Onlychaam.com > Cha-Am > Expats > Where to...?

Expats: live in Cha-Am

Where to find the services you need

Cha-Am is not a big city, but it's a popular resort where many expats have chosen to live, so you can easily find almost everything you need.

Electricity, Internet... where shall I go?

Telephone

The two major operators are TOT and TT&T. TOT office can be found on Phetkasem road, on the left side in the direction of Bangkok, a few yards after the main traffic lights junction. T&T is on Phetkasem road, on the left side of the road when coming from Hua Hin, in soi Nitithon 2 (before the main traffic lights junction and just after the purple building of Electricity). There is also a CAT office on Narathip road, on the right side when coming from Phetkasem road, close to the beachroad.

Internet

You can subscribe to Internet by contacting TOT, TT&T or CAT, and see the different packages they offer. TOT's website doesn't seem to be updated often, so you should go to their office to get the current packages and prices. Please be aware that the connections in Thailand are very slow, and that packages offering a decent speed (we mean the actual speed you will get, not the one advertised) are usually expensive. Some providers force you to use their own SMTP, and some can also decide to block P2P during the day to save bandwidth. Besides all that, censorship is applied heavily and many websites are blocked. Happy surfing... and chay yen yen!

 Read or contribute to a post in our forum about Maxnet (operated by TT&T)

Electricity

For all matters regarding electricity, you can find information at kan fai fa, which is the purple building at the corner of Phetkasem road and soi Raj Pli 1 (better known as "soi fai fa"). It's on the left side of Phetkasem road when coming from Hua Hin, just before the main traffic lights junction (just after the footbridge).

Building permit, house registration...

For all matters related to building permit, water, house number and house registration, go to the Tesaban office on Phetkasem road, on the right side of the road when going in the direction of Bangkok, at km 199. It closes at 4.30 pm..

Electricity office ("kan fai fa").

Tesaban at km 199.

Where to...? Services

Where to pay bills

You can pay most of your bills (Internet, telephone, electricity...) at all Seven-Eleven shops (ask for 'counter service'). They just scan the bar code on the bill.

Where to find a bank

Most major banks have a branch in Cha-Am. You will find most of them near the main traffic lights junction. Siam Commercial Bank is on the beach road.

 For more information, see our page about Money and Banks

Where to go to have water delivered

To have drinking water delivered to your house (small bottles or 20 litres tanks), you should spot a delivery car in the area where you live and arrange with them directly (or have your owner do that if you rent a house).

Where to...? Shops

Where to buy books

Unfortunately there is no bookshop selling English books in Cha-Am. There are a few bookshops in Hua Hin though, like Bookazine, on the second floor of Sailom Pavilion shopping mall on Damnern Kasem Road. But for a larger selection of books, we advise that you go to Bangkok (where you will find several 'Asia Books' shops) or that you order online (at Amazon for instance).

Where to have something translated

If you need to translate a personal letter or official documents, from or into Thai or any other language, please contact us directly. We will get in touch with a translator and get back to you with a quotation.

Where to buy computer stuff

"Cha-Am IT" is a shop in the same soi as kan fai fa (see "Electricity" above). They have computer accessories and they can arrange everything for you, like assemble or repair a computer, check your Wifi connection, reinstall your software, etc. Great prices and great service.

Where to have something repaired

Whether it is a washing machine, a TV or any household electrical appliances, if it doesn't work any more and it is past warranty, bring it to Mai Electronic, on the left side of Phetkasem road when going to Bangkok, after the traffic light and just before the school round the bend. When he isn't playing guitar at the back of the shop, Mai can repair almost everything!

Cha-Am IT, a computer shop.

Mai Electronic... or is it MacGyver?

Where to buy western food

You can find some western products in shops like Okay or Cha-Am Memory.

 For more information, see our page about Shopping and our page about Restaurants.

Where to learn Thai  

Being able to speak Thai will make your life in Thailand much more fun, easy and interesting. Insight English is a private school located in a small soi just before Home Mart, on your left when coming from Hua Hin. The Thai teacher speaks only Thai during class, but she's also bilingual in English. Insight English is the only school in Cha-Am which is able to provide ED visas.

Where to learn English  

If you want to offer English lessons to your wife, kids or staff, for an affordable price and with a native teacher, you can check Insight English (see above) but also English4U. English4U is located at Cha-Am main intersection, on the left side when coming from Bangkok, just after the traffic light. It is also an Internet and computer shop, as well as a property agency.

Where to buy a motorbike or a car

It depends on the brand you choose, of course. There is a Toyota center on Phetkasem, on the left side of the road when going to Bangkok, just before the bridge over the railway. A Yamaha center and a Honda center are in the same area, on the opposite side of the road.

Where to...? Immigration and other formalities

Where is the Immigration Office?

Foreigners living in Cha-Am should go to the Immigration Office in Hua Hin for all matters regarding visas, work permits, 90 days report, etc. The Immigration Office has moved to a new location: since March 23, 2009, it is no longer located soi 102, but soi 23. When you come from Cha-Am, soi 23 is on your left, just before Index (the furniture shop). Enter soi 23 and it just a few yards away, at the end of the soi. The small soi just after soi 23 and before Index (probably 23/1) can also lead to the Immigration Office.

It is open Monday to Friday, from 8.30 to 15.30. It is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

If you want to extend a tourist visa (get another 30 days after your 60 days visa is expired), you will need to fill in an application form and provide a picture and a photocopy of your passport (first page, visa, extension of stay and immigration card - sign all pages) and pay 1,900 baht. The forms are available at the Immigration Office, and you can also have your picture taken and your passport photocopied at the small restaurant next door.

The sign on Phetkasem road, soi 23.

Soi 23, near Index.

Where to go to get or extend a driving licence?

If you want to obtain or renew a Thai driving licence, you have to go to the "Transport office" (sam-nak-ngan-kon-song) of the province of Phetchaburi. Fortunately there is a branch in Cha-Am. It is located on the right side of Phetkasem road in the direction of Bangkok, between km 198 and 199. When coming from Cha-Am, take the first U-turn after the one opposite the Tesaban office, then take the first small road on your left. Follow the road for a few hundred meters and you will find the office on your left, just after the fork.

If you need a medical certificate, there are clinics in Cha-Am.

The sign you have to follow.

The Transport office building.