Which is the best location to live in Thailand for 3-6 months: Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Tao?

Apr 27, 2021
3 years ago
Cliff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I might have to move down south for a short time. If you could live on Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi, or Koh Tao for the next 3-6 months. Which would you pick & why/why not?
1,327
views
1
likes
28
all likes
14
replies
0
images
10
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the best choice for living on a Thailand island for 3-6 months, considering factors such as local amenities, weather, COVID-19 restrictions, and personal preferences. Comments highlight that Koh Samui is currently quiet due to tourism drop, Phuket offers more conveniences and a running local economy despite some ghost town areas, Krabi has beautiful natural scenery with fewer tourists but can be boring food-wise, and Koh Tao and Koh Phangan are also considered for their quieter appeal during the rainy season.
Tara ********
Probably koh Tao or koh phangnan cause it's going to be rainy season in phuket
John ********
Depending on your budget
Veit ********
I read your requirements above, and while I love Ao Nang/Krabi where we live, the rainy season here does suck. And the food options got boring quickly. Also, there's hardly any cool english speakers to meet (the local expat community is very small). We spent a couple of weeks on Phangan recently, loved it and will shift there for a while once this wave hopefully is over.

That being said, if you can handle some rain every day, don't really care about meeting many people the next half year and can pay a bit of a premium for higher end villa/restaurants, then the magic of an tourist empty Krabi is right here. It's pretty f***ing amazing actually. The clouds and sunsets right now are out of this world.
Cliff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Veit *******
I don’t mind the rain. And I have gone about a year and a half without talking to anyone who speaks English in our hometown. So I CAN do it. But I would like to be able to find more than where I am now.
Karim ***************
I would recommended phuket personally. You hve all the western conveniences, good supermarkets etc. Only a short drive from Krabi. Samui and the islands are all very dead now.
Stuart *********
It really depends on what you are wanting or expecting. From reports on here without tourists Koh Samui is pretty much closed (I realise there are some exceptions and if anyone from Samui wants to correct me I’ll be fine with that). Phuket has areas that are ghost towns but many that are operating pretty much as normal. I guess Krabi is the same. Sorry don’t know the situation in Koh Tao but I suspect similar to Samui.
Anthony *********
Why would you leave out koh phangan?
Cliff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Anthony ********
I feel like I’d be drunk all day if I lived there. 😅
Shaun *******
Samui
Michael ********
Remember monsoon season is coming, phuket beaches become great for surfers but dangerous for swimmers.

Personally i like Krabi even though i lived Phuket for long time.

But it all depends what you want.

Koh Yoa Noi is a nice quiet island in Phang Nga bay
Cliff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
I hear you, I really love krabi too. But I just saw it doesn’t have a villa market😬. My wife and I are trying to agree on a place...looking for a place where we could go to the beach easily....we need some mental relaxation/recharging.. I like to go to where It’s easier to find English speaking people. But, one thing we both want is, a decent selection of restaurants. We love to go out to eat.....when restrictions are relaxed.
Michael ********
@Cliff *******
Rawai in Phuket then. Lived there for years but moved out because too many english speakers and villa mart moved in
Cliff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
🙏 thank you for the suggestion. I’ll look into it.
Pascal ********
Koh Samui very small , Phuket a bit bigger but a bridge and if authorities close it you can not go out which now if you want to go in Phuket you need a covid test , Krabi nice
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else