Learning About Phuket Before Buying Property
For anyone seriously considering buying property in Phuket, we think it’s a good idea to learn more about the island and what it has to offer the residence, tourists and natives alike. Phuket already offers a bustling property market with great deals to be made and some truly jaw dropping properties available.
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For those of you that have already begun the hunt for a Phuket property and touched foot onto the island, you’ll already be familiar with the slogan “Amazing Thailand” – the phrase is certainly well portrayed when it comes to Phuket, it’s property, it’s amenities, and all the other great things on offer.
For holiday makers, Phuket truly is a dream island but there is a big difference between being on holiday and deciding to become a resident and investing in property. So we thought it would be good to highlight some of the many great and interesting things that are native to Phuket.
Let’s Get To Know Phuket:
- Phuket sits at the 7°53′24″ marker, north of the Equator.
- It is equal distance from the equator as Ethiopia and Nigeria in Africa, as well as Venezuela and Colombia in South America.
- Phuket is roughly 700 km (434 miles) to the north of Kula Lumpur, Malaysia, and from the south of Bangkok around 863km (536 miles).
- The highest point on the island is 1,736 feet (529 metres).
- It is Thailand’s biggest island, measuring 576 square kilometers in size (222 square miles). It has a similar size to Singapore.
- Phuket, albiet the largest island in it’s province, is surrounded by 32 smaller islands.
- From north to south, it’s about 48 kilometers, and from east to west, it’s around 21 kilometers.
- Mountains cover 70% of Phuket, spanning from north to south.
- Forest, rubber trees, and palm trees cover more than 60% of the island.
- Pineapples, palm oil, and rubber from rubber plantations are the principal agricultural products. Other fruit and cashew plantations can be found nearby.
- On the island, fishing is also a big business.
- Phuket’s tourist industry has millions of visitors each year and it’s consistantly grown.
- Phuket is considered an island with the Sarasin Bridge connecting it to the Thai mainland in the north.
- Phuket is pronounced “Pooket” rather than “Fooket,” as many visitors mistakenly believe.
- The name Phuket comes from the Malay word “bukit,” which means “hill” or “mountain.” Junk Ceylon was the moniker given to the island by early western maps.
- Phuket has two seasons: A peak season from November to April and a rainier season from May to October.
- Phuket features 36 beaches, the majority of which are on the west coast and boast crystal clear turquoise waters, even more so in the high season period.
- Patong is the island’s primary tourist destination, known for its vibrant nightlife scene of bars, discos and beach clubs.
- Phuket boasts a number of up market attractions and some of the best golf courses in the world.
- The famous James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun” was shot in Phang Nga Bay on the island of Kaho Phing Kan – It’s been known as James Bond Island ever since.
- Roughly 600,000 residents live in Phuket with that number potentially hitting the millions in high season.
- The “Big Buddha” is located in Chalong, Phuket and is one of the biggest buddgas in Thailand, standing at around 45 metres – a very popular tourist attraction.
- Many different cultural festivals are held in Phuket each yea including the famous Vegetarian Festival.
- The Thai New Year is called “Songkran” and is a huge water festival enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
- The “Loy Kratong” festival is celebrated during the first full moon in November, a beautiful night!
- The Heroine’s Monument is a monument dedicated to two of Phuket’s most renowned ladies who lived on the island in the 18th century. It stands in the island’s center as a memorial to their valor in repelling Burmese invaders in 1785.
- The yearly turtle release on Mai Khao Beach is one of Phuket’s most spectacular events. The newborn turtles are usually released to run free across the beach and into the ocean around April.
Outside of Phuket:
Despite the fact that Phuket is one of the world’s most popular vacation locations, you’ll be surprised to learn that there is still so much to do and see in this region of Thailand. There is so much to do in Phuket that it is hard to accomplish it all in one vacation, which is why buying property in Phuket is such a great idea.
Some good examples are:
- Phang Nga Bay is just a quick boat journey away and is a protected conservation area with a variety of activities & attractions.
- By ferry, Phi Phi Island, in Krabi province, is about 46 kilometers south-east.
- Krabi Province is about a 2-hour drive away by car.
- Picturesque Khao Lak, in Phang Nga Province, is barely 100 kilometers up the mainland’s west coast.
- Wild elephants, bears, boars, tapirs, macaques, gibbons, mouse-deers, wild cats, Asiatic wild dogs, and a variety of bird life, including three species of hornbills, may still be found at Khaosok National Park, which is not far from Khao Lak.
- The Similan Islands, 120 kilometers north west of Phuket, are still home to whale sharks.
With all this on offer, it’s easy to see why Phuket is such an attractive place for people to want to invest in property.