, insurance, and what it really costs a family
The private hospitals are genuinely good and genuinely expensive. There is no NHS equivalent here — you either pay or you insure. Here is how families set it up before they arrive.
Schools
The all-in cost of an international school in Phuket (not just the tuition)
Headline tuition is the number schools advertise. The number that hits your bank account in year one is often 1.3 to 1.5 times higher. Here is everything underneath it.
Visa
LTR vs DTV: which long-stay visa actually fits your family
Most relocating families start on the DTV for its flexibility. The LTR makes sense for high-income or high-asset households who want permanence. Here is the honest comparison.