Hotels in Phuket, Thailand

The 20km wide and 50km long island of Phuket situated at Southern Thailand, is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Tourists who travel to Phuket often enjoy beautiful sunsets in the beach, amazing scenery, warm turquoise blue sea, and enjoy exciting activities like snorkeling, yachting, scuba diving, & other water games. Phuket also has a very broad range of hotels and resorts, quality restaurants, nightclubs, pubs and bars, shopping centers, and other entertainment options.

The sheer size of the Phuket island makes it difficult to locate the Best Phuket hotels in the "best area". Almost all beaches are good, and where ever accommodation is allowed, the area is great and scenic, with the exception of very few hotels which are slightly far away from the interesting things. People decide between nightlife, shopping, beach or scenic views to locate the best area for Phuket hotels.

Thailand Beaches

Accommodation at a variety of Phuket Hotels is possible, ranging from ultra-luxury hotels, island villas, beach resorts, countless budget hotels, lodges, vacation rentals and apartments. Tripadvisor itself lists a total of 540 Phuket hotels including Resorts, Romantic getaways, Family hotels, Best Value budget hotels, Trendy hotels and another 371 B&B and Inns which suite long term stay and vacations at Phuket. With several kinds of Phuket hotels available, travelers have a choice of type, budget and facilities. While booking Phuket hotels, make sure you do it with a reliable travel agent or an online booking engine that is experienced with Thailand and particularly Phuket hotels. It takes a while for any Travel agent to understand the enormous numbers of Phuket Hotels in different areas and what each of them offers. Travelers generally book Phuket Hotels along with their vacation plans to Bangkok, Pattaya, Krabi and Koh Samui.

Hotels in Phuket, Thailand

Before staying at Phuket island, you need to decide whether you are going to be near Phuket Town itself or venture to other areas of the Island. The Island can be divided into the Western Phuket with the main Beaches, Southeastern Phuket with slightly off-beat beaches, Interior Phuket with its hilly expanse, Phang Nga Bay famous for its cliffs and James Bond Island, and Phuket Town which is the administrative capital of the province, and most populated town. The other cities in Phuket include Chalong Bay famous for its yacht anchorage, Kamala with quiet beaches north of Patong, Karon known for its most-developed beaches, Kata famous for its surfing and tourist crowded beaches, Nai Thon and Nai Yang the two quiet beaches near Sirinat National Park, Patong known for its largest beach resort and great nightlife, Rawai which is popular with the locals and eating in the beach and Surin.

Phuket town is one of the main centers for nightlife and tourist shopping, so the majority of Phuket hotels are located here and its the first choice for budget conscious travelers. If you are staying in Patong, remember it is a large area, and your local travel costs can be hugely inflated if you are not near what you want to do most of the time. At Patong, be specific about your intentions before booking - a Beach Bungalow for the kids or a budget hotel near nightlife are two different choices altogether. The third best choice for tourists after Phuket & Patong is to stay at Karon Beach. There are plenty of hotels in Karon's long beautiful beach which are very close to the sand and most of them offer sea view rooms. The cheapest beachfront sea view rooms among all Phuket hotels is available at Karon only. The next best place to stay is the Kata Beach which also has many beachfront hotels with of different varieties.

There is a wide range of Phuket hotels and resorts scattered throughout the island, from family resorts to vacation rentals to budget apartments. Pick an accommodation that best fits your needs and budget. Happy Phuket Holidays.

Hotels in Phuket, Thailand

If you're looking for a really nice hotel in Phuket, visit Phuket Hotels.

The Best Beaches of Phuket

Phuket Island is one of the most popular travel destinations of Thailand. One of the main reasons why so many tourists visit  each year is because it has some of the finest beaches in all of Asia. If you love beach holidays then you should definitely consider visiting this magnificent island on vacation.

Phuket has a large number of beautiful white sandy beaches and most of these amazing beaches are located on the west coast of the island. If you are planning a trip to this Thai holiday island then there are several beaches which you should definitely visit and spend some time at. I have listed for you some of the best locations down below.

Thailand Beaches

Nai Harn Beach

The Best Beaches of Phuket

Nai Harn beach is my favorite beach on on the island and many expats prefer to spend their free days at this spectacular beach. There are only a few resorts at Nai Harn beach which is why you won't feel crowded at this beach. There are however a number of great little seafood restaurants at this destination and prices are generally very affordable. If you are looking for activities then you will also be happy at this excellent beach as there is a number of water sport companies located at this beautiful location on the island.

Surin Beach

Another very popular Phuket beach among the expat population is Surin beach which is located between Laguna and Kamala bay. This long white sandy beach is also home to some of the finest seafood restaurants of the island. This wonderful location generally only gets a bit crowded during the high season. There are a few resorts located in the Surin area however this area of the island is generally better known for its high end real estate projects.

Patong Beach

Patong beach is one of the most crowded beaches however many travelers certainly seem to prefer this. You will never get bored at this location as there are plenty of  vendors, massage ladies and water sport companies offering you jet skiing, water skiing and parasailing. If you enjoy shopping then please note that there are plenty of shops and boutiques which line the main road of Patong.

Kata Beach

One of the most popular beaches is most certainly Kata which is located just south of Patong. Kata is one of the longest beaches of Phuket so you can enjoy up to a certain level of privacy when spending the day at Kata. The water of the Andaman Sea is generally very calm during the tourist high season. During the low season there are some waves and during this period of the year you will find local surfers hanging out at this wonderful location.

The Best Beaches of Phuket

James is travel consultant living on Phuket and is working on a number of projects. If you are looking for information about Phuket then be sure to visit his Phuket guide which includes an excellent section on Krabi.

Discover the Top 10 Beautiful Beaches in Thailand

Thailand is known for the country's amazing beaches. One can find all the things they need in a beach trip in this beautiful country. Here is a list of the top ten most beautiful beaches in Thailand:

1. White Sand Beach, Ko Chang - Ko Chang, also known as the "Elephant Island," is the second largest island in Thailand and located around 180 miles east of Bangkok. Ko Chang's white sand beaches contain a lot of other beaches which are considered the best beaches in Thailand.

Thailand Beaches

2. Hat Sai Kaeo, Ko Sametalso - also called the "Diamond Beach" or the "Crystal Sand Beach", is a very beautiful beach in Bangkok. Hat Sai Kaeo is about one-third of a mile long and is filled with plenty of activities to do such as swimming, jet skiing, windsurfing and riding with what the locals called banana boats which is a long, yellow inflated float that leap riders off if they did not hold on tightly enough; a really fun ride every visitor loves to try.

Discover the Top 10 Beautiful Beaches in Thailand

3. Ao Manao, Prachuap Khiri Khan - located around six miles from Myanmar's border. Also called the "lemon Beach" the place was once a battleground for the Thais and the Japanese forces. Today it's a quiet sanctuary, untouched by western tourists and one of Thailand's secret treasures. Here, visitors can find many miles of striking white sand beaches, some of them formed momentarily by sandbars during low tides. This is also the place where the best seafood cuisines are served.

4. Pharanang Bay, Krabi - Krabi is famously known for its unusual rock climbing services for both beginners and professional climbers. The bay is reached via boat rides and takes almost 20 minutes from Ao Nang Beach. After reaching Ao Nang beach there would be another 15-minute walk on a zigzag sidewalk along the base of a sea cliff. The exciting ride to the place will bring everyone to the elegant Phranang Bay. Visitors can swim under the suspended limestone karsts, or climb through the small cliffs into the profound emerald green waters of the Andaman Sea. The beach is perfect place for families, swimmers, snorkels, and nature explorers.

5. Ao Nang Beach, Krabi - is one of the most admired beaches in Thailand; a well developed beach that offers street shopping, and top western and Thai restaurants, and with definitely charming and affordable commodities. There is one particular stretch of the beach on the southern most point of the place that is just really wonderful which are adored by many and it will just take a short walk in its south along Ao Nang beach.

6. Tonsai Bay, Ko Phi Phi - the well-known Ko Phi Phi is covered with two islands which are the "Don";the larger island, and "Leh"; the smaller island located at the southern tip of Krabi town. It will take a two-hour ferry boat ride from Ao Nang beach to Tonsai and with just a very affordable fee. Tonsai bay or the Ao Tonsai is on the southern part of Ko Phi Phi Don. The beach is undeniably drop dead charming which one would surely love to see.

7. Noppharat Thara, Krabi - with just 400 Thai baht as entrance fee, one can enjoy the spectacular beauty of this national park. A perfect family beach, where one can sit below the shades of the coconut palm trees while eating picnics like the locals often do, or take a stroll during low tide seasons in the petty waters. Noppharat Thara is one mile in length and located west of Ao Nang in Krabi.

8. Tong Takien Bay, Ko Samui Island -located on the southeast part of Ko Samui, roughly veiled between Chaweng and Lamae, is an remote and secluded bay which is perfect place for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Some call it the "Silver Beach." This beach is very much family-friendly, clean, and has some bungalow-style lodgings where visitors can stay for as low as 500 Thai baht in the low seasons.

9. Sairee Beach, Ko Tao - Ko Tao is a place tourists choose to go for a peaceful trip on the nearby Ko Phangan and Ko Samui. The beach can be reached by ferry rides, that will take about two to three hours from Chumphon Ko Tao. The place is an affordable, quiet, and remote area, which is ideal for people who loves reading and relaxing all day on the veranda of the jungle bungalows. Sairee Beach is the most well-known place in Ko Tao and offers services such as massage, drinks, and other types of foods and services.

10. Surin Beach, Phuket - Surin Beach located north of Patong and Kamala beaches in Phuket. Surin is an ideal beach destination for guests who like to be pampered. One can just lay back and relax as different kinds of Thai cuisine are being served every other minute. Visitors can have exceptional Thai cuisines, as well as beverages of every sort. Swimming is also perfect in Surin and the place have a freshwater hoses where one can wash off the salt water and sand when they are ready to go back home, for the place does not offer over night stays.

Here you go! enjoy!

Discover the Top 10 Beautiful Beaches in Thailand

Ms. Pinky is a mom of 3 school children. She is a Systems Engineer, a Technology Researcher and an Independent Medical Billing and Coding Consultant. She and her family is well-traveled all over the world!

Her blogs and websites focuses on stay-at-home moms, dads and students who wants to work at home, build homebased business http://www.mommyisworkingathome.com

Visit her Interesting Site on Asian Travels and Destinations. Discover Asia's Culture and Great Food! at http://www.goingplacesinasia.com

Thailand's Beaches - Hua Hin Or Cha-Am

Thailand has been steadily rising in popularity as a tourist destination, particularly over the last 30 years. Most international flights connect at Bangkok, which is a great city to enjoy a stop-over for a couple of days, before heading for the quieter coastal resorts. Hua Hin is within easy driving distance of Bangkok, a journey of around 190km.

Situated on the Gulf of Thailand, this once-sleepy fishing village was awakened to the real world with the laying of a railway line direct to Bangkok in the 1920s. Hua Hin soon became a popular resort destination, favored by the Thai royal family. The fishing village charm has long been lost beneath the modern development along the lovely white-sand coastline, but the town still has a relaxed local flavor. For those seeking something a little quieter, its near neighbor Cha-am may be the perfect idyllic seaside resort for you.

Thailand Beaches

Cha-Am's main claim to fame is that it has Thailand's longest beach. Although weekend visitors flock to the beach here, during the week it is fairly quiet. There are a few local attractions but the main reason to come to Cha-Am is to chill out in your own space on the gorgeous white sandy beach. There is however a local Jack Nicklaus designed golf course for the more actively inclined. Most resorts are surrounded by landscaped gardens which offer pleasant, shady and colorful places to stroll amidst the tropical flora. There are a few local shops in Cha-Am selling the obligatory jewelry, and the tailor's shops are excellent. Choose your fabric and style from the many samples, and you can have a hand-made, bespoke suit (male or female) within a couple of days.

Thailand's Beaches - Hua Hin Or Cha-Am

The restaurants in both Cha-am and Hua Hin are excellent, serving local seafood, Thai specialties and international cuisine which is much more pleasurable than eating buffet-style at the local hotel. Cha-Am has a few local bars, but if you are seeking lively nightclubs, this is not the place for you. The seafood restaurants around Hua Hin's fishing port are highly recommended. Both resorts also offer spa beauty treatments in the hotels including excellent massages. The Thais are masters at offering wonderful therapeutic treatments. Indulge yourself at these bargain prices and find yourself totally relaxed and rejuvenated in body, mind and spirit.

In contrast to Cha-Am, Hua Hin offers numerous bars, pubs and discos offering drinks and entertainment into the small hours. It also has a range of watersports and eight golf courses as well as a beautiful sandy beach and clear blue sea. This bustling town is easy to get around on foot or by 'songthaew', a hop-on taxi service. Hua Hin offers a variety of local shops and a visit to the market is a great experience. Hotel standards here are very good, wherever you choose to stay, and all have beautiful swimming pools and sun terraces beneath the palm trees. For a beach vacation which has guaranteed sunshine, sand and sea, Hua Hin and Cha-Am make the perfect destination.

Thailand's Beaches - Hua Hin Or Cha-Am

Veron Ho is the owner of Travel Haven, a travel agency totally dedicated to organising creative and luxury packages. Join Travel Haven Email Club at http://www.TheTravelHavenOnline.com and receive a COMPLIMENTARY Destination Travel Guide of your choice

Top 3 Thailand Beaches to Meet Thai Women

Do you want to meet beautiful women while visiting Thailand's wonderful beaches? If so, forget about Pattaya and Phuket. While they are two of the most popular beach destinations, they are not the place to meet a real Thai women to date. Did you already meet a girl online using a site like thailovelinks.com or thailovelines.com? If you are visiting them and want to take them to the beach, these locations will also be great because they are more quiet and romantic. Your Thai girl will really like that you didn't go to the same old beach that everyone else goes to. A little originality goes a long way in the mind of a Thai women. They will certainly show you their appreciation!

Below are three islands that either have fewer foreign visitors or are simply more quiet and relaxed. These three islands are perfect places to meet a local girl to spend time with and really get to know:

Thailand Beaches

#1: Koh Chang: Koh Chang is an island in the Gulf of Thailand just a short distance from the Cambodia boarder. While some foreigners travel here, it's much more quiet that the more popular destinations to the South. This is a great place to meet local Thai Girls that are working in stores, restaurants and hotels along the beaches and in the city center. The Thai girls here have nice dark skin from being in the sun all day. The girls here are less conservative for some reason and don't mind showing off their bodies a little more than most. If you are just looking for a nice visit and want to meet some local Thai girls, you can't beat Koh Chang.

Top 3 Thailand Beaches to Meet Thai Women

#2: Koh Samet: Koh Samet island is only a few hours from Bangkok and a very popular destination for local Thai people that live and work in and around the capital city. You can negotiate a taxi from Bangkok to the ferry boats for around 1500 Baht. On the way back, you can take a mini-bus service that goes to various locations in Bangkok including Suvarnabhumi airport for around 400 Baht per person. A short 35 minute ferry boat ride (cost is around 200 Baht) and you are on the the island paradise. Right away, you'll notice that most of the visitors are Thai or from other Asian countries. And this is a good thing. It's easier to meet nice Thai women when they too are on holiday!

#3: Koh Phangan: Koh Phangan is the most beautiful of the three beaches listed here. The small island is just North of the very popular Ko Samui island. Koh Phangan can get very crowded during their well known "full moon" parties. But if you avoid these parties, there are many parts of Ko Phangan that are very quiet with very few foreigners. Again, this is a perfect opportunity to go out and meet local Thai woman that live on the island. The girls here are known to be very good to foreigners and many times if you meet the right girl, they'll take time out of their schedule to spend the day with you showing the "secrets" of the island that only locals know about. You won't be disappointed hanging out with Koh Phangan island girls!

Top 3 Thailand Beaches to Meet Thai Women

Thai Kiks is a blog dedicated to understanding what Thai women want, what they are looking for and how to get a Thai girlfriend. If you are looking for a Thai woman to be your girlfriend or just someone to spend time with while in Thailand, this blog is for you. The site discusses how to meet beautiful Thai women online or while traveling through Thailand on vacation. You can read the blog at http://www.thaikiks.com

Beaches of Phuket

Phuket is a tropical Thai holiday island and is one of the premier travel destinations in the world. The beaches of Phuket are well known for their white sandy beaches lined with gracious palm and coconut trees.

Most tourists staying on Phuket during their holiday unfortunately only visit the beach located closest to their hotel. It is a shame as there are so many beautiful beaches which the tourists could visit. The best way to see all the beautiful beaches is by renting a motorbike or jeep and by simply driving up and down the coast line as travelers will encounter countless beautiful and deserted beaches.

Thailand Beaches

Some of the nicest beaches of Phuket are those mentioned below.

Beaches of Phuket

Bang Tao

The beautiful Bang Tao beach is located next to the upscale Phuket Laguna complex where a number of excellent 5 star hotels are located.

Kamala

Kamala beach is one of the most popular beaches and is located only a few minutes drive from Patong beach. Travelers looking for a beach area which offers a peaceful surrounding should consider booking a hotel or resort in the beach resort area of Kamala.

Karon

The most popular after Patong beach is Karon beach and is located just south of Patong. Karon has a long beach and numerous resorts line this beach. Tourists visitingwith children often prefer the somewhat laidback atmosphere that Karon beach has to offer.

Patong

Patong beach is the busiest of all the beaches of Phuket. The vast majority of entertainment and business venues are located in Patong beach. If travelers are looking for a beach resort area where they can party until the early hours of the morning then Patong beach is the ideal choice for them.

Surin

One of the most upscale Phuket beach areas is the area around Surin beach. If tourists do visit Surin beach then they should definitely try the excellent and inexpensive seafood which is served at the Surin beach side restaurants.

Beaches of Phuket

George is currently living on Phuket and is working on a number of projects. If you are looking for a great Phuket hotel then do consider staying at Club Bamboo Resort. Read more about Koh Samui in his Samui guide.

Thailand Beach Massage

The Thai beach massage is incredibly popular. From the beaches of Phuket to Samui to Pattaya, you will find these places every couple of hundred yards along the beach. In the more built up resorts where hotels have beach fronts such as Chaweng and Lamai in Samui, the beach massage signs may be only 20 or 30 yards apart as they vie for trade.

All beach massages are disturbingly similar, they consist of a bamboo shelter to keep off the sun, some mattresses to lie in and normally between 3 and 5 middle-aged ladies all wearing the same colour polo shirts, yellow pink and orange seeming to be the favourites.

Thailand Beaches

I will put my hand up now and confess that I do not see the point in Thai beach massages, the only thing that I can see they have that is better than a street massage shop is that you do not have to move far to get massaged, however this small advantage is outweighed significantly in my opinion by:

Thailand Beach Massage

A) You already have gunky sun tan oil on you

B) You are probably covered in sand

C) You are probably covered in salt

D) The massage is outdoors so you will continue to sweat

E) All the beach is watching you

F) The ladies have been sat outside in the sun all day!!!!

G) The mattresses contain elements of A, B, C and D

All of the above in my opinion are exactly the opposite of what I require in a massage, I like to be properly showered, not be sweating because I am in an air conditioned environment, have some privacy so that I can snore in peace, have ladies that smell of Tiger Balm rather than sweat and have the use of a freshly laundered towel and a spotlessly clean mattress cover. None of which are available with a Thailand beach massage.

However, as I said this is only my opinion and if you are sat on a Thai beach you will see that an awful lot of people disagree with me. The only time that I do use the beach massage girls is if they are attached to the hotel that I am staying in and I see them every day on the way to the beach, I may then invite them back for a late afternoon session in my room, especially if I have gotten a little too much sun. By letting g them loose on my Aloe Vera and lying in a cool room the sunburn can be dealt with whilst at the same time maybe having a gentle snooze. I am much more likely though to get showered and make my way across the road to a normal massage shop and take my Aloe Vera with me as there is always the danger that problem F will rear its ugly head if you have the beach massage girl do you in the late afternoon.

Thailand beach massage cost. Amazingly you can expect to pay more for having the massage on the beach, prices tend to be set by the management of the hotel as the beach massage need a base, they cannot just set up tent on the main beach, the hotel of course take their cut as well. An average price for traditional massage is 300 to 400 baht per hour on the beach, add another 100 baht if you wanted oil massage. Not my cup of tea thanks!

Thailand Beach Massage

I have created a number of massage guides to use in Asia when enjoying life there. The guides look at the different types of massage, where to find them and how much to pay. The main site at http://www.asian-massage-review.com looks at massages across Asia, it contains links to all my other massage sites such as http://www.thaioilmassage.net. This is information for those that enjoy their massages long, deep and relaxing.

Reasons to Retire in Thailand: Beaches

There are 220,000 miles of coastline in the world. What's so special about Thailand's 3,000?

For one thing, all three thousand of those miles are in Thailand! And let's face it, once your daily dose of sand and water has put you in high spirits you have to return to the normal world. And the 'world' of Thailand is one of the most delightful on our planet.

Thailand Beaches

Rather than trying cover all of Thailand's hundreds of beaches let's focus on one which has a famous name but whose many charms are surprisingly little known. But if you're considering retiring to a Thai beach remember: our example is one of hundreds.

Reasons to Retire in Thailand: Beaches

Just off the southwestern coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea lies the "Pearl of the South", arguably the world's most beautiful, and Thailand's largest island, Phuket. Phuket is divided lengthwise by a mountain range extending the length of the western coast, all fringed by wide, sandy beaches. Away from the beaches and mountains Phuket is rather flat with rich green tropical hills and valleys. At about 200 square miles, it's almost the same size as nearby Singapore, yet the cultures could hardly be more different!

Weather is the next biggie for expats considering dropping out of the rat race and dropping in to beach life. Phuket's weather is hot and humid most of the year, with November-January providing a break, bringing cooler days and nights. Phuket's weather is influenced mostly by the direction of the monsoon winds. When the northeast winds start in November they bring the end of the rainy season. The cool season is the best time of year to visit Phuket. There is lots of blue sky, little rain, low humidity and the temperatures are comfortably hot. Understandably, it's Phuket's high season for visitors.

Experienced travelers agree that the island's southern beaches are some of the best-if not the best-on earth. In addition to its brilliant-white beaches and amethyst lagoons, Phuket has an asset that many tourists miss: one of the oldest, biggest, and most diverse racial and ethnic mixes in Thailand. Over the centuries an endless stream of immigrants has arrived here from the mainland, China, Vietnam and Malaysia, along with shipwrecked sailors and intrepid travelers from 80 countries.

They've cooked up a storm of dishes featuring Phuket's abundant, fresh-daily seafood. There is even Portuguese influence in the fried dishes, Dutch/Indonesian, and Chinese coastal provincial dishes that have been subtly altered to accommodate local ingredients. Southern Thailand's cuisine dominates, of course, but the rich coconut-milk based curries adapt equally well to suit Malaysian recipes. Even retirees' famously picky palates will be endlessly entertained in Phuket's hundreds of eateries. And I wouldn't be doing my duty as a retirement scout if I failed to remind you that a big bottle of cold, crisp Singha beer, served at your table, will set you back .50

There are, by my count, 62 primary retirement locations in Thailand each of which--depending on personal preferences--can be an earthly Paradise for someone. Phuket is just one.

Reasons to Retire in Thailand: Beaches

My company, Thailand Retirement Helpers, shows you how you can double your income while living here, in paradise (if you define "paradise" as somewhere beautiful, warm, friendly, safe, happy, and affordable).

Our week-long workshops immerse you in Thai life--from language to shopping, from medical care to elephant care. After one intense week you'll know what, where, and how much to pay for living here. AND you'll have the vacation of a lifetime.

You can find out more by downloading the book "How to Retire in Thailand and Double Your Income" from Amazon, and by going to the website, http://www.thailandretirementhelpers.com.

While you're there, sign up for the free monthly Thailand Retirement newsletter. It's both fun and useful, and the pictures alone will cheer you up!

Phuket, Thailand

Phuket Island is the biggest island of Thailand and one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Although it is an island, it is connected with the rest of Thailand by two bridges. Phuket is the name of the island; it is also the name of the town on the island of Phuket and the name of the Province to which belong the Phuket Island and some smaller islands near the Phuket Island.

The Phuket Island is of the size similar to Singapore and the island was well known to many people all over the world throughout the history, especially to merchants and travelers, as it was on the important trade route between India and China. It used to be mentioned many times in the ship logs of travelers from many countries, especially from Portugal, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and France.

Thailand Beaches

It has been a prosperous place, previously prospering from tin and rubber, and nowadays mostly from tourism.

Phuket, Thailand

In the past the island was called Junk Celyon. The modern name "Phuket", the same as the previous name Junk Celyon, comes from Malay and means "hill". For people coming to Phuket from the sea, the island appears as a hill.

Because Phuket was the source of valuable tin, in the 17th century the western powers of France, Netherlands and England competed for the control of the trade of tin from Phuket. The French controlled the island for some time, but ultimately were driven away by Thais. Later the Burmese tried to conquer Phuket but were unsuccessful. When the Burmese forces were preparing to invade Phuket they were spotted by the British captain who warned the Phuket's authorities.

Two local women, the wife of the deceased governor and her sister quickly organized some defensive forces that they were able to gather quickly and successfully resisted the Burmese invasion for one month. After the one month siege the Burmese were forced to withdraw and the two local women became the Phuket's heroines.

On the Boxing Day of December 26, 2004 Phuket and the other areas of Thailand on the Andaman Coast were struck by tsunami waves caused by the earthquake under the Indian Ocean. Tens of thousands of people died in South East Asia and 5,300 people in Thailand, mostly foreign tourists. In Phuket Province 250 deaths were reported, but there were many more deaths (about thousand) of illegal Burmese worker who were building a new beach resort in the area of Khao Lak.

Many beaches and some villages in Phuket were destroyed or damaged by the tsunami, mostly on the western coast (especially Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata beaches) and also some areas on the southern coast.

The rebuilding of Phuket started and progressed very fast after the tsunami and most of the resorts and hotels were back in business in February 2005. Throughout the 2005 all the damage areas of Phuket Province were restored.

Nowadays Phuket is protected by American invented tsunami protection system made of twenty-two buoys that are floating in the Indian Ocean and are part of the global tsunami warning system.

Phuket, Thailand

If you're planning a visit to Phuket you might consider staying at Patong Beach, one of the most popular beaches of Phuket. Visit Patong Beach Hotels for more information.

Exotic Beaches of Thailand

The beaches of Thailand are among the more exotic in the world. Visitors and locals agree that these beaches have something unique, which is different from others and leave nothing to be desired. Detailed in this article are some of the Thailand beaches considered as the most beautiful of this country. They offer the best panoramic view to visitors and the landscape that you just can't imagine.

Phuket Thailand - Phuket is an idyllic beach destination and among the top choices when traveling to Thailand. This place is a little more crowded compared to other beaches I'll mention in this article. It is a great place for diving and also has some of the clearest warm waters in the whole world. With its 540 square kilometers of land area and a number of sandy beaches, Phuket is unique and fascinating destination to explore. The rich culture, beautiful coastline, spectacular natural beauty, loads of sports, shopping, nightlife and dining room are just some of its attractions. Just off-shore are dozens of smaller islands that are easily reached in a few hours by boat. It is believed that the natural wonders of this continent are said to be found around Phuket.

Thailand Beaches

Perhaps the most famous tourist area in Phuket is Patong Beach Central West Coast. The beach here is large and long with most of Phuket's nightlife and cheap shopping area located in Patong which has led to the area becoming progressively more developed. In Thailand, Patong means "the forest filled with banana leaves". Other popular beaches that are located south of Patong are: Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Nai Harn Beach, Rawai, Kamala Beach, Surin Beach and Bang Tao Beach.

Exotic Beaches of Thailand

Khao Lak - Khao Lak, a seaside resort in Thailand, which is a starting point for excursions to scuba diving cruises to the Similan and Surin islands. With the park's pristine reefs, it is considered one of the most famous dive sites in the world, also affording some of the best snorkeling in Thailand. What separates Khao Lak from its neighboring tourist destinations like Phuket, is its privacy and seclusion. With the absence of the overcrowded tourists, a nightlife that is friendly for families and the provincial ordinance prohibiting infrastructures to be built above the height of a coconut tree (although more or less), keeping Khao Lak's beauty naturally.

West Raily - West Raily Thailand beach is a site considered as a diamond-in-the-rough. The sand is white and milky, while the water is very clear. Besides fishing, diving is a very popular sport here. This place is accessible by long-tail boat only, so expect and prepare for a long ride. Be amazed by its beautiful white sand beaches, soaring limestone cliffs, viewpoints, caves and hidden lagoons within the reefs, shaped and fed by how the tides are changing. All within walking distance.

At Railay there are no roads, just trails. Also absent are buses and cars. Available transportation in and around are the long-tail boats. In Krabi, you can find limestone headlands and steep jungle valleys in which the only access is by sea. Experience the feeling of being in a tropical paradise, with no roads, no buses, the clean Railay offers lazy days as well as an adventure you will never forget and an evening to chill out. Thanks to beautiful limestone rocks and cliffs, Railay is an epic travel destination. Consider the numerous off-shore tropical island destinations with varied accommodations. Most of the mid-range hotels are located in Ao Nang.

Phi Phi Don - Phi Phi Don, Thailand is last but not the least among all the magnificent beaches I mention above. Phi Phi may be the better known beach and is a favorite of the rich and famous and those who want to be. You should visit this beach, because the view is breathtaking and the water is warm and inviting. Exploring Phi Phi is great fun, with diving, snorkeling, canoeing or climbing, whenever you want to take a break from the velvety soft sand.

Don't forget your camera! Only a short 45 minutes from Phuket will transport you to a tropical paradise and the famous islands of Koh Phi Phi. Every view is a Kodak moment. It's the ultimate tropical getaway in Thailand with fine, white sand beaches and breathtaking rock formations rising vivid, turquoise blue around the islands. You'll know you've arrived in paradise.

Visitors to Thailand will discover the truly exotic. Beaches galore with full accommodations, adventure excursions, night-life and sight-seeing. All that is required is your favorite beach bag for your towel and sunscreen.

Exotic Beaches of Thailand

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Best Things to Do in Thailand, Beaches Near Bangkok and Andaman

Thailand's white and turquoise beaches, golden Buddhist temples, bloody history and marketplace culture are loved by both end of the travel budget scale. Some visitors just swing though the country on a beeline to the coast, while some take months meandering though; either way Bangkok, nearby beaches and the islands are some of the best things to do in Thailand.

Most visitors to Thailand fly into Bangkok. Bangkok has a reputation for a lot of different things, but most visitors will want to see the temples, eat and shop in the markets and make time to tour the city in a canal, and these are some of the best things to do in Thailand. Unless you're a fan of your local red light district you might want to swap a trip to the seedy, now touristy, red light district in favour of some cheap pampering elsewhere.

Thailand Beaches

Top things to do in Thailand: Bangkok, includes visits to the Wat Phra Kaew: the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, who is actually made of jade or jasper, the Temple of the Standing Buddha, Wat Traimit: and Wat Benchamabophit: also called the Marble Temple, made all of white, polished Italian marble and both one of Bangkok's most beautiful and most popular temples. The Grand Palace, the ornate European building with the Thai style roof made famous by 'The King and I', and home to Thailand's parliament since the 18th Century, and the Vimanmek Mansion Museum, a national museum, the world's largest teak building and a good place to come to see classical Thai dancing, Thai folk dance and martial arts demonstrations, are two of more of the best things to do in Thailand.

Best Things to Do in Thailand, Beaches Near Bangkok and Andaman

Go shopping, of the best things to do in Thailand, another thing people travel to Bangkok for, at Talat Kao Market for Chinese specialities, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, for a truly unique veggie shopping experience, or for everything else at Chatuchak Weekend Market, one of the world's largest markets with around 15,000 stalls. And if you're not a shopper, maybe duck off to see some Muay Thai boxing at Rajadamnern Stadium.

Another of the best things to do in Thailand is to visit some of the islands, of which Thailand has hundreds, but the two most visited groups are Ko Tao, Ko Samui and co. in the Gulf of Thailand near the Ang Thong Marine Park and Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lipe and co. in the Andaman Sea near Phuket and the Phang Nga Bay, out of which James Bond Island - the one used in 'The Man with the Golden Gun' - sticks like a dagger - seeing it is definitely one of the best things to do in Thailand.

The islands sprinkled round the Gulf of Thailand are fringed with coconut groves and white beaches, and warm, footprint-less, sandy coves; many of them have lush interiors, especially those of the Ang Thong Archipelago, or interesting limestone formations. Ko Samui is probably the most idyllically famous, but Ko Tao is supposed to be the new Ko Samui - more 'The Beach', than 'The Beach' beach, and is popular with divers and those on more modest budgets. Most visitors to these islands come for some resort and relaxation time - another one of the best things to do in Thailand.

On the other side of Thailand, the Andaman Sea Islands are the ones that look like giant limestone daggers with a sprinkling of bright green alfalfa jungle on top, plunging deep into sandy bottomed, turquoise seas, in dispersed with sandier islands totally ringed with perfect tropical beaches. Hundreds of islands make up this group, loved by divers snorkellers, paddlers, sailors and people who appreciate luxury resorts or just really lovely beaches.

Best Things to Do in Thailand, Beaches Near Bangkok and Andaman

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Thailand's Best Party Beaches

Thailand is the place to go if you enjoy lively holidays. It has some of the most visually striking beaches in Southeast Asia and a focus on nightlife. While it also comes with quieter, more laid back beaches, the majority of tourists that head for Thailand are here for the buzz.

Partying in Pattaya

Thailand Beaches

While a little bit sleazy, Pattaya is the oldest party beach in Thailand. It is a couple of hours south of Bangkok by highway and has more hotels and bars per capita than anywhere else in Thailand. The actual beach in Pattaya is not as nice as beaches at other prominent beach resorts, yet it is busy and the main focal point by day.

Thailand's Best Party Beaches

At night, Pattaya really comes into its own. If you are into drinking, eating and women of the night, this is the place to come. Prices here are invariably cheaper than at other popular beach resorts and there are literally hundreds of bars to choose from, from standard hole-in-the-wall watering holes, to expat pubs, go gos, and all out discos.

The liveliest part is Walking Street in the south at the end of the beach. It is traffic-free at nighttime and is wall to wall bars and girls. Although it has a reputation for being a bit unruly, Pattaya's bars are patrolled by tourist police and volunteers.

Lounging in Phuket

Thailand's second-most favorite party beach is Patong, located way down in the southwest of Thailand on the western side of Phuket. The beach and atmosphere in Phuket are a definite one-up from Pattaya, yet prices for accommodation, food, beer and women are steeper. Phuket has totally recovered from the devastation wrought by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Patong Beach is a lot tidier than Pattaya Beach, plus it has some surf and a far prettier promenade. Soi Bangla, right behind the beach, is the main drinking area. It is literally steps from the sand and has every type of bar you could imagine. Head for the south side of the street for the cheaper, less in-yer-face bars and north for heavier action.

The gay area of Patong lies at the second street parallel to the beach amid the Paradise complex. Although virtually anything goes in Patong, it is on the whole a lot less sleazy than Pattaya, plus there are quality beaches to the north and south. In addition, and unlike Pattaya, Phuket has its own international airport with flights from Europe and all over Southeast Asia.

Getting Down in Samui

Thailand's third most happening beach is Chaweng Beach on the island of Koh Samui. It lies in the Gulf of Thailand and also comes with an airport, yet flights here are a lot more expensive than getting to Phuket as one airline, Bangkok Airways, owns the airport and has the monopoly.

Chaweng Beach lies on the east coast of Samui, as it is more commonly known. It is the island's largest beach and has the best spread of accommodation. Prices here are generally higher than at Patong and Pattaya, yet the beach is nicer and somewhat more exclusive. Everything is low-rise and restaurants open out onto the beach at night, while right behind the beach is a string of pumping bars.

Full Moon Fever in Phangnan

Another lively beach is that of Hat Rin on the island of Phangnan to the north of Samui. It gets crazy one night of the year, during the legendary Full Moon Party. Backpackers come from far and wide to drink and revel on the beach here although for the rest of the month it remains a lot quieter. Phangnan is a bit of a pain to get to as it doesn't have an airport. It is accessed by ferry from Samui.

Thailand's Best Party Beaches

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4 Most Beautiful Thailand Beaches

Thailand has one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. For those that have traveled there they know that the beauty of this untouched place makes for some of the best vacations in the world. This is coupled with the vast amount of historical culture that abounds the countryside and there is never a shortage of things to do in this country. Because much of this land is untouched by development you will find that relaxation and peaceful living is more than possible. The reaches of the mighty have not gotten this far and that means that you will get the very best in the vacation arena, especially when it comes to the Thailand beach areas.

Khao Lak is a wonderful Thailand beach. Just a short drive from the airport, this paradise offers a remote vacation area like no other. Thanks to the area being largely uninhabited, there is lush rain forest nearby along with a whole host of wildlife to be viewed. The water remains warm in the November through December months and the fishing and scuba diving is out of this world.

Thailand Beaches

Phuket Thailand Beach is another great spot. Enjoy this resort November through March. There is more than enough to do. It is a bit more crowded than other beaches as this area thrives on the tourism dollars that it brings in. The scuba diving is top notch in this area and you will also find some of the warmest most clear water in the world. There are several nearby attractions to keep one busy for quite a few days.

4 Most Beautiful Thailand Beaches

Phi Phi Don Thailand beach is quite the turn around. Once a remote and nearly unknown place, this Thailand beach came to life when Hollywood came in and filmed a movie here. It is now considered to be one of the most popular beaches in the entire country and is frequented by many big names. This is a site that you will not want to miss, as the views are breathtaking and the water warm and inviting.

West Railiy Thailand beach is one of the undiscovered diamonds in the rough. There is very little that is expensive here and one can stay at the "resort" for over a week and barely tap the budget. The sands are milky white and the water clear. Scuba diving is very popular here as well as the fishing. This location is only accessible by long tail boat so plan for a bit of a long ride.

4 Most Beautiful Thailand Beaches

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Railay Beach, Thailand

Railay Beach, Thailand, also known as Rai Leh, is a popular beach resort on the Andaman Coast in Krabi, Thailand. One of its prime attractions other than its beautiful beach is the presence of towering limestone cliffs.

Railay Beach, Thailand excites tourists with its unique access. Being a peninsula, cutoff from the mainland by oceans and mountains, it can be reached only by a longtail boat ride. Regular services are available from Ao Nang, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi and Phuket.

Thailand Beaches

Tourists prefer Railay for two reasons - its tranquility and incredible rock climbing opportunities. While its secluded nature attracts families and honeymooners, the limestone formations lure the backpacking crowd. Railay has accommodation options to cater to these two groups.

Railay Beach, Thailand

Rayavadee Premier Resort on Phra Nang beach is the best accommodation Railay has to offer. Being the lone resort on the beach, it offers complete privacy for its guests. In the mid-range, Railay has a number of accommodation choices, most of them located on its west side. Railay's budget accommodations, though not many, are found along its eastern side. The neighboring Ton Sai beach, located barely 10 minutes away, has more choices in this segment.

Railay beach has a variety of restaurants and bars to cater to the needs of the tourists. Most of them serve the local cuisine that is both tasty and affordable. The west-end of Railay has a few hi-end restaurants, some of them located on the beach.

Rock climbing is one of Railay's main reasons for popularity in the world tourist map. However, the steep limestone cliffs are not suitable for beginners. Avid rock climbers flock to Railay to enjoy the thrill and breath-taking sea views from the cliff tops.

Railay Beach Thailand also has limited possibilities for divers and snorkeling enthusiasts, as marine life and coral reefs are not as attractive or diverse as in other Thailand beaches. The sea caves along Phra Nang beach offer ample opportunities for kayaking enthusiasts.

Railay Beach, Thailand

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