Bangkok Thailand Travel Map & Things to do in Bangkok : Awesome Phuket

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last visited February/March 2017
Offshore islands from the roof puddle of The Kantary Bay hotel, Cape Panwa, a serenity expanse inwards the south-east of Phuket.

THIS PAGE LAST UPDATED MARCH 2017 - FIRST PUBLISHED DEC 2007



THE BEACHES

BREAKING NEWS - the 2014 military/police crackdown on illegal operations at Phuket beaches has resulted inwards large changes:

*The sun-lounges are gone:

Laem Singh Dec 2012

Laem Singh Dec 2014

*illegal structures on the sand or the expanse just behind the beach direct hold been removed. 
Note the missing key beach restaurants inwards the inwards a higher identify shot ... too ....

... banking concern check this gap where a whole bunch of elcheapo restaurants used to live located upward the dorsum of Surin Beach's key auto park.

*similarly in that location are alone a few brave hawkers roaming the beach with food/clothing/etc. I noticed with some dismay that the jet ski hirers are nonetheless inwards operation. Who would direct hold thought those crooks were licensed?

IMPACT - I retrieve the beaches are greatly improved past times the Sun lounge removal. The hirers were venal too used to cram thier lounges into the overnice sections upward the dorsum of the beach where in that location is often Sun shade from overhanging vegetation. They jammed their lounges into areas nigh the H2O as good - sonetimes it was hard to acquire a department of sand to lay downward a beach-towel or sarong. However I was told past times a Karon guesthouse possessor ONE of the reasons tourism is downward tardily 2014 is that Russians too Scandos inwards particular love Sun lounges too are voting with their feet.
I'm non thence sure virtually the hawkers. Thailand's direct hold ever been much less inwards your human face upward than say Bali. Plus I reckon the food/drink sellers provided a needed service. And I kinda similar the elcheapo restaurants inwards dorsum of the beach - although paying no rent, they were hardly fair contest for the legal versions too often set upward inwards front end of them, blocking the view. Now many of the legal joints direct hold got sand too H2O views.
One thing for sure, a lot of little occupation organisation people direct hold lost their livelihood. And the toll of 2nd manus sunlounges must direct hold tanked large time.
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Don't allow anyone tell yous Phuket's beaches are crowded too over the top. This is a large isle with dozens of beaches - in that location is 1 to suit all tastes. Phuket Map showing some of the beaches - Cape Panwa is the peninsula betwixt Phuket Bay too Rawai at bottom right (image eKoChang.com)

Most Phuket island's tourist beaches are on the due west coast. 
Note that below I've alone featured the beaches I've stayed at or spent fourth dimension at inwards recent years. So  some places similar Bang Tao are non featured.



THE SOUTHERN WEST COAST BEACHES

Modified oblique Google footing ikon - oblique inwards an endeavor to present the important hills behind these beaches. The administration marking is of course of educational activity pointing EAST non WEST.
Karon is a long beach at 3.3km too because the quickest way to the aerodrome is via the top route behind Kata it is virtually 50km from the terminal to beach central. Kata Yai is 1500m long too 47km from the airport, Kata Noi 700m too 48km. The pier top middle is Chalong pier which is 19km southward of Phuket town.

Popular viewpoint on the primary due west coast route showing Kata Noi closest, Kata Yai too Karon beaches.

KATA
Of the large 3 beach areas, I similar KATA best. The twin beaches hither are to a greater extent than compact than KARON too way less busy too brash than PATONG.

Kata Yai
Kata Yai from 1 of the budget restaurants on the southern headland.

Area dec 2014 taken from the steps of the same restaurant.

Kata Yai from the northern headland. The beach takes virtually 25 minutes to walk goal to end. There are the twin rows of sunlounges inwards high flavor but they tend to live less crammed inwards than say Patong. Sand is nice, H2O deep plenty unopen to shore at all tide levels. 

My favourite expanse of Kata Yai is at the southern end. There are 2 restaurants at the offset of the headland with rattling goodness nutrient at bottom budget prices (this shot is taken from the top deck of one) where yous tin sentry the beach scene - summation surfing inwards moisture flavor (no decent waves inwards high flavor - but this makes for untroubled snorkelling off the rocks to left of frame).

Dive store a curt distance out of frame to right inwards the previous shot hires out surf craft. Not as good many takers inwards dry out flavor although some dudes took those paddle boards inwards foreground - apartment conditions are nifty to perfect stand-up paddling skills. I retrieve the board at right may live a windsurfer.


Kata Noi
Kata Noi is reached inwards 10 minutes steep walking past times taking the headland route behind the photographic telly camera inwards the shot below.

Kata Noi is to a greater extent than compact too less busy, too if it matters to you, to a greater extent than exclusive (a lot of the resorts hither are high-end). I alone saw 1 jet-ski for hire too it didn't seem to direct hold whatever takers. Maybe the wealthy are to a greater extent than sensible. You tin walk goal to goal inwards virtually 10 minutes. 
I retrieve it is a nicer beach inwards high season. However it's to a greater extent than exposed to air current too waves inwards moisture flavor too my ii visits at that fourth dimension of twelvemonth saw accumulations of wind-blown flotsam, the nutrient stalls too stone bar at the far southern goal closed downward too the remainder of the beach semi deserted - KATA YAI seemed much to a greater extent than lively too attractive.
Note that Katathani Resort dominates the dorsum of beach for just virtually the total length - if non-guests don't direct hold the steps downward from the northern headland I'm standing on to direct hold this shot they direct hold to walk past times the route right to the other goal for beach access.

You come upward across the beach access stairs from the southward virtually one-half way downward the headland colina on the route betwixt Kata Yai too Noi sooner than yous expect, but they are pretty hard to miss.

Once in 1 lawsuit again I uncovering the southern goal of the beach most attractive. It seems to live the most pop snorkelling spot (headland rocks usually direct hold scraps of fringing coral too a multifariousness of fishies). There tend to live a few budget food/drink vendors dorsum of the beach out of frame to the left. Those umbrellas behind the rocks roughly middle belong to Rock Bar, a pretty goodness identify to pass fourth dimension with a overnice outlook upward the beach.


ACCOMMODATION AT KATA
There is a large arrive at of midrange too high goal accommodation at both beaches. Kata Yai also has a lot of 1 too ii star joints - in that location is non much lower midrange or budget materials at Kata Noi..
If yous desire beachfront I retrieve it would live hard to trounce Katathani on Noi inwards high season. Note when booking that in that location is a novel wing across the route from the beach.

Like many high goal joints, Katathani thinks it owns the beach. This western twain similar quite a few these days has decided to necktie the knot inwards Thailand (pity whatever relatives curt on cash) - a security guard from Katathani tried to halt me taking this shot: instructed me to movement on. I told him to acquire lost - that all Thai beaches are owned past times the King for the gratuitous role of his subjects too visitors, something the guard would know. I asked him where he too his buddies (who had moved inwards for backup) were when the Australian woman soul go journalist invitee was knifed to expiry inwards the street nigh Katathani's entrance the previous twelvemonth - 2012 (Katathani's primary entrance fronts the street - the site is as good narrow for the grand driveway many Phuket hotels have).
Okay, I should explicate most of us Aussies existence descendants of convicts are rattling anti-authority. And the guard was just next orders - non that his supervisor or whatever administration were anywhere to live seen.
Note to western couples wanting to acquire married on the beach inwards Thailand. Real romantic sweethearts, but yous direct hold no right to enquire for exclusivity.

The primary route running behind Kata Noi beach has a bunch of places to remain too plenty of restaurants with prices a fair chip higher than most at Yai, reflecting the upmarket customers. Still a create out past times western standards. Headland areas direct hold some rattling flash restaurants with western prices. Some of the accommodation has breathtaking views to gibe breathtaking prices.

On Yai, Kata Beach Resort has some rattling overnice beach-front rooms too dozens of others a chip farther back. There are a bunch of other overnice joints on the high headlands with nifty views. Kata Yai is dwelling to Club Med Phuket inwards a large chemical compound across the beach route beach central.
In the flashpacker/backpacker arrive at yous could banking concern check the first-class Fantasy Hill Bunglalow which is located on the northern headland of Kata Yai - Telephone: 076 33 0106. Some others inwards this arrive at are Southern Fried Rice, Kata Otto GH, Smile Happy Paradise too Little Mermaid. The 'net booking sites direct hold dozens of 2 star joints - too flasher of course.
Jamie of Jamie's Phuket Blog has a listing of budget places on Kata Yai too nearby Karon (plus Phuket Town) here.


POOLSIDE RESORT I stayed August 2007 at a overnice midrange identify called Poolside which gets goodness reviews on Agoda too similar booking sites. It is located side past times side to the shopping precinct at the southward goal of Kata Yai alone 1 block from best department of the beach, too had existent overnice aircon rooms, a goodness puddle as the holler kinda suggests, friendly staff too a nifty buffet breakfast for or thence $us30 a nighttime depression season. There is a goodness arrive at of restaurants surrounding the identify summation those budget ones mentioned before against the southern headland are alone 10 minutes walk away. This identify is also key to the shopping expanse of South Kata which has most services although it is non as large as the 1 near/over the headland at N Kata.
Early morn shot - component of of Poolside Hotel's puddle area.

CHOOPHORN HOUSE
In March 2013 I wanted somewhere to air current downward before my flying dwelling after some frantic island-hopping inwards the Andaman - the inclusive shuttle from my Krabi-Yao Yai-Yao Noi to Phuket's Bang Rong pier delivered to Kata thence I looked for a suitable inexpensive identify inwards my favourite southward Kata Yai area.

Phuket’s large 3 beaches direct hold dozens of these goodness value 2 star hotels but what sets Choophorn apart is its location (only five minutes stroll to the southern goal of Kata Yai - some other 10 across the steep headland to Kata Noi) too its cleanliness, goodness value eatery too obliging staff (which is non ever a given at competitor places).

 A few minutes downward the route is the bustling occupation organisation expanse of southward Kata Yai with lots of restaurants, shops too others (although the similar expanse fifteen minutes walk away at the N goal of Kata Yai is bigger too has to a greater extent than nightlife particularly).

My fan room was spacious, clean, had large 45 channel  tv, refrig, no jug, comfy virile soul monarch bed too pillows. It was serenity (guest rooms are set dorsum from the road). The setting Sun made it a chip hot inwards the even – people who similar their cool should maybe opt for the aircon alternative (room the same – they only took my aircon remote). The streetfront eatery had overnice food, goodness service too prices similar to average budget bungalow restaurants inwards the Andaman islands ie rattling inexpensive, but in that location are several cheaper eats places out on the street within 2 minutes. Two 24h supermarkets are also rattling close. There is an mesh café a chip farther upward the route (Choophorn has gratuitous wifi).

This is a identify unit of measurement run place. The boss mama has goodness English linguistic communication & seems runs  a goodness go desk. Motorcycles are for hire at competitive rates (cheap).

Karon
This is the next due west coast beach heading N from Kata Yai. The gentle headland route betwixt the ii beaches takes virtually 10 minutes to walk - lots of goodness shops too restaurants. The Kata-Karon-Phuket town world shongthaews go along hither as good - 1 of the few interbeach world carry routes on Phuket.
Karon has a lot of fans - it's to a greater extent than relaxed than Patong but nonetheless has the total arrive at of accommodation too services.

Karon from the southern end. This is 1 loooooong beach - it took me 50 minutes to stroll from the far end. That was after walking Kata Yai inwards 20, the headland inwards some other 10. Good thing in that location are a twain of neat beach restaurants/bars instantly behind photographic telly camera for a revitalising inexpensive mutual frigidity Chang - or three.

20 minutes on the render leg - nonetheless curt of one-half way. Note the lifeguard flags - Karon has several sets along the beach as practise most Phuket beaches inwards dry out season. Not that the sea is unsafe thence - alone drunks too careless jet ski riders volition acquire into trouble. Wet flavor is dissimilar - the sea is often dangerous. Fortunately the large 3 beaches too several  others direct hold lifeguards thence too, despite it existence depression season. Nevertheless as good many people are nonetheless drowning at Phuket inwards depression flavor - maybe yous could read my SOME TIPS ON NOT DROWNING page for some strategies for if yous acquire into trouble.

Karon from the N end. Probably to the lowest degree crowded department but nonetheless popular. Like the ii Katas in that location is some okay snorkelling off the headland rocks for novices.

Like most Phuket beaches Karon has a vast array of accommodation from 1 star up. The spider web booking sites are goodness usually starting at 2 star - too for the cheapest rooms inwards a higher identify shopfronts etc it is just a thing of arriving too checking the signs.
Jamie some fourth dimension agone supplied tidings of novel Karon budget accommodation inwards a goodness location: "The Pineapple Guesthouse in Karon volition direct hold a backpackers dorm ready within the next twain of weeks, 150 - 200 Baht/night."

In Dec 2014 I wanted an inexpensive base of operations on my arrival at Phuket - having never stayed at Karon I decided a few days at Pineapple Guesthouse would live the go.

I pinched this off Agoda booking site. My review their reads:
This identify is typical of many basic but goodness value invitee houses inwards the 3 beaches expanse - inexpensive, comfortable, clean. What separates it is Brit Steve who co-owns it with his Thai missus - Steve has a wealth of noesis of the Phuket province of affairs too communicates this well. 
My room was spacious too build clean with serenity aircon, adequate storage too a comfy virile soul monarch size bed. The expanse was non peculiarly noisy (it is off the primary route thence traffic racket is non an issue) too had a large arrive at of restaurants, banks, retailers too other services. H5N1 24hour 7/11 minimart was virtually 100m away - in that location were dinner-time inexpensive nutrient hawkers with the common yummy materials inwards front end of the store. 
One minus with Pineapple was lack of a credit bill of fare facility which makes purchase of some of the to a greater extent than expensive tours to a greater extent than difficult. Other expanse go stores could practise this.
I'll add together that it was a curt five minutes walk to the beach, which yous hitting virtually 1/4 the way from the southward (Karon is a loooong beach).


SOUTH-CENTRAL WEST COAST BEACHES
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Labels volition live clearer of yous click-expand. The primary beach at Patong (between markers) is 2.8km long too is or thence 36km from the airport. Not as good many people know of the beaches on the southern peninsula.

PATONG 
Patong gets bad press for walls of Sun lounges, overcrowding, heaps of yobbos chasing Thai rent girs too higher prices for foood too booze than many other Phuket locations. But the shopping is good, in that location is a huge multifariousness of accommodation from gorgeous resorts where yous would never know yous are at Phuket's most criticised beach, thru overnice mid-rangers to thousands of comfortable budget rooms inwards a higher identify businesses; people watching is goodness value too the beach itself has white sand, pretty overnice H2O too plenty of infinite to seat the sarong downward if yous don't desire a Sun lounge.
Plus if yous banking concern check downward page a little, in that location are some rattling overnice less visited beaches a curt distance along the southern headland.

Typical Patong scenes - shoulder flavor early on Dec 2010. Note before comments virtually unsafe surf hither inwards depression flavor (May-midNov).

Much the same expanse 2014 after the large Sun lounge clean-out

Areas similar this used to live monopolised past times Sun lounges - in that location is at nowadays plenty of shade all along the beach from the trees to sit down on a towel inwards until maybe 1400. Legal restaurant/bars inwards dorsum of the beach at nowadays direct hold beach/ocean views.

Whoa! I don't attention what anyone says - the Russian invasion of Phuket sure has some pluses. 

LOW SEASON PARADISE NEAR PATONG
The southward goal of Patong beach is book-ended past times a sizable headland. If yous follow the continuation of Patong's beach route where it heads steeply upward the colina in 1 lawsuit crossing the little span yous volition come upward to 3 overnice beaches, 2 of which are nicely sheltered from the moisture flavor westerlies when nearby Patong is blown out too nasty.

Tri Tra Beach is the initiatory off yous come upward to - notice calm H2O whereas I'd just walked the length of Patong inwards background too it was blown-out - moisture seaon June 2010. H5N1 twain of beach restaurant/bars hither summation midrange Tri Trang Beach Resort (white edifice - click to expand shot - yep, that's what it's called despite overlooking Tri Tra). Water gets shallow at lowest tide.

Tri Trang Beach. This is lilliputian farther along on the opposite side of the route - the Merlin Beach Resort with its ain overnice lilliputian beach. Nice sand but lots of stone inwards the H2O - I sympathize it isn't goodness for swimming at depression tide. Because this faces due west it was copping the blowy conditions which tin develop inwards depression flavor but would live a sugariness spot on calmer moisture flavor days too inwards dry out flavor when the air current is from the opposite direction. I saw a large tempest coming inwards off the sea too scuttled upward to a neat headland eatery (not component of the hotel) for this shot - drank inexpensive beer for fifteen minutes piece it poured - 1 of 2 similar moisture periods that day.

Near the tip of the peninsula is some other sheltered moisture flavor beach, Paradise Beach. This little strip of sand has a similar stretch over a little headland behind camera. Access is thru private solid ground too in that location is a 100b accuse to go onto the beach itself which gets yous a beach lounge too showers. I commonly loathe the thought of paying for a beach but having seen how crap Patong was that day, this identify inwards comparing was indeed a sheltered paradise too good worth it. You tin snorkel. There is an okay eatery - prices are a chip to a greater extent than than budget to start with but threw me a chip when they added 10% govt tax, the alone 1 of dozens to practise this that trip. One caveat - the reef is rattling unopen to shore making swimming less piece of cake at dead depression tide.

In Dec 2014 I paid my 100b (includes sun-bed, bathroom too shower) too spent a pleasant few hours at Paradise Beach. This is shot from the 2nd smaller beach dorsum towards main. There is a 2nd little restaurant/bar set upward to left of ikon - prices non as good bad. Nice swimming off the beach  - or thence mid tide when I was there. Some scuba divers a few hundred meters out too people fish-feeding nigh shore out of frame left. Nice.


NORTH-CENTRAL WEST COAST BEACHES
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Kamala is 2km long too virtually 25km from the airport, Laem Sing(h) alone 300m inwards length - maybe 22km too Surin 800m too 20km. The little beach instantly left (north) of Surin is Pansea - it tin alone live reached past times boat because the ii flash hotels there, the Chedi too Amanpuri block solid ground access. Don't allow them tike yous the beach itself is private - in that location are no private beaches inwards Thailand. The beach partly seen higher at left of frame is Bang Tao, a long beach the key department of which is dwelling to the mega Laguna complex of luxury hotels etc. - 

KAMALA
This is the next beach N of Patong, but it's a fair haul, non 1 yous volition desire to walk. See my later on comments virtually travelling BETWEEN the beaches.

Kamala is a rattling attractive beach. In high flavor it tends non to acquire overcrowded, but in that location are nonetheless plenty restaurants too bars for people to bask themselves. Plenty of accommodation too this is the location of the famous Fantasea attraction.

In January 09 Matt too Suzzie sent me this information on Phuket:
We're large fans of Kamala Beach too off-season (July/August) nosotros similar the peace there.
The beach isn't rattling good looked after at that fourth dimension of twelvemonth inwards parts, but the town has a overnice laid-back vibe. Benjamin Resort on Moo 3 (Beach Road) nigh the schoolhouse has some nifty rooms overlooking the bay (especially rooms C1 too C2, B1 too B2), too if yous tell them yer planning to remain to a greater extent than than a twain of days yous tin acquire them downward to 500baht, including breakfast. They're good maintained, airy, too the balconies are perfect fer watching the sunset over the ocean.
Go downward to the beach at this fourth dimension too all the locals are out paddling too playing footie. Kamala has plenty of options with restaurants too bars, too off flavor yous tin direct hold the pick of the bunch. The tuk-tuk mafia are bastards though, too there's no inexpensive way of getting or thence other than the songthaeow that goes circular the houses.

Kamala Beach - depression flavor August 09. H5N1 overnice department of sand, build clean water, fifty-fifty a few surfable body-waves this fourth dimension of year. This is shot just N of Benjamin Resort at the goal of a handful of similar unpretentious accommodation places lining a curt shopping street roughly parallel to the beach. There is a similar accommodation/restaurant street parallel to the beach upward nigh those casuarinas inwards the middle of the beach. The pop midrange Kamala Beach Hotel too Resort is behind the palms just over the top of the umbrella on right. There are several other midrange too improve resorts inwards the area, some dorsum from the beach too others along the coast route just to the southward where it winds upward into higher country. Lots of condo evolution going on inwards this higher expanse too. This beach volition never facial expression built-out because a large Muslim cemetary takes upward the northern department behind the trees. I got the impression that Kamala would live a quieter version of Kata inwards high season. Which would non live as good bad at all. (I managed to banking concern check Kamala high flavor 2010 - yep, a quieter Kata).

UPDATE AUGUSTO9 - I decided to pass some fourth dimension at Kamala too heeded Matt too Suzzie's advice virtually the Benjamin. This is the sentiment direct due west from 1 of the beachfront room's balcony - the sentiment to the right is an elevated vegetation-filtered version of the previous shot. Note the rocks behind the lanterns inwards this pix - the sea is shallow this southward goal at lowest tide but fine too with no rocks inwards the middle too N ends.
Benjamin is a goodness value place. Not flash but large comfortable build clean rooms with TV, frig - beachfront for 500 with brekka when nosotros visited inwards depression season. Note brekka is tea/coffee, toast too jam. Good lilliputian shopping street on the other side of the hotel with a fair selection of restaurants, article of apparel stores, a few bars too a 711. Even had a girly bar but depression key. One of the girls, God bless here, rang her uncle to direct hold Lady Tezza, me too 2 Yanks to the aerodrome when arranged carry savage thru at the finally infinitesimal (taxis are scarce inwards Kamala night-time depression season). The expanse was serenity at nighttime when I visited but I reckon would direct hold plenty going on inwards high flavor to maintain all but hard-core partiers happy.

I called inwards at Kamala on a motorbike tour of the beaches inwards early on Dec 2010 which is shoulder flavor - a fair few to a greater extent than people than my August 09 stay.

Busier inwards this high flavor shot (Feb 2014) but considerably less crammed than Surin to the north. Figures - Kamala is virtually twice as long.

Couple of cool beach bars at the northern goal of Kamala beach. My sort of places.


LAEM SINGH
If yous walk fifteen minutes along the coastal route over the headland N of Kamala yous come upward to the primary roadside carpark (20b for motorcycles) of compact Laem Singh Beach. H5N1 fairly steep set of stairs takes yous downward to what was in 1 lawsuit regarded past times many as the most attractive beach on Phuket. Maybe its popularity too the invasion of sun-lounges has downgraded it a spot or two, but the lack of resorts too other evolution apart from a few beach restaurants nonetheless gives that "beach inwards the jungle" vibe. Well worth a visit.
I institute out during my 2014 remain at Surin that in that location is some other easier rail downward to  Laem Singh virtually 10 minutes walk south along the primary coastal route from Surin beach. The beach was pretty busy, but non as much as Surin.

Midway betwixt the 2 carparks is this roadside viewing cabana. Entry gratuitous inwards Feb 2014 but I bet some dude is charging twenty baht entry or parking next fourth dimension I top past times too someone else has set upward a nutrient stall. This is a 2012 shot - as said upward page, those Sun lounges are gone.

tezza freeloads on glamour shoot at Laem Singh. I was cool until cutey took top off - thence began severe photographic telly camera shake.


SURIN
Another 10 minutes walk N gets yous to Surin. Everything I've written virtually Kamala goes for this identify - maybe it is a lilliputian to a greater extent than developed too busy. Not unattractive inwards the least. I shot this pic inwards Dec 2010 - surprisingly for dry out flavor in that location was a decent lilliputian surf running.

Cool bar on rocks, southward goal of Surin Beach. I'm a sucker for places similar this - usually come upward dorsum from a beach-checking mission blitzed. This is a 2010 shot - inwards 2014 in that location was a lot to a greater extent than sand hither - the H2O did non acquire near, fifty-fifty at peak tide (gone tardily 2014 - must direct hold been a squatter).

In Feb 2014 I wanted to remain at the closest due west coast beach to my Phuket entry pier at Bang Rong ex Kos Yao Noi/Yai. Surin was it. I was surprised how crowded it was - Surin is rattling large with Russian tourists. This is the southern one-half but virtually all the beach was as packed except for maybe the northern 5%. I direct hold to a greater extent than information too pix on the PHUKET TRIP REPORT page.

Same expanse - dissimilar angle after the large 2014 Sun lounge purge. Crowds downward to maybe 30% of the same fourth dimension inwards 2012. Economic sanctions on Russia, that country's oil/gas price/rouble crisis in all likelihood to a greater extent than to blame than the lack of Sun lounges.

About 60% of the elcheapo car-park nutrient hawkers direct hold gone but this tardily 2014 pic shows it is nonetheless possible to purchase inexpensive yummy materials there. Plenty of tables too chairs behind too. 
All the rather pretentious too overpriced bar/restaurants inwards the expanse instantly behind the beach are gone too. So is the mid-beach floating pier.


PANSEA
In Feb 2014 I decided to rock-hop or thence the headland at the N goal of Surin beach to acquire yous dudes a shot of this rather overnice "private" beach.

Relatively uncrowded because of the restricted access thru the flash hotels behind the beach.


BANG TA0
This is a long (nearly 6km) beach a curt distance N of Surin/Pansea. The expanse behind used to live Phuket's primary tin mining expanse too is at nowadays dominated past times rattling spacious high goal resorts too golf game courses inwards the Laguna complex. However in that location are some to a greater extent than affordable resorts at the southern goal which has a touristy shopping/restaurant/bar street rattling much similar that at the southern goal of Kamala.

This shot from nigh the southern goal shows virtually 90% of the beach. It is busiest at this goal which is pretty narrow nigh high tide inwards the shot - gets progressively less busy moving away from photographic telly camera - finally one-half of the beach has lilliputian development, rattling few people. This is a overnice shot to click-expand. More pix too information on the PHUKET TRIP REPORT page. 
I decided to remain at Bang Tao tardily 2014 - volition seat a study on the inwards a higher identify link when I acquire a chance.

Because the beach widens too is less crowded away from the southern corner, it is the initiatory off of Phuket's due west coast beaches moving N to direct hold eatery tables set upward on the beach. Nice, peculiarly at nighttime when the candles come upward out (GONE tardily 2014)

THE AIRPORT AREA BEACHES

Nai Thon ar right is approx 1km long too less than 8km from the airport. Nai Yang 2.5km long too beach key is a chip nether 3km from arrivals. The 1500m long department betwixt markers I've labelled Airport Beach is in all likelihood technically the southern goal of the rattling long Mai Khao beach. Note that if yous are staying instantly left of the runway (there is at to the lowest degree 1 snazzy hotel there) yous are in all likelihood as far past times route from the terminal which is nether the "Airport" marking as Nai Thon because yous direct hold to go or thence the far goal of the long runway. Doesn't facial expression it inwards this oblique shot.

NAI THON
It'a a fair distance farther N from Surin to Nai Thon (a few low-key beaches between) which inwards fact is alone virtually 5km from the airport. I already direct hold details up-page at staying depression flavor 09 at the rattling overnice Naithonburi when it was rare for to a greater extent than than 3 people to live on the beach at whatever time. But this Dec 2010 shot shows a few to a greater extent than people - banking concern bill sign of the times, Russian "SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS" (or similar message) notice against rescue board side past times side swim-flags opposite The Naithonburi. This identify is much to a greater extent than low-key inwards tourist flavor than say Surin or Kamala - the primary route along the beach has a distinct hamlet feeling. Once in 1 lawsuit again goodness surf for dry out flavor - I had a overnice lilliputian body-surf here.

Matt too Suzzie again: Nai Thon Beach farther N is beautiful, too cos it requires a chip of travail to acquire to it's virtually empty off season. You tin hire a lounger inwards the shade fer 20baht too 1 of the hotels has a guy that volition come upward over too direct hold an social club fer drinks if yous desire them. Beware though, the sea is way as good fossil oil at this fourth dimension too volition eat yous live if yous acquire out of yer depth.

AUG09 - Matt too Suzzie's description of Naithon sounded pretty goodness thence I decided to pass a few nights there. This shot is inwards similar conditions to theirs - 1 of those 15-20% of depression flavor days where the air current gets up, making for pretty large too messy surf too not-so-nice beach conditions.
Hence fifty-fifty fewer people than normal depression season. But a pretty overnice beach. From what I've read (and later on saw - view high flavor 2010 pic inwards a higher identify this one), high flavor hither is kinda overnice - never as good busy. four resorts across the route behind the casuarina trees, a number of restaurants. Some rattling high goal joints on the higher department of coastline just to the south. H5N1 chip to a greater extent than than 10 minutes from the aerodrome but no aircraft noise.

NAI YANG
In MARCH 08, Thorntree poster living stayed at Patong, was less than impressed too hired a auto to banking concern check for nicer beaches. He/she was rather whelmed past times Nai Yang:
"Naiyang Beach would live our alternative for a identify to vacation inwards Thailand if nosotros were ever to come upward again. Big plenty to direct hold lots of local lilliputian restaurants too bars too longtails to direct hold yous snorkeling. H5N1 goodness swimming beach. Plenty of pocket-size looking but comfy beach cabins. We had a nifty tiffin on the beach in that location – some of the best Thai nutrient of the trip too incredible java – which tin live hard to come upward past times here."
This is shot towards the southward goal of Nai Yang. The key department of the beach behind photographic telly camera has a goodness mix of accommodation places from high-end to flashpacker, a useful little occupation organisation stip along the beach road, summation a bunch of seaside restaurants too a few bars. North goal (see below) is a reasonably long, curved, casuarina lined beach with a lot of undeveloped areas, fair plenty because it is component of the national park. . Nai Yang is a favourite with beach going locals thence in that location are some goodness nutrient stands too little restaurants. The aerodrome is alone five minutes away. Image - Panoramio: Kristof Cornelis

I shot this inwards high flavor 2010 from a lilliputian farther N than the inwards a higher identify pix, looking the other way. The National Park department begins just past times these people - the initiatory off component of the Park has some depression comport on beach restaurants yous tin view if yous click the pic, too farther N just casuarina trees backing the sand, which has some overnice picnic areas pop with locals - a pretty attractive chip of beach. The goal of the aerodrome runway is non far past times the goal of those trees.
Don't live seat off past times the sun lounges inwards the foreground. They encompass alone virtually 300m of a reasonably long beach too aren't intrusively jam-packed row upon row similar beaches farther southward - too are one-half the price.

The beach restaurants are less than five minutes walk from the Sun lounge area. They are rattling pop with local Thais, pregnant .......

...... lots of yummy inexpensive sea nutrient too other Thai tucker.

Feb 2015 - this is the expanse the inwards a higher identify sea nutrient too other Thai tucker restaurants were previously located. You tin view how the police/military crackdown on unlicensed beach activities has impacted. 
Kinda interesting that also a goodness quarter of Nai Yang's primary street budget restaurants were at nowadays bare sand. There is a novel primary street nutrient courtroom called "Walking Street" where it looks similar a lot of these identify direct hold re-created themselves. Gotta pay rent at nowadays thence prices mainly are less competitive. But in that location are nonetheless a few goodness create out joints.

Walking Street

This is the total length of Nai Yang looking south, shot from side past times side the far headland inwards the pic 3 inwards a higher identify this. People looking for a stretch of undeveloped beach could practise worse than the department unopen to camera. Many kms to a greater extent than starting or thence the headland behind camera. This is a overnice shot to click-expand.

UPDATE 1 - I stayed at Nai Yang inwards May 2012. H5N1 pretty goodness location existence thence unopen to the airport. Unfortunately the moisture flavor had kicked inwards which stopped me doing my common crawl or thence the greater expanse thence I haven't plenty information to practise a TRIP REPORT for that section. Nevertheless betwixt showers in that location was plenty Sun for some goodness beach fourth dimension - too the westerlies made the kite surfers' day. Nice lilliputian shopping/restaurant expanse too a goodness arrive at of accommodation from budget up. I stayed at the midrange Nai Yang Beach Resort which is just across the route from the beach too shops too offers some rattling goodness off-season deals on the volume booking sites.
Note I didn't revisit Nai Yang inwards tardily 2014 but I bet the inwards a higher identify Sun lounges (and the dining tables inwards the pic below) are no longer on the sand. I volition live staying a few days inwards Feb 2015 - volition study back.

FURTHER UPDATE - spent a farther few days at Nai Yang prior to flying out inwards Dec 2012. Being high season, Nai Yang Beach Resort was a chip pricey thence Lady Tezza too I stayed at the rattling goodness value Nai Yang Boutique Resort four minutes walk from the beach. Lady T has done a TRIP REPORT here.
The improve conditions saw all the business-strip restaurants putting chairs too tables on the sand - intense contest resulted inwards overnice meals at rattling attractive budget prices.

Feb 2015 - roughly the same area. You tin view the large military/police clean-up 2014/15 of unlicensed beach activities has had a fairly large comport on re on-sand dining. Hell, 1 lady from an off-sand resort eatery wouldn't fifty-fifty allow me direct hold a plastic chair onto the beach to sentry Sun downward with a beer I'd purchased.

LATEST UPDATE - I spent farther fourth dimension prior to flying out at NAI YANG inwards MARCH 2017. I was a chip dismayed at how accommodation too nutrient had got to a greater extent than expensive since my finally visit. I seat this downward to the place's growing popularity, peculiarly with visitors from newly capitalistic Eastern Europe. Seems Serge likes to big-note past times overpaying for things. There are no longer goodness repast deals inwards "Walking Street". Breakfast has acquire thence expensive that I splurged on the buffet at NAI YANG BEACH RESORT - pay a chip extra for a LOT extra. Budget travelers tin nonetheless acquire inexpensive yummy materials from the street nutrient vendors.


AIRPORT BEACH

I retrieve technically this may live the southern-most component of Mai Khao beach (see below) but I retrieve it is distinctive plenty to warrant its ain section. The sand too H2O are pretty overnice here. At background far-right yous tin view the headland at the southward goal of Nai Yang beach - it took me virtually fifteen minutes to walk downward hither from the sun-lounge department of Nai Yang. Those trees at left of frame are all component of the National Park which begins inwards the southern quarter of Nai Yang. They shroud a pretty large picnic expanse pop with locals - if yous facial expression carefully yous tin view the life-guard flag just past times those people. H5N1 goodness service seeing most Thais can't swim, but the sea is benign all along hither inwards high season.
This is a overnice spot for plane-spotters to pick out their identify unit of measurement for some beach/water fourth dimension piece they ...

.... banking concern check out the bird action.

When an before twin-engine Airbus opened its throttles for take-off it got a chip blustery hither against the fence. So when this large babe was inwards seat I hastily snapped the shot too took off for the lower beach nigh the water. Despite this a chip of sand was blown virtually - it may pay to common girlfriend/wife/kids 100m along the beach for their fun-time.

Looks similar life-guarding at Phuket aint as good taxing - good inwards high flavor at least. Phuket tin acquire large unsafe seas inwards moisture flavor during/after a large westerly monsoon blow. All those surf-inexperienced Russians must live a worry, non to holler boozer Aussies who retrieve they know all virtually surf too don't realise how blitzed they are. Mind you, I don't retrieve as good many Russians too Aussies uncovering this beach. Fortunately for them the pop southern beaches also characteristic Australian trained lifeguards these days. Doesn't halt heaps of people getting into problem too as good many of them drowning. Be careful - maybe read my DON'T DROWN page where I indicate out that getting dragged out to sea inwards a rip electrical flow aint the goal of Earth unless yous can't tread H2O allow lone swim: rips tin fifty-fifty live useful if yous are a keen surfer.


THE FAR NORTHERN WEST COAST BEACHES
.

I'm non as good sure where the demarcation indicate betwixt Mai Khao too Sai Khao is on this 10km+ strip of sand - I direct hold an thought yous demand to live pretty far north.

MAI KHAO - SAI KHAO
11 km of unspoiled beach on Phuket? Yep, Mai Khao - Sai Khao/Sai Kaew at the northern goal of the due west coast tin practise this - as this high flavor shot shows. Actually the beach is a continuation of Nai Yang the other side of the airport, but fifty-fifty less developed. There are virtually four high-end resorts too 2 budget places along the total length too National Parks enforces a 30m set-back fifty-fifty for sunlounges thence all yous view looking upward too downward the beach (this is shot at virtually half-way) are the casuarina trees. Turtles are known to hatch along hither because of its quietness.
Many of yous people volition direct hold seen the beach from the double-decker at its northern goal because the primary route out of Phuket veers due west too passes a row of budget seafood beach-side restaurants non far from the causeway to the mainland. Note I've seen this northern-most stretch of Mai Khao referred to as SAI KHAO or SAI KAEW.
I stayed inwards a budget identify right of frame inwards the inwards a higher identify shot - SEASIDE COTTAGES AND RESTAURANT - I did a trip study with to a greater extent than information too pix HERE.

Old trend thatch bamboo bungalows on Phuket?? Yep, at SEASIDE COTTAGES. One at left 30m from the beach. They direct hold flasher bungalows too.


THE SOUTHERN BEACHES

I hadn't visited this expanse since 1997 when I rode a wheel downward hither from Kata (must direct hold been keen - this expanse is seriously hilly) thence inwards March 2013 I grabbed a moto too did a tour to acquire some pix too information for the page.

NUI BEACH

I didn't brand it to Nui. The fossil oil dirt route got progressively steeper. I gave upward at a parking spot for bikes which was nonetheless high inwards a higher identify the sea - the walk downward too dorsum looked similar it would eat good over an hr too this is a pay beach - I didn't experience similar paying for a 10 infinitesimal facial expression too snap session. But plainly it is a lovely beach too the guys who run it practise a goodness task of looking after it. There was a mobile number at the parking expanse offering motorbike taxi rides inwards for a hefty toll - the rail looked a goodness bear witness for a skilled off-road motorcyclists one-up - forget the passenger.
I pinched the pic from this first-class site.

The primary route southward of the Nui Beach turn-off has at to the lowest degree 3 elephant camps.

NAI HARN BEACH

This attractive 700m beach has alone a few (high end) accommodation places - banking concern check for Phuket Yacht Club (no marina there) - thence many of these people are hateful solar daytime trippers. Popular with locals thence lots of inexpensive nutrient too drinkable vendors behind the sand. This beach is nicely sheltered inwards the dry out flavor but tin live exposed on those windier moisture flavor days. 

Nai Harn Feb 2014 - crowded but plenty of infinite to lay a towel or sarong if yous are  not large on beach lounges. Nice H2O - deep plenty depression tide for swimming non as good far out. Cheap nutrient stalls behind umbrellas along beach route - some other shopping/restaurant/bar street heading inland unopen to left of camera.

March 2017 Nai Harn from the other end. Note way fewer sunlounges - a outcome of the Thai military machine crackdownl

AO SANE BEACH

This tiny beach is virtually 600m due west of Nai Harn. It has a budget bungalow identify (Ao Sane Bungalows too Restaurant tel: 076- 288 306/388 394 mob: 082 419 0300) with a restaurant/bar overlooking the beach. When I initiatory off went in that location finally century it had a few backpackers hanging or thence alone - but inwards March 2013/Feb 2014 it was quite busy with visiting hateful solar daytime trippers. The eatery inwards Feb 2014 had large beers for 80baht, the cheapest bungalow beer all trip (notice I include all the genuinely of import stuff). Bungalows available when I called past times inwards Feb 2014 were backpacker touchstone at 500/600b depending on position. There were a few aircon jobs, all taken.
UPDATE - I stayed a few nights at AO SANE March 2017. I was disappointed - bungalows are a goodness create out (I had a beachfront 1 at 500 - other fan jobs are 600 too aicon 1000) - but food/drink prices are at nowadays 50% over budget bungalow levels (priced to the daytripper market, many of whom are staying inwards flash resorts) too administration allows permanent guests to maintain dogs, the employment existence that Thai dogs' deoxyribonucleic acid includes the demand to vigorously protect their owners "homes" against newcomers. Get a few newcomers or thence a beach with a resort too heaps of day-trippers. Thing is 1 particular domestic dog was a irksome learner - though I was a newcomer on the 2nd too tertiary day.
However if yous are a daytripper yous volition direct hold no problems if yous confine yourself to the initiatory off (biggest) beach, as 90% practise - Fido "lives" betwixt beaches 1 too two.

The sea inwards dry out flavor is quite overnice off Ao Sane - clear water, sandy bottom with quite a few large rocks. Some patchy coral a chip off the beach, okay but non great. Such conditions attract snorkellers. And fish. This bloke has done well.

Accessing Ao Sane is a chip of a hoot. Take the route from the due west goal of Nai Harn. At the gate of Phuket Yacht Club tell the security guy yous are going to Ao Sane. He volition moving ridge yous past. Go thru the basement garage (UPDATE 2017 - the route at nowadays goes on the sea sie of the garage) of the hotel too go along some other 500m or so. Note that Phuket's Baan Krating resort is some other few hundred meters along the road. The security blokes in that location weren't as good keen on riff-raff similar me checking it out but if it is anywhere nigh as goodness as the Khao Lak namesake I stayed at a few years agone it should delight midrange travellers.

UPDATE FEB 2014 - I was looking for a  nice inexpensive resort inwards this expanse betwixt stays on Coral Island too Ko Raya out of the nearby Chalong pier. I couldn't acquire whatever contact information for Ao Sane but managed to uncovering NAIROCK ON THE ROCK RESORT at Nai Harn. In the ikon inwards a higher identify it is the little identify instantly to the left of Phuket Yacht Club. I'll seat some to a greater extent than pix too information on the PHUKET TRIP REPORT page when I acquire a chance.

ONE THE ROCK resort to the left of Phuket Yacht Club - shot from the far goal of Nai Harn beach.




BAN KRATING BEACH

I institute out inwards Feb 2014 that if yous direct hold the curt path betwixt the bungalows at the far goal of Ao Sane beach yous come upward to what I telephone phone Ban Krating beach (although Ao Sane's southern bungalows dorsum at to the lowest degree one-half the beach). The beach is cipher to acquire excited virtually but is sure quiet, too nicer Ao Sane (2 minutes) too Nai Harn (20) are an piece of cake stroll. There is an fifty-fifty smaller patch of sand which yous tin view past times rocks inwards background.

YANUI BEACH

Whoa! This is a overnice 1 - some say the best on the island. That's the primary due west coast route as it drops from Cape Promthep, Phuket's most southerly point.

There is no accommodation at Yanui - all these people are hateful solar daytime trippers, many from the host of accommodation places inwards non as good distant Rawai too Chalong. The common beach eatery is just out of frame left. H5N1 fair few snorkellers were checking the far bay on the other side of the sand spit (okay, cuspate foreland for all yous pedants).

Cape Promthep was a wind-swept grassy headland with some air current turbines when I fist visited inwards 1997. My 2013 render saw this monument to a Thai prince who was a large create out inwards the Thai navy 100 years or thence ago. Beneath is a little naval museum - cipher brain blowing but gratuitous admission too overnice aircon.
Behind photographic telly camera is some sort of monument to elephants. The air current turbines are nonetheless spinning, farther behind camera.
btw the dopey trees yous tin view inwards shot block outlook towards Coral Island, Ko Racha, Ko Phi Phi etc from this high position.

RAWAI BEACH

Unlike the inwards a higher identify beaches, 1600m long Rawai is on the eastern side of the peninsula. It aint much of a beach - patchy sand, gets the depression tide blues, as good much boat activity. Popular with Thais. Plenty of goodness value seafoos restaurants etc. Has a long pier for fishing. Longtail boats to top daytrip spot CORAL ISLAND) leave of absence from the beach. Note the spider web booking sites present quite a lot of accommodation at Rawai. I wouldn't remain for the beach, although top beaches Yanui, Nai Harn too Ao Sane are alone a few km away.
BTW - Chalong beach to the N is much the same as Rawai, although I noticed 1 mid arrive at hotel southward of the pier had managed to brand its beach expanse quite presentable.


CAPE PANWA - H5N1 QUIET SOUTH EAST BEACH AREA NICELY SHELTERED IN WET SEASON

This beach is quite a distance from Rawai - that's the cape far background-right inwards the shot inwards a higher identify this. The rattling similar (but far longer) to Rawai CHALONG is inwards between. Cape Panwa Hotel's beach is alone 250m across too is virtually 50km from the airport. The beach across the route from Kantary Bay Hotel is rattling sparse too tidal. 

Nice beach at Cape Panwa Hotel. This faces Phi Phi/Yao Yai too is rattling sheltered on those fifteen to 25% of moisture flavor days when the air current gets blustery on the due west coast beaches. Access either past times longtail or thru the Cape Panwa Hotel grounds - no problems for outsiders - walk inwards off the street, plough right, grab furnicular railway type thing downward the steep hillside, plough left to beach a curt distance.

An expanse which caught my oculus for my August 2007 Andaman trip was hilly CAPE PANWA inwards the south-east of the island, too thence on a second Phuket see that August, I went too stayed a few days at The Bay Hotel (UPDATE - at nowadays called KANTARY BAY HOTEL) there. Hey, overnice midrange identify alone 200 m from the Phuket Aquarium, inwards the $us35 arrive at depression flavor inc breakfast, fabulous rooftop puddle with 1 G k dollar views of the offshore islands too the southward goal of Phuket (see painting top of this page), a goodness street-front budget restaurant, non bad shopping, a little minimart, regular xxx infinitesimal songthaews into Phuket town. And best of all, gratuitous access to most facilities too a gratuitous shuttle double-decker across to the nearby higher degree Cape Panwa Hotel which has a lovely beach on its ain lilliputian bay as the photograph inwards a higher identify shows.
The beach at The Kantari Bay is pretty ordinary too faces due west towards southern Phuket too the offshore islands including Coral Island too Ko Racha - view shot at the top of the page.

A 2nd footing plane puddle at The Kantary Bay Hotel, Cape Panwa - view opening shot for the roof plane pool.


THIS GREAT SITE has photos, location too curt descriptions of every beach on Phuket (and in that location are H5N1 LOT of beaches).


GETTING BETWEEN THE BEACHES.
It’s kinda crazy, but songthaews don’t genuinely connect the pop due west coast beaches. That’s non quite correct, because those starting at the waiting indicate at the southward goal of Kata Yai genuinely encounter to key Karon before returning to Kata on the inner loop route some distance from the beach too thence heading off to Phuket town.
But in that location are no songthaews betwixt Kata Noi too Yai - no worries, yous tin walk across the headland inwards less than 10 minutes.
It takes non as good much longer to walk over the headland betwixt Kata Yai too Karon (but a hell of a lot longer to walk the beach - it is 1 loooong beach).

However the gap betwixt Karon too Patong is a biggy - it takes virtually 10 minutes to drive this. Now in that location are tuk tuks which volition happily provide this service, but the rates are a consummate rip-off: 200+ inwards 2007 (one positive - they are clearly sign-posted at the tuk-tuk waiting stations) too inwards previous years I institute it cheaper to bargain-down a auto from 1 of those auto carry guys who hang or thence exterior hotels to practise this journey. btw in that location is a lot of bad blood betwixt these auto guys too the tuk tuk/taxi mafia - the latter often administer beatings etc. In earlly 2013 the Phuket govt ordered all auto carry guys to acquire a taxi licence or endure the consequences. At the same fourth dimension the taxi mafia issued a novel listing of outrageous prices - good over twice per km of say Bangkok. Note as good the taxis run on a "village" monopoly organisation - a taxi originating inwards say Kata volition non pick yous upward inwards Patong after it has brought some other fare there. All of this of course of educational activity helps maintain prices up. On my past times 2 trips (2013 too 2014) I institute fifty-fifty the resorts' transfer vehicles were licensed "taxis" - I also institute NO-ONE prepared to undercut the official taxi prices stuck upward all over the place. People retrieve all those flash puddle condos at Surin Heights belong to Bangkok big-movers. Wrong - this is where the Phuket taxi mafia live.

Alternatively, to acquire betwixt the beaches yous could grab a songthaew into Phuket town too thence out to the next beach - alone virtually 40baht each trip - but Karon-Phuket town is virtually 50 minutes too Phuket town-Patong the best component of 40.

The gaps betwixt the due west coast beaches N of Patong upward to Nai  Yang are generally every bit non walkable except for Kamala-Laem Singh-Surin-Bang Tao. I also noticed a Phuket Town-Surin-Kamala songthaew thence yous don't demand to walk or motorbike betwixt those ii beaches.

The tuk-tuk mafia seem to direct hold carry at too betwixt the beaches tied up. You view few meter taxis at the beaches - the ones I've noticed I've assumed direct hold brought passengers from the aerodrome or town. However inwards Apr 2012 I heard a Patong local telling a traveller that yous tin usually uncovering taxis parked nigh the police force box on the primary beach route at Patong opposite the rattling busy Soi Bangla girlie/bar lane. Maybe they demand the cops for protection from the tuk tuk guys.

Heaps of motorcycles are for hire cheaply, but brand sure yous direct hold an international licence too are given a helmet - this is 1 identify where the cops seem keen on checking these out. UPDATE MARCH 2013 - I rode a moto all or thence the southward of the isle out of Kata Yai - no licence checks.
Motorcycle scams are non unknown - the hire occupation organisation points out a little scratch etc when yous render the bike (often pre-existing when yous hired it: banking concern check the bike for damage, indicate out too photograph whatever existing damage) too charges yous a ridiculous toll for repairs otherwise yous don't acquire your passport back. Best bet is to hire from your hotel which is far less probable to line this scam. Many hotels don't hire bikes - if yous create out with an exterior fellowship DON'T HAND OVER YOUR PASSPORT. Give them a photocopy. If they don't go for it, hire from someone else - contest is vehement too in that location are dozens of legit companies for each dodgy one.

Note complaints of similar JET SKI scams are mutual from Phuket. I don't bother hiring them - the fact that in that location are fewer hire outfits compared to bikes weakens the customers' position.

On a Phuket see finally century I hired a wheel - exterior the beach towns too Phuket town the roads direct hold a goodness run-off lane too are pretty security - but the trips over the headlands betwixt beaches too across to the other side of the isle direct hold major hills, the sort that maintain on keeping-on just when yous retrieve yous are at the summit - I ride daily inwards a rattling hilly town too nonetheless institute Phuket a existent goodness challenge.

On that bicycle-propelled trip I checked most of the due west coast beaches They were existent set dorsum N of Patong, but the ones fairly unopen (KAMALA etc) were fairly good developed whereas the ones closer to the aerodrome (NAI THON, NAI YANG etc) were nonetheless rattling relaxed too a existent contrast to the beaches south.
UPDATE Dec 2010 - I used a wheel this trip as good - this fourth dimension to ride the dorsum roads behind Mai Khao Beach N of the airport. Pretty serenity too apartment inwards this area, too also when I cycled virtually five km each way along the busy primary highway to see Phuket Marine National Park's mangrove board-walk nigh the causway to the mainland - large run-off lane makes cycling this route pretty safe.
I also hired a motorbike from my bungalow articulation - the host said his guests had non been hassled virtually licences as long as they had the (supplied) helmet. I rode as far southward as Kamala without problems. I'm non sure what the province of affairs is at nowadays similar or thence the large 3 beaches regarding licence checks.


SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ON PHUKET.
Phuket gets lots of bad press on travellers‘ sites, which it doesn’t deserve.
Sure, Patong is similar Miami Beach or Surfers Paradise with an extra helping of sleaze, but Phuket is a large isle with a broad arrive at of beaches from political party to set back, has some nifty scenery too a large multifariousness of other attractions. It is surrounded past times a arrive at of other attractive areas too thence is 1 of the improve islands as a base of operations for daytrips.
Another summation is that Phuket is bursting with midrange too upper hotels pregnant that contest inwards depression flavor (April/May to early on November) forces prices downward to 30% of their high flavor levels - $us30 tin purchase a nifty midrange room with huge buffet breakfast. $us80 tin acquire yous the Ritz. And fifty-fifty super busy, sleazy inwards places Patong has some rattling overnice properties with huge pools, acres of groomed grounds etc, where yous would never believe crowded streets are a curt distance away.

One other thing - the large 3 beaches of Patong, Karon too Kata may live commercialised with their western hotels, beach chairs too umbrellas, but they sure are pretty beaches. Makes the dump which is Pattaya beach inwards the eastern Gulf facial expression just that. And they nonetheless direct hold their chemical constituent of Thai graphic symbol - in that location is a bunch of beachfront restaurants too a lilliputian bar at the southern headland of Kata Yai which has nutrient too booze at similar prices to a lot of their counterparts on less commercial islands. And they sure are overnice places to sit down too sentry the passing parade, non to holler the waves too surfers inwards depression flavor when a chip of swell genuinely appears, non as good mutual inwards Thailand.
Which reminds me, Phuket gets a fair few tourist drownings depression season, thence direct hold care, swim inwards areas designated past times the security swimming flags. And mayhap read my Some Tips on Not Drowning page.
Don’t worry high flavor - the sea at all the western beaches tends to live apartment as a board 99% of the fourth dimension too never gets dangerous.

To its credit, Phuket has lifeguard towers on its to a greater extent than pop beaches. This 1 at Kamala is unmanned inwards this depression flavor shot - the lifeguard had genuinely gone for a paddle on his rescue board to acquire a few waves. Just as piece of cake to maintain an oculus on the 2 or 3 swimmers from inwards the water.


SNORKELLING AT PHUKET
Phuket is non known as a top snorkelling location similar say the Similans, Surins, Ko Tao, Phi Phi or Kradan. However some okay snorkelling tin live found.

The pop beaches are long too sandy - if yous snorkel off the beach yous may view a few fish but coral volition live scarce. However all beaches direct hold headlands (exception Mai Khao) too I've institute in that location are ever some fringing coral on the rocks too a greater concentration of fish to brand snorkelling inwards such areas entertaining for non hard-core fins too flipper fiends. Low flavor visitors live careful - the due west coast headlands tin acquire large waves too potent rip currents inwards this period. When depression flavor throws upward these conditions I'd live snorkelling off Cape Panwa Resort's beach - it aint nifty hither but conditions are sheltered May to November.

The best snorkelling at the large 3 beaches tin live institute at Kata.
The rocks at the southern goal of Kata Noi's beach attract quite a crowd inwards high season.

Snorkellers off the southward headland of Kata Yai - alone 30m from the beach.

The headland at the N goal of Kata Yai is pretty goodness - yous tin go along all the way out to the little isle which has an okay reef on the beach side.

The Tri Tra/Tri Trang/Paradise Beach headland at the southward goal of Patong also has some okay snorkelling. Check my pic up-page of the bay off Merlin Resort on Tri Trang - lotsa rocks too patches of coral which makes snorkelling away from lowest tide okay.
Ditto the reef just off the sand at Paradise Beach. Tri Tra too Paradise tend to live sheltered inwards depression flavor thence a goodness spot for yous eastward coast stayers to acquire your underwater kicks.

I've heard the southward goal of Freedom Beach (aka Relax Beach/Karon Noi) which is southward of the Tra/Trang/Paradise peninsula too tin alone live accessed past times boat (the rail inwards is thru private land) is pretty good. If yous tin afford to remain at the hotel there, Le Meridien from memory, yous don't direct hold to longtail to the beach.

Heading N along the due west coast, the rocks at the southward goal of Leam Singh just N of Kamala are okay. 

The nearby southward goal of Surin had a bunch of snorkellers when I stayed in that location inwards 2014. I had a look, cipher fantastic but plenty fish too goodness stone areas to maintain non-fanatics interested.

Just curt of the airport, N Nai Yang beach has a reef which is supposed to live okay.

Way downward the southward goal of the isle Ao Sane's beach has lots of rocks etc which attract the fish too coral. I saw a fair few snorkellers inwards the H2O off Yanui beach. Nui beach to the N is said to live okay.


PHUKET TOWN.
H5N1 lot of people wing or double-decker into Phuket too thence leave of absence next hateful solar daytime for Phi Phi, Lanta etc. Phuket town is the obvious overnighter - it is closer to the aerodrome than the pop beaches, existent unopen to the busiest ferry piers too the double-decker station too has a goodness arrive at of accommodation of all standards.
It also has goodness shopping too eats for people intending to remain longer - quite a few travellers brand Phuket town their base of operations too go out to the beaches or to other isle attractions each day. However it is quieter inwards the night-life/entertainment stakes for non-locals non inwards the know. Quieter but nonetheless has some okay places.

Actually, if I was on a flying which gave me component of an afternoon at the beaches on arrival, I would pick the beaches instead of Phuket town. Have a swim, a beer/meal inwards a beachfront bar, walk the sand, grab some entertainment. The inclusive shuttle buses to the pier direct hold an extra 15-20 minutes next morning, but what the hell.

Having said that, I direct hold used Phuket Backpackers' on Thanon Ranong inwards town key almost next to the nutrient markets, as an overnight base of operations many times. This identify is spotless, quiet, has inexpensive dorms, gratuitous mesh too movies on the large screen. There are to a greater extent than expensive singles too doubles inwards a garden department out the back. They direct hold a goodness go desk, songthaews to the beaches leave of absence from exterior the markets, in that location is a neighbouring 7/11 too a whole bunch of inexpensive Muslim vegetarian restaurants just to the left. The markets are a blow-out too in that location is quite goodness full general shopping inwards Ranong Road too a little street running perpendicular opposite the markets.
In recent years they direct hold added a pub expanse fronting the road. Also in that location are at nowadays aircon rooms inwards a split edifice a few doors downward the street. I stayed inwards them with Lady Tezza inwards Nov 2012 too they were pretty goodness value.

Phuket fresh nutrient marketplace is virtually 40m eastward of Phuket Backpackers'. No shortage of fruit etc too in that location is quite a large cooked nutrient section. This novel edifice was finished at to the lowest degree four years before it began operating inwards 2012. An interim marketplace expanse across the route continues to operate for depression rent stall-holders.

UPDATE - In March 2013 I decided to attempt 1 of the double fan rooms at Phuket Backpackers'. This is the user-report I wrote for the booking site:

Unlike the aircon rooms which are located inwards a reconditioned edifice a few doors downward the road, the fan rooms are at the raise of the primary edifice – side past times side the little garden area.

You volition uncovering bigger, less expensive fan rooms inwards Phuket town but I maintain returning to Phuket Backpackers because of its goodness seat (adjacent the fresh nutrient markets, a 24 hr 7-11 supermarket, the double-decker stops to the beaches too unopen to town key shopping too other businesses) too its goodness go desk (now at the primary bar) where ferry tickets to the islands are appreciably cheaper than at the pier too include gratuitous van transport.

My room was just large plenty for ii people too their gear too had a comfy bed too pillows. It was just virtually due for a repaint too some tlc. Being out the dorsum it was pretty quiet. The bath had goodness hot water, towels + bathroom paper but no soap. Lighting was okay. Main complaint was that oestrus soak from the roof made it pretty hot – the fan was okay but people who similar their cool should maybe facial expression at the aircon rooms.

The backpacker kitchen is nearby to brew upward a cuppa or prepare a repast (there are also plenty of hot nutrient choices out on the street too inwards the markets) , side past times side the kitchen is a tv/video/free figurer (only 2 these days) room too the lively pub/lounge is out fronting the street.

Wondering if pub racket had spoiled the partly-overhead dorm expanse I went upward too checked the latter out. The goodness tidings is that audio proof doors direct hold been installed which keeps exterior racket to a minimum (including 4am set-up racket at the markets which used to live a employment for dorms overlooking the street) – the doors also maintain inwards cool air from 2 large aircon systems thence fifty-fifty though the dorms are classed as fan they were appreciably cooler than when I direct hold stayed upward there. The dorm expanse including bathrooms was as spotless as usual.

MARCH 2017 - I in 1 lawsuit again stayed hither initiatory off nighttime after my 2200 arrival at the airport. The identify seems to direct hold been taken over past times 2 western guys too downsized: the previously bustling bar/reception expanse side past times side the primary street had the shutter pulled downward too was rattling quiet, the aircon rooms inwards an one-time hotel block a few doors upward the street where I stayed inwards 2014 too 2015 seemed to direct hold been replaced past times aircon rooms behind the kitchen inwards the primary block. Mine was inwards goodness condition. But some things don't alter - the kitchen too "video" room was fine too upstairs the air-conditioned dorm expanse was as squeaky build clean too cool as ever.

Aircon room PHUKET BACKPACKERS 2017

Town-center is quite compact. 10-15 minutes walk volition acquire yous to the Ocean Department Store. There are heaps of tuk tuks, taxis too touts who desire to present yous the best places.
See travelfish.org for a goodness selection of other Phuket town accommodation.

EARLIER UPDATE Apr 2012 I felt similar a alter too thence got me a unmarried room at D's Guesthouse on Thalang Road which is alone 10 minutes walk from the one-time double-decker station where the Airport Bus arrives. At 300 too 350 baht the fan rooms with bath were considerably cheaper than similar rooms at Phuket Backpackers' which is some other 10 minutes walk south. D's is run past times a overnice lady too her immature adult woman too the rooms are spacious too clean. This is a rattling serenity area. One disadvantage is that in that location is no go desk thence if yous are heading for the islands yous volition pay to a greater extent than at the pier unless yous direct hold picked upward a cheaper ticket at the aerodrome (debatible), double-decker station or or thence town beforehand. An payoff useful to unmarried women arrriving tardily is that D's will pick upward at the aerodrome at a toll competitive with the taxi service.

As I said Thalang Road is a rattling serenity area. But it also has virtually the best examples of Chinese shop-house architecture inwards Thailand too each twelvemonth in that location is a Thalang Road Festival to celebrate this. I institute this pic piece browsing Jamies Phuket Blog - a link to Jamie is inwards the link listing top right of this page.
btw Thalang route has several okay places to eat too if yous caput 400m due west too plough left at the initiatory off traffic lights yous tin uncovering to a greater extent than summation 1 spot that was doing cool live music when I passed by.


DAYTRIPS
Phuket in all likelihood has a improve selection of daytrips than whatever other Thai island. The large ii are:

Phang Nga Bay - for the best seascape/landscape inwards Thailand, this is a must-not-miss. Quite a lot are advertised as James Bond Island Trips, too yous practise pass fourth dimension on this tourist trap, but the pressure level of longtails way virtually fifteen minutes max which gives yous heaps of fourth dimension to cruise the hundreds of other nifty karst stack islands, the spectacular mangroves too direct hold tiffin on Ko Panyi, the sea-gypsy isle which has a nifty buffet inwards its stilt eatery area. For extra yous tin conform to remain overninght on the isle (see link below on Ko Panyi for details of my remain inwards 2010). Most trips involve a coach to Phang Na town too thence a large longtail, but speedboat too kayaking tours are also available.

It doesn't acquire much to a greater extent than spectacular than Phang Nga Bay (image PHUKETPERFECTPROPERTIES)

Phi Phi Island - a gratuitous shuttle picks yous upward from your accommodation too takes yous to the pier. The ferry trips tend to direct hold inwards Maya Bay of The Beach fame, the birds' nest caves, often beach too snorkelling fourth dimension on Bamboo island, luncheon at 1 of the restaurants or resorts on Phi Phi Don too some town/shopping time.
You tin also practise these trips past times speedboat which give to a greater extent than fourth dimension on the island.

Phi Phi Ley's Viking Cave. Those are hateful solar daytime trip speedboats, mainly from Phuket (although Krabi too a few Lanta boats come upward across too). I took this shot from the regular 0930 Phuket-Phi Phi ferry which doubles as a hateful solar daytime trip ferry (more than one-half the passengers on this Dec 2012 voyage had hateful solar daytime trip badges on) - inwards the past times this has dropped other passengers off at the Phi Phi Don pier before leaving for Phi Phi Ley too other hateful solar daytime trip locations. But this fourth dimension it did a circumnavigation of Ley initiatory off - stopping someway offshore at Maya Bay (there were thence many boats it couldn't acquire much closer too the beachcrowd looked similar Bondi or Cococabana on a fine day) too thence tardily cruising past times these other Ley attractions. Personally, if I signed upward for a hateful solar daytime trip I would desire to pass fourth dimension on The Beach at Maya too maybe practise some snorkelling at Ley (although in that location are plenty of other goodness spots off Phi Phi Don for this) - it may pay to banking concern check the details of whatever Phi Phi hateful solar daytime trip yous are contemplating. Probably this combined passenger-day trip run I was on would live 1 of the cheaper hateful solar daytime trips - to a greater extent than coin may acquire yous on The Beach.

Other daytrips include:
- the pop Coral Island just off the south-east coast of Phi Phi (nice beach, fairly goodness snorkelling, gets crowded but in that location is a pristine uncrowded beach a few minutes past times rail from the primary one).
- a similar but longer distance 1 to Ko Racha/Raya virtually 25km farther to the south.
- golfing, national common at Khao Lak
- national common at Khao Sok (this is getting to live a chip of a stretch distance wise - I reckon from the beaches yous may live looking at 3 hours each way past times coach).
- snorkelling too beach fourth dimension at the marine national common at the Similan Islands (this is also a fair stretch fourth dimension wise, although I was surprised at the large number of people coming upward from Phuket when I stayed on the Similans inwards May 2012).

Russian daytrippers practise the large glamour shoot on Main Beach, Similans Island #4. 80% of daytrippers seemed to live Russian inwards Apr 2012 too all the girls must direct hold modeled for Russian Playboy at 1 fourth dimension (judging past times their raunch poses).

Note I at nowadays direct hold pages on both Raya Island too Coral Island summation the Similans too Khao Sok. Check the links towards the goal of this page.
I also decided to practise a Similans Island hateful solar daytime trip out of Phuket inwards tardily 2014.

daytrips continued
- lots of fishing too diving boat trips.
- cultural too nature attractions on the isle too nearby mainland.

One off the radar daytrip is to jump on a songthaew exterior the hateful solar daytime marketplace for Ban Rong, acquire the ferry across to attractive Ko Yao Noi, hire a motorbike or tuk-tuk off 1 of the guys at the pier too practise a tour of the island. Perfect if yous desire to view a rural, unspoiled Thai island. H5N1 Malaysian guy too his married adult woman were doing this when I went across to remain on the isle inwards March. See my Yao Noi page for to a greater extent than details.

Phuket Island Hopper - http://www.phuket-islandhopper.com/ does a daytrip that takes inwards a beach fringed little coral cay called Bamboo Island too thence fourth dimension on Ko Yao Yai.

Phuket has dozens if non hundreds of day-trip providers. I'm non as good sure virtually this one: the holler looks a chip dodgy.


DIVING
Phuket is 1 of the 3 large dive locations inwards Thailand. There are over a hundred dive shops - crikey! Local dive sites include reefs, wrecks too walls at Racha Yai, Racha Noi, the King Cruiser Wreck, Anemone Reef too Shark Point. There are plenty of to a greater extent than distant daytrips to places similar Phi Phi too the Similans, summation overnighters too liveaboards to the same areas, the Surins too fifty-fifty into Burma. One good regarded outfit that does most of these locations is Sunrise Divers - http://www.sunrise-divers.com/




ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT
Phuket aerodrome is towards the northern (mainland) goal of the island, some 32 km from Phuket town too 40+ from the large 3 beach areas of Patong, Karon too Kata.
There are a number of ways to acquire to your destination.

The Airport Bus - a 3/4 size coach, runs betwixt 0630 too 2000, every 75 to xc minutes for 100 baht downward to Phuket town double-decker station #1 (the one-time double-decker station right inwards town, non the new#2  on the outskirts), taking an hour+ or - depending on traffic (Phuket traffic is horrendous 16+ hours a day). H5N1 timetable, latest prices too interim stops tin live seen hither http://www.airportbusphuket.com/.

 My experience FEB08 - I caught the 1730 aerodrome double-decker out of Phuket town finally week. It picked upward heaps of schoolkids too other Thais along the way too stopped at just virtually every halt to the aerodrome - as a outcome it took a chip over xc minutes. Don't rely on the claimed hr if yous are on a tight flying schedule.

My  experience Apr 2009 - Interestingly, I caught the same fourth dimension double-decker  - it didn't direct hold any kids but a fair few Thai adults, too took abt 70m. Maybe the schoolhouse organisation has changed its hours, although originally it did seem awfully late.
You tin uncovering it at the aerodrome past times exiting ARRIVALS turning left, too looking for the signs. If it is non in that location it hasn't arrived yet or yous are as good tardily too direct hold missed the finally one.
Note for budget travellers heading to the beaches: the shuttle minibuses are improve - the Airport Bus finishes at Phuket town's one-time double-decker station from which it is as good long for an piece of cake walk to where the beach songthaews leave of absence with the fresh make marketplace although I noticed some beach songthaews calling inwards at the one-time double-decker station on my latest Apr 2012 trip) The songthaews are crowded too direct hold a long fourth dimension to attain the beaches. They don't tend to run much after dark.

The Airport Shuttle Minibus Service is rattling pop because it volition drib yous at your accommodation. Tickets tin live bought at the limo counter just within the go out door at Arrivals (on later on trips I've institute it's easier to acquire tickets at the desk exterior - plough right out of ARRIVALS. But the guys volition uncovering yous if the desk has moved).

The minibuses initiatory off halt at a little go agency where they sell passengers accommodation or daytrips. If yous direct hold already arranged things, no problems. After virtually 10-15 minutes they charge yous into diverse vans too away yous go to practise the rounds of accommodation places inwards your expanse of destination.
My experience June 2010 - limo counter said no minibuses because they wanted to sell me a limo ride instead.  I went outside, minibuses in that location too little tabular array selling tickets virtually 30m to the right towards taxi counter. Unusually, I had to hold off fifteen minutes for plenty passengers - depression low flavor + comport on of fiscal too political crises - but spent less than five minutes at go agency exterior Phuket town.
In Apr 2012 I institute NO minibuses running to Phuket town ("minibus to beaches only"). I direct hold it as good few passengers were wanting to go to Phuket town inwards what was almost depression season. This was at 2100 - maybe they run depression flavor at busier times although my experience is that a fair few planes come upward inwards non long after my JetStar from Australila.
In March 2017 I had the same experience - no shuttles to PHUKET town. Now this is HIGH SEASON - I'm non sure if this was because of the tardily hr (there are nonetheless plenty of aircraft arriving or thence 2300-2400) or is a 24 hr thing.

Meter Taxis tin live institute exterior the Arrivals exit, plough right, walk 150m. - the stand upward volition give yous an gauge on electrical flow prices. Time taken to the large 3 beaches is 45 to 55 minutes depending on which beach, too tin vary with traffic. The nearest beach with accommodation too a overnice environs is Nai Yang - a lilliputian over five minutes. Phuket town is say 35 minutes.

Note when I arrived at 2100 inwards August in that location were no cabs too the guy at the counter said he would radio - maybe a xl infinitesimal wait. I don’t retrieve in that location is this delay at busier times.
UPDATE AUGUST 09 - I used a cab on my just finished visit. Arrived virtually 1700, was dealyed within until virtually everyone on my flying had left the aerodrome but in that location were nonetheless four cabs waiting. Girl at component told me the 100baht aerodrome fee + meter would in all likelihood total virtually 280 to Kamala. Actual cost 240 inwards calorie-free traffic. Make sure your driver turns the meter on - otherwise yous volition pay the quote.
That 289/240 to Kamala compared to 600 at the limo counter - curt trips at the limo counter are expensive.  I don't retrieve yous would salvage such a large percent over longer trips to the large 3 beaches or the southward of the island.
Note in that location is a bunch of guys lining the walkway betwixt the go out doors too the taxi stand upward yelling TAXI - I retrieve these are the drivers who hang or thence exterior hotels, direct hold brought people to the aerodrome too are hoping for a render fare somewhere south. I direct hold never dealt with them but if yous are fore-armed with a fossil oil thought of electrical flow prices (see limo link downward page - I'd live pushing for 60-75% of this), no dubiety yous could cutting a deal. UPDATE FEB2014 - non as good sure at nowadays - pressure level from the Phuket taxi cartel has seen all resort too private "taxis" licensed too they seem to live all sticking to the ridiculously high "official" prices as the link below. I've had no luck negotiating a discount inwards the past times ii years. And I'm a world shape bargainer.
UPDATE FEB 2013 - in that location is a novel official toll listing for Phuket taxis (and tuk-tuks) Read it too weep.

The Limo Service is non that much dearer than the taxis (UDATE ahem - as said inwards a higher identify it tin live over curt distances too inwards recent years I've had no luck negotiating discounts over whatever distance). The "limos" are non Caddys or Mercs - to a greater extent than like-late model Camrys (or inwards to a greater extent than recent years Corollas too similar at nowadays these direct hold plenty of room). 

This link should maintain upward to engagement limo prices from the aerodrome -  http://phuketdir.com/palbuco/index.htm
UPDATE - inwards March 2017 I was firced to role a limo to acquire to Phuket town (or Phuket CITY as they are at nowadays calling it) - 650 baht, what a rip-off. The quote from the taxi counter was much the same.

I reckon the best create out is to remain at a resort with gratuitous aerodrome pickup similar Naithonburi. Plenty of resorts direct hold paid pickup but usually the toll is no cheaper, often to a greater extent than than the aerodrome guys.
Of course of educational activity four people sharing a taxi/limo to Patong volition pay lilliputian to a greater extent than than the aerodrome minibuses too volition acquire inwards a hell of a lot sooner.

AIRPORT UPDATE MARCH 2017
I'm non sure how long it's been open, but I used the NEW INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL at the aerodrome latest visit. This is to the due west of the one-time terminal which I retrieve is existence retained as the Domestic Terminal. 
I didn't retrieve the novel ARRIVALS was all that much improve - it's nonetheless chaos key exterior too the carry mafia is as venal as ever. 
But DEPARTURE was a definite measuring up. PARKING is also improve with a novel large hole-and-corner expanse adjoining the novel terminal.
There is also a novel ENTRANCE on the southern side if coming from NAI YANG (the primary entrance/exit is nonetheless on the eastern side) which cuts abt five minutes off the trip.

STAYING NEAR THE AIRPORT
If yous desire a fine hotel unopen to the airport, the Naithonburi on Naithon Beach does the job. Only 10 minutes from Arrivals, yous direct hold a truthful midrange summation identify with lovely pool, large spotless comfortable rooms with all the expected inclusions too a huge buffet brekka included inwards the toll which inwards depression flavor was a ridiculous 1450 baht including aerodrome pickup too render inwards August09 - banking concern bill is is way to a greater extent than expensive inwards high season. The brekka is geared for early on flights, starting at 0630. The overnice depression key beach is behind the trees inwards background. The hotel's eatery prices non as good bad with budget options along the primary beach route out front. Very serenity at nighttime hither (CLICK TO EXPAND IMAGE).

Phuket is undergoing a frenzy of evolution - peculiarly inwards vacation condo trend places, including time-share. In August09 the expanse instantly southward of Naithon had one-half a dozen similar projects to this going. This shot is genuinely the expanse just southward of Kamala Beach - interestingly alone virtually 10% of these were finished too over 50% had no run existence done on them. Looks similar the World Financial Crisis chip hard here. And someone may direct hold overestimated the buying capacity of the growing Thai middle shape - in that location could live some goodness deals to clear these joints inwards the next few years. I've seen similar developments inwards the heights behind Kata too Karon, on Phuket's upper eastward coast, on nearby Ko Yao Noi too of course of educational activity inwards places similar Lanta too Samui.

Even closer to the aerodrome (5 minutes) is Nai Yang Beach Resort, some other overnice midrange identify which also tends to offering create out prices inwards depression season. We are talking 3 SMALLER pools hither too a pretty overnice beach too okay shopping/restaurant strip across the road. One disadvantage over Naithonburi is that the aerodrome shuttle is non gratuitous - yous are talking 200baht. 

Nai Yang seems to grab moisture flavor winds good because in 1 lawsuit the westerlies kicking inwards it becomes a hang for kite surfers.

For yous high flavor visitors - Nai Yang Beach Resort (2 pix above) is a create out depression flavor but non just elcheapo high season. So banking concern check the articulation above, Nai Yang Boutique Resort - high flavor prices abt 1 tertiary of Beach Resort, rooms equal, five minutes walk to beach vs 3 minutes from my Beach Resort room inwards April, no pool. Lady Tezza too I stayed hither inwards Dec 2012.

Feb 2015 - Dang Sea right on the beach at Nai Yang. Comfortable, super build clean motel-like units. Beach where photographic telly camera is, primary route inwards back, "Walking Street" nutrient courtroom just across the road. One downside - no gratuitous aerodrome pick-up or drib off.

Thing is Nai Yang has lotsa identify similar this. Some direct hold gratuitous aerodrome shuttles. Let Google practise the searching,

ARRIVING BY FERRY
Most ferry ticket prices include gratuitous or heavily discounted shuttle double-decker carry to your accommodation if it is at the pop beaches or Phuket town. Otherwise in that location are cabs too motorbike taxis waiting.
UPDATE In early on Dec 2010 I took the direct Ao Nang/Railay to Phuket ferry - on arrival at Rassada pier I noticed they had an aerodrome van waiting, no extra charge. H5N1 nifty service for such a long distance from the pier.
MORE RECENT UPDATE - In March 2013 I took the indirect speedboat (via Ko Yao Yai too Ko Yao Yai from Krabi's Ao Nang to Phuket's Bang Rong pier. Bang Rong is a chip isolated on the mid eastward coast of Phuket but inclusive shuttle vans were waiting to direct hold passengers to the beaches too airport. The speedboat is operated past times Green Planet - go desks or thence Krabi too (for the contrary trip) Phuket volition direct hold booking info. tel Krabi +66 075 637603 Phuket-mobile 082 4206998
In recent years the island-hoppers SPD Speedboat too Tigerline fast ferries direct hold been arriving from as far southward as Lipe/Langkawi but I don't know which Phuket piers they use.


ARRIVING BY BUS
In June 2012 the novel double-decker station (#2) on the outskirts of Phuket town finally opened. Most long distance double-decker services are at nowadays using this. Apparently in that location are rattling informative fixed-price boards upward for taxi, motorbike taxi etc prices into town too other parts of the island. There is also a frequent little "pink" double-decker which goes to/from the one-time double-decker station (#1) alone 15baht/20 mins (2017). 

I was browsing the first-class Jamie's Phuket Blog (see link listing top right of page) too institute this pic of the fixed toll transfer board at the novel double-decker station. Jamie got it from phuket.wan tourist newspaper. There was a later on article virtually motorbike taxi guys charging tourists 150baht for transfer betwixt the stations - I'm non sure what the board says but I reckon 50 tops, to a greater extent than probable 20. 150 or fifty-fifty 50 makes waiting for the fifteen baht pinkish double-decker seem a goodness deal.

The one-time Phuket town double-decker station is virtually 3 blocks from town key thence it is an inexpensive cab, tuk-tuk (agree on the toll first!) or motor cycle taxi (ditto) ride to most places of accommodation inwards town. The Airport Bus is nonetheless running out of this double-decker station. I noticed when waiting for the latter inwards May 2012 that the local songthaews for the beaches too quite a few other Phuket isle locations at nowadays seem to telephone phone past times the one-time double-decker station. Previously yous had to go a few blocks due west to the fresh nutrient marketplace expanse which used to live their Phuket town terminus. UPDATE tardily JUNE - I just read that the one-time double-decker station has acquire the Phuket town terminus for all the local world songthaews instead of the expanse just exterior the fresh nutrient markets. I should imagine the songthaews nonetheless telephone phone inwards to the fresh nutrient markets - my Patong limit songthaew in that location was 90% total with women carting bags of fruit, vegetables, chickens etc from the start of the trip a few years back.

FROM THE AIRPORT TO PHI PHI, KRABI, KHAO LAK, LANTA.I direct hold a fair chip of information inwards the respective pages of each place.
Some people fifty-fifty caput for Samui/Phangan/Tao from Phuket airport. Well, similar the others, caput out to the primary road, or downward to the double-decker station, too facial expression inwards this instance for a Surathani bus. UPDATE - facial expression inwards the instantly next department for the novel minibus service to Ko Lanta.
Note that if heading for Samui, Bangkok Airways flies in that location directly.


LEAVING PHUKET
Basically this is the contrary of the inwards a higher identify with the next exceptions:
* I don’t know how the aerodrome shuttle minivans or limos run inwards reverse. maybe yous could role the telephone number inwards the link upward page.
But I did grab a shuttle van from Kata to the aerodrome inwards March 2013. This was non inexpensive at 250 baht but way cheaper than a rip off taxi or tuk-tuk at 700. The van picked upward at hotels inwards Karon too Patong on the way making for a lengthy trip - good over an hour. This shuttle service was booked past times the go desk at my hotel.
* Hotels tin furnish a auto to the airport. But in that location are ever guys out front end inwards the street who tin live negotiated to practise it for less. Busier places direct hold meter taxis but inwards 2013 in that location is at nowadays an official taxi toll listing too it aint cheap.
* There is at nowadays a Phuket to Lanta minivan service, running virtually 3 services a hateful solar daytime rather than hourly as shown on the website - http://www.lantainfo.com/getting_ko_lanta_drive_phuket.htm
Initially it did non pick upward at Phuket aerodrome but things may direct hold changed - inwards 2013 Andaman carry services had improved greatly. The van drops off at Krabi town double-decker station.
There are also Krabi - Phuket minivans. I don't know how they run inwards contrary - mayhap yous could contact via the sublink on my Krabi page. UPDATE Dec 2010 - I noticed the Krabi to Phuket minivans are at nowadays advertising they volition drib people off at Phuket aerodrome on the way thru to the beaches.
* If yous are heading for a ferry out of Phuket, in that location are heaps of little go agents too counters at the beaches too inwards Phuket town for tickets, summation your hotel’s go desk - banking concern bill toll tin vary markedly thence it pays to store around. And yous volition usually pay to a greater extent than at the pier (UPDATE: considerably to a greater extent than - Phi Phi tickets were 600baht inwards Apr 2012 - a guy from Patong told me he could direct hold got 1 for 350 in that location the hateful solar daytime before - inwards March 2013 I paid 500 including van transfer at Phuket Backpacker).
The toll volition usually include gratuitous pick upward too transfer to the pier from the pop beaches too Phuket town.

Ferry time-table
Bus time-table

Busy scene at Phuket's Rassada pier, embarkation indicate for most Phi Phi, Lanta too Krabi ferries. Rassada is alone virtually 3km from Phuket town key but a goodness 35km from the airport.


WHEN TO GO
The most obvious fourth dimension is dry out flavor which commonly is mid-late Nov thru to sometime inwards mid-April to ealry March (although some Phuket locals say the truthful moisture flavor does non kicking inwards until August-September). But the fact is, Phuket is an all twelvemonth resort these days with hardly whatever accommodation or attractions shutting downward - although prices for goodness rooms tin acquire genuinely depression too attractive.
How bad is moisture season? I've visited several times - got the usual: lots of sunshine betwixt 1 or a few showers/storms/cloudy periods. Some days cloudy but no pelting - tin sunburn similar toast on such days - clouds alone halt a express amount of UV. Some days no cloud at all. Prolonged rainfall rattling rare (I've never lost a total hateful solar daytime to pelting but it tin happen).

August at Kata - non as good much cloud inwards this shot. The opening pix top of this page was also shot inwards August.

 Something I've experienced several times - on virtually 20% of days the moisture flavor westerlies tin kicking inwards with gusto too often volition blow for several days. Even when non raining it tin live pretty exposed on the west-facing beaches (most of Phuket's beaches human face upward west) with blustery unpleasant conditions too often large unsafe surf with lotsa rips.

I pinched this off Jamie's Phuket conditions weblog - this was shot during an unusually prolonged windy/rainy spell inwards June 2012 - didn't maintain these Karon visitors off the beach.

Another Jamie shot of Karon - alone 3 days later. Plenty of blueish sky. Although that surf is pretty large - surf often lasts several days after a large blow.


POSTSCRIPT - TRANSPORT MAFIA RIP OFF
The taxi-tuk tuk mafia direct hold gone as good far. In tardily 2014 I institute the toll of a taxi from Surin, halfway upward the island, to the aerodrome was 700baht, 200 upward from early on 2014 too in all likelihood x3 what yous would pay inwards Bangkok for the same distance. Prices at other locations were every bit absurd. These prices are non-negotiable - the transsport cartel has things tied upward tightly.
For this too other reasons I'm over Phuket (actually the Andaman as a whole) - won't live dorsum for a long fourth dimension except to role Phuket aerodrome as an entry/exit point.

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Hey, that is virtually my noesis of Phuket. Once again, yous can't trounce Jamie's Phuket Blog for particular from a local expert.
And this site volition allow yous to find a heap of businesses or thence Phuket - hire cars, accommodation, shopping, daytrips, existent estate too a lot more.
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If yous are visiting Phuket mayhap yous volition live interested inwards nearby:

KO RAYA/RACHA

CORAL ISLAND

KO YAO NOI

KO YAO YAI

PHANG NGA BAY

KO PANYI

KRABI-RAILAY-TON SAI-AO NANG

KHAO LAK

SIMILAN ISLANDS

KO LANTA

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If yous view mistakes or direct hold extra info, delight postal service it below. If yous direct hold questions, delight postal service them inwards THE FORUM, accessed via the INDEX page. I don't acquire to banking concern check private isle pages all that often.

I similar to unopen a page with a sunset shot - no shortage at Phuket where most beaches human face upward west.
Sumber http://tezzasthaiinfo.blogspot.com/

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