Patong Beach
Patong Beach is located on the west coast of the Thai island of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. With a length of 3.5 km, it is the largest beach on the island. With the surrounding beaches of Karon and Kata, it forms part of the entire southwest coast of Phuket.
Accommodation
As Patong Beach is the liveliest part of the island in Phuket, you will find all kinds of accommodation from luxury hotels to cheap hostels. Those who like peace and privacy should stay on one of the southern beaches of the island. You will find accommodation here differently at every step. Cheaper hostels and guest houses are located further from the sea. However, it is only a few minutes walk to the beach. On the contrary, more luxurious hotels are close to the beach.
History
The beach gained its great popularity already in the 80s of the 20th century, when foreign tourists began to come in abundantly. In December 2004, Patong Beach and other parts of western Thailand were hit by a tsunami. A new early warning system has being built since then.
Transport
The fastest way for tourists coming from abroad is by air from the capital Bangkok. This flight takes about 50 minutes. The international airport is located in the northern part of the island, the journey to Patong beach takes approx. 50 minutes by taxi or bus. Patong itself can be reached on foot or using local motorized tricycles called tuk-tuk. It is also possible to reach the surrounding towns by city minibus. If you wish to explore the rest of the island, the best option would be motorbike rental.
Weather
The best months for a stay in Patong, Thailand are from November to February. It does not rain during this period and is not as hot as in spring (from March to May). In June comes the rainy season, it can rain for days, but sometimes only a few hours a day.
Activities
Patong offers not only a beautiful beach with fine sand but it is also well known for its nightlife. The nightlife is liveliest around the center of Soi Bangla and the beach colonnade. You can choose from a plents of shops, restaurants, bars, discos and go go bars. You should not miss a visit to Simon Cabaret, which offers one of the best travesty shows in the world. You won't resognize that those beautifully dressed dancers are not women. Adrenaline lovers should attend a Thai boxing match.