Is Phuket really that bad?

[FarangRed]

Don't believe all you read in the news, Sabii

[ozthai]

I recently went to Patong. Paid a lot for a nice looking hotel (in the brochure) found the wall stains airbrushed out and the bathroom similar to what i am use to in a village. First and last time for me but only because there are many other places I would rather be. Preferably far from the madding crowd. I use to like Jomtiem but like phuket i find it full of Russians who mostly appear to be rude and ignorant.(am i racist or are they all that rude?) Maybe i am just too old for all that excitement and prefer the village life interspersed with a few days in Nonkai or chiang mai or chiang rai.

[tim in phuket]

It really amazes me how many idiots rat off a place but really know fuck all about what it is like to actually live there.

In fact the loudest, full of shit, self appointed experts about certain locations have spent no real time in places like Pattaya, Phuket, Ko Samui but feel they are authorities about actually living there.

There are places to avoid in every major town and city in Thailand and only those with real knowledge about a particular location know where to go and not go.

I have always had a great time in Phuket with the family but we stay away from Patong and the other areas that even the most dumb fucks know is off limits.

I don't know your wife JJ but expect she has the intelligence and common sense to steer clear of the areas where there is danger.

Too bad others here don't possess the common sense and do the same.

I am sure that you can make a judgement to keep out of trouble in any country in the world, it might be very easy to get in trouble in Patong though - don't go, i don't and I live here with my family - our favourite place is Sapan Hin at the moment (no tourists...

[Happy Dave]

Sadly, these theiving lowlife scum are moving into all tourist areas, aided and abetted by the police. Phuket and Pattaya are not the only places that they have infected !
Yesterday on Samui i was talking with 5 English back packers who are here for a quick 2 weeks 'look see' with the idea of spending 4 mths in Thailand next year. Here's what they had to say. They will never come back and will tell all their friends in UK about the rip offs they have encountered, taxis, tuk tuks and just about anything. They have just cut short their stay on Koh Tao, they hired 2 motorbikes and when they returned them were charged several thousand bht because of scratches which they could not possibly caused. The young guy who was in charge
of the bike hire became very aggressive, shouting and pushing, then the police came and said that they had to pay to get their passports back ! Which they did and caught the next ferry to Samui. How much longer can these thieves be allowed to get away with this behaviour, and be supported by the police. This is doing untold damage to the tourism industry.

[Happy Dave]

The views coming onto the airport are lovely - I've flown into Phuket 5 or 6 times, and it's one of my favourite views coming in to land; 2nd to Vancouver? So, it makes sense that there are some nice places close to the airport.

All Thais are mad and have the capability to go fuking insane at any second...

You have obviously never flown in over those beautiful tropical islands of Moreton Bay with their pristine white sands, and clear blue sea, on approach to Brisbane International Airport.

[Happy Dave]

to all u that knock it
do u live here??

Nah ! went to Patong once, thats enough thanks .

[Happy Dave]

Road accidents are the biggest cause of death to foreign tourists in Thailand. On top of this Phuket has one of the highest road accident rates in Thailand, with motorbike accidents being the most common cause of death on the island. You really need to take care when taking to the roads in Phuket. We hope the following tips will help you to keep out of harms way.

If there is one piece of advice to keep in mind when driving in Thailand it is this. Don't assume anything. Just because someone is indicating right, doesn't mean they won't suddenly turn left. There is no highway code and driving tests are practically a formality. Therefore, you should always expect other drivers to do things you don't expect. This includes running lights, not indicating, overtaking on blind corners and anything else you can think of. However, just because the locals drive like this does not mean that you should follow their example!

Cars drive on the left, most of the time. You will see a lot of motorbikes driving down the wrong side of the road in Phuket. Most of the roads are narrow and can have a few potholes, so don't drive fast. The roads can also become very slippery when wet, so even more care should be taken during the rainy season, especially on motorbikes.

You should keep to the left of the lane when riding a motorbike, and keep an eye for overtaking cars. Most car drivers have an irrational urge to overtake motorbikes, even in queues of traffic. You really need to be alert on a bike. Apart from cars, there are all kinds of things on the roads, dogs for instance, that you don't want to hit. Any kind of motorbike accident is almost always a bad one.

Larger vehicles have the right of way in Thailand. Coaches and lorries often tear around as if they were the size of motorbikes, everyone else just has to get out of the way. Unfortunately, this is an unwritten rule of the road in Thailand, which doesn't look like changing any time soon.

Wearing a helmet while riding a motorbike is mandatory and if you are caught without one you will be fined on the spot. Due to the large number of fatalities from motorbike accidents, the local police have stepped up their efforts to enforce this law.

Wearing seatbelts in cars is compulsory for the driver and front passenger. You shouldn't really need to be told to wear your seatbelt in any case.

The police are increasingly cracking down on drink driving which has been a big problem among both locals and tourists here in Phuket. There are a few police checkpoints around the island where you could be stopped and checked for drink driving using breathalysers.

This has not been intended to scare anyone from venturing onto the roads during their holidays. In fact, renting a car or motorbike is definitely the best way to explore the lovely island that is Phuket, but please take care.

Traffic Signs
If you are planning on driving while you are here, you should familiarise yourself with Thailand's regulatory traffic signs. See Thailand traffic signs

Happy Motoring

Where can you get them in English. Certainly not at the Samui testing stn.,

[KAPPA]

That's because TV Phuket forum has an awful mod who runs a guest house in Kata. He is all about not letting real news get through and the entire site does not allow PhuketWan content, instead relaying the PG mis info for over priced property advertisers.

I say look at a map of Phuket and do not go below the center. Why so many expats choose Rawai , I will never know, ugliest beach in Asia and with one road in and out, traffic 24 / 7 . Also those Kathu district ( Patong )cops are the most corrupt allowing the taxi and tuk tuk skanks to behave with impunity and it also has the worst petty crime against tourists, snatch crime etc .

North west coast beaches Surin, Bang Tao- 8 k long , Nai Thon, Mai Khao - 12 k long, are all incredible places and each less developed than the last.

Go to Patong to get laid, sure, it's a fun mini Pattaya, but so much more is available. The Phuket scenery is still way above Pattaya and I would not be swimming in the Gulf of Siam anymore with the latest deluge of hep sludged Bangkok run off for last 2 months.
Yes filthy, idiot Thais are trashing Phuket, too, and in more ways than one but local consulates are getting involved and I see a real impact from expats saying "no more," to over building, etc.

Oh, and by the way, the Phuket Forum on TV would put most people off living anywhere on the planet. I once remarked this forum possibly the worst on TV and was told to browse the Samui one

[Phuketrichard]

to all u that knock it
do u live here??

Nah ! went to Patong once, thats enough thanks .

As I have said and others
Patong is merely a small bit of Phuket and what happens in Patong dies not necessarily hold true for the whole island.

Many of the people that i see an read about that have problems would most likely have problems in their own back yards.

Tourists come here and no nothing about the cutlrue or how to operate a motorbike ( yet they think they can rde a bike here although have never ridden one). They leave all their common sense at home and expect the Thais to adapt to their ways.

Its not that way. I recall a long time ago at the french bunglaow, ( le Jardin) run by friends on Na Nai road, they had french guest that were upset at the help cause they did not speak French.!! get a life

I feel sorry for the people that have troubles and problems here but for most of them , they should have stayed and gotten drunk at home. For every 1 that does have a bad experience there are 100 that don't, Hence over many of the visitors to Thailand are repeat visitors.

[taxexile]

Tourists come here and no nothing about the cutlrue or how to operate a motorbike

They leave all their common sense at home and expect the Thais to adapt to their ways.

by leaving their common sense at home, and knowing nothing about motorcycle riding, i would say the tourists are trying hard to adapt to thai ways.

[sabaii sabaii]

Tourists come here and no nothing about the cutlrue or how to operate a motorbike ( yet they think they can rde a bike here although have never ridden one). They leave all their common sense at home and expect the Thais to adapt to their ways.

What a stupid statement. How do you know they've never rode a bike before ?

many of the visitors to Thailand are repeat visitors

Maybe they rode them then


Have you read the thread about 100 person curve ?

Why did the baying mob block that road ?

Tourists come here and no nothing about the cutlrue

Then you talk about your friend who can't speak French but runs a French restaurant

Maybe he's not too Cutlery astute either

Are the Menus in Thai or English ?

[Looper]

What a stupid statement. How do you know they've never rode a bike before ?

I was scared of bikes when I came to Phuket the first time so I let my holiday girl drive and I sat on the back. I knew it made me look like a total noob and could feel the smirks burning into my back as we rode around Patong. It got even worse when she bought a giant pink teddy for her daughter and I had to carry it all the way from Kata (trying to hold it casually so it did not look like I was hugging it) sitting on the back of the bike like a big girly noob

[IceSpike]

I was scared of bikes when I came to Phuket the first time so I let my holiday girl drive and I sat on the back. I knew it made me look like a total noob and could feel the smirks burning into my back as we rode around Patong. It got even worse when she bought a giant pink teddy for her daughter and I had to carry it all the way from Kata (trying to hold it casually so it did not look like I was hugging it) sitting on the back of the bike like a big girly noob

Only a real man could do that.
No worries Mate, even the Hard Core Bikies in Phuket carry Pink Teddies.

[Phuketrichard]

Tourists come here and no nothing about the cutlrue or how to operate a motorbike ( yet they think they can rde a bike here although have never ridden one). They leave all their common sense at home and expect the Thais to adapt to their ways.

What a stupid statement. How do you know they've never rode a bike before ?

many of the visitors to Thailand are repeat visitors

Maybe they rode them then


Have you read the thread about 100 person curve ?

Why did the baying mob block that road ?

Tourists come here and no nothing about the cutlrue

Then you talk about your friend who can't speak French but runs a French restaurant

Maybe he's not too Cutlery astute either

Are the Menus in Thai or English ?

Hey I know they haven't by the way they ride and seeing them on the side of the road with their bikes layed down. Been here to long not to notice non riders.

If they knew how to to ride their would be 50% less accidents on the island ( thais' not included)

That's a bad curve for sure and i never said the roads are the best but accidents are caused for a few main reasons. Driver does not know the road, driving to fast, driving drunk

Menu and staff spoke english and Thai as were all menus



Are u as big an asshole as u want people to think u are??

[Sailing into trouble]

Harry,

You sound like a Yorkshire man who lst a penny when you where 5 and have never gotten over it.

Phuket Province is very popular. Why? It still is stunningly beautiful and still has many places that the rip off artists corrupt police and russians never bother with. Yes the traffic accidents are horrendous and the corruption with the police is brutal.

Now having admitted that Harry, how about the other 60% of the province? I'll set you an itinerary it will involve enjoying natural beauty authentic thai lifestyle, variety of great places to stay, and great and modestly priced food.

[sabaii sabaii]

Hey I know they haven't by the way they ride and seeing them on the side of the road with their bikes layed down. Been here to long not to notice non riders.

You should join these guys Richard, they could do with a sharp eyed Highyway pursuit officer like yourself

Team of Phuket Tourist Police Volunteers

They have no less than 6 French volunteers too. Your friend could benefit from them

Are u as big an asshole as u want people to think u are??

No, not me

[terry57]

Now having admitted that Harry, how about the other 60% of the province? I'll set you an itinerary it will involve enjoying natural beauty authentic Thai lifestyle, variety of great places to stay, and great and modestly priced food.

Don't bother mate, you'll end up with all the fukers invading all those great spots you know. I must agree with you that to pass a general comment that phuket is a shit hole is retarded in the very least.

Some stunning country down that way and one never needs to go near Patong to find it but then again thats where the trollops hang so some tossers don't get past that.

Its serves a purpose though as all the Muppet tourists stay there whilst us more adventurous tourists actually get around and find all the beautiful and cracking places that abound.

So many beautiful spots in Thailand one could spend a life time just cruising around.

[Sailing into trouble]

^never thought of that. sorry Harry stay in Pattaya or is it Bradford? :-)

[ossie]

Having read all the shit about Phuket I think I will give it a miss . having lived on Koh Phangan for 4 years and Samui for 2 years I think that all island living is a rip off but somehow we farangs want to live on an island, and with that comes a price.

[Lecram]

The secret to your success has to be that you are to nice a person or too thick to have noticed that the bridge joining Spukhet to the mainland should be blown up. If you are stupid enough to want to go to THE SHITHOLE you should be stupid enough to swim. Just better hope the real sharks don't get you before you make the other side where the Thai sharks and array of two bit northern European and Russian thugs have a slice of you.
I have been living in Thailand for years and trust me I am no prude by any stretch of the imagination and occasionally go sit in a bar but if asked what is wrong with Thailand I will tell you it is that...... no one here has the brains to work out a better way of bringing money in to the country apart from selling their daughters etc. Strange that we accept and condone it by saying things like "well it is the way they do things" pfft bollocks and if I asked you if you would like your daughter to prostitute herself or as many Thai families do sell the daughter to a bar you would not only be horrified but I may get a smack in the face.
Stop writing bullshit about places like this, anyone should be ashamed to say they like to go to these places and as for the stupid Nordics that walk their children past bars hmmmm what is that all about?
Krabi is going the same way as all the other places talked about here. Oh by the way prostitution is illegal here in Thailand but you would not know it.

[gusG]

Here you go.
Thai Traffic Signs and Road Signs

Traffic Signs If you are planning on driving while you are here, you should familiarise yourself with Thailand's regulatory traffic signs. See Thailand traffic signs Happy Motoring Where can you get them in English. Certainly not at the Samui testing stn.,

[natalie8]

Incidentally, for those who are familiar with the place, where would you suggest? We prefer quiet places.

Nai Harn beach is nice this time of the year,

It's nice, and it's near many other good places.

Seriously though - the Nai Yang/Airport area is very nice.

That area is pretty too, but my all time favourite beach on Phuket is Nai Thon Beach, which is very near Nai Yang.


I just looked in Google Images and it looks like this beach has been ruined by the presence of beach chairs all along the way. I haven't been to Phuket in a couple of years now, so I didn't know. What I love about this beach is *or was* is that it was usually deserted. If you saw anyone on it, it would be a handful of locals with their kids, just taking a nice walk along.

The drive to the beach is very pretty, through nice treed areas, over some biggish hills. The beach itself is lined with cassuarina trees and it always has a nice breeze. During the rainy season, you can see some great waves here. I have some pictures of them. I'll need to look for them.

I lived in Phuket for a year, and have been there many times. Hubby is a native of Chalong Bay and he's as fed up with all the shit on Phuket as everyone else is. Phuket does have some fantastic 'secret' spots away from the touristy areas that are well worth exploring.

If you want any more specific info, you can PM me.

[harrybarracuda]

If there are any nice bits left in Phuket Province it's only because the developers haven't fucked them up yet - they will.

And trust me I know Phuket from Rawaii to Ranong, and gradually it's all going down the toilet, I've watched the whole place deteriorate over a period of nearly a quarter of a century.

Even that bits wiped clean by the tsunami have been built back up so that they're mostly worse than before.

[Teamsatan]

So many people not liking phuket....well dont go there.

Idont like England with its horrible people but i dont write about it in an england forum, moaning about them.

Phuket is a holiday island and its fun.....yes fun.

Live there?.....no

Stay a week or two and then go home....just as the thais want us to do.

[Jesus Jones]

^Write about it, we don't give a shit!