Many people can remember when Patong Beach, Phuket's main resort, was nothing more than a few bungalows on a quiet stretch of sand. Today it is the most popular resort on an island which attracts thousands of visitors every year from around the world.
Located on a long, sweeping bay, Patong Beach has a well developed tourist infrastructure and a vast variety of nightlife, offering everything from small beer bars to modern cocktail lounges.
The rapid development of this island into a vast tourist complex has left some scars, but for most tourists it offers a good combination of lazy days on the beach and lively nights in the bars. The Phuket Fantasia show is, by all reports, well worth a visit and there are also four good golf courses on the island.
The island's capital, Phuket Town, is another hive of activity and worth a visit.

Getting to Phuket
There are night buses and various other nefarious ways of travelling, but the only practical way to get the Phuket is by air. There are many flights from Bangkok each day and except at the very height of the season you can normally walk straight on.
There are also direct flights from Samui and a few other smaller airports. International flights, from surrounding countries, fly in daily. In the high season there are some direct flights from Europe.The airport is well to the north of the island and minibus, or taxi transfers, are then booked at the airport. Unfortunately the transport from the airport has been taken over by a couple of very unpleasant and unhelpful companies. It is one of the worst hassle factor airports I know. The minibuses, which are supposed to go regularly to main areas, are constantly delayed in an attempt to get you to take an expensive (by Thai standards) taxi.

Getting around
In central Patong a good pair of legs and the ability to walk will get you to most areas. There are tuk tuk mini buses, whose drivers will offer to take you anywhere you want to go but, as ever, agree the price before you set off. You can also get around by taxi or bus and there are plenty of cars bikes and jeeps to hire. If you do rent a vehicle, however - particularly a bike - please make sure you read our tips for travellers.

Karon

Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort
Karon Noy Beach, Phuket
P.O. BOX 277 , Phuket 83000
From: USD 169
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Hilton Phuket Arcadia
Resort & Spa
333 Patak Road, Tambon Karon,
Muang, Phuket 83100
From: 5,400 THB
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Karon View Resort
127/21-26, Patak Road,
Karon, Phuket 83100
From: 1,350 THB
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Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort
91/1 Moo1, Karon Beach
Phuket 83100
From: 2,500 THB
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Phuket Island View
127/13 Patak Road,
Karon Beach,
Phuket 83100
From: 2,000 THB
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Karona Resort & Spa
6 Soi Karon Soi 2, Tambol Karon,
Amphur Muang, Phuket 83100
From: 2,750 THB
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Central Karon Village
35/37 Moo 1, Patak Rd.,
Karon Beach
Phuket 83100
From: 3,800 THB
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Andaman Seaview Hotel
127/35 Moo 3, Patak Road,
Karon Beach, Muang, Phuket 83100
From: 3,900 THB
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Kata Beach

Kata Beach Resort
Karon Road, Kata Beach.
Phuket 83100
From: 5,200 THB
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Kata Garden Resort
121/1 Moo 4, Patak Road,
Kata Beach, Phuket 83100
From: 1,150 THB
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Kata Palm Resort
Patak Raod, Kata Beach,
Phuket 83100
From: 2,600 THB
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Kata Sea Breeze Resort
72 Kata Road, Kata Beach
Karon District Phuket 83100
From: 2,150 THB
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Andaman Cannacia Resort & Spa
113/16-18 Patak Road, Kata,
Muang, Phuket 83100
From: 3,550 THB
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Kata Thani Beach Resort & Spa
3/24 Patak Road,
Kata Noi Beach,
Phuket 83100
From: 4,800 THB
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Kamala Beach

Kamala Co Co Hut
112/5 Kamala - Patong Rd. M.3
T.Kamala A.Katu Phuket 8300
From: 1,125 THB
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Kamala Beach Hotel & Resort
96/42-43 Moo 3, Tambol Kamala,
Kamala Beach, Kathu,
Phuket 83120
From: 2,450 THB
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Kamala Bay Terrace Resort
16/12 Moo 6, Tambol Kamala,
Amphur Kathu, Phuket 83120
From: 3,050 THB
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Kamala Dreams
74/1 Moo 3, Tambol Kamala,
Katu District, Phuket
From: 1,800 THB
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Kamala Bay Garden Resort
100/10 Moo 3,
Kamala Beach Road,
Kathu, Phuket 83120
From: 3,500 THB
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Phuket Town

Royal Phuket City Hotel
154 Phang-Nga Road,
Muang, Phuket 83000
From: 1,900 THB
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Metropole Phuket
1 Soi Surin, Montri Road,
Phuket 83000
From: 1,700 THB
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Phuket Resotel
2/6 Luangphor Road, Taladyai,
Muang, Phuket 83000
From: 1,100 THB
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Phuket Merlin Hotel
158/1 Jawaraj Road,
Phuket 83000
From: 1,450 THB
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S.T. Hotel
5/61 Sakdidej Road,
  Phuket 83000
From: 1,100 THB
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Coral Island Resort
48/11 Chofa Rd.,Moo 9 T.Chalong
A.Muang, Phuket 83130
From: 2,450 THB
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Patong Beach

Andaman Beach Suites
60/12 Rads Utid Song
Roi Pee Road, Patong Beach,
Phuket 83150
From: 5,550 THB
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Coconut Village
99/5 Thaweewong Road,
Patong Beach, Phuket 83150
From: 2,150 THB
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Expat Hotel
163 / 17 Ratutit 200 Pee Road
T.Patong, A. Kathu,
Phuket 83150
From: 1,490 THB
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Patong Premier Resort
118 Rat-U-Thid 200 Pee Road,
Patong, Phuket 83150
From: 2,250 THB
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Patong Beach Lodge
207/21-25, 207/29-31,
Rat-U-Thit Raod,
Patong, Phuket 83150
From: 2,250 THB
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Patong Bayshore Hotel
89 Rat-U-Tit Road, Kathu,
Phuket 83150
From: 1,900 THB
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Patong Resort
Patong Beach,
Phuket 83150
From: 3,000 THB
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Thara Patong Beach Resort
170 Thaweewongse Road,
Phuket 83150
From: 4,000 THB
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Salathai Resort
10/4 Sawatdirak Road,
Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150
From: 2,850 THB
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Seapearl Beach Phuket
42/11 Taveewong Road,
Patong, Kathu, Phuket 83150
From: 4,500 THB
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The Andaman Resortel
171/16-20 Ratch-utit 200 Years Road,
Soi Sansabai, Patong Beach,
Phuket 83150
From: 1,000 THB
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Lay Tong Beach Hotel
1 Prabaramee 4, Patong,
Kathu, Phuket 83150
From: 1,600 THB
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Royal Crown Hotel
31 Nanai Road , Patong Beach
Phuket 83150 Thailand
From: 2,250 THB
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Montana Grand Phuket
205/16 Rath-U-Thit Road
Patong Beach Phuket 83150
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The Beach Resortel
37 Moo 3, Thaweewong Road,
Patong Beach, Phuket 83150
From: 1,650 THB
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Blue Ocean Resort
210/23 Soi Kepsap,
200 Pee Ratuthit Road,
Patong ?Beach, Phuket 83150
From: 2,200 THB
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Deevana Patong Resort & Spa
43/2 Raj-U-Thid 200 Years Road,
Kathu, Phuket 83150
From: 2,150 THB
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Patong Cottage
205 / 14 Nanai, Patong Beach
Kathu, Phuket 83150 Thailand
From: 2,000 THB
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The Orchid Hotel Kalim Bay
318-320 Ban Kalim Patong Beach Kathu , Phuket 83150
From: 2,350 THB
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Swiss Palm Beach
2 Chalermprakiat Road,
Patong Beach, Kathu,
Phuket 83150
From: 3,150 THB
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Andaman Hill Hotel
191/4 Nanai Rd.,Patong Beach
Phuket 83150 Thailand
From: 1,100 THB
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APK Resort
95 Rath Cha Patanuson Road,
Patong Kathu Phuket 83150
From: 1,563 THB
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Sunset Beach Resort
316/2 Phrabaramee Road,
Tambol Patong, Amphur Kathu,
Phuket 83150
From: 3,500 THB
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Patong Beach Bungalows
39 Thaweewong Rd.
Patong , Phuket 83150
From: 3,650 THB
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Burasari Resort
32/1 Ruamjai Road,
Tambol Patong, Amphur Kathu,
Phuket 83150
From: 5,000 THB
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Icon Phuket
47/1 Nanai Road,
Patong Beach,
Phuket 83150
From: 3,050 THB
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