Phuket

[Dietrich 0]

Hello to all.

 

I was lucky enough to spend 10 magic days in Pattaya in June 2009 and would be back there tomorrow if I could..... but.

 

I am considering taking the whole family..... wife & 2 teenage kids to Phuket next year for a family beachside/sight seeing holiday. NO MONGERING!

 

Put it this way - I would not bring my family to Pattaya...... but I will consider Phuket, but have questions.

 

My questions are - is the Patong area at all like Pattaya - which can be a bit in your face? Or are the family hotels and resorts well away from that part of town. I am guessing Phuket is more expensive than Pattaya, food, drinks, accomodation etc.

 

Now while I said No Mongering - I am curious to know if there are some nice massage places (think soi honey) were I could slip away un noticed for a hour or so!

 

Appreciate any replies to give me a heads up!

 

Stay Beautiful

 

D

[js007 795]

Hello to all.

 

I was lucky enough to spend 10 magic days in Pattaya in June 2009 and would be back there tomorrow if I could..... but.

 

I am considering taking the whole family..... wife & 2 teenage kids to Phuket next year for a family beachside/sight seeing holiday. NO MONGERING!

 

Put it this way - I would not bring my family to Pattaya...... but I will consider Phuket, but have questions.

 

My questions are - is the Patong area at all like Pattaya - which can be a bit in your face? Or are the family hotels and resorts well away from that part of town. I am guessing Phuket is more expensive than Pattaya, food, drinks, accomodation etc.

 

Now while I said No Mongering - I am curious to know if there are some nice massage places (think soi honey) were I could slip away un noticed for a hour or so!

 

Appreciate any replies to give me a heads up!

 

Stay Beautiful

 

D

 

Phuket has many many hotels that would be suitable for families. Patong Beach has most of the night life, but even there it's possible to get away from the mongering scene if you just distance yourself a bit from Bangla Road. Some of the other beach areas might be even better for a family. Karon Beach, Kata Beach, etc. Of course, the sky is the limit as to what you can pay.

 

As for the Soi Honey type massage places? All over. Try Soi Kepsup, in Patong Beach.

[lovedog100 1,372]

Hello to all.

 

I was lucky enough to spend 10 magic days in Pattaya in June 2009 and would be back there tomorrow if I could..... but.

 

I am considering taking the whole family..... wife & 2 teenage kids to Phuket next year for a family beachside/sight seeing holiday. NO MONGERING!

 

Put it this way - I would not bring my family to Pattaya...... but I will consider Phuket, but have questions.

 

My questions are - is the Patong area at all like Pattaya - which can be a bit in your face? Or are the family hotels and resorts well away from that part of town. I am guessing Phuket is more expensive than Pattaya, food, drinks, accomodation etc.

 

Now while I said No Mongering - I am curious to know if there are some nice massage places (think soi honey) were I could slip away un noticed for a hour or so!

 

Appreciate any replies to give me a heads up!

 

Stay Beautiful

 

D

Dietrich, I've been pretty vocal about my hatred of Phuket. Everything is to expensive. People in shops, restaurants, and massage parlors will grab you as you walk by, and not let go. The tailors are just like Pattaya. A tuk tuk will cost you 200 baht to go somewhere you could walk in 3 minutes. As you walk down the street people scream at you to go in their place if they aren't close enough to grab you. Going into a restaurant is weird, the waitress doesn't even know the word menu, in a Restaurant full of farang, the girl can't speak a word of English, and that is in restaurant, after restaurant. It's the same in many stores, malls, and bars. It is really not fun. Almost everything you do becomes a chore because of the lack of English, people trying to block your path, and those trying to rip you off.

 

That being said, I would like to offer an alternative. Koh Samui. There are lady's available on the side soi's they are not in your face like Patong or Pattaya. Koh Samui is a beautiful tropical island, where you can rent a nice bungalow right on the beach. The beaches are beautiful, while there you can get a massage right on the beach, even food and drinks will be brought down for you. It will cost more than Pattaya, but equal to Phuket, taxi's are way less. Most everything you'll want to do is walking distance, you will receive smiles as you walk around, not yelling in your face. Mongering is on the down low, so your wife won't spend her time pissed off at you for bringing her there. I would recommend taking the family on one of the jungle tours in the jeeps, they are a blast. Every one on Koh Samui seems to speak English. The jet ski's, para sailing, and boating is honest on Koh samui and a rip off on Phuket. Phuket will be frustrating, Koh Samui will be relaxing, and fun. Ask around, I'm sure you will hear the same from others.

[js007 795]

Everyone always says Phuket is "too expensive," but I just don't see it. The above poster is right about the tuk tuks wanting 200 baht, but then again, if you stay where you want to be, you don't need them. Other than that, Phuket isn't that bad. I can only remember one time, about 10 years ago, when I went into a restaurant and one of the waitress girls didn't know what I was talking about. But there were three or four other girls there, too, so it wasn't a problem. Otherwise, I've always been understood when I order in every restaurant I've ever set foot in. Yes, the tailors can be a pain, but just ignore them. Ditto for the massage girls, unless, of course, you want a massage. The only other pests about town are the falang working without work permits trying to sucker people into going to a presentation for time share condos. They'll drive up to you on a motorbike and ask if you "speak English." Either tell them politely to fuck off, or, again, just keep walking and ignore them.

 

I've never been to Samui, so I can't comment on that. Anyone thingking of going, though, should know that the monsoon season there is different that in Phuket.

[Dietrich 0]

Dietrich, I've been pretty vocal about my hatred of Phuket. Everything is to expensive. People in shops, restaurants, and massage parlors will grab you as you walk by, and not let go. The tailors are just like Pattaya. A tuk tuk will cost you 200 baht to go somewhere you could walk in 3 minutes. As you walk down the street people scream at you to go in their place if they aren't close enough to grab you. Going into a restaurant is weird, the waitress doesn't even know the word menu, in a Restaurant full of farang, the girl can't speak a word of English, and that is in restaurant, after restaurant. It's the same in many stores, malls, and bars. It is really not fun. Almost everything you do becomes a chore because of the lack of English, people trying to block your path, and those trying to rip you off.

 

That being said, I would like to offer an alternative. Koh Samui. There are lady's available on the side soi's they are not in your face like Patong or Pattaya. Koh Samui is a beautiful tropical island, where you can rent a nice bungalow right on the beach. The beaches are beautiful, while there you can get a massage right on the beach, even food and drinks will be brought down for you. It will cost more than Pattaya, but equal to Phuket, taxi's are way less. Most everything you'll want to do is walking distance, you will receive smiles as you walk around, not yelling in your face. Mongering is on the down low, so your wife won't spend her time pissed off at you for bringing her there. I would recommend taking the family on one of the jungle tours in the jeeps, they are a blast. Every one on Koh Samui seems to speak English. The jet ski's, para sailing, and boating is honest on Koh samui and a rip off on Phuket. Phuket will be frustrating, Koh Samui will be relaxing, and fun. Ask around, I'm sure you will hear the same from others.

 

 

Mr lovedog100

 

Many Thanks for your detailed reply. Certainly food for thought. I will expand my research to include Koh Samui.

 

Dietrich

Edited March 25, 2010 by Dietrich

[Dietrich 0]

Everyone always says Phuket is "too expensive," but I just don't see it. The above poster is right about the tuk tuks wanting 200 baht, but then again, if you stay where you want to be, you don't need them. Other than that, Phuket isn't that bad. I can only remember one time, about 10 years ago, when I went into a restaurant and one of the waitress girls didn't know what I was talking about. But there were three or four other girls there, too, so it wasn't a problem. Otherwise, I've always been understood when I order in every restaurant I've ever set foot in. Yes, the tailors can be a pain, but just ignore them. Ditto for the massage girls, unless, of course, you want a massage. The only other pests about town are the falang working without work permits trying to sucker people into going to a presentation for time share condos. They'll drive up to you on a motorbike and ask if you "speak English." Either tell them politely to fuck off, or, again, just keep walking and ignore them.

 

I've never been to Samui, so I can't comment on that. Anyone thingking of going, though, should know that the monsoon season there is different that in Phuket.

 

 

Mr js007

 

Thanks for your perspective as well. I am always one to walk, the exercise is good, and you build up a thirst! So I would avoid tuk tuks. Tailors & the "do you speak english" guys I dealt with in Pattaya... with your method - the polite fuck off!

 

By what you are saying here a family holiday is doable in Phuket with the mongering scene not so much in your face.

 

Thanks

 

Dietrich

[torrenova 644]

I can't make a case for Phuket really if a budget is important. If being ripped off frustrates you, then you are going to have to deal with that or it can eat you up. I haven't been for a couple of years but I used to like Ao Nang in Krabi. Enough to do, nice beaches, places to get to, activities for the kids and island hopping if you want. Some bar activity and I used to really like it.

 

I've also stayed at the JW Marriott in Phuket and it was in isolation but it was a full top package with S class pick up at the airport etc. Going into town cost maybe Bt1200 with the hotel limo and the same to go back if you called them out. Different world and you have just forget price and do what you want. It can be a bank breaker though.

 

As others have said, there are beaches and resorts away from down town Phuket but with two teenagers, I guess covering their needs, thus releasing some time for you and your wife is important.

 

Why not consider a two or three centre trip ? The net makes working out travel options easy and if I had perhaps 2 weeks, I might make some plans to end up with flights back to Bangkok, even perhaps having a couple of days there if you think your kids would like it. That would leave you say 4 or 5 days in Phuket and the remainder in the South. There are easy flights to Bangkok and some to Phuket so it is easy to plan a potential itinerary.

[agudbuk 0]

I like Patong on Phuket as a resort an it has a good beach but it is more and more a family / couples resort and with higher prices.

 

Still some good value accommodation and bars as long as you avoid the tuk tuk bandits

[ozijeff 9]

Dietrich, for a family holiday Patong will be great. Thousands of Australians holiday there every month.

Yes its more expensive than Pattaya but then again most places are.

Plenty of great beaches nearby. Good shopping and facilities to keep the missus happy.

Lots of stuff to keep teenagers amused.

Exactly when are you planning to go as the high season/low season prices vary greatly?

From Perth you should get some good flight deals.

Unlike Lovedog, I havent ever had language problems in Phuket.

Its touristy and the locals want your money. Ignore the ones that try to sell you shit you dont want.

Never use the rip-off tuktuks. In Patong you wont need to. Most stuff is an easy walk.

Most massage places will do a R & T. As mentioned on Soi Kepsap they will do more.

More than once I have known guys to be having a R & T massage while their wife is getting a nice manicure downstairs at the same time.

Easily done.

Christines is the lone soapy and that is pricey.

No-one I have ever met who had a family holiday in Phuket has ever regretted it. Go and have fun.

[nkped 1,208]

I'm in Patong right now for the first time in four years.

Touts aren't nearly as bad as before. They don't generally make physical contact. Some massage places seem to have katoey touts who are downright scary looking but not aggressive.

 

For those of us who partake, the go gos at least have T-back bikinis--that's an improvement.

 

But going back to Pattaya tomorrow.