One of the most popular destinations to visit in Thailand is the island of Phuket. Shoppers visit Bangkok, nightlife lovers hit Pattaya, tourists seeking refuge off the beaten path visit Chiang Mai, beach lovers and island hoppers head to Phuket.
Most flights from the United States to Thailand will drop you in Bangkok and then you’ll take a second plane ride lasting roughly an hour from Bangkok to Phuket. Over the last several years there has definitely been an increase in tourism in Phuket due to the popularity of the day cruises from the island to surrounding smaller islands that people love to visit. For example, Phi Phi Island was made wildly popular by the Leonardo Dicaprio film The Beach. Another famous island people come to Phuket to visit is Ko Khao Phing Kan, better known to most as James Bond Island because it was featured in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.
If island hopping via day cruises isn’t your thing, however, there are plenty of beaches on the main island of Phuket to choose from. Some are more tourists laden than others so your best bet if you want to avoid the crowds is to choose a resort with a private beach. A popular activity for first time visitors is to take an island tour – you can do this with a group via an organized tour or you can get friendly with an English speaking taxi driver and pay just a few dollars more for a private island tour. If you choose a private tour with a taxi driver, use caution. Discuss pricing up front, make sure their English is decent enough to make conversation and get tips for places to visit and make sure their taxi is air conditioned!
At the end of the day if you still have energy leftover from lounging on the beaches you might be looking for some exciting nightlife and for that there is no region on the island more popular than Bangla Road near Patong Beach. This quarter mile stretch of road is closed to street traffic and is filled to the max with bars, clubs, adult entertainment and more. If you are traveling with children this road is not recommended though! It is definitely more suitable for adults.
For more information about Phuket and all of our destinations we travel to, contact Travel Makers today!
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