Right last time we stayed in Phuket we did not really like it. We stayed at karon beach.
we are going back again - duh!!
Where have we gone wrong in the past where should we be eating where should we be heading for to get the most ou of the area.
What are must see's
why do we seem to be missing something here.
Will be staying at the Centara resort (was central) for 8 nights got good reviews on TA. We have stayed at their hotels before so think it should be ok.
when coming out of the hotel have done those shops and eating places are we better off heading towards kata?
any advice.
Will be doing 7 nights patong as well so don't want to be going there in overpriced taxis etc whilst at karon.

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Kiss
God laughs at people who make plans.

I'd spend my days around Nai Haron and Kata Noi. Eats: Don's (Sunday brunch is good, yes I know), Maggies and Marios Pizza (yes, I know), absolutely the Friendship Beach for dinner (food and views amazing, price nit noi). Yes I know = hardly Thai cusine but that was one of the reasons we felt able to leave Phuket, because it became harder and harder to find good, fresh, properly made Thai food without MSG not priced by the 100gm. BTW Don puts MSG in his Thai food but not his western food; go figure. If you go there, please give him and "Noi" his (?th) wife our best regards.

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thanks for that gives me something to go at.

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Kiss
God laughs at people who make plans.

well, to be frank, you went to Phuket !! I know its got great deals, and thats certainly a consideration, however, there are so many wonderful places very close by that dont have the pace, vulgarity, expense, sheer no. of foreigners that Phuket does.
Could you try KoLanta perhaps ?, or even get down to Krabi, both relatively close by. There you will see a quieter way of life, will just as many facilities for the tourist, but not as brash as Phuket.

Hi Jax,

We stayed at the Katathani last time were were in Phuket and really enjoyed it. The rooms with ocean view need a face lift but they are very comfortable and large enough. The beach is beautiful and there are lots of pools. The staff were the friendliest we have met. If you go into little Kata try Elizabeth's restaurant. It's on a small cliff overlooking the beach, beautiful view, good service and nice food, or of course for a treat you could try Mom Tri's, which is great but I thought there was better value elsewhere. We are planning on staying at the Katathani again and also hoping to stay a week at the Twin Palms on Surin Beach. Check out Surin, it is so relaxing and getting full f&b service on the beach is such a luxury. We ate at Pla restaurant and also at The Beach Club which belongs to Twin Palms. Both of them were great and Pla was so cheap. Pla also has a bathroom for guests to have a hot shower after coming up from the beach, really clean and they even supplied body wash. I have only ever driven through Karon, it seemed a bit spaced out and it never really appealed to me. Surin beach has stacks of good restaurants to walk to from what I hear and I'm planning on trying a lot of them in October !! I agree with Mark, it is well worth the trip to Friendship Beach, it's a nice break from the hustle of Patong and the service was the best we have ever had. Strange how I've only mentioned restaurants, anyone would think I was a glutton !! I don't just go for the food, I also like copious amounts of alcohol to wash it all down.

Anyway whatever you decide I hope that you have a wonderful trip.

Regards
Michelle

hi
Michelle that was really useful. what will it cost us do you think to get to surin beach?
tviolet, we will be staying in koh lanta and krabi as well and also samui for a month and vietnam.
I can't lie that I was attracted by the cheaper rates especially as we will be away for 10 weeks. That is why I am looking for another slant on it.
I also feel that phuket is very commercialised far more than samui in some ways but there must be aanother side that we are missing as others rave about it.
This time we need to get out and about more.
We have been to phi Phi and to be honest from what I am hearing I am thinking that the magic has gone from there..
We fancy a couple of days at Koh lak is this worth doing?
I ask about eating out as we have found that samui has always won hands down on food or maybe it is that we know where to go for more authentic thai food. That again is why I am asking.
Are we missing something.... come on all you Phuket fans sell it to me.

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Kiss
God laughs at people who make plans.

Hi Jax,

The tuk tuk fare will probably be a rip off. I know it was when we wanted a car to go from Kata to Phuket, so what I would suggest is that you hire a driver. One that we have used for the past 2 years has charged a 1000B per day and he will drive us for 8 hours. You could make a day of it and do some sight seeing or shopping and then get him to take you to Surin and wait for a few hours, he is always happy to do that. Sometimes if we know we will be gone for a few hours we ask him if he wants to go home and we'll call his mobile when we want to be picked up. I have hired a car from Patong and with a bit of haggling the fare was O.K. but I don't remember how much it cost and then once you are there you don't know how much you will be charged to return. It takes about 20 minutes from Patong to Surin. If you go to Surin take a walk up behind the beach about 2 minutes and go into the Twin Palms Resort and ask to see a room, I was impressed with them and it seemed like it was more of an adults only resort although I know from TA that children go there sometimes. The beach at Surin is so nice in comparison to Patong and not at all crowded when I was there in October, it's like a different world. There's supposed to be an excellent bar about 100 -200 metres north of Surin beach called Diver's, I'm going to check it out next time I'm there. It will be so nice to be able to give the Tuk Tuk Mafia the flick and walk everywhere.

Michelle

I noticed this about the taxi and tuk tuk's last time we were there. we could get a car and go ourslves if it just about 20 mins. we need to get holsd of a decent map.
Sounds nice and we will check it out.

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Kiss
God laughs at people who make plans.

Hi, I can highly recommend this area we stayed 2 weeks there April 2004 and in-laws jan2007 for 4 weeks. The area is quiet and the beach beautiful. I can not recall when you are going but a lot of the hotels have good prices after April. My self and sis are going next April for some plastic surgery in bangkok and will recover in Khao Lak.Just to let you know our family hated phuket when we were there. We also stayed in the karon area, just not are thing.We have stayed in koh samui , koh lanta and pattaya( also not to our liking.)Have also stayed in krabi and up north.We also like many areas in malaysia.I hope you have a good time where ever you go.

Cindy

Hi
It would be early April.
We would be looking at just a few days following Koh lanta and Krabi.
Can you recommend any accommdation we are looking at cheaper this time because of the length of time we are away.
Where are you going for your surgery?
I am looking at Thailand for an option for surgery following my bypass op.
Getting it done in the uk is near enough impossible and the cost private is so prohibitive.

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Kiss
God laughs at people who make plans.