First trip to Phuket?

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Phuket Gude
- First trip to Phuket?

PHUKET INFO

TRAVEL GUIDE

Considering a first trip to Phuket?

First, get good information, then choose wisely, and you will have a great time

But not everyone does find what they want in a tropical holiday, and some go away disappointed - here's how to avoid being one of them.

Phuket, while often called a tropical island paradise, is different things to different people. Obviously most visitors who come here love it, or the island’s tourist trade would not be blossoming as it is. The island also enjoys a high percentage of return visitors. But not everyone has a great time here, as is to be expected, and some do go away disappointed. The most common complaint we hear comes from visitors who end up staying in areas of the island they do not like. Phuket is a large island with many different beaches, areas and atmospheres. Here is the critical, first choice each visitor should make before booking a hotel.

Which part of the island to stay at?

First, choose your beach:

There are corners of the island so quiet they would surely drive most people to boredom after a few days of doing absolutely nothing. At the other extreme is Patong, a wild, colourful bazaar of great food, sexy nightlife, shopping, bars and endless after-dark activity. And there are many environments in between. If the beach you land on is the wrong one for your personal tastes, and your hotel is already paid for, you may not enjoy Phuket. So our first recommendation is that you check out our pages on beaches and make the basic decision on where you want to stay on Phuket. Which beach is right for you? Take me to BEACHES, please.

There are many other things that one should consider carefully before making commitments. Here are some of them:

Hotels:

Once you have chosen a beach with the right atmosphere, start looking through the hotel pages. Phuket offers everything from world-class 5-star resorts to low-budget bungalows. We give hotel descriptions and links to some better establishments, though we do not yet offer direct bookings. Look up Phuket Hotels.

What to expect?

This website includes lots of spectacular photographs, but we suggest you do not expect to see every day looking as bright and beautiful as seen in these photos. Our photographers have spent years exploring every little island of the region and have shot most of these places in the prime conditions and beautiful light.

At the same time, none of the photographs on this web site have been manipulated in the computer, and if you are determined, and have time enough, you will have an opportunity to see virtually everything that our photographers present here.

Please, for your own good (and for Phuket’s), do some research BEFORE making your bookings, and make good decisions before making commitments. That way you will enjoy your experience here all the more.

Day Tours:

If you are going to make a day tour or two, where and how should this be done? If you are going to pre-book restaurants, events or other outings be sure you know exactly what to expect. Disappointments are common when visitors pay in advance, before examining the choices. All day tours that can be booked in advance can also be purchased locally. Before advance booking a day tour to Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island or the Phi Phi Islands look them up here and see what the real situation is, and what options are available. Click on Day Tours.

Transport

Phuket is a big island, and we strongly suggest you try to see more of it than your home beach. Even more, why not rent a car or boat and get right off the island, for beyond the shores of Phuket many fascinating worlds await to be explored; worlds of people, of strange geographical environments, of forests and animals, coral reefs, deserted islands and beaches and more. We show the many options for transport by land and sea. See our pages on Transport.

Phuket’s fabulous region

When you want to know more about the fascinating Andaman region that surrounds Phuket Island and is waiting to be explored by car, boat, bike, canoe or foot, look up the many pages under Andaman Region.

Warnings & Safety

Thailand is a relatively safecountry for foreigners to travel around in. The Thai people are famed for the warm hospitality they extend to strangers. The further one travels from the major cities the friendlier and more honest the people become. It is in the cities, and particularly in tourist areas, that Thailand's crime is focused. We suggest you take the normal precautions that any traveller should be aware of:

* avoid showing large amounts of money in public;
* beware of pickpockets in tightly crowded places like public buses;
* don't get drunk in public late at night;
* watch out for pretty transvestites masquerading as girls in bars;
* be sure you are a skilled driver if renting a motorcycle;
* don't believe anyone offering special jewellery deals;
* check prices before using services;
* taxi drivers and guides get commissions (sometimes up to 30%) from certain jewellery and handicraft stores, hotels, restaurants, etc., giving them reason to push you to places of their choice, not yours.

Happy information hunting.
Everything you need to know about Phuket and its beautiful region is all here in 100s of informative pages.

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