Thread: Why does Phuket consistently lose out to Bali?

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If Thailand prides itself on being the most hospitable destination in the world, why does Phuket consistently lose out to Bali?

This visitor loves Phuket. Why doesn't everybody?
Photo by phuketwan.com


MediaWATCH: Phuket Not World's Top Island. Why?

A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective and reports from national and international media.

PHUKET has lost out again to Bali with Conde Nast Traveler announcing the results of its 2009 Readers' Choice Awards, ranking the best cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, resorts, and car rental agencies around the world.


The Top Islands of the Asia/Indian Ocean are: 1. Maldives 2. Bali 3. Phuket.
But the loss goes deeper than that, with Ubud, Bali, even beating Bangkok and Hong Kong as the Top City in Asia. And Ubud took on the entire world to win the title of ''the friendliest town of all.''
The awards appear in the November issue.

If Thailand prides itself on being the most hospitable destination in the world, why does Phuket consistently lose out to Bali?

unfortunately with its crazy visa regulations Indonesia is not an option.

It's much more lush

Is full of archaeological temples, caves, and artifacts

Intact and genuine ancient culture (at least around Ubud/Lovina; I've never even been to Kuta)

Vibrant music and dancing

Also wonderful food

Very cheap

Volcanoes & jungles and terraced rice patties

and, think Phuket scams, think airport closures, (i know it wasnt pooket, but still image is tarnished), think thai police.

Phukets got nothing to match the mountains of Bali, or the temples and culture (although the 'main' temple is a tourist rip off, and a pretty unimpressive ruin anyway).

Kuta is vile though- I avoid it like the plague. It makes Patong look good. Carnt believe Conde Nast are so fawning about the place.

I suppose it's the five day package tourist market they're catering for. Neither place is high on my return list really.

what's the $10 vadge like in Bali?

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

what's the $10 vadge like in Bali?

more than $10...

Originally Posted by wefearourdespot

unfortunately with its crazy visa regulations Indonesia is not an option.

what? you mean only 30 days for tourists?

and if you're working you need to get a working type visa?

yep, crazy, innit.

^^ Well there ya go then.

Just returned from Bali after a few days in Singapore. Debated about whether I should see Bali first or Phuket when I left Sin. I decided on Bali mainly due to the poor reputation that Thailand is developing. The airport closure last year bothered me but so did the sleazy stories concerning most of Thailand pertaining to crooked cops, rip-offs, crime, trannies, and a general sense that Phuket would not have much to offer compared to Bali,

I agree with most of the posts here regarding Bali. Once you leave the Kuta area, the rest of the island is a quite wonderful place. The culture, people, temples, Ubud, scenery, and were great. Even the daily sunsets in Legian Beach near Kuta was fun with the high energy crowd and frequent gorgeous sunsets. Since I have not ventured to Phuket or Thailand, I can't obviously draw comparisons but all I have read to date is not encouraging me to venture to Phuket.

Just an anecdotal story, but while in Ubud, I found myself in a driving rainstorm. An older western woman carrying an umbrella offered to shelter me as I walked to my hotel. During our walk, she told me she was Canadian and had been living in Phuket for years but left Thailand after her house was burglarized several times. She suspected her Mafia Thai neighbors. Then, her dogs were poisoned. The Thai cops did nothing. So she decided to move to Bali...another story, another reason not to go...

Oh...And did I forgot to mention the BALI girls too...

Originally Posted by tomasb

Oh...And did I forgot to mention the BALI girls too...

Shhhhhh, we want to keep that a secret...

Originally Posted by tomasb

frequent gorgeous sunsets.

Like, every night?


Aaaw, shit - I'm gonna have to do it again... 100 lines - Do not make fun of noobs...

Bali has a lot more than just beaches

Phuket is a cultural desert

Because basically Phuket is an over rated shithole

Originally Posted by Nawty

Because basically Phuket is an over rated shithole

In some of the parts, I agree, but definitely not all. Still some wonderful places that fortunately a lot of tourists don't get to see, and hence don't suffer from the exploitation prevalent in the primary resorts (Patong, Kata, Karon etc).

Agree with a lot of the analysis here, & would add

1) Bali is on a more useful route for cruise ships. (Between Australia and Far East), Phuket doesn't fit on any good cruise routes.

2) The tsunami. That was a factor harming Phuket. (though as a negative, offset by the Bali bombings).

3) Thailand offers a selection alternative beachfront destinations. In Indonesia, there is a concentration centred on Bali.

4) Phuket is more of a dedicated sex tourist destination than Bali is.

5) conde nast readers ?

bwahahaha

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Shhhhhh, we want to keep that a secret...

please do tell,

If the same group were asked to vote on "best performers", I wonder where Lady Gaga and Enrique Iglesias would wind up.

And who would give half a crap?

I quite like Lady Gaga, she is a man, isn't she ? she is all over on TV in Europe