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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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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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…
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Toon’s back on the road again
“The director admits there were many times when he was sure Toon couldn’t possibly finish his mission.” A documentary comes out next month and follows the epic run led by Athiwara ‘Toon’ Khongmalai when he ran Thailand – south to north – to raise funds for Thailand’s public hospitals. The trials, tribulations and triumphs captured on 16,300 minutes of footage…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Goodbye e-commerce, hello ‘new retail’
PHOTOS: Alibaba Group Our lifestyles are quickly evolving as the digital age kills off the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ inexorably creeps in to our daily life. Goodby Kodak and Polaroid – hello smartphone cameras and Facebook. Goodbye newspapers – hello instant news websites, blogs and live-streaming. The same is happening to retail as the shopfront moves to websites and screens…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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TECNO hit the smartphone sweet spot
PRESS RELEASE Leading Chinese smartphone brand, TECNO Mobile, is experiencing exponential growth in Thailand on the back of success with its Camon CM and SPARK CM models which have proven a big hit with Millennials due in large part to their mid-market price point and use of the latest state-of-the-art technologies. “The Camon CM and SPARK CM are the first…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Event Round-Up with The Sponsorship Experts – August 2018
by Paul Poole The running craze continues in August with races held throughout the country. The month starts off with Bangkok Airways Phuket Marathon 2018 on August 5 where runners can choose between three distances, 21, 10 and five kilometres, and CIMB Thai Triathlon for ASEAN Day 2018, also on August 5. Perfect for beginners, the event allows participants to…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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Same-sex civil union bill ready for Cabinet in two months
A same-sex civil partnership law should be drafted and discussed before next year’s elections. Pitikarn Sitthidech, the Rights and Liberties Protection Department chief, saystThe law, allowing same-sex couples to formally register as life partners, should be drafted by September. It would then be submitted to Deputy PM and Justice Minister ACM Prajin Juntong, who would decide whether it should go to…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Pavilions Hotels & Resorts announce two important acquisitions
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts has made two important appointments as it continues to expand its portfolio and strengthen its management team. Scot Toon takes on a new role as the company’s Managing Director, Asia while Tim Sargeant becomes the Director of Marketing for The Pavilions Phuket. Both are highly skilled and experienced hospitality professionals who join The Pavilions Hotels…
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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,…
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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…
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Habitat Group launches three projects valued at 3 billion baht
Habitat Group is poised to launch three new projects with a total value of 3 billion baht in the second half of 2018. Recognising the growing trend of buying properties for investment, the company reveals this sector is growing 10-20% per year and foreigners looking to invest in property assets are making up a increasing part of that growth each…
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The ‘Sano-Tik’ collection – Phuket’s unique batik
Phuket has introduced a new, unique style of ‘Batik’ cloth called ‘Sano-Tik’ collection, inspired by the mineral, tin, an important resource in Phuket’s early days. The project’s opening ceremony was hosted by the Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and Chief of Community Development Office Kittipon Wetchakun. The ceremony was held at Merlin Hotel. Governor Norrapahat says, “We have introduced a unique…
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National: July event round-up
By Paul Poole The running season is picking up pace (pun intended) in July with several races taking place around the country. The Sahaviriya-Bangkok Triathlon 2018 is back on July 7-8 after two years hiatus. The ultimate Bangkok race, it takes participants through a gruelling swim in the Chao Phraya river, a bike ride through the city’s back alleys and…
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Alpine tourism ignites billion dollar resort property market
by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com Niseko visitor numbers continue to climb on the back of a sharp increase in airlift. Tourism arrivals to Asia’s leading alpine destination, Niseko, rose 17% year-on-year in 2017 and bumped up a 5-year growth spree with an impressive 16% compound annual growth rate. One clear sign of market maturation is a push to a year-round…
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10,000 runners expected for this year’s Pattaya Marathon
A major international sporting date in Thailand’s calendar of festivals and events is the Pattaya Marathon, and 2018 marks the 27th edition of this popular race with organisers expecting 10,000 runners from around the world. The event is being held on July 15. The ‘Pattaya Marathon 2018’ race route is designed to impress both participants and spectators. It begins at Central…
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The first Leopard 50 arrives in Phuket in July
By Joe Lim/luxuo.com The first Leopard 50 has arrived in Asia, and a special partnership event between Yacht Style Magazine and Lux Inc Media will be held at Ao Po Grand Marina from July 7-8. Since the launch of the Leopard 50 at the Miami International Boat Show, she has proven to be one of the most successful products launched by…
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