Cocktails & Dreams

[Guest]

Well, Stewart deleting himself would be the ultimate irony  (Although I think there is a time limit on editing one's own posts and this may have passed in this instance)

I have been to Phuket once or twice, Nana too. Although I don't live there, it feels like 4 years already  

As for Phuket, it's true that kata et al are far from patong in feel and that phuket LBs are more relaxed. There are some nice non p4p ones too.

However, the general atmosphere is on the decline. For better or worse, this is gauged from patong, not the tourist brochures  

Ok Ok. I can go-kart, scuba dive, snorkel and hike anywhere, but Phuket wins hands down on elephant rides

[Stewart]

Anone wanna 'fess up? Knowing Stewart he probably deleted it himself by accident while trying to 'quote' it!

A very feasible explanation, apart from the fact that it was there for a while

[Stewart]

Did you hit the 'Ignore' button on yourself?  

I do make a huge effort to ignore myself as much as possible, I have to admit, but button pressing is not normally part of the process

[PigDogg]

Lots of good things about Phuket.

Beaches where you can actually swim. Can't do that in Bangkok and Pattaya.

A tropical vacation plus P4P sex available. Discos where you won't be the only guy with a Thai half your age.

But if all you care about is sex and/or if your on a tight budget then stick with Pattaya.

[Groundhog]

I'm afraid I have to come down on the negative side when it comes to Phuket. No doubt the Island is unusually well endowed with natural beauty, and the south end of the Island at sunset is incomparable ... I'd spend every day there.

What I think is going on is that more Expats are actually buying property, building and settling (especially over on the East side it seems, and up in the hills ... a lot of nice new houses).

In addition, Phuket is Thailand's 'must visit' for the Japanese, Korean and Chinese bus tours, and apparently the 'in thing' with the Japanese girls now is to spend a week with one of the Thai surfer boys (the darker the better) in unbridled, uncondomed sex.


Huge amounts of money are flowing, and everyone wants to get into the act. And bad behavior is not penalized because the bus tours are only around for a day or so, and everyone expects greedy behavior (and pays for it).

So the last time I was there, I was shaken down by the cops (wasted a whole evening) because I wasn't carrying my US license (why would I with all the pickpockets). I had three transactions (two motorcycle, one for lodging) where the police were brought to my door to extort money from me (not tourist, but regular). And a gas transaction where the fellow tried to knife me because I wouldn't pay double.


Bangkok and Pattaya I've been to many times, and never, never had anything remotely approaching this problem. Sorry, but Phuket's people are just nasty ... not all of them of course, just enough to not make it worth my while to visit, let alone spend my money.

[dommy6]

(ziggystardust @ Feb. 05 2007,04:51) I'm not into defending places generally, but some of the posts here are just blatantly false.

Patong is not a good beach? Pattaya is? Like have you ever been to either of these places?

Phuket has Lam Sing, Kata Noi, that are absolutely world class, not to mention the 10 islands that are good day trips away.

And no good LBs? There are more LBs on Bangla after 11pm than Nana, and many of them far more beautiful, and cheaper, than Nana. By the way, my home is 15 minutes walk to Nana, where I've lived the last 4 years.

And nothing to do in the daytime? There is more in Phuket than most places in the world ... scuba diving, snorkelling, elephant rides, go-kart, ATVs, mountaneering, hiking.

I'm beginning to think the posters who poo-poo it have never actually been there, or, have taken a taxi to Patong and declared that Phuket=Patong, and never looked at a tourist brochure for the island.

Spot on Ziggy.

I really can€™t understand the criticism it gets either. Even though it€™s been 3 years since I have been there I enjoyed it much more than Pattaya. Also Phuket, unless you go frequently, you should at least spend 7 days there. Not a couple of days if you are going there only once.

The way I see it is that if you only want girls and sex then just go to Pattaya. If you want the whole lot i.e. sun, surf, beach, relaxation, holiday and girls then go to Phuket. No other place in Thailand can realistically match Phuket in those areas. And I would not recommend you bring your own girl to Phuket.

As for the high cost of things there, well I think that is bullshit. It was no different to anywhere else. Some things may be more expensive some are cheaper. Agree only that transport is a rip off. Tuk Tuk drivers are making a killing.

As for it being more commercial whatever the hell that means, C€™mon guys the whole fucking world is commercial. People who use this argument are likely to say Samui is a dump because there is nothing there.

Anyone interested in Phuket info I suggest this link

http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/

There is some real good stuff here. Even a lady boy section.

[Guest]

(dommy6 @ Feb. 05 2007,18:36) I really can€™t understand the criticism it gets either. Even though it€™s been 3 years since I have been there....

In a way that answers your own question  

I think recent visitors are noting a general decline, as compared to how they/we remember it  

[Torurot]

Once again I'm going with Ziggystardust & Dommy6. Some of the Phuket/Patong comments are off base to the extent of wondering if the writers have recently been to Phuket & surrounds.

Salmonella count at the "beach" in Pattaya is off the scale. Not so at any Phuket beach. Drive without a license in most places get police problems. Were you wearing a helmet? South Patong roadblock per chance?

[Guest]

(Torurot @ Feb. 05 2007,20:30) Once again I'm going with Ziggystardust & Dommy6. Some of the Phuket/Patong comments are off base to the extent of wondering if the writers have recently been to Phuket & surrounds.  

You talking about dommy6 then ?  

[dommy6]

(lemarquis @ Feb. 06 2007,01:19) [I think recent visitors are noting a general decline, as compared to how they/we remember it  

Fair point. And if I ever get my arse back there I will let you know.

Nonetheless, Phuket does get a lot of bad press here and usaully its all about how comercial it is and high cost of tuk tuk and some bad mouth vendors. But is this really enough to justify all the negative comments? I think not.

Yes it is a major tourist destination but so is Bkk. Love them both.

[Guest]

(dommy6 @ Feb. 06 2007,15:29) Nonetheless, Phuket does get a lot of bad press here and usaully its all about how comercial it is and high cost of tuk tuk and some bad mouth vendors. But is this really enough to justify all the negative comments? I think not.

Fair enough

[Torurot]

C&D was much better location custom wise when it was in Tiger, and Don was in residence. Having the new "Seductions" nightclub upstairs brings some extra customers down the Soi especially with the red carpet leading almost to C&D's front door but same as many of the other smaller side Soi, people just don't want to go down them. Most nights after 2am it is almost empty with C&D girls escaping down to Crocodile as soon as they can. Hard to fill an empty bar at that time of night when places like Crocodile are still full of party people.

Does this mean only Nick has sold his share and Ning Nong?? is still in the business with the new partner??

[Torurot]

The taxi Mafia are even worse now the new one lane system is in. They ARE a legitimate complaint. Imagine Patong with Pataya's Bhat bus system.

[Guest]

Well I have a house in Phuket and I agree with everybody. Patong is way too commercial and the tuk tuk drivers are arseholes. However you can find whatever you want on Patong, Kata and the other very commercial beaches. However Patong is not Phuket just as Nana is not Bangkok. There are some really great places in Phuket. I agree Naiharn where I have the villa and Lam Sing as mentioned earlier in this forum are fantastic and not commercial. Phuket is like everywhere else, foillow the crowds and be dissapointed. AS for LB's there are lots and they have just opened a LB massage parlour for those looking for day time action. When I have checked it out I will let you all know. I am off to C&D tonite so will see what's going on and also give an update....

[Guest]

Well as Ziggy Stardus said, the two bars opposite C&D which are in the same interior area have closed leaving lots of room. I went there at 9pm but just a group of the usual suspects, tourists attracted by the show that goes on at 10 and 11pm. Pretty crap and the selection of LB's was not very good. They were also more agressive than before. I was offered a short time hotel for 700 Baht....nice room she said! For that price it would have to be a fucking palace!
It is OK I suppose and may be better around midnight, I will try to check it out. Soi Crocodlie much more activity but just swamped with tourists. Cannot beat Nana.
Did not find out where the LB massage place is though. Last time a group of LB's were handing our visiting crads but none around last night. Will try to update as soon as I have any info. If anybodies down in Phuket over the next week or so, drop me a line on this thread.