When we visited Phuket on a budget a few years ago, we stayed in Karon Beach for 3 weeks, which was perfect for a nice quiet holiday:
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Based in Karon Beach and using Patong as well, we booked quite a few trips like:
· A speed boat ride out to Coral Island, where we went snorkeling.
· A boat trip out to Phang Nga - James Bond Island, Koh Panyee the floating village - we stopped here for lunch which was delicious.
· A weekend stopover in Kho Phi Phi where we took a long tail boat our for some more snorkeling and had a picnic on a deserted island. We stayed right on the beach in huts, very well equipped and had a night out in the beach hut bars!
· A night out at Simon cabaret (this is an excellent show!)
· A night out watching an authentic Thai Boxing match
Everyday we would get a tuk tuk to Kata Bay to sunbathe and do some water sports and we spent many a leaisurely day just soaking up the sun and swimming in the sea whilst feasting on iced sticks of pineapple sold by the lovely Thai lady who wondered down the beach!
On the evenings we would head into Patong which is only a short ride from Karon and is a lively environment - bars and clubs etc.
On one occasion during our holiday, we’d arranged for a taxi through our reception at the hotel, the driver picked us up and took us all over Phuket, including local temples and the cashew factory for a tour.
We mentioned we wanted to get some jewellery and he took us to a huge shop that custom made your jewellery there and then - we thought we were really posh being in a shop that had sharks in the enormous fish tanks and the jewellery was so cheap as well. I ended up with a gorgeous topaz ring and my friend had some black fresh water pearls made into a necklace.
No doubt the cab driver is on some kind of commission from bringing you along, but it was a good day out and for only approx GBP10.00
During our holiday we drove down to Prom Thep cape to watch the sunset it's really most dramatic and something you'll remember forever and we also took a day out to go shopping in Phuket town – amazingly cheap and lots to choose from. Although the sizing makes one feel a bit on the big size as the Thai women are a lot smaller than a robust Scottish lass!
I have some wonderful memories from my visit to Thailand and hope to go back and revisit some of the places I loved so much.
