Phuket For The First Time

[lanky]

I am taking my thai wife and baby for a weeks holiday to phuket would like some recommendations for good hotel deals now being low season I am looking for something mid range maybe up to 700 baht a nite also like to know about the transport from phuket airport as our flight gets in just after midnite are their taxis or tuk tuks to hotel and what to expect to pay and also apart from the nice beaches in phuket what is a must or recommendation to see on phuket island

thankyou for your suggestions

[metisdead]

Perhaps you may learn a lot by actually browsing the Phuket forum:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/forum/31-phuket-forum/

Tuk tuk mafia, taxi mafia, beware.

[Just1Voice]

Oh, jeeeeze, you've been watching those Thailand fantasy advertisements that tell how wonderful Phuket is, and actually believe them? Either that, or you've been out in the sun far too long without a hat or some form of shade.

Why would you want to take your family to a place where the tuk tuk mafia will charge you 2-3-4-5 times more for a ride than you would pay anywhere else, and then get irate with you if you turn them down? Why would you want to take them to a place where you are approached by kids to buy porn dvd's and cd's, which often times depict and promote Child Porn while you're walking down the street with your family? Or a place where the service at a 5 Star hotel is worse than most 1 Star hotels?

I made the same mistake about 2-1/2 years ago that you are getting ready to make, and I can assure you, that would be the LAST place I would EVER consider going to again.

[LivinLOS]

700 baht is mid range ??

[waytox]

About the Tuk Tuk mafia...it`s for real, but who cares, rent a bike.

Hotel The little mermaid in karon give you a room fo 500-700 Baht.

The will pick you up in the airport for about 650-750 Baht

Next day you can investigate for neighborhood good hotels if you want to.

[sunnyhor]

I would love to recommend you to Phuket in details. There are always good and bad experience during travel....this place is a relax place but for the amount of 700 baht wanting a mid-range hotel is a little over expect. Since your wife is Thai, there won't be communication breakdawn.

Well, a really cool place for holidays. Avoid Patong, it's very tourists location. Everything will be 3 xs more expensive. Common mate, since it's a family vacations, fork out more for a decent hotel. A night for 2000 baht or so you can enjoy nice room and location in Kata. Most importantly if you wanted to roam around the island, hire a car for as low as 600 baht per day.

To be frank, if you were to bring along your baby, you would not enjoy much because most of the time you will be looking after her/him. You won't have the time to visit the Fantasea or the Cabaret show. Again I would love to say, pay a little more, you will enjoy!

[petercallen]

I can recommend Fantasea it costs about 1400 baht a ticket so it depends on your budget.

Simones cabaret starts at 500 baht a ticket and is worth seeing also.

[MrE]

Last time I arrived in Phuket, around three weeks ago, my ride didnt show up. It was after midnight and I thought I was going to have to take an exorbitant taxi ride. Luckily I saw a metered taxi all by himself even though the taxi stand was dark. He took me to Phuket Town for THB 500 which was less than the others were asking. I will use him again as he was friendly, spoke some English and drove safely. His name is Ya and his phone number is 089 590 5565 or 083 172 2366. His card says to call him at least four hours in advance.

[lufc74]

Oh, jeeeeze, you've been watching those Thailand fantasy advertisements that tell how wonderful Phuket is, and actually believe them? Either that, or you've been out in the sun far too long without a hat or some form of shade.

Why would you want to take your family to a place where the tuk tuk mafia will charge you 2-3-4-5 times more for a ride than you would pay anywhere else, and then get irate with you if you turn them down? Why would you want to take them to a place where you are approached by kids to buy porn dvd's and cd's, which often times depict and promote Child Porn while you're walking down the street with your family? Or a place where the service at a 5 Star hotel is worse than most 1 Star hotels?

I made the same mistake about 2-1/2 years ago that you are getting ready to make, and I can assure you, that would be the LAST place I would EVER consider going to again.

Thats a bit harsh....good job you've not been for a while eh, we dont want you. Paying 500baht for a taxi ride to kata is good value, compared to europe. Just brush off any offers of people selling you gear you dont want. I've lived out here for 9 years and havent been approached once by kids selling dvds. The value of hotels in phuket is far better than europe, so thats not an issue. Thank heavens you dont wanna come back here......

[Peterocket]

Oh, jeeeeze, you've been watching those Thailand fantasy advertisements that tell how wonderful Phuket is, and actually believe them? Either that, or you've been out in the sun far too long without a hat or some form of shade.

Why would you want to take your family to a place where the tuk tuk mafia will charge you 2-3-4-5 times more for a ride than you would pay anywhere else, and then get irate with you if you turn them down? Why would you want to take them to a place where you are approached by kids to buy porn dvd's and cd's, which often times depict and promote Child Porn while you're walking down the street with your family? Or a place where the service at a 5 Star hotel is worse than most 1 Star hotels?

I made the same mistake about 2-1/2 years ago that you are getting ready to make, and I can assure you, that would be the LAST place I would EVER consider going to again.

I usually pay 400 baht for a 30 minute taxi ride for 2 people from the airport. Its more than you would pay in other areas of thailand but for me not a big deal at all. No disrespect to the above poster but I would completely ignoe it as I have never been offered child porn and there are many 5 star hotels. Complete load of rubbish in my opinion....