HI

I was wondering if anybody could help us to decide where to stay in Thailand, we are looking at the Phuket Area - but do we pick - Patong / Karan / Kata?? There looks to be some wonderful hotels but we just do not know where to stay....

Which is the best for us to see all the sites - This is going to be our honeymoon and we are looking for that beautiful hotel but obviously at reasonable rates. Please help.

Many thanks Graham and Jayne

PS if I have put this on the wrong site apologies as new to the Forum

Patong may be easiest to arrange day trips. Lots of things to do in Patong day or night. I don't know how long your staying but consider spending a few days on Kho Phi Phi if you like snorkling.

Karan and Kata is better if you want to be away from the big crowds.

The Kata Thani Resort at Kata Beach is great and affordable. My wife and I love it and so do our visiting friends. Fantastic beach, romantic, great staff, delicious food and facilities.

Happy Honeymoon
Randy and Ning

All three areas are fine for day trips and diving/scuba - as they are roughly equal distance to Chalong - where most of those trips originate. Kata, in fact, is probably closer than the others.

Patong for nightlife and crowds, Kata and Karon for more sedate setting - but still plenty to do. Kata Beach for the best of the three beaches.

Try Phuket Delight for lots of local info and insight.

If its your first trip to Phuket and its your honeymoon, I would suggest splitting your stay between Patong and the JW Marriott.

Patong is convenient for eating, drinking, shopping, arranging tours etc but not quite an ideal place to laze around. You can stay there for a few days when you first arrived and get all your shopping, tours done etc

After you are done with the shopping, tours and nightlife in Patong, you can move on to the JW Marriott at Mai Kao Beach which is a very beautiful resort but located in a rather inconvenient location. A good place to laze around. Note that some tour operators do charge extra for pick-up at the JW Marriott, so it may be a good idea to do all your sightseeing before coming here !

Kata is near the Kata View Point and Phromthep Cape which are worth visiting. I dont know about dive trips but most day trips to Koh Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay use the harbour/jetty at Rassada Harbour and Ao Po (or jetties nearby) which are not quite near Kata/Karon/Patong . However most tour operators for these trips would pick you up from your hotel, so it doesnt really matter where you stay.