Frequently asked Questions (and some you’ll
wish you had)
Is Thailand a safe country?
Absolutely. The country is now run by a democratically elected
political party that is well aware of the value of property investment
and tourism. Thailand is and always has been the most stable country
in South East Asia. There is a current ongoing political struggle
between the government and the provinces on the Malaysian border,
however that is an entirely local matter and is on the other side
of the country seven or eight hours away.
How do I get to Krabi?
Krabi has the newest and best regional airport in Thailand, you
can get flights from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and some
other international destinations.
The cost to fly from Bangkok ranges from about 1200baht to 5000baht
depending on airline and time. Air Asia is a low cost airline
who charge depending on demand so if you are flexible it is usually
possible to get a flight at the lower end of that scale.
The airport itself is about 8km from Krabi town and about 25km
from Krabi Horizon.
What is Krabi Town like?
Krabi Town is a small charming provincial town. It is now expanding
quickly and in the last year has seen a new Tesco shopping complex
and a Makro which both have a good selection of goods catering
for a western market. There is also a Big C shopping centre opening
soon. The town also has a good selection of restaurants both Thai
and western and several live music venues, clubs and entertainment
spots.
What does it cost to live in Thailand?
Petrol is half the price of the UK with a litre costing around
35thb and a bottle of beer costs around 35baht. Fresh meat, fruit
and vegetables are very reasonable compared to any western country.
There is a fresh food market every day within the Ao Nang area.
A meal in a restaurant can range from 50baht for a very nice fried
rice to 500baht for an imported steak in a high class restaurant.
What about medical Facilities?
Ao Nang and Krabi Town have several medical and dental practices
that have English speaking staff and are reputed to have a high
level of service. These are all within a km or so of Krabi Horizon.
For any minor ailments or for ongoing checks and treatment they
are perfectly adequate. For anything more serious you should expect
a trip to one of the major international hospitals in Phuket (a
trip of about two and a half hours). The service in these hospitals
is world class and the rates are very reasonable, in fact people
fly in from all over the world just to use their services.
Krabi itself does have a hospital, however, it is a local hospital
and English speakers are limited. There is talk that an international
hospital is planned for Krabi.
And what about a round of golf?
There is one 18 hole golf course near in Krabi called Pakasai
Golf course. It’s approximately 40km from Ao Nang itself
and costs 2500 baht for a round, including caddy fees, driving
range warm-up and transport to and from the course.
There is also a small golf driving range a couple of km just
outside Krabi Town.
There is also a Colin Montgomery designed golf course under construction
in the province. This will be an international standard course
with a large part of it literally next to the beach. Completion
will be in a couple of years.
Why Krabi and not Phuket?
Very good question. This really depends on your point of view,
if you are the sort of person who enjoys jetskiing all day and
a night trawling busy bars, then to be honest, Phuket is probably
going to suit you better than Krabi.
If however you like uncrowded beaches, clean water and air, then
Krabi is the place for you. Jet ski’s, banana boats, sun
loungers on the beach are completely banned and the local government
is keen to promote sustainable development. The cost of living
is also considerably cheaper than in Phuket or Samui.
What about infrastructure, is it easy to get around?
Krabi has an almost entirely new road network linking all the
tourist spots. There is also a network of smaller local roads
which are great fun to cruise around if you have your own vehicle
or cycle. Krabi has also been tipped to be one of the future sailing
and marine centres for the whole of Asia due to its ideal position
and availability of Krabi’s deep sea port. There are several
Marinas that have been approved and will soon begin construction.
Do I have to learn Thai?
Being in a tourist area the level of English is very good. Thai
people do appreciate it when an effort is made to speak their
language but it is very easy to get around without. If you plan
to stay for a long time, then learning to speak some of the language
will undoubtedly give you a fuller experience and there are language
schools and private teachers who can help.
Can I get a driving license?
Thailand accepts most worldwide driving licences but if you are
staying long term then it is advisable to get a Thai driving licence
which can also be used as an identity card when opening bank accounts
or in many other situations. The process is quite simple. You
can either get a notarised translation of your foreign driving
license and take this to the Transport department and then just
take the written part of the test (in English), or without the
translation you can take the very simple driving test and written
part. The whole process can easily be completed in a day. Our
Management service will be able to give you all the details.
Can I own a car in my name?
Yes, the official regulations say that even on a tourist visa,
a foreigner can own a car in their own name as long as they have
an address that has been verified by their Embassy. If you are
on any type of non-immigrant visa then this will be very easy.
If you are on a tourist visa, depending on the Department of Transport
that you visit, you may find that the officer you speak to is
unaware of this in which case it is worth getting some advice
first about how best to register your car. Our Management service
will be able to advise and help you.
OK, So I think I want to buy a villa, so…
How long would I have to wait for my house?
From the date of paying a deposit, it takes approximately 9-10
months
to complete your villa. This timescale will depend on your exact
specifications. There will be a building schedule that you can
be assured will be strictly adhered to.
How can I be sure that you will do what you say you will?
After an initial deposit payment, the remainder will be paid in
stages so you can be assured that you only pay us for what we
have actually done. The contract will be very specific as to what
these stages are and what will happen if either the buyer or the
developer does not perform.
How much inconvenience will there be while other villas
are being built and mine is complete?
Before beginning the villa construction, all infrastructure and
communal areas will have been completed. We will make every effort
to minimise any inconvenience caused by construction of other
villas on the development. With being a small development of only
ten villas, the development process should not be too long.
How can I be assured of quality construction?
From the moment you sign the contract we will stay in constant
touch with you regarding the construction. If you are not in the
country we will send you pictures and updates at regular intervals
and involve you as much as you like in the choice of materials.
If you would like, we will be quite happy for an independent inspector
to make inspections at critical times.
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