Patong

Patong occupies a three-kilometre bay on Phuket's west coast, roughly forty-five minutes from the airport by road over the Kathu hill. It is the island's denses…Patong occupies a three-kilometre bay on Phuket's west coast, roughly forty-five minutes from the airport by road over the Kathu hill. It is the island's densest concentration of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops, and the place most first-time visitors base themselves.

The beach road, Thaweewong, runs the length of the sand and carries the beachfront hotels, the Patong OTOP market and the seafood restaurants at the Kalim end. One block inland, Rat Uthit is the main north-south artery, with Jungceylon shopping centre, the Banzaan fresh market and the bulk of the mid-range hotel stock. Bangla Road cuts between the two and is the island's main nightlife strip, closed to traffic in the evening and lined with beer bars, clubs and cabaret venues.

Patong Beach itself is the busiest on the island, with rentable loungers, parasailing and jet skis in the high season. The northern Kalim end is rockier and quieter, with a headland viewpoint on the road towards Kamala. Peak season runs November through April; the southwest monsoon from May to October brings surf and red-flag days, and a portion of the beach-sports trade pauses.