Tag Archive | phuket

The Top Beach Holiday Destinations In Thailand

Apr18

thailandThailand is a country that is quickly developing an excellent as a tourist destination, and the range of amazingly beautiful beaches, bays and coves in the country is likely to see this reputation continue to grow.  The small nation of Thailand is one that is distinctly split between the mountainous north and the low lying coastal areas and islands of the south of the country, with the best of the beach resorts in the south of the country.  Although it enjoys a warm climate throughout the year, it is worth noting that Thailand has a significant monsoon season which is worth checking before booking your holiday.

 Patong

The town of Patong is one of several beach holiday resorts that can be found on the island of Phuket, and although it was devastated during the tsunami in 2004, it has been entirely rebuilt.  The sandy beaches of Patong are perfect for relaxing, and for those more adventurous types there are plenty of exploring opportunities around the island.  Among the most attractive features for those considering a trip to the town is the vibrant nightlife, and like much of the country the prices for nightclub entry and drinks are particularly reasonable.

Krabi

The town of Krabi is another excellent destination for those looking for easy access to top notch beaches, and beaches such as Phra Nang are among the most beautiful in the country. The azure waters and the golden sand on these beaches are often surrounded by idyllic unspoiled woods and they are also a great base for activities such as kayaking and snorkeling.  The town has grown significantly over recent years, with many more chain stores being found in the area, and accessibility to the region has improved with the opening of KrabiAirport.

Koh Samui

The island of Koh Samui is the second largest of the islands to be found of the coasts of Thailand, and this has long been one of the most popular destinations for those heading to the country for beach holidays.  The peaceful sands and clean waters are an idyllic setting for a beach holiday, while the exciting and vibrant nightlife in the resorts is almost as good as that to be found in the capital Bangkok.  Lying further south than much of the country, Koh Samui also benefits from a drier climate, with the monsoon season being much shorter between January and September.

The coral reefs that lie off the coast of Koh Samui have also helped to make this idyllic island popular among divers and snorkelers, and provides a change of pace after a few days relaxing on the beach.

Koh Phi Phi

The island of Koh Phi Phi is a destination that has grown in popularity over recent years, and the island tends to be quieter and more idyllic than some of the more popular tourist destinations in the country.  As with many other islands in this area, the excellent beaches and clear waters are ideal for those looking to enjoy activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling, and its waters can boast some of the best marine life in the region.  The island was largely untouched until the film ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio brought the island to international attention in the 1990s, and it is still much more traditionally Thai than some of the tourist islands.

Koh Lanta

The island of Koh Lanta is another of the Thai isles that can claim to be sparsely developed in terms of the tourist industry, and many visitors will find it much closer to the Thailand that people would have found decades ago.  The beaches here are again amongst the best in the country, and the sensational waters are excellent for swimming and other water activities.  The majority of tourist accommodation on Koh Lanta is still in bamboo huts, which will really give people a taste of the traditional Thai lifestyle.

Best Beaches in Phuket

May26

patong beach phuket

Most of the best beaches in Thailand are located in Phuket. Backpackers enjoy these beaches, as much as families and couples, who book flights to Phuket to enjoy their vacation.

There are seven prominent beaches that you can visit when you are in Phuket.

Patong Beach
One of the topmost travel destinations that you can find in Phuket is at Patong Beach. Tourists relax on these beaches during the day to get a tan and then head to the many clubs and bars that abound in this area for some entertainment at night.

Patong Beach caters not only to your relaxation comforts but if you are adventurous, you can enjoy many other activities such as water sports, which include snorkeling, apart from parasailing and snorkeling.

Bangtao Beach
Not too far from Bangkok. Initially, Bangtao was a town that was famous for tin mining. Today it has become a travel destination that abounds with luxury resorts for vacationers. You can enjoy a holiday here as there are many facilities available for the tourists. If you wish to enjoy peace and relaxation, you can head to Bangtao beach and avoid the eclectic atmosphere that pervades Phuket.

Paradise Beach
Paradise Beach is small but the greenery that abounds in this area is lush, and you are surrounded with a peaceful ambience and sparkling white sands that you will not find in other areas of Phuket.

The bottom of the seas here are rocky and not ideal for swimming. However, tourists enjoy snorkeling activities in this area. Fine dining is available with international and Thai Cuisine in the restaurants at this beach.

Kamala Beach
This beach is not very heavily infested with tourists. Families prefer to head to this destination as they can avail of low cost sun beds and street vendors do not trouble them to buy their wares.  The beaches shimmer with blue sparkling water and white sparkling sands.

Freedom Beach
If you travel about 6 km from Patong, where there is a lot of noise and bustle, you will find Freedom beach, situated at the foot of the green hill. Water sports are strictly forbidden at this beach though many enthusiasts love visiting g this beach. This is due to the fact that is has been touted as one of the cleanest beaches and very famous in Phuket.

Karon Beach
The second largest and longest beach in Phuket is Karon beach.  Since they are equipped with no more than two rows of sunbeds, you should plan to reach there early to enjoy lying on one of them.  You can also play golf at the Dino Park Mini Golf, located nearby, if you are not interested in lazing on the beach.

Kata Beach
Kata Beach is located next to Karon beach and the water here is sparkling blue and clear and surrounded by white sandy beaches. It is important to book your accommodation in advance to take advantage of the sun beds. You can get involved in many water activities, which include parasailing, surfing as well as jet skiing, amid other activities. Children enjoy watching the tropical fish that abound in these shallow waters.

Patong Beach is definitely the most popular of the beaches in Phuket as it offers many sporting activities. It would be in your interest to book flights to these sandy shores in Phuket to enjoy a vacation full of fun and relaxation.

Experience The Festivities Of Thailand Holidays

Oct16

Many countries celebrate special holidays and Thailand is one of them, though they celebrate not only public holidays, but a few private ones as well. Public holidays are generally on New Year’s Day which is January 1st. People enjoy their holidays and visitors to Thailand experience new types of celebrations. The start of the Gregorian and solar year is celebrated on this day. The Buddhist day is on February 3rd and the 6th of April marks the Chakri Memorial Day.

The Songkran Festival is a three day holiday which starts on April 13th till the 15th. This is one of their big holidays where everyone takes time off to celebrate. The festivals in May are the Vesak, The Royal Ploughing Ceremony and the Coronation Day. Vassa and Asalha Puja are in July while in August the HM the Queen’s birthday is celebrated with great pomp and splendor. Tribute is paid to King Chulalongkom, who passed away in October 1910 and is still remembered on Chulalongkom Day, with love and affection by the people of Thailand.

In December, some of the major holidays are Constitution Day, New Year’s Eve and HM, the King’s birthday. Though these holidays last only for a day, they are celebrated with great importance by the people of Thailand. Everyone who lives in Thailand celebrates on these days. It would be worthwhile for you to plan your vacation during any of these holidays to learn more about their traditions and observe how other people in the world celebrate. You may have a wonderful time experiencing new type of celebrations and even want to join in the festivities.

The Government observes a few national days though many people may not be able to enjoy these days as holidays. Apart from these days, there are several more days marked on the calendar that are not mentioned in this article. Many have stopped observing these holidays though they are still traditionally followed by some. Some of these are the National Agriculture Day, Duanwu Festival, Chinese New Year and Valentine Day. All the places may not be closed on certain holidays though some people may want to celebrate on those days.

It may be interesting if you take time to try and pronounce these local names for each one of the holidays before you visit Thailand. Perhaps you could take the trouble to memorize a few of the names in their language. The locals are very impressed when you speak in their language or mention one of their Thailand holidays by the native name. Festivals about with plenty of food, music and dancing and the activities vary from one place to another. It is an enjoyable experience to witness something different, when travelling to other destinations on vacation.

Phuket

Jul29

phuket

After traveling to Bangkok, I went down to Phuket. Phuket is the big beach resort area in Thailand. It is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Asia and is filled with big hotels, resorts, beaches, bars, restaurants. and much more. There is some great diving here and they even filmed a James Bond movie here.

After being in Bangkok for awhile, I needed a break for the beach. I’d heard a lot about this area so I figured I would test it out. Normally, I prefer more off the beaten path destinations but everyone was raving about Phuket. You can’t hate a place you’ve never been so I thought I would try it out. I looked for some good Phuket hotels and finally settled on a place just south of Patong beach. Patong beach is where all the action is and I didn’t want to be surrounded by drunks and sexpats for my whole time there so I decided to get a place just south and then travel there. Better to only visit the craziness than live in it.

I spent my time in Phuket doing what I wanted- sitting on the beach. I thought the beaches and water were very nice. But they were very crowded with people and it was hard to get some “peace and quiet.” One thing I really hated were all the hawkers trying to sell me something every five minutes. If you go to some of the beaches on the southern part of the island, it’s a bit nicer, quieter, and with less hawkers. I ended up going down there for a few days to avoid the crowds.

One of the big activities to do here is to go diving. There seems to be a dive shop on every corner here- it’s like Starbucks! It was hard picking which one was good or bad but I just used the hotel’s advice. I ended up going to a dive shop on Patong and learning how to dive. I’d never dove before so I was a bit nervous. But after my first dive, I can see why everyone loves it. I’m hooked. I didn’t have time this trip but next time I am going to get my PADI. I’ve heard that many of the Phuket accommodation booking sites do a combo where you can do a dive/hotel package so I am going to look into that. But then again, I also heard it was better to do that in Ko Tao. Thoughts?

Overall, I liked Phuket but I’m not 100% sure I’d go back. With nicer and quieter beaches elsewhere in country, Thailand has a lot more to offer.