hi all ...

I am new in this forum. I am from Malaysia.

Myself and bf planning to Phuket coming July 06. Below a few question need yours help to provide your experienced info.

1. I am looking for cheap/budget accomodation at Patong Beach, can anyone recommend to me?
2. I shud book the accomodation b4 leaving or just look for agency while arriving?
3. How far from Phuket airport to Patong Beach?
4. If i am not mistaken, Patong Beach is quite long rite? So, which part of Patong is the most happening from daytime till nite time?
5. Wat is the charges if i were to get a snorkelling trip there?

Tentatively, that's that my question ... hope u guys can share your 2 cents knowledge with me... thank you...

cheers,
natalie

Hi there, welcome...

1. What's your idea of cheap ??

2. I recommend you make an on-line reservation shortly before you leave. Usually these are the best deals.

3. Quite far, about a 50 minute taxi drive.

4. Most happening in middle towards south end of the becah. North end is much quieter.

5. Snorkelling price... don't know.

Alex, thanks for your reply.

1. cheap as in range not morethan 1500 baht..

2. From air port to patong wat is the charges like ar?

thank s ... cheers..
nat

nataliee, you can try to search for rates from www.phuket.com

June is low season, so your budget should be ok.

Fr airport to patong should cost you bout 170 baht or so per person, you can arrange with the hotel for pickup.

If you dont mind the long walk, i stayed at www.swisspalmbeach.com last time.

Just to clarify, 170 baht/person is using a shared minibus. A taxi will cost more, about 400 baht for meter taxi and 550 baht for airport car. Ordering from hotel is the most expensive option.

1,500 baht won't get you much, even during the low season. It'll get you a good standard guest house second line back from the beach. It will not get you a good resort on the front. I suggest you wait until 14 days before you leave and check the prices on www.latestays.com/phuket No need to book too far in advance as there will be plenty plent room availability from May to October. You might check out the Blue Ocean resort. I think it offers the best value for facilities available and it's in a good location, very central and only 5 minutes to the beach. Check out www.phuket.com/blueocean

Nautilus,

Thanks for your information. Swiss Palm is too far away ... cos i am goin with my bf only ... so we prefered to stay in the crowded places for safety purpose.

Alex,

ya.. thanks for your advise. Blue Oceon is actually one of my choice which suit my budget too ...


Btw, month of July is low season... becos of weather? how's the weather or environment like for that period?
Safe to be there?

Thanks n cheers,
natalie

I publish daily weather reports each day for the past 4 years. Have a look at July 2003, 2004 & 2005 on www.alexmalcolm.net/weather.html

The weather is not that bad in July. it's just that the sun is not guranteed May - October, and there is a good chance of rain showers. Whereas Dec - March it's almost sure for lots of sun and almost no rain, although this high season did have poor weather in December and much of January, so you never can tell....

Hi, I'm new here too. Going to phuket in May. Have booked ourselves in Salathai resort. Done some research and it's supposedly 2 mins walk to the beach and the hotel reviews I came across, so far have been good ones. Can anyone second this? Have I made the right resort choice?

Natalie, I came across 'Patong Bay Garden Resort'. Situated right on Patong beach. I think it fits your budget but I'm not sure of the reputation of the hotel. Looks ok online though...

Alex, saw your weather report. Now I'm not sure if I chose the correct time to go in May! I'm kee on going snorkelling so I hope the seas will be kind to me when I'm there

Do you plan to go snorkelling off the beaches by yourself, or go with an organised trip ? There are plenty of sheltered places all year round with the organised trips. Off the beaches in May might be ok. It's into August before the currents really pick up.

Salathai is not right on the front line, but a 2 minute walk to the beach is correct.

Patong Bay Gardens is a reputable small scale resort. Good location, good value for money.

We'd prefer to go on organised trips cos my hubby's not a very good swimmer. Would you know any reputable tour operators for snorkelling trips? Any idea how much a trip will cost per person?

I was reading thru 'Starlight'. Seems very interesting but a little out of my budget this time.

Thanks

Hi there,
Just got back last week & looked at accommodation at quite a few places in the centre of the action - Bangla Road.
We were interested in somewhere right on beach so looked at Patong Bay Garden Resort & Patong Beach Bungalows.
Patong BG Resort had a better pool but both rooms we looked at smelt really musty - and the place doesn't seem that old!
We were pleasantly surpried with the bungalows - each one is separate, very spacious & good for a couple of friends to share. You are right on the centre of Patong Beach, which is so close to the start of the main action - Bangla Road.
Rates were very cheap, especially for low season.
The only thing is the pool was not as nice as some other places.
You get seaviews from quite a few of the bungalows.
Good luck

Cindy, was Salathai a good choice of accomodation? Were the rooms clean and nice? I've booked for a superior.

hi
i'm from malaysia (borneo) too and we are going to phuket on 18th of may for a week. have you decided where to stay? i am still browsing though. we are 3 guys looking for a place in patong, close to the nightlife and the beach, hopefully in walking distance. we might look for a room that can accomodate 3 people and cost around 1500-2000 baht per night and plus swimming pool. any idea?
i have been to Koh Pha Ngan twice in 2 years and it is quite dirt cheap for a room there, just 200-400 baht for fan room and 600 baht for a/c room. but it is the backpacking type going for the Full Moon Party but phuket is different because we are coming as a tourist (suck!). if you found some good places please tell us.

ps: good place to look: swiss palm beach, expat hotel, blue ocean resort
terima kasih pok.

Hi. How does this shared minibus work? Do they pick up from the airport and send to all the different hotels or is it actually a public bus? Sorry, I'm a little confused. I've read a few things in the net about taxis cheating tourist, not taking tourist directly to their hotel... I'm kinda thinking if I should still take the metered taxis like you guys mentioned or should I book one from the hotel. Appreciate any advice. Thanks.

niagarekoja,

Thanks a lot for the information. I did not book a limo from the hotel as I read that it was cheaper to grab a metered taxi instead. However, a friend of mine was there about a week ago and he said that he did not see any metered taxi booths. I was immediately worried after that. I worry that I will not be able to find the booth, and thus be forced to make a deal with the touts which I am personally not keen on doing.

Anyway, I'm just going to take a chance and go look out for the taxi booths. Thanks again!

I think I am right in saying there is only one small booth and as I said previously it`s out side in the car park.The meter taxis park around it.Maybe a little hard to see straight away when step outside arrival..But If you follow my previous instructions you really should not have a problem. Meter taxis are easy to spot they are painted two tone colours with a taxi meter sign on top.Others airport taxis are all white.

Thanks niagarekoja! Patong here I come!

Hi ... I am going to Phuket coming 25th-29th July... anyone is goin on this date especially Malaysian? maybe we can meet there...

I am still yet to get any accomodation there... cos I wonder which is better?

Dear all, can u gimme some comment on Blue Ocean Resort, Safari Resort and Patong Beach Hotel?

Along the Patong Beach, which part of patong is the most happening thru out the day till nite?

Why there is so many visitors looking for Tailor Shop? Is the custom made of costume very very cheap?

I am planning to do some tattooing, any recommended shop with reasonable price and excellent workmanship?

I am planning to have a boat dinner too, anyone know how to arrange for that?

I would like to visit to Phuket City too.... so is there any special in the city? how to arrange for it?

In Phuket, others than sea.... wat else we can do over there? Snorkelling? Rafting? Bungee Jump? Massage?

Sorry for asking so much, but I know this forum here is for the purpose, rite?

Anyway, thanks in advance for the info.

Great tattoo shop is Kepsup Tattoo,
this is in Soi Kepsub cleanest tattoo shop in patong with great workmanship

Nataliee
If you go back to the home page www.phuket.com you will find a whole host of activities and things to do in Phuket. If you take some time to scroll through some of the ealier pages of Phuket General / Accomodation queries / and Patong Forum you will find the answers to almost all of your questions.

Dear All,

This forum really helps me alot ..... thanks to all of you of the useful information...

Here's my trip report ...

1st day
I arrived Phuket-Airport without arrangement of land transfer and accomodation ... I ask around for transfer us to Blue Ocean Resort... Lastly, we ride on van to Blue Ocean Resort with 300 baht for 2 persons.

Arriving resort, we negotiated for the rates... lastly we stayed at Blue Ocean Resort for 800 baht per nite... with small pool and polite staffs ...

In the evening, I went for hair bead for 300 baht at the beach side.. After that we walk walk along the shops at Patong Beach ... We found things selling there really expensive compared to Malaysia ... and another kind of feeling where those shopkeeper look down on us Malaysian... so I decided not to do any shopping in phuket ...

At nite, we went walk walk at Bangla Road... we enjoyed the sweet corns and bbq stick selling by motorbike...

2nd day
Morning, we went parasailing at Patong Beach where located opposite the McD, those guy are nice and friendly .. this cost us 1400 for 2 paxs...
Afternoon, we joined John Gray's Sea Canoe... it is an excellent trip we had from noon 12pm - 11pm... those friendly staffs prepared us lunch, dinner, magic show, kratong, and alot more funs ...
We enjoyed alot of the bat cave, sunset dinner, shining sea water, star lights and the kratong moment.
This canoe trip cost us about 6000 baht.

3rd day
Early morning about 8am someone pick up us from resort to ATV Park ...
This is another fun activities we ever had... we went on upside down hill, muddies, visit local ppl in jungle, seaside ride... This trip end-up about 1pm and cost us 4400 for 2 paxs.
Afternoon, we went to Phuket Town-Big C and Center Festival... not much special there...

Evening, we went for tattoo... myself make a 13cm x 13cm tattoo with butterfly and bird at back top corner with 7 colors cost me 4000 baht... my friend make another tattoo at small leg with tribal and flower size about 28cm x 9 cm with 4 colors cost him about 4000 bath too.

* Both tattoo make at different shop and both the bosses also friendly.

4th day
I went to bungy jump at Patong with 60 metres tall ... is really a fantastic jump ... cost me 1850 baht with 1 roll of film.
Afternoon, we went for jet-skiing.. we rent a big jet-ski for 2 in a jet. It cost us 1200 baht for 40 mins ...
After jet-skiing, we relax at the beach side with rented 2 beach chairs for 100 baht.
At nite, we went for Fantasea Show... it is another great show where cost us 2400 baht for 2 paxs.

5th day
Around 11am we check-out from the resort and time to say bye bye to Patong ... a van transfer us to airport with charges 600 baht.

.......... THE END ..........

Welcome back nataliee, sound like you had a lot of fun.. your braver than me doing the bungy jump regards Maureen

Shock to hear, but what things in Patong did you find to be more expensive than Msia?

Nice report, sounds like you had fun, you sure are brave bungy jumping, no way could I do it.

what where the names of tattoo shops?

sorry for the late reply.

yeah... i found clothes and fashion accessories selling expensive than malaysia.

yeah ... bungy jumping at patong ... its really great !

the tattoo shop we went located at opposite Blue Ocean Resort and another one is located Soi Patong Soho.

hi all ....

i am planning to go back to patong on 10th Dec..

Now i am doubts with the accomodation. In fact Blue Ocean Resort is a prime locatio of resort but due to peak season and their rate jack up double it.

Can anyone comment about the Honeyhouse Guesthouse? is this guesthouse hygien? safe to stay?

Really can't compare Blue Oceano to Honeyhouse. Blue Ocean is for sure a budget resort, but it does have a swim pool and some limited grounds.

Honeyhouse is a basic guesthouse with no extras. I used to know a previous owner and it was a good clean & cost effectice place to stay. Just a basic room with a/c, fridge & Tv. 5 minutes walk to the beach... good value for money.

Alex, so do u recommend me to stay in to Honeyhouse with only myself alone ? Security wise there safe or not ?

Nautilus, i am now still pending on the air ticket and accomodation. I do hope can meet u guys there too ...
Btw, where are u from?

Now i am doubts .. hoenyhse blueocean hoenyhse blueocean .. aih ... hehe

Without doubt the Blue Ocean would be much better security wise and comfort wise. The Honey House is also safe enough if you want a basic room with air/TV/fridge.

thanks Alex ...

Hi All,

I'm from Malaysia and this is my first time in this forum. My girlfriend and I are planning to go to Phuket this coming December from the 26th till the 31st.

We've also booked ourselves at the Connect Guesthouse (Located in the Gay Area - Don't ask me why I booked there cause I really have no idea why too, maybe cause it's cheap?) and we're planning to stay there for 6D 5N.

I'm just wondering about all the exciting activities. Anything can be found around the area I'm staying at or do I have to do some travelling? I'm very keen on taking pictures as well - Budding photographer, heh.

Nataliee, regarding the parasailing activity that you had, where is this located? I might wanna bring my girlfriend there as well. It would be our first time trying these fun activities together. Plus, it's her first time out of Malaysia, so I wanna this as a special moment for her to remember and there would be more to come.

Appreciate all feedbacks and stuffs.


Thanks.
Ronald & Ashley

Hi skyzog aka Ronald & Ashley,

Yeah ... Malaysian Boleh !!

I am not sure the location of Connect Guesthouse...

There are plenty of activities at Phuket. Those activities that I experienced was ATV, John Gray Canoe, Bungee Jump, Parasailing, Jetski, Fantasea...

Activities found at beach was Parasailing with 700bahts per pax, Jetskiing i ride on big jet of 2 paxs for 1200bahts at 1200bahts.

You may take a rest at the long beach with rental of per bench 100bahts.

Bungee Jump I conquered it at Patong where I took tut-tut there at 300bahts for two and bungee cost me 1800bahts for one pax with one roll of photo taken by frenly staffs there ... it is a 60metres height jump ... it is a very excellent outing where we cant get in Malaysia although it is only about 15 mins game.

For ATV (all terrain vehicles) I signed up at a travel agent name Carolina Travel at 2200bahts per pax for 2 hrs ride on muddy, up and down the hills, seaside, jungle.. Once you sign-up, the agent will contact the ATV company and u will be picked up at your resort. This is also one of the excellent game where u will get dirt all over your legs due to muddy. Make sure be prepared with some clean cloths if you would like to change .. drinks like mineral and soft drinks is provided by ATV Co. There is few timing for you to select but upon available. If i am not mistaken, they pick me up at 8am and my ride on ATV start at 9am and finish at about 11am. Then they will send you back to the pick-up point.

For John Gray Canoe, yeah .. I signed-up at Carolina Travel too. This is almost 12 hrs outing from pickup to return at resort. They picked me up at around 11am to the Jetty where the boat depart. Lunch and dinner plus drinks all provided. While I steped in to the boat, drinks served while waiting for the rest of the participants. The boat can contain about 20 paxs. While boat start departure to destination, lunch served with some salads, fruits, fried noodles... While reaching the one of the cave name Hong Island, those staffs starts their preparing of canoe to ride us on the sea with wave to conquer some caves where big boat can't enter. From caves to caves, you will experience the canoeing feels with imagine a tube type of canoe which is so small size floating on the sea. But no worry, they all are experienced and trained master.. hehe
Till evening, you can enjoy your romance time with your another half of the sunset view in the boat which created those feel like a private boat... Then dinner served with all delicious foods like fish, soup, prawn, vege, chicken, and many more.
After dinner, another excellent activity where I long awaited... which is Kratong... Kratong is one of the thainese superticious to Thanks to Water. This Kratong kind of things i leave it for you to find out... With Kratong created, you will experience the nite canoe on the sea where you will find alot of twinkle little stars in the water. After this, boat start to returning to the jetty and transport is provided to send to back to your resort.
Bear in mind, bring your camera along for canoeing time... they will provide us the water proof bag. Also, canoeing time u will get wet ... so for lady better go with bikini. Make sure with sunblock too. Cap and sunglasses can bring along too if it is too bright.Bring your own towel too. In case you wanna change clean cloths then bring along a set will do. Insert repellent is provided, so no worry of inserts bite.

As for Fantesea Show, it is only applicable at nite time for almost 3 hrs show. Either u wanna go with dinner included which cost about 1800bahts if not mistaken and u got to be there by 5pm. If without dinner cost me 1200bahts per pax where i arriving at 7pm for some photo shooting at the main entrance with all those nicely made decoration. Those ticket price included transport pick up by Fantesea at your resort too. Camera are not allow to bring in to the hall. Counters was set for you to leave your camera with safety. Oh ya, i sit at front row where very near to the stage and the price of ticket off course is more expensive but i forgoten how much adi. It is also another worth of money activity to be experienced.

Most of my meal settled at McD there with Pork Burger... hehe ... and also some motobiker foods like bbq stick, pancake...

For shopping, i dun really shop alot cos stuffs selling there is more expensive than Malaysia and all almost the same in our country.

I went for tattoo-ing too... althou it is pain but worth of money too compare to Sungai Wang Tattoo

that's it i can think of it ...

Yeah... the whole trip included accomodation, flight, meals, shopping, activities, misc ... we spent about 40,000bahts for 2 of us for 5d4n.

btw, Shu-Yuk is thai language which mean Excellent !!

Hi Nataliee,

Thanks for the information that you have given. I would really wanna try all those, but I think for this year, I'll just try a few of it first. Heh! Budget's slightly tight this year round (no bonus yet) but anyways, I do hope that it'll be a really wonderful trip for both me and Ashley.

I've got one question to ask, though. When you went for the John Gray's Sea Canoe event, did anyone bring a Digital SLR (professional camera) with them when they were on board? I am just wondering cause I have one professional camera and I'm wondering if they have any water-proof cases for a camera my size.

Regards,

Ronald & Ashley

HI Ronald

John Grey provide a waterproof bag big enough for most personal belongings. Your camera wont be a problem.

skyzog,

enclosed herewith 2 pics for your information. My comment: no matter how compact digital camera is easier to take care on the sea. If you bring your D-SLR, depends u bring along how many tools. Bear in mind, risk on you cause only yourself will take care of the waterproof bag.

Hope my attachment helps.

We bought a couple of these bags for the kids back home who are divers. They cost 500 baht each. Quality product though.

bean,
500bahts for this waterproof bag is cheap. where u got it? can tell me the shop location ...

thanks in advance.

Hi Nataliee,

I am just wondering for the ATV tour, are you provided with a protective gear for your camera or do you just keep it in your pocket? I would really like to capture every moment that I have when I'm in Phuket.

Thanks.
skyzog

Hi Bean41,

Thanks for the recommendation. I only have my D-SLR with me and no other cameras. But if that bag is big enough, I think I'll only bring one lens and that should do. Will only be doing up-close & personal shots so that would be quite fine for me. I was thinking of bringing my own personal camera bag in case the bag that John Gray offers will not fit, but judging from the picture that you have given, I think it'll fit just fine.

Thanks again.

skyzog

skyzog,

I am now in Patong ... yippie ... I just conquered another bungee jump... yippie ...

ATV tour does not provide any protective gear. All the stuffs you bring will be at your own risk.

Btw, you can carry small compact backpack to keep your stuffs like wallet, camera, water, etc ...

try not to hang your camera on the neck to avoid those muddy and swinging of the camera.

Hi Nataliee,
In that case, I think i'll get one of that protective gear from John Gray, since it sounds pretty cheap.
BTW, how did you go for the John Gray's Sea Canoe thingy? Did you have someone to pick you up?

Thanks,
skyzog

skyzog,
I wonder you can buy any protective gear from John Gray or not. As what I know it is a loan unit during the John Gray trip only. I am still waiting for the reply from bean where to get this proective gear at only 500bhat.

For John Gray Trip, I signed up the package from Carolina Travel Agent. The package including pick up from resort and return to resort.

Hope you enjoy your days in Phuket!

Cheers,
Nat

Hope you

Hi Skyzog,
You can buy the dry bag from any dive shop over in Patong Beach.
Cheers,
Stewie.

hi nataliee... will love to have a look at your tattoo.do u mind upload it and share it with us? am going phuket next month and always wanted to get a tattoo..but is it safe ? an worried about the situation which you mentioned as we might be charge high price there