Phuket Reports

[Taumaoe]

What a bargain!

I just returned yesterday from Phuket. There is a relatively new hotel there, the Ibis Erawan in back of the road that goes pass Graceland in north Patong. It was immaculately clean with a very enthusiastic staff (and no joiner charge) for 1030 Baht/night which included breakfast. If you look at today's online Bangkok Post you can click on an ad by Accor Hotels, which owns the Ibis and get this same hotel at 700 Baht/night from April-July. If you want a nice, clean, safe, secure hotel a 3 minute walk from the beach, and about 8 minute walk to Bangla, check it out.

[UrbanWildlife]

Besides all the taxi problems.

Patong is a shithole. Don't go there.

Giotto

I am going to give a different perspective on what Giotto, whom I did meet in Phuket shared with you, and presently I am still in Phuket. I have found Phuket to be a great place, as it offers so many things for those that want to actually get out and move around a little bit. I will also try to incorporate more of my experiences in a longer report if and when I get around to writing it.

I really like Phuket because of all the opportunities it offers. Since I have been here, I rented a motorbike, and have been from one side of the island to the other on several occasions. I have been to every shopping market you can probably find here. Renting the motorbike has provided me an opportunity to see all the beauty of the island. I have seen elephants out in the middle of no-where walking across the road with no humans insight. I have seen many outstanding art galleries perched up along the roads. The scenery that Phuket offers is breathtaking. I have found so many beautiful beaches that make the beaches around Karon and Patong look like garbage. In the last couple of days, I have jet skied, para sailed, and today I actually bungy jumped. I also went and visited the big white Budda which was really amazing to see. I took the motorbike and went and saw a waterfall. I had a tour to the Similan Islands to snorkel and see some of the beautiful corals and fish imaginable. I have ate and shopped in many little villages I ran into while cruising down the road on the motorbike.

In Patong itself, I have enjoyed numerous massages of all types, met some great Thai people, enjoyed the beautiful hotel I am staying at. I have enjoyed people watching, checking out the endless amount of restaurants, sampling different items of Thai food, as well as enjoying the fresh seafood. The city is full of bars of all types, as it is much more than Bangla Rd. Once you reach the end of the road that goes to Karon, you will see a side street that is a shopping complex and bar area. It has about 50 or more outside little bars with girls just dying to meet you. There is so much more than I have wrote above, but I am hoping to write a field report of my total experience in Thailand so I will close this post for now, and add to it when I decide to write the larger report.

My point in pointing out a different view than Giottos, is to let you all know that to enjoy Phuket to the fullest, you have to rent a motorbike, and venture out of Bangla Road to see all the beauty this beautiful paradise offers, beyond the girls who you will find yourself hard to escape from. For those that do not know how to ride, no need to worry, as these motorbikes are automatic, so you just have to get on, hit the gas and away you go. It is 7:30 pm so that means it is time to end this post and go see some great live music at a bar called the 2 Black Sheep, and watch the beautiful girls walk by heading to work on Bangla Rd.

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[Ivanba]

I spent three nights in Patong last week – my first trip there. While amusing for a couple of days, it’s really not my kind of place – way to crowded, way too many westerners, and besides the Thai girls all over, you would never know that you are in Thailand.

I stayed at a place named the Impiana. It is right on the beach and they had pretty good last minute rates. Knowing that I would have guests, I booked a room for two and was informed at check in, after they inquired where the second person was, that there is a 2000 baht fee for guests! I thougt WTF. I questioned this, said I was paying for two guests, and what does it matter. The day manager quickly made a note in my booking that I would be allowed free guests. After this there was no problem. He also gave me a free 60 minute massage coupon for their spa. If you must stay in Patong and have a little extra money, the Impiana is a beach front oasis in the middle of the Patong madness. Just be ready to challenge the guest fee at check-in.

About the ladies – there are many. It actually gets a little old. And I think that the quality is below Bangkok. After my first day there I ran across this posting: http://www.internationalsexguide. In...postcount=1683 and I have to say that I think it is spot on, although I did have some luck in the Tiger disco.

I enjoyed Soi Tiger the most. Picked up a girl from one of the go go bars, she wasn’t dancing. She was a lot of fun but wasn’t as good as the girl I met at the disco. 500 bar fine and 1500 baht. Stayed long enough for me to get my fill, send her home, and get some good sleep.

Went to the Tiger disco around midnight Saturday and it was pretty full – probably 2.3 guys for every girl, and some of the girls looked good. With a little effort I was able to score one for a couple of drinks and 1500 baht. She was great (no a-service but everything else), and like a few other Thai girls I met on this trip, she kissed my butt as if it were something special. What is it with Thai girls and that, not that I'm complaining! She visited me the next day too.

There was a USA Navy ship in port while I was there. The guys were behaving much better than I expected. Just bunch of drinking and nothing overly rowdy. I did see a couple of drunk Navy girls climb up on stage and dance with the Thai girls. The poor USA Girls looked so bad compared to the Thai's. Reminded me of what I have to look forward to back home.

3 nights in Patong was plenty. Personally, I’d rather be in BKK or if I want beaches, go elsewhere. Certainly not a place for a "beach vacation", unless you want to be wall to wall with many other people.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I would suggest that the author or another Forum Member consider posting a link to this report in the Reports of Distinction thread. Please Click Here for more information.

[Stiffoak 571]

What a bargain!

I think ISG members should boycott any hotel that charges a Joiner fee - all that happened last year at the Salathai was they had a book entitled "Joiner Book" (very imaginative!!) and the girls had to write their details and hand over the ID cards - actually pretty good protection for us should anything go wrong.

[El Frances]

I am in Phuket right now and I would highly recommend to you the Rayaburi hotel. www.rayaburiphuket.com I am in a deluxe room. The rooms are small but the service is excellent, along with the location, and the cleanliness. You also get complimentry wi fi, and breakfast. It is a boutique hotel but the amenities are first class. There is not a better restaurant around than the one at this hotel. In my book it cannot be beat. 2900 baht a night is the rate I got. I might add that it is a new hotel so very few taxi drivers even know where it is located. FYI it is a 10 minute walk to Bangla Rd, and a great walk at that passing all the action along the way, and it is about a block and half from the beach. I might add that they do charge a 1000 baht charge for a girl brought back to your room, unless she was registered at the time of checkin.

What a bargain!

[Snow Koala]

I always stay at the C & N Hotel (not resort). Good room rates, clean, close to Tai Pan disco, GF friendly but no pool.

Snow

[Stew2]

Has anyone tried the Ibis or the Mercure? Accor hotels has a supersale right now that offers rooms at these higher end hotels very cheaply.

Anyone know if they are GF?

[UrbanWildlife]

Can anyone recommend a girl-friendly 5* hotel?

I am in Phuket right now and I would highly recommend to you the Rayaburi hotel. www.rayaburiphuket.com I am in a deluxe room. The rooms are small but the service is excellent, along with the location, and the cleanliness. You also get complimentry wi fi, and breakfast. It is a boutique hotel but the amenities are first class. There is not a better restaurant around than the one at this hotel. In my book it cannot be beat. 2900 baht a night is the rate I got. I might add that it is a new hotel so very few taxi drivers even know where it is located. FYI it is a 10 minute walk to Bangla Rd, and a great walk at that passing all the action along the way, and it is about a block and half from the beach. I might add that they do charge a 1000 baht charge for a girl brought back to your room, unless she was registered at the time of checkin.

[Ekspat]

The fee to Patong was around THB 300.00 .

I usually go by mini-bus.
It's 150 baht and IMHO okay.

Cheers!

[Stiffoak 571]

Can anyone recommend a girl-friendly 5* hotel?

Not aware of one - presumably you mean in Patong - certainly know that the Holiday Inn isnt gf

[Giotto]

Besides all the taxi problems.

Patong is a shithole. Don't go there.


Giotto

[Giotto]

As many regular Phuket travelers already know - there is an airport taxi mafia established at the Phuket International airport for years now.

Get your luggage, get out of the airport building, ignore all mafiosi who want to sell taxi trips. The price to Patong they ask for is usually 650 THB.

Turn right at the exit of the terminal, and you will find a taxi "meter" stand. Get registered there, the ladies will organize the taxi for you. Before you enter the taxi - check the meter and insist that the driver charge you based on the taxi meter.

I went there, got registered, entered the taxi - and the driver did not switch on the meter. I looked at him and asked him to switch on the meter. He asked me for 550 THB for the trip to Patong. I said: "Meter!" He tried it once more, and I asked him politely to go back to the taxi station ... he then switched on the meter and drove to Patong.

The fee to Patong was around THB 300.00 .


Giotto

[Trashcanman77]

Can anyone recommend a girl-friendly 5* hotel?

[El Frances]

Never even been to Thailand yet...April coming up quick

Also how hard is it to find a 18ish eye candy to keep on your arm, swim with, for a week and play with in the evening? (sort of GFE I supose) rather than the nightly quickie that I would get in Pataya.

Thank you!

In Phuket it's no problem, but it will be most probably a 28ish!

[Snow Koala]

Anyone meet this girl, Nan, before 2003 in Soi Gonzo?