Phuket gets a bad reputation sometime as being seedy. The truth is anywhere you go, there are going to be good and bad parts. If you are young at heart and out for a party, stay near Patong Beach or for a nice area, Karon or Kata. If you are looking to relax, I suggest staying at a resort that has it all!
Where We Stayed
We were taking this trip as our honeymoon so we wanted to have a nice place to relax in. Serenity Resort was perfect! We paid £235 for a 5 night stay. It has a great restaurant, pool, bar and spa so really no need to go anywhere else. The staff were amazing! If you do want to get out and about, the hotel reception can help you get where you want to.
Tips
If your hotel has daily excursions, take them even if you take a taxi back. It saves money.
If you hotel offers their taxi to pick you up from the airport, take it! We had a horrible experience getting to the hotel by taking the taxis outside the airport. Its best to pay a bit more and not have an experience where you are gripping the seat with white knuckles.
If you are in Patong Beach and looking for taxi home, I suggest popping into a reputable hotel and asking them if they can organise a taxi for you.
Things to Do
Ko Phi Phi Trip
We went on the Ko Phi Phi boat trip which took us to see the camel rock and monkeys on Monkey Bay. We went snorkeling and saw loads of fish (I made a video). We had a buffet lunch on Ko Phi-Phi. We went swimming in Pileh Cove and Maya Bay which is where the movie 'The Beach' was filmed.
Pregnant women are not allowed on this trip. We paid 3100 Baht each.
Big Buddha
The Big Buddha was a work in progress when we visited. It sits on top of a hill and has some of the best views of Phuket. It is very impressive and well worth the visit. We visited this on our way to the airport.Worth a stop!
Hai Nai Harn
This is supposed to be one of the best beaches in Phuket but if you go during the monsoon season and the red flags are up, you can't swim. It is also near Cape Promthep which is a great place for watching the sunset.
Patong Beach
If you are here to party, this is the place you want to be. It is geared to accommodating tourists and hosts a great night life.