10,000 – 15,000 Australians visit Phuket each month, only bested by visitors from India (more than 30,000 visitors per month) – and it is easy to see why. Thailand is the right side of the equator for chilly Australians wishing to escape the ‘Arctic Blasts’ and ‘East Coast Lows’ of Autumn and Winter.
Hoping to escape Sydney temperatures ranging from overnight lows of 4 degrees (Celcius) and daytime highs of 18-20 degrees, we planned a June escape. We longed to feel the sun’s heat on our skin – and boy did we, with temps of 27 to 34 degrees each day. Granted, April through November is monsoon season, but we were fortunate enough to spend eight nights there in June and didn’t experience rain once.
Patong Beach is about an hour south of Phuket International Airport. There is a stack of taxis waiting for you as you burst out into the tropical air, but to be honest, after 10 or so hours on a plane, our name written on a whiteboard was a welcome sight – no haggling, no checking to see if we had Thai Bhat, no chance of our destination being lost in translation – just jumping into an air-conditioned minivan and heading to our resort. I would love to share the name of the company we used for transfers, but they really screwed us over later in our trip, so we will just leave it at that.
Pa Tong has a lot to offer a variety of holidaymakers, Chat GPT has suggested the following:
- Patong Beach: Enjoy sunbathing, swimming, and water sports at the vibrant Patong Beach. Relax on the sandy shores or indulge in activities like jet skiing, parasailing, or banana boat rides.
- Bangla Road: Experience the energetic nightlife of Patong along Bangla Road. Explore the numerous bars, nightclubs, live music venues, and street performers that line this bustling street.
- Jungceylon Shopping Mall: Visit the Jungceylon Shopping Mall for a mix of shopping, dining, and entertainment. It offers a wide range of international and local brands, as well as a cinema and bowling alley.
- Phuket Simon Cabaret: Watch a colourful and entertaining performance at the Phuket Simon Cabaret, which features dazzling costumes, music, and dance acts performed by talented ladyboys.
- Thai Boxing (Muay Thai): Witness the excitement of Muay Thai, the traditional Thai boxing, at one of the local stadiums. You can watch thrilling matches featuring skilled fighters showcasing their techniques.
- Patong Boxing Stadium: Attend live boxing matches at the Patong Boxing Stadium, where you can experience the intensity and spectacle of Muay Thai fights.
- Spa and Wellness: Pamper yourself with a relaxing spa treatment or traditional Thai massage. Patong offers numerous spas and wellness centres where you can indulge in rejuvenating experiences.
- Patong Viewpoint: Take in panoramic views of Patong and the surrounding area from the popular viewpoint located on the way to Kata Beach. It offers breathtaking vistas of the coastline and is a great spot for photography.
- Day Trips: Explore the nearby islands and attractions through various day trips from Patong. Take a boat tour to Phi Phi Islands, visit the Big Buddha, or go snorkelling at the beautiful Coral Island.
- Thai Cuisine: Sample delicious Thai cuisine at the local restaurants and street food stalls in Patong. Don’t miss out on trying classic dishes like pad Thai, green curry, and fresh seafood.
For us, we spent our time in Patong:
- Swimming and lazing by the pool at Duangjitt Resort & Spa
- Walking – clocking up about 20,000 steps each day
- Day tour to James Bond Island with Phuket Best Sea Marine Tour
- Hired a taxi for a few hours and hit Old Phuket Town, Wat Chalong, and The Big Buddha
- Got suited up and had some custom pieces made at Euro Fashion (188/2 Thaweewong Rd – about a block down (toward Bangala Road) from Gracelands)
- Shopped for ourselves, our family and friends
- Watched Muay Thai at Bangala Boxing Stadium
- Watched State of Origin at Little Aussie Town Aussie Bar
- Bought an oil painting for our home at Patong Inn Art
- Ate our way around Patong, from pineapple fried rice to crocodile on a stick
- Celebrated our wedding anniversary at Baan Rim Pa
- Spent some time at Take Care Clinic to treat an infected toe
- Had the absolute time of our lives
Want to know more about our time in Patong? Ask us a question in comments, and we will get back to you.
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