Thai Life

Thailand guides, travel tips, cultural insights, and essential local information—discover everything you need to know about living, visiting, and experiencing the Land of Smiles. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Thailand guides.

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    Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes

    Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...

  • Mourning man walks 1,533 kilometres to Doi Inthanon with girlfriend’s ashes | Thaiger

    Mourning man walks 1,533 kilometres to Doi Inthanon with girlfriend’s ashes

    A man has spent more than a year walking from Trang in the south to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s tallest mountain in Chiang Mai – an epic journey of 1,533 kilometres – to spread the ashes of his girlfriend. By yesterday afternoon (Wednesday), 39 year old Sakchai Suphanmart, from Udon Thani, had reached the San Patong district of Chiang Mai. He…

  • Centipedes “if you aggravate them they will bite” | Thaiger

    Centipedes “if you aggravate them they will bite”

    In the wake of the death of the woman on Tuesday following a centipede bite on Sunday, we’re tried to find more concrete information about centipedes. Finding specific information about these creatures is little difficult so we share some links to kick off your research. An article from the Pattaya Unlimited blog warns that there are some centipedes that have…

  • From tropical paradise to busy urban island – Phuket | Thaiger

    From tropical paradise to busy urban island – Phuket

    By Bill Barnett Phuket’s tourists, expats and property buyers are finding new reasons to head to the Pearl of the Andaman. They’re now spending more time and money seeking out alternative activities in areas other than the famed west-coast beaches. A report says that the island is transforming into a more well-rounded destination as visitors and new residents takes advantage…

  • Hands-on schooling setting an example in Chiang Mai | Thaiger

    Hands-on schooling setting an example in Chiang Mai

    by Chularat Saengpassa PHOTO: Padungkiat Jaiwong, far left, and fellow barbers of the “HK Barber” salon at Wat Huai Kaew School in Chiang Mai’s Mae On district show off their haircutting equipment. “Take me to your heart, Take me to your soul. Give me your hand before I’m old, Show me what love is, haven’t got a clue, Show me…

  • A very Asian tale “Crazy Rich Asians” opens | Thaiger

    A very Asian tale “Crazy Rich Asians” opens

    “The last high-profile Hollywood film with an all-Asian cast was The Joy Luck Club released in 1993.” By The Star, Asia News Network, Kuala Lumpur It was a sweltering night in Singapore and the production of Crazy Rich Asians was in the last leg of filming. Director Jon M. Chu was sweating buckets and it’s not entirely because of the humid weather. Chu, who has worked on…

  • Fern helps her mum sell food in Krabi. She also speaks four languages fluently. | Thaiger

    Fern helps her mum sell food in Krabi. She also speaks four languages fluently.

    PHOTO: A five year old Thai girl, who can speak three foreign languages, helps her mother to sell food along the beach in Krabi. A young beach vendor who sells food along Klong Heng Beach in Krabi, is carrying two baskets with fruits and snacks. She can speak Thai but also Chinese, English and Bahasa Malay languages. She is seen…

  • Central Phuket opens on September 10 | Thaiger

    Central Phuket opens on September 10

    The new Central Phuket is set to open its doors on September 10. The announcement was made at Centara Grand Beach Resort, also owned by the Central Pattana Group. The concept of the new shopping centre, twice as big as the current Central Festival, is ‘The World Comes To Play’. The new complex will feature 20 of the world’s biggest…

  • Observations of a working expat couple, and their 9.5 kilogram cat ‘George’ | Thaiger

    Observations of a working expat couple, and their 9.5 kilogram cat ‘George’

    All expats have a story of how they ended up in the Land of Smiles. Few are just ‘I got a job here’. It usually happens the other way around where people visit Thailand and find a reason to stay. John Read, writing for the Financial Times, and his husband German, have lived and worked in many of the world’s…

  • Awaken life’s potential at Santosa Detox & Wellness Center | Thaiger

    Awaken life’s potential at Santosa Detox & Wellness Center

    Located in the jungle-clad hills above Kata Beach on the Southwest Coast of Phuket, Santosa Detox & Wellness Center is a tropical retreat specialising in detox & wellness programs. If you are looking for an authentic detox experience with a personal touch, Santosa is the best choice. The dedicated staff at Santosa work with guests at their own pace to…

  • The world’s riskiest place to visit, if you’re British | Thaiger

    The world’s riskiest place to visit, if you’re British

    PHOTO: worldatlas.com If you’re British, where in the world is the riskiest place for you to visit? New research by Endsleigh Insurance Services has unveiled the world’s riskiest holiday destinations. Thailand has been found to be the world’s riskiest holiday destination for British tourists, according to a new report. The report looked at data from 2017, ranking countries on where the most…

  • Buying off plan? A few things to consider. | Thaiger

    Buying off plan? A few things to consider.

    Many developers offer units and condo “off-plan” for sale at an early stage of the project development, even before the first brick has been laid. The lure is usually a lower price and getting the pick of the best location in the development. Some of us may not be familiar with the term “off-plan”. Generally speaking, buying off-plan means buying…

  • Buying property in Thailand – the basics | Thaiger

    Buying property in Thailand – the basics

    by Kevin Hodges There are many, MANY properties for sale in Phuket and around Thailand. In a market that has peaks and troughs it’s best to buy in partnership with respected sales agents who know the current market and can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls. Buying property in Thailand is not straight forward, so you will need…

  • Twinpalms hotels & resorts celebrate their 14th anniversary | Thaiger

    Twinpalms hotels & resorts celebrate their 14th anniversary

    PHOTO: Collard Studios One of Phuket’s home-grown brands, Twinpalms is inviting members, guests and residents to join the revelry at Catch Beach Club on Saturday, September 22, to mark 14 years of offering luxury hospitality and entertainment on Thailand’s largest destination island. Bang Tao Beach will once again be adorned with party- goers beautified in white clothing (as is the…

  • Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 Premium with ultra-high sensitivity dual camera | Thaiger

    Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 Premium with ultra-high sensitivity dual camera

    ADVERTISEMENT Sony Thailand steps up its game with new smartphones introduced to compete offerings from some of the Chinese companies as well as Samsung and Apple. Sony have announced the new XZ2 Premium, which has one of the most remarkable cameras ever integrated into a smartphone. The new phone boasts the world’s highest ISO 12800 sensitivity for video recording in…

  • Now everyone can fly – from CNX to Hanoi | Thaiger

    Now everyone can fly – from CNX to Hanoi

    It’s getting easier and easier to get around the region with new start-ups opening up the skies and current operators always introducing new routes. Now, the people that brought us the slogan “now Everyone Can Fly”, Air Asia, is launched four direct flights a week between Chiang Mai and Hanoi, Vietnam’s northern capital. The Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday flights start…

  • Kata Rocks welcomes its new General Manager | Thaiger

    Kata Rocks welcomes its new General Manager

    Ms Somjai Tungkoo, new General Manager of Kata Rocks Infinite Luxury is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms Somjai Tungkoo as General Manager of Kata Rocks, its award-winning resort in Phuket, Thailand. Somjai has more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. She began her career in Phuket, Thailand as a Human Resources Coordinator at the Cape Panwa…

  • Thavorn Hotels & Resorts receives Thailand MICE Venue Standard Award | Thaiger

    Thavorn Hotels & Resorts receives Thailand MICE Venue Standard Award

    Thavorn Hotels & Resorts is proud to announce its certification of Thailand MICE Venue Standard (TMVS) by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB). The certification assesses venues in three key areas – physical, technological, and service requirements. Certified venues appear on an Approved List and are publicised worldwide as venues that meet international standards. MICE – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and…

  • Peaceful Pattani – the other side of the southern province | Thaiger

    Peaceful Pattani – the other side of the southern province

    By Pattarawadee Saengmanee, The Nation Weekend The former capital of the ancient Langkasuka Kingdom, Pattani province in Thailand’s far south has traditionally been feted for its multiculturalism, though sadly the ongoing violence has kept it well off the tourist map for more than a decade. But his southern province bordered by Narathiwat, Yala, and Songkhla has plenty to offer the…

  • Are huge LED screens coming to your cinemas? | Thaiger

    Are huge LED screens coming to your cinemas?

    First there was celluloid film, then digital projection. Now cinemas are toying with using giant LED screen technology. Ben Hobbs from H3-digital.com reports on the emerging cinema technology… If you go to the cinema, today, anywhere in the world to watch a movie – you will be watching a projected image, shone onto a white (or grey) screen. It’s been…

  • Deadly link: Puppy factories and rabies | Thaiger

    Deadly link: Puppy factories and rabies

    (12 minute read) A media release from soidog.org The panic over rabies that erupted at the beginning of this year seems to have died down. Fourteen people have died; dozens of dogs were poisoned and thousands more died after being incarcerated in government pounds as officials across the country stumbled to stamp out the spread of the disease. Yet absolutely nothing…

  • Toon’s back on the road, this time with his band | Thaiger

    Toon’s back on the road, this time with his band

    By Mr Badboy Remember Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai and his epic run – south to north of Thailand to raise money for the country’s public hospitals? Well he’s had a well deserved rest and now getting back on the road, this time with his band ‘Bodyslam’ for a tour of 15 University campuses. The band, one of Thailand’s most popular, is…

  • What a difference an airport could make | Thaiger

    What a difference an airport could make

    Phuket’s Northern neighbour Phang Nga, and its key tourism magnet of Khao Lak, is seeing increasingly broader demand. One clear sign of the times is the new international offerings in the current pipeline including such brands as Sheraton, Holiday Inn and Avani. And a new airport to service the area as well. Read more about the confirmed new Phang Nga airport HERE.…

  • 5 property checks buyers mysteriously overlook in Thailand | Thaiger

    5 property checks buyers mysteriously overlook in Thailand

    by Desmond Hughes In many countries, once a decision to purchase a property has been made, a deposit paid, the parties should be able to sit back and handover legal matters to their lawyers, and concentrate on admittedly stressful practical matters such as furniture removal, checking boilers / heating / air conditioning systems and often working through a ‘chain’ of…

  • Kathu Culture Street Festival until Sunday night | Thaiger

    Kathu Culture Street Festival until Sunday night

    The tenth annual Kathu Culture Street Festival is on until Sunday night (July 29) and is being held on Wichit Songkhram Road, showcasing the cultural heritage of one of Phuket’s oldest and most vibrant communities. Vice Governor Snith says, “this is the second time that I am taking part in the Kathu Culture Street Festival. The festival is important to…

  • Great southern comforts – Narathiwat | Thaiger

    Great southern comforts – Narathiwat

    by Pattarawadee Saengmanee The southern province of Narathiwat is a great place to chill, unspoilt by mass tourism and full of southern surprises. Narathiwat shares a border with Malaysia. A stone’s throw from the Narathiwat airport are the white sands of Ban Ton Beach where I stretch out while my media friends tuck into a Southern-style lunch in Chulabhorn marine camp’s…

  • Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort – focussing on family fun | Thaiger

    Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort – focussing on family fun

    Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is inviting families with kids of all ages to enjoy the ultimate island experience with comfortable family bungalows, child-friendly facilities and features, all set within 70 tranquil acres of beachfront beauty. Offering stunning seaside stays for the whole family, Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort boasts two freeform infinity pools overlooking the white-sand beach…

  • Singapore Airlines back on top. Thai Airways in 10th place. | Thaiger

    Singapore Airlines back on top. Thai Airways in 10th place.

    PHOTO: Flyer Talk Singapore Airlines is back on top after a decade held out of the top airline position by middle-eastern competition. It’s their fourth win since the Skytrax World Airline awards started back in 2001. The island nation’s national carrier was named Airline of the Year at the 2018 Skytrax World Airline awards. Singapore Airlines was last top of the…

  • Water Park Wars – Phuket wettest battlefield | Thaiger

    Water Park Wars – Phuket wettest battlefield

    by Xinyi Liang-Pholsena of ttgasia.com ttgasia.com is reporting that the water park battle in Phuket is getting very intense as new players enter the marketplace. Among them Blue Tree Phuket, poised to open its doors early 2019 as an upscale family entertainment and lifestyle complex. The sprawling 22.5ha development, located around Cherngtalay, is the result of a joint venture comprising…

  • Government set to ban trans fats | Thaiger

    Government set to ban trans fats

    The Public Health Ministry is poised to ban the production, import and distribution of food containing trans fat. Trans fat, also called trans-unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, are a type of unsaturated fat that occur in small amounts in nature but became widely produced industrially from vegetable fats starting in the 1950s for use in margarine, snack food,…

  • Thais travel more, but not too long – Visa | Thaiger

    Thais travel more, but not too long – Visa

    Thais travel more on average than any other nationality, according to Visa’s Global Travel Intentions Study. Suripong Tantiyanon of Visa Thailand says the study also reveals that people are travelling more, but their trips are getting shorter. Thais are expected to leapfrog ahead of other nationalities in the number of vacation trips they take each year – with 3.9 trips…