Phuket

The largest island in Thailand, sitting on the south-west coast, ringed by white, sandy beaches, and the warm Andaman Sea. Phuket offers the visitor to Thailand everything the travel brochures promise, with world-class scuba diving, long, sun-drenched beaches, and a throbbing nightlife that rivals any destination in the world. The most developed beach is Patong, and it is here that one finds the good-natured contradictions that regular visitors to Thailand adore. Glitzy restaurants alongside stalls selling simple, Thai street food, all-night cabaret shows and massage parlours, right next door to family restaurants and western-style supermarkets.

Phuket hotels and resorts are scattered all over the island, and choosing which beach to stay on is about the most stressful decision one has to deal with while visiting this remarkable island. To the south of the island one finds gorgeous Kata and Karon beaches, decidedly less hedonistic than Patong, and perhaps more suited to the vacationing family. Further south again is Nai-Harn beach, with just a couple of expensive Phuket resorts at the far end of the beach and a row of classic outdoor restaurants tucked away in the shade behind the beach, a popular spot with locals and expats.

For those lucky enough to be arriving in Phuket with their own sailing boat, there are at least three marinas of international standard, and a wide choice of safe, sheltered anchorages, particularly on the east side of the island. From these marinas one can easily organize a day charter or longer on any number of different vessels, from modern catamarans, to a traditional Asian junk.

The capital of the island, Phuket City, is located towards the center of the island, and also offers a great choice of hotels, making for an interesting alternative to Phuket’s beaches. The classic, Sino-Portugese architecture of the downtown has been well-preserved, and many streets exude an air of timelessness that is increasingly difficult to find in modern Thailand