How Is Your Business Doing This High Season?

[madmitch]

My comments apply to Karon, where I have a guesthouse.

The bigger hotels seem to be having a very good high season, packed with package tour clients from all over; particularly noticeable is the influx from Eastern Europe. The beach at Karon is probably busier than it has ever been, certainly since the tsunami. But many of these tourists spend their time in the hotels, go on tours organised by the package tour company, eat in the hotels and drink in their rooms or on their balconies.

Bars and guesthouses around here are doing less trade than last year, though it is surprisingly varied from week to week. There are more rooms available as well and this has hit the 'walk-past' trade for smaller hotels. This may get worse as the major development taking place in the new roads in Kata nears completion.

The taxi scammers are back in full force, taking customers where they don't want to go, implying that there is a surfeit of rooms at the cheaper end of the market. This time last year there was hardly a room to be had on the island.

But I'm not complaining as we are still doing OK, though thanks mainly to repeat customers and personal recommendations.

I'd like to knowwhere some of the other posters are located and what business they are in, as this will give a better overall picture regarding Phuket's current high season.

[huggybear]

My comments apply to Karon, where I have a guesthouse.

The bigger hotels seem to be having a very good high season, packed with package tour clients from all over; particularly noticeable is the influx from Eastern Europe. The beach at Karon is probably busier than it has ever been, certainly since the tsunami. But many of these tourists spend their time in the hotels, go on tours organised by the package tour company, eat in the hotels and drink in their rooms or on their balconies.

Bars and guesthouses around here are doing less trade than last year, though it is surprisingly varied from week to week. There are more rooms available as well and this has hit the 'walk-past' trade for smaller hotels. This may get worse as the major development taking place in the new roads in Kata nears completion.

The taxi scammers are back in full force, taking customers where they don't want to go, implying that there is a surfeit of rooms at the cheaper end of the market. This time last year there was hardly a room to be had on the island.

But I'm not complaining as we are still doing OK, though thanks mainly to repeat customers and personal recommendations.

I'd like to knowwhere some of the other posters are located and what business they are in, as this will give a better overall picture regarding Phuket's current high season.

I work with customers all over the island.

Many of my hotel/resort customers have taken advantage of these new charter flights and travel companies to book their hotels full, November thru March.

The little Inns that used to get a lot of walk up traffic are getting squeezed by the larger hotels offering better deals through travel agencies abroad and internet bookings.

Advice to the smaller Inn owners: get a larger internet presence or get a relationship with one of these charter flight companies. PM me and I'll put you in touch with a Swedish guy (and partners) that have purchased their own 747 to fly from different parts of Sweden direct to Phuket. Last I talked to him, he booked out one hotel in Karon for two months and was scrambling for more rooms.

[Samuian]

That doesnt mean town is not doing well or even better, only that segment of the market isnt doing better.

Agreed!

My personal fiction:

In 2-3 years there will be no Bangla Road anymore, this street will be converted into a boulevard with shops like: Hermes, real tailors from London, Michelin star restaurants, Ferrari and RR dealers...........................and our red friends(tuk tuks) starting at around 500.-Baht for a short trip.

Gerd

here on Samui - similiar development!

We opened a new 36 Rooms Hotel in June and having a terrific season! While others are whining!

To every problem, as the red light trade, there is an answer!

Either the prices, concerning value, are too high, the market has changed, the clientel has changed.... name it, there's an abundance of possibilities - if a business doesn't do well - there is somewhere something wrong, out of tune... so check it out - get the "mechanic" in... maybe some paint, a redecoration, a re-think...if there is water leaking through the roof - there got to be a hole, a crack somewhere!

[smartecosse]

or then again there may simply be a downturn in business

it happens and sometimes its entirely outwith your control

but then I see MANY MANY new bars and restaurants opening that nearly always close 6 or so months later once the owners have finally either got fed up or pouring good money down the drain or simply run out of it

[stuandchris]

From my own observations and talking to bar owners, longtail people etc etc they all say it is quieter this year and people that are here are spending less than usual.

I am sure some hotels and most of the larger ones are doing well but there are also very well run ones that were full last year and nowhere near full this year, indeed a lot of hotels are dropping their rates already.

There is always a need in business to 'talk up' how well things are, I am sorry to say it goes against what I have been told and seen.

[smartecosse]

need to jump on the russian band wagon

[LivinLOS]

I could point out the obvious that the world has had a long period of monetary expansion and boom times.. We are now entering a period of recession and contracting economic picture.. The first thing to be cuts when wallets are tight, that overseas holiday etc..

[Super Hans]

That is true, but it's effect will probably be more acutely felt this time next year. The credit crunch is a relatively recent problem - most people book/plan their holidays a long time in advance, so will have done so before the downturn. Granted they may come anyway and spend less.

Next low season could be an interesting test for businesses...

[Zpete]

I avoid high season.

I forget Patong, once a favourite but now most avoidable.

Chalong is now my LOS holiday place of preference....... with Rawai... on Phuket.

Patong is becoming a "No Fun" place, high prices etc.

Chalong is a backwater, but an enjoyable, laid back one.

Many great places to stay, suit any budget.

Diving experiences and boat trips to where eva.

Lotsa very good eateries. .

Some good little bars where all types meet, locals and expats.

I hire a scooter for trips to Kata, Nai Harn, fave beaches..... or where eva I wanna visit.

The "BUS" trips are around 20 - 25 Baht to beaches and Phuket Town, most places.

Buses stop too early, hence scooter.

No bus to Patong.... yaaaay

Long may Chalong stay a backwater.

[Sir Burr]

I avoid high season.

I forget Patong, once a favourite but now most avoidable.

Chalong is now my LOS holiday place of preference....... with Rawai... on Phuket.

Patong is becoming a "No Fun" place, high prices etc.

Chalong is a backwater, but an enjoyable, laid back one.

Many great places to stay, suit any budget.

Diving experiences and boat trips to where eva.

Lotsa very good eateries. .

Some good little bars where all types meet, locals and expats.

I hire a scooter for trips to Kata, Nai Harn, fave beaches..... or where eva I wanna visit.

The "BUS" trips are around 20 - 25 Baht to beaches and Phuket Town, most places.

Buses stop too early, hence scooter.

No bus to Patong.... yaaaay

Long may Chalong stay a backwater.

So you keep saying, Ad Nauseum.

[MrEarl]

I avoid high season.

I forget Patong, once a favourite but now most avoidable.

Chalong is now my LOS holiday place of preference....... with Rawai... on Phuket.

Patong is becoming a "No Fun" place, high prices etc.

Chalong is a backwater, but an enjoyable, laid back one.

Many great places to stay, suit any budget.

Diving experiences and boat trips to where eva.

Lotsa very good eateries. .

Some good little bars where all types meet, locals and expats.

I hire a scooter for trips to Kata, Nai Harn, fave beaches..... or where eva I wanna visit.

The "BUS" trips are around 20 - 25 Baht to beaches and Phuket Town, most places.

Buses stop too early, hence scooter.

No bus to Patong.... yaaaay

Long may Chalong stay a backwater.

Since you left the beach in Patong has gotten quite clean indeed. But I like to go swimming in Chalong because I love that squishy muddy feeling around my toes, ankles and knees.