island

  • Phuket News

    Koh Maphrao residents plead for bridge to Phuket

    On the untouched shores of Koh Maphrao, an island nestled off the east coast of Phuket, a pressing issue has been echoing amongst its inhabitants. The island’s residents have made a formal plea to the Department of Rural Roads for the construction of a bridge to connect them with the bustling mainland of Phuket. This idyllic haven has, so far,…

  • Things To Do

    Top 5 beaches to visit in Phuket

    One of the best things about visiting Thailand is, indeed, its beaches, which are some of the most beautiful in the world. Phuket, in Thailand’s south, is one of the most popular areas to be a beach bum. Located off the Andaman Sea, the islands surrounding it provide day trips galore. But, a few of those beaches seem to provide…

  • Retire in Thailand

    The best places to retire in Thailand 2023

    Thailand is undoubtedly a charming country. And for many people, spending retirement years in this country is the ultimate dream. There are so many good reasons to retire in Thailand. The people are friendly and welcoming, the weather is fantastic, and high-quality medical care is widely available. Plus, who wouldn’t want to live in the perfect property surrounded by beautiful…

  • Phuket News

    Draining dilemma: ONWR chief dives into Phuket’s watery challenge

    The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) Secretary-General visited Phuket to see if he could manage to solve the popular Thai island’s daily wastewater conundrum. Phuket has to deal with about 55,000 cubic metres of wastewater daily. ONWR Secretary-General Surasee Kittimonthon visited Phuket to address the resort’s water management issues, including flooding and potential droughts. Surasee inspected the Patong Municipality…

  • Krabi News

    Body reportedly spotted off Krabi island, search hindered by waves

    A body was reportedly spotted floating off an island in Thailand’s southern Krabi province. Despite efforts by officials, the deceased has not yet been recovered due to strong waves hindering the search. A fishing boat captain near Koh Lanta island alerted the Royal Thai Navy Third Command of the body yesterday morning, The Phuket Express reported. In an attempt to retrieve…

  • Phuket News

    Phuket lifeguards warn of poisonous jellyfish on island beaches

    Phuket Lifeguard Service has issued an official warning to beachgoers and swimmers about the presence of poisonous jellyfish in the waters surrounding the island. The alert comes after several Portuguese man-o-war jellyfish was found washed up along the west coast beaches in recent days. A photo of one such jellyfish was posted on the Phuket Lifeguard Service’s official Facebook account,…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand trials medical drone deliveries across sea to remote island

    A groundbreaking trial in South Thailand‘s Satun province saw a drone successfully deliver medicine across a 12-kilometre sea route to a hospital on the island of Koh Puyu. The Public Health Ministry’s research committee conducted the trial in collaboration with a team of developers from Singapore, Skyports, and Gp Capt Anukoon Onchan-om, a student from the National Defence College. During…

  • Tourism News

    Pattaya island Koh Larn draws in 130,000 tourists this month

    Pattaya‘s picturesque island of Koh Larn is proving to be a hit with tourists this month, with over 130,000 tourists flocking to the island. Officials expect this number to rise as Chinese tourists start to return to the area. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai said on Wednesday, March 15, that Koh Larn saw an average of 10,000 visitors per day…

  • Things To Do

    How to get around in Koh Samui

    Getting around on the island of Koh Samui can be a bit different to other areas in Thailand. As the stunning island is full of idyllic beaches and nature, one of the most popular ways of touring the island is by motorbike. But, as Thailand’s roads are considered quite dangerous, it is perfectly fine to not want to get the…

  • Koh Samui News

    Bridge connecting Koh Samui to mainland Thailand to open in 2029

    Travelling to Koh Samui from mainland Thailand will be cheaper and more convenient in the future once a bridge connecting the island to Khanom in Nakhon Si Thammarat province reaches completion. The bridge is expected to open for service in 2029. Consulting companies are currently bidding on the huge project which is estimated to cost 25 billion baht. The winner will…

  • Thailand Travel

    Thailand’s Koh Samui to welcome first cruise ship in three years this weekend

    On Sunday, a cruise ship will dock in Koh Samui in southern Thailand for the first time in three years, according to the President of the Koh Samui Tourism Association Ratchaporn Poolsawat. An MV Viking Mars cruise liner carrying 700 tourists, mostly Europeans, will make their way to the island from Singapore, said Ratchaporn. Ratchaporn said the return of the…

  • Things To Do

    The three best things about expat life on Koh Samui island

    Many travellers only dream of visiting a tropical island, let alone actually living on one. But, for those who are determined to make their dreams a reality, we have the top three best things about expat life on Koh Samui island in Thailand. The southern jewel beholds a stunning aquatic wonderland, complete with its own cultural fusion of long-time Thai…

  • Travel

    City Guide: Top 5 beaches to visit in Phuket

    One of the best things about visiting Thailand is, indeed, its beaches, which are some of the most beautiful in the world. Phuket, in Thailand’s south, is clearly one of the most popular areas to be a beach bum. Located off the Andaman Sea, its islands surrounding it provide day trips galore. But, a few of those beaches seem to…

  • Thailand News

    Koh Samui agent gives honest property review by standing in waist-deep floodwater

    For those looking into buying land in Thailand, the potential for flooding is one of the first concerns that comes up. One property agent on Koh Samui is being honest about the rising water levels… So honest that he decided to shoot a video of himself holding up the land title deed while waist-deep murky floodwater. The 45 year old…

  • Phuket News

    More and more digital nomads choose Phuket for a “workation”

    Many digital nomads call Thailand home, and more and more people are choosing Phuket for their so-called “workation,” using coffee shops on the island as an office. The BBC’s Thai reporters spoke to several people on the island who work remotely for companies in other countries. For 34 year old American Andy Lee, he runs his business from a cafe…

  • Tourism News

    The future of Thailand’s Maya Bay – Report #1 | VIDEO

    Should Maya Bay reopen? Of course it probably will, at the start of 2022. But there are fears that, despite the best intentions, it will be back to mass tourism and ‘market forces rule’. Maya Bay is the Andaman region’s most popular tourist destination, based on interest generated from the 2000 Hollywood movie “The Beach” from the Alex Garland novel…

  • World News

    Critics believe Singapore’s new ‘foreign interference law’ will further stifle free speech

    Critics of Singapore’s new foreign interference law are worrying about how the island-nation’s government may weaponise the new Bill to stifle free speech. But the Singaporean government maintains that its new Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act “is needed to prevent outside meddling in the city state’s domestic affairs”. Singapore’s strict regulatory and licensing environment, sweeping censorship and libel laws, has pushed…

  • Things To Do

    The best places in Thailand to retire

    Thailand is a magical place for travellers. And, if you are planning to retire, you can certainly do so in style in the Land of Smiles. If you have retirement funds or will get a pension, this tropical country is definitely something to consider living out the rest of your time on Earth. With exotic locations and delicious food among…

  • Tourism News

    Inside Phuket’s Sandbox – Questions answered | VIDEO

    Tim tries to answer as many Phuket Sandbox questions as possible as the fourth day of the ‘reopening’ emerges. So far, so good. Vaccines, tourism, getting back onto the island as an expat, flights, etc. The Sandbox is the first step in reopening Thailand to vaccinated travellers, without a formal 14 day quarantine in a hotel. Unfiltered, unshaven, unscripted. I…

  • Things To Do

    Top 5 secret islands and beaches in Thailand

    For those who feel they have been there and done that while touring Thailand, they may not have been privy to the areas that are off the beaten path. From downright secretive, these locations are known only to a few of those experienced travellers who know where to look. Featuring some of the best that Thailand has to offer, these…

  • Politics News

    Taiwan ready to duke it out if China attacks

    Taiwan officials say they are ready to duke it out if China decides to take its military activities a step further. The announcement, made by its foreign minister, comes after China has stepped up its aircraft carrier drills near the island along with other military activities in the past few months. “From my limited understanding of American decision makers watching…

  • Koh Samui News

    Koh Samui lights back up, underwater electricity cable repaired

    Electricity is back on Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan after an underwater cable supplying electricity to the islands was damaged. Yesterday, blackouts swept over both islands in the Gulf of Thailand off the Surat Thani coast. Earlier reports say the cable was damaged by a Thai navy ship’s anchor, but now Provincial Electricity Authority district manager Jakkrit Meedet says…

  • Phuket News

    Phuket lifeguards warn beachgoers after 2 near-drownings in a day

    Phuket lifeguards are urging beachgoers on the southern island to be “careful when doing water activities and swim only in the areas marked as safe” as well as to “follow lifeguards’ suggestions” after a 6 year old girl and a Russian man were plucked from the water after getting into difficulty in 1 day. The Nai Harn beach chief lifeguard…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today – Week in review | January 30

    Thailand News Today covers five days of the news week. Now we have a weekend edition which goes over the biggest, or best stories, from the past week. Out every Saturday afternoon, catch up with Jett and Tim’s major Thai news stories. Welcome to the Thailand News Today Week in Review.

  • Visa Information

    The Koh Pha Ngan party kept rolling at the local police station

    Police have arrested 89 foreigners on the Gulf island of Koh Pha Ngan, breaking any number of laws related to the emergency decree about crowds, mask wearing and current restrictions. They raided a party at the ThreeSixtyBar. 22 Thais were also detained in the raid on Tuesday night after the well-publicised event attracted plenty of local party-goers. Koh Pha Ngan is…

  • Tourism News

    Phuket lifts mandatory quarantine restrictions for ‘high risk’ arrivals. But were they ever applied?

    Culminating 2 weeks of mass confusion over the apparent mandatory self-quarantine for arrivals to Phuket from Bangkok and other high risk provinces, Phuket’s provincial communicable disease committee has agreed to lift the mandatory 14 day quarantine “to help boost the local economy hit by the Covid-19 pandemic”. But for the vast majority of arrivals from Bangkok (DMK and BKK) to…

  • Tourism News

    The Thai government threw a tourist party (sound of crickets) | VIDEO

    The Thai Government, flushed with the success of their containment of Covid-19, decided to market the Land of Smiles to the world as the safe place to travel. With the annual wet season starting to weaken the tourists would flock back to the S E Asian country that had such a remarkable success containing, then almost eradicating itself, of the…

  • Opinion

    Like a rolling stone (2 decades and counting). My home, Phuket.

    by Bill Barnett from c9hotelworks.com Driving down a seemingly endless winding road on the warm tropical island of Phuket, I glance up and see a sign indicating a left turn, shouting out in big bold letters ‘Welcome to Days of Future Past.’ Reading between the lines, let me state that we have landed headfirst like crash test dummies into the…

  • Business News

    Monopoly comes to Phuket, but don’t Go To Jail!

    You may not be able to physically visit the world famous holiday island right now, but you can buy and trade property along it’s best known streets – all whilst sitting at home and playing Phuket Monopoly with your family. You can also get “free parking”, usually at a premium in Phuket’s most popular towns. But make sure you don’t…

  • Environment News

    Large “chunk” breaks off Krabi island, damaging coral reef at popular dive site

    A large chunk of an island near Koh Phi Phi in southern Thailand has broken off and collapsed on top of a coral reef at a popular dive site. No one was around when the cliffsides sheered off and collapsed into the sea, but national park officers on a routine patrol noticed a section of the island had broken off…