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Sawadee krap/ka, Phuket people! 🌺
Songkran’s done, the water’s drying, and the island’s slipping back into its usual rhythm. This week: a potential visa change you’ll want to pay attention to, the long-awaited Patong Tunnel finally moving forward, and Phuket’s property scene levelling up.
On the fun side, Bonobo hits Café del Mar, the markets are back in full swing, and there’s a sunrise run worth waking up for. Good timing to be here. Let’s get into it.
Hot (33–34°C) with daily thunderstorms and warm nights.
Highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius through the weekend. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms possible from Saturday - the rainy season is not yet here but it's knocking. UV index extreme daily through midday. Hydrate, shade up, go early.
Diesel at 31.14 THB/L and climbing. Stations in Chalong and Patong are capping purchases at 700 THB per vehicle during peak hours. Worst queues: 9am-12pm and 5pm-7pm. Use E20 pumps - shorter queues and 5 THB/L cheaper than 95 octane. Off-peak fill before 8am or after 7pm
Immigration and provincial offices reopened Thursday April 16 after the Songkran holiday closure. Regular hours Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 3:00pm. Tel: 076-221-905. If you need a 90-day report or extension, queues will be longer than usual this week - go early or go next week.
The GSTC 2026 Global Sustainable Tourism Conference runs at Royal Phuket City Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town from Tuesday April 21 through Friday. Expect elevated weekday traffic and reduced hotel availability in Phuket Town center. Book parking or use songthaew.
Bonobo at Cafe del Mar Saturday (all day). lululemon Run Club at Bang Waad Saturday morning. Sakhu Trail Beach Run Sunday at Nai Thon. Naka Weekend Market Saturday-Sunday. Old Town Walking Street Sunday evening. Scope the full calendar: phuketcommunity.com/events
🍟 Free Fry-Day at Wilson's
If you’re reading this before lunch, good. If you’re reading this after lunch, still good. Because Fridays at Wilson’s come with a little bonus joy.
From 1pm today, every burger ordered gets FREE fries. No catch. Just crispy, golden happiness landing next to your bun. It’s the kind of deal that turns “quick bite” into “stay a while”.
Wilson’s is also proudly pet-friendly, with a dedicated pet zone where paws are welcome and vibes stay relaxed. Come with your dog, your appetite, or both. Not leaving the house? Wilson’s is on GrabFood, too.
The Rawai branch is open daily from 7am to 9pm (last orders at 8pm) — your go-to for burgers, brunch, coffee, and comfort all day long.
Now, the new Phuket Town branch is also open, welcoming you daily from 7am to 6pm (last orders at 5pm).
Go on. It’s Friday.
Grab your 🍔 here →
Thailand to Cut Visa-Free Stay to 30 Days - What It Actually Means for You
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has signalled its intention to reduce the visa-free stay period from 60 days to 30 days. As of April 17, 2026, the 60-day exemption remains in force. But Cabinet has signalled the direction of travel is clear. The stated rationale: 90% of tourists stay fewer than 30 days anyway, and the longer window has been exploited by individuals working illegally or running businesses in sectors reserved for Thai nationals.
The key detail that changes the headline: a 30-day extension will still be available at immigration offices. That means a combined 60-day stay remains possible - but it now requires an in-person checkpoint rather than being automatic. For pure tourists this is a minor inconvenience. For anyone relying on repeated visa-exempt entries as a long-stay strategy, this is a meaningful shift in the effort and scrutiny involved.
Simultaneously, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is now mandatory - replacing the old TM6 paper form. You must complete it online within 72 hours before arrival. The QR code it generates is required at immigration. Phuket Airport has already seen queues build up around this process. If you are travelling soon: do it early and screenshot the QR code before you board. Airport Wi-Fi is not your friend at peak times.
Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong led a multi-agency review of five proposed pier sites across Thalang and Mueang districts. One in Thepkrasattri for traditional fishing boats up to 20 gross tonnes; others in Pa Khlok for community tourism floating piers at Ban Tha Sak, Koh Naka, and Ban Tha Hla. If approved, these reshape marine access on the quieter east coast. Worth watching if you are on that side of the island. Details →
Authorities have ordered full-scale evacuation drills in Karon next month, citing LiDAR and drone mapping that identified new ground-movement risk zones. The August 2024 Karon landslide - 13 deaths, 19 injured - remains the central driver for preparedness planning. Rainy season starts building in May. If you live on or near hillside areas in Karon, know your evacuation routes. Full update →
Phuket's Provincial Governance Committee reviewed a slate of island-wide canal dredging and flood prevention works valued at ฿88.5 million. The focus is on transparency, cost control, and delivering before the monsoon arrives. For residents: expect temporary worksites and minor traffic disruption near canals. The upside is meaningful if the works deliver - reduced flooding in residential streets when the rains come. Details →
The Patong Tunnel has officially entered its Design and Build phase with an approved budget of ฿10.96 billion. The 3.98km tunnel will bore through Khao Nakkerd hill connecting Kathu to Patong, with a target completion of 2030. It eventually links into a wider expressway network connecting the airport to the south. Tolls are planned from ฿15 for motorbikes. Construction approach phases will start causing disruption around the hillside access points well before the opening date - factor that in if you are buying or renting near the route.
We reach 5,000+ readers every Friday. If it's happening on the island, we want to know about it.
Submit here →Co-Living vs Renting in Phuket: Where Digital Nomads Actually End Up
Every month, a new wave of digital nomads lands in Phuket with a laptop, a DTV, and a very open question: where do I actually live? The choice between co-living spaces and conventional long-term rentals is rarely as simple as price per sqm. It is about what kind of life you want to build - and how long you plan to stick around.
Co-living in Phuket has matured significantly. The best options are now more than a shared kitchen and a hot desk - they are genuine communities with programming, social events, and built-in networks that help new arrivals hit the ground running. The tradeoff is cost: a well-located co-living bunk or private room typically runs 15,000-30,000 THB per month, and that is before food. For someone fresh off the plane with no connections, it is often worth it.
Conventional renting makes more sense at the six-month mark. Once you know the island, know which district suits your lifestyle, and have a sense of the commute realities, a one-bedroom condo in Rawai or Chalong at 12,000-18,000 THB per month represents significantly better value. The Bang Tao and Cherng Talay corridor remains the premium zone - expect 20,000-40,000 THB for a modern unit, but with the best international school access and beach club proximity on the island.
We have broken it down by district, budget, and lifestyle type on the Phuket Community site. If you are making this decision right now, or advising someone who is, this one is worth reading in full.
Read the full guide at phuketcommunity.com →The TDAC QR Code: Screenshot It Before You Land
Thailand's paper TM6 arrival card is gone. In its place: the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which must now be completed online within 72 hours of your arrival. This applies to everyone flying in - residents returning from abroad included.
Bonus tip: If you haven't renewed your passport recently, check the expiry date now. Several residents were caught out at Phuket Airport last month with valid visas in expired passports. Immigration has tightened up. Give yourself six months of passport validity minimum.
The 30-Day Reduction, TDAC, and the Golden Visa Question
As of April 17, 2026, the 60-day visa-exempt period remains in place. Cabinet has signalled intent to reduce it to 30 days, with a 30-day extension still available at immigration offices. No confirmed implementation date yet. Watch this space - and check with your legal adviser before planning the next long border run.
Immigration Bureau Orders 237/2568 and 238/2568 (October 2025) introduced a framework where foreign buyers of qualifying condominiums at 3 million THB or more may qualify for a simplified long-term extension of stay. This is technically an extension mechanism, not a visa - but it reduces immigration friction significantly for property investors. Several developers including Sansiri have aligned products to this pathway. Recent updates →
Old Town Just Got Its Best New Restaurant
BaBa Lee - Phuket Old Town
Post-Songkran is the best time to revisit Old Town. The tourist rush has passed, the Peranakan shophouses are quieter, and the light in the early evening is extraordinary. It's the right moment to make a reservation somewhere you've been meaning to go.
BaBa Lee is the name to have this month. Located inside a preserved residential manor, it's a modern fine-dining concept built around Phuket's Peranakan identity - the Straits Chinese heritage that defines the aesthetic and flavour profile of the Old Town better than anywhere else. The kitchen blends those roots with contemporary technique, and the result is food that feels specific to this island in a way that the big resort restaurants rarely achieve.
If you're comparing it against a typical set-menu night in Kamala or Cherng Talay, BaBa Lee wins on atmosphere alone. But the food earns it independently. It's the kind of dinner that becomes the story of the evening.
After: Talang Road Walking Street is on Sunday evenings from 4pm. Wander out of BaBa Lee and into the market. The timing works perfectly.
Phuket Builds On
Big picture: Colliers Thailand projects cumulative residential investment in Phuket from 2021 to 2026 to exceed ฿541 billion. Residential prices are now forecast to reach levels comparable to Bangkok by end of 2026. The island has formally graduated from holiday resort to structured investment market.
Supply cooling: New condo launches forecast at 6,000-8,000 units in 2026, down sharply from the 2024 peak of 15,000. Premium pool villas at ฿30-50 million remain strong. Demand concentrates in Bang Tao, Cherng Talay, and Layan.
Best value zones: Chalong (฿8,869/sqft for apartments) and Kathu remain the most accessible entry points. The Patong Tunnel announcement has already started attracting attention to properties along the Kathu corridor.
The widening of Highway 4027 to four lanes is expected to complete by July 2026. Residents in Thalang and Paklok will gain a credible alternative to the perpetually congested Highway 402. Worth noting if you're evaluating property in the northeast.
504 rooms. 24-hour all-inclusive concept. Stretches 700 metres along Mai Khao Beach at the edge of Sirinat National Park. Scheduled for Q4 2026. Adds significant room inventory to the north of the island and brings more footfall to the airport corridor area.
฿280 million upgrade to Ao Po Ferry Pier is part of the wider Andaman Triangle connectivity project linking Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi. Target: reduce sea travel time between Phuket and Krabi to two hours. Target completion 2027.
Laguna Phuket and Laguna Lakelands have confirmed plans for 5,000 additional residences across their Bang Tao footprint, targeting the lifestyle migrant and long-stay family segment. The northwest corridor remains the fastest-developing residential zone on the island.
Nominee land structures are a live enforcement priority right now - not a theoretical risk. Multi-agency crackdowns are active and include real estate, not just hospitality. If any part of your property arrangement involves Thai proxy shareholders, get a legal review this month. A proposal to extend leasehold terms from 30 to 99 years is still in discussion but not yet enacted.
Worth Knowing This Week
The Global Sustainable Tourism Conference lands in Phuket Town from Tuesday April 21 through Friday April 24 at the Royal Phuket City Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott. International delegates from across the tourism industry will be in town. Expect higher weekday traffic and hotel activity in central Phuket Town during this period.
The Big Buddha officially reopened in March 2026 after the landslide closure and crowds have been intense since. If you want panoramic Karon views, try the Nak-Kerd Seaview Cafe along the way. Great view, and enjoy the food. Worth knowing for visitors staying with you this.
The Biennale art trail closes April 30. Nineteen venues across Old Phuket Town. All walkable. All free. If you have been meaning to do it, this is your final window. Pair it with Sunday Walking Street for a genuinely good Old Town day out.
| Date | Event | Venue | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 17 Apr | Cash Only (DJ) | Armania, Patong | TBA |
| Fri 17 Apr | Fun Friday Avenue Market | Boat Avenue, Cherng Talay | Free |
| Fri 17 Apr | OSFUR (The Scripture) | Café del Mar Phuket, Kamala | Ticketed |
| Sat 18 Apr | Lululemon Run Club | Bang Waad Reservoir, Kathu | Free |
| Sat 18 Apr | Phuket 420 Island Fest | Sunrise Beach, Phuket Town | 420 THB |
| Sat 18 Apr | Bonobo | Café del Mar Phuket, Kamala | From 700 THB |
| Sat-Sun 18-19 Apr | Naka Weekend Market | Phuket Town | Free |
| Sun 19 Apr | Sakhu Trail Beach Run | Nai Thon Beach, Thalang | 350 THB (10.5km) |
| Sun 19 Apr | Tripolism at YONA Beach Club | YONA Beach Club, Patong | 2,000 THB |
| Sun 19 Apr | Sunday Walking Street (Lard Yai) | Thalang Rd, Old Phuket Town | Free |
| Mon-Tue 20-21 Apr | Dao Aungkhan Night Market | HomePro Village, Chalong | Free (4pm-9pm) |
| Tue-Fri 21-24 Apr | GSTC 2026 Sustainable Tourism Conference | Royal Phuket City Hotel + Courtyard Phuket Town | Ticketed |
| Wed 22 Apr | JUNO | Cafe del Mar, Kamala | TBA |
| Daily to 30 Apr | Thailand Biennale Phuket | 19 venues island-wide | Free |
Full calendar: phuketcommunity.com/events - Submit events: Submit here
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This Week's Question: Should the 30-day visa-free reduction target bad actors - or does it just punish legitimate long-stay visitors?
Thailand's Cabinet has signalled it wants to cut the visa exemption from 60 days to 30. Officials say 90% of tourists stay fewer than 30 days anyway - so the change only affects a fringe. But that fringe includes a lot of people in this community. Is it fair targeting or bureaucratic overreach? Reply to this email with your take.
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Sabai sabai. See you next Friday.
— The Phuket Community Team 🇹🇭
Next edition drops Friday, April 24, 2026
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