Koh Tao beats Phuket in Tripadvisor Top 10 islands

[webfact]

Koh Tao beats Phuket in Tripadvisor Top 10 islands
Matt Pond


Koh Tao. Photo by Eric Molina

PHUKET: -- Governor Nisit Jansomwong recently expressed his disappointment that not one of Phuket’s beaches features among the top 100 beaches in the world.

He will no doubt also be disappointed to find that Phuket also no longer appears in the Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice list of the Top 10 Islands in the World.

What makes the blow more bitter for Phuket is that in 10th place in the world is Koh Tao – despite the notorious murders of British Tourists David Miller and Hannah Witheridge in September last year, and frantic Internet discussion about gangsters and godfathers, violence, corruption and lawlessness on that island.

Tripadvisor makes no mention of the murders, describing Koh Tao thus: “Drifting serenely in the Gulf of Thailand, the palm-fringed island of Ko Tao takes its name from the abundant sea turtles that reside on its shores. White sand beaches sheltered by steep hills – some only accessible with four-wheel drive vehicles – and 300 days of sun per year invite long afternoons of lounging.”

Phuket does make it into Tripadvisor’s Top 10 islands in Asia, in seventh place, but behind Koh Lanta (4th), Koh Pa’ngan (3rd) and, yes, in first place, Koh Tao.

It remains to be seen whether Koh Tao’s ranking will be battered by two more recent deaths on the island – of Frenchman Dimitri Povse on New Year’s Day and British woman Christina Annesley just two days ago.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/koh-tao-beats-phuket-in-tripadvisor-top-10-islands-50683.php

-- Phuket News 2015-01-23

[khwaibah]

Just goes to show it takes money and Bull Shyt to move up on TA.

[Costas2008]

Natural beauty, should not be associated with the murders or other deaths on Kho Tao.

I condemn the murders and I wish the truth will come out one day, but I can't condemn a whole beautiful island and all the natives for the crimes that some people committed.

[Old Croc]

You should give up photo bombing topics on the Phuket forum Costas. You won't get many greenies here. No one does.

[spidermike007]

Natural beauty, should not be associated with the murders or other deaths on Kho Tao.

I condemn the murders and I wish the truth will come out one day, but I can't condemn a whole beautiful island and all the natives for the crimes that some people committed.

But, when all the wealth and power on Dark Tao, is allowed to rest in the greedy hands of five piglet crime families, it is a recipe for disaster, and unsolved crimes. When those families are above the law, it means murder and mayhem. That will not.change, as nobody, including the general is challenging that power. While there may be honest locals who are kind, the whole crime infested island is brought down by the rich vermin.

[sweatalot]

Do Tripadvisor not check what they recommend?

Or do they just check the check?

[Borzandy]

Tripadvisor the best advisor, not corrupted, provides the best info.

[upena]

TripAdvisor is a strategic partner of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

[Suffinator]

PHUKET: -- Governor Nisit Jansomwong recently expressed his disappointment that not one of Phuket’s beaches features among the top 100 beaches in the world.

Disappointed he may be but he should also not be surprise and thoroughly ashamed. Here they took a paradise and turned it into a toxic waste dump. Who in their right mind would want to go swimming in someone else's human waste?

It was but a few years ago that a German magazine discovered high levels of coliform in the water and the authorities did little about it.

When I lived their people would often invite me to the beach ... my response was always the same ... I wouldn't swim in my own crap let alone other people's.

[slipperylobster]

The last island you will ever see...

[catweazle]

I think the photo chosen in this article says everything that needs to be said about that cesspit called island...

Time to work a bit on trip advisor, folks. Mention the murders, the rapes, the blackmails, the arson, the slaughter and beheadings of anyone who steps on the mafia familie's foot, the corrupt island RTP, the spineless traitors who look away whenever another murder happens... Let's put this dump in the place it deserves - the very end of this list!

[Morakot]

Koh Tao beats Phuket in Tripadvisor Top 10 islands

Beats in terms of what?

[SPB65]

Remember to take out life insurance before visiting.

[TomYumpoochai]

If koh tao is named after all the turtles on the beaches then maybe its time to rename it 'koh corpse'....

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Koh Tao beats Phuket? To death? or is it suicide?

At least it isn't only tourists that get beat there.

[island hopper]

6 foreigners dead in 5 months, Only buy a one way ticket if you are a tourist.

[Nemesis7]

Here is very strong reason not to trust trip advisor blindly again.

[Sandman77]

I stay now 10 year here ,

And visit nearly every corner and ko tao and also phangan is still my favorite!

On similian island is the clearest water I ever seen in my life

Have a dvd at home the top 10 islands in thailand phangan number one 2. Ko Chang

[Shaunduhpostman]

Not surprsing at all when you think about it, we do all kinds of things everyday that are more risky than a visit to Ko Tao, such as driving somewhere. Only 7 tourists in a million have died in suspicious circumstances there in the last year, versus I would imagine a few thousand road deaths in the UK during the same amount of time. Not saying it's insignificant whats happening on Ko Tao, but you have to think about why few will care at the end of the day.

Not that you'll ever catch me anywhere in Thailand south of Samut Sakhon...

Wonder if Fodor's still does that World's Most Dangerous Places travel guide...just shows you it even has appeal for some.

[canuckamuck]

The high rating is because several guests this year actually died and went to heaven after spending some time on the island

Edited January 23, 2015 by canuckamuck

[spidermike007]

Koh Tao beats Phuket? To death? or is it suicide?

At least it isn't only tourists that get beat there.

The ability to score a few joints, and risk a 100,000 baht "fine".

The ability to have a drink at a beach bar in Sairee, and if your woman is hot, and attracts the fancy of a local punk gangster, who has a father worth $185,000,000US, you may not survive the evening if you come between the thug, and her.

The ability to buy overpriced land, that has no legal title.

Plenty of places for young adventurers to get drunk and high.

The ability to find plenty of overpriced rooms, that offer little in the way of quality and amenities.

The ability to go diving, with dozens of people nearby, and if you are lucky, find 5 meters of visibility.

And lastly, the possibility of spending the last week of your life, on a tropical island, if you encounter one of the multi millionaire punk sons, and he is in the mood for murder.

[spidermike007]

Not surprsing at all when you think about it, we do all kinds of things everyday that are more risky than a visit to Ko Tao, such as driving somewhere. Only 7 tourists in a million have died in suspicious circumstances there in the last year, versus I would imagine a few thousand road deaths in the UK during the same amount of time. Not saying it's insignificant whats happening on Ko Tao, but you have to think about why few will care at the end of the day.

Not that you'll ever catch me anywhere in Thailand south of Samut Sakhon...

Wonder if Fodor's still does that World's Most Dangerous Places travel guide...just shows you it even has appeal for some.

There is a percent chance one million people visited Dark Tao last year. Zero. Get your facts straight. Maybe Samui and Tao combined. Maybe. If a million had visited, hundreds might have been murdered.

There is a zero.percent chance Dark Tao saw a million visitors last.year, or any year. Maybe combined with Samui. Maybe.

Edited January 23, 2015 by spidermike007

[razer]

Do Tripadvisor not check what they recommend?

Or do they just check the check?

TripAdvisor is very lax on verification of posts on their website. I caught several illegitimate reviews on just one hotel ... imagine how many false reviews there are when millions of destinations are involve.

[phuketandsee]

Seems the guys who run that island control even more than we thought

[slipperylobster]

The slogan is... "It's an Island ...to die for ..."

Once you see it, the memory will stay with you ..........forever.......

Many things to do...you can bury yourself in its' beauty.

[slipperylobster]

The last island you will ever see...

You might want to visit the other top 9 islands, first.

[marcusd]

Do Tripadvisor not check what they recommend?

Or do they just check the check?

It is reviews from the public that make these lists. Not a TA panel.

Phulet is ruined with touts, shopping malls and degredation of the once natural beauty.

The beach is a sewer.

Australia has better beaches anywhere. Pacific islands too. Hawaii and many other places handled development better. Phuket never did.

Phuket, your days are over.

[marcusd]

Do Tripadvisor not check what they recommend?

Or do they just check the check?

TripAdvisor is very lax on verification of posts on their website. I caught several illegitimate reviews on just one hotel ... imagine how many false reviews there are when millions of destinations are involve.

How did you verify they were false? Because they did not agree with you?. I also review potential false reviews so I am honestly interested

[Johnny S]

That TA-list is not worth anything since there is a lot of fake reviews on TA (So many they should call it TAT 5555)

[Bogan Koori]

2 people die in Koh Tao and now it's on TV as 'America's most dangerous cities'?? It's beautiful there