Tourists flock to Phuket on Thailand's south coast
because of Phuket's white beaches, near hundreds of beach resort hotels
from five star hotels to budget. There's cheap shopping and eye-opening
night life. Phuket makes the list of the world's Best Beach Holidays
compared to other destinations because of the good quality white beach sand
near accommodation that varies from five star luxury to quality budget hotels.
The sand on Phuket's beaches is some of the whitest beach sand in Asia.
Phuket island is joined to the Thai mainland via the new
Sarisan
Bridge to Phang-Nga province but most holidaymakers fly in
to Phuket's international
airport located 35 kilometres north of the main tourist strip near Patong
Beach.
Photo of Patong Beach Phuket
It's important to remember that Phuket offers
much more than just bars and accommodation near Patong Beach, with beautiful
resorts dotting beaches including Kata Beach,
Karon to
the south and five star resorts around the attractive lagoon at
Bang
Tao beach to the north, including the
Sheraton Grande Laguna.
Patong Beach is known
as the fun capital of Asia and is certainly entertaining during the day
as you decide between lazing on the white beach with tropical palms, shopping
at the many stalls for everything from cheap clothing to DVDs, or eating
and drinking at the many Patong beachfront cafes and bars.
By night, Patong bar girls, pole dancing performances and sex shows, show a sleazier side that some find entertaining, but others find sad. Transvestites come out of the shadows and many Thais try to entice you with glossy brochures of sex shows. Patong at night is also where many older Western men are seen with younger Thai girls, some of whom who have no other way of earning a living. It's not uncommon to hear Westerners abusing older men for their activities.
Massage near Patong Beach, Phuket.
The explosion of cut
price airlines flying to Phuket International Airport means that package
holidays to Phuket are reasonably priced and can create the perfect holiday.
You can easily stay away from Patong Beach if you don't want crowds,
and we highly recommend the picturesque resorts around the lagoon at "Bang
Tao Beach" only 20 minutes north. Some of the resorts only 20 minutes
south of Patong at "Karon Beach" are also perfect
for a relaxing beach holiday.
Accommodation at Nai Thon beach is a little
more expensive than accommodation near Nai Thon Beach, a few kilometres
inland near the Phuket airport. Nai Thon Beach is one of the world's
best beach holiday destinations. Naithonburi beach resort is one of the
best 5 star resort hotel accommodation near one of the best Phuket surf
beaches. Unfortunately @ 100b per hour free internet was not included.
Australian trained Phuket surf lifeguards frequently blow the whistle at
the predominantly Russian tourists. Most of the hotel staff are from
Myanmar. Bigger surf is at Mai Khao beach near the
Sarisan Bridge, north Phuket, where there is only luxury 5 star
resort accommodation. Some are the best time-share private, secure,
luxury pool villas in Phuket.
There's also surf near
Nai
Harn Beach, Rawai near the southern tip of Phuket.
You'll find stylish five star hotels near the
lagoon at Bang Tao Beach. This is a white sandy beach with crystal clear
water that features resorts including the Sheraton Grande Laguna, the Banyan
Tree and the
Laguna Beach Resort. The resorts look over the beach one way and across
the lagoon to other resorts on the other side.
The open-air Laguna village markets are a great
way to experience local Thai traders selling fruit and vegetables, fresh
fish and other cooked food as well as cheap clothes. You can also shop for
antiques at Laguna's Canal Village and some of the shops just outside
the Laguna entrance.
The other stylish beach is
Karon to the
south of Patong where the Movenpick Resort and Spa is literally
the pick of hotels here. The Marina Phuket Resort is good value
at US $170 a night while you'll find great value at the popular
Pacific Club Resort at US $90 a night. Things to do at Phuket beaches:
Swimming
Buy a ticket or charter a long tail boat
from your beach to another Phuket beach or to a beach on an island
near Phuket such as beautiful Rang Yai island.
Kayaking from Phuket beaches or for one
of the best tours of a life time: Go
kayaking through caves
under karsts in Phang Nga Bay near Phuket.
Surfing or boggiboarding. Hire a board from
beach vendors.
Sailing. Hire a catamaran at Patong beach.
Jetskiing. Make sure you photo graph and
check the jet skii before you hire it.
Parasailing behind a speed boat
Water skiing.
Snorkelling
Get a cheap Thai massage. Great value price
of Thai massages is 300 baht.
Visit the night markets. The night market at
Kata near the big "Hulk" statue is quite large with a good mix of food,
gadgets and fashion for sale.
Watch a cabarets show. Live entertainment with
animals is at FantaSea.
Go on a sightseeing tour including "Big
Buddha" on top of the mountain. You can either hire a car or hire
a motor bike or go on a guided tour. Every hotel in Phuket has a tour
desk and there are more tour agents on the street than there are hookers.
Play golf.
Relax pool side
Go night clubing / dancing.
Pub crawl, bar crawl with friends.
Enjoy a wide range of cuisines at Phuket restaurants.
I recommend seafood. Squid is fresh, locally wild caught, not farmed,
cheap and healthy. Try Thai squid salad. Nicky's Handlebar
at Patong Beach serves great Thai food at a reasonable price.
If you can handle a bar that features Harley Davidson motorbikes, you'll
enjoy the delicious food and friendly atmosphere.
Phuket Thailand is a
best beach holiday because the beaches are white, the water is crystal clear
in most parts and there's a lot to see and do. If you love resorts and
tranquility, go to Bang Tao Beach north of
Patong Beach
or Karon Beach and
Kata beach south of
Patong Beach.
If you want cheap shopping and to watch your dollar go further, go to
Patong Beach for an Asian beach holiday experience near white sandy
beaches and palm trees.
Photos of Phuket
Thailand.
See Thai beach holidays at
Koh
Samui near Phuket Island
Best Phuket beach holiday Thai travel
destinations are written by dedicated photo journalists, published and edited
by the Best Beach Holidays Travel editor
Ben Grummels
who was extended kind hospitality byFranz Hofer of the
Marriott
Vacation Club. Contact Best
Beach Holidays to submit your Phuket beach holiday articles.
Photo of
Nai Harn Beach
south Phuket.
Accommodation
Near Phuket Beaches
Photo of Patong Beach Hotel
Above photo of Bangala Road Patong Phuket. Below Google Street
View of Patong Beach near Bangala Road Phuket.
The next beach south
is
Kata Beach, also famous for its white sand and blue water.
There
are also many good restaurants and bars near beach resorts from
Mom Tri's Villa Royale for US$245 a night and
Katathani
Beach Resort for US$240 a night, to the great value
Boomerang Village
Cottages in a pretty setting for only US$49 a night.
If you want to stay near the centre of Patong Beach
where the action is, the
Patong Beach Hotel for US$134 a night is right across the road
from the main Patong beach. The location is perfect for what's
a 3 to 4 star hotel Patong Beach.
Slightly inland,
Kelly's Hotel is ranked #1 in Patong on Tripdvisor website
because of its value at US$74 a night and the personalised service from
staff including Dan the manager. Kelly's Hotel has elevated
views over the beach and the mountains. Ask for the
Topaz Suite.
At the other end of the scale, La Flora Hotel at US$300 a night
is Patong's most stylish hotel.
List of 10 Best Things to do Phuket
Restaurants Near Phuket Beaches
North of Patong
Beach at the Laguna resorts near
Bang Tao Beach, try
Tik near the
Laguna Beach Resort. It's right on the beach and
features beautiful Thai food including fish cakes at inexpensive prices,
especially compared with the nearby resorts. Also nearby is the
Siam Supper Club, a funky café and bar with sublime food run by
the affable Benedikt. Dishes include fresh threadfin salmon and
many believe this to be the best food in Phuket.
South of
Patong
Beach at Kata Beach is the delightful
Capannina restaurant,
an Italian café with superb pasta, pizza and seafood. Try the spaghetti
seafood or fresh barbecued fish in the wood fired oven. The Italian
wine tops it off as a great night out.
Temperature Chart Phuket
Rainfall Chart Phuket
Phuket Summary
Phuket is one of our best beach holidays for scenery and value, but
do yourself a favour and stay away from Patong's Bangla Road
at night.
YouTube Videos of Phuket
Top Beach Holidays Phuket