Enjoying Patong Beach: A Phuket Hotspot

If you’re visiting Phuket, you owe yourself the chance to visit Patong Beach, which is one of the area’s most famous spots for beach relaxation and exceptional nightlife. The beach is lined by restaurants and bars, with the neon-lit Bangla Road its beating heart. Excellently located for nearby resorts, Patong offers soft, sandy shores and beautifully clear waters, as well as proximity to the popular Jungceylon shopping mall. Let’s take a look at all the reasons you should make Patong Beach a must-see destination.

Patong is located on Phuket’s western coast, and its location means that even getting there offers a chance to be beguiled by the marvellous views. To reach the beach in Patong, your first task is getting to Phuket, which is well served by internal and international flights to Phuket International Airport. From there, there are shuttles or cabs that will take you the 45-minute ride to Patong.

Once you’ve arrived in Patong, the shores are waiting for you, with many people dubbing Freedom Beach the best beach in Patong. The area itself is very walkable, so once you’ve located your accommodation and made your plans for the trip, it’s time to set out on foot - or flag down a tuktuk - and get to enjoying the attractions.

You will not be short of things to do when visiting Patong Beach - it’s a real tourist hot-spot that offers the idyllic seafront experience. The beach is excellently located for an almost endless range of attractions that include shops and restaurants as well as open markets. Between the beach and the promenade, however, there are the coconut palms and tropical almond trees that indicate you’re in a secluded coastal resort where you can relax and enjoy the sights and sounds.

If you’re looking for a holiday filled with activity, then Patong has something for you. In fact, to put it more accurately, it has a lot of somethings. Parasailing and jetski rides are just a couple of the marine activities that will keep your interest up. There are also boat rides for a range of purposes, from sight-seeing to thrill-seeking, and the brilliant turquoise sea will call to you from the moment you step on the beach.

Once you’ve stepped off the beach and are looking for some refreshments, you won’t run short of choices when it comes to eating and drinking. Some excellent restaurants stud the coastline, offering plenty of choice when it comes to fresh seafood, with lobster a particular local speciality. If you’re not that keen on the fruits of the sea, though, there is a wide range of international cuisines; options are available to suit all palates and budgets.

With so many things to see and do, Patong Beach is an ideal place to base yourselves for the duration of a Phuket break. It’s good to know that there are plenty of hotels in Patong that will suit your needs for a short or longer stay. There are countless options, but some of the best are:
 

• Mövenpick Myth Hotel Patong Phuket: The design of this majestic hotel harks back to the times of King Rama V, with architecture that would not have looked out of place during his late-19th Century reign. With 235 rooms and suites, and a private pool, it’s an ideal spot to relax in, just 15 minutes from the beach and with the exceptional A Vida spa on site. There’s also an excellent art deco hotel serving a range of cuisines.
  
  
• Grand Mercure Phuket Patong: The poolside villas at this opulent hotel are just one of many fine touches that make it an ideal choice for couples or young families. Although close to the nightlife that rages all along Bangla Road, the Grand Mercure is secluded enough to provide a space away from the noise. There are plenty of fun activities and set menus for the kids, too, making it a real family-friendly spot.
  
  
• Avista Hideaway Phuket Patong - MGallery: If you’re looking for a boutique experience which will take the breath away, then the hillside MGallery Avista will score highly on all fronts. Architecturally stunning, it’s located in the perfect place to offer views from above on all of Patong’s glory. Two rooftop restaurants, including the tented Tambu, an Indian fine dining experience, offer the perfect chance to eat while watching the sun set over the ocean.
   

There is, without a doubt, something for everybody within a short walk of Patong Beach. Whatever your priority, you can find something that suits it down to the last word. Families, couples and solo travellers will all be delighted with the accommodation on offer.

Whether you want to raise your adrenaline levels, or bring them down, you’ll be spoiled for choice if you’re staying in the best hotels in Patong Beach. Thrill-seekers can book in to experience parasailing or snorkelling among other aquatic pursuits, while those who are seeking comfort (or have just made the most of the thrilling opportunities) can stay on solid ground and benefit from yoga classes or excellent massages to soothe tension from everyday life.

As night falls and the attention turns to more of a party vibe, Bangla Road is dotted with clubs that are well worth visiting to let your hair down. You can choose from any one of dozens, but the most popular in the area include Armania, with its strong roster of quality DJs and excellent light shows. You may also like to try out Suzy Wong’s, which has one of the friendliest vibes you’ll find anywhere in Phuket, or anywhere else.

A more chilled way of passing the nights may be to head for nearby more secluded beaches such as Tri Trang or Paradise Beach. These beaches are quieter and more relaxed, and the nightspots nearby follow that vibe if you just want a few quiet drinks and the chance to cool off.

Patong Beach isn’t just for the hedonists, of course, it offers plenty for family parties who want a more chilled-out holiday. Sea kayaking and a chance to introduce the kids to surfing are worthwhile things to do while here, while flowboarding is hugely popular among youngsters who aren’t convinced of their ability to stay on a surfboard. In addition, there are a number of diverting waterparks in the area, with Splash Jungle standing out among the very best.

There are also kids’ clubs to be enjoyed at some of the best hotels on Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand. The Grand Mercure Phuket Patong and Mövenpick Myth Hotel Patong Phuket in particular have activities laid on for kids, as well as offering family rooms to increase the communal feel of the break. These locations also go to great lengths to add a child-friendly menu at their dining locations and have family pools for guests.

You could easily dine in a different restaurant every night of your stay and never get bored of the options available. Indeed, the Accor hotels highlighted above offer some of the best dining opportunities in the region, so you don’t even need to go far to enjoy fine dining. However when you venture beyond the grounds of your accommodation, you’ll find there are plenty of exceptional options offering a range of global cuisines elsewhere around Patong Beach.

The highly affordable Cappadocia, a Turkish restaurant with numerous grilled dishes, is a well-loved institution in the area, scoring high among visitors for service, price, quality and overall ambience. A Western cuisine is on offer at Naughty Nuri’s, with the smoked ribs winning particularly positive reviews. More traditional Thai fare including grilled fish is the speciality at Royal Kitchen, where curious holidaymakers should certainly try classics such as Pad Thai noodles and Tom Yum soup.

As we’ve seen, there are countless reasons you would want to go to Patong Beach, from the superb views of the pristine ocean to the soft sands, and from the thrill-seeking activities to the relaxation opportunities via excellent nightlife and delicious food. Whether there’s one, two, or several people in your travelling party you’re sure to find everything you need on a break in this splendid part of Phuket.

One last word for those who are interested in visiting Patong Beach; the best time of year to go would be between November and April. While the area is stunning and fun at all times, the turn of the year brings less likelihood that you’ll be there during a monsoon. These torrential storms are part of the intrigue of Phuket, but they do make it hard to enjoy all that the destination has to offer.

So if you want a holiday that is as close to perfect as breaks get, your next step must be to check out some of the excellent Accor hotels in the area and begin to plan your own trip to Patong Beach.