Phuket family hotel ideas

lovesgshp

mutley74 wrote: »

Chose Phuket as it had better flight options to Phuket and From (to BK). Where else would you choose?

Surely it cant all be that bad?
Is Kata or Karon all Russian run?

There is a very large influx of russians there now.
If you want a beach holiday, then maybe Koh Samui, or get off the island and go to the Phang Nga bay area. It is much nicer.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293920-d317707-Reviews-Phang_Nga_Bay-Phuket.html
https://www.google.it/search?q=Koh+Lak&client=firefox-a&hs=BBj&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KSWEUZ_jO4nnswbWnYDoDw&ved=0CFcQsAQ&biw=1278&bih=664#client=firefox-a&hs=kq3&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=phang+nga+bay&oq=Phang&gs_l=img.1.0.0l10.251932.259366.0.264354.11.9.0.0.0.1.272.1002.1j5j1.7.0...0.0...1c.1.12.img.XR9Ftq7qY3g&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45960087,d.Yms&fp=7df36174baa4c4c3&biw=1278&bih=664
Or another area over the bridge off Phuket.
https://www.google.it/search?q=Koh+Lak&client=firefox-a&hs=BBj&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KSWEUZ_jO4nnswbWnYDoDw&ved=0CFcQsAQ&biw=1278&bih=664
We have even driven down close to the Malay border, but there is some terrorist activity down there now, so would not advise.

mutley74

lovesgshp wrote: »

There is a very large influx of russians there now.
If you want a beach holiday, then maybe Koh Samui, or get off the island and go to the Phang Nga bay area. It is much nicer.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293920-d317707-Reviews-Phang_Nga_Bay-Phuket.html
https://www.google.it/search?q=Koh+Lak&client=firefox-a&hs=BBj&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KSWEUZ_jO4nnswbWnYDoDw&ved=0CFcQsAQ&biw=1278&bih=664#client=firefox-a&hs=kq3&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=phang+nga+bay&oq=Phang&gs_l=img.1.0.0l10.251932.259366.0.264354.11.9.0.0.0.1.272.1002.1j5j1.7.0...0.0...1c.1.12.img.XR9Ftq7qY3g&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45960087,d.Yms&fp=7df36174baa4c4c3&biw=1278&bih=664
Or another area over the bridge off Phuket.
https://www.google.it/search?q=Koh+Lak&client=firefox-a&hs=BBj&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KSWEUZ_jO4nnswbWnYDoDw&ved=0CFcQsAQ&biw=1278&bih=664
We have even driven down close to the Malay border, but there is some terrorist activity down there now, so would not advise.

Are you mainly referring to Patong for the influx?
surely it cant all be that bad?
wanted to avoid the mega type resorts but a nice hotel in Karon what we initially had in mind. Have any other MSE'ers been there?

(been to Ko Lanta a few years back - nice place but a bit quiet).

adjests

We've just been. We all had a great time. Daughters still missing the fresh fruit and fruit juices - apparently mrs cannot make fruit shakes likel they did in thailand.

stayed at
http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cpbr/index.asp
nice hotel, friendly hotel staff, good food. Beach good, but hotel is at the end of a cover, so swimming in the sea not recommended unless you're a good swimmer. the hotel pools made up for this - including the little jacuzzi in the pool spa which was part of our room.

Food in karon restaurants much much cheaper than then the hotel and very good - but you would expect this.

previous posters are right about Russian tourists and tourist tat catered around them (imitation everything - including a timex watch)

be careful re day trip to phi phi - it's full of tourists so you can't properly appreciate beauty of the islands and very little snorkelling time. food on the day trip so-so.

lovesgshp

This is a hotel we have stayed at twice on Karon beach:
http://www.marinaphuket.com/home.html
Or another good resort round on Rawai:
http://www.baankrating.com/phuket/
Last time wife went there a few years ago, she could not get off the island quick enough, so got a AirAsia flight to Chaing Mai, hired a car and went round the north, apart from staying in a elephant camp for a week, with the hill tribes, or so with son!!!
Remember it is low season now there, so expect some heavy showers!

mutley74

adjests wrote: »

We've just been. We all had a great time. Daughters still missing the fresh fruit and fruit juices - apparently mrs cannot make fruit shakes likel they did in thailand.

stayed at
http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cpbr/index.asp
nice hotel, friendly hotel staff, good food. Beach good, but hotel is at the end of a cover, so swimming in the sea not recommended unless you're a good swimmer. the hotel pools made up for this - including the little jacuzzi in the pool spa which was part of our room.

Food in karon restaurants much much cheaper than then the hotel and very good - but you would expect this.

previous posters are right about Russian tourists and tourist tat catered around them (imitation everything - including a timex watch)

be careful re day trip to phi phi - it's full of tourists so you can't properly appreciate beauty of the islands and very little snorkelling time. food on the day trip so-so.

thanks for your reply, I had almost been put off last niht booking my interim flight to Phuket!
I guess mixed tourists are everywhere, and I have been to BK a few times so used to the tat in some ways!
I notice the Centra park gets good reviews (except for slimey pool slides) but put from staying a big resort that feels like a Thomas Cook place, although appears really nice.
thanks

mutley74

lovesgshp wrote: »

This is a hotel we have stayed at twice on Karon beach:
http://www.marinaphuket.com/home.html
Or another good resort round on Rawai:
http://www.baankrating.com/phuket/
Last time wife went there a few years ago, she could not get off the island quick enough, so got a AirAsia flight to Chaing Mai, hired a car and went round the north, apart from staying in a elephant camp for a week, with the hill tribes, or so with son!!!
Remember it is low season now there, so expect some heavy showers!

Marinaphuket is closed in June

How about Kamala beach - any good or too quiet? (want some choice for restaurants as my son can be fussy 11yr old!)

Mr_Wang

mutley74 wrote: »

Marinaphuket is closed in June

How about Kamala beach - any good or too quiet? (want some choice for restaurants as my son can be fussy 11yr old!)

We stayed at Pacific club in Karon, about a 15min walk from the beach and past a 7/11 en route.

Nice enough place, owner is a bit of a knob. But decent place.

lovesgshp

mutley74 wrote: »

Marinaphuket is closed in June

How about Kamala beach - any good or too quiet? (want some choice for restaurants as my son can be fussy 11yr old!)

Have never been to Kamala, but it seems a lot of places there are closed for the low season. Bad sea conditions as well.
Shame the marina is closed as that was a lovely hotel.
Hoped son was going to be online on Skype tonight, so I could get some more detailed info, as know time is tight for you. Hopefully will get him tomorrow and get some more information on what is going on over there.

lovesgshp

Just spoken to son in Phuket. He suggests Rawai or Chalong, as says the Russians are everywhere in Kata and Karon !! Despite living there for years, he has not been to Kamala either.
Don't know if this link will help you choose.
http://phuket.sawadee.com/beaches.htm#Kamala

lovesgshp

Just been looking some more, but off the island. Suggested Khao Lak earlier as we had stayed there prior to the Tsunami. The hotel we stayed in was unfortunately wiped out, as we revisited a few years later. This is a really nice one there as we stopped for a meal, to remember how nice it was in the area before the disaster. It is related to the one I linked to on phuket. Off the island, but worth the stay.
http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/phangnga/baankratingkhaolak/