What Our Residents Say About Life at Sabai Jai

I came for the introductory week not really knowing what to expect. By day three I had met more interesting people than I had in the previous two years living at home. The meals were genuinely good — I was surprised how much variety there was. I booked the Coastal Retreat before I left.

We have been coming for the winter season for two years now. Our daughter was initially nervous about us moving to Thailand for three months at a time, but after visiting us here she was completely won over. The team knows us by name within the first few days, which says a lot.

The island setting is genuinely beautiful — waking up to tropical gardens every morning never quite becomes ordinary. I have been a full resident for eight months now. The cooking sessions and evening socials are my favourite parts. I would have liked slightly faster Wi-Fi, but it is rarely a real problem.

My wife and I moved here permanently last year after doing the seasonal programme twice. The family accommodation option was important to us — our grandchildren visited over the New Year and it was the best visit we have had in years. That says everything.

I was apprehensive — I had heard mixed things about senior living communities generally and was worried about a loss of independence. Sabai Jai is not that at all. Nobody tells you what to do or when. The activities are there if you want them and not if you don't. It has been a genuinely good chapter of my life.

The cultural visits are a highlight — we have explored parts of Koh Samui and the mainland that I would never have found on my own. My Thai cooking has improved considerably. The team has been unfailingly warm and organised. A small note: I would like to see more outdoor seating near the pool.