Returning to Thailand - First trip to Phuket

[alt]

Hi all,

We're returning to Thailand for our annual holidays :) Just to give an idea, we're a couple, both 30... we are not too pushed about budget (well, about 4k per night for accom). We like a good mix of decent accommodation, being able to party at night but enjoy backpacker buzz as much as crazy bars. Ideally do scenic things during the day and party at night... we'd go nuts if we were in a jungle / national park for more than day trips.

This year we only have 1 month and have decided to concentrate around the South more so this time.

Previously, we spent 1 night in Patong while in transit, but that's our only experience with Phuket.

Once we have our North (of BKK) bits done we have no set plans from about Dec 12 - Dec 25 (We're booked Koh Phangan for Dec 25)

So, leaves a bit of time for relaxing before the parties! Flights to Phuket are dirt cheap so we're seriously considering Phuket => Koh Yang (Noi / Yai not sure yet) => Railay (possibly some other islands North of Lanta)

Main reason for Phuket is convenience (we've done plenty of island hopping in the past).

Since we'd be landing in Phuket airport, I think a night or 2 in Patpong for a little bit of crazyness (we'll be coming from Ayutthaya for a few days of calmness) and then on down further South (Karon / Katon)

I am about to start Googling, but can anyone advise if there is much of a backpacker vibe anywhere on the island, or is all resort orientated? We are happy to spend a few days in a resort style place, but we want to be on nice beaches (if possible, not too busy).

 

I guess what we're asking is:

After Patpong, can anyone recommend a nice beach / resort in the 4k region per night? Which leads on to my next question... i'm assuming that roads are of decent quality on Phuket, so hiring a scooter / motorbike will be acceptable for getting around? I've driven plenty of Thailand so i'm aware of the dangers etc.

Sorry for the long post, just trying to be as helpful as possible providing info, since i'm the one requesting help :)

Many thanks.

[madmax2]

Why ask about backpackers if you are happy to pay 4k baht per night

You could rent a whole backpackers hostel for that price and bring your own in for free

[Old Croc]

He's looking for the backpacker buzz, man, the vibe! He doesn't want to actually live with them. 

Ko Phangan at full moon would be the best place to find that, but Aussie schoolies are starting to infiltrate Thailand. .

 

A couple of things:

It's Patong not Patpong. Read this thread for some ideas on partying there - start on the last pages.

You're leaving it late to book accommodation leading up to Xmas, try one of the "Last Minute" sites for a possible bargain.

The roads are generally in good condition, bikes are a popular form of transport here and much cheaper than using the mafia options,, but be aware it's reputedly the most dangerous place on the planet for riders.

[madmax2]

The majority of first time tourists stop in Patong

Most of the night life venues are there

All resorts have travel and tour desks so its easy to arrange day trips to do just about anything you want to do, shop around before booking because there can be a big difference in prices quoted and there are hundreds of tour businesses  in patong all selling the same trips and tours

 

Plenty of nice resorts in Patong so its easy to get home after a night out and it will cost you between 200/400 baht for a tuk tuk back to your resort 6 to 11 USD, if you think that is expensive you will probably be in walking distance back to your resort

All the tourist type shops have a outlet in patong, mostly in Jungcelyon shopping centre

 

Rent a car and driver for a day if you want to have a good look around the island and see all the sites and tourist areas so you can compare different areas and stay in another tourist area if you return for another holiday

 

If you rent a motorbike it is a cheap way of getting around but also a dangerous way if you are not a experienced rider

Travel insurance will not cover in the case of a accident if you are not a licensed to ride a bike and some travel insurance will not cover you even if you have a valid license to ride a motorbike in your home  country if riding in Thailand  

Read your travel insurance booklet to check if you are covered, do not find out the hard way by

having a accident and finding out you are not covered, this happens to lots of people involved in a  accident

Above all enjoy your holiday

 

[madmax2]

Just one other thing which is very important, using drugs in Thailand even drugs like pot is taken very seriously and will get you prison time

Its not like Australia where the police will not even arrest you in the street for using pot and may or may not confiscate your private supply of the pot according to the mood they are in

The Ko Phangan full moon parties are a potheads and drug users paradise and drug users are put in prison there at just about very full moon party

[Peterw42]

Head out to Phi Phi island, a couple of hours from patong, and defiantly has the "backpacker vibe"

4k a night is a lot, I dont think I have ever payed more than 2k a night and have stayed at some great places.

[4evermaat]

Avoid the tuk tuks in Patong unless you have no other option. I would prefer to hand my money over to a private taxi than support the tuk tuk mafia down there.

Is it still 200 baht to go down the street? 1000 baht to go to Kata? 1500-2000 to go to Tesco or airport?

Might as well rent a driver for a day.... 1000-1500 or so including gas.

[NamKangMan]

No real "backpacker buzz / vibe" on Phuket as it's too expensive for them.  There are a few hostels, maybe they have a bar downstairs selling cheap alcohol. Eg. "buckets."  Maybe you could stay in a resort, but go there to mingle for a while.  

 

The White Room nightclub behind The Aussie bar got the backpackers in with cheap alcohol, but that Soi has been redeveloped and I am not sure what has happened to the nightclub. 

 

For the nightlife on Phuket, there really is only Bangla Road Patong, and if you go to a nightclub, be prepared for the majority of patrons to be young Arab men, and freelance Thai hookers. 

 

As for the beer bars, you will sit in the heat, noise and dust, whilst listening to overly loud music that only the Thai DJ likes, and be asked to buy drinks for the staff, and if you would like a threesome. Same Same - Not Different.

 

Last I heard, Thailand was about 4th on the list for road fatalities in the world, which is really quite something when there are a lot poorer countries than Thailand in the world. 

 

Out of all provinces in Thailand, Phuket has the the highest amount of road fatalities, so, that pretty much makes Phuket the most dangerous place in the world to be on the road.  When you think that they only count those who are dead at the scene, and not those who die later, in hospital, the statistics would be a lot, lot worse.  As another member suggested, and I agree, rent a car, and from a multinational company, not a "Jeep" from Beach Road.  With this in mind, make sure your choice of accommodation has guest parking.

 

As other members have mentioned, the tuk-tuks here will rip you off.  They all collude to set a ridiculously high price, especially late at night, and if you have been drinking, and more so in the rain.  For this reason alone, and given you would like to "party" I suggest you stay in Patong, and within walking distance to Bangla Road.   

 

As for The Full Moon Party on Ko Pha Ngan, it will be jammed at that party.  You should have already secured accommodation near Haad Rin Beach, or you will be staying on the other side of the island and will have problems getting home.  This is why so many go to sleep on on beach, and wake up with no wallet / purse.  I agree with other members about drugs at the party.  The Thai police will sell you the drugs, and then arrest you for possession, and then hit you up for big money to make it all go away.  That little earner has been going on for years, at every full moon party.  Just don't do it.

[alt]

Thanks for all the useful replies. It sounds like Phuket may not be for us - even more confused now!!

 

I appreciate some of the other posts offering advise re. bikes / mafia tuk tuks etc.... - As mentioned, this will be our 6th visit to LOS, covering from North to South. While we're far from experts, we're well aware of the dangers and scams. I've been driving bikes for over a decade and know when it suitable and not suitable to ride. We had 650's / 250's up in Chiang Mai / Pai, KX 250's on some of the islands before... when it came to wanting to go up the hills in Samui we used our heads and rented buggies in convoy (expensive but well worth it) - some some people trying to go up the mud slopes in scooters... <deleted>!!

 

As for drugs... no thanks. If I want to do drugs (not all that interested tbh), i'll do it at home. No interest in smoking pot in a country that'll lock you up for it when I could smoke it at home and get a slap on the wrist (if caught). Put it this way; every time i'm in BKK I spent an afternoon visiting a foreign in mate (we don't know each other previous to these visits) in Bang Kwang... enough said!

 

The main reason for thinking about Phuket was 1) it's easy / cheap to fly from BKK 2) We were planning on going to Koh Yao Yai (and Noi, possibly), then on to Railay, then onto Samui (to get to Phangan) via Krabi.

 

For those who recommended PhiPhi - the GF is quite keen on returning! You're looking at 4k baht (which we'll pay) for a 'half decent' place, certainly nothing amazing. The main reason we started to like the idea of Phuket was that it seems a lot more 'bang for buck'

 

As for "its a bit late to be booking" - we are booked from Dec 25th - Jan 6. Granted it's also peak leading to the few days leading up to Dec 25th, but worst case we'd go to Samui for 2 nights and get something there (wouldn't mind returning there, just not all that keen on it)

 

 

We have taken onboard that we should stay in Patong though, and then just do day trips to the nice beaches - thanks for that.

 

Maybe Phuket isin't for is.... decisions decisions!

[madmax2]

More to do in Phuket and cheaper than samui, at least it is compared to the  2 times we have stayed there 

Travelled all around thailand from Chang mai in the north to Satun in the south and still think Phuket is the best

Some people like to rubbish Phuket on this forum but still live here, its really easy to move to somewhere else in Thailand if you want to and really dislike Phuket

[alt]

5 minutes ago, madmax2 said:

More to do in Phuket and cheaper than samui, at least it is compared to the  2 times we have stayed there 

Travelled all around thailand from Chang mai in the north to Satun in the south and still think Phuket is the best

Some people like to rubbish Phuket on this forum but still live here, its really easy to move to somewhere else in Thailand if you want to and really dislike Phuket

Thanks for the alternative view on Phuket.

 

I think if we go, we'll stay in the Patong area for sure. I'm guessing it'll be easy to get from the airport => Patong too since it's a popular route.

 

We have been to Samui and it's nice, but Phuket would be new (apart from an overnight in Patong and one night in Phuket town which we really didn't like).

 

I am going to search for interesting speedboat trips. Samui has a western run JetSki outfit that does tours (in groups), rather than a "hey man you rent jetski and I scam you" situation. We've been on JetSki's all our lives so would be nice to do it in warm water for a change! We'll get Googling and see what water activities are on offer.

[LivinginKata]

2 hours ago, alt said:

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Edited November 24, 2016 by LivinginKata

[LivinginKata]

Previous quote not take - beware that Phuket airport is way to the north of the island and it's about an hour's taxi ride to Patong (even more if heavy traffic) or any of the popular resort town. 

 

Taxi is easiest - meter taxi around 600 baht, airport limo a bit more if you want to save money take a shared minibus.