Patong Beach (translated as “banana forest”) was once part of the wilderness, where tourists occasionally sailed. Gradually, the forest was cut down, and in its place the beach infrastructure was created and improved. As a result, Patong has become a full – fledged town and tourist capital, and also the most popular beach on the Thai island of Phuket.
Near Patong, there is everything you need to live and everything that tourists can dream of-except peace and privacy. Just beyond the sandy coastal strip is a one-way highway with very heavy traffic. Behind it runs Thaweewong road (foreign tourists call it Beach Road) with numerous buildings, including a myriad of shops, cafes, restaurants, massage parlors.
Main features of Patong Beach
Patong Beach is located in Thailand, on the island of Phuket, on its south-western side. It is 35 km from the airport and 25 km from Phuket Town.
Patong beach is one of the longest in Phuket – its coastline stretches for 4 km. The width of the beach strip is 30 m. On the south side of Patong (if you face the sea, then on the left) is Tri Trang beach, on the north – Kalim.
Sea entry, waves, tides
Like most beaches in Thailand, Patong Beach is completely sandy. The sand is light and very fine, very gentle – it is pleasant to walk barefoot on it.
The entrance to the water is gentle, without sudden changes in depth. The bottom is sandy, sometimes small shells and pebbles can come across.
The tides on this coast of the Andaman Sea are not very pronounced, so the beach is always cupable. Of course, at low tide, you will have to go a little further from the shore, so that the depth is sufficient for swimming, but this distance is not critical.
During the season (from November to mid-May), there are almost no waves, only occasionally on the northern part of the beach. And when frequent rains come and the wind direction changes (from June to October), there are waves almost constantly.
There are several large areas marked for swimming-they are fenced with yellow buoys. There are lifeguards on duty at Patong Beach all year round.
Number of people
Even in all the advertising photos of Patong beach, you can see how “packed” it is with visitors. Vacationers are mostly young people, but there are a lot of elderly Europeans. Patong has a spacious and comfortable path for strolling with a stroller, but families with children usually choose other beaches in Thailand for recreation.
Purity
Given the huge congestion of Patong Beach, it can be considered quite clean. Although the territory looks somewhat polluted, there are no cigarette butts, stubs, or bottles in the water or on the shore. Public utilities regularly clean up here, but they can’t always handle the huge amount of work on Phuket’s most crowded beach.
The level of cleanliness varies in different seasons and on different sections of Patong Beach:
- The center, located in the area of the Bangla Road party street, is the most crowded and dirty part of the beach. It is here that entertainment points are located, and the hum of water transport is always heard.
- On the north side (starting from the “Patong beach” sign), there are slightly fewer tourists. There is clear, clear water, which is pleasant to swim in.
- No one swims on the south side of Patong Beach. Tourist boats are moored at the very end of the beach area, and a river with sewage flows into the sea near the bridge.
Important to remember: Thailand has a law prohibiting smoking on beaches. Violators will face a fine of 100,000 baht or a 1-year prison sentence.
Natural shade, umbrellas, deck chairs
A little strange, but the closer to the water, the less vegetation becomes, luxuriantly covering the entire area of Patong – only a row of trees stretches between the pedestrian path and the coast. Their shade is absolutely not enough for vacationers to hide from the hot sun.
Therefore, on Patong, as on most beaches in Thailand, you will have to spend money on renting beach equipment. The coast is full of sun beds and umbrellas: 5 zones, each of which has 360 sun beds and 180 umbrellas. For 100 baht per day, you can rent an umbrella and a sunbed.
There are areas where you can lie down on your towel or mat (they are sold for a maximum of 250 baht). But, in some of the most crowded areas of Patong beach, vacationers are simply not given the opportunity to lay towels: they are prevented from lying quietly, their things are touched, provoked in every possible way and literally forced to rent a sunbed.
Showers, changing rooms, toilets
There are no changing rooms on Patong Beach.
Toilet and shower are paid: 5-20 and 20 baht, respectively. There are very few of them on the territory, just in front of the entrance to the beach.
Affordable activities at Patong Beach
Like many beaches in Phuket, Patong pleases vacationers with a variety of entertainment options. Although there are fixed prices, you always need to bargain and discounts are often made. Prices are as follows (in baht):
- jet ski in 30 minutes – 1500 for 1 person, 2000 for two people;
- parasailing (skydiving) – for a child 1200, for an adult 1500;
- banana (tablet) – for an adult 700, for a child 600.
Surfboards can be rented for extreme enthusiasts on Patong Beach. Prices for a regular board and a paddle board, respectively (in baht):
- 1 hour – 200 and 300;
- 2 hours – 300 and 500;
- 3 hours – 450 and 700;
- half-day – 500 and 900;
- Day 1 – 900 and 1500;
- 3 days – 3200 and 3600;
- 5 days – 4000 and 4500;
- week – 4500 and 5000.
There is a nice surf club with artificial waves (address: 162/6-7 Thaweewong Road, Katu, Phuket 83150, Thailand). There are always a lot of people there, but the training is conducted by excellent professional instructors! Flyers are often distributed on the beach, where you can get a discount. Prices are as follows (in local currency):
- 1 hour – 1000;
- 2 hours – 1800;
- 3 hours – 2200.
Tourists vacationing in Patong are taken to the islands of Thailand closest to Phuket. On the islands, wakeboarding is available for tourists: for 2 hours – 950 baht, for the whole day – 1600. A ticket for children costs half as much.
Cafes and restaurants
With so many luxury restaurants, inexpensive cafes and fast food chains like in Patong, it’s hard to be hungry. Many people like to eat in unlimited buffets: just pay the standard amount (about 250 baht) and you can eat as much as you want.
Compared to other island resorts in Thailand, the price of food in Phuket is slightly inflated due to the high popularity of the resort.
Shopping centers and stores
The main and largest shopping center in Patong is Jung Ceylon, located at the intersection of Soi Sansabai and Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Road. In Jang Ceylon, you can buy branded clothing, sports goods, and children’s goods. The shopping center has a movie theater, Strike Bowl bowling club, cheap cafes and expensive restaurants. A light and music show is held in the evening on the central Jung Ceylon Square, where a junk is installed and numerous fountains are working.
On the beach Road Beach Road is the newest shopping center in Patong-Banana Walk. In this complex you can buy branded clothing, jewelry, computer equipment. In Banana Walk, you can improve your mood by visiting the spa, or you can make yourself even more attractive in the hair salon or in the Momento aesthetic center. You can also eat in this shopping center – for this purpose, there are branded restaurants and cafes. The center features an indoor beer garden, where live music is played at night.
Just like everywhere else in Phuket, there are plenty of 7Eleven and Family Mart grocery stores in Patong. Estimated grocery prices in Patong stores (in Thai currency):
- eggs – 40-44;
- 2 liters of milk – 70-90;
- ready-made food (vermicelli or rice with meat – – 30-40;
- cooked fish-121;
- french fries-29;
- cookies – 12-15;
- water (0.5 l) – 7-9;
- mango (1 kg) – 199;
- papaya (1 kg) – 99.
If you want to save money, you need to go shopping at the Super Cheap network hypermarket (where the local population buys up). Prices in Super Cheap are 1.5-2 times lower than in stores. The nearest one to Patong is located at the new Phuket Town bus station – for 30 baht, blue songteo will take you there.
Markets
The best way to experience the true culture of Thailand is to walk around the market, watch the merchants and local shoppers, buy some food for yourself and souvenirs for friends.
As in any market in Thailand, in the markets of Patong, the rule applies: when making a purchase, be sure to bargain!
Banzaan Market
Banzaan Market is a two-story indoor complex located next to Jung Ceylon. Vegetables, fruits and seafood are sold on the 1st floor. There is a food court on the 2nd floor where you can prepare seafood or other food purchased on the 1st floor. There are also a couple of stalls with clothes, souvenirs, cosmetics, various household goods.
The indoor complex is open from 7: 00 to 17: 00, and food vendors set up stalls next to the main building from 17: 00 to 23: 00.
In the indoor market, you can buy food at these prices (indicated in baht):
- pineapples, coconuts (1 piece each – – 60-70;
- mango (1 kg) – 40;
- shrimp (1 kg) – 750-1000;
- crabs (500 g) – 400-750;
- lobster – 1000-1800;
- oysters (1 piece – – 50.
At the night street market, prices are the same (also in the currency of Thailand):
- fruit smoothies 50-60;
- fresh food – 20-40;
- boiled shrimp (5 pieces – – 40;
- grilled shrimp (skewer) – 100;
- chicken skewer – 30;
- tom-yam soup (serving) – 120;
- rolls (1 piece – – 6-7;
- boiled corn (1 piece – – 25;
- ice cream – 100.
Malin Plaza
One of the newest markets in Patong, Malin Plaza, is located on Prachanukhro Road. It is open from 14: 00 to 23: 00.
There are clothes, bags, souvenirs, cosmetics – the range is huge, so there are a lot of buyers. Food stalls are also available. A very large selection of seafood that can be immediately prepared. All the food is very tasty, everything is always fresh.
Since Malin Plaza is aimed at tourists, the prices here are slightly higher than at Banzaan Market.
OTOP Market
The OTOP market is located at Rat U Thit 200 Pee Road and is open every day from 10: 00 to 24: 00.
Here they go for various souvenirs, including handmade products. Clothing is also available, but only inexpensive consumer goods for recreation: swimsuits for 200-300 baht, shorts and T-shirts for 100, glasses and hats for 50.
It is here that you can buy aloe gel at the best prices – the most effective remedy for sunburn.
Of course, OTOP Market has bars and restaurants where you can have a delicious meal.
Loma Market
Loma Market is located on Beach Road, opposite Phuket’s namesake Park. It is open every day from 12: 00 to 23: 00.
This market is a grocery store, offering visitors a variety of Thai food. A lot of seafood that can also be prepared here.
Prices are approximately the same as at Malin Plaza.
Hotels
A huge advantage of Patong beach in Phuket is a large selection of housing, from cheap guesthouses to expensive hotels. Even in high season, accommodation is always available, but the best options, as in other resorts in Thailand, must be booked in advance.
If you compare with other places in Thailand and Phuket, then the prices for housing in Patong are quite reasonable. For example, a room in a guesthouse can be rented for only 400-450 baht per day. A hotel room with a convenient location will cost more-from 2000 baht per day. A 10-minute drive from the beach (by motorbike), you can rent a nice house for 11000-13000 baht per month.
The array with guesthouses and hotels is not located on the first line, but very close to the beach.
Massage parlors
Massage parlors on Patong beach are not less than cafes and restaurants, so it will not be difficult to find them. It is generally accepted that the best massage therapists work at 4* and 5* hotels, but this is not entirely true: there are good professionals in almost every salon, the main thing is to find “your” master.
Immediately it is worth noting that everything that is offered on the beach is not serious, and does not always benefit. Especially you need to take care of the spine!
We need to tell you more about the prices, and it is worth clarifying that traditional Thai massage is always the cheapest. The average price at which it is offered to be made is as follows (the currency of Thailand is indicated):
- in hotels and special spas – 600-800;
- in the salons located in close proximity to the beach – 400-500 rubles.;
- in the salons that are located on the 3rd, 4th line from the beach, – 200-250.
If you liked the quality of the massage, especially if you plan to continue visiting the salon, it is customary for massage therapists to leave tips in the amount of 40-50 baht.
Many tourists recommend the institution Emotion Day (address: Rat U thit 200 Pi Rd., Patong, Katu, Phuket 83150, Thailand). The interior is not luxury, but everything is very decent, neat and clean. The craftsmen are nice and friendly. Prices – 200-250 baht for 1 hour of Thai massage.
When choosing a massage parlor, you need to take into account that there are also those that work as a cover for prostitutes. Usually, right on the street, girls dressed in uniform of the same color, strenuously invite tourists (usually men) for a massage. If you need a regular massage – you don’t need to approach them.
Nightlife in Patong
In the evenings, the area near Patong Beach looks like a solid hangout. The epicenter is Bangla Road, where traffic is blocked from 18:00. The concentration of entertainment facilities per 1 m2 on Bangla Road is literally off the scale: discos, bars, night clubs with “go-go shows”and striptease. Deafening music sounds from every restaurant, girls in revealing clothes compulsively invite you to come in at every door, noisy barkers poke you right in the face with porn show ads. Many nightspots are free of charge if you buy a drink. On Bangla Road, you can take a photo with a ladyboy – many people like to have such an original photo from Patong Beach in Phuket as a keepsake.
Simon Cabaret, located on the south side of Patong Beach (8 Sirirach Rd), is well known and popular among tourists. It hosts Thailand’s biggest drag queen show – a vibrant musical with dances and songs to the soundtrack, with impressive sets and special effects. The 1-hour show starts every day at 18: 00, 19: 30 and 21: 00. At the ticket office, a ticket costs 700-800 baht, and some travel agencies offer them cheaper by 50-100 baht.
Conclusion
Patong Beach is a bustling, youth-friendly area with plenty of entertainment options. It is ideal for lovers of parties and noisy parties, for seekers of sexual adventures.
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