Is Phuket really that bad?

[Jesus Jones]

My wife is presently working in Phuket over the next few days, but prior, i warned her to be careful simply because a friend of mine who owns property there, but resides in Bangkok, said he does so to keep well away from the shit!

The first day there, my wife phones just to say how things are going, but then tells me a member of her staff who'd arranged to meet a business colleague whose friend - a Russian fella offered her various drugs for sale.

Is it really as bad as i keep hearing?

I get the impression that living there is risky, and being a tourist you need to be on your toes!

[harrybarracuda]

The word you are looking for is "shithole".

[kingwilly]

are you asking if it was ok for her to buy the drugs from some Russian fella and will she get caught or not ?

[Boon Mee]

The word you are looking for is "shithole".

The most expensive place to live in Thailand but haven't heard it referred to as a 'shithole'. Patong perhaps but the rest of the island/Krabi?

Asking 'cause I've never been there.

[Marmite the Dog]

It is a bit shitty, but not as bad as Pattaya.

[Loy Toy]

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.

[richie22]

Lived on Phuket for seven years now and never have a problem.I live in the south of the Island and never go near Patong because yes it is a Shithole.
And the biggest downside to the place is the big influx of thr arrogant obnoxious Russians but they are easily avoided just don't go to the 7-11

[Travelmate]

It is a bit shitty, but not as bad as Pattaya.

Is there really any other place as bad as Pattaya?

[Loy Toy]

Is there really any other place as bad as Pattaya?

Another uneducated quote from a bloke who on one hand states he is a regular in Pattaya and then when it suits him denies he ever comes here.

A perfect example of a proven liar and someone you can never take seriously.

[Boon Mee]

It is a bit shitty, but not as bad as Pattaya.

Is there really any other place as bad as Pattaya?

From what Davis Knowlton says in the PI Forum, Angeles City isn't too 'picturesque'?

[harrybarracuda]

The word you are looking for is "shithole".

The most expensive place to live in Thailand but haven't heard it referred to as a 'shithole'. Patong perhaps but the rest of the island/Krabi?

Asking 'cause I've never been there.

You haven't heard it called a shithole because you haven't read the Phuket forum much then.

Even places like Karon and Kata are turning into tuk tuk mafia, indian tailor-laden, tourist rip off joints, and that whole coast is gradually filling up with yet more hotels and accompanying riff raff.

The other side of the island is gradually being swallowed by construction for yet more overpriced villas for semi retarded businessmen from Yoorp and their entirely useless "homemaker" wives (read: lazy fat cows).

Probably the people that like to live down in Rawai away from it all will tell you it's OK - which is probably true if you like an insular lifestyle.

Krabi is a different animal, it's a separate administrative zone and doesn't have the thieving cunts running it that Phuket does. But of course, as it grows in popularity, the low lives will come sniffing.

Like I said, Phuket is a shithole.

In fact, I'd rather go to Pattaya than Phuket, at least you know where the rip offs are and you can simply avoid them.

Of course, that is just my own opinion.

[Davis Knowlton]

^^No 'beach'. Just dusty, trash-filled alleys and often flooded streets. Less ladyboys, and no aggressive street whores. But pretty nasty women, watered down booze in the bars, corrupt cops, and the normal scams. The only selling point is that it is cheap. Many off-shore guys go there simply because they can stay there for a month or so in some dingy rent-by-the-week apartment and screw nasty whores for a tenth of the price of a night in Manila. In all the years I have lived here, I have never been to Angeles unless I was working up there for a few days, and was always delighted to get out of there. If you know where to go, it does have some good restaurants, mostly Swiss or German, and a few more upscale bars; but you don't want to get too drunk in Angeles; it's a good place to keep your wits about you. I would take Pattaya over Angeles personally, but never really liked either.

[Travelmate]

In fact, I'd rather go to Pattaya than Phuket, at least you know where the rip offs are and you can simply avoid them.

Better to avoid both Pattaya and Phuket due to rip offs?

[ltnt]

Like I said, Phuket is a shithole.

Good post Harry. "That's my story and I'm sticking to it."

[Ancient Future]

I was in Patong for the first time in 4 years last week & would say that there are shitloads more Russians than my last visit, & not really high (no pun intended) season yet. Also just like Pattaya they have women dancing in glass boxes to try to encourage punters into their 2 strip joints (Russian birds) on Soi Bangla.

On the other hand there's probably at least twice the number of massage places compared to my last visit - without counting Soi Kebsup.

Shithole or not is a matter of opinion; none of the above stopped me enjoying my time there. And no-one offered me drugs...

[ltnt]

Trust me, you now it makes sense

I believe the word you are trying to use is "know." Now, are you Russian?

[IceSpike]

I like Ni Yang Beach near the Airport in Phuket.

Pattaya is ok. I still like the open air beer bars.

Funny to see the food court in Pattaya Central World, looks like a beer garden.

[Marmite the Dog]

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.

Don;t get your knickers in a twist - we're talking about the shitty areas like Patong and Walking St.

[Looper]

Phuket is the ultimate holiday destination. Just the right blend of beaches, sleaze, massage joints, markets to buy your holiday crap, thin veneeer of respectability so you can send postcards from there and cheap accommodation off season. Rent a mocy and don't use the tuk tuks and you won't go far wrong.

Sorry not sure if that all fits in with your wife's agenda but anyway...

[FlyFree]

I suppose it depends on what you consider to be a shithole. Subjective aint it. Live long enough in Asia and shithole gets a whole new meaning.

[Simon43]

Yawn - same old crap about Phuket from people who haven't got a clue...

To summarise the truth:

If you're a fat, drunken, ignorant expat or tourist, then some areas of Patong can be a shithole

If you're a normal, easy-going person, then Patong is fine

If you're an easy-going person, then anywhere outside of Patong/Kata/Karon is great

If you're an exceptionally nice person, jaidee, mai jai rawn ==> me - then Phuket is perfect

I live in Nai Yang/Airport region, and I also live in Ao Nang (own hotels/guesthouses in both areas). I never have a problem in either location. No-one tries to rip me off, and no-one tries to sell me some tacky suit and no-one tries to mug me. Every Thai is friendly to me

The secret to my success? I look poor!!

Simon

The

[Loy Toy]

we're talking about the shitty areas like Patong and Walking St

Same as lower Sukhumvit then?

I have known many that have abandoned the shithole as I did.

[Bettyboo]

^ yes it is, but that doesn't change the actuality on Phuket...

I can only talk of my own experiences...

I went to Phuket and Krabi about 20 odd years ago and liked it. I went back to Phuket about 13 or so years ago and lived in Kata for 6 months while doing a dive instructor course - it was really really nice, I had a great time. I used to go to Karen all the time, that was good too. I went to Patong once, and left within an hour or two, it wasn't very nice at all...

I went back about 5 years ago, with the missus. I went straight to Kata, but it was so overcrowded, overdeveloped, dirty and scumy that we went and stayed in Rawai instead. Rawai was fine. We went down the coast road to a nice beach, that was fine. I went to Kata once, but didn't stay more than an hour; walking around it was sad what it had turned into - people were not friendly at all either... (Not so different from how Chaweng in Samui has changed in the last 20 years). We went to the aquarium which was nice, and this is where one of the most memorable events of the trip took place: the taxi drivers were very unpleasant and wanted to charge 500 baht for a journey that would have been under 100 baht in Bkk. So, we waited at the bus stop, when the bus came, several taxi drivers threatened the bus driver not to open his doors and not to stop... The same thing happened went the next bus came... We were forced to pay 500 baht (it was too far to walk...) for the taxi journey.

My missus, who likes Cha-am and Hua Hin, had never been to Phuket before and said she would never go back. I've heard the same from other Thai friends. I wouldn't go back either. Hiring a motorbike on Phuket is a ridiculous idea - the deaths of foreigners in motorbike accidents in Phuket is horrendously high... To hire a car and stay outside of the main tourist areas is an option, but due to the threat of violence from the police, taxis and minivans, I'd rather go somewhere else instead such as Krabi.

Those of you saying Phuket is fine are talking utter bollocks.

The irony is that Phuket people are very nice and friendly. The tuktuk drivers, taxis, minivans, police, etc, are, so I'm told by friends who are from Phuket and own businesses there, are mainly from other parts of Thailand such as the rather notoriously aggressive folks (and yes I have had quite a few personal examples...) of Nakhon Si Thammarat, amongst other places - they are drawn, as per Pattaya, to money, and they do not care about the islands reputation or harm to long term tourism.

The island is out of control and has been going this way for a very long time; drastic changes need to be made from the governor, through the police (lots of police owned clubs selling drugs, etc), taxi and tuktuk drivers (many are off duty policemen so I am told). The decent folk of Phuket suffer from the utter scumbags that have taken over the island. The island cannot even provide bus services due to intimidation by violent taxi gangs! & everything is okay there, please... it's a lovely place that has been overdeveloped into an utter shithole in places, and the various mafias wreck much of the rest of the island - just landing at the airport and getting any kind of transportation to a resort is a fukin nightmare...

[sabaii sabaii]

If you're an exceptionally nice person, jaidee, mai jai rawn ==> me - then Phuket is perfect

Or Sucker

[Bettyboo]

^ Simon is a battler, you can say that for him. Deluded - yes. Stupid and irrational - well, I wouldn't say yes, but some signs are there... A loser, a giver-in, a runner-away - certainly not! He keeps bouncing back, and with the same folk!