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Phuket - Gateway to Paradise!
Phuket formerly known as "Tha-Laang" or "Talang" is Thailand's largest & most popular tourist destination after Bangkok. The island of Phuket is approximately the same size as Singapore & is nestled in the Andaman Sea which itself is part of the Indian Ocean some 870 kms south-west of Bangkok. Phuket is joined to mainland Thailand by means of a road bridge, & besides this enjoys excellent connections acting as the "hub" for all the Andaman Sea islands & beaches. It has it's own International Airport ,& is easily accessible by train,bus & car. Check out our Phuket Map to get a good feel for the layout of the island.
Phuket is one of the world’s foremost tourist destinations, it receives well over 4 million visitors a year. The beaches are world-class, the sea is crystal clear & so inviting & the nightlife is legendary!, there is also a dazzling array of different Places to Stay, ranging from budget accommodation, all the way up to swanky 5* resorts, with prices to suit all pockets!. Phuket along with most of the other Andaman Sea islands & beach resorts was very badly damaged by the Tsunami that hit the whole area on 26th December 2004, it took around one year for the commercial sector(hotels, resorts & shops) to re-construct & a further 2 years before the tourists returned en-masse to bringing visitor numbers back to pre-tsunami levels. Given the chance, you have to see the Phuket beaches (Patong, Kamala,and Surin amongst others). Undoubtedly,it will be one of the most incredible things you will ever see. Stretching over miles and miles of snowy white beach and clear blue waters, it is perfect for swimming, snorkeling, diving and all other water sports. If you are too lazy to do any water sports activity, just laze around and watching its famous sunset from Promthep Cape.
On Phuket, you’ll feel as if you’re somewhere else. The beaches are dotted with resorts and restaurants where you could find swim in warm water and eat a breakfast of banana pancakes with coconut syrup – great for relieving stress!. If you’re the partying type, Phuket’s night life is unparalleled! Its status as a “partee” hotspot is known the world over. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Phuket is without doubt Patong Beach. Most of Phuket's nightlife and it's cheap shopping places are located in & around Patong and the area has become increasingly well known for its luxury accommodations, first-rate shopping, outstanding restaurants and exciting night life & bar scene. Patong Beach is gaining attention from travelers & Honeymoon Couples all over the world who are looking for something exotic & special, but with all the amenities of a first-class destination.
Kamala Beach is just north of Patong and is “quieter” in terms of its nightlife and clientele. Although the place is well-developed, there are only a small number of modern resort hotels but quite a number of smaller, low-budget bungalows and huts. This part of Phuket would definitely appeal to travelers on a budget or backpackers. Kata Beach is much smaller than Patong but has the same amenities: a spectacular beach front, various restaurants, and famous night life scene. The ambiance in Kata beach is more family-oriented though. The varied accommodation options in Kata are all just a few feet away from the beach.
Another favorite destination in Phuket is Karon Beach. It lies on the west coast of Phuket Island, between Patong and Kata beaches. The beach at Karon is a lot less crowded, though it still has all of the amenities one could want, from restaurants and nightclubs to hotels. Accommodation ranges from bungalows, guesthouses, cheap hotels to luxury hotels and resorts.
Aside from the beaches there are several other attractions worth seeing in Phuket. The old Phuket town is like going back though time with its quaint quality and old-world splendor. The Phuket FantaSea show would not only entertain your kids (if you have any) but also you! There’s the Wat Chalong temple for travelers who want to see a part of Phuket’s heritage and spiritual center. If you are into Golfing Holidays then Phuket can offer you some of the very best courses in Thailand, all with very reasonable greens charges!. A trek through Phuket’s lush jungle on the back of a giant Elephant would bring you to a glimpse of its natural water formation named as Ton Sai and Bang Pae located at Khao Praew National Park. Located a little more than 20 kilometers from the old Phuket town, they are best seen during the monsoon months of May to October. For the martial arts enthusiasts a visit to the Saphan Hin Stadium is a must to watch Muay Thai Boxing there are also several Muay Thai training camps located on the island.
If you are more of a “scuba” than a snorkeling” enthusiast, a stopover at Similan Island is a must. Go a little farther north of Phuket and experience the white water rafting and elephant trekking at Phang Nga Bay, a visit here to James Bond island is a must!. If your vacation is family-oriented, there are things to do for the young and young-at-heart too! There are facilities for mini-golf, bowling, kayaking and longtail boat rides, shallow water snorkeling and other supervised camp activities. Whatever you want to do, Phuket has it in abundance, make sure it's firmly on your itinery for your next visit to Thailand!. If you have been to Phuket before, and have really great memories of places to stay, visit, beaches or just fun things that happened, please share your Phuket Memories here.
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