To retire in Phuket, Thailand’s tropical paradise island, would be a dream come true for many. While it can be very affordable to do so, those who have a bit more saved and want to experience true Phuket luxury living can live in grand style.
Here are a few reasons how:
Cost
Thailand’s cost of living makes retiring in Phuket a true bargain when compared to many other countries. Although Phuket might be slightly more expensive than other parts of Thailand, it is still much cheaper than when compared to other more developed countries in Asia Pacific.
To retire in Phuket provides a stunning standard of living with a range of world-class cuisine options. There are endless local style haunts and world class eateries with impressive wine cellars, often set along the beach. However that can get expensive compared to the fact that one can happily enjoy a delicious and healthy Thai-style meal for only 200 baht (US$ 6).
The normal food bill for a family of four in Phuket is just 5,000 baht per week including freshly caught seafood and seasonal fruits or veggies. How would you like to hire your own chef or driver for around 700 to 1,000 baht per day? Be it housekeeping, gardening, a driver or private nurse – hiring personal aides is truly a great value. If you retire in Phuket, you may never need to iron a shirt, clean a bathroom or buy your own groceries again. This of course, is a huge bonus in one’s golden (or early retirement) years.
In Phuket, you can rent a basic three bedroom house for 20,000 baht per month, or buy a local style house in the island’s south for just five million baht. Those lucky to demand the best when they retire in Phuket, will opt for a full service, managed destination. For example, Kata Rocks Resort and Residence which opened in 2014 provides all types of modern amenities and service one can imagine. Everything is already arranged; a holistic spa and fabulous sunset bar, grocery delivery and latest technology for home automation. Not many resorts and residences in Thailand approach the level of having a Tattler Best Restaurant Award 2014 while providing in-villa dining, let alone a state-of-the-art gym and 20 international awards for design.
Activities
When you retire in Phuket of course you will take advantage of the excellent climate. Therefore many retirees spend the bulk of their time outdoors here, playing at one of the island’s world-class golf courses or snorkeling at the beach. During retirement, you will want to focus more on fun pursuits and less on managing small details. This is a reward of Phuket, living here allows for a more active lifestyle while streamlining your life.
With that aim in mind, a residence managed as part of a larger resort or retirement village will be the most efficient accommodation for retirees. Cutting down on costs and hassles of arranging everything alone, villa managers also provide the option to enter rental pools for earning returns on your property. Combining quality management with utmost privacy and award-winning design, ensures your investment and luxury retirement earn appreciation.
Phuket luxury living at Kata Rocks
If you plan to retire in Phuket, do come check out Thai island life yourself before committing to buy. It is easy enough to rent for a year, getting to know the island and any gains of retiring here. Also, go with a property that is already built. Owning a property as a foreigner in Thailand can be complex, even risky if there is no promise of completion. Many have gotten burned from lack of due diligence, however you’ll be worry-free by selecting a completed build where you can touch, see and feel the quality.
In the case of a Kata Rocks, developer Richard Pope spent six years of exhaustive design and world class building on Kata Rocks. This led to the property winning more than 20 international property awards in Hong Kong and London in association with names like Bloomberg, New York Times and Google. Mr Pope came to Phuket with a strong track record and backing from his successes in London. By offering a foreign freehold lease, Kata Rocks’ Phuket luxury villas (or ‘Sky Villas’) offer utmost financial security to investors who retire in Phuket.
Again, should you decide to retire in Phuket, choosing the best design and build will ensure peace of mind. For affluent retirees to fully appreciate their golden years, they will be looking for an investment seldom found in this part of the world. It is the combination of Asian hospitality combined with luxury western standards. By uniting the best of both worlds, you can have it all.
The bottom line is that Phuket could be the tropical island retirement paradise you have dreamed about. However, you must take the first step by at least coming for a visit. Then you can experience and know for yourself whether it suits your lifestyle. To quote Shakespeare, at the end of the day, Phuket’s retirement paradise is like beauty and therefore, ‘in the eye and heart of the beholder’.