Thailand > Phuket

[i don't want it anymore]

Any good beach resort to introduce? Going in July.

[iconoffashion]

Can anyone recommend me the top hotels in Patong beach that is accessible to restaurants, shops,beach and bars?

My budget is S$40 per day. (Singapore dollars)

Travelling from 25 June to 30 June 2011.

[sugarkitty]

Hello everyone!

As promised, here is my review of John Gray Sea Canoe's Hong by Starlight tour and Simba Sea Trips' Phi Phi Islands Tour!

http://www.johngray-seacanoe.com/thailand/...y-starlight.htm
(not sure if Mr Mark offers the same tour! he has a john gray tour in his itinerary, but I thought it safer to book with the official site as there are a lot of imitating competitors!)

Hong by Starlight
The Hong by Starlight tour brings you around the islands and lagoons within them in Phang Nga Bay and as far as I know, is the only one that runs into the night. The trip is pricey at 3950 B (about S$160+) per person, but it is well worth the money. We set out from our hotel at 11.45am and reached the pier at about 1+pm, where we boarded a mid size escort boat which will take us into the Phang Nga bay area. On the boat, we are served a simple lunch of egg noodles, thai fried spring rolls and an assortment of fruits. There was free flow of soft drinks and I think beer too. Meanwhile, the guide briefed us on the islands that he would bring us to, Hong Island and I think one called Koh Phanak. An Indian family on board requested for vegetarian food, and the crew promptly whipped up some for them from the kitchen on the lower deck. Very attentive!

On the journey to the first island, the head guide introduced SO and I to our guide of the day, Alex. Each pair/person is assigned to 1 guide to paddle us around in the sea kayak. When we arrived at the first island, we saw some other groups also in sea kayaks, though John Gray was supposedly the first company with the idea of sea kayaks. Not to worry though, by half an hour into the trip all the other tourists were gone, leaving us to be the only ones around. I guess that is the advantage of having a late trip!

Our guide paddled us around the islands, where he introduced the limestone islands and some creatures in the island. In the sea kayak we could get really close to the side of the cliffs and see the animals that live on the rocks. He pointed out hermit crabs and water monitor lizards. As we entered the lagoon, the water was much more still, and the environment was more like a mangrove swamp-like area. We saw mudskippers, and he explained that mudskippers jump to display their colourful fins in order to attract females, as well as male crabs with one large colourful pincer, the larger and brighter the better, to do the same. We even saw some crab fights (they were tiny though! but their pincers were ridiculous, larger than their bodies). He pointed out a rock that looked like a dog overlooking a cliff, and lots of tiny details that were only possible in such a small group (just us and him). We paddled to the park ranger post, where the park rangers live, and explained where they obtain their fresh water from.

He also explained that this was not usually their first stop, but because of the low tide they came here first (they study the tide tables daily). After he showed us around, we were given around 40 mins of free time while we wait for the tide to rise before going to our next stop. We could choose either to paddle around or swim, and I got bored of paddling after 10 mins (too frustrating coordinating with SO hahaha) and we jumped off the back of the boat instead and swam around in the clear water just outside the islands, pretty much just us and nature!

Our next stop was a looooong cave into another lagoon. It was totally dark, and we were given a flashlight to see the bats in the cave. What a sight! We had to lie down in our kayaks, and were literally barely a metre from the cave opening's ceiling. Entering the lagoons were breathtaking, it's like entering a new world. We paddled around, and spent some time spotting monkeys in the trees. Long-tailed macaques, the same as those on monkey beach, but wild! However after some time the monkeys started climbing down, and we crowded round in our kayaks to see. Staring matches ensued. Then, they jumped into the water from the tree tops and off the rocks for a swim! Lots of great shots. Our guide says it's not a common sight, and we're really lucky to catch the monkeys swimming and diving! The kayaks that had already left to go for the ride around the island itself missed it!

As we paddled around the island, our guide would paddle us close to the small cave openings where he pointed out another water monitor lizard, this time larger, and how fresh groundwater drips from the rocks. he pointed out a jellyfish close to the surface, but that was poisonous, though later he found another and picked it up so we could touch it and take pretend-eating pictures, though we had to hurry up and put it back into the water before it died! He also picked up rubbish he saw, so that the environment would remain untainted.

On the boat, each group made a krathong with our guide, which is a floating blessing made of banana trunk, leaves and fresh flowers. I felt a little (touristy) guilty when Alex said though he does that on the boat daily, the Thais do it only once a year on the full moon in November, as an offering to the river god. Because we used nails in our krathong, we'd have to retrieve it after we're done later (setting it afloat in the last lagoon as the sky dimmed), as such materials are non-biodegradable.

As we watched the sun set, we had dinner on the escort boat, and it was quite a spread and delicious! Our guide explained the Loy Krathong Festival and its origins, and the next cave and lagoon we're going into. It's called the diamond cave because (you'll find out!). We explored the last lagoon, set out krathong out and made a wish, and as the sky grew dark, retrieved our krathong, and entered the cave again. This time, our flashlight was off, and we could see bioluminescent plankton in the water which shimmers like sparklers in the water when you stir it in complete darkness. No way to capture that in photographs! We left the cave with just enough clearance

That was the end of our trip! I enjoyed it tremendously, and I would highly recommend it if you enjoy nature. Definitely worth the money.

Phi Phi Islands with Simba Sea Trips
The next day, we left for Phi Phi Islands with Simba Sea Trips. It's a pricey 3400B (about S$140?), but I picked it because, since we're there, I don't want to squeeze around with too many tourists like many other Phuket tourists said! Simba Sea Trips promised to travel to islands at the odd timings to avoid the other tourist crowds, and we set off from Royal Phuket Marina, quite an impressive marina! We only had 14 people on board the speedboat with 3 crewmembers and our guide, Jenny.

To be honest, I didn't really enjoy the trip. I suppose most of it was because I disliked the Phi Phi Islands - sure, it was beautiful, but nothing compared to the beauty we saw at Phang Nga Bay the day before. Instead, all I saw was the litter that crowded the sea, the bustle of tourists at Maya Bay, and the repulsive behaviour of the monkeys at Monkey Beach and the horrendous amount of waste left behind because of the feeding. The corals were mostly dead, and there was little to see when we snorkeled, though some of the crew dived into the water to point out some corals still alive, as well as the rarer fish like clownfish. Perhaps, if I hadn't been to the JG Sea Canoe tour the day before, I would have been more impressed.

Simba Sea Trips did deliver what they promised though. The group was small and well taken care of, and Jenny and the crew did manage to help us avoid the crowds (mostly - Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon are, I assume, perpetually crowded). We had lunch at a secluded beach, an assortment of cold platters and delicious mango chicken. We had lots of fruits and drinks for us, and were allowed to feed leftover bread and fruits to the fish while snorkelling.

However I wouldn't say the money was worth it. I don't think Simba offered anything Phuket Sail Tours (offering the same trip for 3000 B) couldn't, or if you dont mind being crowded around a bit, even those generic tour operators' Phi Phi tours.

[kenmaine]

hi Sugarkitty, how do u book the John Gray Tour? over at phuket or online??

[lilstar...]

Hello! Any kind soul who would forward me a copy of his/her itinerary to Phuket?

I planned to go there together with Phi Phi Island and Krabi beginning of November. Am looking at hotels/resorts now.
Any recommendations?
I've read the previous post.. Any other reviews? There seems to be a lot of boutique hotels sprouting around the area (looking at patong area). Anyone tried before?

[001pegasus]

Hello! Any kind soul who would forward me a copy of his/her itinerary to Phuket?

I planned to go there together with Phi Phi Island and Krabi beginning of November. Am looking at hotels/resorts now.
Any recommendations?
I've read the previous post.. Any other reviews? There seems to be a lot of boutique hotels sprouting around the area (looking at patong area). Anyone tried before?

I would recommend that you fly one way to Krabi, ferry to Phi Phi ferry to Phuket.

At Krabi, i recommend Pakasai Resort / 88 Moo 3, T. Ao Nang Beach.
At Phi Phi, do not stay at Phitarom PP Resort! The structure is shakey, the rooms are built on unstable stilts uphill. The aircon did not work well and water pressure is ridiculously low. *I gave up 1 night stay and left early for Phuket.*
At Patong, do consider Holiday Inn, La Flora Resort Patong.

If you are travelling in groups of 6pax or more, google in villa rentals. Its abt the same price but the experience is a lot better.

[Jeffrey53]

Hi everyone...i just saw a Phuket 3D2N package deal on Insing website.

Pay just $183, instead of $368 for a 3D2N Phuket holiday package which includes of Return airfare via SilkAir + Return air transfers + Complimentary city tour + 2 nights stay at Bel Aire Resort Phuket, with daily breakfast. (min 2 to go) - Super Deal

Moreover it is by Silk Air....seems like a good deal.

Any advice?

[Bellalicious]

Just went to Phuket this July.
It was amazing!!! went together with another 4 gf, and we set our foot at patong, one of the hottest town.
And the weekend market (Chaofa Variety night market) is crazy, i bought like a full lagguage of clothes back~

I have more details in my blog, here's the link: | Bellalicious Closet |: Day 8: Phuket Trip with my dearies

[TintriCailin]

I just got back from Phuket. You can see some pics on my blog.

The first two days were raining but the final 5 days were beautiful! I got back on Sunday and Melbourne is cold

[ah_miaox]

Hi Cotters, i need some help and recommendations.

Im gg Phuket for 7d6n, first 3 nights staying in Patong, so thats settled. Im considering now for the next 3 nights, to stay in Karon and Phi Phi (most likely 1 night in Phi Phi, then 2 nights in Karon so that nearer to go back Phuket airport from Karon on last day)

Anyone has such arrangements before? And any suggestions for accomodation in Karon and Phi Phi? Cuz i see most threads focusing only on Patong.

Thanks in advance !

[ah_miaox]

Hi again,

Sorry for the many many questions, but i got a little confused when i was reading and surfing.

Is the James Bond Island Tour at Phang-Nga Bay, same as Hong by Starlight Tour? except that the former is a day trip, whereas the latter is done til night time ? Ie, if im going for Hong by Starlight, dont have to go James Bond Island Tour already?

TIA!!

[amittto]

For hotels, I would recommend aspery hotel, had a pleasant stay there when i went over and just a short walk to the beach.

James bond island/hong island canoeing tour is a must go!