Travel to and stay in Phuket

Best day trips in Phuket south Thailand. 

More than two million people choose Phuket Island for a holiday every year and the numbers are growing constantly many travel to the island and stay for a longer period in hotels, resorts and other accommodations.

Phuket has always been a seat of power and during the British colonial rule a major portion of the west east trade through the British East India Company, Chinese traders, Portuguese trading houses etc. went through Phuket known as Junk Ceylon at that time.

Today the tourists rules and the island itself get a bit overcrowded, but not of tourists, since around 7 years (today 2016) most people come from the north of the country for sure not to retire in Phuket Patong. They are in search for a job and other things to do. Now the population is about 1.2 Million from where that natives are 200.000, about the same tourists / foreigners and the rest from other provinces and crime rate is rising.
 

Where to stay in Phuket?

There are a few basic parameters a traveler should consider, this has something to do with the east or west side of the island. Because everyone coming for holiday has beaches in mind it is clear that the best waterfronts are for sure on the west-side of the island. If you want to stay close to a waterfront and go swimming in the Andaman Sea it needs a deeper water-level which is only available on the west side because on the east is mainly shallow sea level having only enough depth during high tide. 

Actually best beaches are about 10 among around two dozen. In general the good ones are on the west-side, that has to do with the underwater topology which is deep on the one side and on the east side is shallow water only which was a reason why during the tsunami all damages where on the west-side, but shallow water in front also have it's charm since it lets you walk around the corals and watch smaller creatures such as crabs and other. Since every resort and house / villa rental in Phuket has a large swimming pool the shallow water situation is not very important anyway more about beaches is here.  

• The Andaman Island is a 330 sqkm  piece of land (similar to Singapore) about 900 km south of Bangkok and it takes about 12 hours by bus and about 1 hour by airplane to reach Phuket in times of cheap flights short holidays become very popular. 

About climate and weather.

• The climate and weather situation plus the free wheeling lifestyle is probably the main reason why people visit Phuket. Since the island has a very flat topology clouds from the Indian Ocean or from the South China Sea quickly mover through and wont stall which means sunshine throughout the year read more. 

The travel and geographical situation.

Main travel is to Bangkok and Hat Yai there are no buses to Malaysia or Singapore (that needs a switch in Hat Yai) but there many to Ranong and Myanmar (Kawthaung).

The road from Bangkok to the south and Phuket is about 80% a four lane highway in variable conditions (but slowly degrading because they only do minor repair) it could be a good idea to use a car or a motorbike to see the countryside read more.

On the other hand it might be end up as a adventure travel trip since there is hardly a other country in this world with more road accidents. Now when making this road trips the traveler will see every couple of kilometers small spirit shrines like the one to the left that means here was a fatal accident. 

Here are a couple of interesting places to visit, things to do such as shopping, eating, diving, lazing on the beach and tours in the jungle and the Andaman Sea.

• Yacht Haven Marina is at the north east of the island close to the airport, a suitable place for any yacht, small or big. The place is only a bit off from everywhere although just about one km meter away from the main north - south highway, read more.

• Kings Cup Regatta takes place at the birthday of the King in December. Dozens of sail boats of any size and types participate. The start and end for the races every day is at Kata Beach on the west coast, read more.

Race Week is in July when the southwest monsoon crashes in from the Indian ocean.

• Visa Run is to two destinations, one is Myanmar, the other is Penang. What does it mean? When your visa expires you need to leave the country and come back. But if you intend to use this check the newest regulation (2015) since they change it from time to time.

• Day Trips on Phuket Island and the beyond are probably the most interesting tours are into the island wold of Phang Nga Bay which is ok for a day and to Khao Sok National Park which is behind Khao Lak close to the road to Surat Thani read more.

• Sailing around south Thailand, how to rent boats, where to cruise and what you can expect at various destinations. The southern area is very diverse and the ideal destination for holiday travel. The main reason is, most of the infrastructure works quite well plus nightlife and beaches, read more. 

• Pictures tell more of the island tell more than any words, here are many and they are impressive. Giving you some visual ideas what's up on Phuket Island. Here are images about the islands of the Andaman Sea, National Parks, nightlife, read more.

• Nightlife is vibrant this is one of the five centers for it in Thailand with all what it needs, bars, nightclubs, karaoke, lounges, massage and countless pretty girls, if you are a traveler and searching for a companion her is definitely the right place, read more.

• Best Beaches among about two dozen. In general the good ones are on the west side, that has to do with the underwater topology which is deep on the one side and on the east side is shallow water only. That was the main reason why during the tsunami all damages wer on the west beach side, read more. 

• Ko Panyi & James Bond Island are a popular day trip destination in Phang Nga Bay which is bordering to the province. A pretty "waterworld" with limestone cliffs popping out from the Andaman Sea. This is one of this trips to Thailand which is really worth it. The whole is very similar to Halong Bay in Vietnam, read more.

• Vegetarian Festival is one of the top, actually it rather looks like a gathering of masochists considering the way and objects they are piercing the body with which is really extreme.

• Phangnga Bay Trip is another sightseeing tour in a beautiful surrounding of surreal formed hills and rocks. This is almost a must destination when on vacation here.

• Things to do in Phuket Town and get an idea what happen before the tourist came including some Chinese heritage and architecture.

• Day Trips into the Andaman Sea, National Parks maybe scuba diving and other interesting things to do, actually there are plenty destinations to enjoy.

• Wat Chalong is probably the most venerated in Phuket and the provinces around. People come from all over south Thailand to pray here and burn some incense sticks.

• Chalong Bay is on the east coast and includes the public marina where usually small vessels and local ships are moored.  

It's the usual handling someone started to move to the south and thousands other followed. The tourist pattern also changed since lots of Russians and Chinese tourists moved in and Europeans out or in other words, vodka sales jumped up, whisky went down. 

But there is still enough space around the beaches which are together with nightlife the premier attraction on the island.

• Bus Terminal 2 has been moved to a new location at the airport road which saves about half hour in and out of the island.

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Phuket & Khao Lak Tsunami Pictures
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Phuket to Penang and further to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore could start at the airport with the Malaysian carrier firefly, at the bus-station 2 or from a travel agent who has a van available naturally the trip with the aircraft is the best in terms of time. But just to travel to the airport in Phuket is no good at all because you fall pray to the "taxi and limousine mafia" which controls this trip and ask very high prices read more.




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Phuket Day Trip

All this are ideal destination for a great tour and not far away since distances are short on the island and within 30 to 60 minutes most places can be reached with a scooter, with a car its about double.

Sarasine Bridge

The Sarasine Bridge a bit north of the airport is the only land connection to the rest of the country, before is a huge checkpoint where all traffic is stopped and sometimes a closer check is made.

What things to do in Phuket?

But as a matter of fact Phuket island as a holiday and retirement destination "beats" any other destination in the region including Bali. Although the Indonesian island has better attractions but the infrastructure especially roads is lousy, Penang could be a good alternative because they don't make as many problems when someone want to buy a apartment or house. 

Asking yourself: what things to do? A good idea could be a golf break maybe including a travel packages, what about nightlife with girls? Actually there are so many places to go for day trips which makes only your mind the limit but every day you will find a new idea inspiring your happy holiday and retirement.

Sino Portuguese Style Villa at Dibuk Street in town

At Bali it is really difficult to move anywhere and the place is totally overcrowded but people are more pleasant they are not so awfully driven by grid as in Thailand where money is the culture. 

Phuket Vegetarian Festival

A version of piercing extreme in September - October on the island. People come from all over Asia to watch a real spectacle that's the Phuket Vegetarian Festival which is less "veggi rocks" and rather a bit on the masochist side.

Being too busy with the the Thai ladies and forgot that your visa expires? Make the visa run to Myanmar but first check a few websites specialist on visa run since they change the visa parameter on both sides almost every month.

Kawthaung south Myanmar

From Ranong to 
Kawthaung Visa Run