Khao Lak – the jewel of Phang Nga

When planning a beach holiday in Thailand, most people start off by looking at Phuket. While Phuket has an abundance of charms, there is a stunning alternative only one hour’s drive away from Phuket Airport – Khao Lak. The white sands of Khao Lak Beach are breathtakingly beautiful, and stretch out unbroken for over 15 kilometers. There is a wealth of fine Khao Lak hotels to choose from. Yet Khao Lak does not get the same amount of attention from tourists as Phuket – which is great news for those who are looking for a tranquil beach holiday in tropical paradise.

Bang La On is generally considered to be at the heart of Khao Lak – there is a wide range of shops, restaurants and hotels here. People who enjoy a few quiet beers will love the understated nightlife here – Bang La On certainly doesn’t have the super-clubs to rival the nightlife in Phuket’s Patong, just a nice selection of watering-holes with a good mixture of welcoming local Thai people and visitors from overseas. Nang Thong Beach and Sunset Beach are well within walking distance of Bang La On, and are made up of kilometers of incredible unspoiled white sand.

One of Khao Lak’s major attractions is the nearby Similian Islands – 50km out at sea, the Similian Islands have some of the most outstanding beachscapes you are ever likely to see. Part of the Similian National park, the islands can only be visited between November and April, but they are a must see for anyone travelling to Khao Lak at this time of year. As well as deserted tranquil beaches, you may also wish to participate in the scuba diving and snorkeling that brings knowledgeable divers here from all over the world.

The Surin Islands are a little further away from Khao Lak than the Similian Islands, but they are open all year round and offer their own idyllic charms. Like the Similan Islands, they enjoy world-class status for scuba diving enthusiasts. The total lack of development makes it difficult to stay here, but also ensures that the beaches and lagoons are almost untouched by tourism – the Surin Islands are devastatingly beautiful.

There are a number of attractions around Khao Lak that can make a great day out for families and couples. Chong Fah Waterfall is easily accessible and a visit here is a good way to become immersed in Khao Lak’s natural beauty. Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park has a huge variety of flora and fauna that no nature lover will want to miss.

There are plenty of Khao Lak hotels where you can relax and enjoy the surroundings. Phuketbooknow.com offers a great selection of Khao Lak hotels. Currently, you can stay in a modern and clean budget hotel from just $42 a night, and our special rates even extend to five star hotels which start at an incredible $79 a night. We have exclusive deals with all the major hotels in Khao Lak, so why not come to phuketbooknow.com and see for yourself?

Rock Hard A Go Go - Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand: Eh?

Nice Club

Nearby Phuket – stunning alternative holiday destinations

Khao Lak - Panoramic View

When you read about the glorious scenery and weather in Phuket, as well as Phuket’s famous beaches, you may be forgiven for thinking that Phuket is an oasis of paradise, surrounded by areas of lesser magnificence. In fact, the opposite is true. There are many areas of outstanding natural beauty nearby Phuket – at Phuketbooknow.com, we offer exclusive hotels in Phuket, and also in Khao Lak, Krabi and the world-famous Phi Phi Islands. All these destinations are easily accessible from Phuket Airport, where most international travelers to Phuket arrive.

Getting to Khao Lak from Phuket Airport is easy – simply turn left out of the airport, left at the main road, and head north for one hour in your taxi or hire car. Khao Lak shares the same quality of beach that Phuket is renowned for, with fine white powder sands and sparkling tranquil seas. Its distance from Phuket means that you are far away from the crowds of tourists – one of Khao Lak’s best features is its quiet unspoiled beaches, where you are guaranteed privacy and relaxation. Having said that, there are plenty of Khao Lak hotels to choose from, ranging from small beach bungalows to five-star palaces of luxury. The local amenities include shops, small supermarkets, bars and restaurants. As Khao Lak is close to the world-class scuba diving sites on the Similian Islands, it is an ideal destination for those who love to dive.

Krabi - Longtail Boat

Krabi is a place that many holidaymakers choose to visit while they are their Phuket holidays, due to its outstanding natural beauty. So many people fall in love with Krabi that it now has a booming Krabi hotel industry of its own. It’s relatively easy to get to – it’s a 3 hour car ride from Phuket Airport, or you may wish to take a ferry from Phuket to Krabi via the Phi Phi Islands, which is also approximately a three hour trip. The stunning scenery ensures that you will enjoy your journey however you choose to get there. The spectacular cliffs and islands in Krabi are a unique backdrop to the white powder beaches that are comparatively undeveloped and free from overcrowding. Canoeing, kayaking and snorkeling are strongly recommended here, and the wildlife is equally beautiful below the water and above. 

Lastly, we come to the glorious pair of Phi Phi Islands, Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don. The north island of Phi Phi Leh is unpopulated, and is the home of Maya Bay, where the Leonardo Di Caprio blockbuster “The Beach” was filmed. The spotless sands and turquoise sea are truly idyllic, although naturally many tourists come here to see the sights – there is no Phi Phi Leh hotel where you can stay. Phi Phi Don is home to a Thai population, as well as some of the world’s finest beaches – there are numerous places to stay here, from cheap and clean budget hotels to luxury Phi Phi resorts. It is ideal for accessing Krabi and Phuket, both of which are a 90 minute ferry ride away. Excellent opportunities for snorkeling and diving are available, and there are enough amenities here to ensure that you enjoy your stay without being overwhelmed by shops and bars.

Phi Phi Island Seaview

All of these destinations enjoy the same superb weather and beaches that Phuket is famous for. They are also nearby Phuket, so if you enjoy island-hopping you can book multiple hotels in advance without having to worry about how you will get to your next destination. 

We hope that you have enjoyed this guide to the attractive resorts nearby Phuket – if you have any suggestions of your own, let us know! Check out our Facebook page for more information about Phuket and its surroundings and leave a "like".

You can also find more Phuket information on these following blogs: 

• squidoo.com/lensmasters/phuketbooknow
• hubpages.com/profile/Janvh
• Ibooknow.weebly.com 

Phuketbooknow.com proudly introduces instant hotel bookings

When you are booking your dream Phuket hotel, you want the assurance that your room has been reserved and paid for in advance as soon as possible. That is why phuketbooknow.com has introduced the “instant booking” facility, allowing you to make sure that you get the room you want at the best possible price.

Sometimes when you book Phuket hotels, excellent prices can be found on rooms of all categories, ranging from budget Phuket resorts to the very finest five-star establishments. The prices can often be so good that many other people are trying to book the same rooms - the suites and villas can quickly become unavailable on the dates that you want. Phuketbooknow.com’s instant booking system allows you to get ahead of the crowd, and makes sure that you get amazing prices and guaranteed bookings with a few clicks of your mouse.

Once you have paid for your room, you can expect e-mail confirmation of your booking complete with your booking number within a few minutes. Naturally, if you have any questions or concerns our team is available 24/7 to answer your queries. The Phuket hotel will immediately enter your details into their own booking systems, and you can begin to look forward to your trip to paradise, safe in the knowledge that your room is paid for and confirmed.

That’s all there is to it – simply arrive at the hotel with your booking number, and you will be warmly greeted and led to your room by the waiting concierge. Cheap flights are available to Phuket from all over the world all year around, so you don’t have to worry about whether to book your hotel or your flights first – it’s up to you!

At phuketbooknow.com, we accept payment via Visa, MasterCard and PayPal, so you have several options when making your reservation. If you accidentally make a double booking or book the wrong dates, simply contact our team and we will rectify your problem for you as soon as possible.

We have processed thousands of bookings here at phuketbooknow.com, and we hope that the added convenience of immediate room confirmation and payment will ensure that even more people choose to use our services. One of the main reasons that we have been so successful is the great prices that we offer – we always invite you to compare our prices with those of our rivals. We are confident that you are very likely to find that phuketbooknow.com will have the best prices available for your chosen Phuket hotel.

Unlike our competitors, our offices are based right here in Phuket – we welcome telephone calls, emails and instant messages, and you are very welcome to come to visit our offices during working hours if you wish. Many of our staff has lived in Phuket all their lives, and their invaluable local knowledge is at your fingertips. If you want to know about a good local bar or restaurant, do some sporting activities or arrange a trip to a nearby island, you can always contact us and we will do our very best to help you.

We hope you enjoy the convenience of our new booking system, and look forward to welcoming you to the paradise island of Phuket!

A guide to the vibrant Phuket Nightlife

Many people who come to Phuket seek relaxation and solitude, and many of the beach resorts here offer just that - Mai Khao is just one example of a quiet peaceful town where you can enjoy splendid isolation on the beautiful long empty beaches under the waving palm trees. However, many more people who come to Phuket seek out some of the world’s best clubs and bars, where you are guaranteed a memorable night out.

 

As you may well be aware, the heart of Phuket’s nightlife is located in Patong. At the centre of Patong is the world-famous Bangla Road, where some of the finest bars and super-clubs on the island are to be found. Many of the streets adjacent to Bangla Road are also very vibrant and provide a great experience for those who enjoy dancing and drinking with the locals and the many visitors to the island. Tiger club on Bangla Road is one of the biggest venues on the island, featuring excellent DJs and a unique indoor area sculpted from a cave, with its very own waterfall. The nearby Seduction club rivals Tiger for size and capacity, and is spread over three floors, each with their own unique brands of music played by international DJs from around the world. 

Ten minutes north of Patong is Kamala, boasting easy access to Patong and a number of fine bars in its own right. The Kamala Riders Club is generally open later than the rest of Kamala, and features regular live music. There are usually more Thais than visitors here, and it is a good place to make new friends. Bob’s Bar on the north end of the beach provides the ultimate laid back reggae vibe with the sea at your feet, and has a very family friendly atmosphere. The majority of Kamala’s bars have pool tables and friendly hostesses, making you feel welcome wherever you go.

Just five minutes to the north of Kamala is Surin, renowned as the home of Phuket’s rich and famous holidaymakers. The nightlife very much reflects this, with a great selection of chic beachside clubs and bars, including the renowned Stereolab nightclub. Five minutes north again takes you to the Laguna Phuket complex and Bang Tao Beach, which offer a good selection of bars for families, couples and singles alike.

Ten minutes to the south of Patong you will find Karon and Kata Beaches. The nightlife here is less hectic here – most tourists who come here are couples and families, and the wide range of pleasant, family-friendly bars emphasizes this. The Ska Bar at the south end of Kata beach is particularly noteworthy, with an extremely relaxed atmosphere accentuated by an excellent selection of reggae music.

Wherever you go in Phuket, there is usually some form of nightlife, even if it is just the hotel bar where you are staying. A sense of friendly enjoyment is present wherever you go, and this is mostly because of the legendarily friendly Thai people themselves. With Thais, fun, singing and dancing are an integral part of the lives of people of all ages. Obviously you should take the same precautions that you would anywhere in the world when on a night out, but in general Phuket is one of the very safest places in the world to dance the night away. Have fun! If you have any clubs or bars that you would like to recommend, please get in touch via email or Facebook – we always enjoy hearing from you.

When is the best time to book a holiday in Phuket? Now!

April is here, and Phuket’s official “high-season” is over. Traditionally, fewer people come to stay in Phuket hotels during the low season. But there are many good reasons why the best time of year to book a Phuket holiday is right now! The temperatures at this time of year are gloriously warm – looking out of my window, I can see that it’s another perfect day for lounging on one of many of Phuket’s idyllic beaches. A lot of people come to Phuket hoping for a blissfully peaceful time in the sun – as the crowds melt away, you have your pick of all of Phuket’s finest beaches.

Of course, one of the very best reasons to book a Phuket holiday in April is the prices – airfares drop during the low season, and hotel prices drop even more, as everybody wants to keep their hotels full. To see just how far the prices have fallen, check out our rates at phuketbooknow.com – you will be amazed at some of the fantastic offers that are available even at four and five star luxury hotels. We welcome you to compare our prices to those of our competition – you will be pleasantly surprised at the bargains that phuketbooknow.com has to offer.

Another great reason to book an April break in Phuket is the centuries-long traditional festival of Songkran, which takes place between the 13th and the 15th of April. As well as being some of the friendliest and most welcoming people you will meet anywhere in the world, Thai people love to have fun. Songkran is basically the world’s biggest water-gun fight – everybody gets involved, both adults and children alike, and you are guaranteed to get a good natured soaking if you venture outdoors. The best way to get involved is to buy your own water gun and have fun with the Thai locals – it’s a unique experience that you’ll never forget.

As the tourists leave for home, the roads in Phuket get much quieter, making it an ideal time to rent out a hire car. Phuketbooknow.com has some great offers on car rentals, and the prices are even cheaper during low season. With gasoline tax costing you next to nothing in Phuket, hiring a car is a really cost-effective way to explore the island. Just remember to drive on the left hand side of the road, and watch out for the multitude of motorbikes, which most of the Thai locals use to get around. Check out our article about transportation in Phuket and places not to miss.

It’s true that it’s a little bit more likely that you will experience some rainfall in April, but the average hours of sunshine per day only drop from 9 hours in the high season to 8 hours in April, which leaves you plenty of time to work on your tan and experience all that Phuket has to offer in gloriously sunny conditions.

For those looking for a budget holiday in paradise, Phuket in April has to be one of your first choices – with cheap flights and a wealth of discounted Phuket hotels to choose from, you can find yourself the bargain holiday of a lifetime. So don’t delay – book your dream holiday now!

Phuket: The Pearl of the Andaman Sea

Phuket Seaview

For many people, Phuket is the ultimate holiday destination. Some call it “paradise on earth”, because it has so many beautiful beaches, with crystal-clear seas and breathtaking scenery. Phuket combines all the best things about Thailand – you are always guaranteed a smile from the friendly people of Thailand, and the locally-produced food is both inexpensive and delicious. There are so many things to see and do in Phuket that many people who come here extend their holiday in the “Land of Smiles”.

In Phuket, you can take part in a wide range of activities and sample the food and culture that make Thailand famous. For the adventurous, there is plenty to do in Phuket, such as elephant-trekking, jet skiing and paragliding. There are many famous landmarks and sights to visit in Phuket, such as the sublime temples of Wat Chalong, the 45-metre high religious statue known locally as “Big Buddha”, and the historic Two Heroines Monument.

For people who want to just relax and unwind, Phuket is the ideal place to come. There are many beautiful beaches here, including the idyllic resorts in Karon, Bang Tao and Kata. The sea is warm all year round, and it is easy to spend the whole day soaking up the sun and relaxing on a beach chair. As you sip on one of the local cocktails while the sun goes down, you can witness a spectacular sunset and feel that you have truly come to an island paradise.

Nai Thon Beach

When the evening comes, the vibrant nightlife of Phuket is another thing that really sets it apart from other holiday destinations. You can mingle with the local Thais at one of their many festivals that are regularly held in Phuket, and dine at one of the countless gourmet restaurants that the island enjoys. Fresh local delicacies such as lobster and sea bass are available all year around, and Phuket also has many international restaurants serving the finest in foreign cuisine.

There are always places to visit at night – the world famous Soi Bangla in Patong hosts many of Thailand’s finest clubs and bars, and it is common for world-famous DJs to play in one of Patong’s many superclubs. Kamala’s Phuket Fantasea has a spectacular nightly show which is a great introduction to Thai culture – the huge stage features hundreds of local dancers in ornate traditional Thai outfits, and the show includes no less than 30 elephants.

But it is the people of Phuket that make it the finest holiday destination on Earth – first-time visitors are always amazed by the friendly welcome that they get from everybody. Thais and tourists mingle freely together at the local shopping centres, restaurants and bars, and Thai people love the opportunity to chat to visitors from foreign countries. By the time your holiday ends, you are guaranteed to have made many new friends, and you will probably already be planning a return visit to Phuket – the island paradise that you will want to come back to again and again.

If you plan to visit Phuket make sure to know where to stay and where to find real Beachfront Hotels in Phuket.