Gen X Couple Provides up Metropolis Life to Run a Seaside Resort in Thailand

• Johan and Sabine Bogaerts left the Netherlands and moved to Thailand to open a seaside resort.
• The couple says they at all times dreamed of operating their very own enterprise as a substitute of working for another person.
• Whereas life now feels “slower, and positively extra fulfilling,” Johan, 54, says it is not all play.

In November 2022, Johan and Sabine Bogaerts packed up their lives and moved from the Netherlands to Koh Lanta, an island off the west coast of Thailand, with their two sons.

They’d traveled to Thailand numerous occasions on trip and cherished every little thing in regards to the nation, however it was the pandemic that gave them the thought of shifting there.

“Life simply occurs actually quick, and we wished to do one thing else earlier than it was too late, bodily and likewise mentally,” Sabine, 51, a former chef, informed Enterprise Insider.

The couple at all times dreamed of managing one thing on their very own as a substitute of working for another person.

“We have agreed to vary our life just a little bit, get out of the rat race, and do one thing completely totally different in an exquisite nation that we knew already,” Johan, 54, a welding engineer, informed BI.

However the true choice was made after they noticed some adverts on Fb about properties for lease in Thailand, Sabine mentioned.

“We discovered this piece of property on-line. We have been , and we knew the world since we have been right here a number of occasions,” Johan mentioned.

The property was situated lower than 200 ft away from Klong Khong seaside, a well-liked vacationer vacation spot on Koh Lanta.

Koh Lanta is a part of the Krabi province and is about 45 miles from Krabi Worldwide Airport. Guests may attain Koh Lanta by way of a 1.5-hour ferry journey from Phuket.

It was already constructed like a resort with freestanding rooms however seemed dated, with minimal furnishings and primary finishings. Because of the pandemic, the unique resort had ceased operations, and the humid local weather had left the property in a foul state.

Regardless of that, the couple noticed its potential and made their choice throughout a video name with their agent.

Since foreigners cannot personal land in Thailand, the couple leased the property for 20 years as a substitute. They declined to share specifics, however estimated that their whole prices — inclusive of renovations — got here as much as about 200,000 euros, or about $206,000.

The couple additionally mentioned they managed to promote their home in Holland, which helped cowl their prices.

Operating a resort by the seaside

Thailand has lengthy been a well-liked spot for vacationers and expats alike, due to its wealthy tradition and comparatively low value of residing.

Lately, it is also been a well-liked vacation spot for retirees: Thailand was ranked tenth on Worldwide Dwelling’s 2025 Annual International Retirement Index.

Nevertheless, the couple says that they knew they weren’t able to retire and determined to start out a enterprise in Thailand.

“I believe retiring at 50 could be so boring for us,” Sabine mentioned.

“It’s important to be actually comfy. We have been doing OK, however we weren’t prepared financially to completely retire but,” Johan added.

After they acquired the keys to the property, the very first thing they did was begin renovating and getting it as much as their very own requirements.

“We took out some partitions, made them larger, redid all of the loos, made new balconies, new paint — every little thing is model new,” Johan mentioned.

The resort has 16 visitor bungalows, a pool, a restaurant and bar, and a laundry space.

Their busiest season runs from the start of December till the top of March, since that is when the climate is sunny with much less rain. Room charges throughout the off-season are about one-third of the worth of the excessive season, Sabine mentioned.

In the course of the off-season, the most affordable room is round 1,100 Thai baht, or about $32. In the course of the excessive season, the identical room can go for round 2,600 Thai baht, or about $75, Johan mentioned.

The couple additionally employs 9 full-time employees, together with a receptionist, housekeepers, kitchen employees, and gardeners.

One of many largest challenges they confronted throughout the renovations was differing expectations of when issues could be accomplished.

“With us, a deal is a deal, and a time of ending is the time of ending, however that is just a little bit totally different right here. So, we actually should adapt to that,” Johan mentioned.

A “slower, and positively extra fulfilling” life

One of many issues they cherished most about their life-style now in comparison with again within the Netherlands is that they not really feel the necessity to sustain with the Joneses.

“You determine your self. For me, it is that you just’re not being pushed by one thing that must be finished. Once we have been residing in Holland, every little thing needed to be the way in which issues have been,” Johan mentioned. “You’ve a whole lot of possessions and also you have been solely busy making an attempt to keep up and to maintenance all of the possessions that you’ve.”

Not solely that, the couple will get to spend extra time outside in comparison with earlier than.

“We now have lovely environment. We now have many palm bushes, and we hear the birds, and we are able to have a look at the ocean from right here,” Sabine mentioned.

Nevertheless, there are occasions after they miss the Netherlands, too — particularly the climate. Thailand has a moist tropical local weather, and the climate is both “sizzling or actually sizzling” or “raining or not raining,” Johan mentioned.

“We do should say that we miss just a little little bit of chilly generally,” he mentioned. “We’re seasonal folks. We grew up within the 4 seasons, in order that’s one thing you are likely to miss just a little bit.”

Even the Christmas season does not really feel the identical anymore.

“We, in fact, by no means ever worn a jacket anymore or correct sneakers or trousers,” Sabine mentioned, including that her go-to outfits now are sleeveless tops and shorts.

Work-life steadiness in Thailand

Today, the couple’s routine begins by dropping off their youngest, 7, at college earlier than heading to the resort to test in on issues. Their different son, 21, returned to the Netherlands final March.

They are saying their youngest son is adjusting effectively to life on the island.

“It is just a little harder for him to go to pals generally, like he did in The Netherlands, however he loves the seaside life right here,” Sabine mentioned.

The remainder of the couple’s day is often spent on miscellaneous duties — corresponding to fixing issues across the property and getting groceries for the restaurant — to make sure the resort runs easily,

Whereas life now feels “slower, and positively extra fulfilling,” Johan says it is not all play.

The couple has been busy getting the resort up and operating over the previous years, and so they’ve solely simply begun to considerably calm down — contemplating that additionally they not too long ago opened a restaurant close by serving European and Thai delicacies.

“Individuals suppose, ‘Ah, you should be so completely happy you’ll be able to watch the sundown each night.’ We hardly do as a result of we’re at all times busy,” Sabine mentioned. “For the time being, every little thing is type of finished. After all, in a resort, you might be by no means actually finished, however all the huge tasks are finished. So, I do not know, perhaps life goes to be totally different now.”

Have you ever not too long ago relocated to a brand new nation and located or renovated your dream dwelling? When you’ve got a narrative to share, contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.