I was really dismayed with Patong, Maya Bay, Bangla Road, and everything about Phuket but I gave it a second chance. And it wasn’t bad at all because I definitely enjoyed this second visit.
After the strenuous Annapurna trek we did in Nepal, Rowjie and I still have eight days to make the most out of our 2013 trip abroad before going back to the Philippines. I don’t know why I heard Phuket screaming for a bittersweet revenge but I heeded it. I just found myself booking flights to this famous tourist spot of Thailand yet again.
Knowing how Patong rolls, we decided to stay in Kata Beach which is a little farther. It was a great decision since this part of Phuket is a lot better in several ways. Cleaner beach, more peaceful, breezy, the place doesn’t look too populated. I can go on enumerating more things I like about Kata Beach but this will just cause you death due to boredom.
So here, let me just list some of the basics about Kata.
What to do : For gawd’s sake, you’re in Kata, one of the nicest beaches in Phuket. Head out to the beach and swim, it’s free! Enjoy the waves! Once you’re tired, you can just lay a blanket or towel on the shore and sunbathe for a while. Or if you’re a little underbudget, you can rent a beach chair with umbrella for THB 200 and buy a can of beer for THB 40 from one of the stalls within the road side of the beach. If you’re into surfing, there’s also a surfhouse-cum-bar in the road side of the beach with a flow rider that’ll let you surf regardless of the weather. Other activities include paragliding, jet skiing, and just doing nothing.
Where to eat : Food is never a problem in Kata. There are a lot of restaurants and cafeterias that could satisfy your gastronomic cravings. Cheapest decent set of meal we found costs THB 50 from one of the small eateries in Kata called Home’s Food. We burned THB 400 for dinner during our last night. Cold iced coffee, pancakes, crepe, and pad thai from food mobiles are always a must-try.
Where to stay : Kata Beach is relatively small and there’s only one huge resort in front of it called Club Med. From the looks of it, its rate may be as much as our Shangri-La here in the Philippines. But don’t fret because there are hundreds of lodges, hotels, and resorts that will suit your budget. And as a general rule, the farther the cheaper. We stayed in Kata Orient House ($300 THB/night), which is a good five-minute walk from the beach.
How to go there : Unfortunately, public transportation in Phuket isn’t that popular. From the airport, you need to either hire a private car or wait for a van (they call it mini-bus) be filled with 10 people before it leaves. I don’t know how much a private ride costs but you’ll be shelling out THB 200 as your fare for the mini-bus. Rate differs according to the drop-off point. But I say it’s all worth it because you’ll be dropped off on where you’re staying, which will save you the hassle of finding something unfamiliar when you’re all tired from a long flight.
If budget, time, and husband permit, I’d go back here over and over again. I once again fell in love with Phuket. ♥
Second time is indeed a charm. 🙂
Agree! Glad I didn’t close my doors to possibilities of going back to Phuket. 🙂
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