Why Do Some People Moan About Phuket And Others Don'T?

[DrTuner]

Just went there, so I can give an informed opinion. Pattaya with mountains and a bit less booty. In parts resembled a Swedish colony, one longtail even flew the Swedish flag. I'll stick to Samui as my favourite tourist trap.

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[kawapower]

Cheers I just googled it, wonderful google lol

[kawapower]

Just went there, so I can give an informed opinion. Pattaya with mountains and a bit less booty. In parts resembled a Swedish colony, one longtail even flew the Swedish flag. I'll stick to Samui as my favourite tourist trap.

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Whats that all about???

[HongKongPhooey]

^^^ Relevance to thread??

People who moan about Phuket who DON'T even live there is a whole different kettle of fish, one that's too mind numbing and bizarre for even me to have an interest in!

Edited April 15, 2012 by HongKongPhooey

[pagallim]

^

Think he's talking about Ibiza...........

[DrTuner]

Should've elaborated a bit. The moans I've heard have basically been prostitution visible, taxi fares and scams. They invariably start with the bargirl rants and mostly come from middle aged women. The sort that would never venture to Pattaya, but for some reason thinks Phuket is different. Didn't look all that different to me, so I guess the moaning is legit and due to misinformation.

Samui, on the other hand has the scene a bit more hidden and I haven't heard much moaning about the island. The broschure and reality match a bit better.

So I presume most of the moanings are due to wrong presumptions. Just think of Phuket as Pattaya with mountains and it'll be more close than the marketing images of pure clean white beaches with just a couple of tourists sipping coctails under an umbrella.

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[HongKongPhooey]

^

Think he's talking about Ibiza...........

Funny you should use that as an example. Ibiza is a beautiful place if you don't got to the teeny bopper resorts. Just like Phuket, most places have a very different side if you know how and want to find it.

[stevenl]

Should've elaborated a bit. The moans I've heard have basically been prostitution visible, taxi fares and scams. They invariably start with the bargirl rants and mostly come from middle aged women. The sort that would never venture to Pattaya, but for some reason thinks Phuket is different. Didn't look all that different to me, so I guess the moaning is legit and due to misinformation.

Samui, on the other hand has the scene a bit more hidden and I haven't heard much moaning about the island. The broschure and reality match a bit better.

So I presume most of the moanings are due to wrong presumptions. Just think of Phuket as Pattaya with mountains and it'll be more close than the marketing images of pure clean white beaches with just a couple of tourists sipping coctails under an umbrella.

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Since the moaners are living here or used to live here I doubt that.

[HongKongPhooey]

Should've elaborated a bit. The moans I've heard have basically been prostitution visible, taxi fares and scams. They invariably start with the bargirl rants and mostly come from middle aged women. The sort that would never venture to Pattaya, but for some reason thinks Phuket is different. Didn't look all that different to me, so I guess the moaning is legit and due to misinformation.

Samui, on the other hand has the scene a bit more hidden and I haven't heard much moaning about the island. The broschure and reality match a bit better.

So I presume most of the moanings are due to wrong presumptions. Just think of Phuket as Pattaya with mountains and it'll be more close than the marketing images of pure clean white beaches with just a couple of tourists sipping coctails under an umbrella.

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Samui has changed in the few years since I've been there then if the prostitution is remotely hidden!

Where did you go on Phuket? There are plenty of places in Pattaya, Samui, and Phuket where you get exactly what you see in the brochures. Like I said in my last post, you just need to want to find it.

[kawapower]

Should've elaborated a bit. The moans I've heard have basically been prostitution visible, taxi fares and scams. They invariably start with the bargirl rants and mostly come from middle aged women. The sort that would never venture to Pattaya, but for some reason thinks Phuket is different. Didn't look all that different to me, so I guess the moaning is legit and due to misinformation.

Samui, on the other hand has the scene a bit more hidden and I haven't heard much moaning about the island. The broschure and reality match a bit better.

So I presume most of the moanings are due to wrong presumptions. Just think of Phuket as Pattaya with mountains and it'll be more close than the marketing images of pure clean white beaches with just a couple of tourists sipping coctails under an umbrella.

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I visited Pattaya once and it was a stinking dirty place!! but I am sure there are good areas.

[pagallim]

^^^^^

Think this particular thread is directed towards expats who are resident in Phuket, rather than the tourist complaints that you describe.

For some, the mention of Phuket conjures visions of Patong, with it's variety of entertainments. For others, it's the nearby islands and scenery, good food and relaxation. The reality is that Phuket has a whole spectrum of available experiences to suit any taste, with research being the prerequisite for a visitor to enjoy a successful holiday.

For the resident, again there's options for lifestyle versus size of pocket that in my estimation, is incomparable to any other part of Thailand. Choice is the key word, and that's one thing that Phuket certainly doesn't lack. But, as with anywhere else, sometimes people make the wrong choices.

Edited April 15, 2012 by pagallim

[HongKongPhooey]

Should've elaborated a bit. The moans I've heard have basically been prostitution visible, taxi fares and scams. They invariably start with the bargirl rants and mostly come from middle aged women. The sort that would never venture to Pattaya, but for some reason thinks Phuket is different. Didn't look all that different to me, so I guess the moaning is legit and due to misinformation.

Samui, on the other hand has the scene a bit more hidden and I haven't heard much moaning about the island. The broschure and reality match a bit better.

So I presume most of the moanings are due to wrong presumptions. Just think of Phuket as Pattaya with mountains and it'll be more close than the marketing images of pure clean white beaches with just a couple of tourists sipping coctails under an umbrella.

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I visited Pattaya once and it was a stinking dirty place!! but I am sure there are good areas.

I went to Pattaya 12 years ago just to cross it off the list. If I went there today It would take me less than 30 minutes to find a deserted stretch of beach to have a beer on. I would not got to walking street, then tomorrow log on to a Pattaya forum to tell everyone who lived there what a <deleted> whole I thought it was, as so many strange people come on the Phuket forum to do.

[pagallim]

^

Think he's talking about Ibiza...........

Funny you should use that as an example. Ibiza is a beautiful place if you don't got to the teeny bopper resorts. Just like Phuket, most places have a very different side if you know how and want to find it.

I know. Before moving to Thailand, I lived in the Valencia region for 10 years, inland from Denia where you get the ferry to Ibiza.

[DrTuner]

Where did you go on Phuket? There are plenty of places in Pattaya, Samui, and Phuket where you get exactly what you see in the brochures. Like I said in my last post, you just need to want to find it.

Stayed in Karon but had a car rented for a week so we could go around. Went with my Thai wife, we purposefully stayed clear of Patong as staying there wouldn't have been that much of a difference to Pattaya. We have a local friend there that helped with the car and hotel. So with the exception of Rawai we drove around quite a bit. The broschure beach looked like the first one on the coast road south of the airport, so sure, they exist.

Still, people tend to get stuck to where ever they land and then start to moan about the place as it isn't 100% what they expected. Take for instance someone buying a condo in Phuket practically blind after a few, if any holidays there. Money invested, expectations way too high. That's a good recipe for moaning.

[HongKongPhooey]

The broschure beach looked like the first one on the coast road south of the airport, so sure, they exist.

They start there and go nearly half way down the island. Then there's two or three more in the south as well. More 'brochure' type beaches than not IMO.

Still, people tend to get stuck to where ever they land and then start to moan about the place as it isn't 100% what they expected. Take for instance someone buying a condo in Phuket practically blind after a few, if any holidays there. Money invested, expectations way too high. That's a good recipe for moaning.

Can't argue with that. Don't have much sympathy for people that daft mind.

[DrTuner]

I went to Pattaya 12 years ago just to cross it off the list.

Pretty much the same reason I went to Phuket, having had heard a lot of the place before (including the moanings). I'm also keeping my eyes open as I'm looking for a place to build a house, wanted to take a look at Phuket just in case.

To me it was quite what I expected it to be, with the exception of being larger than I imagined and I wasn't prepared for the difficulties in parking the car near Karon/Kata beaches. I probably won't be returning for a few years, but no moanings.

[HongKongPhooey]

So I presume most of the moanings are due to wrong presumptions. Just think of Phuket as Pattaya with mountains and it'll be more close than the marketing images of pure clean white beaches with just a couple of tourists sipping coctails under an umbrella.

Phuket is approx 30 miles from top to bottom and the first 15 miles from North to South is undeveloped, remote, empty picture postcard stretches of beach, like the pics bellow.

Then there are several exactly the same in the southern half of the island, like this little gem below.

So well over half the islands beaches are exactly how you described them, 'couple of tourists sipping cocktails under an umbrella'.

I'm not having a pop at you, or trying to prove you wrong, you didn't do the usual and slag Phuket off and then do a runner. You came back and explained what you meant and were balanced and honest.

The point is, tourists and expats alike, moan about things without knowing or completely refusing to acknowledge all the facts. Many a time I read post by people saying Phuket is overcrowded and over developed, but the people saying it are living in Patong!!! At the time I'm reading it on my phone or ipad I'm sitting on a beach and can't see another person in either direction for as far as my eye can see!! Which is why I tell them they are talking nonsence!

You mentioned that Phuket was pretty much what you expected, but it sounded like you went to the expected places. Kata and Karon are lovely but if you didn't want a commercialised beach you went to the wrong place. I hope you come back sooner than a couple of years and explore a bit more. Good luck wherever you decide to build.

P.S Sorry the pics are a bit crap. I don't have my hard drives with me so took these from the wifes facebook.