The information listed here is for reference only and is intended to make your stay in Phuket more enjoyable.

If you can't seem to find what you are looking for in Patong, just ask and we will do our best to find it for you...

Diving. Phuket is a divers paradise. Many dive shops here offer day trips, liveaboards, and courses of instruction. If your not yet a diver and would like to learn, many shops have pools on the premises to aid in instruction and certification. Many tour shops around Phuket offer various diving centers, two recommendations are:

Koh Yao Diving Center Only one hour by boat from Phuket, Koh Yao, or Long Island is the undiscovered paradise of the Andaman Ocean. The island is not yet on the tourist trail and if you are really looking to get away from the crowds then this is the place to come. The dive center is situated directly on Lohparet beach, with 2km of white sand and clear blue water. We can offer diving by boat which departs from the beach outside and confined water training 20 meters walk from the shop. The center offers local diving by speed boat or traditional longtail boat to some still undiscovered and rarely dived sites in this stunning region. Diving with our experienced staff, we can offer all PADI courses from Discover Scuba to Divemaster. We dive local sites around Koh Yao including Koh Khai Nai and Koh Khai Nok, as well as the many sites we have off the coast.

Visa Diving Center is located on Phi Phi Island. They are open everyday of the year and offer day trips and a wide choice of 23 liveaboards that regularly go to the Similian and Surin Islands, local islands around Phi Phi, plus Burma and Indonesia as well. All courses are offered and can be instructed in your own language if desired.

Fishing. Sport fishing around Phuket is wonderful! Marlin, Tuna, Shark, and Grouper just to name a few. If it swims in the sea, it can be found here. Fully equipped boats take you out, the crew attends to baiting, removing fish, and everything in between, you just need to fish! Many tour shops offer fishing cruises, rates very from day trips to overnight trips.

Gold. Gold and gems are processed here. The prices for most pieces can't be beat anywhere. Thai gold is normally 22 carat. There are shops on every corner, offering exquisite work at affordable prices, shop around. Patong Beach has the largest jewelry shop in Asia called Gem World. Every piece is handmade there, handcrafted to perfection. You can even bring your own finished stones and they will set them for you in another setting.

Golf. There are several golf courses here on the island and all are nicely kept. Green fees usually start at 1,700 Baht. Caddies are on all courses, and some courses require them. Plan your start time in the early morning, as during the heat of the day, between noon and 2, the heat can be almost unbearable on the course.

Hotels. Hotels here can range from 300 Baht a night to 20,000 Baht. Average hotels are about 1,000 to 2,000 Baht a night, and most are across from the beach and no hotel is more than a short walk from the beach. All hotels are clean and safe. Upper end hotels are guarded and all guests must sign in. Many of the hotels will come pick you up and drop you off at the airport.

Internet. This is widely available, speeds vary but there is not cable internet here. Most shops use DSL. Some shops offer wireless for your laptop for free, while others charge a nominal fee.

Shopping. The amount of shopping here is staggering, from the newly opened mall in Patong Beach, to Central Festival located near Phuket Town. There are numerous small shops with everything from clothes, jewelry, handicrafts to tools, electronics, watches, and everything in between. In the beach areas, small local shops markup their prices considerably, sometimes over 500%.

Any of the open markets along the Beach Road, Bangla Road and other streets are open to haggling! If you don't haggle, your paying way too much!

Another idea for items such as flip flops, t-shirts and shorts, go to Ocean Plaza or Jungceylon in Patong, they normally have these items always on sale!

Restaurants. Phuket is known for its seafood! All restaurants here serve some amazing dishes. From the street venders to the large seafood restaurants on the Beach Road, there are tastes and prices for all. All types of food is available, Thai, Western, Indian and European.

The street vendors serve simple Thai meals that are hearty and healthy, and very inexpensive as well, this is a great way to be introduced to truly authentic Thai food. This type of food is generally very spicy!

Sea Shells. Phuket is the hub of shell collecting in all of Asia, and there are many dealers here as well. Rawai Beach has dealers along the seawall where there is a fish market, be aware of the quality of these shells. Asia Shells which is foreign owned and has an extensive collection and deals primarily in Gem quality shells, all of which are reasonably priced. Their collection consists mainly of Cypraea, Conus, Voluta, Land Shells, and a selection of Other shells.

Tailors. Tailors are located throughout Patong, and choosing a good tailor can be difficult. The tailor we recommend is High Class Taylor's. The owner Paul offers a comprehensive "top-end" tailoring service at very competitive rates. World wide delivery service is available! Please ask a member of our Staff for details.

Tattoos. There are numerous tattoo shops here in Patong, too many to even name. We recommend the Indian Tattoo Studio. Lec, the owner, is one of the pre-eminent tattooists on Phuket. He heads a small team of very gifted artists, who offer a professional service of the highest standard. Lec and his team enjoy a world wide reputation with return clients from as far afield as Europe, South Africa, and Australia.

Lec is only too willing to discuss your tattoo requirements, without obligation, over a drink in The Blue Coral Bar. Lec's studio is so close to the Bar, that you can even have the drink of your choice delivered while getting inked! Please feel free to ask a member of our staff for an introduction.

Transportation. Public transport does exist but it does not adhere to regular schedules as it does in most western countries, making the tuk-tuk (Thai mini taxi) the most common way to get around Phuket. Tuk-tuks operate in all the beach areas and depending on your negotiating skills - will charge from 100 Baht to 500 baht depending on the distance.

Open air buses are cheaper but only travel from the beach centers to Phuket Town itself. These buses are slow, but if your not in a hurry, they are OK for the price, 20-40 Baht.

A more flexible way to get around is to hire a car or van with driver. 1,000 to 1,500 for an average 6 hour hire, be aware that you may ask a driver to take you to a specific store or shop and the driver may take you to a different shop than requested. If you are staying at any hotel, always ask if they have a van to take you to the airport when you depart, most hotels do, and the price is very reasonable compared to hiring a van for the day to get you to the airport.

Motorcycles are readily available and easy to hire. However, they are not insured and, considering local driving standards, are not for the faint hearted! Anywhere in Patong Beach is just 20 Baht. Longer distances, such as across the island to Chalong, the price is between 150 to 200 Baht. Set the price before you get on.

Understand you need a driver license if stopped by the police. Wear a helmet also, it is the law here! Driving rules in this country are not like those elsewhere in the world, if you are not sure of the rules or how to drive here, by all means, ask us!

Always negotiate your price before getting into a vehicle or waiting until you arrive at your destination, negotiate but do not be rude!

Water. Do not under any circumstance, drink tap water, unless you have nothing better to do than sit on a toilet during your stay! Not even the Thais drink tap water, it will not kill you but the bacteria in it will make you very sick! The ice used in bars is OK, drinking ice is made from purified water, don't believe the rumors that when ordering a drink you should refuse ice! Drink plenty of water every day, the heat, the spicy food, and the alcohol, are harsh on a person here, and the more water you drink, the better you will feel and will enjoy your stay that much more!