Phuket
Where To Stay
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Phuket Island offers visitors a host of accommodation choices, however it is often the season, rather than the area, that will play more a part in the choice of where to stay. On the island there are two seasons, the dry "High Season" from November to April and the Monsoon or "Green Season" from May to October. During this time, heavy tropical rains can make water activities on west coast beaches treacherous and trips to such destinations as the Similan and Surin Islands may be canceled. On the east coast, these conditions generally do not prevail. Hotel rates are considerably lower during this time with numerous 'special packages' on offer.
Phuket Town
The provincial capital, Phuket Town, is packed with hotels, restaurants shops and lots of local history. Two top establishments here are the Metropole Hotel and the Royal Phuket City Hotel. Others include the Phuket Merlin Hotel in a quieter part of town and the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel. A sister hotel, the Thavorn, is the oldest in the town and its collection of historical memorabilia make it worth a look even for those not staying there.
Panwa Cape to Rawai Beach
Seven kilometers from Phuket Town, the secluded Panwa Cape, home to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre and Phuket Aquarium, offers upmarket rooms at the Panwaburi Hotel. More moderately priced are the Panwa Beach Resort and Panwa House Hotel. Rawai Beach is the location of The Evason Phuket. There are also a number of inexpensive bungalows at the southern end of Chalong Bay.
Nai Harn Beach
Around from Promthep Cape is Nai Harn Beach, location of the Phuket Yacht Club. Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club offers luxurious accommodation, as do the Nai Harn Villas.
Kata Noi Beach to Patong Beach
On the west of the island, Kata comprises two lovely beaches, Kata Yai and Kata Noi. This area is dominated by Club Med Phuket, an international resort chain that offers "all inclusive" holiday packages. The Kata Beach Resort is an exclusive boutique hotel and the Mom Tri's Boathouse boasts the award-winning Mom Tri's Boathouse Wine & Grill. There is also the Kata Thani Hotel & Beach Resort, at the back of which are several small restaurants. Neither of the beach areas have discos or large clubs, so nightlife is confined to the small, late-night pubs and outdoor bars in the vicinity.
Karon Beach
Across a low hill from Kata lies Karon Beach, known for having the softest sand in Thailand and as a fine place for water activities. There are numerous beachside restaurants, shops and late-night bars.
Notable establishments here include the five-star Phuket Arcadia Hotel & Resort, Le Meridien Phuket, the Thavorn Palm Beach Resort, Felix Karon, the Central Waterfront Suites and Karon Villa Phuket and Karon Royal Wing. Less expensive accommodation is available at the Central Karon Village Phuket and Phuket Ocean Resort Phuket Ocean Resort, while the Sea Breeze Inn is a good, inexpensive location.
Patong Beach
This area provides all manner of attractions and the nightlife and entertainment venues are endless. This is where the majority of tourists stay and there are literally hundreds of accommodation possibilities in the form of resorts, hotels and bungalows in every price category. At the luxurious end of the scale is the Amari Coral Beach Resort, the Club Andaman Beach Resort and the Diamond Cliff Resort & Spa. Middle-range establishments include the Patong Bayshore Hotel, the Phairin Beach Hotel and the Phuket Grand Tropicana. At the lower price end is the Baan Lamai Beach Resort, the Deva Patong Resort and the Royal Palm Resortotel, to name but a few.
To the north, at Nakalay Beach, is the upmarket
Laem Sing, Surin and Kamala Beach
The upmarket Kamala Residence is located on the small, picturesque Laem Sing Beach, separated by a small headland from Surin Beach, where the five-star Chedi Hotel is located. The relatively undeveloped Kamala Beach is home to Thailand's most outstanding entertainment facility, Phuket FantaSea. There has not been extensive hotel development here, but places to stay include the deluxe Kamala Bay Terrace Resort, the moderately-priced Phuket Kamala Resort and the Kamala Beach Hotel & Resort.
Bang Tao Beach and Laguna Phuket
The Laguna Phuket Complex is made up of the Banyan Tree, Dusit Laguna Resort Hotel, Sheraton Grande Laguna, Allamanda Laguna Phuket and Laguna Beach Resort —some of the most luxurious resorts on the island, set on 1,000 acres and interconnected by road, canal and lagoon. Facilities include the Canal Village Shopping Center, an 18-hole golf course, a horse-riding club and a skills-challenge course.
Moderately-priced accommodation elsewhere in the area includes Bangtao Beach Cottage and Pen Villa Hotel.
Nai Yang Beach
This is the longest beach on the island, and where giant sea turtles come ashore in the dry season to lay their eggs. There is superb swimming along the beach with access to a camping area and Nai Yang National Park. Places to stay include the Crown Nai Yang Suite Hotel and the Pearl Village.
Offshore Islands
On Phi Phi Islands, recognized among the most beautiful islands in the world, there are both expensive and budget accommodations available, including Holiday Inn Resort—Phi Phi Island, Phi Phi Cabana and Phi Phi Natural Resort.
Coral Island is one of the most popular one-day tour destinations, surrounded by colourful, coral reefs. The Coral Island Resort is a moderately-priced establishment. On Cruiser Island there is the charming, inexpensive Cruiser Island Resort, while Mai Thon Island offers the deluxe and exclusive Maiton Resort.
Wherever you choose to stay in Phuket, you can be sure of a friendly welcome and comfortable accommodation in prices to suit all pockets.
