Tom Irwin finds out why everyone wants to go to Phuket
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The largest and most well-known of Thailand’s islands, Phuket (pronounced Puh-ket) has long been a source of chucklesome mispronunciation.
It’s understandable – just try wrapping your tongue around the name of the country’s main airport, Suvarnabhumi, for example (Su-wan-a-poom, for the uninitiated) – but there’s a lot more than tongue-twisting names to this beautiful sunny isle.
It’s long been a popular destination, and with new flights from Emirates via Dubai and direct on Thomson Airways’ Dreamliner, it’s only going to get more popular.
Here we outline the must-see sights, the choice hotels and the best way to sell the destination to your clients.
SEE: BAYS, BUDDHAS AND BEACHES
The chances are if you’ve ever looked into a trip to Thailand, you’ve seen a picture of Phangan Bay – jaw-dropping is the only real way to describe the scenery at this natural wonder northeast of Phuket, where limestone karsts tower and tourists gawp. The bay is by far the most popular excursion in the area and it’s easy to see why.
Patong on the west coast is one of Asia’s top party capitals, and is regularly packed with revellers – a stroll down Bangla Road is an eye-popping experience not easily forgotten, but at night it’s not ideal for families or the faint-hearted.
The town is bustling, chaotic and exciting, but there’s no denying that it’s the seedier part of the island, so you may want to warn potential clients of this to ensure they know the score. There’s a bazaar every evening by the popular Patong beach where prices are negotiable – advise customers that they should definitely not pay the inflated asking prices.
Chalong’s Big Buddha (pictured below), still under construction, is the most visited attraction in Phuket. Being such a major tourist site it’s not really the place for sombre spiritual reflection, but the 45-metre-high statue is still an impressive sight and is positioned on top of a hill with magnificent views of the bay.
Nearby is Wat Chalong, the island’s most important Buddhist temple, a glittering gold spectacle that has managed to retain a feeling of tranquillity despite its popularity. Visitors must make sure their shoulders and knees are covered.
Ko Phi Phi is a tiny archipelago some 28 miles off the southeast coast of Phuket that is excellent for diving and snorkelling. Thailand is renowned for its top notch diving sites, with the area between Phuket and Phi Phi considered among the best in the world – day excursions and live-aboard trips are available.
Despite its chilled-out vibe, sustained development means Phi Phi has become one of the most expensive places to stay in Thailand, although relative to other islands of its calibre around the world it’s still a steal.
Activity-wise, there’s plenty to do in Phuket for those that aren’t so keen on the underwater world. Visitors can get up close with some of the local wildlife on an elephant trek, take a private speedboat tour or go sea kayaking in Phangan Bay, or hire a bike to explore the island’s smaller villages. Phuket is also home to some extremely picturesque golf courses for clients who prefer more sedate activities.
There are myriad fabulous beaches, but if you’re looking for something quiet suggest Freedom Beach, which is near Patong but only accessible by boat or by trekking through a kilometre of thick jungle.
Another reasonably secluded spot is Nai Thon Beach; it’s easier to get to and is part of the Sirinath National Park, which has mostly escaped the over-development that blights some other beaches on the island.
STAY: TOP-END SPAS AND SERVICE
There’s no shortage of great places to stay in Phuket, which means there are excellent deals available on high-quality four and five-star hotels for less than you might think.
The four-star Kantary Bay Hotel comes recommended as a great value option, with service on a par with many five-star hotels. The Katathani Phuket Beach Resort in Kata Beach is well regarded and noted for its fantastic beach, while its sister resort, The Shore at Katathani, has received great reviews since it opened in 2010.
Clients with cash to splash will find a vast array of classy hotels and resorts to choose from. The Indigo Pearl, nearer the north of the island, is a trendy, chic choice.
Most top-end resorts on the island have spa facilities and offer other well-being activities such as yoga – one of the finest of which is Banyan Tree Phuket in Thalang (see review, above).
The Angsana Laguna Phuket (formerly the Sheraton Grande) is a recently-opened resort near Banyan Tree, and is well set up to cater for families with a great kids’ area and a resident baby elephant. Also recommended in Thalang is The Surin Phuket, which underwent a major refurbishment before it reopened in July.
New openings include the 80-suite DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Phuket – Surin Beach, which launched this month with an all-day dining restaurant, a snack bar, a spa and two outdoor pools. On December 1, the 106-room Regent Phuket Cape Panwa will open on a private bay with two signature restaurants, two bars, a large spa, kids’ club and tennis courts.
SELL: NEW FLIGHTS AND TWIN-CENTRES
Emirates is launching a daily flight to Phuket via Dubai on December 10, which it hopes will spur more interest in the emirate as a twin-centre with the island. If they can wait until this time next year, customers will be able to fly direct to the island with Tui, as Thomson Airways will begin flying the Dreamliner to Phuket in November 2013.
However, twin and multi-centres are often attractive so clients can see more of the country. Combining Phuket with the bustling metropolis of Bangkok provides a fine counterpoint to a relaxed island stay.
If your customers fancy experiencing another Thai island, Koh Samui is roughly an hour’s flight from Phuket and is increasingly losing its backpacker appeal as mid-range and high-end resorts take over. Koh Tao, a tiny island a speedboat-ride away from Samui, hosts an important turtle feeding ground and is a renowned scuba diving hub.
At the other end of the country, and a very different proposition, is Chiang Mai. An important cultural site with more than 300 Buddhist temples, it’s the only place in Thailand to feature in TripAdvisor’s ‘25 Top Destinations in the World’ 2012 list
