Phuket

Sirgezza · #1 06-07-2006, 02:30

A few ago I was approached by a woman in work who asked me if I wanted to jobshare my job with her. I currently work 80% of a full-time contract so get 10 weeks unpaid leave a year. We have agreed to each work 50% and have 6 months on and 6 months off. I've done my sums and can afford to keep my place in the UK and also have long periods of holidays abroad (LOS being the number 1 destination).

I already have my ticket booked for BKK leaving London Heathrow on 27th Dec. I have made enquiries about extending the stay (to end of March) and the cost of changing the ticket is £110.

On my last tour I started in Patong (3 weeks), then Chiang Rai (1 week) and finally Pattaya 2 weeks.

I'm not sure what to do for the 3 month stay this coming winter. I could travel around a bit more and see other destinations (Hua Hin, Samui, Khon Kaen etc.), or split my time between Patong and Pattaya, or have all my time in one place. The last possibility would probably mean getting a 3 month stay in an Expat area, which would probably be the cheapest option for accommodation.

Any comments from BMs would be welcome, I'm spoilt for choice

steve@thaib · #2 06-07-2006, 02:36

Any chance of a picture of said woman Gez

Sirgezza · #3 06-07-2006, 02:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

Any chance of a picture of said woman Gez

Not worth the look mate - even I have standards.

BTW, any UK folks get a 60 day visa? I'm down in London in August and am considering going to the Thai embassy and get the visa direct. Has anyone else done this. I don't fancy putting things in the post.

marc26 · #4 06-07-2006, 02:50

i havent done a long stay in hua hin, but i love it there and think it would be an ideal place to veg out for a few months

Izzy · #5 06-07-2006, 04:16

I got a 60 day tourist visa when I went, via post tho.

LivinLOS · #6 06-07-2006, 08:41

Well what you do would depend heavily on what your longer term intentions are and also if you have already seen some other areas of Thailand and have a favorite or what to get more of a feel for it.

3 months is a surprisingly short time when you start to get into a routine, can see it flying by. Also if you are looking to become more permanent I would reccomend devoting a bit of time to trying to settle a little and see how that feels as opposed to the touring around as a longer term tourist. Not having hotel rooms and packing up and being out of the suitcase lots but finding a place to stay and unpacking. From there touring if thats what you want but with that as a base.

If your careful you can get a non imm O for 90 days from Hull.. Otherwise tourist visa could be easy and a 60 day single entry can get a 30 day extension.

sishow · #7 06-07-2006, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by gez

A few ago I was approached by a woman in work who asked me if I wanted to jobshare my job with her. I currently work 80% of a full-time contract so get 10 weeks unpaid leave a year. We have agreed to each work 50% and have 6 months on and 6 months off. I've done my sums and can afford to keep my place in the UK and also have long periods of holidays abroad (LOS being the number 1 destination).

See if you thought about it, I would of been the ideal candidate for the job share role. As we could of shared a house in los and home, and used it 6 months of the year each!

But you would have had to move to England!

Good luck!

Sirgezza · #8 06-07-2006, 18:42

LIL,

I remember mention of a block of apartments in the expat area (up the hill?) that had a swimming pool. Could I get a 3 month let in one of the apartments? What sort of cost? Any idea what the name of the place is/website?

This 3 month break should be an annual event, so maybe I will tour round on the first one and then in subsequent years stay in one place with occassional trips.

andy50 · #9 06-07-2006, 19:07

hi gez i think that you can only apply for a visa by post
you can go to the website and print off an online app/form then send it to the embassy
the hull embassy is suppose to be the best one to deal with

LivinLOS · #10 06-07-2006, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by gez

LIL,

I remember mention of a block of apartments in the expat area (up the hill?) that had a swimming pool. Could I get a 3 month let in one of the apartments? What sort of cost? Any idea what the name of the place is/website?

This 3 month break should be an annual event, so maybe I will tour round on the first one and then in subsequent years stay in one place with occassional trips.

Theres all kinds of things from great to not so great deals.. I thin perhaps I mentioned the aprtments behind wet willies.. when Gee, gier, paulie, Robb and a lot of boys stayed there it was great.. Many a breakfast turned into a jacussi day..

I would not worry or look until the month before you come.. Sure at high season prices for nice places go right up but they would never hold a good deal for you anyway,,

marc26 · #11 06-07-2006, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by gez

LIL,

I remember mention of a block of apartments in the expat area (up the hill?) that had a swimming pool. Could I get a 3 month let in one of the apartments? What sort of cost? Any idea what the name of the place is/website?

This 3 month break should be an annual event, so maybe I will tour round on the first one and then in subsequent years stay in one place with occassional trips.

from experience. accomodation will be the least of your problems
i got my apt from phuket gazette a month before i came. had my gf check it out and give a deposit. you being the big butterfly man you are, you dont have a gf, but im sure a bm would be glad to do it for you

also, ifs it is not high season, book a guest house for a week, and you will more than likely find a place easy

Sirgezza · #12 07-07-2006, 03:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc26

from experience. accomodation will be the least of your problems
i got my apt from phuket gazette a month before i came. had my gf check it out and give a deposit. you being the big butterfly man you are, you dont have a gf, but im sure a bm would be glad to do it for you

also, ifs it is not high season, book a guest house for a week, and you will more than likely find a place easy

Cheers Paul and LIL.

Are there many places (not hotels) that would do a 2 month let?

Chances are on this visit I will travel around a bit and then on subsequent visits I would get a 3 month let in one place.

LivinLOS · #13 07-07-2006, 10:55

Yeah sure.. All around Nanai there is a combination of rooms, studio aparts / rooms, 1 beds, etc that cater to the shorter term market.

Quality serviced apartments are a little bit rarer but its improving. My buddy came down from Patts and found a 1 bed service apartment, clean and new with a pool outside his door and linen and maid service for 30k per month.. Now thats not cheap but it was walk through the door ready and on a purely month by month agreement. Hes using that as a stepping stone to finding a house or full time partment for a longer lease.

One issue you will have is its peak season when your looking so MUCH harder (its easy right now) and no one is going to hold anything for you unless your really over paying.. But even then a room or something shouldnt present a problem.

I would be happy to help you and keep my eyes open in the weeks before you come..

sundancekid · #14 07-07-2006, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Yeah sure.. All around Nanai there is a combination of rooms, studio aparts / rooms, 1 beds, etc that cater to the shorter term market.

Quality serviced apartments are a little bit rarer but its improving. My buddy came down from Patts and found a 1 bed service apartment, clean and new with a pool outside his door and linen and maid service for 30k per month.. Now thats not cheap but it was walk through the door ready and on a purely month by month agreement. Hes using that as a stepping stone to finding a house or full time partment for a longer lease.

One issue you will have is its peak season when your looking so MUCH harder (its easy right now) and no one is going to hold anything for you unless your really over paying.. But even then a room or something shouldnt present a problem.

I would be happy to help you and keep my eyes open in the weeks before you come..

LiL only if you hear of something:

I’m considering moving into a studio / apartment closer to Patong. For various reasons. I only need room for my desk and a small sofa. Must have a private balcony though and ADSL. Anything below 20K will be considered for a 6 months contract.

LivinLOS · #15 07-07-2006, 12:08

Does wet willies have anything ?? Marcel or Tom would have an answer to that I think its called Cocteau apartments ?? Or similar.. I think those are good value really and while perhaps a little small are usable with a nice amount of outdoor / balcony space.. I think ADSL is arrangeable from the resturant and might even be wireless to some apartments depending on location.

I tend to like to live a little bit nicely and think that if I was going to be more than a couple of months would get someone to repaint and hang some pics etc but its all there, kitchen bath living room 1 bed and BIG balcony..