Travel: Thailand - Phuket

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

We stayed in Holiday Inn Patong. Nice hotel but the beach is not fantastic. We do like to walk around the shops located in Patong buying souvenirs and bric brac. Taking tuk tuk is an experience itself.


One big mistake I learnt is to always bargain for everything. I booked a trip to Rang Yai Island through a travel agent located in the hotel. Thinking that a travel agent in the hotel is reputable, giving a good price, we bought the package without much thought until we talked to a fellow Singaporean staying in the same hotel. So, always negotiate. And, do give Rang Yai island a miss. The island is infested with snakes. Huge ones and I can hear the rattle snake miles away, while walking along the island.

[Fairy]

softmatsg:

For kids I definitely would recommend to go to the oceanographic institute at the southern tip of Phuket. You can also have a tour on a real oceanographic research boat. My kids really like it.

Hi softmatsg,

can you elaborate more on the Oceanographic Institute? How do we go there? Does the tour operator organise trips there? What do you do at the place?

Thanks.

[SoWoW]

Mamamal:

Why not try Karon or Kata Beach which are nearby? The beaches are cleaner and clearer compared to Patong Beach. As for shopping, can try Jungceylon at Patong Beach. I haven't been to this mall but i heard the optics are very cheap. http://www.jungceylon.com/


For kids, can try the elephant ride (30min) through the jungle. We tried it and found it very memorable. In case you are not aware, the price can be negotiated. At first they wanted to charge us 2,400baht for 2A 1C. That's the 'published' rate. However, our driver was kind enough to help us bargain to 1,500baht !

As for transport, we rented a taxi (a MPV) at 800baht for abt 3 hrs. Just tell him where you want to go, and he will drive you all round phuket.

Oh, must also go to the Karon View Point where u get to see a breathtaking view of the beach.

Just came back last week. Cruise to phuket instead. Docked at patong beach, and to our disappointment, the water is grey in color. Very dirty indeed. So we had to take a tutu to Kata beach. Beach was clean, water was clear but no fish.

[softmatsg]

Fairy:

softmatsg:

For kids I definitely would recommend to go to the oceanographic institute at the southern tip of Phuket. You can also have a tour on a real oceanographic research boat. My kids really like it.

Hi softmatsg,

can you elaborate more on the Oceanographic Institute? How do we go there? Does the tour operator organise trips there? What do you do at the place?

Thanks.

It is called Phuket Marine Biological Center and it also hosts an aquarium. We got there by Tuk-tuk as we also visited Phuket Town on the same day.
More details can be found here: http://www.phuket-tourism.com/where_to_go/phuket_marine_biological.htm [/url]

[Greenpink]

There’s a Dino Park - a mini golf club. My son loves it and we visited 2 nites there.

[Fairy]

softmatsg:

It is called Phuket Marine Biological Center and it also hosts an aquarium. We got there by Tuk-tuk as we also visited Phuket Town on the same day.

More details can be found here: http://www.phuket-tourism.com/where_to_go/phuket_marine_biological.htm [/url]

Thanks, softmatsg. If it is Phuket Aquarium you're refering to, I'd visited that place almost 20 years ago! It was not impressive then. Appreciate your sharing anyway.

[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.

[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.