Patong beach is almost synonymous to Phuket itself. It is the most famous beach in Phuket and probably in Thailand. It is not surprising to see first-time tourists looking to stay in Patong. Who would not want to stay in the most prime and famous location? I am here to list the reasons why you should choose a hotel in Patong Beach for your next Phuket Vacation. These are of course opinions, so please don’t go crazy on us if you disagree! You can find our reasons to stay in Patong Beach, Phuket here. But for now, let me list the reasons you should not consider staying in Patong Beach!
1) Its sleazy
Patong arguably one of the most sleazy places in Phuket and probably south East Asia. It is where much of the sex tourism in Phuket takes place. In other words, it’s a red light district. Apart from sex workers, Patong also has more than its fair share of obnoxious drunk people, gross sex shows, taxi mafias, and drugs. Definitely not suitable for family tourists.
Cr: http://doomos.at/guide-to-phuket-thailand-everything-you-need-to-know/
2) You may not be able to sleep at night
If you are planning to stay on Bangla Road (heart of Patong), be prepared to be awake all night. Patong is filled with discotheques, outdoor bars, and loud obnoxious people. If you are a light sleeper, this would definitely be a problem.
Cr: http://www.inphuket.org/bangla-road-nightlife-in-phuket-phuket-guide/
3) It’s a tourist trap
Due to its worldwide fame, Patong has become a big tourist trap. And with tourist traps comes overpriced goods and food. The worst is probably the taxi’s who are looking to rip off unsuspected oblivious tourists. Do your wallet a favor, stay some place else.
Cr: http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/taxi-driver-patong.html
4) Poor choice of luxury hotels
Due to its sleazy reputation, ultra luxury hotels tend to shy away from Patong. If you are looking to say in 1-4 star properties, this may not be a problem. However, if you are looking for a true 5 star luxurious property, you may find that your options are limited.
Cr: http://www.xn--12ca4df9an1j4a4b5dyde.net/
5) Its too commercialized
There are developments going on everywhere in Patong. Its basically a city right by the beach. This is not representative of Phuket’s beauty. There are many places in Phuket that are still relatively unspoilt by commercialization. Panwa and Mai Khao are the two places I could think of on the top of my head. If you are looking to fully embrace the true beauty of the Andaman beach and sea, Patong is not for you.
Cr: https://www.shopback.my/blog/post/heres-why-you-should-plan-your-school-holiday-vacation-at-the-very-last-minute
6) Patong’s charm gets old quickly
I have to admit, I’ve many of my best nights out in Patong. Its undeniably a great party place. You are guaranteed to meet great, friendly, down-to-earth, tourists and locals (discount the obnoxious drunk ones of course). However, this charm quickly fades when you plan to stay in Phuket for longer periods of time (over 5 nights). In my opinion, Patong is a great place to party but not a great place to stay.
Cr: http://www.patongcity.go.th/index.php?options=travel&mode=detail&id=276
So here are out reason of why it is not such a good idea to stay in Patong Beach for your Phuket vacation. However, there may indeed be certain people where staying in Patong beach is appropriate. Please see our reason on why you should stay in Patong Beach here!
CR Main photo: The TRIPPACKER (https://www.thetrippacker.com/)
