Jamie's Phuket

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Phuket Airport Closed by Anti-Government Protesters
2008-08-29 14:49:00
I would not normally post breaking news, but things are happening here in Phuket and in Bangkok that need to be mentioned. There will be no dicussion of who is right or wrong. It's not my place to comment. I heard shouts on the TV this evening of "Ock Bai" which basically means "Get Out". Similar shouts were heard nearly 2 years ago.Update Sunday Morning 31st AugustPhuket Wan erports a late night meeting reached no conclusion. No flights today? These people are starting to hurt Phuket... Samak still refuses to step down, but I just heard on the BBC news that the army chief has "suggested" that Samak should step down. Reports in the Thai papers say that a large pro-government group is gathering in Bangkok. One hopes the pro's and the anti's don't start any argy bargy.Saturday evening 30th AugustWell, a lovely sunny day here. I have "caught the sun". Nice. But not nice if you are supposed to be flying in or out of Phuket today. This is going to make a few people rather annoyed. Kr...
More About: Government , Airport , Protesters , Anti

Phuket Butterfly Garden
2008-08-27 15:14:00
We had been once before to the Phuket Butterfly Garden , years ago when our daughter was little and before our son was born. Somehow never made it back until a couple of weeks ago. Our daughter said she wanted to go again. She'd just been on a school "field trip" and they'd been studying the life cycle of the butterfly, so I think butterflies were one of her current favourite things.The full name is Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insect World - yes, they have more than just butterflies! It's just north of Phuket town in the Sam Kong area not far from Tesco Lotus. It's reasonably well signposted, not too hard to find.. they also have a pick up service which can be quite a good deal (see the website link below). Entrance is 300 Baht for adults, 150 Baht for kids. Adult in this case means over 10 years old. Locals like us pay a bit less, but I think that's only fair for "regular" local visitors... twice already! And we'll go again soon, as after we'd left our daughter told us we'd ...

New Lonely Planet Guide to Phuket
2008-08-23 02:40:00
It was a few months ago that a guy called Adam visited our office and said he was doing some research for a new Lonely Planet guidebook all about Phuket . He explained this was a new kind of guide. Rather than try to pack the entire SE Asia region or the whole of Thailand into a guidebook that ends up weighing 2 kilos and is out of date by the time it's published, the new idea is to make small pocket sized guides to single destinations, ideal for holidaymakers. Sounded good - a small, detailed guidebook with way more information about Phuket than you can find squeezed into any Thailand guide."Looking for information about Phuket? You've come to the right place!", said the author of Jamie's Phuket! I and Khun Wan, our all-knowing secretary/accountant then supplied Adam with an information overload. Wan also helped him out with translations and interviews. I think Adam stayed about a month in Phuket travelling all over the island. Very nice guy - you can see his website here: Adam S...
More About: Guide , Lonely Planet

New Lonely Planet Guide to Phuket
2008-08-23 02:40:00
It was a few months ago that a guy called Adam visited our office and said he was doing some research for a new Lonely Planet guidebook all about Phuket . He explained this was a new kind of guide. Rather than try to pack the entire SE Asia region or the whole of Thailand into a guidebook that ends up weighing 2 kilos and is out of date by the time it's published, the new idea is to make small pocket sized guides to single destinations, ideal for holidaymakers. Sounded good - a small, detailed guidebook with way more information about Phuket than you can find squeezed into any Thailand guide."Looking for information about Phuket? You've come to the right place!", said the author of Jamie's Phuket! I and Khun Wan, our all-knowing secretary/accountant then supplied Adam with an information overload. Wan also helped him out with translations and interviews. I think Adam stayed about a month in Phuket travelling all over the island. Very nice guy - you can see his website here: Adam S...
More About: Guide , Lonely Planet

Kata Noi Beach
2008-08-18 17:01:00
Kata Noi beach hardly seems to have changed in years. I took a ride over to Kata Noi last week to take some photos in the sunshine and have to say... Nice! Actually it has probably been a few years since I was last there. Kata Noi is not the kind of beach you pass through. The road is a dead end after crossing over from Kata beach (only takes a few minutes), so I suppose you really only go to Kata Noi if you stay there or out of curiosity.The beach is clean and is framed by headlands at either end. I know that in the high season you can get some decent snorkeling off the beach. When I was there (a hot low season day) the sand was almost too hot to walk on. Small massage shacks were doing a good business and there were a fair number of people on the beach and a few surfers trying to catch a wave. I don't think Kata Noi ever gets crowded, though. The one road behind the beach is quiet, there are a few restaurants, a few small hotels such as Kata Noi Bay Inn and Kata Noi Club Bungalow...
More About: Beach

Kata Noi Beach
2008-08-18 17:01:00
Kata Noi beach hardly seems to have changed in years. I took a ride over to Kata Noi last week to take some photos in the sunshine and have to say... Nice! Actually it has probably been a few years since I was last there. Kata Noi is not the kind of beach you pass through. The road is a dead end after crossing over from Kata beach (only takes a few minutes), so I suppose you really only go to Kata Noi if you stay there or out of curiosity.The beach is clean and is framed by headlands at either end. I know that in the high season you can get some decent snorkeling off the beach. When I was there (a hot low season day) the sand was almost too hot to walk on. Small massage shacks were doing a good business and there were a fair number of people on the beach and a few surfers trying to catch a wave. I don't think Kata Noi ever gets crowded, though. The one road behind the beach is quiet, there are a few restaurants, a few small hotels such as Kata Noi Bay Inn and Kata Noi Club Bungalow...
More About: Beach

The Big Chicken Restaurant
2008-08-11 14:52:00
If you drive on the normal bus route between Patong and Phuket Town, after passing through the area called Tungtong, and passing the Phuket Country Club you'll see a restaurant that is also a local landmark. Everyone knows where the Big Chicken is! You can't miss it... (see location on Google Earth)Now, we must have driven past a thousand times, on the way to nearby Bang Wad reservoir for example. We have been living in the Kathu area for 5 years. Our house is about 5 minutes drive from the big chicken, but we only ate there for the first time quite recently. We figured it was just another local place, and as the decor is quite decent (I mean wooden chairs instead of plastic!) and there always seem to be nice cars parked outside, we thought it might be a bit more expensive than some other local places.Actually, although many of the customers do seem to be well-off locals, the restaurant is quite cheap. Basic Thai dishes go for 40 - 80 Baht. We can get things like fried rice or chi...
More About: Restaurant

The Big Chicken Restaurant
2008-08-11 14:52:00
If you drive on the normal bus route between Patong and Phuket Town, after passing through the area called Tungtong, and passing the Phuket Country Club you'll see a restaurant that is also a local landmark. Everyone knows where the Big Chicken is! You can't miss it... (see location on Google Earth)Now, we must have driven past a thousand times, on the way to nearby Bang Wad reservoir for example. We have been living in the Kathu area for 5 years. Our house is about 5 minutes drive from the big chicken, but we only ate there for the first time quite recently. We figured it was just another local place, and as the decor is quite decent (I mean wooden chairs instead of plastic!) and there always seem to be nice cars parked outside, we thought it might be a bit more expensive than some other local places.Actually, although many of the customers do seem to be well-off locals, the restaurant is quite cheap. Basic Thai dishes go for 40 - 80 Baht. We can get things like fried rice or chi...
More About: Restaurant

Exploring Phuket Town
2008-08-05 15:58:00
I have always liked Phuket Town . Big enough to be interesting, small enough to be easily explored, busy but without crazy traffic (most of the traffic bypasses the town), lots of interesting areas, hills and views, parks, temples, local people who seem rather detached from the tourism that grips the main beaches. Phuket Town is where you can find local life a plenty, local festivals and a different nightlife scene to the tourist zones.I realised today there is a lot of information relating to Phuket Town on this blog, so this post is a way to tie it all together. I still want to blog more about the town - the big fresh market for example and the Chinese shrines, and one day I must "blog" a ride on the local buses that run from town all over the island. There are also loads of little specialist shops that you just can't find anywhere else. As I say, I like Phuket Town, always something new to find. Old Phuket TownA few square blocks in the center is where to find the best of th...
More About: Exploring

Exploring Phuket Town
2008-08-05 15:58:00
I have always liked Phuket Town . Big enough to be interesting, small enough to be easily explored, busy but without crazy traffic (most of the traffic bypasses the town), lots of interesting areas, hills and views, parks, temples, local people who seem rather detached from the tourism that grips the main beaches. Phuket Town is where you can find local life a plenty, local festivals and a different nightlife scene to the tourist zones.I realised today there is a lot of information relating to Phuket Town on this blog, so this post is a way to tie it all together. I still want to blog more about the town - the big fresh market for example and the Chinese shrines, and one day I must "blog" a ride on the local buses that run from town all over the island. There are also loads of little specialist shops that you just can't find anywhere else. As I say, I like Phuket Town, always something new to find. Old Phuket TownA few square blocks in the center is where to find the best of th...
More About: Exploring

The Top 10 Hotels in Phuket
2008-07-25 10:02:00
If you're planning a trip to Phuket , you are almost certainly going to need a place to stay unless you already bought a house or have friends living here. Phuket has a huge variety of accommodation available from backpackers dorms to 5 stat (6 star?) luxury resorts. You'll find a page of recommended Phuket hotels on the blog already, and I try to add another hotel every month or so. The hotels on the recommendation page are ones I like because of their location, or because they've been recommended to me by others, or because they offer something different. But what are the BEST hotels in Phuket?Well, don't ask me. I have a house, so don't stay in hotels. The following Top 10 list is based on the Phuket hotel reviews on TripAdvisor.com, which is one of the biggest travel sites online, with reviews, forums, advice (and advertising, which is how they make their money). The reviews are by real tourists who have stayed in the hotels, and if you take a look, you'll see honest review...
More About: Hotels

The Top 10 Hotels in Phuket
2008-07-25 10:02:00
If you're planning a trip to Phuket , you are almost certainly going to need a place to stay unless you already bought a house or have friends living here. Phuket has a huge variety of accommodation available from backpackers dorms to 5 star (6 star?) luxury resorts. You'll find a page of recommended Phuket hotels on the blog already, and I try to add another hotel every month or so. The hotels on the recommendation page are ones I like because of their location, or because they've been recommended to me by others, or because they offer something different. But what are the BEST hotels in Phuket?Well, don't ask me. I have a house, so don't stay in hotels. The following Top 10 list is based on the Phuket hotel reviews on TripAdvisor.com, which is one of the biggest travel sites online, with reviews, forums, advice (and advertising, which is how they make their money). The reviews are by real tourists who have stayed in the hotels, and if you take a look, you'll see honest review...
More About: Hotels

Wat Sawang Arom (Rawai Temple)
2008-07-22 06:13:00
Many things in life are easily missed if you keep to the main roads. You gotta take time to smell the roses. Take the road less travelled, explore the side streets. There really is no hurry. The temple at Rawai Beach is called Wat Sawang Arom. It's only about half a kilometer from the sea, but is off the main road that runs from Chalong to Rawai. You can't see the temple from the road, only the entrance...Like many of these backroad temples, I have driven past on countless occasions, but never ventured inside. In the last couple of years, mainly due to this blog and my pledge to blog all the temples in Phuket (eventually), I have tried to find a few free minutes in life. It's always worth the effort, worth stopping for a while and visiting a small temple.Wat Sawang Arom is not a large temple. It was built to serve the small local Rawai community, including the Wat Sawang Arom school which among it's students are sea gypsy children who were affected by the 2004 tsunami. As I walk...
More About: Temple

Wat Sawang Arom (Rawai Temple)
2008-07-22 06:13:00
Many things in life are easily missed if you keep to the main roads. You gotta take time to smell the roses. Take the road less travelled, explore the side streets. There really is no hurry. The temple at Rawai Beach is called Wat Sawang Arom. It's only about half a kilometer from the sea, but is off the main road that runs from Chalong to Rawai. You can't see the temple from the road, only the entrance...Like many of these backroad temples, I have driven past on countless occasions, but never ventured inside. In the last couple of years, mainly due to this blog and my pledge to blog all the temples in Phuket (eventually), I have tried to find a few free minutes in life. It's always worth the effort, worth stopping for a while and visiting a small temple.Wat Sawang Arom is not a large temple. It was built to serve the small local Rawai community, including the Wat Sawang Arom school which among it's students are sea gypsy children who were affected by the 2004 tsunami. As I walk...
More About: Temple

Hotel Recommendation: Phuket Airport Hotel
2008-07-17 18:49:00
I seem to keep recommending people to book the Phuket Airport Hotel . I think the reason is because it offers something different, which is the kind of place I like! When you hear the words "Airport Hotel" it does conjour up images of a 500 room concrete block attached to the terminal.. but not this one.The small family-run hotel is just one minute drive from Phuket International Airport and Nai Yang beach. Even though it's so close to the airport, the hotel is peaceful and has a secluded feel - noise pollution is minimal, as it does not lie under the flight path. Simon and Wan and their staff work hard to make Phuket Airport Hotel something special. There are only ten beautifully decorated bungalows which all face the hotel?s small swimming pool. There is free wifi internet available too. Nai Yang beach is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel, though if you ask nicely someone will give you a ride down to the water...The main reason most people stay here is the location. Got an ea...
More About: Recommendation

Hotel Recommendation: Phuket Airport Hotel
2008-07-17 18:49:00
I seem to keep recommending people to book the Phuket Airport Hotel . I think the reason is because it offers something different, which is the kind of place I like! When you hear the words "Airport Hotel" it does conjour up images of a 500 room concrete block attached to the terminal.. but not this one.The small family-run hotel is just one minute drive from Phuket International Airport and Nai Yang beach. Even though it's so close to the airport, the hotel is peaceful and has a secluded feel - noise pollution is minimal, as it does not lie under the flight path. Simon and Wan and their staff work hard to make Phuket Airport Hotel something special. There are only ten beautifully decorated bungalows which all face the hotel?s small swimming pool. There is free wifi internet available too. Nai Yang beach is about a 15-minute walk from the hotel, though if you ask nicely someone will give you a ride down to the water...The main reason most people stay here is the location. Got an ea...
More About: Recommendation

Get Social with Jamie's Phuket
2008-07-14 12:27:00
Jamie's Phuket on FacebookNow I admit to not being totally up to date with all the latest web crazes, there just seem to be so many social networking websites it's hard to keep up. I joined Facebook a while back and spent some time wondering "now what?". So I dug around, found some old friends and some current friends, played a few of the quizzes and games and then thought "and now?". Well, I reckon Facebook takes some time to grow on you, as new people join, you find friends of friends, join "groups", add photos, look at friends photos, add your thoughts to discussion boards. It's huge and I guess you could happily while away the hours and wonder where the day has gone.So you can find me on Facebook here: Jamie on FacebookNow I have made a "Jamie's Phuket Group" on Facebook for friends and people who read my blogs and like them. Anyone with a Facebook account can join the group, add photos, start discussions, leave posts on the "wall", chat about Phuket... you can ask questions...
More About: Social

Get Social with Jamie's Phuket
2008-07-14 12:27:00
Jamie's Phuket on FacebookNow I admit to not being totally up to date with all the latest web crazes, there just seem to be so many social networking websites it's hard to keep up. I joined Facebook a while back and spent some time wondering "now what?". So I dug around, found some old friends and some current friends, played a few of the quizzes and games and then thought "and now?". Well, I reckon Facebook takes some time to grow on you, as new people join, you find friends of friends, join "groups", add photos, look at friends photos, add your thoughts to discussion boards. It's huge and I guess you could happily while away the hours and wonder where the day has gone.So you can find me on Facebook here: Jamie on FacebookNow I have made a "Jamie's Phuket Group" on Facebook for friends and people who read my blogs and like them. Anyone with a Facebook account can join the group, add photos, start discussions, leave posts on the "wall", chat about Phuket... you can ask questions...
More About: Social

Nikitas Bar, Rawai Beach
2008-07-11 11:42:00
If you're looking for a place in Phuket where you can relax with a cold beer and sit right by the sea away from hawkers and bar girls, well you better get out of Patong! Somehow, Rawai beach has remained pretty quiet, although it is certainly busier than when I first went 8 years ago. A few more restaurants along the beach road, quite a lot more real estate developments along the road from Chalong, all promising a sea view. It's a popular area for living, less so for hotels, mainly because Rawai is not really a swimming beach - it's too rocky and very shallow at low tide. Very beautiful area, but not a prime holiday resort location. Good! Let it stay that way!It must have been about 8 years ago that I first had a drink at Nikitas Bar. This place is a Phuket legend... been on the beach in Rawai for over 15 years, and is still small, friendly and most importantly does not rip you off for a beer just because you are sitting by the sea! My wife and I used to head for Rawai often, a c...
More About: Beach

Nikitas Bar, Rawai Beach
2008-07-11 11:42:00
If you're looking for a place in Phuket where you can relax with a cold beer and sit right by the sea away from hawkers and bar girls, well you better get out of Patong! Somehow, Rawai beach has remained pretty quiet, although it is certainly busier than when I first went 8 years ago. A few more restaurants along the beach road, quite a lot more real estate developments along the road from Chalong, all promising a sea view. It's a popular area for living, less so for hotels, mainly because Rawai is not really a swimming beach - it's too rocky and very shallow at low tide. Very beautiful area, but not a prime holiday resort location. Good! Let it stay that way!It must have been about 8 years ago that I first had a drink at Nikitas Bar. This place is a Phuket legend... been on the beach in Rawai for over 15 years, and is still small, friendly and most importantly does not rip you off for a beer just because you are sitting by the sea! My wife and I used to head for Rawai often, a c...
More About: Beach

Phuket News - Where to find it...
2008-07-08 15:37:00
I try to keep up and post some of the latest Phuket news stories on my Phuket News page, along with some not-to-be-forgotten old news stories. There's not normally any "big" news in Phuket, but if you want to get a feel for what goes on, it's worth checking the news before you travel, and not just the weather forecast!There are a number of local newspapers and magazines in Phuket, mostly they are just dressed up advertising, especially with regards to restaurant "reviews" and property news. If you want real news, there's really only one choice.The Phuket Gazette has been around since 1993, when Phuket tourism was still (relatively) in it's infancy. I've been reading it (mostly online) since I came here in 1999. Sometimes the news is thin on the ground, sometimes there are 3 articles per day. The Gazette has more than just news - there's an extensive classified section, a job section, "issues and answers" and the "queer news" too. The news is mostly local, often reporting on cr...
More About: Find

Phuket News - Where to find it...
2008-07-08 15:37:00
I try to keep up and post some of the latest Phuket news stories on my Phuket News page, along with some not-to-be-forgotten old news stories. There's not normally any "big" news in Phuket, but if you want to get a feel for what goes on, it's worth checking the news before you travel, and not just the weather forecast!There are a number of local newspapers and magazines in Phuket, mostly they are just dressed up advertising, especially with regards to restaurant "reviews" and property news. If you want real news, there's really only one choice.The Phuket Gazette has been around since 1993, when Phuket tourism was still (relatively) in it's infancy. I've been reading it (mostly online) since I came here in 1999. Sometimes the news is thin on the ground, sometimes there are 3 articles per day. The Gazette has more than just news - there's an extensive classified section, a job section, "issues and answers" and the "queer news" too. The news is mostly local, often reporting on cr...
More About: Find

Wat Thepnimit
2008-07-05 11:39:00
Wat Thepnimit (or Thep Nimit) is about 3km outside Phuket town on the road to Chalong (Chao Fa Road) in Tambon (sub district) Wichit. You can't see the temple from the road, though the entrance is quite obvious. The temple is behind Thepnimit School. When I visited yesterday morning, kids were arriving for school...The temple was very quiet, as the local temples normally are. It's not a large temple, but as always I found some points of interest (if you like temples!). The main building was locked, as they often are - the local temples are not normally open 24-7.Normally the temples have a kind of bell tower. Here the bell was in something like a pagoda, brightly painted with pictures of lotus flowers.I had read on another website a story about a new chedi built at Wat Thepnimit about 3 years ago to house what is described as "Buddha?s relics". It seems many local people helped to build this new golden Chedi which is about 8 meters high and very golden indeed!The Monks houses here...

Wat Thepnimit
2008-07-05 11:39:00
Wat Thepnimit (or Thep Nimit) is about 3km outside Phuket town on the road to Chalong (Chao Fa Road) in Tambon (sub district) Wichit. You can't see the temple from the road, though the entrance is quite obvious. The temple is behind Thepnimit School. When I visited yesterday morning, kids were arriving for school...The temple was very quiet, as the local temples normally are. It's not a large temple, but as always I found some points of interest (if you like temples!). The main building was locked, as they often are - the local temples are not normally open 24-7.Normally the temples have a kind of bell tower. Here the bell was in something like a pagoda, brightly painted with pictures of lotus flowers.I had read on another website a story about a new chedi built at Wat Thepnimit about 3 years ago to house what is described as "Buddha?s relics". It seems many local people helped to build this new golden Chedi which is about 8 meters high and very golden indeed!The Monks houses here...

HotelTravel.com - A Phuket Success Story
2008-07-01 12:10:00
A few months ago, I had an email from HotelTravel.com asking about advertising or setting up partner links with this here Phuket blog. Which was nice. HotelTravel.com is a big banana on the internet, and I had been wondering if they had any affiliate program, as it's a top quality website and always seems to pop up in Google searches... they must be doing well, I thought.The HotelTravel.com website is very easy to use, rates are low and there are live agents waiting to chat - and I mean there really ARE live agents.. I always thought that was a bit of a con, the live agent button, normally redirecting you to a call center in Bangalore or something, but I have seen the HotelTravel live agents! Rather than do everything by email, I printed out the partner agreement and visited their office which is right here in Phuket. Only when I saw the offices did I realise what a big company it is. This was impressive! It looked very modern and efficient, I was quite taken aback, as things in Th...
More About: Story , Success , Success Story

HotelTravel.com - A Phuket Success Story
2008-07-01 12:10:00
A few months ago, I had an email from HotelTravel.com asking about advertising or setting up partner links with this here Phuket blog. Which was nice. HotelTravel.com is a big banana on the internet, and I had been wondering if they had any affiliate program, as it's a top quality website and always seems to pop up in Google searches... they must be doing well, I thought.The HotelTravel.com website is very easy to use, rates are low and there are live agents waiting to chat - and I mean there really ARE live agents.. I always thought that was a bit of a con, the live agent button, normally redirecting you to a call center in Bangalore or something, but I have seen the HotelTravel live agents! Rather than do everything by email, I printed out the partner agreement and visited their office which is right here in Phuket. Only when I saw the offices did I realise what a big company it is. This was impressive! It looked very modern and efficient, I was quite taken aback, as things in Th...
More About: Story , Success , Success Story

Jamie's Phuket on Google Earth
2008-06-28 07:02:00
Over the last couple of weeks, bit by bit, I have been adding placemarks on Google Earth showing where to find the hotels, restaurants, temples, beaches and hills that feature on Jamie's Phuket . I joined the "Google Earth Community" to be able to post on the Google Earth forum which creates a link to the places I have added.So, if you browse this blog now you will notice that almost all pages have links to Google Earth - click on the link and what happens is this: If you have Google Earth installed on your computer, then it will open and you'll fly in to Phuket and see the placemarker. You may have a message on screen first asking "Do you wish to open or save this file?" - click Open.For example, if you are looking at some of the restaurants on this blog and like the look of Kan Eang Seafood, and want to know where it is, just click on the link that says "See location on Google Earth", and you'll see this:If you fancy an evening walk at Bang Wad Reservoir, click the link on that ...

Jamie's Phuket on Google Earth
2008-06-28 07:02:00
Over the last couple of weeks, bit by bit, I have been adding placemarks on Google Earth showing where to find the hotels, restaurants, temples, beaches and hills that feature on Jamie's Phuket . I joined the "Google Earth Community" to be able to post on the Google Earth forum which creates a link to the places I have added.So, if you browse this blog now you will notice that almost all pages have links to Google Earth - click on the link and what happens is this: If you have Google Earth installed on your computer, then it will open and you'll fly in to Phuket and see the placemarker. You may have a message on screen first asking "Do you wish to open or save this file?" - click Open.For example, if you are looking at some of the restaurants on this blog and like the look of Kan Eang Seafood, and want to know where it is, just click on the link that says "See location on Google Earth", and you'll see this:If you fancy an evening walk at Bang Wad Reservoir, click the link on that ...

Guesthouses and Hostels - Phuket for Backpackers
2008-06-23 10:52:00
It's fair to say that Phuket is more of an "upmarket" destination compared to backpackers hangouts like Koh Pha Ngan or Koh Tao. I am sorry to say you can't find little bamboo bungalows on the beach for 150 Baht a night in Phuket, and you don't have much in the way of backpacker oriented bars and nightlife. Over the years, Phuket has moved more into the luxury market, with many 4 - 5 star resorts around the island, and I have seen huge changes in infrastructure in the 9 years that I have been here. Not just hotels, but marinas, luxury condos, many housing developments, shopping centers such as Jungceylon and Central Festival... The list goes on and on...Not all of this is for tourists of course, in fact most of it benefits the local people and foreign residents more than tourists. Many foreigners have decided that Phuket is a great place to live (see Buying a House in Phuket for more information), and the money coming into Phuket has made plenty of local people wealthy - a look a...

Guesthouses and Hostels - Phuket for Backpackers
2008-06-23 10:52:00
It's fair to say that Phuket is more of an "upmarket" destination compared to backpackers hangouts like Koh Pha Ngan or Koh Tao. I am sorry to say you can't find little bamboo bungalows on the beach for 150 Baht a night in Phuket, and you don't have much in the way of backpacker oriented bars and nightlife. Over the years, Phuket has moved more into the luxury market, with many 4 - 5 star resorts around the island, and I have seen huge changes in infrastructure in the 9 years that I have been here. Not just hotels, but marinas, luxury condos, many housing developments, shopping centers such as Jungceylon and Central Festival... The list goes on and on...Not all of this is for tourists of course, in fact most of it benefits the local people and foreign residents more than tourists. Many foreigners have decided that Phuket is a great place to live (see Buying a House in Phuket for more information), and the money coming into Phuket has made plenty of local people wealthy - a look a...