Phuket
If you are travelling in Thailand and are headed down south for some island time, Phuket is where you will likely start your journey. Long ago it was a popular trading route, gaining most of it’s wealth from tin and rubber. Modern day Phuket is booming with tourism and has become one of the most popular beach destinations in Asia.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET0tTZgS1tc[/youtube]
Located in the Andaman Sea, Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand. Though most of the island is mountainous, the west coast is lined with pristine beaches. This makes for some diverse activities, from kite surfing or para-sailing, to trekking through lush forest into the mountains.
Patong beach is the most popular and well know beaches in Phuket, with an incredible nightlife and hundreds of hotels you will never have a problem staying close to the action here. It can be a little overwhelming at first but it really is a sight to be seen. Bangla Road is where it’s at, with literally hundreds of bars you will be sure to see things you’ve never seen before! Bars, pubs, discos, go-go bars, transvestite cabarets, live music, all will provide you with some of the best entertainment you’ve ever had. One thing to keep on your mind is the location of your wallet or handbag, this action packed atmosphere can make it easy to forget that you are a target for theft. If a local girl (or ladyboy) at a bar is getting a little close make sure you are conscious of where your money and ID are located. Unfortunately there is a fair amount of theft going on in these bars.
If you are going to Patong to party, two or three days will probably be enough. It is pretty intense with all the sights and sounds and there are many other places around the island and surrounding islands to take in the nightlife.
As you go down the coast there are some of the most amazing beaches. Karon, Kata, and Kamala are all a little more low key but all a short distance from Patong. So if you are staying for a week or more it might be a good idea to base yourself at one of these more family and couple friendly beaches and pop into to Patong from there for some shopping and nightlife. Wherever you choose to stay be sure to check out the Phuket Fantasea Theme Park, for THB1,500 you can enjoy a Las Vegas style show, check out some of Thailand’s architectural history, and indulge in some authentic Thai dishes!
Comments and Responses
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Many thanks for your good traveling blog.Tourists know Phuket as a beautiful natural travel destination, especially renowned for its white sand beaches and indigo seas. Phuket is developed and equipped with facilities to cater to all types of traveler, offering an international airport, five-star hotels, entertainment venues, restaurants and eateries. It can be said that Phuket is a tourism hub on the shores of the Andaman. In addition to Phuket’s tourist destinations, it is also easy to travel to the surrounding islands and nearby provinces
I think it’s definitely worth heading up into the mountains of Phuket to one of the lookout points to get more of a bird’s eye view of the beaches and the water. Even if you’re a total beach bum, you won’t resent being dragged away from the beach once you see the sights from up high – especially if you go at sunset.
Phuket is a popular destination for a good reason – it’s so beautiful! If you’re not particularly a party person, you don’t need to worry about Phuket’s reputation as a party place. I went with my family a few years ago and we had a great time.
One of the fun things about visiting Phuket is that you will hear accents from all over the world – so if you like making new international friends, Phuket is the place to be!