Phuket Mini Guides

Under the news stories there are more stories, only in clearer focus. Take a closer look at Phuket life through our Phuket Focus and keep a finger on the island’s pulse. It’s hot and throbbing.

Phuket Buddhist Temples and Chinese Shrines

Phuket's temples represent a touchstone, both religiously and culturally. Locals frequent them to maintain ties with their past as each of the island's temples has a story to tell about Phuket's history.
Read more...

Phuket Big Buddha

Phuket's Big Buddha has become one of the island's most important and revered landmarks. The image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and at 45 metres high it is easily seen from far away. The lofty site offers the best 360 degrees views of the island (think sweeping vistas of Phuket Town, Kata, Karon beaches, Chalong Bay, Cape Phromthep, Ao Makham and more.) Read more...

Beach Dining in Koh Samui

Chaweng Beach is seven kilometres long and features for the most part powdery white sand. The sea is never rough and dangerous here and many people find strolling along at dusk after a hard day doing nothing a relaxing activity. Chaweng Beach at night seems worlds apart from the noisy hustle and bustle of the Beach Road with all its neon lights, hawkers and crowded bars whereas in reality it is no more than 300 metres away.
Read more...

Phuket Seafood

One reason many tourists choose to return to Phuket again and again is because they love the food available on the island. The variety of dishes is huge but one type of food that plays a big role in Phuket’s Thai-and-international culinary culture is seafood.
Read more...

Climbing in Railay

Railay is world famous for its climbing opportunities. Amazingly, Railay and its environs have up to 1,000 climbing routes, ranging from easy to very challenging. In actual fact the fabulous rock climbing here is because of the striking limestone outcrops – actually part of the world's largest coral reef, stretching all the way from China down to Papua New Guinea. Read more...

Sports Bars in Phuket

Sports Bars in Phuket generally divide into two concepts: Those with large TV screens and pool tables along with a darts board and those with just large TV screens. You will be informed ahead of time about sporting events by announcements – generally outside the bar. If the match you were hoping to see is not on in one, just keep on looking and you'll find it. Read more...

Khao Lak Overview

Khao Lak, a one-hour drive north of Phuket, has one major resource to fall back on; an asset so in demand that it is worth its weight in gold – its beautiful natural and unspoiled beaches. Mile after mile of glorious golden stress-free strand awaits the visitor with views out over the turquoise Andaman that no artist's brush could better. Read more...

Phuket Waterfalls

It's rare to see a Thai family spend a day out on a west coast beach if the sun is shining, so where do they go? The answer is to Phuket's shadier east coast beaches, the parks and the waterfalls. This is where to really cool off and socialize, Thai-style. The three best-known waterfalls in Phuket are Bang Pae, Ton Sai and Kathu Waterfall. A lesser-known one is just by Ao Yon Noi Beach, near Cape Panwa. Read more...

Romantic Spa Experience

It's been four years now that Body & Mind day spas have been operating in Phuket and the prospect of an afternoon being pampered by professionals at one was too much to resist for my wife and I. Read more...

A Girl’s Night Out in Patong

Just like anyone else, single girls coming to Phuket expect to have some fun nights out without any hassle. So, in the interests of these visitors, We put in long hours of on-the-ground research – and had a lot of fun doing it. Here are our top picks. Read more...

Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi islands are some of the most idyllic, postcard-perfect islands in the world. The recipe is all there: nodding palms, white sandy beaches. Add to this warm and friendly people, lots of sunshine as well as attractive accommodation and you get something approaching tropical perfection. Read more...

Phuket Thai Buddha Amulets Centre

In a tiny alley off Rassada Rd in Phuket City, just a few steps from Salvatore’s Italian restaurant, is the Phuket Buddha image and amulet centre, a specialised market that attracts many local and overseas Buddhists. Phuket.com went to see what is available there and talked with Sorn Chanrung, head of the centre. Read more...

Beaches of Phuket

Phuket figures in many travel publications’ ‘Top 10 Best Islands in the World’ lists and it does so well largely because of its beautiful west coast beaches. Here’s a brief summary of Phuket’s most popular beaches along with beaches you either have never heard about or have heard about and haven’t visited yet. Read more...

Phuket, a perfect film location

The 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach may not have broken box office records but it did help Phuket and the surrounding area break previous tourism records as travellers flocked to the Andaman coast to swim in the same green waters and frolic on the same white sand as “Leo”. Read more...

Surfing in Phuket

Think surfing. Think waves as big as houses, curling breakers with surfers shootin’ the tube, spectacular wipeouts. Think Phuket. Surfing? Hmm. Nah. But if you think that, you’re wrong. Phuket has a small but lively community of surfers. Some live here. Others have been coming back time and again for as long as 20 years. Read more...

1st Time Thai Food

Many foreigners know something about Thai food from going to Thai restaurants in their home countries. Others have never tried it but have heard of its reputation for gorgeous if mouth-searing tastes - and plan to give it a try while in Phuket.
Read more...

1st Time Patong's Nightlife

Sweaty bodies bump against each other in thumping clubs. Somebody in an open-air bar turns the conversation to politics, and the exchange gets heated. Irish pubs serve Guinness by the pint and crank out live tunes, fiddle and all. Read more...

1st Time Shopping in Phuket

What would a holiday be without a bit of shopping? Gifts for family, friends and colleagues, something to hang on the wall or put on the mantelpiece to remind you of warmer times, something nice and skimpy to wear around the pool on those occasional warm days back home. It’s all here in Phuket. Read more...

Phuket Elephants

Elephants are not native to Phuket – they come from the cooler northern part of the country – but were brought here to work in the tourist industry. As Thailand’s logging industry declined, out-of-work elephants and their mahouts headed for Phuket. It was not unusual to see them on hot roads on their way to the beaches in the hope of making some money from tourists wanting to have their photo taken with these magnificent beasts. Read more...

Getting married in Phuket

Islands are undeniably romantic; the word ‘honeymoon’ conjures up images of a young couple frolicking on endless stretches of deserted beach. But why wait until the wedding is over to enjoy paradise? Phuket has an abundance of locations ideally suited for Thai- or Western-style marriage ceremonies – and not all are on the beach. Read more...

Simon Cabaret

It’s a spectacular display of colour, originality and fun. Phuket’s Simon Cabaret has become one of Southeast Asia’s outstanding entertainment attractions drawing a thousand enthused visitors from around the world each evening.
Read more...

Sino-Portuguese & European architecture

A must-do in Phuket is a walk in the old part of Phuket City, around Thalang, Dibuk and Krabi roads. The beautiful architecture along these roads will take you back the charm of a century ago. According to Pranee Sakulpitpatana, one of the island’s premier historians, the architecture is a reflection of European influence on the island. Europeans including the Portuguese and the British, had been interested in Phuket’s tin wealth since the 16th century. Read more...

Wat Chalong

Wats - or Buddhist temples - are among the most important symbols of Thailand, partly because the majority of Thais are Buddhist and partly because they are so beautiful. In Phuket alone, there are 29 Buddhist temples spread around the island. In fact, this small island is also home to many other religions. There are Hindu and Sikh temples, Christian churches, mosques and Chinese shrines. Read more...

Visiting local markets in Phuket

There's a saying that if you really want to get to know a country, you should go to the market. In Thailand that's certainly true; you can soak up a whole lot of local flavor - and eat some too - just by walking around the local market. Thais just love to eat - they snack all day - so in any market you'll find cooked food along with a huge variety of vegetables, all kinds of meats and every spice and herb you can think of, as well as a load of them you never even knew existed. Read more...

Hotel Quick Finder

Location :
Hotel :
Check In :

for night(s)
Check Out :

Rooms : Adults : Children :

Hotel Quick Finder

Area
From

options

Home