Famous for its fragrant dishes and massages, the country itself offers a beautiful setting of Buddhist temples, royal palaces, ancient ruins and tropical beaches.
The Kingdom of Thailand is often referred to as the ‘The Land of Smiles’ as its inhabitants are quick to greet those they meet with a warm and welcoming beam. Interestingly, it’s the only Southeast Asian country that has never been colonised by a European country and attracts large numbers of tourists. Micah Tamthai, vice president, real estate, for Minor International (MINT), says,
“The luxury property in Phuket is quite stable and there are limited supplies of high-end property. Furthermore, the economy has not much impacted to the demand. Our buyers are mostly from word-of-mouth, from the existing buyers to their friends and family.
“We continue to have confidence in Thailand’s hospitality industry and overall investment environment and do not see any long-term negative impact. Statistics have shown that visitors continue to visit Thailand and we remain very positive about the steady increase in arrivals in the future as Thailand is undoubtedly one of the most attractive destinations in the world. Further, Thailand has always proved itself to be resilient and continued strong economy, stock market and demand for our real estate is testament to that.”
So where do people tend to visit before deciding to make Thailand their second or permanent home?
“Brits often choose Phuket and Koh Samui as holiday destinations or many of them simply move permanently on the basis of their retirement visa,”
explains Lyudmila Ivanova from IVL Property, a Tranio.com partner.
“The most popular locations in Phuket are Kamala, Karon, Rawai, Nai Harn (they are not as noisy as Patong). On Samui island a popular place to go is Choeng Mon because of the good infrastructure and excellent beaches.”
The Residences by Anantara, Phuket (Above)
The first Anantara residential development in Thailand offers 15 villas overlooking Layan Beach on the northwest coast of Phuket. They range from three to nine bedrooms, each with a private, 21-metre infinity pool and provide an unobstructed 180-degree view overlooking the Andaman Sea. The Residences are expansive, varying in size from 1,695 to 3,195m2, and owners and their guests will have access to the amenities and services offered by the adjacent Anantara Layan Phuket Resort. These include outstanding culinary experiences, an Anantara Spa, two swimming pools, a gym and boutique; along with exclusive owner’s only services such as in-residence dining and spa treatments.
From £5.42m / €6.7m / $7m
Minor International
www.minorinternational.com
Baan Mai Khao, Phuket
Covering over five acres of land, this low-rise condominium development includes 70 metres of beach frontage. Properties range from one, two and three-bedroom units with a corresponding number of bathrooms to two-bedroom, three bathroom duplexes and stunning penthouses. Just 15 minutes from Phuket International Airport, Baan Mai Khao offers a whole host of facilities and services. These include three swimming pools, landscaped recreational areas, fully equipped fitness room and a 24-hour concierge service.
From £246,000 / €284,500 / $317,800
Sansiri
www.sansiri.com
Doozie Villa, Koh Samui
Built over three levels, the first floor of this villa consists of the main living area furnished with huge sliding glass walls on the front and back for superb sea views over the pool deck. Its state-of-the-art open kitchen is separated from the living area by a large cooking island. Three bedrooms on the second floor are air-conditioned and feature sliding glass walls that open on to a balcony overlooking the idyllic seascape. The master bedroom has a large en suite bathroom with a Jacuzzi and separate rain shower. The remaining two double bedrooms share a bathroom. Additionally, beneath the main living area is a self-contained studio apartment with a fully equipped kitchen and living area.
£542,500 / €627,275 / $700,500
IVL Property
www.ivlproperty.com
Relax-
Bringing together Western practices and Eastern philosophies in a destination resort, Chiva-Som provides services for guests to develop healthy habits and lifestyle transformation. The health resort is Asia’s first comprehensive wellness retreat and destination spa and set in seven acres of tranquil, beachfront grounds. Chiva-Som’s personalised services include spa cuisine, consultation, one-stop health and wellness facilities and a menu of over 200 fitness, physiotherapy, holistic, medi-spa and spa therapies aimed to help guests restore, rejuvenate and redirect. Ever in tune with guests’ requirements and with the benefit of 21 years in operation, Chiva-Som’s ‘retreat’ concept now offers 13 collections of treatments and therapies with specific health objectives. These give guests a foundation on which to build a personalised programme. The five new retreats require 10 nights’ minimum length of stay and have been developed in response to patterns in the requirements of guests, with increasing numbers looking for support for certain conditions. With wellness and longevity at their core, the programmes support treatment of specific conditions including cancer (Cell Vitality), migraines (Cranial Relief) and high blood pressure (Tension Release), as well as assisting in the management of stress (Emotional Wellbeing) and excess body weight (Sustainable Slimming).
www.chivasom.com
