By Tony Booth

Property investment in Thailand has been heavily promoted for the last few years - but much of the advertising relies on old data, which means claims of up to 10 per cent annual capital growth are little more than developers' exaggerations and probably unattainable.

And if that's not enough to make you think twice, consider the fact that Thailand is currently one of the most politically volatile and unpredictable countries in Asia and has recently witnessed its eighteenth military coup in the last sixty years.

Few would question that Thailand reigns supreme as one of the most beautiful locations existing on our planet, which has made it extremely popular with tourists worldwide.

It has a rich and traditional culture, stunning tropical beaches, awesome scenery and extraordinarily friendly people. But this is little more than an idyllic façade that far too many western investors fall prey to on their first, second or third visit; for just beneath the surface of this apparently blissful paradise there is the reality of a country in turmoil.