Will be visiting Phuket for the first time in the first week of sept and am planning to rent a car and drive south one day then north another day just to check out the sites, any recomendations or suggestions. Long time resident of Chiang Mai, looking for a change of scene. may look at realestate outside of phuket area where it is still 'thai' and not touristic [price wise] any recomendations there??

A nice drive north is to Ranong and on to Chumphon. The road between Ranong and Chumphon is spectacular. Chumphon has a descent hotel for 440 a night. This definitely gets you out of the tourists areas

Will be visiting Phuket for the first time in the first week of sept and am planning to rent a car and drive south one day then north another day just to check out the sites, any recomendations or suggestions.  Long time resident of Chiang Mai, looking for a change of scene.  may look at realestate outside of phuket area where it is still 'thai' and not touristic [price wise] any recomendations there??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My hobby is driving around. For Phuket - here is a list of my favorite drives - if you'd like to see lots of great sea and bay views - as well as some interesting back country that many people on the island have never seen.

http://phuketdelight.com/Best%20Island%20Drives.htm

Just north of the island are a couple great drives - one along Natai Beach and another one up near Khao Lak.

http://khaolaklovers.com/hot-springs-drive.htm

http://khaolaklovers.com/pakarang-drive.htm

Just for fun - Budget Rent-a-Car has a series of pamphlets called "World Class Drives" - one of which is Samui to Phuket to Krabi to Samui.

http://www.budget.co.th/travel_worldclass.php

BTW, they have three drives in the Chiang Mai area too.

Have a GREAT time!