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| Phuket Beaches Thailand Patong Beach Patong is the most famous - some would say infamous - beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, Patong is an ideal place to party and play. Visitors hoping for a glimpse into the exotic East will likely not find it here among the McDonald's, KFC, Boots and Starbucks outlets,though the steaming hot streets, neon lights and chaotic atmosphere of Patong can be overwhelming for the new arrival.The key to full enjoyment of the place is to pace yourself, drink lots of water and learn the meaning of 'mai pen rai' - which translates roughly to 'It doesn't matter' or 'Don't worry, be happy'By day, Patong's curved sandy bay is a hive of activity with parasail and jet-ski operators, boat drivers, beach vendors and masseuses all vying for the attention of the many visitors relaxing on the beach chairs. Those looking for more to do than sunbathe can try their hand at diving, sailing, elephant-trekking, ATV-riding, Harley Davidson tours, sea canoeing, bungy jumping, water-skiing and more, all of which can be arranged at the many tour desks set up around town and in the hotels. And those needing some pampering can indulge themselves with a relaxing massage, spa or beauty treatment. Patong's food choices are nearly endless. Spicy noodle stands, fast food outlets and fine dining spots featuring cuisine from all parts of the globe are all readily available. At the top end are the Baan Rim Pa, Otowa and Da Maurizio restaurants - all clinging to the rocky shore, side-by-side, just up the road north of Patong - offering fantastic cuisine, stunning views and some of the island's best range of wines. The elegant beachfront Sala Bua restaurant at the Impiana Phuket Cabana is fast becoming a 'must visit' spot with its inventive, award-winning dishes. Other favourite spots known for their excellent service and food include Sam's at the Holiday Inn, Baluchi Indian restaurant at Horizon Beach Resort and Lim's. Budget and mid-priced options are too numerous to mention, and best discovered by strolling Patong's streets. If the place is packed, it's a good indication that the food is tasty. Be adventurous and don't be afraid to try some of the more casual, local spots, where unexpected delights may be found. Twenty years ago, beach huts were the only accommodation options in Patong. Since then, the huts have disappeared but in their place an explosion of options have emerged, ranging from simple guesthouses to luxury resorts. Whether one's looking for a cheap room or an opulent seaview penthouse, Patong's got it covered. Patong Beach Nightlife Newcomers will notice that the streets of Patong are relatively quiet by day, but they'll soon find out that when the sun goes down the town awakens and roars. At night, the beach road and back streets turn into a hectic treading ground for street vendors and pedestrians while the bars, pubs and discos become heavily populated with fun-seeking locals and visitors. Bangla Rd is the center of the nighttime action with its long stretch of beer bars and pubs and side lanes leading down to more naughty spots. The notorious Soi Katoey, just off Bangla, is a lively place where punters can watch super-sexy 'ladies' dancing on stages at the soi's entrance and further inside. The other sois are amusing places to wander, with countless beer bars, a-go-gos and pubs to explore. An entertainment venue that doesn't feature scantily-clad women is the Muay Thai boxing ring at the east end of Bangla, with regular shows of the famous martial arts form in a cavernous beer-bar setting. The famed Phuket Simon Cabaret has two spectacular shows a night, while the newly opened Sphinx Restaurant and Theatre offers dining and live dance shows in a classy setting.Fans of rugby, football and other pro sports worried about missing the big games will be relieved to hear that Patong has numerous sports pubs with satellite TV links to all the favourite European and international matches. Dancing fiends will not be disappointed with the long-running Banana, Tai-pan and Safari discos being consistently popular places to shake a leg, while newcomers to the scene are Star World (formerly the Shark) and Tiger discos. For live music, good bets are Molly Malone's, Scruffy Murphy's and Margarita pubs, and The Port at Banthai Beach Resort with its marvellous Filipino band and twirling stage. The myriad shopping outlets and open-air markets, bowling alleys, bookshops and cafes offer an alternative for those looking for quieter nighttime options. Bang Tao Beach Bang Tao is a study in contrasts, with the luxurious resorts and villas along its 8-kilometre stretch of beach just a few minutes' away from the town of Cherng Talay, where many villagers still make their living as their ancestors did - by fishing, farming and rubber tapping. The northern tip of the beach, so far untouched by development, is still an area where visitors might find that they have the beach to themselves. A wide range of activities - including a ropes course and rock climbing, windsurfing, elephant riding and kids' sports - is available for guests of Laguna's Sheraton Grande, Dusit Laguna, Laguna Beach, Allamanda and Banyan Tree Phuket resorts, and some are open to outside visitors as well. Play a round of golf at the Laguna Phuket course, practise your swing on the driving range nearby or go horseback riding along the beach. Afterwards, indulge in a massage and spa treatment at the world renowned Banyan Tree spa or at other retreats nearby. Some of the island's best finds for antiques and other treasures can be found at Laguna's Canal Village and in the rows of shops just outside the Laguna entrance. The open-air village markets are also worth visiting, if only to take in the sights and sounds of a typical Thai bazaar. While there are many fine dining options within Laguna's resorts, a decent range of bars and restaurants have also sprung up down the road in recent years to cater to the increasing number of visitors to the area. Aside from the Laguna Phuket resorts, a variety of bungalows, resorts and villas are available for short- or long-term stays. Kamala Beach This well-enclosed bay and fishing village has developed rapidly in recent years yet it still retains a small-town feel. Popular with families, Kamala Beach is lined with casual restaurants and food stalls, with good snorkelling at the rocky north end. The headland to the south, the site of a number of luxury villa developments, offers great views of Kamala Bay and beyond along its winding road. The pretty white sands of Kamala beckon most people by day, and while the beach can get busy during the high season of November-March, it has a peaceful atmosphere throughout the year. Those looking for more to do than sunbathe or swim can rent a jet-ski, book a dive trip or island tour, or hire a long-tail boat to explore the waters and neighbouring beaches. A meander through town offers a glimpse into the rapid pace of Kamala's change, with a mix of dive shops, Internet cafes and real estate offices vying for space with Muslim temples and noodle shops. Most essentials for travel and souvenirs can be found in Kamala's various small shops. Dining options range from casual barbecued seafood on the beachfront to top-notch Thai and international cuisine, with most in the budget- to mid-range price bracket. Popular spots include Baan Mai, The Balcony (especially at sunset) and Kamala Mountain View. Karon Beach Karon, featuring an incredibly long stretch of squeaky white sand, is less hectic than Patong but it still offers a full range of facilities, dining and activities. While it's a fast-growing area, Karon is nicely spread out and rarely feels crowded. Karon is concentrated around three main areas. In the Karon Plaza area on the south end there a number of budget guesthouses, restaurants and bars. The side sois are worth exploring, particularly the one that leads to a small art community, where some budding Thai painters have built a complex of huts, pubs and art galleries in which they live and work. Nearby, on the beach road leading to Kata, is the newly opened football stadium, which hosts both local and international sporting events. The sprawling grounds of Thavorn Palm Beach Resort and the Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa dominate much of the central part of Karon, then just north of these is Aroona Plaza. Aroona, which opened a few years ago, houses a range of nice handicraft shops, good restaurants and cafes, a few bars and a hotel modeled after the Sino-Portuguese architecture of Old Phuket. The nice, wide avenue is ideal for taking an evening stroll and doing some shopping. The north end features the Karon Circle, which has sculptures of workers commemorating Phuket's tin-mining and agricultural past. The busy Patak East Rd leading back from the circle is a jumble of bars, restaurants, all kinds of shops and small hotels. While Karon's nightlife is more subdued than Patong, the bars along this road can get lively and loud in the evenings. Just north of the circle is a small lake, around which a public park and outdoor theatre are being developed. Unlike Patong Beach, big-name restaurants and fast food chains have yet to arrive in Karon, but it is by no means lacking in dining options. The restaurants of the larger resorts offer gorgeous settings and fine food, while the streets are clogged with a range of seafood, Thai and Western restaurants. For a spectacular sunset view, drive just a few minutes' north of the beach and stop in at one of the cliffside restaurants up the hill For lunch, the stalls set up on the beach just north of the circle are worth trying for their curries and other Thai dishes at reasonable prices, and also for the sheer pleasure of feeling only sand underfoot and an unfettered view of the sea as you dine. Kata Beach The pleasant bay of Kata, just a few minutes south of Karon Beach, entices many with its white sands and clear waters. The monsoon season of May-October can make for rough swimming conditions, but it's this time of year that the surfers come out. The south end of the beach is the best place to watch, or join in on, the surfing action. Late in the year as the waters turn calm, Kata bay becomes populated with beautiful yachts, which arrive from all over the region to compete in December's King's Cup Regatta, Asia's premier sailing event. While Club Med takes up most of the beachfront, a shaded footpath along the road fronting the resort makes for a pleasant stroll. Continuing on through the village, walkers will find an abundance of shops to browse in, from souvenir and ready-to-wear outlets, to 7-11 and local mini-marts, to name brand fashion stores. There are also plenty of dive shops and tour operators to assist those looking to explore beyond the beach. Steak and seafood seem to be the most common offerings of Kata's many restaurants. Most roadside restaurants display their selection of lobsters, tiger prawns and plump fish right in front of their shop for all to see - and for diners to handpick. There's no shortage of Thai restaurants, and for international fare there's Scandinavian, Tex-Mex, Indian and Italian places to choose from, just to name a few. Among the hotels and bungalows available in Kata, Mom Tri's Boathouse boutique resort offers the most elegant option, not to mention an award-winning wine cellar at its restaurant. Surin Beach A kilometer north of Laem Sing Beach lies the popular Surin Beach. As of now this beach has not been developed and it is a quiet and peaceful bay lined with a row of stately Casuarina trees. Tropical beach with pine trees rather than palm trees may seem out of place to many but the local Thais flock to this beach on weekends and holidays and bask in the shade provided by these unusual trees. The middle of the beach front is occupied by a dozen Thai beach-style mini restaurants serving up sizzling seafood to hungry visitors.Surin Beach is usually the second stop on the north beach safari and a good place for lunch because the next beach stop does not serve food. For the careful swimmer Surin offers some good snorkeling opportunities at both ends of the beach but during the rainy season the water visibility is not very good. Big waves that are common on Surin beach during the monsoon season have caused a steep drop from the shore to the water line and can create dangerous undertow conditions. During high tide when the swells are big and running swiftly good surfing conditions exist here and is becoming an increasingly popular sport. There are no vendors renting surf boards at the beach yet but that may change in the future. Good surfing conditions can make for hazardous swimming and care must be taken with children and non-swimmers. Source : Tourism Authority of Thailand. 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