Phuket Travel Secrets

For all your Phuket Travel Secrets

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Phuket Travel Secrets brings you the latest additions to our travel secrets and what is happening in Phuket.

If you like this e-zine, please do a friend and me a big favour and "pay it forward." If a friend did forward this to you and if you like what you read, please subscribe by visiting...

Phuket Secrets Ezine

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Issue No 10, 31st August 2010

This issue….

It’s only been just over two weeks since we arrived back home after a fantastic 3 week holiday in Phuket and already we wish we were back there, time certainly does fly when your having fun. During the first week the weather was a mixture of sun, rain and overcast days. The following two weeks were perfect, lots of sun with the occasional shower of rain, but not enough to stop us from doing what we wanted.

We decided this trip not to stay in just one resort for the duration of our stay, instead we stayed in many different resorts and locations in Phuket.

We found all of the resorts fantastic and by booking all our accommodation online using agoda, it worked out much cheaper then going direct to the resort or hotel and a lot cheaper then booking through a travel agent.

One of our favourite places was Tri Trang Beach Resort, the resort itself is beautiful, but what we liked about it was that it is close to Patong, but worlds away, so quiet and relaxing.

We hired a motorbike to get around at our own leisure. This is something that I wouldn’t recommend if you have never ridden a bike before, as Phuket is not the place to learn.

Whilst we were there we heard of two separate motorbike fatalities on Patong Hill, both were tourists.

Even though we did have mostly fantastic weather the only time we went swimming in the ocean was when we stayed at Tri Trang Beach and during our 4 day stay at Phi Phi Island. The reason being, that the beaches at this time of the year on the west coast of Phuket are just too dangerous and unpredictable.

In one day there was two people drown, one at Kata Beach and the other at Karon Beach, both were tourists.

If you do visit Phuket during the south west monsoon season and you see red flags along the beach, don’t go in the water, enjoy a beach massage or just lie back on your sun lounge and relax then go back to your resort and swim in the pool.

When planning your trip to Phuket a must do is to spend a couple of nights at Koh Phi Phi Don, many visitors just take day trips out to Phi Phi, but these trips don’t allow enough time to take in the beautiful scenery that Phi Phi has to offer.

Spend at least 3 nights on the Island and leisurely enjoy the sights of Bamboo Island, Phi Phi Lai and the beautiful Maya Bay and if you’re up for some exercise take a walk up to the lookout and enjoy the panoramic views at sunset, absolutely stunning and worth the walk.

Throughout our visit we caught up with Karen and Mark the owners of Duke’s Sports Bar at Kata and had a fun night with them at Duke’s watching the Budapest Grande Prix and lucky for us Aussie’s, Webber won.

We also caught up with Chantal and Kevan, owners of the Phuket Scuba Club. Originally from South Africa, Kevan and Chantal have owned and operated Phuket Scuba Club since 1997 and have two branches one in Kata and the other is directly on the southern end of Karon Beach. Phuket Scuba Club offers scuba diving tours and liveaboard diving cruises to Phi Phi Island, the Similian Islands, Richelieu Rock and the southern islands of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. They also offer PADI and SSI scuba diving courses for all levels of diving experience.

Dental tourism in Phuket has fast become increasingly popular for many visitors to Phuket, and I am happy to say that we are happy with the dental work that we had done. We ran into so many Australian and New Zealand visitors that were incorporating a holiday with dental visits throughout their stay.

What’s On in Phuket in September 2010

Whilst it may not be the best time to go swimming at the beaches in Phuket it is a great time for surfing.

On the 4th September the second event of the Ripcurl Grom Search for kids under 15 years will be held at Kata Beach and then the third round at Surin Beach on the 18th September, there will be games and free gifts for kids and spectators.

The Phuket Lifeguard Club will be holding its third annual carnival on the 11th September at Loma Park, Patong Beach. The carnival is held to promote water safety and surf awareness and to increase surf lifesaving skills on the Island. The event is open to Thai’s and foreigners, local residents and visitors. Registration opens at 8.30am and events will commence at 9.00am.

From the 22nd – 26th September the Quicksilver Thailand International Surf Competition will be held at Kata Beach, the five day competition of international surfing will also include concerts, parties, cultural shows and surf instruction clinics.

Great deals for family vacations are still running at Laguna Phuket, where Kids stay, play and eat free until the 31st Oct 2010. The Laguna Phuket Summer Family Festival offers incredible value for money with great benefits for all Laguna hotel guests.

Whilst you’re enjoying your holiday vacation in Phuket, there is no need to worry about missing your favourite sports on TV. Head to Duke’s Sports bar at Kata Beach where you will be able to enjoy a cold beer and watch your chosen sport live on one of their big screens. You will be assured of a great time with Karen and Mark and their friendly staff.

Sporting Events in September at Dukes Sports Bar

2010 US Open from 30th August through to 12th September.

Formula 1 Racing 10th – 12th September from Monza.

Formula 1 Racing 24th – 26th September from Singapore.

We hope that you have enjoyed this issue of Phuket Travel Secrets e-zine.

Enjoy your travels

Jeff & Paula