Things to do in Phuket

Why is Patong so popular? - Fun Things to Do in Patong Beach

Why is Patong so popular?

While Phuket has been a world-renowned holiday destination since the mid-1990s, many of its dozens of beautiful beaches remain virtually unknown. A few are slowly growing in popularity, but it’s only really Patong which has any kind of international name recognition. As a result, any Phuket resort near Patong is usually the first choice. The question is: why?

The Beach

Among the reasons for Patong’s popularity, the beach is undoubtedly a major factor. About 3.5 km (just over 2 miles) long, it is beautiful soft sand from end to end. The water lapping at it is generally clean and clear, too, and a tree line shades the in-land side of it.

Of course, just having nice sand is hardly unique. You could say the same for Kamala, Karon, Kata, Nai Harn and several other beaches around the island, yet the natural inclination for incoming holidaymakers remains any Phuket resort near Patong. The difference is that the beach here has a lot more facilities. There are many restaurants right by the beach, lots of sun loungers to rent, as well as jet skis and parasailing readily available. Of all of Phuket’s beaches, it has the most fun and lively atmosphere.

The Town - Its one of the most exotic places you will ever visit!

Love it or hate it, you cannot deny the charm that this place has. Patong is a place where you feel like anything could happen no matter how crazy. People here really know how to party. The party scene is amazing. Throughout Bangla road you can expect to find flamboyant ladie boys (who look stunning by the way), magic shows, friendly bar girls, weird looking street food and much more. Also, Patong is a melting pot of so many nationalities. You can find variety of cuisines wherever you go. Patong is definitely a place you have to experience at least once in your lifetime.

It must be added that having restaurants on or by the beach is hardly unique. Indeed, Kamala has a greater selection than Patong. However, what Patong has which Kamala doesn’t is…well, Patong. The town behind the beach at Kamala is a quiet and sleepy place, with only a handful of shops and a limited choice of decent restaurants.

By comparison, Patong City has a massive shopping mall at its heart (Jungceylon) as well as two good night markets (OTOP and Malin Plaza), several fun attractions and activities, too many first-class restaurants to name and the main nightlife hub of Phuket – Bangla Road. For those who want a holiday which is more than just lounging on a beach (and, as attractive as that sounds, that does get very boring after a few days), a Phuket resort near Patong is the obvious choice.

The hotels in Patong are (generally) cheaper!

In honesty, Patong is a bit of a “chicken and egg” place, in so far as it is impossible to tell if it is popular because it has such great facilities or if the facilities are there because it is a popular spot. In either case, that popularity has meant that guests have an unrivalled choice when it comes to picking a Phuket resort near Patong – far more so than by any other beach in Phuket.

Due to its popularity, it is no surprise that Patong will attract a large number of Hotel developments. In my personal opinion, I believe there is a current oversupply of hotels in Patong right now. This oversupply is substantially more prominent during the low season. This results in many hotels consistently dumping their prices. Well, if you are not the hotel owner, this is good news. You can find many exceptionally great deals, even for 4-5 star hotels, in Patong. Also, come during the low season (May- October) and it gets much cheaper. During season you can find 5 star hotels charging way below $100/night. That is a steal!

Best party experience

Patong is perfect for party animals. There are almost every type of party places you can think of. Be it pool parties, multimillion dollar discotheques, jazz bars, blues bars, gogo bars, foam parties, ice bars, you can be sure that Patong has them. Furthermore, clubs in Patong open way until morning. You can party hard from sunset until sunrise!

So if you can relate with these reasons, we are certain that you will have a great time staying in Patong. Just remember to exercise cautions at all time. We wish you a great holiday in Phuket!

Fun Things to Do in Patong Beach

As anyone who has ever stayed in a Phuket resort near Patong, the island’s notorious party capital has plenty of diversions to offer. From nightclubs, restaurants and bars to zip lines, go-karting and shopping, Patong has virtually anything you can think of doing on holiday. However, what we’re talking about here is stuff to do in the bay – the glistening bit of the Andaman Sea, which swishes up and down the soft white sands of Patong Beach every day.

Jet Ski

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. One of the more infamous scams in Thailand is associated with jet ski operators. It’s a distasteful topic to mention, but it is better to be forewarned than to fall victim to it. The most common version of the scam is that the operators will blame you for damage to the jet ski which was there before you even clapped eyes on it. Naturally, the easiest way to avoid the scam is to closely inspect the vehicle before boarding it, pointing out every bump and scrape.

This done, it is entirely possible to have a lot of fun, blasting up and down the Bay at high speed, buzzing past your Phuket resort near Patong. Be sure to keep a safe distance from other water users while you enjoy putting these high-performance watercraft through their paces!

Parasailing

You thought the water looked pretty as you rode over the hill into town, on your way to your Phuket resort near Patong? You’ll love viewing the bay from a parasail! Basically a parachute attached to a speedboat, this ride sees you soaring high over the sea. It offers unique and breathtaking views of the beach and the town and, despite seeming like quite an extreme activity, is really very safe – perfectly suitable for kids.

Swimming

Yes, we’re kind of pointing out the obvious here but, unsurprisingly, the most popular thing to do in Patong Bay is to go for a swim. It’s an unbeatable way of cooling down after an intense sunbathing session. It is worth noting, though, that the water off Patong Beach is pretty busy, so we strongly recommend sticking to the roped-off areas. It can also get pretty rough during the green season (about April to November), so you should be a little bit more cautious around that half of the year.

Snorkelling

As its such a busy beach, the snorkelling off Patong Beach is pretty dull at best, pretty risky at worst. However, the smaller bays like Paradise Beach to the south and Nakkerd Bay to the north are much nicer, with rocky reefs just a short distance off-shore. A Phuket resort near Patong, such as Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa, gives you direct access to just such a spot.

Surfing

Phuket isn’t exactly known as a surfing hotspot, but Kalim Beach (just north of Patong) used to host regular competitions and is a pretty reliable spot for good waves. Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa, being conveniently situated just along the road from Kalim, is a great choice for those interested in water sports, such as all of those mentioned above.