Patong Beach is the most popular area of Phuket lying on the west coast with an internationally renowned reputation for its nightlife. Though the beach itself is heavily populated and features 3,000m of white sand, it is the surrounding areas that really attract people to this destination. More than any other part of this vastly popular island, Patong offers great shopping opportunities, fine dining and plenty to keep you active during the day and night, no matter what your taste might be. With a variety of hotels, from the cheap to the luxurious, Patong Beach will appeal to all types of holidaymaker. Temperatures tend to stay hot throughout the year, and normally stay above 30°C. Bangkok Airport offers regular connecting flights to Phuket - you can fly to Bangkok in approximately eleven hours from most UK airports.
| above all this is a destination for the partygoer.... |
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Though all types of holidaymakers can find fun at Patong Beach, above all this is a partygoer's destination...
Patong Beach can certainly offer something for everyone, but above all this is a destination for the partygoer. Its thumping nightlife is difficult to escape and with the adult themes that run throughout much of Thailand, it might not be the ideal destination for some families. Nevertheless, families are catered for with a number of children's activities, the beaches have some excellent watersports opportunities and there is enough variety to the nightlife that you can even keep the children busy after dusk as long as you pick your venue with care. With the vast number of leisure and recreation opportunities, Patong Bay will certainly keep you busy.
What to do...
Though the nighttime activities might keep you so busy that you sleep much of the day away, there's no better place to catch up while lying in the sun than on Patong Beach. Though it is the most popular beach on the island, it is long enough that it rarely gets heavily populated. It's a great spot to pull out a deckchair and laze in the heat, but there are also plenty of activities on offer including fishing, snorkelling and even parasailing if you fancy an aerial view of the island. Indeed the area caters for all kinds of sporting activities including go-kart racing and golf at the Loch Palm golf club.
Children will enjoy the many local tours on offer to various destinations including Phi Phi Island, along with fishing, mini-golf and horse riding. Phuket Zoo gives you the chance to encounter some of the world's most exotic animals including crocodile shows and tropical wildlife. There is also a Gibbon Rehabilitation Project showing how gibbons are aided back to full strength before returning to the wild.
There are many nearby attractions too if you want to break up the day. The Phuket Butterfly Farm and Insectarium features thousands of colourful critters, while the Phuket Sea Shell Museum introduces you to the world's most valuable collection of seashells. Patong is also a vibrant shopping area with beachwear, sportswear and souvenirs to be bought. With lots of specialist jewellers and market goods ranging from scarves to sarongs, you'll have plenty of chances to splash the cash.
Above all else though, Patong is famous for its nightlife. It's best to start out at one of the many eateries in the local area, though some of the best food is to be sampled on the streets from the many vendors. It is crucial however, to ensure that everything is cooked properly and so many prefer to sample the Thai food at the local restaurants or enjoy the international cuisine.
From there, it's just a case of finding the scene that suits your taste. The shops and restaurants stay open late, others will head to the bars, and clubs and karaoke lounges while the more daring will brave the cabaret shows, massage parlours and go-go bars. The go-go bars feature girls and transvestites dancing on the tables for the gentlemen's enjoyment while the cabaret shows are among the most flamboyant in the world. The discos at Patong Beach have garnered an international reputation with a real club atmosphere. Some of the favourites are the Banana Disco, the Safari Pub and Disco and the Tiger Disco, which is more like an entertainment centre with its laser shows and girls clad in tiger skin.
