As well as the nationally broadcasted Thai language television channels, there is TrueVisions which is Thailand’s leading cable and satellite television provider with over 100 channels in its top package including HD channels. Channels cover a wide range of programming including movies, international sports, news, cartoons and children’s programmes.

There are also local cable companies that provide a smaller selection of channels with various English language programmes including a few English language movie and news channels. Some also provide channels in other languages such as French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Chinese.

There are many organisations conducting fundraising and charity work based in Phuket. If you would like to get involved by volunteering or by donating funds, click on the links below to view their contact details.

There are many associations and clubs founded by locals and expatriates in Phuket ranging from business associations to sporting clubs. Many are open to anyone wishing to join and can be a great way to meet others who share similar interests.

There are two government universities in Phuket: Prince of Songkhla University and Rajabhat University, both with undergraduate and graduate programmes. Phuket also has a number of colleges offering technical courses and vocational training.

Prince of Songkhla University has international programmes in Hotel and Tourism Management, International Business in China and Chinese Studies. There is also an English-language MBA programme.

Phuket has a few delicatessens where you can find imported cheeses, cold cuts and other prepared foods that are not always easy to get hold of in Thailand.

Increasingly deli products are also being sold in the large supermarkets such as Tops, Tesco Lotus and Villa Market.

There is an abundance of dental clinics in Phuket. Most of the dentists and clinic staff will be able to speak some English. However, if you are having something more serious done and you’re not sure which dentist to pick, you should probably head for either one of Bangkok Phuket Hospital or Phuket International Hospital. They have a lot of experience in dealing with foreign patients and generally are better equipped than the small clinics.

Cosmetic dentistry such as veneers, whitening, inlay and onlay are also available for a fraction of the cost you would pay at home with the same level of expertise, equipment and care.

Typical Costs

Cleaning and polishing: 800 – 1,000 Baht
1 Filling with white composite: 900 – 1,500 Baht
Simple tooth extraction: 1,000 – 2,000 Baht
Tooth whitening: 8,000 – 12,000 Baht
Root canal: from 8,000 Baht

Most gyms in Phuket allow you to pay per visit or join as a member with either monthly or annual memberships. For memberships there is normally a one-time joining fee.

The larger gyms and fitness centres are found in a few of the large hotels on the island. Many of these are open to local residences as well as the hotel’s own guests.

There are also several public gyms in Phuket City, located at Rama 9 Park, Surakul Stadium and Saphan Hin Park. These are very cheap at around 20 baht per day but the equipment is fairly basic.

There are also Thai Boxing gyms in Phuket that welcome those who wish to learn the art of Muay Thai and get a great workout at the same time.

Internet access in Phuket has improved by leaps and bounds over the last few years and is now fairly fast, reliable and reasonably-priced. The various options available in Phuket can be summarised as follows:

1. ADSL
2. Fiber Optic
3. Cable Broadband
4. Leased Line
5. 3G, EDGE and GPRS
6. Wireless
7. Satellite

ADSL Broadband

To be able to use ADSL, you must be in an area that has ADSL coverage. You also need to sign up with an ISP which offers ADSL and buy or rent an ADSL modem. Connection speeds vary from 256kbps to 12Mbps downstream.

You tend to get what you pay for, so a 10Mbps ADSL connection which costs 1,000 Baht with one ISP, might work out the same or slower than a 256kbps connection that costs about the same. This can be due to a number of factors, though contention ratios are probably the most significant. Contention ratios is the ratio of the number of users who are on the same line and share the available network bandwidth. So if you have a high contention ratio you could end up with a very slow connection, if a lot of users are online at the same time.

Fibre Optic

Offered by TOT and True in many parts of the island, Fibre Optic promises speeds of up to 100Mps although this is probably a little optimistic.

Cable Internet

A few of the local cable TV operators also provide internet access on their coaxial network.

Leased Line

This is normally only a viable option for businesses as it is rather expensive and unnecessary for home users. The advantages of a leased line are that you don’t share your connection with anyone else and therefore get a guaranteed bandwidth. You also get a static IP (Internet Protocol) Address, which is necessary if you want to host your own server. Most of the major ISPs offer leased lines, though as with ADSL, location may be a limiting factor in availability.

3G, EDGE and GPRS

If you live in an area where its difficult to get a telephone line you might want to consider using a mobile phone or USB dongle (occasionally referred to as an “aircard”) with a SIM card to connect to the internet. With the arrival of 3G in Phuket, speeds of up to 6Mps are obtainable although factors such as signal strength also come into play. Both pre-paid and monthly subscriptions are available.

Wireless Broadband

This is available in a few different flavours such as TOT’s Airmax or WiNet, which provides a WiFi signal over a wide area, or in the form of hotspots dotted around the island provided by TOT or 3BB. Access to the hotspots can be obtained by purchasing pre-paid cards from 7-Eleven.

Satellite

The main advantage of satellite broadband is that because you connect via satellite you are not limited by geographical constraints. Satellite Internet would only be worth considering if you live in an area without wired Internet access (ADSL, Fibre Optic etc.) and no 3G signal. The downside is that its not cheap, relatively slow and can be unreliable.

There are several pet shops in Phuket which supply pet food, kennels and accessories. A few also provide baths, grooming, spa and salon services for your pets. There are a few dog kennels breeding quality dogs and puppies for sale and also an international dog school with multilingual training.

Smaller pets such as hamsters, rabbits and reptiles are also available. As well as the pet shops, these can be found at various flea markets.

Dog & Cat Care

If you have long-haired dogs or cats you need to keep them in air-conditioning a lot of the time. They can become unhealthy and lethargic if kept in the heat. They will also most likely develop heat rashes. Ticks and fleas can also be a problem in Thailand so you should visit a vet to get your pets treated.

Maids can be a great help in taking care of your pets. However, when hiring you should make sure that the maid likes animals and is comfortable taking care of them.

Bringing Pets to Thailand

Before considering bringing pets to Thailand be aware that rabies is prevalent in Thailand. If you intend to bring a pet, you must have it vaccinated against rabies prior to departure. Contact the Royal Thai Embassy or consulate in your country for up-to-date information on quarantine regulations.

An entry permit for animals arriving in Thailand by air can be obtained at the airport on arrival. Bring your pets as excess baggage on the same flight as yourself. Thai authorities may quarantine the animal for a period of time, which will be at your expense. Please note that if you wish to take a pet home again many countries will require a lengthy period of quarantine, or may not allow the pet to enter directly from Thailand.

For more information on importing pets into Thailand take a look at the Department of Livestock’s website.

There are now quite a few language schools on the island, catering not only to locals who wish to learn English or another foreign language, but also to foreigners wanting to learn Thai.

Certainly, if you plan to be in Thailand for an extended period of time, or you plan to work here, being able to communicate in Thai will make your stay easier and more enjoyable.

Many language schools are also on the lookout to hire native speakers as teachers, particularly those with teaching certificates such as TEFL or TESOL. (See Teaching English).