Phuket Trip

[desertstrike]

hi guys, i will be going to phuket early next month (8 days 7 nights).
Mainly for relax and water sports, will be going for soem sight seeing and exploration.

Photography:
1. Can share which beach is nice for sunrise/sunset?
2. Got wildlife to shoot?
3. Is it safe to carry DSLR?

Transport:
1. Is it cheaper/safer to travel by tuktuk or metered taxi?
2. Is it hard to get a tuktuk or metered taxi?
3. how do ur usually move ard?

Lodging:
1. Any nice resort to stay in?
2. How much roughly is those with private pool?
3. Got such things as resort with private beach?

Water sports and beach
1. which beaches are nice?
2. Go where to book those water activities?
3. Where do ur keep ur things when u go for water actvities?

NightLife and food
1. Roughly how much is the food there?
2. Anything to avoid?
3. NightLife, safe to explore? Beer expensive there?

thanks for all the contributions in advance!

 

[benjaminong88]

hi guys, i will be going to phuket early next month (8 days 7 nights).
Mainly for relax and water sports, will be going for soem sight seeing and exploration.

Photography:
1. Can share which beach is nice for sunrise/sunset?
2. Got wildlife to shoot?
3. Is it safe to carry DSLR?

Transport:
1. Is it cheaper/safer to travel by tuktuk or metered taxi?
2. Is it hard to get a tuktuk or metered taxi?
3. how do ur usually move ard?

Lodging:
1. Any nice resort to stay in?
2. How much roughly is those with private pool?
3. Got such things as resort with private beach?

Water sports and beach
1. which beaches are nice?
2. Go where to book those water activities?
3. Where do ur keep ur things when u go for water actvities?

NightLife and food
1. Roughly how much is the food there?
2. Anything to avoid?
3. NightLife, safe to explore? Beer expensive there?

thanks for all the contributions in advance!

Hi bro, let me help you with some of your queries.

1) can try kata, karon. Its quieter and much less people compared to usual Patong beach
2)not sure about wildlife, but alot of Tranny to shoot LOL
3)yes, phuket has only tourists and locals working there for mainly tourism

1) mainly tuktuk, taxis for airport to hotels. Tuktuk nego before u board, 200-400 baht
2)tuktuk is everywhere
3)walk or tuktuk, if u can ride can rent motorbike

1) can check out tripadvisor.com for phuket lodging
2) private pool=villa can be 300sgd to 1k plus depending on location and how luxurious
3)yes but those cost a bomb and usually for celebrities to stay to hide from paparazzi no joke haha. Can check one of the marriotts resorts they have one with private beach area.

1) same as above depends on what u are looking for as nice. Can pop over to phiphi and krabi for paradise beaches.
2) people will ask you to try the water activities so you wont need to look haha. Usually patong but please nego first.
3) if u doing water sports, dont bring too much valuables.

1) see u eat normal restaurant or posh ones. Normal ones can get very good food for about 10sgd per head.
2) avoid dodgy massage parlours.
3) nightlife is at patong. vvv happening. Beer is cheaper than water in singapore literally.

Hope that helps!

 

[desertstrike]

Hi bro, let me help you with some of your queries.

1) can try kata, karon. Its quieter and much less people compared to usual Patong beach
2)not sure about wildlife, but alot of Tranny to shoot LOL
3)yes, phuket has only tourists and locals working there for mainly tourism

1) mainly tuktuk, taxis for airport to hotels. Tuktuk nego before u board, 200-400 baht
2)tuktuk is everywhere
3)walk or tuktuk, if u can ride can rent motorbike

1) can check out tripadvisor.com for phuket lodging
2) private pool=villa can be 300sgd to 1k plus depending on location and how luxurious
3)yes but those cost a bomb and usually for celebrities to stay to hide from paparazzi no joke haha. Can check one of the marriotts resorts they have one with private beach area.

1) same as above depends on what u are looking for as nice. Can pop over to phiphi and krabi for paradise beaches.
2) people will ask you to try the water activities so you wont need to look haha. Usually patong but please nego first.
3) if u doing water sports, dont bring too much valuables.

1) see u eat normal restaurant or posh ones. Normal ones can get very good food for about 10sgd per head.
2) avoid dodgy massage parlours.
3) nightlife is at patong. vvv happening. Beer is cheaper than water in singapore literally.

Hope that helps!

hi benjaminong88, did you try any of the day tour? is it convenient to bring DSLR as it is mostly water-related activities? Also, did u try island hopping or went over to Krabi?

 

[benjaminong88]

I did one day of island hopping to the phi phi islands.. Prices depends on whether u take speed boat or bigger ferry. I used a waterproof casing for island hoppings. For water sports, personally i think using a pns might be more practical for personal and gear safety.

 

[desertstrike]

I did one day of island hopping to the phi phi islands.. Prices depends on whether u take speed boat or bigger ferry. I used a waterproof casing for island hoppings. For water sports, personally i think using a pns might be more practical for personal and gear safety.

For ur island hopping, include water activity rite? where u keep ur DSLR?

 

[s1221ljc]

Just came back from Krabi & Phi Phi last month. Now is the low season with SW monsoon, so expect & be prepared for rain, rough waters, waves. One item I find invaluable a must have on these trips is to get the Karana Travelgear's Ocean Pack 15 (litres) waterproof bags. I use one for personal effects, the other for my precious cameras & lens.

 

[benjaminong88]

Yeah i agree with the waterproof bag i forgot to mention that. i keep my dslr on the boat with my belongings because speed boat quite safe. and if needed i just snorkel with ny dslr with the waterproof casing cheers

 

[Big Kahuna]

For convenient....Patong since it's facing west.....to me.....any beach facing west will do since sunset usually it's all about the water and egg york......you can also venture out to famous island like Phi Phi or Maya beach....however usually you have to join other tourist and schedule wise is a little resticted unless you can chartered a speed boat all by yourself.

DSLR are ok so long as you keep low profile....and see your heng sueh.....many people been there done that....you may need a water proof cam if you wanted to shoot close to water..

For me....I rent a scooter and self day for a day my self....some places travelled mostly with Tuk Tuk...Depeding which site you are at....in tourist area...no need you to find....they will find you...

2. Anything to avoid?
Cheep massage as palour....these are also dirty trap for guys.....Many people been there done that....generally safe if you stick to tourism area.....beer is cheap....if you take local brand like Chang etc even cheaper...

 

[Big Kahuna]

A pretty good article...check it out bro

http://www.oneshift.com/articles/article.php?artid=927&pageid=2

 

[desertstrike]

A pretty good article...check it out bro

http://www.oneshift.com/articles/article.php?artid=927&pageid=2

thank you very much

 

[dingdongz]

hi guys, i will be going to phuket early next month (8 days 7 nights).
Mainly for relax and water sports, will be going for soem sight seeing and exploration.

Photography:
1. Can share which beach is nice for sunrise/sunset?
2. Got wildlife to shoot?
3. Is it safe to carry DSLR?

Transport:
1. Is it cheaper/safer to travel by tuktuk or metered taxi?
2. Is it hard to get a tuktuk or metered taxi?
3. how do ur usually move ard?

Lodging:
1. Any nice resort to stay in?
2. How much roughly is those with private pool?
3. Got such things as resort with private beach?

Water sports and beach
1. which beaches are nice?
2. Go where to book those water activities?
3. Where do ur keep ur things when u go for water actvities?

NightLife and food
1. Roughly how much is the food there?
2. Anything to avoid?
3. NightLife, safe to explore? Beer expensive there?

thanks for all the contributions in advance!

I just came back from phuket about 2 months ago. Stayed at patong area. The beach is very crowded and good if u like people watching and lots of sea sports activities. The other beach i went would be karon beach, alot quieter and nice clean blue sea. There are alot of tour agents around the streets where you can make bookings for day tours or island hopping trips. I booked my phi phi islands snorkelling with simba and they gave each of us a waterproof bag to keep our valuables which in my case, my camera and lenses. I actually brought my tripod along as well and no issues at all. Just do equipment check every time you return from ur snorkel.

Food is rather cheap if you compare it to Singapore. But do take note that the street facing the beach is normally the more expensive ones and it will actually get cheaper if its further from the beach. Haha! I was told by a thai when i was there. Try to avoid ordering seafood which goes by weight, you can get a shock when you see the price. =) I rented a motorbike for a day instead for about 300 baht and petrol is cheap which saves me a lot of $, time and convenience. I dont have a bike license but i always rent bikes when i go travelling. =) Remember to follow the rules, wear helmets for both rider and pillion. The TP there love catching tourist and try not to ride at night as that is when the TP comes out to catch "tourists". For nightlife in patong, you can go to soi bangla and you will see lots of trannies around. Lot of cheap beers as well. Its rather safe to walk around but make sure dont walk too far off the city area. Patong is not very big and you can actually walk from one end to another end, maybe 30mins?

Have fun!

 

[walkfaster]

even if you put the camera and lens in the waterproof bag. who will look after your stuff when you go snorkelling ?

 

[dingdongz]

even if you put the camera and lens in the waterproof bag. who will look after your stuff when you go snorkelling ?

You will just have to trust your tour operator. The snorkeling trip has only 6 working staff and 12 tourists including us. Even if they want to steal, they cant go anywhere as we are on a boat in the middle of nowhere. So only thing you can do is to do equipment check everytime u return fron snorkeling. I brought my nikon, 2 lenses and a tripod during my snorkel. Everything was safe and sound.

 

[Buddhistpunk]

Hi Desertstrike, i believe u have a better idea after the sharing from some of the forummers here.Let's me share some of my experiences as i been to Phuket a number of times.

For travelling around the island,it's either by a rent bike or even more rent a car (abt $1100-$1300baht) for a day.I prefer the car as Phuket is not small,if you really want to roam the island,a car is better as it is safer especially at night (can be pretty dark) and u can keep yr camera gear in it too.U can actually book a car online and they will send the car to the airport to wait for u which u can drive straight to your resort.Get a phuket map in advance and study the way to yr resort,its pretty straight forward. A single trip on a Tuk Tuk will cost a few hundred bahts and a taxi from airport to your resort is like more than 500baht for a single trip. Renting your own vehicle is the way to go.

I prefer Kata or Karon beach as it has more privacy and not so commercialised .The resorts on these beaches have better views.This beaches are near to the tourist packed Patong so as long as u have a vehicle,moving around is simple.Kata & Karon viewpoint and Phromthep Cape are great for landscape photography.

For island outings,most resort will have the facilities to prepare for you and the prices are about the same compared to the street tour agencies.A Dica Pac waterproof housing might be a good idea for your DSLR, $160 @ sgcamerastore.

Do also visit the Big Buddha situated on a hilltop and Wat Chalong a beautiful temple.There is also have a big night market for locals which have food and shopping,not the tourist street vendors with tourist prices. Fantasea theme park is also a good place to visit,their performance is of international standard.Phuket island is also famous for the large number of muay thai and fighting gyms,so if u want to shoot some fighters in action,u can pay them a visit but do please ask for permission if u want to shoot.

There is also a pretty interesting floating restaurant called Kroo Suvit.Fresh seafood and nice ambience.Not the usual tourist seafood restaurant along Patong beach.Check out the link below for better understanding and all the places i mentioned can be found on the web.
ALL ABOUT PHUKET FROM A REGULAR VISITOR INCLUDES SHOPPING, HOTELS, TOURS, PHOTOS AND PRICES

Hope my suggestion will make your trip more enjoyable

 

[desertstrike]

thank you Buddistpunk and many others! your contribution has definitely benefit those who are going phuket! thank you so much!

 

[walkfaster]

anyone been to rawai beach ? how is it over there ?

 

[Buddhistpunk]

Rawai beach is very normal. Among the tourist oriented beaches, i personally feel that Kata is the best.

Actually for those that enjoy suntanning in private , venturing to the less commercialised beaches on your own transport this the way to go . There is a private beach that is shared by Banyan Tree and some other resort which is about 20mins drive from Patong beach .U will need to access thru the resort but the staff wouldn't usually care.Long stretch of sandy beach with very little people.

For 1st timers, taking a half day tour out to the surrounding islands will be interesting.

 

[montroy]

do u have recommendation for villa with private pool?? looking for one week stay. i know online has lots but prefer if got recommendation

 

[desertstrike]

2 villa holiday at phuket! oriental style ftw!