The tropical beaches of Phuket

by George

The Beaches of Phuket
Phuket is a tropical Thai holiday island and is one of the premier travel destinations in the world. The beaches of Phuket are well known for their white sandy beaches lined with gracious palm and coconut trees.
Most tourists staying on Phuket during their holiday unfortunately only visit the Phuket beach located closest to their hotel. It is a shame as there are so many beautiful Phuket beaches which the tourists could visit. The best way to see all the beautiful beaches of Phuket is by renting a motorbike or jeep and by simply driving up and down the coast line of Phuket as travelers will encounter countless beautiful and deserted Phuket beaches.
Some of the nicest beaches of Phuket are the Phuket beaches mentioned below.

Bang Tao Beach
The beautiful Bang Tao beach is located next to the upscale Phuket Laguna complex where a number of excellent 5 star Phuket hotels are located.

Kamala Beach
Kamala beach is one of the most popular of Phuket beaches and is located only a few minutes drive from Patong beach. Travelers looking for a Phuket beach area which offers a peaceful surrounding should consider booking a Phuket hotel or resort in the Phuket beach resort area of Kamala.

Karon Beach
The most popular of Phuket beaches after Patong beach is Karon beach and is located just south of Patong. Karon has a long beach and numerous resorts line this Phuket beach. Tourists visiting Phuket with children often prefer the somewhat laidback atmosphere that Karon beach has to offer.

Patong Beach
Patong beach is the busiest of all the beaches of Phuket. The vast majority of entertainment and business venues are located in Patong beach. If travelers are looking for a Phuket beach resort area where they can party until the early hours of the morning then Patong beach is the ideal choice for them.

Surin Beach
One of the most upscale Phuket beach areas is the area around Surin beach. If tourists do visit Surin beach then they should definitely try the excellent and inexpensive seafood which is served at the Surin beach side restaurants.

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Karon beach resort - another popular destination on the island of Phuket

by David Yuri

When it comes to planning a vacation, the options are endless. What makes a good or even perfect vacation destination? The things people look for is what they are interested in: stuff they can do, places they can visit and other things like that. What are your interests?
A popular destination for a relaxing vacation is the island of Phuket. Located in the southern part of Thailand, this island is also called 'the pearl of the Andaman' because it comprises all the necessary attractions which appeal to every tourist, no matter their preferences.
Let's start with the places you can visit. A great tourist attraction is the Phuket zoo. It has a surface that stretches on 10 hectares. Within this vast area there are over 100 types of amphibians and reptiles, 600 bird species and over 45 kinds of mammals.
The Phuket Seashell Museum is home for various rarities. In it you can view the only left-handed Noble Volute ever to be discovered and a very rare golden pearl. Other attractions include giant clams or fossils over 380 million years old.
For people interested in culture, one of the biggest Buddhist Temples, the Wat Chalong, represents a very important attraction in Phuket. One of the reasons may be the enormous half buried Buddha, which has a fascinating history going back ages ago.
There are lots of interesting things you can do as well. The nightlife in Phuket is restless and filled with great and fun activities. Everything you can do or visit in Phuket needs a place where you can rest. This is where the Phuket hotels come in play.
Phuket hotels come in all sizes and comfort standards. Ranging from two stars to five star hotels, you can always find a room which serves your interests the best. Depending on your preferences and budget, the Phuket hotels provide choices for every tourist.
For the tourists that seek sunny beaches for a quiet and relaxing vacation, they should set their eyes upon Karon beach resort. Patong beach, which is located further north, provides the perfect solution for people on the look out for fun and wild nightlife.
The Karon beach resort has a beach approximately 1.5 km long. After the tsunami disaster in 2004, most areas here have been fully recovered, leaving just a few spots which need to be redeveloped. This is the perfect location to spend some time relaxing and watching breathtaking sunsets on the beach.
There are just a few Phuket hotels in Karon beach resort which have direct access to the beach. Even so, you will find whatever you heart desires here and all you need to do to get to the beach is cross the road, which does not have a lot of traffic.
There are also lots of interesting places you can spend your time in Karon beach resort. These include bars or restaurants like H2O Entertainment or Harry's Restaurant and Pub. All you need to do is get there and the rest will come by itself.

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- Mall Fever : Phuket wants More

Mall Fever : Phuket wants More ( Phuket News )

by Aparna Raut Desai

That malls are a great place to be would be attested by pretty much any number of Phuket residents you care to ask. There's nothing like the sanctuary of a great big air-conditioned oasis on a scorching hot Phuket day. Some enter and would probably never leave, if not for irate and bemused security personnel ushering them out at the end of a gloriously hedonistic few hours. There's something about the sheer volume of space, swirling masses of people that you are nevertheless detached from, and the convenience of finding pretty much anything you fancy- and a lot you wouldn't expect- up an escalator, down a floor or round a square. On Phuket, hundreds find their way to their favourite mall every week, sometimes everyday. Some are lured by low prices and discounts, others are attracted to quality and still others to absurdly extravagant price tags. Different shelves for different selves, but generally speaking, Phuketians have embraced malls with the felicity of a union between sticky rice and mango. They simply go together. A plethora of malls have sprung up over the last decade or so, with Central Festival and Jungceylon, more recent additions to the scene -- the latter having only thrown open its doors this year -- dwarfing many others that were already in place.The fabulously sabai-sabai Thai motto blends seamlessly with the comfort and convenience offered at colossal shopping stops. In a survey conducted by the Phuket Post, covering 200 odd locals and tourists in Patong, Phuket city, Kata, Karon, Kamala and Cherng Talay, an impressive 24% admitted that they visit a mall daily. 28% said they made weekly visits to malls, and 42% are to be found heading the mall way atleast once a month. An overwhelming 66% said they thought Phuket's malls were “excellent”, with only a small group of 14% insisting they are not as good as those in bigger cities around the world and a tiny fraction of 2% putting them down as “terrible”.One member of this last rather minuscule group reasoned that Phuket has just about enough of malls, and it would perhaps be a better idea to build universities and other educational institutions to promote learning among the younger generation.Which brings us to a rather pertinent but not a very pursued consideration: just how many malls are too many? Given the popularity of the superstore, there is no question that it is here to stay. But how many more do we want ...need...or indeed, are able to cope with? The construction of a Tesco Lotus store at Cherng Talay was in the eye of a recent storm, until the sudden lull, accompanied by the opening of the store. While those that virulently opposed the store did so mainly on the basis of doubts about the legal authorisation of the project, an essential part of their argument against the construction was the effect it may have on local businesses.Demonstrators argued that opening a big store in the heart of a residential area would eventually affect the sales of little stores and shops run by locals.Indeed, coming back to the survey conducted by the Post, 32% of the participants said they shop a great deals less at stores than they did before malls came along. 26% said they only visited small stores in emergencies. Together they constitute more than half of the total number of shoppers interviewed. 42% said they shopped at smaller stores as much as before.As for smaller stores themselves, a large number of erstwhile mom-and-pop stores have shed their Thai names and personalities to don the smart, crisp appearance and modus operandi of chain store marts. There is a certain change happening on the retail face of Phuket, and it's happening fast. However, it's a noteworthy fact that the local stores that have not yet changed their warm and local style of running things are holding on steadfastly and are a long way away from losing heart...or, as they report, business.“Yes, malls are popular,” says the owner of a grocery store in a suburb of Phuket city. “But people in the area sill prefer to come to my shop, as the service is personal and they enjoy chatting and exchanging pleasantries. They could never find that in a mall. “The sense of community keeps people coming here,” he said. “We have people who do their shopping with friends so that they can share what they couldn't afford alone.”It's exactly the kind of warm, communal kinship that would be lost if stores and neighbourhoods like this were on their way out. The beautifully Thai traits of sharing and caring between neighbours and friends could be threatened by the advent of competitive, consumerist want-it-all attitudes that now plague many areas in the developed world.The key word, as for most other considerations, is balance. And it is of course as elusive a notion here as anywhere else. Where do you draw the line? And who draws it? How do we find that delicate balance between modern convenience and social traditions? Certainly, the arguments for development are strong. Perhaps even more persuasive than convenience, is the case for employment. Malls do, without a doubt, provide employment and even opportunity for a great number of people. In Phuket, it's not just the service staff employed in the thousands at various outlets that need to be taken into account, there are also various SMEs that set up shop on the properties. A walk through Big C, Lotus, Central or Jungceylon will feature sightings of not only branded stores, but a plethora of little local stalls selling anything from spices to dried fruit, trinkets to silk, handicrafts to cheap sunglasses.As Khun Songphol Pongrapeeporn, General Manager Marketing Activities of Central Festival Phuket told the Phuket Post, Central Festival employs more than 1,000 working at the various outlets there. “One mall employs the equivalent of 3 hotels, in terms of numbers. Malls are important to the economy of Phuket not just for employment but also for SMEs and other businesses.” Khun Kijja , the General Manager of Index Living Mall Phuket, also emphasises the importance of malls to Phuket's economy. “The demand for consumer goods in Phuket has increased every year,” he said. “And as we know, Phuket is a tourist destination. Millions of people from around the world come to visit Phuket and we have to make sure that their needs are met as well. Prior the opening of the Index mall on Phuket, we had many customers from Phuket that wanted more choice than they had on the island. They chose to buy what they needed at our branches in Bangkok and had them delivered to Phuket. We opened the Index Malls on Phuket to satisfy the demands of the customers, so they can get want they want right here and do not have to travel to Bangkok.”Many of the people we interviewed in areas that do not currently have malls, including Kamala and Kata-Karon, cited travel as a reason for the need for more malls on Phuket. “We like to shop at malls, and if we had malls in our own areas, we wouldn't have to drive all the way to Patong or Phuket city,” they chimed. “We don't want to drive through all that traffic.” Indeed, some interviewees thought that having more malls spread across the state would reduce the congestion on the roads. Which brings us back, again, to the delicate question of balance. People want comforts and they want conveniences. In the rush for development and modernisation, it is often the traditional and the simple that is lost without a trace. Like the controversial proposed changes to the FBA, another bill mooted by the military government that met with vigorous opposition was a retail law, which proposed restrictions on the construction of supermarts and big stores to help reduce competition for traditional retail outlets.For now, the picture is rosy. The few malls and super stores on the island are doing a roaring trade, especially with the advent of the High Season. Locals and tourists alike are delighted with the huge complexes and the entertainment they offer. Local stores, even if in diminished numbers, are still commanding a faithful following.For the sake of culture and the beautiful simple ways that are still alive on the island, we hope that sooner rather than later, those responsible will come up with a definitive and realistic boundary on exactly how many malls are too many, so that Phuket, both modern and traditional may be allowed to coexist in harmony, without either facet threatening the existence of the other.


Reporting by Witchureerat Kunprom, Chutima Sridasatang and Sunisa Nuntharak

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- Puravarna Windsurfing Rally for His Majesty The King

Puravarna Windsurfing Rally for His Majesty The King ( Phuket News )

Medal winners from recent Olympic Games and international competitions will be particpating in the windsurfing competition, the "Puravarna Windsurfing Rally for His Majesty The King" being heldon Phuket to celebrate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty The King's 80th Birthday Anniversary.Tourism Authority of Thailand in association with The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and The Windsurfing Association of Thailand by The Eastern Windsurfing Club will be jointly hosting the event will be titled to be held from January 15 - 20, 2008 off Thailand's famous West coast of Phuket. The rally will commence at Nai Yang, in the North of the island and end at Nai Harn, at the South, passing the world famous beaches of Surin, Patong, Kata and Karon among others, on the way.In addition to a world class entry of top athletes from 21 countries, the Thai national team will also enter the competition. The presence of 30 of the world's best exponents of windsurfing promises an exciting event. The route to be used in the competition cruises along many famous beaches surrounding Phuket island. More than 100 kilometres of breathtaking scenery and marine environment await participants in this world's first windsurfing rally.Another highlight will be the sports equipment, sport clothes, and other accessories which have all been specifically designed to fit with the philosophy and objectives of the event. Even boards, sails, and racing suits have been produced in yellow, the color of His Majesty The King.The Chairman of the National Board of Director, Dr. Suwit Yodmanee, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, commented about several unique points in this rally drawing attention to the world class competitor entries. He went on to add that the competition will be broadcasted to about 170 million households worldwide, providing the great opportunity to showcase Phuket Island, the Pearl of Andaman, and the leading tourist attraction of the region.Event Manager, Thanit Raksanaves of the Eastern Windsurfing Club said that he is thrilled to have such a broad international entry especially from the major European Countries, Scandinavia, North America and Asia and especially the European countries that have produced so many of the world's greatest windsurfers. Topping the list are Christoph Sieber, from Austria who is the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist; Guy Gribb, UK's number one national windsurfer for 13 consecutive years; French former world professional champion, Patrice Belbeoch; Riccardo Giordano, Italy's number one national windsurfer for 14 consecutive years and former European Windsurf Champion. Representing Asia will be Asian Games silver medallist and SEA Games gold medallist for five consecutive years, Saad Panyawan, along with Aran Homraruen, Thailand's national windsurfer who won several medals at the Asian Games.

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Phuket's Secret Beaches

by James Spellman

Phuket's beaches are world-renowned and tourists flock from across the globe to visit the famous beaches at Patong, Karon, and Kata. So much so that many people complain these beaches have lost their charm. They say Phuket can no longer claim to be an idyllic tropical island getaway. The beaches are too crowded. Sun loungers line the entire length of the beaches, sometimes in rows three or four deep. Jet skis, banana boats and parasail boats plough through the water while vendors ply their wares up and down the beach. They say Phuket is finished as an island getaway destination and only caters to the party crowd.
These people have not spent enough time exploring Phuket. There are more than 40 beaches around Phuket Island and there is something to suit all tastes. If you want a beach with good holiday facilities but not too crowded then Nai Harn, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao and Nai Yang all have good hotels and restaurants yet do not draw big crowds. If you really want to get away from the crowds then Nai Thon and Mai Khao beaches in the north of the island are usually very quiet.
Still all these beaches are well known in Phuket and firmly in the tourist travel guides. In this article, we will look at some beaches that still remain undiscovered to most tourists. We will not even include Laem Sing or Yanui in this list. They are both charming beaches but they have become well known and usually have plenty of visitors. Some of the following beaches are not even known to many of Phuket's residents. These are Phuket's secret beaches.


Banana Beach

This beautiful beach is in the northern half of Phuket between Bang Tao Beach and Nai Thon Beach. It is a lovely two-hundred meter strip of sand, studded with rocks in the middle and ringed with trees. It is a good swimming beach and there is some great snorkeling. There is no accommodation and just a single beach restaurant with a handful of sun loungers at the southern end.
There are usually only a handful of visitors at this beach. The majority of them arrive by longtail boat from other beaches but in fact, you can see the beach from the coast road above and there is a trail down.

Pansea Beach

Right at the northern end of Bang Tao Beach is beautiful and peaceful Pansea Beach. There are two up-market resorts here yet the location retains its refreshing tranquility. Just offshore is Kala Island (or Kata Island depending who you believe) which shelters the shallow bay from waves so it is always calm. The waters are too shallow for swimming and when the tide is out you can walk to the island. It is a great beach for paddling and ideal for children to play. There are no refreshments here so it is a good idea to bring a picnic.

Pon Beach

This secluded little beach is in the headland north of Patong. The locals know it as Nai Yair Beach. It is amazing how few people find this beach considering it is located so close to the hordes at Patong. There is nothing here but a couple of rural shacks and a few grazing cows. It is a sandy beach but not good for swimming due to the rocky seabed. There is some good snorkeling.
There are usually a couple of locals renting sun loungers and selling refreshments. They can also provide you with a small barbecue to cook your own. There may be a small charge for crossing the private land to reach the beach.

Paradise Beach

In the headland south of Patong, there are two beautiful beaches that remain relatively unspoiled. They are not as undiscovered as the other beaches we mention on this list but still a break from the heaving masses at Patong. The first is Paradise Beach. Right at the tip of the headland, you can reach it by road (track) or boat.
It is a beautiful beach with overhanging trees. There is no accommodation but there is a restaurant and there are plenty of sun loungers. The beach is not the best for bathing due to the rocky seabed close to shore but there is some excellent snorkeling. There are usually plenty of people around but still it is surprising how many people in Patong do not know this beach is here.
Freedom Beach

You can only reach this stunning beach by boat. It is in the headland south of Patong all the way around and back towards the Karon Beach side. Still it is well worth the boat ride with fantastic bathing and snorkeling.
There are a couple of restaurants and plenty of sun loungers under the trees. The locals take great care of the beach and it is always pristine. Plenty of people do make this a day trip from Patong but the beach is never crowded and again it is surprising how many people in Patong do not know this beach is here.

Nui Beach

This beach is most known for how difficult it is to reach by land. Located between Kata and Nai Harn, the only way to reach it by land is down a two-kilometer dirt track that is almost impossible to traverse in a car. You can just about do it on a motorbike but it is better to walk or let one of the locals take you down on their ATV for a small fee.
It is also known as the most expensive beach in Phuket because you have to cross private land to reach it and they charge 250 baht for the privilege. This fee does get you a sun lounger and drink. When you do arrive, it is a beautiful secluded spot with good swimming and snorkeling. There is a rustic restaurant overlooking the beach but no accommodation. It is never crowded.

Ao Sane Beach

This beach is in the headland at the north end of Nai Harn Beach. You need to go through Le Meridian Phuket Yacht Club's car park to reach it but they do not stop you. There is a restaurant here and some budget bungalows by the beach. There are usually a few people around but it is never busy.
It is actually a series of three small beaches split by little rocky headlands. None of them is good for swimming due to rocks and corals close to shore. There is some excellent snorkeling.

Laemka Beach

This little beach is at the southern end of Phuket between Rawai and Friendship Beach. It is not signposted and a little difficult to find but a beautiful spot. The Evason Resort and a small bungalow resort are nearby but still the beach remains quiet. It is one of the few southern beaches where you can have a swim and there are nice views out to the southern islands.
Ao Yon Beach Nestled deep into Cape Panwa is Ao Yon Beach. This is the best beach on the southern side of Phuket. Although it is well developed with residential property, there are no hotels or restaurants by this beach. It is home to Phuket Yacht Club and there are always plenty of boats moored in the bay.

It is a beautiful stretch of sand and a good bathing beach. It is usually very quiet and a real getaway.

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Phuket Town

Phuket Town is the provincial capital of Phuket Province.

Understand

Phuket Town (เมืองภูเก็ต Mueang Phuket) is the largest town in Phuket Province. It has a population of 63,000 and is the economic hub of the island. For the most part just an ordinary, scruffy provincial Thai town, it's hardly a major tourist attraction, but the Chinatown area is worth a quick look and there are some great Thai-style shopping opportunities too. Overall, accommodation and food in the town is cheaper than near the beaches, and can provide a refreshing change of pace.

Get in

Buses and songthaews connect Phuket Town to major beaches around the island, and start from Thanon Ranong at the Ranong market. The most popular service is the one to Patong Beach (20 baht, 45 minutes) which leaves every 30 minutes between 07:00 and 18:00. Fares to other beaches range from 15 to 30 baht. If you miss the last bus back a taxi will cost you at least 200 baht, easily more depending on your bargaining skills.
Phuket International Airport is 30 km to the north of Phuket Town, about 30 minutes by taxi (500 baht) or 45 minutes by shared minibus (100 baht).

Get around

Phuket Town is just a little too big to be covered comfortably on foot. There's little organised public transport as such, but motorbikes and four wheel tuk-tuks whizz about looking for fares.

See

Phuket Town's low-key attractions are mostly related to its colourful Chinese history and heritage, found in the Chinatown area on the north-western side of the city around Thanon Thalang.
-Jui Tui and Put Jaw Temples, corner of Thanon Ranong and Soi Phuthon (just west of the Ranong bus terminus). Put Jaw is the oldest Chinese Taoist temple in Phuket, first built over 200 years ago and dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy (Kwun Im), while the adjacent and connected Jui Tui is its larger, more modern annex. If you have a question that is puzzling you, ask it and throw the two red mango-shaped pieces in front of the altar in the air: if they land the same side up the answer is "no", while if they land on different sides the answer is "yes". Free entry but donations welcome.
-Sino-Portuguese Mansions, Thanon Krabi. Built by tin and rubber magnates in the late 19th century, these remain impressively huge even today.
-Wat Mongkol Nimit, Thanon Dibuk. A classical Thai-style temple with a soaring roof and lots of colourful glass tiling.
-Phuket Culture Museum, at Rajabhat University. It's free and very informative. Phuket's history is told in pictures and still scenes.

Do

Go shopping!

Buy

Shopping seems to be the main reason for visitors to come to Phuket Town. In addition to local markets and a slew of malls and departments stores, Chinatown's Thanon Thalang offers a large selection of boutiques and galleries retailing traditional handicrafts as well as antiques from the region. Phuket Night Bazaar is a large area, where you can get local stuff (though you might find the same things much cheaper at the Big C supermarket!).

Markets

-Ranong Market, Thanon Ranong, is the largest local market. A warren of stalls selling anything and everything, it can be a hot, sweaty and chaotic but an interesting experience if you've not been to one before.

Shopping malls


-Central Festival, Thanon Chaloem Phra Kiat - Phuket's branch of the Thai department store chain, also selling anything and everything but now in air-con comfort and a zero added to the price tag. It's still probably cheaper than the street markets at the beaches.
-SuperCheap claims to be the biggest and cheapest mall in Phuket, a cross between a Metro Market, Walmart, a Bazaar, and a normal local market for nearly everything from groceries to motorbike and car supplies and electronics. The best time to visit is in the evening. Take a small dinner in the nearby Thai restaurant (all you can eat for 69 baht - but when you leave something on the plate it costs 100 baht!) and afterwards join the Thai people at the market. SuperCheap is situated on the road to the airport, about 5 kms out of Phuket Town centre, just behind the Esso site. Open until midnight.

Eat


-Siam Bakery, 13 Thanon Yaowaraj (north of the Ranong traffic circle). French-run bakery offering pastries and drinks (~50 baht) in pleasant air-con surroundings.
-All You Can Eat, at Super Cheap, but you have to empty your plate -- otherwise it costs double. That's not a joke, but very useful in keeping guests eating things they really like to eat and not wasting food. If you order water with ice, the ice costs extra!
-Ruam Jai Restaurant, 215 Th Ranong, tel. 076-222821. Open: 6.00 - 16.00. A local run restaurant with friendly staff serving delicious all-vegetarian food. The prices are very reasonable, for example a plate of white/brown rice choosable with two or more dishes from the buffet of about 15 different courses is around 25-35b. Try also locally made fresh juices, 10b each. Popular among locals; it can be crowded around mealtimes. One of 3 vegetarian restaurants in very close proximity near the local bus terminal.
-Weekend market - numerous stalls sell a variety of meats, vegetables, noodles, fruits and sweets that can fill a stomach for a handful of baht.

Drink


-China House, 43 Thanon Yaowaraj. Chinese tea and other drinks in an impeccably tastefully restored shophouse that doubles as an art gallery. On the expensive side though, with drinks 50-100 baht.
-Coffee Max, on the roundabout where Thanon Ranong meets Thanon Yaowarat. Small, friendly coffee shop offering hot and cold coffee and tea drinks and a selection of pastries and cakes. Free wi-fi for customers.
-Michael's Bar, 12 Takua-Pa Road. Owned by a British expat, a friendly, low-key place to grab a few drinks at a reasonable price. Has wi-fi or a solitary PC for customer use, free for the first 20 minutes.
-Smile Cafe Newly opened cafe near the junction of Thanon Montri and Thanon Phang-Nga, run by a friendly young Thai couple who make a great ice-blended coffee or green tea.

Sleep

Budget

-Ban Nai Inn, 22/98 Luang Poh Cham Rd, Soi 1 A. Muang, Phuket 83000. Tel 076-214907-9, Fax 076-232276. Small guesthouse located directly behind the long distance bus terminal (walk past the motorbike taxi drivers). Rooms are basic but cheap, and include tv, refrigerator, A/C, separate shower and wardrobe with lockable drawer. Little English is spoken, suggesting that this is a destination more popular with Thai tourists.
-On On Hotel - 19 Th Phang-Nga, tel. 0 7621 1154; Old and a bit musty Sino-Portugese building with rich atmosphere, located almost in the center of the town. A small travel agency, laundry and cafe downstairs. Few scenes from the movie The Beach (2000) was shot here; check out room 38 for familiar views. Providing probably one of the cheapest accommodation of the island. Rooms from 180b to 400b. The cheapest rooms have shared bathrooms.
-Phuket Backpacker - Tel: +66-7625-6680. New (2005) establishment for western travellers, with sociable common room and kitchen facilities. It is located in the heart of Phuket town, next to the local food market on Ranong Road. Its central location allows easy trips -- via buses and taxis -- to Phuket's surrounding beaches and sights. There is also abundant shopping and dining in the area. Fan cooled rooms at the back are popular with cockroaches and mosquitos, so be prepared to share or fight for your space (and bring your own lock for the door). Free wi-fi, but the range does not extend to the outlying rooms.
-Phuket Cyberinn Hotel - Tel: +66-76220 100. Phuketcyberinn on Bangkok Rd. is located in the heart of Phuket Town. A 3-storey hotel is surrounded by many shops, street bazzars and wonderful old buildings. Easy to reach many spectacle beaches aound Phuket. It is just 30 minutes away from Phuket international airport.

Mid-range

- Metropole Phuket, 1 Soi Surin, Montri Road, ☎ +66 76 215-050, 214-020-9 (fax: +66 76 215-990), Large hotel, 5-10 minute walk from the main bus station and the market. May once have been an opulent choice, but it feels like a decision was made some decades ago to spend minimal effort on upkeep or cleaning of the hotel - at least the cheaper rooms and the "gym" are in desparate need of renovation! Wi-Fi 300 baht/day.

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Phuket International Airport

Phuket International Airport (IATA: HKT, ICAO: VTSP) is an airport in Phuket, Thailand.

Phuket International Airport is the second busiest airport in Thailand in terms of passengers but not cargo, after Suvarnabhumi Airport in the Bangkok metropolitan area. The airport is located in the north of Phuket Island, 32 miles from the centre of Phuket City. It plays a major role in Thailand's tourism industry, as Phuket Island is a popular resort destination.

Airlines and destinations

International Airlines

AirAsia (Kuala Lumpur)
Thai AirAsia(Singapore)
Air China (Beijing)
Asiana Airlines (Seoul-Incheon) seasonal
Bangkok Airways
Siem Reap Airways (Siem Reap)
Cathay Pacific
Dragonair (Hong Kong)
China Airlines (Taipei-Taoyuan)
China Southern Airlines (Guangzhou)
Condor Airlines (Frankfurt)
EVA Air
Uni Air (Kaohsiung)
Far Eastern Air Transport (Kaohsiung)
Jetstar Asia Airways (Singapore)
Korean Air (Seoul-Incheon)
LTU International (Munich)
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur)
Firefly (Penang)
Martinair (Amsterdam, Muscat)
Orient Thai Airlines (Hong Kong, Karachi)
Qantas
Jetstar Airways (Sydney)
Shanghai Airlines (Shanghai-Pudong)
Singapore Airlines
Silkair (Singapore)
SkyStar Airways (Busan, Seoul-Incheon)
Tiger Airways (Singapore)
Thai Airways International (Hong Kong, Taipei-Taoyuan, Perth, Seoul-Incheon)
Transaero (Moscow-Domodedovo)

International Airlines-Charter

Belair (Zurich)
Finnair (Helsinki, Oulu [charter])
Hong Kong Airlines (Hong Kong)
MyTravel (Oslo, Stockholm-Arlanda, Copenhagen - Charter)
Novair (Stockholm-Arlanda, Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg [Charter])
Thomsonfly (London-Gatwick, Manchester (United Kingdom)
TransAsia Airways (Taipei-Taoyuan) (Charter)
Travel Service (Czech Republic) (Prague [Charter])
TUIfly Nordic (Stockholm-Arlanda, Oslo [charter])

Domestic Airlines

AirAsia
Thai AirAsia (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi)
Bangkok Airways (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai , Pattaya-Utapao, Samui)
Orient Thai Airlines (Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi)
One-Two-GO Airlines (Bangkok-Don Mueang)
Thai Airways International (Bangkok-Don Mueang, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai [Arrival only])
Nok Air (Bangkok-Don Mueang, Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Hat Yai)

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Get out

Khao Lak - family-oriented resort town that has made an impressive recovery after the tsunami
Krabi - the place to go when you want to visit the beaches at Ao Nang and Rai Leh.
Ko Phi Phi - 1.5 hours by ferry, parts of The Beach were filmed at this stunningly beautiful location
Phang Nga - 2 hours away, this bay is famous for its gravity-defying limestone formations, including James Bond Island
Ko Samui & Pattaya - Bangkok Airways operates direct flights to both
Similan Islands - national park consisting of nine small paradise islands. Hugely popular among divers due to unbelievable underwater scenery. Dive boats usually depart from Phuket, non-divers can take a snorkeling tour from Khao Lak.

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Sleep

There is a glut of rooms in hotels of all sizes and classifications, serviced (catered) apartment complexes (so-called 'mansions') and homestays. It's a buyers' market even in high season (Nov-May), with air-con room rates starting at under 500 baht, and 2-3 bedroom furnished houses available for 7000-10000 baht/month. For budget accommodation, the best rates are usually those negotiated in person.

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Eat & Drink

Eat

Food in Phuket is surprisingly cosmopolitan, as many foreigners have set up shop to cater to their fellow travellers. All the usual Thai favorites are of course still available, with a particular emphasis on seafood. Thanon Ranong in Phuket town sports a string of vegetarian restaurants where a simple plate of rice and something can fill the stomach for as little as 30 baht.

Drink

Phuket has a busy nightlife, second only to Pattaya among Thailand's beach resorts. Patong Beach is by far the busiest, and seediest, of the lot, but in addition to go-go bars there are also plenty of other bars, discos and clubs.

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Do

Elephant riding

This is a good way to support the remaining domesticated elephants of Thailand and their mahout, is fairly cheap, and can be an interesting new experience. The elephants are well trained, and you can tip the mahout by giving the money to the elephant who will hand it to the mahout with its trunk.

Animal sanctuary

Visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project by the beautiful Bang Pae waterfall. They have a visitor centre manned by Western volunteers and English speaking Thai staff who will talk to you about the project. Talks are free, but please support the project by buying a souvenir, sponsoring a gibbon or giving a donation. Don't have your photo taken with a captive gibbon in Phuket or on the beaches.
Gibbon rehabilitation Project

Golf - see also: Golf in Thailand - Phuket section and Golf

The golf courses of Phuket are of international standard. Each one has its own particular challenges and scenic splendour that only Phuket can offer. Discount green fee are available by booking through Phuket golf booking agencies.

Blue Canyon Country Club
Laguna Phuket Golf Club
Loch Palm Golf club Phuket
Mission Hills Phuket Resort and spa
Phuket Country Club
Phuket Golf Courses Reservations
Thai Muang Beach Golf and Marina

Muay Thai training (Thai kick-boxing):

Suwit Muay Thai Boxing Camp
Chalong Chi Muay Thai and M.M.A. Training Camp

Experience the sensese of Thai Spa:

Sukko Cultural Spa & Wellness

Watersports

Scuba diving, yachting, jet-skiing and parasailing are the most popular activities on the island. Most dive sites are off nearby islands, but distances are fairly short and there are dozens of dive shops and boats to cater to your needs, mostly based near Chalong Pier.

Other Activities

In Phuket, where everything happens for fun and adventure, you live life to the fullest with such a great variety of activities the paradise has to offer. Just besides the popular activities such as diving and snorkeling, golfing, Muay Thai, sailing and sport fishing, there are a bunch of other "must do while in Phuket" activities.

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See

Phuket might not have the historical sites that Bangkok and Chiang Mai have, but it does have a few. Most visitors spend their time at the beaches and in the bars. The most heavily-hyped attraction is the Phuket Fantasea show at Kamala Beach, a self-proclaimed "cultural theme park", but comparisons to Disneyland are exaggerated at best.
However, Wat Chalong is a beautiful Buddhist temple located on the southern end of the island. Phuket used to be the important port on Indian Ocean, so it received buiding stye form China and Eurobe. There is also the history to be seen in Phuket Town. It is the Chino-Portugist building. Some own building opens their house to be museum and, of course, the sights and sounds of the Vegetarian Festival.

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Get around

Phuket is a large island and you need some form of transport to get around.

By bus

From Phuket Town there are frequent bus services to the other part of the island such as Patong Beach, Kata-Karon beach, Chalong Bay, Rawai-Naihan beach, Seaport-Aquarium, Mai Khaw beach, Surin-Kammala beach. The fare is 15-30 baht up on distance, by both full-size buses and by songthaews. Most operate from the central market (Talad Sod or Ban San); those to major beaches go via Phuket Town bus terminal. There are no set stops - they pick up and drop off as requested. Most local bus services stop at around 18:00.

By taxi

Phuket has two types of taxi - millions (or so it seems) of small songthaew-style minivans (usually bright red, occasionally bright yellow) called Tuk Tuks, and a much smaller number of conventional sedan-style taxis (yellow and red, with a "TAXI-METER" sign on top).
The minivans are universally referred to as tuk-tuks (even though they have four wheels, not three). They have no meter, and their drivers are notoriously mercenary, so always agree a price beforehand and do bargain hard. Short hops around town shouldn't cost more than 40 baht, but good luck getting from Patong to Phuket Town for under 200 baht.
For longer distances the metered taxis are generally a better bet, so do your bit to break the iron grip of the minitaxi mafia and patronize them if you can. You can hail one by telephone on 076-232157.
There are also motorbike taxis. While you should never hop on the back of just anyone's motorbike, motorbike taxi drivers wear bright numbered vests and are usually the cheapest way to go. However, it is important to note that these are slightly more dangerous than a Tuk Tuk, for obvious reasons, and are not comfortable for long trips. However, if you just need to get around town, they are a great way to go.

By car or bike

More than 10,000 people are injured and over 250 killed every year in road accidents in Phuket. Nine out of ten accidents involve motorbikes. Major risk factors are the hilly terrain, careless speeding drivers and driving at night, and drunk-driving.
Renting a car or motorbike to explore the island on your own is a cost-effective way of getting off the beaten track. However, given the atrocious driving habits of most locals and the resulting carnage on Phuket's roads every year, the risks do demand careful consideration.
Motorcycle and scooter rentals start at around 150 baht/day, coming down to 100 baht/day for rentals of a week or more. Phuket police do enforce the crash helmet requirement, and also conduct frequent spot checks at which a driving licence must be produced. Many rental agencies will not require to see your licence. Whether or not you need an international licence or just your licence from your home country is unclear. So long as your licence from home is written in English, you should be fine. The current on-the-spot fine (you pay, you get a receipt and then they let you drive off - speaking from personal experience) for not carrying a licence is 300 baht. You may want to consider whether paying for an international licence is more expensive than just paying a fine or two while you are there.
Driving in Phuket is a little crazy compared to most western nations, but nothing like what you can expect to see in Indonesia or India and congestion is limited to Phuket Town and the main stretches of Patong Beach; still nothing like we see everywhere in Japan. Have some common sense and be ready to learn from watching how the locals drive and you will be quickly making your way happily around. Of course, it helps if you are accostomed to driving on the left side of the road. That in itself could be enough to detract some North American or European drivers.

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Get in

The island has an international airport and is also directly connected to the mainland by a bridge, so it's possible to arrive by air, road, or sea.

By plane

There are very frequent flights to/from Bangkok as well as direct flights to many other airports in the region, including Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and direct charters to Europe and Australia in the high season.

Airport

The compact Phuket International Airport (IATA: HKT) (ICAO: VTSP) is located in the north of the island, and is Thailand's second largest hub.
International departure tax is 700 baht payable in cash (there are several ATMs at the airport). Departure tax for domestic flights is included in the ticket.
Airport transfers
Limousine (blue) taxis from the airport are expensive, costing 500-600 baht to Patong Beach or Phuket Town
Metered (yellow) taxis (available outside the car park gates) cost 300+ baht
Minibus services (basically door-to-door share taxis) charge 100-200 baht per seat. One realworld example is from airport to Chalong to 6 persons was 1100 baht and there was not possibility to lower it easily.
Airport shuttle bus service (6:30-20:30, every 30 minutes) to Phuket Town bus station costs 52 baht; local buses run from there to all the major beaches until around 18:00

Domestic flights

Several domestic discount airlines fly here, including Air Asia and Nok Air - tickets from Bangkok can cost under 1000 baht one-way if booked well in advance, or around 2000 baht (including taxes) if bought on the day.
Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on direct flights between Phuket and U-Tapao (Pattaya / Sattahip) and Ko Samui.
Destination Air Shuttle offers direct seaplane transfers (some of which operate seasonally) between Phuket and Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, the Similan Islands, and other popular Andaman coast destinations.

International flights

Malaysia - AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines have direct flights from/to Kuala Lumpur. Also, FireFly, a new Malaysia-based low-cost airline, has flights from its Penang hub to and from Phuket.
Singapore - Silk Air has 32 flights a week. Low cost alternatives are AirAsia, Jetstar Asia Airways, and Tiger Airways.
Other low cost direct connections include Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macao, and Seoul.

By train

The nearest train station is about 5 hours away, at Surat Thani, so a few local people and tourist travel to Phuket by train.

By bus

Buses to mainland destinations including Bangkok, Chumphon, Hat Yai, Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, Satun, Sungai Kolok and Surat Thani use the BKS terminal off Thanon Phang Nga in Phuket Town.
The most reliable buses from Bangkok are those from the Southern (Sai Tai Mai) Bus Terminal. There are 2 private bus companies, Phuket Travel Tour and Phuket Central Tour and the government firm, Transport Co,Ltd. Khao San Road operations have a bad reputation for theft, often turn out to include a "surprise" transfer to a minibus at Surat Thani, and are best avoided.
From Phuket bus terminal to your final destination, you can take a motorcycle taxi, tuk-tuk, meter-taxi, or bus. A motorcycle taxi into Phuket Town will be about 10-20 baht; to most beaches 100-200 baht (negotiable). A local bus to one of the main beaches will cost around 15-30 baht. It's not unusual for the tuk-tuk drivers at the bus terminal to tell arriving travellers that the local bus service has finished, even though it hasn't.

By boat

Ferry services connect from Rassada Port in Phuket Town to Ko Phi Phi and on to Krabi on the mainland twice a day, taking 90 minutes and costing 350/650 baht one-way/return, for each leg. It's usually a pleasant ride, but can be rather bumpy when it's windy.
There are also boats to Ko Racha (2 hours), the Similan Islands (9+ hours) and other islands in the high season only. Boats and yachts can be chartered at Chalong Pier, the Boot Lagoon and the Yacht Haven.
It's possible to visit Phuket by cruise ship. For cruises from Singapore, try Star Cruises.

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Other destinations

Koh Yao Noi

This island is one of many east of Phuket, halfway to Krabi. It is pretty unspoilt and features four upmarket resorts including The Paradise Koh Yao Boutique Resort and Spa , Koh Yao Island Resort, Koh Yao Pavillion Resort and the new Evason Hideaway opening soon. There are regular public boat services, plus most resorts operate their own shuttle boats, and Destination Air flies there with floatplanes several times daily.

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Beaches

Particularly in the monsoon season, there are strong currents on many of the beaches and drownings are a depressingly common occurrence. Heed the warning flags on popular beaches and play it safe if off the beaten track. It is important to note that, while many tourists who flock to the beaches of Phuket are European, nudity is viewed as highly offensive to Thais. It is very rude to go topless to beaches. Thais are generally non-confrontational, but it is always best to be respectful while treading on another's home country.
The major beaches from north to south are:
-Bang Tao - long, very quiet beach
-Surin Beach - an up-and-coming destination
-Laem Singh Beach - small bay with stunning views, between Kamala Beach and Surin Beach -Kamala Beach - a quieter beach to the north of Patong
-Patong Beach - the largest beach resort, known for its nightlife
-Karon Beach - a quieter beach to the south of Patong
-Kata Yai Beach - busy, clean tourist beach with good surf
-Kata Noi Beach - quieter sister of Kata Yai
-Ao Chalong - home to Phuket's most popular yacht anchorage
-Rawai Beach - set off point for lots of local islands, popular with locals for eating on the beach

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Festivals

-Phuket Vegetarian Festival - an annual event held during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. It is believed that the vegetarian festival and its accompanying sacred rituals bestow good fortune upon those who religiously observe this rite. During this time, local residents of Chinese ancestry strictly observe a 10-day vegetarian or vegan diet for the purposes of spiritual cleansing and merit-making. Sacred rituals are performed at various Chinese shrines and temples and aesthetic displays such as walking barefooted over hot coals and ascending ladders with bladed rungs are performed by entranced devotees known as "Ma Song".

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Understand

Phuket enjoys great popularity as a travel destination. Most beaches are on the west coast, with Phuket Town to the south-east and the airport in the north.

2004 tsunami

The west coast of Phuket was hit severely by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, but almost no evidence of the damage now remains.

Climate

Phuket is hot and humid throughout the year. The high season is generally considered to be from November to May. During the summer monsoon season, mornings and afternoons are still sunny and clear, but it tends to rain in the evenings and water clarity goes down. Locals consider May to October the "cool" season, and the weather is quite tolerable, much more so than in the tourism centers around the Gulf coast. It's comparable to Florida's summer weather in temperature and intensity of rain storms: 25-33 deg C, flying clouds, short and thunderous rainfalls in the afternoons and evenings. Surfing is possible off the western beaches.

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Administrative divisions

Phuket is divided into 3 districts (Amphoe), which are further subdivided into 17 subdistricts (tambon) and 103 villages (muban).
Mueang Phuket
Kathu
Thalang
There are 6 municipal (thesaban) areas within the province. The capital Phuket has city (thesaban nakhon) status, and the main touristical town Patong has town (thesaban mueang) status. There are further 4 townships (thesaban tambon) - Karon, Kathu, Thep Krasattri and Choeng Thale. The non-municipal areas are administrated by 13 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

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Economy

Tin mining has been a major source of income for the island since the 16th century. Chinese businessmen and Chinese workers were employed in the mines. Most were Hakka Chinese, and their influence on Phuket culture and cuisine can still be felt today. With falling tin prices, the mining has now all but ceased. Nowadays, Phuket's economy rests on two pillars: rubber tree plantations (making Thailand the biggest producer of rubber in the world) and tourism, with a thriving dive industry attracting thousands of divers each year.
Since the 1980s the sandy beaches on the western coast of the island have been heavily developed into tourist centers, with Patong, Karon and Kata being the most popular ones. Along with its stunning beaches, and picture-perfect landscape, the increase in tourists has been amazing. Since the 2004 Tsunami, all damaged buildings and attractions have been restored.

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