I haven't been to Phuket post Tsunami but have spent considerable amounts of time there before. My feelings are Patong's OK as long as you remember it's a party town, so if you want laid back tropical ambience then Patong's probably too "in your face" Personally I think Patong bay/beach is the most scenic on the island, which makes sense as they developed the best beach first. However, I've never enjoyed swimming at Patong as the seawater always seems itchy, I don't think it's pollution or anything like that, maybe just some minute marine life. The biggest turnoff for me at Patong are the greedy & inconsiderate Thais, the songteaw men and the rip-off street stalls, and the young louts that hang around making pests of themselves. There used to be lepers begging on the streets after dark too, I remember my mother was fascinated on one holiday as she's never seen lepers before.

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The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn