Patong Beach - an overview of the most famous beach in Phuket

Patong Beach - the most popular, largest and most developed beach and tourist area not only in Phuket, but in the entire region of the Andaman Sea in the kingdom of Thailand.

If you want to visually characterize the beach "Patong Beach", it is, above all, turquoise clear water (on the shore, during high waves, it becomes cloudy), shoal, on which you can walk, goes into the sea at 10-50 m, and the beach itself in the water is fenced with a protective network against sharks: it is a great place for those who come here to rest with kids.

Because of the daily tides, the water level drops by about 2 meters and the water recedes by about 20-50 meters, and the shoals become longer in the sea.

The beach with a wide white and yellow sandy strip (in some places up to 200 m) is located on the west side of Phuket. Phuket and has a length of 4 km. The arc-shaped strip of beach is framed on both sides by rocky ledges, which makes the fabulous view of the landscape more cozy.

The beach on a map of Phuket

Immediately behind the sandy strip of lush vegetation buried in the various buildings: private houses, markets, entertainment venues, hotels, etc.

Due to the fact that Patong Beach is located on the open ocean side, the height of waves in good weather near the coast can be up to 3 meters high. This happens in April, when the trade winds from the Indian Ocean begin to blow.

Together with a high wave wind also brings debris to the coast: because of the debris vegetation and mud "lying" tourists disappear, and instead of them gathers a lot of surfers.

Accordingly, Patong Beach has everything you need for surfing, and in the low season this service is the most active. By early October the winds change direction and the height of the waves decreases, and by November, by the beginning of the high season, tourists of a different kind begin to arrive.

This year the beach removed the umbrellas and sun loungers, but they can still be rented for 150 baht day before 18.00, per person, or you can buy a straw mat and lie in the shade of palm trees. There are toilets and showers - for a fee. The temperature on the beach rarely rises above 35 ° C.

Housing

Patong Beach, unlike other beaches on Phuket, attracts mainly young people: nightlife, cheap transportation, food and lodging designed for all income vacationers (hotels, rooms in private homes, bungalows).

There are many hotels and bungalows along the beach, and the price per night ranges from 170 to 1500 baht. It is not difficult to find cheap and quick accommodation upon arrival.

Inexpensive room in a gesthouse, 5 minutes walk will cost 450-500 baht per night. Rent a small house 11-13 thousand baht a month. Tourists of all nationalities come here.

Although $ 40 for most tourists and not much money, then by Thai standards Phuket is quite an expensive resort island, and hotels are more expensive than on the mainland of Thailand.

The price depends on the distance to the coast, availability of air conditioning, satellite TV, Internet, appliances, room decoration and services provided.

The cost of housing also varies depending on the season: in May - prices are reduced by half. Maximum prices peak on New Year's Eve and Songkran - Thai New Year in April.

Hotel room rates start at 1,000 baht. These rooms are the most popular and it is better to book them well in advance, especially if you plan to rest during the high season from November to May. Although accommodation can be found without any problems, but comfortable rooms are usually sold out several months in advance.

How to get there

Phuket International Airport (PKT), is located 35 km north of Patong.

You can order directly at the airport, limousine cab ("Limousine" is usually a sedan class cars, such as a Toyota Camry, with leather seats, etc.), cost 600 baht, or a cab meter for 400 + baht. Travel time is 45 minutes (Don't pay attention to the barkers).

By public minibus for 150 - 180 baht. Tickets can be purchased outside the terminal, or an air-conditioned bus called Phuket Airport Bus Express, from 08:00 to 20:45. The fare is 120 baht. The stop is the same as the one at Phuket Town.

From Phuket Town

Buses depart from Phuket Town, cost 25 baht, every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 18:00. The main stop is on Ranong Road, opposite Down Town Market. Travel time is 30-45 min.

For the convenience of travel during the holidays you can take a small motorcycle (bike): a day, including gasoline, it will cost about 300 baht. The only inconvenience with the bike is the need to have an international driver's license (when renting a license is not required). Until recently you could get by with our license, but now for the lack of it, as well as for driving without a helmet, the police will write out a fine of 600 baht.

Tourists often ask: Is there a direct connection between Pattaya and Bangla Road?

The communication between these entertainment centers is 1,000 kilometers, carried out by a private company. The bus transports tourists every night. Departure time from Pattaya is 6:00 pm, arrival time to Patong Beach is 8:00 am. The cost of a first class bus ticket is 920 baht per person.

For VIP passengers the fare will be 1,226 baht.

More information (in English or Thai only), photos of the service and contact information can be seen on this website  phuket-pattaya.com.

Entertainment

Along the beach runs the street "Bangla Road". As the sun goes down, it begins to transform, and as darkness falls, the whole street radically transforms into a bright and noisy party, which under the sounds of music with all kinds of colors of illumination begins to emit a special energy, and the deeper the night, the higher its degree; it can be felt only by visiting here.

On "Bangla Road" something happens all night long: there are street performers, transvestite shows. There are striptease clubs, Go-Go bars, and other entertainment venues.

Night Bangla Road can only be compared in Thailand with Walking Street in Pattaya.

During the day, "Bangla Road" lives an ordinary, unremarkable life. And to be completely frank, it is not going to Patong just for the beach vacation, although the beach service here is at a decent level. Methods of leisure on Patong Beach more than enough.

The most sought-after daytime entertainment:

• Volleyball;
• Tennis;
• Parachute: 30 minutes - 2500 baht ;
• Scooter: 30 minutes - 1,600 baht.

Note also that in addition to the neighboring Paradise Beach, located between the beaches of Karon and Patong, there is practically no quiet in Patong Beach.

Tourists are most attracted here by the active nightlife. The closer you get to Bangla Road, the more fun you'll have.

Patong Beach is also a developed area with shopping centers, travel agencies, massage parlors. Shopping tours in Patong is quite a pleasant activity: closer to the evening, in addition to entertainment venues, night markets, mini-markets and shops open.

Stores and Food

For shopping lovers should visit the Junqceylon shopping center, where you can buy almost everything. On the territory of the mall is also a department store "Robinson" and "Big C".

This shopping center is located a few steps from Bangla road, 1 km from Patong Beach and is, in fact, a landmark.

There is never a problem with food in Patong. Local vendors offer food and trinkets right on the beach. The farther away from the beach, the cheaper the prices. To list the types of food, probably no one has yet, but most of them are:

• Fruits and nuts;
• Crabs and shrimp;
• Fish and various meats;
• Baking;
• Ice cream and drinks.

To eat a hot meal, you can visit a small restaurant, cafe or canteen in a hypermarket. Tasty and hot dishes will surprise you with their variety, especially Thai cuisine, and low cost: a nourishing and tasty meal here you can eat for 50-70 baht and still have something to take away.

The Thais always cook food right there, in full view of the customer. This also applies to beer bars: beer tanks with tubes and gauges, vats with steam - everything in full view. You can pour yourself a big mug of fresh beer straight from the tap in the shop for 60-90 baht, but, in the hot climate, it's better to do it using a refrigerator.

In conclusion, although Phuket Town is the center of the island, the unofficial and more developed center of the island. Patong beach is considered to be the unofficial center of Phuket.