Phuket Villa Rental - How To Find Picturesque Rentals

Going to Phuket in Thailand for a grand vacation is a sure worthwhile way to spend the holidays or a break from work or from school. Going to the beautiful and very refreshing beaches of the area would surely help significantly reduce if not totally eliminate any stress and weariness you may feel physically, mentally and emotionally. Your getaway would be made more enjoyable and more relaxing if you would be able to secure a Phuket villa rental. Doing so has been known as one of the simple means for any vacationer to truly enjoy hanging out in the province.

For sure, you are excited about your stay in any of the villa rentals around the area. You would find that any Phuket villa rental available is cozy and is totally offering comfortable and luxurious living conditions. Thus, it would be helpful if you are totally informed about the factors and services you could expect from any good villa rental. Most of the rentals in Phuket are offering standard services and amenities. Thus, you could always be sure you would get the best around.

Location and ownership

The first basic and attractive characteristic of a Phuket villa rental is its exquisite and strategic location. Property developers and owners know that villas made and operated for tourists and vacationers should be located in the beach and seaside sites. Proximity to seashores and beaches would enable you more to enjoy the scene and the sites in the area.

Luxury villas in Phuket are almost always privately owned. Because of this, you could be sure the villas would be able to offer and provide you with the best and most attractive deals possible. Price tags are normally quite expensive but if you would be resourceful and strategic enough, you would be certainly be able to secure significant discounts. Doing a comparison shopping for villa rentals would also enable you to find the Phuket villa rental offering the best, most reasonable and most affordable packages.

Amenities and services

Usually, villa rentals in the area are offering two or more bedrooms so that you and your family, friends or officemates would surely fit in the accommodation. The villas have comfortable and really useful amenities, making you feel more at home while you spend your vacation in the beautiful Thai province. Common accommodation amenities like dining areas, pools and Jacuzzi as well as basic vacation services like relaxation therapies and massage are offered to vacationers at good prices.

What are you waiting for? It is about time you contact your travel agent for a Phuket villa rental. Make your break a memorable and exquisite one for you to enjoy. For sure, by the time you go back to work, you would truly be refreshed.

Find the lovely vacation rentals in Florence Italy by visiting http://www.vacationhomerentalsguide.com, a popular vacation home website shows where to find quaint St. John villa rentals.

The Five Most Costly Mistakes You Can Make on Your Trip to the Thailand Islands : How to Avoid Them

Southern Thailand islands also known as the "Paradise" Islands are among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. More than 12,000,000 tourists have visited Thailand in 2005, and the majority of them had left the Bangkok International Airport immediately after their arrival and headed straight to the Southern Islands. Some of the visitors were fascinated by the stories of people who were caught in the charms of the unforgettable ambience of the islands, some of them were taken by images they saw on the web, while others were convinced as per the words of their travel agent that the Thai Islands were indeed the ultimate tourist destination that fits every taste, age, budget and personality type. This can partly explain the massive flow of honeymooners, backpackers, families-on-vacation, partygoers, divers and many others to the Thai Islands every year.

However, the inexperienced Thailand traveler may be unconscious to the fact that a satisfying vacation is not a surefire thing even in a place nick named Island Paradise. In order to be successful, enjoyable and fulfilling, your vacation must be thoroughly planned. Unfamiliar destinations often hide little unknown secrets, which hold the enormous potential to make the desired positive change in your vacation.

This article will discuss the biggest mistakes you can make prior and during your visit to the Thai Islands. Adhering to or ignoring the five amendments below can literally make or break your vacation in the Southern Thailand Islands.

1. Mistake 1: choosing your vacation island spontaneously. Web pictures of tropical islands often make them look almost identical. The inexperienced traveler is likely to assume that no matter where you go in Southern Thailand Islands - you will bump into the same picturesque beach with white sands, turquoise water and a single coconut tree. Falling into the illusion of images while choosing your vacation island out of pure impulse can be a very disappointing experience in case the final destination island does not meet your needs, your personality or expectations at all. To avoid this mistake, define your preferences before hand, make a dedicated research prior to choosing your destination by gathering the relevant information using guidebooks in addition to using the Internet. As you choose the island that fits your needs, pay close attention to the following points:

a. The level of tourist development. Some travelers like their islands loaded with tourist facilities (i. e. Phuket, Koh Samui), whereas others prefer the classic touch "old school" isolated touch (i. e. Koh Phangan, Khao Lak).

b. Nightlife - Phuket, Koh Samui and at lesser extent Krabi offer a thriving nightlife, whereas Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao are quiet and drowsy.

c. Diving sites - Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao offer the best diving sites in Southern Thailand.

d. The prevalent level of accommodation. Phuket and Koh Phi Phi offer a immense variety of luxury hotels, while Koh Phangan and Koh Tao offer mostly basic (not necessary low standard) accommodation.

2. Mistake 2: Assuming that a great vacation can be carried out at a very low budget. Some travelers tend to wrongly assume, that Thailand being a country with developing economy will provide everything including a high standard hospitalization in ridiculously cheap prices. This is partially right, since the local tourism industry suggests an inexpensive travel opportunities to backpackers. However, the spoiled tourist who is used to savor on luxury westernized accommodation will find out the hard way that in order to meet his or her traveling expectations the expenses are appropriate to what is offered. To avoid this mistake and eliminate serious deviations from the planned budget - make your research to learn about price gaps in Southern Thailand Islands. For instance, one should know that staying in some islands (i. e. Koh Phi Phi) is expected to be more expensive, while staying in other islands (i. e. Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) can be significantly cheaper. To avoid any disappointments related to over expenses, I recommend adhering to the following guidelines:

a. Avoid planning a budget on the basis of someone else's estimations, especially if that person visited the Thai Islands many years ago; spent the vacation in another island than the one you chose; much younger than yourself/ or prefers a different life standard.

b. Make an informed decision regarding the desired level of accommodation. The basic accommodation that includes a clean air-conditioned room and western style bathroom can be booked on relatively low, albeit not ridiculous, price. Contrary to that, a luxury accommodation (that kind of accommodation is quite common in Phuket and Koh Samui) may be almost as expensive as the hotels in your neighboring country.

c. Although checking the room rates is possible using the Internet - the prices of meals should be carefully checked as well. Don't assume that no matter where you eat - the meal will be cheap. During my first visit to Thailand, I was very surprised to receive a check of the same value as in my home country. Now I know, that the Southern Thailand Islands offer a myriad of western style restaurants with western style prices. Therefore, before you enter a well-designed restaurant - check the menu and make clear budget estimation.

3. Mistake 3: choosing your vacation beach spontaneously. This is similar to mistake number one - but probably easier to correct, because checking other beaches on the destination is easier logistically and cheaper than checking other islands. However, the "wrong" beach choice can make you feel that you haven't exploited the full potential of your vacation, or that you have wasted significant part of it. For instance, during my first visit in Koh Phangan I found out two days before the end of my vacation, that my "perfect" beach is located on the other side of the island. The following tips can help you avoid a similar situation:

a. The most developed and crowdie beaches on most islands are located in proximity to the airport (in case there is an airport in your island) or to one of the main seaports.

b. In case you prefer the above type of beaches - be aware of the fact that some of them, especially in Koh Samui and Phuket, are not family friendly.

c. The old school quiet and picturesque beaches are always on the other side of the island. If the "old school" beach is what you are looking for - don't give up even if the way to Thailand was long and exhausting, and try to make a small effort to cross the island on your way to the opposite side; it will be well worth your while.

4. Mistake 4: insisting on Westernized food. Some of us tend to worry about experimenting with an unfamiliar food. The Thai tourist industry is aware of this fact; therefore the supply of Western style restaurants in Southern Thailand Islands is huge. Having said that, limiting yourself to these restaurants could be a huge mistake, since the prices for western cuisine are much higher compared to the ones in authentic local restaurants; and even worse- you miss out on one of the most important experiences of the Thai culture - the superior Thai cuisine, probably one of the best in the world. To avoid this mistake, don't hesitate entering small restaurants with ridiculously neglected interior design, plastic maps and un-plastered walls. These restaurants' owners are probably the worst marketers - but usually are superior cooks. Your meal in one of these restaurants will often be unbelievably cheap, tasty and mostly made of fresh sizzling ingredients. You will fantasize about these meals long after you have left the island.

5. Mistake 5: To take your big business suitcase to an island that could be only accessed by sea. A big suitcase is of course very convenient [in Europe]: using it, you can pack everything you need; it can be carried easily thanks to those little wheels; and it makes you look very representative. However, taking a big suitcase to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao is not something I would recommend. The platforms in the piers are extremely narrow and occasionally unstable. So if you're really lucky - your big suitcase will be safe. If you're a little bit less lucky - it can fall into the water. If you ran out of luck - you can fall into the water together with your suitcase. I seriously think a back bag would be your best bet. Just for the record, the huge suitcase that was taken by yours truly to her first trip to Koh Phangan was left somewhere in the jungle to frighten local monkeys.

So, on the next time the idea of heading the Thailand Islands crosses your mind, as tempting as it may be, try not to succumb to rumors and fascinating imagery. A thorough research and planning ahead may take some time and effort on your side, but it will be more than worth your while.

Independent researcher, MA in anthropology, and travel enthusiast Ella Evans has spend more than a decade exploring Thailand focusing on the Southern Islands. The fruits of her labor can be found in the Koh Phangan Experience Website: a comprehensive travel guide to Koh Phangan, Thailand, which includes information articles, tips, advice and a message board. To visit Koh Phangan Experience Guide, click here: http://kohphangan.eternaltravel.net/

What Exactly Is a "Day Spa Vacation?"

How do you take a "Day Spa Vacation?" I mean, isn't a day spa a place you go to for a quick massage or facial?

Well, yes and no. While they are designed to provide services in a relatively short time frame (full or half-day treatments with no overnight accommodations), there's a lot more to day spas than just facials and massages. You can, of course, find a beauty day spa almost anywhere; but there are also medical day spas that offer healing treatments without a huge time commitment.

Of course, you can enjoy an afternoon treatment at a facility in your home town; but you can also devise your own spa vacation by incorporating local spas into your vacation plans. You don't need to stay at an upscale resort with spa facilities, or spend a week focusing on health and wellness at a destination spa. Whether your vacation takes you to Hawaii or Miami, London or Tokyo, there are local spas you can enjoy during your trip.

And what a great way to try out new techniques! If you're going to Hawaii, try a lomi lomi massage, a local "specialty", or a real Thai massage in Bangkok or Phuket. You can have several treatments on a single day and enjoy a real "spa day" during your trip, or hit the spa more than once. Try a different spa each day to really get a varied experience! Or go to the same local spa for different treatments - a massage one day, a facial another.

Many spas in tropical destinations have treatments for sunburn - just the thing if you've overindulged in outdoor activities and want to avoid parched, peeling skin. And you can enjoy a massage on the beach at a day spa, too! Your vacation may be active and sporty, or just relaxing on the beach - but add a massage or body treatment, and you have a Day Spa Vacation!

As a former travel agent, I have traveled extensively throughout the US, as well as Asia. My favorite destination is Hawaii! I focus on the travel interests of women - cooking trips, spas, sightseeing, river cruises - and always travel with my sisters. You can visit me at Great Spa Vacations

10 Movie Locations You Can Visit on Holiday

Seeing these epic locations in the flesh is an enthralling prospect. Here are 10 of the best movie locations to visit on holiday.

Guatemala: as seen in Star Wars

George Lucas' space opera created heroes Luke, Han and Leia around planets in galaxies far away. The movie was majorly shot in California and the amazing setting of the Mayan ruins in Tikal, Guatemala provided the backdrop for the Rebel base in the fourth moon of Yavin seen near the end of A New Hope.

New Zealand: as seen in Lord of the Rings

Director Peter Jackson brought to life the Tolkien's fantasy of orcs, elves and hobbits. However, with the entire trilogy shot in the country, the scenery of his native New Zealand provided the perfect setting to bring Middle Earth to life.

Iceland: as seen in Die Another Day

James Bond movies provides some of the greatest setting for films as MI6's favorite secret agent goes jet setting to save the world. Bond is invited to a spectacular Ice Palace where he gets involved in a frantic car chase across a frozen lake in the movie Die Another Day. The chase was filmed in a a fishing village in the south east of the country of Iceland.

Salzberg: as seen in The Sound of Music

Julie Andrews sung herself into movie history as she portrayed a great Austrian nanny in The Sound of Music. Most of the film was shot in the town of Salzburg but the most memorable scene where Andrews twirls into song on the hillside was shot in Mellweg.

Seville: as seen in Lawrence of Arabia

Most of the shooting of the film was actually done in Spain as the story Lawrence of Arabia set mainly around Peter O' Toole's time in Cairo. The Arabian desert in Morocco was provided as a backdrop although the most part of David Lean was majorly shot in Spain. The other civic buildings in Seville as well as the buildings in The Plaza de Espana were used to represent the parts of Cairo.

Egypt: as seen in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

The sequel of Michael Bay's Transformers movie was bigger, louder and had more explosions than the original. The characters of Optimus Prime and Co. were expanded and dragged the plot away from the States to Egypt. The Giza Pyramids near Luxor proved a dramatic setting for the movie's heady climax.

Jordan: as seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Harrison Ford was more focused on the third installment of Indiana Jones trilogy searching for the Holy Grail, which saw our hero journey to the Canyon of the Crescent Moon. The real life canyon can be found in Jordan in the Edom Mountains at a place called Al Khazneh or "The Treasury".

Skiathos: as seen in Mamma Mia!

The decade's musical hit Mamma Mia was the movie version of the Abba-inspired stage musical of the same name. Filmed on the beautiful Greek Island of Skiathos, a stellar cast including Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard brings the feel-good romantic comedy to life.

Tunisia: as seen in Monty Python's Life of Brian

Tunisia has been used by Hollywood for years to represent a variety of landscapes from the desert wastes of Tatooine in Star Wars to the arid warzone of Iraq in The Hurt Locker. Aside from its spectacular landscape, Tunasia is very cheap, providing an excellent destination for cheap holidays and cheap film sets. The Monty Python team descended on Ribat in 1979 to film one of the most controversial and excruciatingly funny movies of all time.

Thailand: as seen in The Beach

Leonardo DiCaprio as the backpacker Richard travels through Thailand and was beautifully captured by Slumdog Millionaire helmer Danny Boyle. The Beach's mysterious paradise was filmed on the tiny island of Kho Phi Leh, only a short ferry ride away from Krabi and Phuket. Travellers can trace DiCaprio's journey with a cheap holiday to Thailand and a boat trip from Phuket Pier with a cost of around £10.

Kim has 4 years experience in the travel industry. She enjoys writing articles on various destinations and Travel related topics.

Very Important Information You Need to Know Before Investing in Koh Samui Property

Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui, Thailand has long been the locale of choice for paradise seeking foreigners from all parts of the globe. Its shimmering turquoise waters and sun bleached, white sandy bays are lined with bungalows, villas and resorts. Its happening night life with a plethora of restaurants feeds the epicureans and provides a magnificent back drop to beautiful sunsets and starry nights. It's no wonder that so many foreigners want to own property in Koh Samui, but like any other property market in the world, it's important to know understand the legal implications, visa requirements, and tax guidelines involved before deciding which property you are going to invest in.

Getting To The Island

Before investing in Koh Samui property, you must first feel confident that traveling to and from the island has been made easy and convenient for tourists. After all, they play a major part in helping Samui's economy grow and helping tourists get to the island should be top priority. The most convenient way to get to Samui is by flying with Bangkok Airways from Bangkok, Singapore, Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai. There are 15 daily 80 minute flights between Samui and Bangkok and 4 weekly 90 minute flights between Koh Samui and Singapore. Alternatively, several ferries and catamarans run from Surat Thani or Don Sak on the Thai mainland. There are almost 10 daily departures between Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan.

The Samui airport is a unique and highly successful experiment in building an airport that is kind to both the cultural and natural environments of a tropical island resort. Flying in, you get brief glimpses of outlying islands, streaks of surf, the wakes of small fishing craft sketched across the calm aquamarine sea. Smudges of coral reef dapple the water as you come in closer still. Then the coast of Samui appears. Two hundred and fifty kilometers of tropical hideaway scalloped by dozens of bays rimmed in white sand, carpeted in lush textures of forested hill and coconut grove, Samui is the centerpiece in a group of 80 other islands set in the Gulf of Thailand.

Located 2km north of the main village Chaweng, Koh Samui Airport serves both domestic and international flights including Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways International, Berjaya Air, and Firefly.

Koh Samui Property Tax Guidelines

If you've already done your research and you are looking to invest in Koh Samui property, you really should understand how the tax liability can affect your overall return.

All Koh Samui property owners in Thailand are liable for tax on rental income, which is based on either standard personal income tax (PIT) rates for "resident" tax payers and a at 15% PIT rate on assessable income for non-resident tax payers. A person becomes a "resident" tax payer if he or she spends more than 180 days in any tax year in Thailand. Thailand does not charge a separate capital gains tax for foreign buyers. All earned income from capital gains is taxed the same as regular income. The highest rate of income tax is currently 37% per year.

When purchasing property in Koh Samui, it is quite standard for the purchaser to be solely responsible for the payment of all transfer fees as well as taxes duly charged by the competent land office in connection with the registration of transfer of ownership of the property. This includes the government transfer fee, withholding tax and specific business tax as well as stamp duty and other costs and expenses arising out of the registration of the transfer of ownership to the purchaser.

Transfer fees are typically 2% of the registered value, stamp duty is.5% of registered value, withholding tax is 1% of the appraised value, and business tax is 3.3% of appraised value. Income tax is usually between 1-3% on Koh Samui property. There are no established rules regarding who pays the income tax while this is simply another part of the bargaining process during the property purchase as are all other costs relating to the transfer of ownership. Tax on Rental Income is 10-30% of rental income depending on the type of property. Lease Registration Fee is 1.1%

Transferring Money To Purchase Samui Property

Unlike most developed economies where transferring money to and from bank accounts is relatively straight forward and easy, this is NOT the case in emerging markets like Thailand. Before purchasing property in Koh Samui, it is very important to understand exactly how to transact and what needs to be done prior to purchase. Reason for the complexity of this issue is because of the Thai laws concerning Foreign ownership of Condominium Property. According to Thai Law, foreigners may own 49 percent of the aggregate sale-able unit space of a condominium building while the remaining 51 percent must be owned by either Thai nationals or majority owned Thai Companies. Below is a step by step guide on how to transfer money when dealing with Koh Samui properties.

1. A Thai bank account must be set up in your name in order to transfer money to yourself before exchanging your currency to Thai Baht. Any foreign currency can be used to purchase a condominium unit. The foreign currency must be transferred into Thailand as foreign currency and then exchanged into Thai Baht by a local bank in Thailand. In many cases, the developer may offer to help you establish a bank account in Thailand due to the complexity of establishing an account yourself. This may come at an extra cost, however developers are always willing to negotiate or waive this cost if it helps get the deal done.


2. Foreigners are required to remit at least USD 20,000.00 into Thailand per transfer to receive a FOREX Transfer Form. (Transfers of funds must be made in FOREIGN CURRENCY only and NOT in Thai Baht, i.e. if you are working in US Dollars then remit in US Dollars. Do not remit in Thai Baht. This form will be needed to transfer the unit under foreign ownership and also remit money back out of Thailand if so needed in the future.


3. Documents needed when buying a condominium: For foreigners to be eligible to purchase a condominium unit in Thailand they must present proof to the Department of Lands that the funds have been remitted from overseas in foreign currency. Without such proof, the Department of Lands will not register the transfer of ownership to the foreign buyer.


4. Remittances must be sent in exactly ("to the letter") the same name as appearing on the purchase contract, (i.e. if Tom Smith is the buyer then the name Tom Smith must appear on the remittance advice. T. Smith or Smith Enterprises are unacceptable.) If the buyers are two individuals, then two names should appear on the contract and two separate remittances should be made by such two persons, in equal amounts.


5. The purchaser has to include the transfer instruction indicating that the purpose of this money is to buy a condominium unit. The bank that receives money in foreign currency will issue the document (Foreign Exchange Transaction Form) which contains the following information:

• The transferred amount in foreign currency


• The transferred amount in Thai Baht


• The name of money sender


• The name of money receiver


• The purpose of transferring

Normally throughout the transfer process, the purchaser has to instruct the gateway bank to identify the name of the sender to be the same as the receiver's. The Land Department will accept the name of purchaser to be either sender or receiver of the transferred money.

**Remark**

If the money receiver is an individual but wants to put the unit in the names of two people, the sender has to instruct the gateway bank to specify the names of two people together with the purpose of buying condominium.

For example:

Mr. Smith transferred money to Mr. John and would like to put down the names of two people, Mr. Smith must also instruct his bank to specify the purpose as being to buy the condominium by both Mr. Smith and Mr. John. In this case, the land department can accept this and permit the transfer.

The Land Department also can accept the transfer even if the sender's name of the receiver's name is not the purchaser's name but the sender should instruct the gateway bank to put the purpose as being to buy the condominium by (Purchaser's name). The amount of money must be equal to or higher than the selling price declared to the Land Department.

Alternatives To Transferring Money To Purchase Koh Samui Property

For the avoidance of any doubt, we recommend wherever possible that Samui property buyers arrange for their local bank to issue the Foreign Exchange Transaction Form for all remittances. In this case you would transfer the funds directly to the Developer's bank account in the prescribed format, and the Developer will arrange for the Foreign Exchange Transaction Form to be issued by the Developer's Bank.

For the buyers convenience, we strongly recommend that you transfer the funds directly to the Developer's bank account, but ONLY do so if you know and trust the developers and know exactly where your money is going. In most cases, the developers will use a third party escrow arrangement typically put together by a local attorney. This is always the most secure way to exchange contracts as the developers are not allowed to access your funds until the title deed on the property has been transferred to you.

Why does the developer need to use Foreign Exchange Transaction Form?

1. Because the Bank of Thailand controls the flow of foreign currency, every single baht must have a source and a reason. The Land Department must perform in accordance with this regulation. By this restriction, every foreign buyer must transfer money from abroad.


2. Non-residents who sell the condominium and transfer the money out of country do not have to pay the remittance tax (normally the tax is around 30%)


3. In case of transferring money out of the country, the tax-free amount is determined by the initial amount transferred.

Transfer of title deed Documents needed: For Individual Purchaser

• Passport (copy if applicable, marriage/divorce certificate including a letter of consent


• From your spouse if married [Thai Language]).


• Foreign Exchange Transaction Form or credit note.


• Power of attorney, if anyone but yourself is representing you, in Thai script with a


• Notarization by Notary Public or if overseas by the Thai Consulate.

Corporate Documents needed: For Company Purchaser

• Certified copy of the certificate of incorporation


• Certified copy of the memorandum of association


• Notaries certificate


• List of shareholders (in English, but must be accompanied by a Thai translation)


• Minutes of directors' meetings, which have a resolution to sell/purchase the property


• (specifying name and number and agenda dealing with the finance of the purchase if the


• company's registered capital is less than the purchase price)


• Letter of advice regarding specific¬ signature


• Power of attorney, if the authorized directors do not make the transaction by themselves


• (Land Department form)


• Free debt letter


• Foreign co-owner letter


• The certified copy of the I.D. Card of the authorized directors


• The certified copy of the house registration of the authorized directors


• Title deed of the condominium unit

Thai Visa Requirements

Please note that whilst we believe the below information is accurate, it is recommended to verify requirements with the Royal Thai Embassy before travel.

Many Non-Thai residents require a visa to stay in the country for more than 30 days. However, most African countries require a visa to enter Thailand - Cyprus, Czech Republic, India, Maldives, Oman, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine are allowed 15 days under the visa exemption. A Non-Immigrant Visa is valid for up to 90 days, but can be extended for up to a year at a time, depending on eligibility criteria. Retirement visas for individuals over 50 years old are readily available, subject to certain other criteria, tourist visas for stays of more than 30 days and less than 60 days and work permits for those with specific skills can be applied for via the Thai Embassy or consulate in your home country.

Use An Investment Firm Or Relevant Developer To Assist You With The Purchase of Your Koh Samui Property

Well you can't say we didn't warn you that purchasing property in Samui would be extremely complicated which is why we strongly suggest that you use a real estate agent or investment firm to assist you with the purchase of your Samui property. Often times the developer or agent that you are purchasing the property from will do everything they can to make this process as affordable and convenient as possible. After all, it's in their interest to get this property deal done, and they should be more than glad to help you through it. Another reason it is beneficial to use the developer or registered agent, is because they already have the experience and connections to get you through this transaction. Because they've transacted several times before on Koh Samui properties, they know exactly who to go to and for what circumstance. It is very likely that they already have escrow arrangements established and banks in place to handle all of the paper work for you. In many instances, they may even use their company as the "buyer" and then issue shares in the company which then gives you legal ownership. This method of purchase avoids the issue of only being able to purchase 49% of a unit due to Thai law.

One investment firm that has helped clients transact on numerous Koh Samui properties is Elite Global Property, an investment property firm based in Shanghai, China. Because of their relationships with both the developers and local banks in the region, they will be able to walk you through step by step on how to complete on purchasing property in Koh Samui. Elite Global Property does NOT own property in Koh Samui which allows them to provide an unbiased opinion on which developers are safe to work with and will show you how to avoid complications that may occur throughout the process. It always helps when you have a familiar foreign face to get you through the process rather than dealing with legal contracts and bank forms in a native language.

Although quite a complex process, once finished, owning property in Samui will prove to be one of the most exciting and beautiful investments you may have ever purchased. Always remember, if you want to speed things up, just have the developer or a reliable investment property firm help you throughout your next property transaction.

Matthew Clark
Chief Operating Officer
Elite Investment Group
http://www.elite-ig.com
Shanghai, China