Phuket has lots to offer for a family post FIRE. From great food and beautiful landscapes, to good and affordable education. Indeed, we went to explore Phuket in the middle of Covid lockdown for several weeks and had a wonderful time. Find out why you should consider it too.
I went 2 times to Phuket, and both times gave me vastly different experiences. First time, I stayed in a resort by the beach, snorkeled with turtles and reef sharks, and enjoyed Thai massages. It was a typical holiday in Phuket. Everything was perfect until I visited Patong beach. There I was constantly approached by people trying to sell me something. After maybe 10 minutes, I thought it was time to leave as I could no longer enjoy the beach.
Almost a decade later, I went there again during Covid lockdown in Europe. The experience was totally different as Phuket was also under partial lockdown. Indeed, it was very pleasant, and we could enjoy the beauty of Phuket.
Geography
Phuket is an island south of Thailand with an area of 543 km2 (up to 50km in length and 20km in width). Population is about 430,000 inhabitants. It is divided into several districts.
The west side offers beautiful beaches and is the place of choice for tourists. While there are also some residents, the beauty of west Phuket is mostly reserved for tourists and resorts. The east side, on the other hand, has less beaches and mostly inhabited by locals. The airport is located at the North of the island, and there is a road up North that links the island to the rest of Thailand.
The northern part of Bang Tao, Surin and Kamala welcome premium resorts and golf courses. The southern part of Patong, Karon, and Kata are also beautiful and more affordable. The center of the island is hilly and not densely populated, but still worth a visit. The south point of the island with Nai Harn and Rawai also have their charm. Like all things, it is difficult to say which area is the best, as everyone is looking for something different. Just rent a car and explore the island yourself!
Activities in Phuket
Phuket has so much to offer to the active visitors, as well as the more relaxing souls. Common activities include snorkeling, diving, fishing, boating or golfing. The calmer type can enjoy a yoga session with a Thai massage. There is also an impressive mall called Central Phuket. In it you will find many international brands ranging from fast fashion to the more luxurious ones, together with many food and dining options. We went there multiple times as air-conditioned indoor space is gold when you have kids who need to run around. The mall also have a decent aquarium at the basement.
One thing about alcohol consumption you may want to know. As the government wants to control the sale and consumption of alcohol, there are specific times of the day you cannot buy alcohol at the supermarket or convenient stores. Restaurants are not exempted neither. Nevertheless, if you ask nicely, your fresh beer would probably be served discreetly in a teapot.
Environment
Air quality in Phuket is generally good all year long, and thus should not be a concern. Phuket has a constant breeze which helps to clear the pollution and also freshen the air. Weather changes quickly though, you may have rain at one moment, with sun piercing through at the next. Overall we are quite pleased with the weather and air quality in Phuket.
Wherever we went during Covid, people were very friendly. I didn’t feel pressured in any way as I did the first time I went to Phuket. The overall activities on the island were very limited during Covid. Consequently, we experienced the city like locals as only the restaurants and cafes with local patronage were still open. Those that rely on tourism to survive were not that lucky.
Healthcare
We had to go to a private hospital once during our visit. Our daughter caught an eye infection, and we were very worried as she was still young. We went straight to Bangkok Hospital Siriroj in Phuket and our daughter was admitted within 20 minutes. Not long after, she had a consultation with an eye doctor. Overall, it took us one hour to be admitted, treated and on our way with the medication. The bill was around US$150, which we found to be reasonable with the kind of service we received. On the very same day with the prescribed eyedrops, our daughter’s eye was already improving. We couldn’t thank you the hospital enough for their high standard service!
We did submit the medical claim to our travel insurance that we contracted in Thailand as insurance was mandatory for visitors during Covid. The claim was reimbursed pretty quickly and we were satisfied with the result. On the contrary, during a separate trip a year later, our insurance claim with Visa in France were still pending reimbursement 10 months after filing. From then on, we decided we really need to have the peace of mind of being well covered wherever we are. We now use Nomad Insurance / SafetyWing as this healthcare insurance covers us regardless of where we travel to. The deductible is as low as US$250 with a US$250,000 cover. It is perfect for our family of 5, as one child is covered for free with each paying adult.
Education
There are many private international institutions in Phuket which will suit any budget. There are many good value international schools at an affordable budget, and also options such as the more premium British International School. BIS follows British curriculum and is located in a green gem on the east side of the island. When you visit the school, the architecture reminds you of the very traditional schools that you could imagine in Britain. All teachers are native British speakers and the facilities have everything parents usually wish for. You may also opt for a boarding school option.
HeadStart International School also has impressive facilities (building, pool, football field…) with a more affordable fee structure. They offer an impressive list of extra curricular activities which we valued highly. Oak Meadow International School is also located in the center of the island. The school was recently moved to a brand new campus with all the new facilities. We were impressed by our visit till we noticed several typos and grammar mistakes on the application form. As we say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.
A little bit further to the south, you will find Berda Claude International School. BCIS also has state of the art facilities with several pools, several football fields and new buildings. The school follows the French curriculum. A friend of mine has his son study there, and he is very happy with it. We also loved our visit and we would have enrolled our kids there if we were to stay in Phuket.
Slightly further south, the International School of Phuket is more a boutique type international school. Their facilities are not as impressive as the others, but its location is its big selling point if you are living in the Rawai beach area.
Residency
Good news is there are many different ways to get residency in Thailand and you will most likely find something that suits your situation. This is a topic that deserves a specific post and I would encourage you to read our dedicated post How to get residency visa to FIRE in Thailand?
Transportation
Despite being an island measuring about 50km by 20 km, most people drive cautiously because roads are narrow, and there are slow vehicles and heavy traffic at peak hours. Phuket is a place where transportation needs to be measured in time rather than distance. If commute time for your children between home and school is a concern, I invite you to test drive the route during peak hours as the exact route may take twice the time. You would not want to regret picking a home that makes your children’s commute unbearable.
Housing
You have many options to choose from. Either you like a condominium with community facilities, or a house with your own private pool, you can easily find many available in Phuket. As mentioned before, transportation can be challenging at peak time of the day, so it is important that you assess the length of time needed for your usual commutes. Here are several links that may help you find your next home: Phuket Property, Thailand Properties, Home in Phuket.
What says you? Time for booking your flight and accommodations? For us, a hotel stay is best for short stay as it offers great convenience with all the hotel facilities. If we aim to stay for a few weeks or more, we prefer a home-stay as it allows us to experience the city like a local.