Ulysses G. Posted November 28, 2010 Share Posted November 28, 2010 I would guess that Phuket is the most popular tourist destination in Thailand for Westerners and the high point of high season is upon us. How does it look so far? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 Up and down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barka Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 wont get any real idea untill xmas time and new year....this time of year you dont get the real tourists coming..a lot of expats coming back for there winter brakes.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelepulse Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 The beaches seem busier than I recall over the past few years for this time of year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logbags Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 Surin beach has been packed and a huge % are Russians. These people usually go home before Christmas and the real surge starts on the 26th onwards with the Scandanavians coming by the plane load. I dunno if the Russians celebrate Christmas but they are keeping Phuket going over this side of the island. At night I drive around and the problem I see is similar to Australia. There is just too much of everything and the trade gets spread too thin for anybody to make any real money. This would be certain for restaurants. At Laguna, Peppers and the Pizza place always look busy but elsewhere it is spread pretty thin. Along Bang Tao beach most of the restaurants at night have a few tables but not many ever look close to full. I had an American couple here last night and they were at Ao Nang this week and said the same, too much of everything, spoilt for choice. They went to Patong and they said a lot of people were walking around but the bars were pretty empty. It was their first time in Thailand so I asked them their perceptions and they said it was ridiculous to go drink at bars when you can buy a large Chang for 45 baht at 7/11. I always tell people there is a ridiculous disparity in prices between food and grog here. You can get a breakfast with toast, 2 eggs and bacon with coffee thrown in but a small beer at a bar costs almost the same price. Then you can pay more for a bottle of wine than you do for the whole meal. If Thailand had smart leaders a lower tax rate would allow lower wine prices and people could enjoy it more and restaurants would do better. I see the real high season as being Dec 26th to April 20th or so now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaBuddha Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 Kata beach south end today is as busy as I have seen it. Just about every lounger occupied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katabeachbum Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 Kata beach south end today is as busy as I have seen it. Just about every lounger occupied. yepp, same thing on friday, crowded 3pm however the lower end hotels in Kata Karon are still not fully occupied, and the +4 stars are still doing promotions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon43 Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 As I'm getting back into the Phuket hotel business after an 18 month break... Hotel was full last night ... and tonight. That only means 10 rooms, so not a huge pointer to whether or not Phuket is busy But one interesting difference from previous years is that several of the rooms were booked by Russians, all who speak not a word of English (or any other language apparently, apart from Russian). So, a good New Year's resolution for all us hoteliers in Phuket is: Learn Russian!! Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangTaoBoy Posted November 29, 2010 Share Posted November 29, 2010 So, a good New Year's resolution for all us hoteliers in Phuket is: Learn Russian!! Simon And don't ever let your bar run dry of vodka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelepulse Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 I know if I had a restaurant or a bar, I'd get a sign made up in Cyrillic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmitch Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 What I used to think of as Kata's main street was completely dead last night. EasyRiders had three customers at midnight, Roberts was slightly busier but not a lot. The hotels are becoming increasingly reliant on the Russian market and that's not so good for the smaller business owners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katabeachbum Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 What I used to think of as Kata's main street was completely dead last night. EasyRiders had three customers at midnight, Roberts was slightly busier but not a lot. The hotels are becoming increasingly reliant on the Russian market and that's not so good for the smaller business owners. Tajna road has become more and more quiet by the years. Majority of hotelrooms are further south. Kata is crowded with Russian couples, and most Scandinavians are couples too but at least they spend some money other places than restaurants and 7-elevens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samuian Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Russians if orthodox celebrate "Christmas" early January... around 6./7. do NOT ONLY drink Vodka... and certainly filling a certain segment of the market.. "learn russian" - yes add arab and madarin! Our place on Samui is booked out for peak season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillR Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 adapt or die Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keestha Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 In Khao Lak it is definitely slow for the time of the year. Could have something to do with the exchange rate for the Euro, or with the extensive foreign news coverage of floodings in Thailand, or possibly still with political unrest earlier in the year. Oh well, there is always something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyleonhard Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Our restaurants are doing quite well - sales are up considerably from last year - but we tend to draw expats and long-stay folks, not tourists. Which reminds me. Gotta get those Cyrillic signs up. Americanski spoken here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lannatyne Posted November 30, 2010 Share Posted November 30, 2010 Came into Nai Harn on a yacht the other day, and, jeez, was the beach full. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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