Laem Phromthep, #Phuket

Situated between Rawai and Nai Harn beaches,

Phrom Thep Cape is a dramatic headland that stretches out to sea

at the southwest end of Phuket Island.

The cape has spectacular views of the small island of Koh Kaew Yai

and the Andaman Sea, and is a particularly popular place to enjoy the sunset.

At the top is a shrine dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation,

whom the cape is named after. (Phra Phrom is the Thai name for Brahma,

laem means “cape”, while thep means “god”).

To get an even better view, climb up a couple of flights of stairs to a raised platform

in the Golden Jubilee Lighthouse. The lighthouse also contains a small nautical museum.

The viewpoint attracts a lot of tourists and locals at sunset,

so if you want to avoid the crowds consider going earlier in the day.

There is an open-air restaurant with fantastic views from the cape

which can make for a memorable dining experience.

Laem Phrom Thep is located between Rawai and Nai Harn.

Head south from Rawai for a couple of kilometres.

There is a large car park and quite a few souvenir shops so you won’t miss it.

The road is steep and windy so take extra care, especially if its wet.

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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.

Paresa Resort Kamala, #Phuket, Thailand

Set in nature’s garden, so to speak, the external walls of natural handmade

earth tone brickwork and green roofing reflect the thought

and sensitivity for the environment that went into the property’s construction.

Thai-styled resorts with stereotypical design

and ostentatious architecture based on the Northern Thai Lanna-style

with Jim Thompson-like essentials,

Paresa is very much understated in the true Thai sense of the word

with the Southern Thai cultural detail to be found in the finishes.

Built around several magnificently preserved Banyan trees,

several elements of Paresa’s structural design are reminiscent

of the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired organic architecture. 

Unadorned and calming off-white walls further highlight the airy

and spacious atmosphere created within each Paresa villa.

From the tranquil and relaxing bedrooms to the open-plan interior areas,

each villa flows seamlessly to the outdoor terrace

and frame the breathtaking uninterrupted views across the Andaman Sea.

Private exterior verandas are made all the more enticing

with comfortable daybeds or sun lounges, outdoor treatment sala

and a separate outdoor bathroom making each villa completely self-contained

for total uninterrupted indulgence and relaxation.

Situated high on the cliff top, this al fresco restaurant is shaded by the canopies

of majestic Banyan trees preserved for posterity and offers the perfect venue

from which to enjoy the magnificent nightly sunsets across the Andaman Sea.

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.