Travel: Thailand - Phuket

[Fairy]

cafelatte:

Agree about Holiday Inn Patong..nice hotel and many food options but beach is Somehow the area is very busy and you can't get the away-from-city resort holiday feeling.


Just came back from Le Meridien Phuket, private beach. Cost more but you get what you pay for.

Patong beach is so crowded nowadays, especially during this period of the year - full of westerners sunbathing topless.

The night market - also swarm with ''agreesive\" vendors trying to sell their stuff. Almost all the stalls sell identical stuff, no variety.

Phuket Fantasea is worth a visit, despite the price.

Island visits - eg Hong Island is beautiful.

[Andaiz]

Fairy:

Patong beach is so crowded nowadays, especially during this period of the year - full of westerners sunbathing topless.

Came back from Phuket too...maybe we saw each other without realizeing it

Patong isn't exactly good-clean family fun. Karon or Kata beaches are much better. We were at Kata and even though it was relatively expensive, it was clear water and my DD's love it.

Went to Elephant Safari - an experience indeed; also island hopping to Phi Phi. The kids loved feeding the fish off the boat as well. That was an enjoyable and fun-filled (not forgetting educational) trip.

I made a scrapbook to help tide the older two while they wait (fav phrase now is \"I'm so bored\") and it helped them crystallize the trip very well.

[buds]

Patong is too congested with tourists. And yeah, the beach ain't that

fantastic anyway. We stayed near Karon Beach. Cleaner and less
crowded but there is the issue of straying dogs. The dogs look like
wolves there but didn't go around attacking people though. The waves
are very strong towards year end so those with small children should be
very careful with children playing at the beach... my girls enjoyed their
time there very much and to date one of their favourite trips. Ramada
Resort Karon Beach has a cool kids club and they were treated like
princesses there... what with nail party, crafts of various kinds, dress up
plays, foosball, free daily ice-cream and lots more..

I'd go Kata and Karon anytime. Patong is just more accessible to more
shopping and makan places. A little too busy abuzz for us who prefer to
chill out and be beach bums for our little trips.

[leo]

Hi, any idea if we can see fishes without going out to sea?


I have booked for a July trip with my 3 year old. I am hoping that she will be able to see marine fishes safely by the beachline instead of going out to sea (seems that the seas will be quite choppy in the off peak season, don’t want her to get sea sick and throw up).

Have read that that is possible at Karon/Kata area, but have anyone really manage to do it (ie, see fishes at coastline).

Thanks!

[buds]

leo:

Hi, any idea if we can see fishes without going out to sea?

leo:

Have read that that is possible at Karon/Kata area, but have anyone really manage to do it (ie, see fishes at coastline).

Heyya leo, we went to Karon but couldn't see any fishes.
The water is not as clear as those out in the open sea.
I swam out further at Karon in fact but nothin'.

Look out for the waves though, especially with younger
children. Do not let them play out of your sight be it to
build sandcastles or fetch water from the coastline.

But we went year end so the waves may have been a
lil bit stronger than usual.

[minnie2004]

leo:

Hi, any idea if we can see fishes without going out to sea?


I have booked for a July trip with my 3 year old. I am hoping that she will be able to see marine fishes safely by the beachline instead of going out to sea (seems that the seas will be quite choppy in the off peak season, don't want her to get sea sick and throw up).

Have read that that is possible at Karon/Kata area, but have anyone really manage to do it (ie, see fishes at coastline).

Thanks!

I don't think it's possbile to see much fish, esp the colorful ones along the beaches. Kata and also Kamala beaches are nice to hang out and swim. But to see fish, you have to go on a boat trip. We went for a snokelling trip in Dec to Maya Bay and Ko Kai and the fishes were amazing there! My 3yr old couldn't swim so he just fed the fish from the boat. My DD had a good time snorkelling with me with her goggles (as she couldn't use the snorkelling gears) near Ko Kai. It was a memorable experience for both of us. :heresmyfish:

[leo]

thanks buds and minnie for the answers!


now with the instability might have to skip the whole trip altogether…

[buds]

It's a pleasure, leo.

[minniemom]

hi all


i'm new here :lol:

interesting to read on hols to phuket.... hope to plan one in future with my kiddos. actually we never been to any resort/beach hols before....
heh

just like to find out more... how old must be the kids for them to try snorkelling? And we were really have to know how to swim in order to snorkel?

thanks.

[sleepy]

Which are the newer hotels in Phuket?


Which hotel would you recommend along Kata or Kamala beaches?

Thanks!