KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

Going up end of this month to Phuket near Patong for the first time.

Any tips or advice for family fun-filled activities?

hmsg wrote:Going up end of this month to Phuket near Patong for the first time.

Any tips or advice for family fun-filled activities?

We were there in 2006, and stayed at the Patong Merlin Hotel. We took a taxis to our htl from the airport, and at the same time arranged with the taxis driver to fetch us back frm the hotel on our departure day. Remember to take down the taxis phone number/name.
Has for day trips, would highly recommend the JOHN GRAY'S SEA CANOE STARLIGHT TOUR'. It is a whole day trip, and they pick you up from the hotel It is slightly costly then other trips. Its quality which counts. They bring you to a couple of islands, and u canoe together with their staffs. We canoe into the caves, the kids will enjoy it. My daughter (3yrs then) did this tour and she had a ball of a time.
For city tours, try to arrange with the taxis drivers outside your hotel. They might give you a good rate, or walk along Patong and you will see alot of travel shops, they may be able to help you.
Hope that you will have a good time in Phuket.
Bel

Thanks, the canoeing trip sounds interesting... 3yo canoeing??? wow...

hmsg wrote:Thanks, the canoeing trip sounds interesting... 3yo canoeing??? wow...

She just sits there, and enjoy the scenery. The staff was rowing the canoe.
OoOps I forgot to mention, they also bring you into the bats cave and also, in the night abt 7pm into one of the caves where you light up the candle and float it away in the water. They provide lunch/Dinner on board the boat.

mum03 wrote:

hmsg wrote:Thanks, the canoeing trip sounds interesting... 3yo canoeing??? wow...

She just sits there, and enjoy the scenery. The staff was rowing the canoe.
OoOps I forgot to mention, they also bring you into the bats cave and also, in the night abt 7pm into one of the caves where you light up the candle and float it away in the water. They provide lunch/Dinner on board the boat.

this will indeed be a memorable experience... let me check it out when there...

There are many roadside tour desks along the shops at Patong beach. Just go up to these and see check out the tours and activities that are available. We did the sea canoe too but not with John Gray. I can't remember the name of the company but it was real good fun. Going into the caves or 'hongs' as the Thais call it, is a wonderful experience. We all had to lay flat on our backs so as to enter the caves (small cave opening) while our guide paddled the canoe. Torchlights will also be given as it is pitch dark. In there, you can shine your torch up and look at the thousands of bats hanging from the roof of the cave. We could smell the bat poo too.

Lunch was served on board the boat. Very good spread and delicious. We each had a fresh coconut too. Entertainment on the way back was provided by the crew and it was hilarious. Do go for this. Don't miss it.

We also did a safari tour, which included elephant ride, canoeing, monkey show, buffalo ride,etc.

In addition to the above, we also went for the ATV (all terrain vehicle) ride. You can tumpang your kids behind you if they are too young to ride on their own. But be prepared to get all muddy because the guide will bring you through bumpy, muddy, sandy trails.

If you like shooting, there's the Phuket Shooting Range. My boy had a good time there. He had a whale of a time playing paintball too.

For shopping, there is a fairly new shopping centre at Patong called Jungceylon. It's a huge shopping centre. I was there a few weeks ago but didn't have the time to walk the whole place. Next time perhaps.... Another smaller shopping centre is the Central Festival Mall. But have to take a tuk-tuk or taxi. Don't ask me how much cos I can't remember, sorry.

You can also check out http://www.phuket.com. Hope the above helps.

hmsg wrote:Going up end of this month to Phuket near Patong for the first time.

Any tips or advice for family fun-filled activities?

For me Patong is the worst possible place for a "family fun-filled activities". There are so many nice beaches around Patong and I hope that what you say that is "near" is one of those I have in mind. For kids I definitely would recommend to go to the oceanographic institute at the southern tip of Phuket. You can also have a tour on a real oceanographic research boat. My kids really like it. The best way to visit Phuket is to hire the Tuk-Tuk for the full day. It shoudl cost you no more than 600-800 Bht. Ask the tuk-tuk driver to drive to a local seafood restaurant - you can eat delicious and fresh seafood there for half the price.

Going up end of this month to Phuket near Patong for the first time.

Any tips or advice for family fun-filled activities?

Why not try Karon or Kata Beach which are nearby? The beaches are cleaner and clearer compared to Patong Beach. As for shopping, can try Jungceylon at Patong Beach. I haven't been to this mall but i heard the optics are very cheap. http://www.jungceylon.com/

For kids, can try the elephant ride (30min) through the jungle. We tried it and found it very memorable. In case you are not aware, the price can be negotiated. At first they wanted to charge us 2,400baht for 2A 1C. That's the 'published' rate. However, our driver was kind enough to help us bargain to 1,500baht !

As for transport, we rented a taxi (a MPV) at 800baht for abt 3 hrs. Just tell him where you want to go, and he will drive you all round phuket.

Oh, must also go to the Karon View Point where u get to see a breathtaking view of the beach.

We stayed in Holiday Inn Patong. Nice hotel but the beach is not fantastic. We do like to walk around the shops located in Patong buying souvenirs and bric brac. Taking tuk tuk is an experience itself.

One big mistake I learnt is to always bargain for everything. I booked a trip to Rang Yai Island through a travel agent located in the hotel. Thinking that a travel agent in the hotel is reputable, giving a good price, we bought the package without much thought until we talked to a fellow Singaporean staying in the same hotel. So, always negotiate. And, do give Rang Yai island a miss. The island is infested with snakes. Huge ones and I can hear the rattle snake miles away, while walking along the island.

softmatsg wrote:For kids I definitely would recommend to go to the oceanographic institute at the southern tip of Phuket. You can also have a tour on a real oceanographic research boat. My kids really like it.

Hi softmatsg,

can you elaborate more on the Oceanographic Institute? How do we go there? Does the tour operator organise trips there? What do you do at the place?

Thanks.