Guides & stories
Local know-how, food finds and practical tips for the island.
The Top 10 Phuket Hotel Day Passes: Pool and Resort Day Access in 2026
A Phuket hotel day pass gets you into resort pools, beaches and spas without staying the night. Here are the 10 best, with 2026 prices, hours and how to book.
NewsA Thai senator has proposed letting foreigners own 100% of a business in Thailand to end the nominee system. Here is what was said and what it could mean.
PracticalThe honest 2026 answer: most Thai banks reject DTV visa holders for new accounts. Why it happens, what does not work, and the real alternatives that do.
PracticalHow do tourists pay in Thailand? Compare Wise and home cards, the KBank prepaid Visa card, cash and ATM fees, honestly, with no Thai bank account needed.
NewsThe common scams in Phuket, from the jet ski and tuk-tuk tricks to gem, timeshare and bar-bill scams, with red flags, how to avoid each and the 1155 hotline.
GuideCompare Phuket's best water parks for 2026: Andamanda and Splash Jungle prices, rides and ages, which suits your family, plus money-saving tips and hours.
GuideAn honest 2026 guide to Kamala Beach, Phuket: the sand, the best things to do, Cafe del Mar, where to stay, getting there plus Kamala vs Patong and Surin.
PracticalCompare AIS, True and dtac tourist SIMs and eSIMs for Thailand, plus where to buy, the passport registration rule and typical 2026 prices for your trip.
NewsThailand drone laws in 2026: dual CAAT and NBTC registration, no tourist exemption, insurance, no-fly zones and fines. What visitors must know before flying.
NewsWeed in Thailand is medical-only in 2026: legal with a Thai prescription, illegal recreationally. Here are the rules, penalties and what tourists can do.
NewsYes. Vaping is illegal in Thailand: import, sale, possession and use, and even carrying a vape is an offence. Fines, police checks and what to do if stopped.
GuideCape Panwa is Phuket's quiet southeast cape: beaches, things to do, resort day passes at Sri Panwa and Pullman, how to get there and whether it is worth it.
NewsThe honest 2026 update on Thailand's retirement visa: the 800,000 and 65,000 THB rules, O-A insurance, the new foreign income tax and what has not changed.
GuideWhere to ride dirt bikes and enduro in Phuket: the real trails and areas, how hard they are, when to ride in green vs dry season, and where to rent a bike.
PracticalThe cheapest, fastest ways to send money to Thailand in 2026: Wise vs bank SWIFT wires, real fee ranges, receiving baht, the FET form and visa deposits.
GuideWhere do expats actually live in Thailand? A friendly hub-by-hub guide to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and more, with rough costs and who each suits.
NewsUsing your own Starlink in Thailand is illegal: it is not NBTC-licensed, kit gets seized, and you risk confiscation. Here is why, plus the legal ways online.
GuideKaron Beach Phuket in plain English: the beach, things to do, where to stay, swimming safety, getting there and how Karon compares with Kata and Patong.
PracticalHow to marry in Thailand as a foreigner in 2026: affirmation of freedom to marry, MFA legalisation, registering at the amphur, plus the documents and costs.
PracticalHow foreigners can legally buy a freehold condo in Thailand in 2026: the 49% foreign quota, the FET form, transfer fees and taxes, and leasehold vs freehold.
GuideWhich Phuket beach should you stay on? A straight comparison of all 19 west coast beaches by who each one actually suits, plus what changes by season.
PracticalThailand now asks for a birth certificate, and often a certified consent letter, when a Thai child under 18 leaves the country. Here is what to carry.
GuideThe best coworking spaces in Phuket, from Patong to Rawai, plus the cafes worth working from. Compare prices, wifi, vibe and areas, then pick your desk.
PracticalWhat expat health insurance in Thailand costs in 2026, local vs international plans compared, which visas require cover, and how to choose the right plan.
GuideAn honest 2026 guide to Kata Beach, Phuket: the sand, the best things to do, where to stay, getting there from the airport, Kata vs Patong and if it's worth it.
VisasThe 2026 Thailand marriage visa (Non-O) explained: the 400k THB or 40k income rule, documents, the step-by-step process, extensions, cost and timeline.
GuideHow to get around Phuket in 2026: Grab vs taxis and tuk-tuks, the 100 THB Smart Bus, songthaews, and renting a scooter or car, with real prices.
GuideHow to rent a condo or apartment in Phuket long term: real monthly rents, deposits, contracts, best areas and the mistakes that cost you money.
Food & DrinkPhuket street food guide: the best local dishes from o tao to Hokkien noodles and roti, plus the Michelin Bib Gourmand stalls that do them best.
Food & DrinkWhere to find fresh seafood in Phuket: our number one pick Crab Corner, the Rawai seafood market, floating restaurants and the best local seafood spots.
GuideWhere to rent a dirt bike or enduro bike in Phuket, which bike to choose, guided tours, the best trails, seasons, costs and safety for riding the island.
GuideWhat living in Phuket as a digital nomad really costs in 2026, plus the DTV visa, the best areas to stay, coworking, wifi and getting around.
NewsYour guide to the best Phuket events in August 2026, from the Por Tor ghost festival and a beach reef run to Offset live and world class DJs by the sea.
VisasHow long can you stay in Thailand on a tourist visa? The 2026 maximum: 30-day visa-free, the 60-day tourist visa, extensions, visa runs and the 180-day line.
PracticalA plain-English Thailand foreign income tax guide for 2026: the 180-day residency test, the remittance rule, rates, double tax agreements and how to file.
PracticalA plain-English 2026 guide to Thailand's 90-day report: who must file, doing it online or in person, the TM.47 and TM30 forms, deadlines and fines.
GuideHow to get from Phuket airport to Patong and the other beaches: Smart Bus, taxi, Grab and private transfer prices, times and how to avoid overcharging.
GuideHow foreigners get a Thai driving licence in Phuket: the documents, DLT tests, real costs, timeline, renewal and whether a tourist visa actually works.
NewsThailand's alcohol ban on 29 and 30 July 2026 halts sales in Phuket for two Buddhist holy days. Here is who is exempt, where to still drink and how to plan.
PracticalOpen a bank account in Thailand in 2026: which visas banks accept, the documents you need, why tourist and DTV holders are refused, and what to do instead.
GuideAn honest local guide to Patong Beach Phuket: things to do day and night, Bangla Road, where to stay, safety, swimming and whether it is worth visiting.
GuideThe 12 real Phuket beach clubs with day passes in 2026: real prices, what each pass includes, age policies and how to choose the right club for your day.
PracticalCompare the best areas to live in Phuket for expats, nomads and retirees: Rawai, Bang Tao, Patong, Kata, Chalong and Phuket Town, with real 2026 rent bands.
GuideA Phuket hotel day pass gets you into resort pools, beaches and spas without staying the night. Here are the 10 best, with 2026 prices, hours and how to book.
GuidePhuket vs Krabi: Phuket wins for nightlife, variety and easy flights, Krabi for scenery, calm and value. Here is how to choose, factor by factor.
GuideHow to rent a scooter in Phuket safely: real prices, the licence and passport rules, the scams to avoid, and how to ride without voiding your insurance.
GuideThe best time to visit Phuket is November to April for dry, calm weather. Green season means fewer crowds and lower prices. See the month by month guide.
PracticalCost of living in Phuket 2026: real monthly budgets, rent by area, food, utilities and visa costs in Thai baht and USD, from budget to comfortable expat life.
PracticalUK visa for a Thai girlfriend: the visitor, fiance and spouse routes explained, with 2026 costs, the £29,000 income rule and how to apply from Thailand.
Food & DrinkThe spiciest Thai food to brave in Phuket and beyond: fiery Southern dishes like khua kling and gaeng tai pla, and how to order and survive the heat.
GuideThai breast slapping claims to grow your bust without surgery. We look at what it involves, where it came from, and whether there's any evidence it works.
PracticalHow much does it cost to retire in Thailand in 2026? The 800,000-baht visa minimum, realistic monthly budgets for Phuket, healthcare and the LTR visa.
VisasThe Thailand Privilege visa (ex-Thailand Elite): 2026 tiers, prices, Privilege Points, benefits and how it compares to the DTV, LTR and retirement visas.
PracticalHow to start a business in Thailand in 2026: the Foreign Business Act, company types, the 49% rule and nominee trap, capital, visas, work permits and tax.
VisasA straight-talking guide to the Thailand education visa in 2026 — what the ED visa covers, costs, attendance rules, and the crackdown that revoked 10,000 visas.
GuideA clear history of Thailand, from the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya kingdoms and old Siam through the Chakri dynasty, the modernising kings and Thailand today.
VisasThe Thailand LTR visa gives high earners, wealthy pensioners and skilled professionals a 10-year, multiple-entry stay. 2026 costs, categories and how to apply.
Food & DrinkFrom fried insects and red ant eggs to dancing shrimp and balut, here are 10 unusual Thai foods to try in Phuket, what they are, and where to find them.
VisasHow to get a Thailand work permit and Non-B visa in 2026: the two-document system, employer rules, salary bands, costs and the application steps explained.
PracticalWhat to do if the police ask to search you in Thailand: your rights at a checkpoint, how to stay calm, the contraband to avoid, and who to call for help.
VisasHow the Thailand tourist visa and visa exemption work in 2026 — stay lengths, the 60 to 30 day change, TR visa, fees, extensions in Phuket and the crackdown.
GuideA local guide to enduro in Phuket: the best off-road zones and trails, when to ride, which dirt bike to rent, guided tours, plus gear and safety tips.
VisasThailand's DTV visa in 2026 for remote workers: eligibility, the 500,000 THB rule, costs, the application steps, tax, and what life is like in Phuket.
GuideEverything you need for Songkran in Phuket: the 13 to 15 April dates, what to wear and pack, the best places to go, and how to stay safe in the water war.
VisasA Thailand retirement visa guide for over-50s, updated for 2026: the new e-Visa process, Non-O vs O-A vs O-X, the 800,000 THB rule, insurance, tax and costs.
Food & DrinkThe healthiest Thai dishes to order in Phuket if you want to lose a few kilos: low-calorie, high-protein street food, salads and soups, plus what to skip.
NewsWhat's on in Phuket this July 2026: Buddhist Lent, the PYC yacht festival, Parkland Music Fest, the best night markets, beach clubs and green season tips.