Phuket In A Nutshell

[jaylord]

Hi Guys

Just after a little itinery advice from the resident Phuket experts

I have been to LOS a few times now but have generally stuck to Bkk, Pattaya and Samui. This time i am going with a couple of friends who have never been before and we really want to check out Phi Phi and some of Thailands other great beaches.

I have heard that Phang Nga Bay and Ao Nang are great - can anyone suggest a route that would encompass all the best bits with suggested methods of travel and rough costings? We fly into Phuket and will probably stay Patong or Karon for 1st couple of nights and then we have about 10days before heading back to Bkk. So we are happy to spend a few days travelling around the islands and enjoying the beack experience.

Also, we were going to spend about 6days in Phuket before flying to Samui for the last few days - do you think this is worth it or would be better concentrating our efforts on Phuket and Krabi?

Thanks for any advice and sorry for all the questions but just a few suggestions would be really helpful

Edited March 2, 2010 by jaylord

[chiang mai]

My idea would be:

A couple of nights in Phuket then take the ferry to Phi Phi, maybe spend a night there and then take the boat on to Ao Nang, each boat trip is around one hour or so and the scenery is great, if you like Phi Phi, spend two night there. Spend a couple of nights in Ao Nang or maybe the nearby Ralai (sp) Beach, one of the top ten best beaches in the world. With Ao Nang or Ralai as a base, go visit Krabi Town and/or Phang Na the return the way you came. Figure on each boat trip costing around 750/1,000 baht and accommodation in Ao Nang etc up to whatever you want to spend, good cheap accommodation is available at all locations.

[Ping]

Three of four months ago, I drove up to Krabi for an overnighter just to see what the place was like these days (hadn't been there for many years). I was amazed at how it had grown. All the conveniences (restaurants, entertainment, choices of accommodation) are now available and the beaches are as nice as they ever were. Although some would bemoan all the development, to me the place has 'grown up' and is now a clearly viable lifestyle alternative to Phuket. Well worth a look, Jay.

[paulfromphuket]

Why not rent a sail boat and do them all, if there is a few of you then it's not that expensive with a skipper, just google yacht charter phuket. you can do Phi Phi, Krabi and Phang Nga in 4/5 days and see it all and the best beaches are where the tour boats don't go.

[shawndoc]

I highly suggest contact Mr. Sam:

http://samintouch.spaces.live.com/

When I used him before he did not have his tour guide license, but now it appears he does. We hired him for a day to take my mom around Phuket, and she absolutely loved him.

I think we paid 2,000 baht for the day, and he took us everywhere we wanted to go, and suggested some good out of the way places. His English was very good and did a good job explaining things. His driving was very safe, no speeding around corners or doing crazy passing like other taxi drivers we've had.

You can also check out tripadvisor.com's forums for other people's thoughts. That's where I first heard about him.

[Thongkorn]

Get in touch with this lady I have used this travel agent for years , she will look after you, she is Honest reliable and reasonable, she can get you anything or go any were, Her place is near the police station, I went on boat trips to most of the Islands through her, she does Air tks(Worldwide & Domestic) Car-bus Boat service, Hotel reservation, Visa runs. Daily Tours. Motorbike rentals. Hope this helps you .

JACKIE TRAVEL

44/1 Sainamyen Rd , Patong beach

Tel 089-4742422 089-4746492 Fax (076) 296411

[thepanicandthevomit]

Krabi Town is crap. PP is nice, as is Ao Nang. W Railey and the surrounding beaches are simply terrific. I'd say Phuket offers everything as good as Samui, but it is up to you whether you want to leave the paradise of Krabi's beaches to go to Samui. I wouldn't.

[jaylord]

Great feedback guys thanks a million, much appreciated! Just want to ensure we make the most of the trip so all your advice will be taken on board.

Thanks again