Phuket IS STILL PARADISE!
Just back from nice little sojourn in Phuket and discovered it is now even better!
Seems like the girls are easier/mellower/more available/wider selection than before. Its definitely easier to get a very nice girl these days.
As far as hotels are concerned - BOY - what a selection! I heard that the occupancy rate in Phuket during this low season AFTER the tsunami is approximately 10% only - and as a result, the rates are great!
I would suggest that the best way to enjoy Phuket would be to rent a car straight away at the airport. As soon as you get out of the airport, there will be several car rental guys with placards selling their agency. I've rented from David Car rental a few times and been very satisfied - i.e. Bht 1,000 average for a nice little air conditioned/Automatic Transmission/newer car/jeeps/older cars at even lower price - inclusive of insurance and no mileage charge.
Take the car and explore Phuket at your leisure whilst pricing various hotel choices - from those luxury ones at Laguna (but where I heard that now they've got rooms starting at US$40), to the literal flop houses close by Patong.
There are decent hotels at Surin/Bang Tao and this is the area I usually stay at as I find it very convenient and a very nice balance between the "sunny tropical paradise Phuket" during the day and just a short distance away from Patong at night. Personally I feel that the sort of "sex in the face all day" experience in Patong is just a bit too much for me. Also, this area seems to be where the "stay put/established" expatriates of Phuket stay at. Some rich guy from Hong Kong known as Mr Lan Kwai fong has his multi million $$ house there and it's suppossed to only be slightly smaller than the largest house in Thailand owned by the King. He also have his high class shopping/eating center there. It's close to Laguna, not sleazy at all, and I guess right in the middle between/equidistance to the airport, the night life area of Patong, the Lotus super center, the International school, the Yacht basin.... and has very nice beaches close by. Fact is, I'm thinking of buying a place right around here and have spotted what seems to be a very high class development close by Bang Tao beach selling their 2 bedroom apartments for Bht 4.8 million. A good deal seeing as prices have not come down that much in Phuket even after the Tsunami. We''ll see!
After I've settled in my hotel, I usually then either hit the beaches or go down to Christin's massage during the day - Bht 1,800 - 2,200 for a nice soapy massage and FS - just slightly below the standard in Bangkok but still very acceptable. And yeah, I know you guys are gonna flame me for 'overpaying" BUT that IS the going price at this place and YES I do know that I can get great girls either for ST or LT anywhere from Bht 800 upwards - but hey what the hell - its all laid out properly at this Christin's!
Night time - well, so many nice cheap restaurants and so many great bars all along Patong at the different Sois! One can't help but have a good time in Phuket and I would encourage more of you to head down there and help out these people who are trying to rebuild Phuket. So Y'all come down there OK?