Patong Beach Travel Guide
Patong is the largest tourist destination in Phuket and is the happening place as there are many bars, pubs, sports pubs, nightclubs and places to kick back and enjoy some live music.
The majority of the nightlife in Patong is on or near Bangla Road, with many Soi’s or small side streets that come off Bangla that are jam packed with bars, nightclubs, or live music venues.
Bangla Road is full of activity from when the sun goes down, till the sun comes up and it’s like this all year round. Many people come from all over the world to experience the crazy nightlife scene that Patong has to offer, and a lot of them return year after year to experience it all again.
The largest concentration of Phuket hotels and resorts in are in Patong and there are many smaller hotels and guest houses which offer much cheaper rooms than most of the larger hotels.
There are plenty of beachfront hotels located along Patong Beach and most other places to stay in Patong are not far away from the beach. Many hotels are also located nice and close to Bangla Road which is perfect for all those who love to party. Click here for Guest Friendly Hotels in Patong.
Peak Season is the most expensive time of the year, so make sure to book well in advance if you want the best room rates for this time. The recommended time to get the best room rates is in the Low Season which is from the start of May – till the end of October. The Low Season is a great time to visit for cheaper prices on just about everything and is the time to visit for less crowds.
Patong is where all the nightlife action is located. Shopping:
If you like shopping, then there is lots of that in Patong, with plenty of markets and stores and the huge shopping complex Jungceylon, which has 2 large complexes and many shops, stores, markets, restaurants and movie cinemas. Be wary of anything sold outside the shopping centres, as there is a chance that it could be fake or copied and bringing any of these items back to your country could get you a fine and you could get the items confiscated.
Tuk Tuk’s:
The Tuk Tuk drivers will try and over charge you every time, sometimes charging double or even triple of what the fare is really worth especially if you are a first timer. They will try and charge an inflated price just for a short ride down the road. You can try and negotiate with them if you know they are charging way too much but you will need to haggle a lot. Try to stick with the taxi drivers who don’t drive Tuk Tuk’s and whenever possible try to organize taxi drivers through the hotel that you are staying at, as they will be less likely to rip you off.
Massage:
There are many places to get a massage in Patong and you will you know when you walk past a massage shop, as there are always women sitting out the front, trying to drum up business.
Most of the massage shops in Patong have 2 different sections, a massage room downstairs that offers all kinds of massage from foot to Thai massage and an upstairs section offers mostly oil massages with other services if requested. There are other massage places here that offer a soapy soap massage and this is a more expensive, but pleasurable massage experience.
You can also get a good cheap massage down the beach and this is usually done in the shade in a half open tent.
Patong Beach:
There are plenty of things to do at Patong Beach. There are water activates, parasailing and other things available for hire. If you are thinking about using a jet ski on Patong Beach or anywhere in Thailand, don’t do it, because you can get caught up in a costly repair scam, it’s not worth the risk. Many people have been caught up in the scam, don’t risk it. Phuket info.
If relaxing is more your thing, then you can also lay on the deck chairs but just like everything in Phuket, it isn’t free, so expect to pay a small fee to use the deck chairs for the day. When on the beach, expect to be approached by passing vendors who walk up and down the beach all day long, and they will ask you over and over to buy things. If you politely say – no thank you, they will move on to the next person.
3 Things That You Will Be Asked In Patong:
If you were to walk down a busy street in Patong, you will most likely be harassed for 3 different things, a Tuk Tuk, a Suit, or a Massage and it doesn’t matter how many times you say no, they will always ask you again and again. The guys who stand out the front of the tailor shops are the worst offenders when it comes to harassment, they can pick what nationality you are and know your lingo, so unless you are after a suit, don’t stop to shake their hand, otherwise they will lure you inside and once inside, you will find yourself stuck as they are sneaky and persistent salesmen.
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