Hi Bruce,

There are so many restaurants to choose from but one of my favourites is K Hotel which is owned by an Austrian. It has European food and is immaculately clean. Walk down Bangla Rd, in the middle of Patong, away from the beach and turn left at the end and go down another 50 yards or so and look for the K Hotel sign and enter through the garden. They have another restaurant at Surin Beach, called Pla, about 15 minutes drive north. It is situated on the beach and is so relaxing. The restaurant has hot showers plus an outdoor shower so you can wash after you have a swim. You can hire beach lounges and umbrellas a few metres from the restaurant for a couple of dollars and still get restaurant service as you lie relaxing. It is a superb spot and was very quiet when we were there in October. You can hire a taxi home from a rank just across the road from the Twin Palms Resort which is located a few minutes walk from behind their restaurant called The Beach Club, another great restaurant with more sophisticated food than Pla. They actually have lounges and coffee tables set up on the beach under umbrellas to resemble a living room. Have a look at the Twin Palms Resort if you go to Surin. We are thinking of staying there this year. Both restaurants are located right on the beach. When you are standing in the beach car park, Pla is to the left and The Beach Club is to the right. If you are sick of Thai food and want a baked dinner, go down Bangla Rd away from the beach and about half way along there is a soi on the right where you will find the Islander restaurant, great food and really cheap. Unfortunately I can't suggest any Thai restaurants as I have forgotten the names of the good ones, but I'm sure someone else will give lots of suggestions. Elizabeth's restaurant at little Kata is very nice also. Located on a small cliff overlooking the beach. Great views and good service. Not easy to get a taxi from there late at night though. If you need a cheap reliable driver let me know and I will give you the phone number. Sometimes it is easier to hire a driver all day rather than having to keep paying tuktuks all day. We don't do much when we go to Phuket, just laze around near the beach or pool and eat, drink and shop so I can't offer any suggestions as to activities. People seem to like the Fantasea show. We did go on a speed boat trip one year but I think we picked a poorly run company so we haven't done another one. Go to Cathy and Gary's postings and read about the cruises with Phuket Richard, they sounded really good and not too strenuous !!. I hope these suggestions may be of some help.

Regards
Michelle