It may be hard to imagine, but there are still plenty of hidden gems to be found in Phuket. Kamala beach, on the western shores of the Thai holiday treasure, is one of those unspoilt spots locals and a few tourists are trying hard to keep secret. Kamala’s relative distance from the almost overly-famous Patong has ensured it retains an authentic and relaxing atmosphere, and the beach offers the discerning traveller an unperturbed and blissful vacation. Book your holiday rental villa on Kamala beach when next visiting Thailand and enjoy a corner of heaven most others have yet to discover. Kamala beach attractions Kamala Temple is the spiritual centre of the village, and a gorgeous seaside temple for the visitor to explore. While the temple was almost completely reconstructed after the Boxing Day tsunami, the temple site is very ancient, and is still revered for its historical and cultural importance. At the Wat Baan Kamala you can admire colourful and intricate paintings, Buddha statues and a gorgeous bell tower. Just don’t forget to dress conservatively, no matter how hot it gets! At the other end of the Kamala spectrum is one of Phuket’s most popular tourist attractions, which attracts crowds from all over ...

Bang Tao is one of the most desirable beaches in Phuket. Actually, make that Thailand. The beach seems to stretch endlessly here, and the town’s transformation from small tin mining hub to superlative resort destination draws in families and couples who don’t mind being just a tad protected from the boisterous crowds of Patong. If sun bathing, swimming and relaxing is on the agenda for your next Thailand vacation, then you may just have discovered your little corner of paradise. While Bang Tao is mostly associated with the enormous Laguna Resort, keep in mind that this only takes up the northern corner of the beach, leaving you with plenty of kilometres of pristine beach at your disposal. Yes, whole kilometres! Bang Tao Beach holiday rentals apartments are varied and offer tourists brilliant options to suit all tastes and budgets. From opulent villas to more subdued lofts, you’ll find the best of Phuket right on the sparkling shores of this magnificent beach. Only one question remains however: if this is THE place to worship the sun and enjoy the surf, what does one do when it rains? The answer is quite simple: loads! From spending a day in a spa, to taking ...

As your aircraft approaches Phuket island off Thailand’s south-western flank you observe at least three different shades of the water below. Just as you’re taking in this surreal sight, your partner, grabbing your arm, hisses, “I think we’re diving straight into the sea!” Thankfully, before she starts screaming, the plane lands on the runway barely 200 metres shy of the great blue yonder. After checking into your Patong Beach rental, the two of you do a brief recce of the place and find it chock-a-block with boutiques, eateries, pubs, massage parlours and the ubiquitous tour operators waving their mind-boggling assortments of Phuket experiences, bungee-jumping to scuba-diving. The same evening you decide to catch the much-ballyhooed Simon Cabaret. Now you’ve heard it’s performed by the famed Ladyboys of Thailand so you go in expecting close-shaven drag queens crooning in falsetto. But what voluptuous figures? What delicate faces and dulcet voices? Are these people really transvestites? For ninety minutes you sit spellbound by the choreography, the costumes and the lilting music. Lined up for the next morning is the Phuket city tour. Sharp at ten, a Toyota van picks you up from your hotel and races southwards, forging through thick tropical vegetation ...

Due to its sheltered position, Chalong Bay has evolved into the main boat harbour (and scuba diving centre) on Phuket. Here are some of the wonderful destinations you reach from here in the morning, then be back by the evening to enjoy a sundowner cocktail. Lon Island (or Koh Lon) lies only 20 minutes from Chalong Bay. It is where the majority of the Muslim community of the southern islands live, and is famed for beautiful beaches. Coral Island (or Koh Hae) is another little stunner with three fabulous beaches, crystalline waters and lush, tropical interior. It lies on the threshold of Phang Nga Bay national park, one of the most breathtaking seascapes in the world. The islets of Phi-Phi were one of the worst hit in the terrible tsunami of 2004 and although re-building has been swift, that should be good enough reason to visit this beautiful location and support the local economy. Phi Phi offers wonderful scuba diving and snorkelling and fine white sandy beaches. One of them was used as location for the ultimate paradise-lost film ‘The Beach’. Koh Racha are actually two islands; Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi (meaning ‘big’ and ‘little’). Closest to Calong Bay and Phuket ...

Food is an integral part of any trip to Thailand. Thai is one of the world’s great cuisines, now exported to most parts of the world. And whilst you may love its aromatic and pungent flavours at your favourite Thai restaurant back home, a trip to Thailand will extend your appreciation even further. Cooking classes have taken off all over Thailand. In Phuket Town one of the most respected cookery courses is run by Pat Tienthong, a native who spent many years in California working as a chef. Although Pat imparts her knowledge on traditional Thai dishes, her classes take place in a modern kitchen in her beautiful Phuket home, and after enjoying your own meal you’ll be able to relax in her lush garden. (Tel. + 66 (0) 76 263 366) for reservations). Just outside of Phuket Town, the Phuket Thai Cookery School digs deeper, offering one to five day courses that include an introduction to Thai ingredients and a market tour. After preparing the dishes, they are eaten by the students on communal tables in front of a beautiful private beach. Perhaps you already know a bit about Thai food and want to give it a go ...

Phuket is a large island and transport is definitely necessary for getting around - you couldn't walk from one end to the other. There are various means of transport you can take - some safer than others - if you decide not to rent a car or jeep to get from and to your Phuket holiday villa. MOTORCYCLE TAXISProbably the cheapest mode of transport for getting around the island is the motorcycle taxi. As you walk down the streets, taxi riders often call out offering their services. If you do decide to go by motorcycle taxi, it is advisable to get the fare for a journey confirmed in advance. It is also important to choose a motorcycle taxi driver who is licensed and is wearing a green vest with a number printed on it. Most important of all: wear shoes and wear a helmet. TUK TUKS ON PHUKETThe Tuk Tuks in Phuket are larger than the Tuk Tuks in Bangkok and have four wheels. They can take up to eight very slim passengers but they are expensive to use. It is important to get the fee confirmed in advance as even short journeys can seem extortionate. It is also equally ...

Here are some excellent shops you should check-out during your holiday in Phuket, Kata Beach. The main shopping street in Kata offers imitation goods and souvenirs for tourists... but a few shops will delight you. NO NAME SHOP The shop has no name but you can find it 100 meters from the T-junction with the beach on your right hand of the main street. In this shop you will find very special goods like silk cushion covers, wooden games and creations made by used motorcycle parts. SHOE SHOPS AND SUPERMARKETSOn both sides of the T-junction you will find two shoe shops with a lot of different shoes like high heels, beachwear and sneakers. In this area are also two supermarkets. ADIDASThe southern shopping area of Kata is the area from Kata Beach Resort to Mom Tri’s Boathouse Wine and Grill. An Adidas shop at the opposite of the Kata Beach Resort offers very low prices. OPTICIANS AND NEWSPAPERSIn the southern shopping area you will also find several opticians who offer brands like Polaroid and Versace for a very low price. The shop Pop Mart offers up to date international newspapers. Photo Credit: Rene Ehrhardt | Holiday Velvet has many Phuket holiday rentals ...

Looking for an idyllic, 3 miles of fine white sand beach with crystal clear sea? That would be Phuket's Karon Beach. Located 45 minutes away from Phuket International Airport, it has bars, restaurants and shopping centers. The southern end has a fine coral reef stretching around the small headland into Kata Yai and Pu Island. Karon is nicely spread out and has a charming village feel to it.Here is a 5 minute video of the beach and the village behind it. Photo Credit: almost marvelous | Holiday Velvet has many Phuket vacation rentals and Karon Beach Villas.

The weather in Phuket has two different seasons, the dry season and the rainy season with transitional periods in between. These wet and dry seasons are created by the tropical monsoon. For the whole year the average temperature is between 24 and 34 degrees. The water temperatures range from 26 until 28 degrees. THE DRY SEASON: December to MarchThe dry season starts in December and ends in March. In this period there is a cool breezes from the northeast. This is the high season for tourism in Phuket. The dry season is when the climate in Phuket is at its best. TRANSITIONAL PERIODS: April & NovemberThe transitional periods takes about a month and in this period the weather is very variable and hard to predict. These transitional months are April and November. April is the hottest month of the year. November is cooler and quite wet. THE RAINY SEASON: June to OctoberThe rainy season starts in June and ends in October. This season is the southwest monsoon period. The strong winds brings Phuket warm air from the Indian Ocean and a lot of rain. This is the low season for tourism in Phuket. The average rainfall in Phuket is about 2500mm. ...