Situated in the south-west part of the country in the Andaman Sea, Phuket is an enchanting island destination that has been long regarded as a favorite spot for leisurely vacationers, honeymooners, and retirees.

With its unparalleled beaches and superb tropical climate, Phuket has been considered by many as a delightful home away from home. In recent years, Phuket has become home to a large number of expatriate communities and has facilities to cater to their needs including well-maintained infrastructure, international airport, and schools of international standards, apart from quality services in the form of golf courses, yacht marinas, superb shopping malls, and extensive network of expats' societies and clubs. Additionally, Phuket also offer highly sophisticated hospitals and firms coupled with the services of English speaking attorneys. All these make Phuket a westerner friendly destination. Hence, it is no wonder why many foreigners have now started to invest in Phuket property.

Accommodation properties located in and around such destinations of Phuket as Kamala, Patong, Karon, and Kata are all-time favorites among people interested in investing here. However, Phuket provides not options only for foreigners interested in staying here for long term but also for those touring to the island on short term basis. In short, Phuket has accommodation to suit every taste and preference.

For tourists vacationing to Phuket for a week or two, one of the best accommodation options would be hotels and resorts, ranging from luxurious to budget types. Mostly, luxurious hotels and resorts provide accommodations in a variety of forms including deluxe rooms, bungalows, suites, and penthouse suites, each of which is coupled with most sophisticated facilities such as comfortable as well as spacious rooms, relaxed king-size or queen-size beds, superb bath area, and terraces providing scenic vistas of the surroundings. There are also hotels exclusively designed for budget conscious travelers in the form of boutique hotels.

In addition, travelers seeking utmost privacy, some excellent accommodation choices are available in the form of rental villas, cottages, condominiums, and single-detached homes, all of which are mostly attached with facilities such as swimming pools, salons, round the clock security services, superb monitoring system, and fitness centers.

Single detached homes, condo units, and villas are also a great accommodation option for westerners and tourists planning to stay here for ever or for long term basis. Villas in Phuket serve as a great choice for high-flyers as well as those investors who have enough to pay for a second home.

Villas are usually a luxurious accommodation option, and in most cases, they are designed in tropical contemporary Asian style. Further, they are mostly located in superb locations providing breathtaking views of the surroundings. However, it is quite difficult for a foreigner to own a villa in the country due to the round-about laws with regard to its purchase. Usually, villas are available stand-alone. But, sometimes they may also be a segment of an exclusive project.

But, when you consider a condominium or a condo unit as your accommodation option, you can easily acquire it since there is not any chaotic law associated with its purchase by foreigners. However, it is mandatory to bring in 100% of cash for purchasing condominium in foreign currency and record it on a Foreign Transaction Form (FETF) issued by a local Thai bank. A condominium is usually a part of a large property, and provides access to a variety of shared amenities including parking areas, fitness centers, elevators, and excellent management services. Other types of residential properties such as apartment, houses, and gated communities such as flats are also becoming popular among both investors and tourists.

Finding an accommodation choice in Phuket, no matter it is for investment or on a rental basis, is no longer a cluttered process, with a plethora of property developers, realtors, and other related service providers in the scenario. Many of them come with a section exclusively to cater to the requirements of foreign investors. Some of them even provide services to deal with legal tangles associated with the purchase of a particular residential property in the area.

Apart from property search, these service providers also render consultation, useful advice for the maintenance of the property, and property management services. Nowadays, majority of the service providers have their own websites, which in turn easily allow you to know what kind of services they offer.

About the Author

Few, private estates in the world match the unsurpassed luxury and tranquility of The Samsara Estate, built atop a private and secluded peninsula, our villas offer views over a stunning juxtaposition of rocky shoreline, tropical forest, and the crystal blue waters of the Andamans in Phuket, Thailand.

Each December in the ABC Islands - Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - locals and tourists celebrate the traditional Dutch holiday known as Saint Nicholas Day. Throughout the weeks leading up to the feast day on December 5, Sinterklaas - the Dutch precursor to the American Santa Claus - makes appearances throughout the islands and distributes gifts. Much like the Christmas season in America, the weeks surrounding Saint Nicholas Day are a very exciting time for Curacao and her sister islands. When you visit Curacao this year, add a little fun to your vacation by participating in some of the traditions of this special holiday.

As the character known as Sinterklaas appears each year to celebrate the feast day of Saint Nicholas, the fictional character of Dutch custom certainly bears a resemblance to the venerated saint. Saint Nicholas was actually the bishop of Myra, a city in what is now Turkey, in the 4th century. In the Catholic Church, Nicholas came to be the patron saint of children as a result of numerous stories claiming that the bishop had saved many children from lives of destitution, some from death. Today, Sinterklaas appears in Europe and the Caribbean wearing the traditional red cloak and mitre (pointed hat) of Catholic bishops. He carries a gold staff known as a crosier and keeps a large book with the names of each child under his arm, complete with designations on who has been naughty or nice (zoet or stout in Dutch tradition). As the American version of Santa Claus is based in large part on this Dutch tradition, Sinterklaas is also known for his great white beard.

Much as Santa Claus relies on the assistance of his elves to deliver gifts to all the world's children, Sinterklaas employs a number of helpers known as Zwarte Pieten. Known for their black faces and colorful 16th century clothing, the Zwarte Pieten actually found their beginnings in a Middle Ages tale about the devil. The original legend stated that on the eve of Saint Nicholas' feast day the devil was enslaved, evil was overcome and Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) came to serve Saint Nicholas. In recent centuries, the legend came to state that the Zwarte Pieten's faces are black with soot from sliding down chimneys to deliver gifts. Within the last few years, efforts have been made to incorporate helpers with different colored faces into the legend, explained by Sinterklaas passing through a rainbow in his boat. In Curacao, keep your eye out for these playful helpers during the holiday and you may be rewarded with a special treat.

Dutch tradition always held that Sinterklaas sailed each year from Spain and was greeted with great fanfare upon his arrival. In Curacao, this tradition remains intact and represents one of the island's most exciting events for locals and tourists alike. A few weeks before the feast day, Sinterklaas will make his scheduled arrival to the island. Immediately afterwards, Sinterklaas and his helpers lead a parade through the streets, handing out treats along the way. In the weeks leading up to Saint Nicholas Day, Sinterklaas can be seen throughout Curacao in shopping centers and resorts, interacting with excited children and curious adults. As a result of the holiday, many resorts and tourist destinations feature special events during the season and tourists are always encouraged to participate.

If you visit Curacao with your family during this holiday season, you can also participate in the gift giving traditions of Saint Nicholas Day. While Sinterklaas is in Curacao, it is customary for children to leave their shoes near the chimney or front door each night. Current holiday tradition still holds that Sinterklaas and his helpers make a flight each night and drop candy and other small gifts down each chimney into the shoes. You can also celebrate the feast day of St. Nicholas by creating either a "present evening" on the eve of the holiday or receiving gifts from Sinterklaas on the following morning.

In Dutch tradition, families often hear a knock at the door and find a sack of presents outside for the whole family. If you are staying at a resort in Curacao during the holiday, the resort staff will be able to help you celebrate this traditional holiday with your family.
As Saint Nicholas Day falls in the heart of Curacao's tourism season, there isn't a better time to visit the island. During your time in Curacao, join in on the celebration and add a little Old World tradition to your Caribbean holiday.

About the Author

This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes select pieces about vacationing in the Caribbean and travel in Curacao for the Marriott Resorts.