"Quieter" Beach / Accommodation On Phuket

[wafliron]

Is it possible to find accommodation / a beach at least vaguely resembling one of the "quieter" Thai islands (Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Lanta, etc) somewhere on Phuket, while also not straying too far from the "action"?

The reason for asking is that myself and three friends are heading to Phuket in September for a "buck's week". Despite the obvious connotations of "buck's week" we would prefer not to be staying in an "apartment block" hotel in Patong, and just travel to Patong (or similar) when we want to hit up the bars.

I'm talking about somewhere that provides:

- flashpacker-level "beach bungalows", or at least separate buildings for each room - or failing that, at least low-rise!

- on - or at least very near - a nice beach

- good, cheap Thai eateries plus small / quiet bars within walking distance

- not too far from all the action in Patong... hard to quantify "not too far" - maybe 15 minutes, tops, by car?

Is something like that achievable on Phuket? Any recommendations?

Budget is flexible but extends quite far if required... less is always good, but can go as high as a $300 - $400 USD per night (total for four pax).

Any suggestions greatly appreciated - thanks.

[Peterocket]

Bangtao....6km of beach, 25mins to the Patong

[glassdude007]

The Village Coconut Island

Is a very nice place to stay....

[hansgruber]

Bangtao....6km of beach, 25mins to the Patong

one of the worst beaches in Phuket right behind Kamala.

Also, never have I been so bored up that end of the island.

Yawn Yawn Yawn

[Peterocket]

Bangtao....6km of beach, 25mins to the Patong

one of the worst beaches in Phuket right behind Kamala.

Also, never have I been so bored up that end of the island.

Yawn Yawn Yawn

Why is it one of the worst? Please expand on your thoughts?

In my opinion it's an amazing beach...especially the north Layan end. Can sit under the trees and have a BBQ.....almost no other people. Miles of pristines sand...restaurants dotted along it ranging from cheap Thai to 5* beach clubs. In fact now I think about it I would say that I think it's the best beach.

[hansgruber]

Bangtao....6km of beach, 25mins to the Patong

one of the worst beaches in Phuket right behind Kamala.

Also, never have I been so bored up that end of the island.

Yawn Yawn Yawn

Why is it one of the worst? Please expand on your thoughts?

In my opinion it's an amazing beach...especially the north Layan end. Can sit under the trees and have a BBQ.....almost no other people. Miles of pristines sand...restaurants dotted along it ranging from cheap Thai to 5* beach clubs. In fact now I think about it I would say that I think it's the best beach.

Without any shadow of a doubt, Kamala is the worst beach (swimmable) on Phuket.

Second would have to go to Patong and the third I would say Bangtao.

Bangtao is boring, sand is not nice and often polluted and unswimmable at this time of year.

The bars and restaurants including your 5 star beach clubs waste water (containing cooking oil) just run off into the empty land next door or behind and ends up back into the sea. You can smell it.

One day walking through the sand and back to the car, you would have thought I rinsed my feet in a deep fryer with the oil smell on my feet.

In the end, it's just my opinion and I know it can be a sensitive topic due to people having a financial interest in the area being discussed which I think is the case here.

I'll leave it at that.

[grumpyoldman]

Karon Beach is so big you can definitely find quieter beach area there.

Although called Kata Villas, this place is actually across the street from Karon Beach http://www.katavilla.com/ .

Also, your friendly sober Tuk-Tuk drivers are right outside your door to run you and your mates to Patong for a fun filled night.

Just don't make them angry and settle a price before you roll. Cheers, GOM

[snamos]

Nai Harn Beach is the best beach on the island hands down, there is bungalows called Baan Krating right past the end of Ao Sane, spectacular stuff. There are alo plenty of budget through to medium range bungalows areound that area...also Ya Nui beach has some nice little resorts near by...thats a pic of Ya Nui during high season...its a lot quiter down there now. There is plenty of stuff to within a 15 minute car or bike ride

Edited August 10, 2012 by snamos

[snamos]

Nai Harn Beach is the best beach on the island hands, there is bungalows called Baan Krating right past the end of Ao Sane, spectacular stuff. There are alo plenty of budget through to medium range bungalows areound that area...also Ya Nui beach has some nice little resorts near by...thats a pic of Ya Nui during high season...its a lot quiter down there now. There is plenty of stuff to within a 15 minute car or bike ride

Did the pic show up?

[stevenl]

But from Baan Krating to Nai Harn will already take almost 15 minutes, from there to Patong another 30. Ya Nui to Patong will also be about 30 minutes. Something like Kata or Karon would suit the OP much better probably.

[snamos]

But from Baan Krating to Nai Harn will already take almost 15 minutes, from there to Patong another 30. Ya Nui to Patong will also be about 30 minutes. Something like Kata or Karon would suit the OP much better probably.

Kata or Karon dont resemble anything like the Thai islands..7-11s, Optometrists, Tuk Tuks, Traffic, Noise, being pestererd by hawkers on the beach, Jetski idiots....no view of the beach because its all blocked by club med. Kata beach looks more and more like Chaweng/Pattaya or Patong every day. All though Kata beach is nice when you get on there. Trust me OP go down South

[wafliron]

Thanks for the advice everyone, sincerely appreciated and very useful.

The south sounds great - right up my alley - but I fear it's too far from Patong for the tastes of my travelling companions.

It sounds like we'll have to settle for something of a compromise on the beach/accomodation to remain closer to Patong... from a bit of research I'm thinking maybe Kata or Bang Tao. Does anyone have any specific accomodation recommendations on either of these two beaches the at least vaguely resembles what I outlined in my OP?

[madmitch]

Thanks for the advice everyone, sincerely appreciated and very useful.

The south sounds great - right up my alley - but I fear it's too far from Patong for the tastes of my travelling companions.

It sounds like we'll have to settle for something of a compromise on the beach/accomodation to remain closer to Patong... from a bit of research I'm thinking maybe Kata or Bang Tao. Does anyone have any specific accomodation recommendations on either of these two beaches the at least vaguely resembles what I outlined in my OP?

In September Karon and Kata will be bordering upon dead and you will not be able to swim in the sea but your budget at that time will get you a very nice place to stay with a pool. You could always stay in Patong but far enough away from the action that it isn't in your face.

Bangtao is quite a way from Patong as well.

Check agoda.com using their map facility.

[pagallim]

Problem is virtually all of the west coast isn't a desirable place for beach excursions between May and October. Weather, particularly in September, is likely to be wet, windy, and joyless. For me, your options are to stay in a good quality resort in Patong itself, or look for a private villa with pool somewhere reasonably close. Albeit a few years (5, but I know the prices haven't changed that much), I rented a very nice 4 bedroom villa with pool, just outside Kata, full time maid and cook, for $300/day. I rented a Fortuner at the same time, for a reasonable rate, and I know I could have hired a full time driver if I'd have wanted one. Private villa, if you can get it at the right price, is a great way to go for a small, independent group. Think pool, not beach.

[Sydneycraig]

September = wettest month so beach probably not much fun. I'm not a massive fan of patong but I'd say get a decent hotel on the edges - kalim way ... Chill at your hotel which is easy for 100 us a night and a quick 5 mins into pingpong to get your stag a ladyboy. Quad biking and the like trips are good in the wet

[NomadJoe]

Meets many but not all your criteria. Walking distance to Kata Beach. http://www.rnrhostel.com

[waza]

I like to stay here. http://yorkshireinn.com/patonghotel/ its easy to stumble back to your bed.

Edited August 10, 2012 by waza

[glassdude007]

Problem is virtually all of the west coast isn't a desirable place for beach excursions between May and October. Weather, particularly in September, is likely to be wet, windy, and joyless. For me, your options are to stay in a good quality resort in Patong itself, or look for a private villa with pool somewhere reasonably close. Albeit a few years (5, but I know the prices haven't changed that much), I rented a very nice 4 bedroom villa with pool, just outside Kata, full time maid and cook, for $300/day. I rented a Fortuner at the same time, for a reasonable rate, and I know I could have hired a full time driver if I'd have wanted one. Private villa, if you can get it at the right price, is a great way to go for a small, independent group. Think pool, not beach.

"Weather, particularly in September, is likely to be wet, windy, and joyless".....

Hmmmmm.... Wet maybe.. Windy sometimes...JOYLESS NEVER....

EXPAT Hotel in Patong fun place to stay with great pool to....

[Peterocket]

Bangtao....6km of beach, 25mins to the Patong

one of the worst beaches in Phuket right behind Kamala.

Also, never have I been so bored up that end of the island.

Yawn Yawn Yawn

Why is it one of the worst? Please expand on your thoughts?

In my opinion it's an amazing beach...especially the north Layan end. Can sit under the trees and have a BBQ.....almost no other people. Miles of pristines sand...restaurants dotted along it ranging from cheap Thai to 5* beach clubs. In fact now I think about it I would say that I think it's the best beach.

Without any shadow of a doubt, Kamala is the worst beach (swimmable) on Phuket.

Second would have to go to Patong and the third I would say Bangtao.

Bangtao is boring, sand is not nice and often polluted and unswimmable at this time of year.

The bars and restaurants including your 5 star beach clubs waste water (containing cooking oil) just run off into the empty land next door or behind and ends up back into the sea. You can smell it.

One day walking through the sand and back to the car, you would have thought I rinsed my feet in a deep fryer with the oil smell on my feet.

In the end, it's just my opinion and I know it can be a sensitive topic due to people having a financial interest in the area being discussed which I think is the case here.

I'll leave it at that.

I walk on the beach almost every day and have never noticed oil run off or ever heard anyone say that before.

You think I have a financial interest in the area? I don't and I don't know why you would think that. If I did I certainly wouldn't attempt to promote it on TV, would be a pretty lame method of advertising.

Anyhow for me it's the best area in Phuket...simple as that

[stiggy]

To the op have fun ,I'd agree with south kata .

For the last few posts ????

[LivinginKata]

number of libelous posts removed.