Phuket's Patong Beach where one can easily find cheap massages, barbequed sweet corns, cheap necklaces and probably future wives.
Back in October when Bearbear was having his autumn holiday, we took the opportunity to go island hopping. From Singapore, it only takes about 2 hours to fly to Phuket.
Phuket is the largest island of Thailand, approximately the size of Singapore. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea.
This time we chose to stay at Amari Coral Beach Resort which is located at the quiet end of Phuket’s most popular beach, Patong.
Amari simply blowed my mind away from the moment I set foot on the resort until I left. I was there for a short break (approx. 1 week) with Petty and Bearbear. We stayed in one of the suites overlooking the smaller pool. The room was clean. The staff were ever smiling and willing to assist you.
View from our suite overlooking the smaller pool.
On the day we checked in, to my disappointment I noticed that the hand shower at the bathtub didn't work. A couple of light bulbs also needed changing. But all this was fixed as soon as I called housekeeping.
A room with a view. Shame for the f*cking weather.
Ocean view is abundant in Amari. Every room here has ocean view!
The hotel is tucked away, sitting on a hillside away from the busy Patong main beach. I personally think that staying in Amari is just perfect - you are away from the noise at Patong main beach but you are also near enough to get there.
Getting a taxi from the hotel will cost you Baht 200 one way (USD 5.70) which I think is a bit pricey for such a short journey. But then you can always walk to Patong Beach. It's only 5 mins away!
However, this hotel is not good for disabled people and guests with babies. As it sits on a hillside, there are lots and lots of steps to walk! It will be a problem to push baby stroller all the way to the breakfast table.
Very calm and clean water. Good for a dip. But some people choose to fish instead.
On the plus side, the hotel is beautifully landscaped, planted with lots of tropical flowers. At night, when the lights are on, the beauty of the hotel property comes out. This is, I must say, one of the most romantic hotels I've stayed in.
Amari also plays with your senses. Scented oil made from lemongrass, lavender, jasmine and eucalyptus are placed in all the public toilets and changing areas. I was so impressed by it all I even bought a few bottles of scented oil and a burner to bring home. You need a burner to burn the scented oil.
Hotel's poolside food is excellent but choices are quite limited. After staying here for a few days we were forced to repeat our orders.
The hotel food is excellent. You must try La Gritta Italian restaurant. It's pricey, even by European standard, but the setting by the sea is worth every penny of it. It's so romantic it makes you want to weep for the sheer beauty of it all.
Looking at the jetty from a distance.
To top it off, the hotel has a jetty which is within walking distance. Don't be put off by the walking distance - it's just a gentle walk. It's a must for hotel guest. There are deckchairs on the jetty and there is a bar too. From here you can jump into the sea or do a bit of snorkeling.
I'm quite impressed by this jetty. Not crowded here as most hotel guests are too lazy to walk the distance from the hotel.
One word of advice - do not rely on the hotel for entertainment. The lounge singers at the Lobby Bar were not so good during our stay there - giggling nervously while singing. One gets the impression that they're so amateurish. Oh, but then, if you need 'real' entertainment you can always go to Patong where there are lots and lots of go go bars with endless supply of hot girls.
Patong's night life (credit to Boon and Thing)
In my next post I'll show you more pics of Phuket seen through the eyes of a 5 years old. Stay tuned.
Posts
