Bang Tao Beach, #Phuket

Bang Tao Beach (or Bangtao)

is one of the longest Beach in Phuket,

half way between airport and Patong.

Beach on the west coast of the island, where all the beaches are

with its beautiful stretch of sand, Bangtao is always associated

with the gigantic resort complex known as ‘Laguna Phuket’.

This area was one of the tin mines that made the fortune of Phuket long ago,

but was abandoned later as the land was consider worthless.

Laguna Phuket managed to transform it in an very profitable

award winning ‘eco project’ with international resorts

such as Banyan Tree Resort, Dusit Thani Resort and Laguna Beach Resort.

In the recent years, an incredible amount of luxury villas

and properties were built in the back of the Bangtao Beach hotels.

Laguna used to be the ‘high-end’ part of the island, but the shine has slightly faded

and it feels more of a mass tourism complex, you just have to look at the size

and amount of the ‘local restaurants’ on the beach to get the picture.

The high-end seems to have moved to Mai Khao Beach 

with the JW Marriott, Sala Phuket and Renaissance Phuket Resort.

Thinking of it, it’s obviously all benefit for the hotel group,

everything is far, so guests can basically spend all their holiday

money right there! Of course, locals wanted their share of this tourist gold mine

and unfortunately, the beach access of most resort

became blocked by one row or more of shops and shacks.

Resorts couldn’t do anything about it but on the other hand

you have more choice to buy drinks, snacks, souvenirs and tours.

Several seafood restaurants, ranging from small to huge like the ‘Lotus Seafood’,

serve a good choice of live seafood at a more affordable price than resorts,

but more expensive than any other local restaurants on the island.

Paradise Beach, #Phuket

‘Paradise Beach’ sounds good, doesn’t it?  With such name, people expect

to discover another ‘beautiful-secret-hard-to-find-beach’ located near Patong.

And yes, to its credit, the sea is very blue, sand is powdery

and cute little boats are gently bobbing in the bay. Yes, it is small, remote and not easy to find.

But there is a catch. It ‘used’ to be impossible to find,

and I suspect that the concrete road had somehow changed everything.

The reality is deceptive and I would not recommend this place during the high season,

and I think the photos will tell better than the words: I’m still trying to understand why do people

would pack themselves so close to each other when they actually passed by a nicer beach.

Once you reach there, surprise! the beach entrance if not free, it is 100 baht per person.

Ok, they could argue that they give you a beach chair at that price,

and at the end it is the price you would pay for a chair anywhere on the island.

But I don’t want a chair, I just want to take some photos (and run away).

Sorry sir, it’s 100 baht. Well OK, at that price, at least I’ll get some photo to show you the situation,

that’s a a small price to pay for readers to know.

The area consists of two tiny bays. The first one, surrounded by restaurants and Salas, is larger

and the beach more sandy. At the end of it, a small concrete path leads to the second beach,

less popular because clearly not as attractive. The path continues uphill to a very small bar

with a bit of a view where some of the photos were taken, then few more steps

will take you to an inaccessible rocky bay in the back.  n their way (Tri Trang Beach).

When in Patong Beach, drive south to the bridge leading

to the well known ‘Amari Coral Beach Resort’, and turn left right after the bridge.

Then follow for few kilometers until you reach

the ‘Merlin Beach Resort’ on your left and the nice Tri Trang Beach on your right.

A sign pointing to ‘Paradise Beach’ a the bottom of the hill will indicate you to continue further

for another 2 or 3 kilometers. The road is quite narrow, but nicely paved

which makes it fairly easy (too easy). You will arrive on a large parking which

can accommodate about twenty cars and a lot of bikes.

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Kata Noi Beach, #Phuket, Thailand

Kata Noi Beach is a beautiful little bay if you want to be near Kata Beach action

but stay away from the usual tourist herds.

This nice wide strand of white sand has incredibly clear blue waters during the high season

and fortunately, its ‘out of the way’ location kept it relatively quiet.

Unless you know about it, you probably would miss it.

Except the beach itself and two resorts, not much is going on around Kata Noi Beach,

the usual tailor, convenience store, massage and few bars seem to be waiting for the hotel’s guests.

The northern end of the beach is also a popular spot among surfers

who occasionally get some decent waves for learning and practicing.

When low season arrives, the bay gets rougher and surfing is more challenging.

If you stay at Kata Thani Resort or at Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, you will get free beach chairs,

otherwise it will cost you 200 baht for a pair of loungers and an umbrella,

which is the normal price around the island.

The whole Kata Noi Beach front is occupied by the Kata Thani Beach Resort

and all rooms happen to face the beach… very popular and first rooms are affordable.

If you want to treat yourself to something luxurious

you can try ‘The Shore’, their beautiful new wing, all featuring pool villas.

More unique and renown since decades is the ‘Villa Royale’,

built on the side of Kata Noi northern end.

This unusual hotel, surrounded by a beautiful garden,

used to be a private house converted very successfully into a hotel. In the original wing,

each room has a different design and different decoration,

one of them even still features its own wine cellar built into a rock boulder.

Another spot no to miss while in Kata Noi Beach, is the line of bars built high on top of the back hill,

offering spectacular views on the bay… With name like ‘Small View Point’ or ‘After Beach’

or the newest addition ‘Baan Chom View’ you get the idea :

great sunset, decent food and definitely the best way

to enjoy a beer watching the sun go down on Kata Noi Beach.