Hi All,

Since I had managed to get loads of info from this forum, I would like to add a bit more info based on my experiences. This report will contain a significant amount of information.

1. Getting to Phuket
I departed from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket via Air Asia. Thankfully not a single hiccup with the flight (my recent trip to Bali with Air Asia had me wait 6.5 hours due to one aircraft undergoing a sudden maintenance, and Air Asia compensated me with ONE McChicken!!). An airport taxi costs THB550 to Patong, but 4 adults and luggage would have been a tight squeeze. My hotel offered return transfers for THB1200 for 4 adults, which I had prearranged via email.

2. Hotel Accommodation - Burasari Resort
This forum provided mixed feedback of both extremes, either you absolutely loved it, or hated it. In my case, I absolutely loved the immediate comfy and homely feeling of Burasari. One of my Deluxe rooms was upgraded to a Junior Suite for free, because their elevator has been under maintenance for the past month, and my mum can't quite climb to the 4th floor. The junior suite is approx 10 sq m bigger than Deluxe suite, but offered additional "accessories" like bedroom slippers and hair dryer. Deluxe pool view (which I had paid THB1800/night w bfast) was more comfy.

3. Hired Driver - City Tour
I had pre-arranged what I thought was an 8-hour city tour for THB1000/car. The pre-arranged driver "Mai" (recommended by someone in this forum) sent a replacement(possibly his bro) to take me around. We started out fine, I told him that I did not want to visit the Phuket zoo, nor butterfly farm, nor ride any elephants and told him I wanted to visit Promthep Cape first. He agreed and said we will pass the elephants first if we want to trek. He pointed out where the elephants were, where the seashell factory was, and shortly arrived at Promthep Cape. View was lovely, took some photos and was back on our "tour". Only 1 hour had passed, and at this point, the driver informed me that we will be going to Phuket town, and then back to my hotel. According to him, it was my fault that I did not want to get down at the tourist spots and he can only go one round the south of the island. I felt quite cheated and misinformed, but made the best of the situation. I made him take me to Wat Chalong for a brief visit, then to buy some fruits at the roadside stalls, and on to Central Festival where I had lunch. Although I wanted to visit Tesco, he insisted on bringing me back to the hotel. Couldn't tolerate his grouchiness and decided to end the tour.

4. Tour bookings
Again thanks to this forum, I visited Carolina Travel as recommended by someone in this forum. I was initially doubtful about going there, didn't know if I would have the same experience with the recommended driver. But Sarunya, the owner of Carolina Travel, was truly helpful and sincere. I booked 2 tickets for FantaSea and she saved me some money by getting her husband to send me to FantaSea instead of paying for transfers. Although weather had been forecasted to be rainy, she offered to book Phi Phi island tours for me with a money-back guarantee if the weather gets too bad to depart.

5. Moving Around
Tuk-Tuks generally cost THB100 to anywhere within Patong beach. With the right amount of bargaining, I managed to find one for THB70. A return trip to Phuket town is THB500. Being rather fed up with the hired driver who dropped me off at 2pm, I immediately called Sarunya of Carolina Travel to help me find a car. 2 hours later, she indeed got me in touch with a car rental company (http://www.phuketcarrent.com/) for a Suzuki Caribbean for THB900/day. I truly am grateful to Sarunya her help, although she probably didn't earn any commission for the car rental. Driving around Phuket was not a problem for me. If you can drive in Kuala Lumpur, Phuket is a breeze.

6. Restaurants
I passed by Savoey Seafood. Prices were so much higher than I had expected. THB1500/kg for lobster when I could have gotten THB900/kg back home. I walked farther along the road and came to Patong Seafood, also of the same price. I ended up dining at Patong Seafood and did not order any seafood. Food taste was not so outstanding, but generally okay. My waiter was surprisingly grouchy with an impatient attitude, even before I ordered.

I also had lunch at Sizzler's in Central Festival mall. Current promotion is THB111 for the buffet salad, and an option to add a chicken chop for THB29, or pork chop for THB39 or fish for THB49. So one person's very-filling meal was only THB140. This was by far the best deal I've come across on this trip, an excellent and satisfying meal.

Another night, I went to Number 6 Red Chair (not to be confused with Number 6 no seafood), along Rat Uthit 1 Rd near Bangla intersection. Lobster was THB1100/kg, crabs THB300/kg. My meal of 700g Lobster Thermidor, 500g curried crab, tom yum prawn soup, cashew nut chicken, Ho Mok seafood and asparagus came to THB1250. The soup was a precious experience

7. Massage
There are many many places offering massages, but none like this place called "Let's Relax". There are a few branches around Phuket, but the one opposite Holiday Inn Patong was 2-storeys. No bargaining needed. The interior feels like an outdoor garden with soothing music. I tried a 45-minute foot massage for THB400 and I almost fell asleep, very relaxing indeed. A 2-hour full-body package was approx THB1200. Wish I could've tried more, but I had walked around all day and didn't feel nice asking for a massage when my body was rather smelly haha.

Hi, any photos to show?

Hi Angie,
I'm glad I recommended Carolina Travel to you and you had a good experience with sarunya, as I've said before on this Forum she is a lovely lady and she is very helpfull and you will always get great friendly and reliable service.
Cheers,
Stewie.

Hi Angie, I thought I should respond to your report, as it was me that recommended Mai. I am sorry about your experience. I am in Phuket at the moment and only found out about your report through Nuch and Mai as someone had been in contact with them and told them about it. Nuch was quite upset when she showed me as she felt very bad about it. She explained the story to me.

Apparently you contacted Mai and made a booking with him prior to your to arrival in Phuket. Mai already had another booking and he thought he was helping you by getting you another driver. He did not really consider that you wanted him personally. “Poong”, who was your driver also drove us around for a couple of days while Mai was taking his children back to their province for school. We did find him less friendly and accommodating than Mai, but we did not have any ‘problems’ even when I asked him to drive back along Karon Beach for the second time as I had missed an area where I was trying to take new photos of spots I’d taken photos at just after the tsunami. He did try to rush us a little and is not someone I would recommend. If I were you, going by your report, I would not have paid him the 1,000 baht, but paid him what I thought the trip was worth, probably 500-600 baht.

Mai explained to us that he chose Poong because other drivers may charge less, but will take you to certain shops or restaurants where they get commission but cost is passed on to you indirectly, so he thought he was doing you a favour. We have explained to him that Poong does not treat customers the same way that he does. I have also explained to Mai that he must tell people if he has another booking. I have also advised him to ensure any friends whom he may pass business to must treat customers the way he would otherwise it will hurt his own business.

Hi, It was me who forwarded the posting to Nuch. She returned my call and I was inquiring about a car and driver since Mai was highly recommended by Tina from Australia. Phone line was choppy so I told her that I would just send her an email. Informed Nuch that I encountered an unhappy client of hers in the forum. I also told her that I will consider hiring Mai if she can assure me that the bad experience of her client wont happen to us. Its been how many days and she has not responded. I am leaving for KL on the 26th and will be arriving in Phuket on the 29th. I am still awaitng her response.

Yes Gary, I hear that you forwarded her the link on 22nd and have either rung her or she made contact with you via email today. She does not have a computer and uses the one at work which she only gets access to about twice a week.

You can be assured that you will not have the same experience as Angie. What dates are you trying to book Mai for? We are here until at least 16th June and he may well be busy with us as we use him most days.

Sorry Gary, just read your arrival date. I am not sure that Mai will be available, it is my partner's birthday and we have invited Nuch and Mai. We may be able to get by without him for a day or two for you. How long are you in Phuket?

Hi Tina, I just got an email from Nuch. She did inform me that it will be Steves birthday on the 29th, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!. Informed her that we will not need the car service on that day. We want to book Mai for 2 days. May 30,31 and June 1. You may have noticed that I gave 3 days. John Gray told me to call him as soon as I arrive in Phuket to find out what day he will have the starlight at hong excursion. Would you be able to spare Mai for 2 days? . I feel that he is right for us since it is the first time that my family will take a vacation outside the Philippines. I am bringing my 2 boys ages 6 and 3. I also have made an itenerary in Phuket already. I was hoping I could finalize the booking with Nuch since we will be leaving for Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

Hi Gary. Thanks for the birthday wish for Steve. Of course we can try to work around your visit to Phuket. I think that Nuch does not like to say no to people when they ask for a booking - typically Thai, huh? Always wanting/trying to help people. After you I'm banning her from taking any more bookings while we're here! : ) I think that since this is your first visit and you have young children then you must use Mai. He is such a great driver, very easygoing, friendly and accommodating. He will help you any way he can.

I have a Thai simcard in my phone and my number is +6646288077 if you would like to contact me at all, apart from that, I have heard so much about John Gray's Starlight Tours. Would you mind sending me his number via sms?