Phuket nightlife worth the trip

Many people travel to Phuket for the nightlife, and while the little island is still a way behind Bangkok in terms of truly progressive variety, it is safe to say that Phuket nightlife has improved considerably in the past few years.

With high-profile DJs like Louie Vega, Jo Mills and even Judge Jules playing at the islands newer clubs, it is clear that the attitude to clubbing as Westerners understand it is opening up, and the Phuket nightlife is offering more options to the vacationer.

Having said that the new styles of music are not yet too popular with many of the locals, who still prefer the Thai-style clubs with their mixture of alcohol and local cover bands. This was evident at the gigs played by the aforementioned super-artists who turned up to disappointingly half-full clubs. The Phuket nightlife has some way to go before it becomes an international clubbing destination.

But the seeds are here for a great vacation and the Phuket nightlife will improve with time and the money which these preliminary changes will help to bring in.

Phuket is a place on the up and is worth visiting for the beaches, the food and, now, the nightlife.

Can anyone reccommend a good dive centre in Phuket??

Am planning a trip to Phuket in August - Yes I realise its not the best time of year to go!!
Can anyone reccommend a good dive centre to dive with, i.e day trips to local dive sites, perhaps a short liveaboard etc.
We are 2 experienced divers who do not want to be tagged onto an open water course.
Any ideas??

Phuket cruise: All aboard the dream boat

The Batong Group of islands is as far south as you go on the west coast of Thailand before hitting Malaysia. Here, the towering rock formations and crystal waters of Ko Tarutao National Marine Park, a 61-island group about 30km from the mainland, are still off the radar for tour groups. (These are the only foreign-flagged vessels allowed to work in Thailand’s national park waters.) I learn that the celebrated 1973 movie Papillon, starring Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen, was shot here.

Thai Airways to resume Tokyo-Phuket flights

Bangkok Post: 9 Jul 2008 Tokyo-Phuket TG flights will resume

Thai Airways International is resuming non-stop flights from Tokyo to Phuket, which were suspended after the tsunami devastated the Thai coast in December 2004.

The flag carrier is set to reintroduce the twice-a-week service on Thursday and Saturday starting on July 17, using a Boeing 777-200 jetliner. The aircraft can carry 309 passengers, 30 of them in business class, president Apinan Sumanaseni confirmed yesterday.

Phuket's hospitality and tourism industry welcomed the decision, saying the cancellation of the non-stop flights had affected traffic from one of the island's most important markets.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand's Phuket office estimated the revived THAI flights should increase overall Japanese arrivals by at least 10% and stimulate traffic in the low-season between April and October.

Occupancy rates of hotels and resorts in May and June, the trough of the low season, were only 10-15% compared with 50% in the same period last year, due largely to high oil prices and the economic downturn.

The Phuket Tourist Association projected that average hotel occupancy in Phuket in the coming high season would be 70% compared with 75% in the 2006-07 high season.

The resumed THAI flights would only be inbound as there would be no non-stop flight taking off from Phuket to Tokyo's Narita airport.

After dropping passengers at Phuket, flight TG 671 continues to Bangkok.

THAI executives said Japanese tourists returning to Tokyo after visiting Phuket could use the airline's frequent domestic flights to Bangkok and connect with THAI's services from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Narita, with four flights a day.

GET TO PHA NGAN ISLAND

The ferry from the Gulf coast leaves Ban Don pier in Surat Thani at 11pm every night for the ferry pier at Thong Sala, tickets are available from the pier on the day of departure. One Songserm express boat a day runs from Tha Thong to Thong Sala. Three express boats a day take 45-minute trip from Na Thon on Samui Island, while two of them cover the same route. Two vehicle ferries a day sail from Don Sak, 68km east of Surat Thani, to Thong Sala, with connecting busses form Surat to Don Sak, run by Samui tour. Small boats also shuttle between Samui Island and the eastern side of Pha Ngan Island, and speed boats form Bophut, Maenam and Nathon on Samui call in at Thong Sala after thirty minutes on their way to Tao Island.

Three kinds of vessel run between Pha Ngan Island and Tao Island, though form roughly June to November they are occasionally cancelled due to bad weather. At least two speed boats a day cover the distance in 50min, two express boats a day take 1hr 30min, and one slow boat spends 3hr over it. From Bangkok, bus and train packages similar to those for getting to Samui Island are available.

My Getaway to Phuket

Some of you may know..or may not know that last friday me and my friends have flew off to Phuket since we've been planning for this vacation since April..So, Friday afternoon all 5 of us, Jae, me, Najib, Arel and Azam arrived at LCCT at about 3 pm since our flight takes off at 3.45 pm.

Ok, so, we got onto the plane, everything from timing, schedule proceed as planned. Nice. Well, the cabin crew is not that friendly, but wth?? I was so happy to hear the flight only took abt 1h10 mins to reach Phuket. I don't like to be on plane for long! So, everything went fine..we reached there about 3.55 pm (Thailand Local Time) MY time is about 4.55 pm. No delay.

All very excited and get off the plane anxiously, went through immigration smoothly. Once out, gosh...all the cab drivers, rover, minibus asking where we're going and all..hahha..seriously dunno which one to choose. With different vehicles and rate, we were like..arghhh!!!
Finally after a while find a decent land rover which can take us directly to hotel for the rate of 800 baht per car (Equivalent to RM 80 here). Not bad, plus share among 5 of us and the journey takes about 45 mins. Same as in KLIA to KL ---> except nicer car and comfortable. Here, imported car is quite cheap..you can almost see honda jazz all over the place and the land rover is practically used as cab! How I wish i can have that pleasure here..urghhh!! :(

All the way to the hotel, I was like pening2..and nauseus (must be bcause of the sleepless nite before)...plus the road is pretty much going downhill from Fraser's hill to KL...OMG!! really can't stand! I sit quietly, laid my head back waiting patiently to get to hotel.

Finally we reached Coconut Club resort, where we suppose to check in. Not really a fancy 5 star hotel in the city but a nice, quite, little chalet nearby the city. Like it, although minimal facilities, but service, privacy and less restrictions of course!

GilJae Yeo

GilJae Yeo
I think the best place for a honeymoon is Phuket Island. This place is from Thailand. In Korea, many people want to go this place because there is very beautiful sea. Moreover, every season is fine weather. Also, the sandy beach is very thin. And, the sandy beach is gentle, and this place is very good about swimming in the sea. So, many people are going to Phuket which place is fantastic land. Also, I plan to go this island when I trip after marriage because this place is popular in Korea.