Phuket
Phuket is the place that everybody associates with Thailand and it is the place that most tour agencies send you to. Phuket is a big island with its own international airport with a very busy road system. How big? It is a 45 minute drive from the airport to Patong Beach. Tip: If you get a minibus taxi from the airport just tell the driver that you have a hotel booked even if you don't have any booking as they will stop half way at a tourist agent's office trying to sell accommodation to you if you indicate that you are looking for a place to sleep. It is in any event better to just get a taxi for yourself as with a shared taxi you are going to be driven around to the hotels where the other passengers live if your stop is last.
Patong Beach
This is the busiest beach on the island with the most hotels, restaurants and bars. You approach the town over a mountain and your first sight is a sprawling town of high rise hotels with the sea far in the background Little do you know of the bustling nightlife and exotic adventures that await you there below. This is our favourite place in Phuket as everything is within walking distance and you are always guaranteed of having a great time.
The main Beach road of Patong runs parallel with the beach with the hotels behind the road. There are very little places to stay that are directly on the beach so you will have to cross a road to get to the beach. The first time we visited in 2000 we had no idea where to go and asked the taxi driver to just drop us off near the busiest place, so he dropped us off at Bangla Road. My wife sat at a bar with our backpacks and I went searching for a place to stay. I visited a few places along the beach road and when I got to Tropica Bungalows I knew that this was the place for us.
We try to avoid staying in high rise hotels as we enjoy staying on the ground floor with a verandah where we can relax. The hotel is right on the corner of Bangla and Beach road but once you enter the complex it is as if you walked into a jungle. The plants are very lush and they also have a swimming pool and big restaurant. The breakfast buffet has quite a big range of different foods to chose from and they have a chef on hand that prepares your eggs as you like it.
Tip: If you book a room ask for a room at the front right hand-side of the resort as the rooms at the back next to the pool are also right next to the pubs of Bangla Road which can be very noisy till the early hours of the morning.
Their website:
http://www.tropica-bungalow.com/
The lush gardens of the resort and the room (bottom picture):
Phuket is the place that everybody associates with Thailand and it is the place that most tour agencies send you to. Phuket is a big island with its own international airport with a very busy road system. How big? It is a 45 minute drive from the airport to Patong Beach. Tip: If you get a minibus taxi from the airport just tell the driver that you have a hotel booked even if you don't have any booking as they will stop half way at a tourist agent's office trying to sell accommodation to you if you indicate that you are looking for a place to sleep. It is in any event better to just get a taxi for yourself as with a shared taxi you are going to be driven around to the hotels where the other passengers live if your stop is last.
Patong Beach
This is the busiest beach on the island with the most hotels, restaurants and bars. You approach the town over a mountain and your first sight is a sprawling town of high rise hotels with the sea far in the background Little do you know of the bustling nightlife and exotic adventures that await you there below. This is our favourite place in Phuket as everything is within walking distance and you are always guaranteed of having a great time.
The main Beach road of Patong runs parallel with the beach with the hotels behind the road. There are very little places to stay that are directly on the beach so you will have to cross a road to get to the beach. The first time we visited in 2000 we had no idea where to go and asked the taxi driver to just drop us off near the busiest place, so he dropped us off at Bangla Road. My wife sat at a bar with our backpacks and I went searching for a place to stay. I visited a few places along the beach road and when I got to Tropica Bungalows I knew that this was the place for us.
We try to avoid staying in high rise hotels as we enjoy staying on the ground floor with a verandah where we can relax. The hotel is right on the corner of Bangla and Beach road but once you enter the complex it is as if you walked into a jungle. The plants are very lush and they also have a swimming pool and big restaurant. The breakfast buffet has quite a big range of different foods to chose from and they have a chef on hand that prepares your eggs as you like it.
Tip: If you book a room ask for a room at the front right hand-side of the resort as the rooms at the back next to the pool are also right next to the pubs of Bangla Road which can be very noisy till the early hours of the morning.
Their website:
http://www.tropica-bungalow.com/
The lush gardens of the resort and the room (bottom picture):
We once stayed at the Kee Resort and Spa for a week, which unfortunately was the week that it rained the whole time. The hotel is very centrally located and brand new. The rooms are big and modern and the breakfast that they serve will last you the whole day.
Left is the pool and bar at the resort. Tip:The bar is expensive but from 16:00 to 18:00 they have happy hour where all drinks are half price.
Tip: This hotel only cleans your room late in the afternoon which is unacceptable for us. Go tell them in the morning when you go out for the day to go and clean your room as soon as possible and they will do it.
Left is the pool and bar at the resort. Tip:The bar is expensive but from 16:00 to 18:00 they have happy hour where all drinks are half price.
Tip: This hotel only cleans your room late in the afternoon which is unacceptable for us. Go tell them in the morning when you go out for the day to go and clean your room as soon as possible and they will do it.
Bangla Road
The main party strip is Bangla Road with what feels like hundreds of pubs and clubs. Most of the bars are open plan with the front tables and chairs nearly on the pavement. The bar girls all invite you to come sit and have a drink, when there are no tables available they will seat you with other tourists which is also a great way to meet other people.
A sign outside one of the pubs lining the road and Bangla road at the bottom:
The main party strip is Bangla Road with what feels like hundreds of pubs and clubs. Most of the bars are open plan with the front tables and chairs nearly on the pavement. The bar girls all invite you to come sit and have a drink, when there are no tables available they will seat you with other tourists which is also a great way to meet other people.
A sign outside one of the pubs lining the road and Bangla road at the bottom:
There are a few side alleys that runs from Bangla Road where there are small bars in the centre with the go-go clubs at the sides. The famous ping pong shows are held in these clubs and it is usually free but you have to buy a drink in the club that is usually overpriced. However it is one thing that you must go watch if you are there, don't be scared just go do it.
There is a big mall at the top end of Bangla Road, JungCeylon, with a big range of shops and supermarkets. The basement has a lot of small stalls selling the same stuff that hawkers try to sell to you on the road. Tip: The prices are sometimes much cheaper here than at the side of the road. There is also a food court where you can buy food from all the regions of Thailand. You purchase a electronic card and load money on it. After you have decided what you want to eat the lady who cooks the food will swipe your card, if you are finished eating and there are still money left on the card you can get the remaining amount refunded at the card kiosk. The BigC Supermarket is similar to the Hypermarkets in South Africa where you can go and buy fresh foods. Tip: The seafood department has a big variety and you can purchase the seafoods fresh and they will cook the food free of charge.
There is a big mall at the top end of Bangla Road, JungCeylon, with a big range of shops and supermarkets. The basement has a lot of small stalls selling the same stuff that hawkers try to sell to you on the road. Tip: The prices are sometimes much cheaper here than at the side of the road. There is also a food court where you can buy food from all the regions of Thailand. You purchase a electronic card and load money on it. After you have decided what you want to eat the lady who cooks the food will swipe your card, if you are finished eating and there are still money left on the card you can get the remaining amount refunded at the card kiosk. The BigC Supermarket is similar to the Hypermarkets in South Africa where you can go and buy fresh foods. Tip: The seafood department has a big variety and you can purchase the seafoods fresh and they will cook the food free of charge.
The seafood section at BigC
The souvenir shops in the basement floor of JungCeylon Mall.
Day trips from Phuket
One of our favourite things to do in Thailand is to go on day trips. There are a quite a wide variety of excursions on Phuket and you can do everything here that you can do in the rest of the country's regions. Snorkelling, elephant rides, jungle treks, river rafting, scuba, monkey shows, you can find everything here. Tip: Although your hotel will have a tour desk that offer these tours it is much cheaper to book these trips at one of the many travel kiosks at the side of the road. Never book these trips on the internet before you go, you will get it much cheaper in Thailand. Most trips will include a pick up from your hotel and a lunch. Most trips costs between 1000 to 1800 Baht depending on the season.
Various day trips:
Three or four island trip
These trips are a great way to see the surrounding islands and you get the chance to snorkel at various diving sites with exotic tropical fish. We also like these trips because it is not a long bumpy boat ride from the port in Phuket, all the islands are a short distance from the main island. Tip: Try to do this trip at the beginning of your vacation as this is the best way to get your tan going. The tour company will supply you with your life jacket, mask and snorkel and the lunch will be served on one of the islands. Lunch will usually be a buffet style with Thai foods that have been tempered to the Western palate. (Not so spicy)
One of the islands you visit:
One of our favourite things to do in Thailand is to go on day trips. There are a quite a wide variety of excursions on Phuket and you can do everything here that you can do in the rest of the country's regions. Snorkelling, elephant rides, jungle treks, river rafting, scuba, monkey shows, you can find everything here. Tip: Although your hotel will have a tour desk that offer these tours it is much cheaper to book these trips at one of the many travel kiosks at the side of the road. Never book these trips on the internet before you go, you will get it much cheaper in Thailand. Most trips will include a pick up from your hotel and a lunch. Most trips costs between 1000 to 1800 Baht depending on the season.
Various day trips:
Three or four island trip
These trips are a great way to see the surrounding islands and you get the chance to snorkel at various diving sites with exotic tropical fish. We also like these trips because it is not a long bumpy boat ride from the port in Phuket, all the islands are a short distance from the main island. Tip: Try to do this trip at the beginning of your vacation as this is the best way to get your tan going. The tour company will supply you with your life jacket, mask and snorkel and the lunch will be served on one of the islands. Lunch will usually be a buffet style with Thai foods that have been tempered to the Western palate. (Not so spicy)
One of the islands you visit:
You will be snorkeling amongst all these fish and they will approach you if you enter the warm water. Tip: Take your own bananas and bread with you to feed the fish.
James Bond Island
This is one of the most popular day trips as it takes you to the island where the final scene of "The Man with the Golden Gun " was filmed. The trip is usually combined with other site seeing places along the way like the Monkey Temple and the Sea Gypsy Village. Tip: At the monkey temple hold on to your possessions as the monkeys are known for stealing your food and drinks.
Tip: Try to get a trip that combines the James Bond Island excursion with sea-kayaking. It is a once in a life time experience to kayak through the mangroves and you get to enter caves that open up into spectacular beaches inside the caves.
The sea kayaking is fun and you don't have to row your own kayak:
This is one of the most popular day trips as it takes you to the island where the final scene of "The Man with the Golden Gun " was filmed. The trip is usually combined with other site seeing places along the way like the Monkey Temple and the Sea Gypsy Village. Tip: At the monkey temple hold on to your possessions as the monkeys are known for stealing your food and drinks.
Tip: Try to get a trip that combines the James Bond Island excursion with sea-kayaking. It is a once in a life time experience to kayak through the mangroves and you get to enter caves that open up into spectacular beaches inside the caves.
The sea kayaking is fun and you don't have to row your own kayak:
The beach at James Bond Island seen from the rock's side.
Various trips:
Various other trips are also available and you can get pamphlets from all the travel kiosks that are readily available. If you are going to stay just in Phuket then we will suggest going on a elephant trip, monkey show and 4x4 trip combination. There are go-karting, shooting ranges and even bungee jumping.
If you like Thai food then a one day cooking course will hone your skills and you can make some good food for friends when you return home.
Phi Phi Island
This is the post card pretty place near to Phuket and it is even better looking in real life than all the brochures suggest. Most people do Phi Phi on a day trip as it includes some snorkelling, visiting caves and lunch on the main Phi Phi Island. You get some free time on the island but you do not get to experience the night life or the beautiful sunrises or sunsets.
Tip: When you book your trip to Phi Phi ask them to split it over two or three days, this way you can explore the island and enjoy the night life. You take the trip to Phi Phi for the first half of the day and the tour company leaves you on Phi Phi after lunch. There you can go and get a place to sleep for a night or two and when you go back to Phuket you meet up with the group at the restaurant where they usually lunch. Your hotel in Phuket won't have any qualms to store your luggage for the two or three days that you are on Phi Phi.
Tip: Try to get a room on the other side of the island from where the ferries stop. It is hardly a 5 minute walk from the ferries and the beach is much better.
The beach at Phi Phi Island:
Various other trips are also available and you can get pamphlets from all the travel kiosks that are readily available. If you are going to stay just in Phuket then we will suggest going on a elephant trip, monkey show and 4x4 trip combination. There are go-karting, shooting ranges and even bungee jumping.
If you like Thai food then a one day cooking course will hone your skills and you can make some good food for friends when you return home.
Phi Phi Island
This is the post card pretty place near to Phuket and it is even better looking in real life than all the brochures suggest. Most people do Phi Phi on a day trip as it includes some snorkelling, visiting caves and lunch on the main Phi Phi Island. You get some free time on the island but you do not get to experience the night life or the beautiful sunrises or sunsets.
Tip: When you book your trip to Phi Phi ask them to split it over two or three days, this way you can explore the island and enjoy the night life. You take the trip to Phi Phi for the first half of the day and the tour company leaves you on Phi Phi after lunch. There you can go and get a place to sleep for a night or two and when you go back to Phuket you meet up with the group at the restaurant where they usually lunch. Your hotel in Phuket won't have any qualms to store your luggage for the two or three days that you are on Phi Phi.
Tip: Try to get a room on the other side of the island from where the ferries stop. It is hardly a 5 minute walk from the ferries and the beach is much better.
The beach at Phi Phi Island:
Other beaches in Phuket:
We have not stayed at any other beaches in Phuket and the following is just our personal experience regarding it.
Karon Beach
This is a beach that is not far from Patong. Tip: If you pre-book your accommodation and you are going to Phuket to party then just make sure that you don't get a hotel in Karon. It is very quiet and in the the low season there is hardly a person around. It is about a 10 minute drive from Patong and you cross a mini mountain pass with a bit of scenery along the way. You really don't want to drive this road by yourself if you have had a night out in Patong and the taxi syndicate/mafia in Phuket is not cheap.
Nai Yang Beach
It is a long story how we ended up on this beach that involves flights being changed and us being stranded on Phuket Airport for a day. We asked where is the nearest beach and we were told Nai Yang that is literally 5 minutes away. What a surprise, a quiet beautiful beach with some food stalls dotted along the beach and a beach bar or two.
Tip: If you have an early flight out of Phuket then stay the night here as you can be at the airport within 5 minutes and see a beautiful side of the island that you will not normally see.
We have not stayed at any other beaches in Phuket and the following is just our personal experience regarding it.
Karon Beach
This is a beach that is not far from Patong. Tip: If you pre-book your accommodation and you are going to Phuket to party then just make sure that you don't get a hotel in Karon. It is very quiet and in the the low season there is hardly a person around. It is about a 10 minute drive from Patong and you cross a mini mountain pass with a bit of scenery along the way. You really don't want to drive this road by yourself if you have had a night out in Patong and the taxi syndicate/mafia in Phuket is not cheap.
Nai Yang Beach
It is a long story how we ended up on this beach that involves flights being changed and us being stranded on Phuket Airport for a day. We asked where is the nearest beach and we were told Nai Yang that is literally 5 minutes away. What a surprise, a quiet beautiful beach with some food stalls dotted along the beach and a beach bar or two.
Tip: If you have an early flight out of Phuket then stay the night here as you can be at the airport within 5 minutes and see a beautiful side of the island that you will not normally see.
Surrounding places:
Ao Nang Beach, Krabi:
This beach is a taxi ride from Phuket but it also has its own airport in Krabi which is not far from Ao Nang. This town is perfect if you want to laze on a quiet beach during the day and go out for a supper looking over the sunset across the bay at night. Tip: In the low season you get discounts on meals, nowhere else does that.
The starters of a 3 course set meal for 450 Baht for two people:
Ao Nang Beach, Krabi:
This beach is a taxi ride from Phuket but it also has its own airport in Krabi which is not far from Ao Nang. This town is perfect if you want to laze on a quiet beach during the day and go out for a supper looking over the sunset across the bay at night. Tip: In the low season you get discounts on meals, nowhere else does that.
The starters of a 3 course set meal for 450 Baht for two people:
Tip: For the cheapest shopping take a trip to Krabi Town for the weekend market on Friday and Saturday nights. You can book the transport at any of the tour desks that line the roads. The market comprises of 90% Thais and thus the food and goods are very cheap.
The best accommodation is along the beach on the left hand side if you stand overlooking the sea. There are no roads separating you from the beach and you have beautiful views over the bay and cliff side karst. If you stay in the centre of the beach you will have a road in front of you.
Although it does not have the same party scene as Patong there are a few great little pubs with live music. We have even partied at a roadside trailer with a mobile bar and when they did not serve tequila we went to buy a half-jack at the supermarket to share with the bar owner and the other customers. Tip: If you go up the hill away from the seaside you can go eat for dirt cheap at small local restaurants that only open at night.
Accommodation in Ao Nang
We arrived in Ao Nang at noon on a very hot day and I left my wife at a restaurant and started looking for a nice place to sleep. There are a few great places to stay but we decided to stay at Ao Nang Villa who gave me a walk-in rate of 2700 Baht bed and breakfast for a deluxe room overlooking the pool and beach. Looking back now that was a bargain as their published rates are much higher. Tip: In the mornings till 1PM all the massages next to the pool are half-price.
Their website:
http://www.aonangvilla.com/
Tip: The best strip of beach is right in front of the hotel:
Although it does not have the same party scene as Patong there are a few great little pubs with live music. We have even partied at a roadside trailer with a mobile bar and when they did not serve tequila we went to buy a half-jack at the supermarket to share with the bar owner and the other customers. Tip: If you go up the hill away from the seaside you can go eat for dirt cheap at small local restaurants that only open at night.
Accommodation in Ao Nang
We arrived in Ao Nang at noon on a very hot day and I left my wife at a restaurant and started looking for a nice place to sleep. There are a few great places to stay but we decided to stay at Ao Nang Villa who gave me a walk-in rate of 2700 Baht bed and breakfast for a deluxe room overlooking the pool and beach. Looking back now that was a bargain as their published rates are much higher. Tip: In the mornings till 1PM all the massages next to the pool are half-price.
Their website:
http://www.aonangvilla.com/
Tip: The best strip of beach is right in front of the hotel:
The view from the seaview room overlooking one of the two pools.
Tip: The pool bar has a "buy two get one free" happy hour for the whole day. So if you buy 6 cocktails or beers you only pay for 4. You don't have to take the whole lot at once and the barman will keep it cold and open the beer or make the cocktails as you need a fresh drink.
Itinerary for the Phuket Region:
If you have time then you really must get to spend a few nights at Patong, then move on for a night or two at Phi Phi and a few nights in Ao Nang. There are few other beaches and islands like Koh Lanta and Railay Beach in the region that is worth a visit.
Tip: The easiest is to stay in Patong, then take the ferry to Phi Phi, stay there for a few days and then take the ferry to Ao Nang. The ferry from Phi Phi to Ao Nang is actually a shorter trip than the Phuket one. After a few days in Ao Nang you can fly from Krabi airport to either Bangkok or Koh Samui.
Tip: Ask your travel agent to book your flight into Phuket and out of Krabi as this will save you a 3 hour taxi ride from Ao Nang to Phuket airport.
