kata or Kamala when visiting Phuket ?

[nij68]

Hi Guys

Been going to LOS for the past 7 years and normally stayed in Patong ...

Now am going steady with my long term Thai GF and was thinking of going to Phuket after 3 years .. Have done all the party stuff in Patong but now looking to go and stay a few nights in Kata or Kamala beach ..

I do t want it too quiet as still need a few bars and night life but not as much as Patong although will be going there one or two nights just to visit.

Which place would you guys recommend? Kata or Kamala? Heard both beaches are nice though .. But I don't want it too quiet .. Thanks .

[spidermike007]

Kata is decent. Patong is a cesspool. And it is getting worse.

[phuketrichard]

I live in Kamala,

its more laid back than Kata and not as tourist oriented. ONly 8 kms to Patong

a few bars on the main road, not as girly centered as Patong, Big C, Tesco, decent thai/western restaurants near/on beach an main road,

I prefer it here

Fine as a tourist for 3-4 days.

Empty beach :-)

[nij68]

I am swaying more towards kata ... Patong maybe ok to visit for one night but I rather stay away from there as I done all the party rowdy stuff in my younger years!!

[VBF]

I live in Kamala,

its more laid back than Kata and not as tourist oriented. ONly 8 kms to Patong

a few bars on the main road, not as girly centered as Patong, Big C, Tesco, decent thai/western restaurants near/on beach an main road,

I prefer it here

Fine as a tourist for 3-4 days.

Empty beach :-)

It's a while since i visited Phuket but I stayed in Kamala and would say that it's sort of its own entity (and I agree with PhuketRichard) but Kata is sort of "Patong light" if that makes sense.

I also agree with Spidermike that Patong has become a cesspool - last time I was there (2013) walking along Bangla at night actually made me feel nervous, whereas 10-15 years ago i would have said iit was my favorite spot in Thailand!

And..... that from somebody who is happy to spend an evening in Pattaya's Walking Street!

If you do stay in Kamala and want a night out in Patong, negotiate some transport before you go because the tuk-tuks will NOT be cheap coming back over the hill at night!

Edited August 11, 2015 by VBF

[Pinot]

I love living here in Kamala. Lots of bars, some restaurants. Kamala, LaemSing and Surin beaches within 10 minutes.

[nij68]

I love living here in Kamala. Lots of bars, some restaurants. Kamala, LaemSing and Surin beaches within 10 minutes.

Now I am thinking if Kamala... It's seems it's quieter but I hope not too quiet .. Are the beaches nice and less busy? During November ..

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Go to Koh Siree the small island on the Eastern side of Phuket. Look it up on google. This time of year the west coast, Kamala and Kata, Karon are getting hammered by the moonson. There are some lovely little old school bungalows right on the water on Siree (500THB per night) as well as some up market resorts. The sea on that side is much more pleasant this time of year. For night life you can take your GF into Phuket town were there is a full range of things to do. And if you hit the bar or night club scene you will be surrounded by Thais not drunken foreigners so your girl can relax and really enjoy herself. Everything is cheaper in Phuket town. And Siree has no dangerous traffic and a bridge that connects it to Phuket. If you want to mix with clueless tourists and get hammered by the monsoon head to the west coast. If you want a secluded and romantic get away with your GF and 10 minute drive access to the best and most authentic nightlife, restaurants and shopping on the island in Phuket Town - Stay on Siree.

Your GF will love you for it.

Edited August 11, 2015 by Bulldozer Dawn

[nij68]

Go to Koh Siree the small island on the Eastern side of Phuket. Look it up on google. This time of year the west coast, Kamala and Kata, Karon are getting hammered by the moonson. There are some lovely little old school bungalows right on the water on Siree (500THB per night) as well as some up market resorts. The sea on that side is much more pleasant this time of year. For night life you can take your GF into Phuket town were there is a full range of things to do. And if you hit the bar or night club scene you will be surrounded by Thais not drunken foreigners so your girl can relax and really enjoy herself. Everything is cheaper in Phuket town. And Siree has no dangerous traffic and a bridge that connects it to Phuket. If you want to mix with clueless tourists and get hammered by the monsoon head to the west coast. If you want a secluded and romantic get away with your GF and 10 minute drive access to the best and most authentic nightlife, restaurants and shopping on the island in Phuket Town - Stay on Siree.

Your GF will love you for it.

Really appreciate that buddy.. Yes you are right .. I don't want to be going to areas where farang are drunk with no respect to others .. I am sure my gf will appreciate it more ! Thanks

[Bulldozer Dawn]

Go to Koh Siree the small island on the Eastern side of Phuket. Look it up on google. This time of year the west coast, Kamala and Kata, Karon are getting hammered by the moonson. There are some lovely little old school bungalows right on the water on Siree (500THB per night) as well as some up market resorts. The sea on that side is much more pleasant this time of year. For night life you can take your GF into Phuket town were there is a full range of things to do. And if you hit the bar or night club scene you will be surrounded by Thais not drunken foreigners so your girl can relax and really enjoy herself. Everything is cheaper in Phuket town. And Siree has no dangerous traffic and a bridge that connects it to Phuket. If you want to mix with clueless tourists and get hammered by the monsoon head to the west coast. If you want a secluded and romantic get away with your GF and 10 minute drive access to the best and most authentic nightlife, restaurants and shopping on the island in Phuket Town - Stay on Siree.

Your GF will love you for it.

Really appreciate that buddy.. Yes you are right .. I don't want to be going to areas where farang are drunk with no respect to others .. I am sure my gf will appreciate it more ! Thanks

Your welcome.

I used to have a big three story commercial property right in the heart of Old Town. Great spot, something (Thai) to do every night. Great authentic restaurants and with Thai prices. At the bars you can buy your own bottle whiskey and take it with you and just pay for mixers and ice. I have had some amazing nights in in Town plowing through two or three bottles of spirits with my friends and the tab at the end of the night was less than 300THB.

The best restaurant in Phuket is relatively new. It is owned by an old chinese thai lady. It used to be located on the small street that is immediately east of the Samkong Place Hotel, which by the way is a great, spotlessly clean, and safe place to stay: http://www.samkongplace.com/ . Back then it was called Tent Khao (white tent) restaurant. They had great menu with amazing prices and the place was always packed with young thai uni student/yuppies. Never a farang in site.

Bit over a year ago the old bird leased a big new property that is located on the same road as the samkong place hotel. That is the same road that runs past the front of the Bangkok international hospital. So...get to the front of the Bangkok international hospital and then keep heading south you will see the after I think one set of lights, you will see the sign for the Samkong Place on the right (the property itself is on a big piece of land and set back from the road). Keep heading south and (slowly as it is easy to miss) and you will see a white sign for The TREE KONG restaurant on the left. The old bird also has a big piece of land. It is lovely in a park like setting with some big old trees. There are tables and chairs set amoungst the garden and there is also a big open plan double story building that is the main restaurant. You can sit in the garden if it is good weather or on the top story overlooking the garden. Upstairs you can be served at a table while sitting in a sofa if you like. The prices are now a bit more expensive in this new location, but a slap up five or six dish meal with drinks will cost you less than 1000THB. And you won't be bother by a single clueless drunk foreigner.

When you stay on Siree make sure you take your girl up to Wat Siree. It sits at the very top of the highest mountain on the whole island and commands an amazing 360 degree view of both phuket to the west and krabi to the east. Not to be missed. Again you will never see a farang there. It is very hard to find the temple, and once inside also hard to find the road up to the Wat, but perservere, it is well worth the effort.

The very best place to stay are some old school bungalows on the East side of Siree. Sorry but I forget the name. There is an very old couple that own them and stay there as well. They have a big strip off land that runs from the road all the way down to the ocean. There are a half dozen or so bunglows, running in a line down the hill and a small restaurant on the ocean front. The bungalows are 500tHb a night. I used to go over there to stay for romantic weekends when I lived in the heart of Phuket town. The best way to find this place is to look at google maps for the road that runs along the east coast of the island, very scenic, and then ride along it keeping a look out on the ocean side for a bungalow/guesthouse sign the is written only in Thai. You will see a property that fits my description, ride in a strike up a deal with the two old fossils. The bungalows themselves are clean, comfortable, very old school but cute. Definitily no wifi, bring your own 3 or 4g simcard.