Saturday, October 16, 2021

Amazing Temples on Phuket Island

Wat Chalong (วัดฉลอง), also known as Wat Chaiyathararam (วัดไชยธาราราม): It is dedicated to two monks, Luang Pho Chaem (หลวงพ่อแช่ม) and Luang Pho Chuang (หลวงพ่อช่วง), who with their knowledge of herbal medicine helped the injured of a Chinese tin miners rebellion in 1876. The 60 meters tall Chedi shelters a splinter of bone from Buddha. From the top floor terrace you have an amazing view.






Phuket Big Buddha: Phuket Big Buddha, or The Great Buddha of Phuket, is a seated Maravija Buddha statue 45 metres tall. Its official name is Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri (พระพุทธมิ่งมงคลเอกนาคคีรี), shortened to Ming Mongkol Buddha. Its the main Buddha of the Wat Kitthi Sankaram temple (Wat Kata).




Wat Khao Rang (วัดเขารังสามัคคีธรรม ภูเก็ต): There is a large golden sitting Buddha




Jui Tui Shrine or Jui Tui Tao Bo Geng (อ๊ามจุ้ยตุ่ยเต้าโบ้เก้ง): Chinese temple near Phuket's main market. Originally, "Jui" in Chinese means water. "Tui," means a white mortar. In the past, a wide canal was situated in front of the shrine. This shrine usually holds the vegetarian festival where Phuket people, Chinese and Thai people participate together with the Chinese Opera Troupe.











Sunday, September 12, 2021

SHA plus Hotels in Phuket: Good reviews and not so good ones

The Phuket Sandbox program allows you to stay at hotels and guesthouses with the SHA Plus certificate. See the list here.

See the locations on Phuket Hotels and Guesthouses SHA Plus Google Map. On the map hotels recommended by international travel experts and guests are marked with the stars ***.


Phuket Town

*** Casa Blanca Boutique Hotel - SHA plus: Very good reviews on tripadvisor. telegraph.co.uk recommends the superior rooms, because they are not situated at the street side, but at the back side, where you also find a small swimming pool.






@9: Soi Rommanee. Read, what Amyogeek writes about it and see her photos.


Casa 104: 104 Yaowarat Road. Phone: 086-0241907. Café and Guesthouse. "The scarlet red interior of the entire ground floor area screams at ambling passersby to wander inside", wrote Phuket Gazette. Owner Chawalit Rattanachinakorn, a fashion designer, said, he wanted to pay homage to Mediterranean interior design concepts. See picture by al_Khemist


The Memory at On On Hotel: 19 Phang Nga. Phuket's first hotel in Sino-Portuguese architectural style (1927), starring in the movie The Beach, where it stood for a dilapidated guesthouse in Bangkok, as travelfish.org notes. "The rooms are uncomfortable. Fluorescent light from the hallways streams into the rooms all night long, the walls are paper-thin and the corridors noisy", warns travelfish.org. Many guests estimate the historic charm of the hotel, others cannot sleep due to neighbours noise according to reviews on tripadvisor.com. Breakfast is not served, but there are good possibilities nearby.


Picture by marhas

Picture by marhas


Phuket Home & Gallery: From 500 Bath. 22 Soi Rommanee. Four rooms and suites.

Picture by marhas
The yellow house on Soi Rommanee contains Phuket Home & Gallery.


Picture by marhas



Picture by marhas



Sino House Hotel Phuket Town - SHA plus: From 1600 Bath. One of the best bed&breakfast-opportunities in walking distance from the old town. It offers also monthly rates. There is a restaurant and there is the Rain Tree Spa, an excellent place for wellness and relaxation. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com




Thalang Guesthouse: From 350 Bath. 37 Thalang Road. 12 rooms, all with private bathrooms, in an old shophouse, two with aircon, the others with fans. Critical reviews on tripadvisor.com. See picture by geneder.


Thavorn Hotel: 74 Ratsada Road. Critical review on tripadvisor.com



Layan Beach หาดลายัน

*** Anantara Layan - SHA Plus: Excellent service according to reviews on tripadvisor.com.






Bang Tao Beach หาดบางเทา

*** Banyan Tree Phuket - SHA Plus:





*** Sunwing Bangtao Beach - SHA plus: Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com. Many beach restaurants nearby.




*** Mövenpick Resort Bangtao Beach: Excellent according to reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Surin Beach อ่าวสุรินทร์

***Twinpalms Resort - SHA Plus: 300 metres away from the beach. Mostly very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.




The Surin Phuket - SHA plus:


Relax Beach หาดทราย

Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort:




Karon Beach หาดกะรน

The area is not very lively in summer 2021, as visitors report.

*** Centara Grand Beach Resort - SHA plus: Gorgeous pools, good gym, private beach, excellent service according to very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.





Mandarava Resort and Spa - SHA plus: "Zen experience among trees, pools and a stream", "paradise perched on a hill": excellent according to reviews on tripadvisor.com, but at hillside, not at beach.




Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort - SHA plus: Some noise from the main road, some people don't like the steps of the hotel area, but excellent service according to reviews on tripadvisor.com.



Mövenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach Phuket - SHA plus: The resort needs some renovation according to good reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Thavorn Palm Beach Resort - SHA plus: Beach just across the road, pedestrian promenade to reach kata beach in a few minutes on foot, excellent service according to reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Nai Yang Beach หาดในยาง


Naiyang beach


*** Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Nai Yang Beach: Fantastic staff, very good food, great bay view, chose a villa and you will be happy, say very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.







L'esprit de Naiyang Resort - SHA plus: Pool villas with great service. Raft takes guests across a creek to the beach side. Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Dewa Phuket (Beach Resort, Villas and Suites) - SHA Plus: Lush gardens, two pools, gym. The villas smell e bit musky. Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Chez Charly Bungalow: From 1000 Bath. 65/6 Moo1 Tambol Sakoo. Nice, clean and spacious bungalows according to very good reviews on tripadvisor.com, ten minutes walking distance from the beach.


Laem Panwa

*** Sri Panwa Phuket - SHA Plus Cliff top pool villas. They have a tuktuk to take you around inside the hotel area and different swimming pools. Baba’s Nest Bar has an infinity pool wrapped around an you enjoy a 360-degree view of Phuket and the surrounding landscape. The beach is quite rocky here. Read very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Rawai


Chalong Bay อ่าวฉลอง

Serenity Resort and Residences Phuket - SHA plus: Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.








The Vijitt Resort - SHA plus: 92 seafront pool villas and other villas 92 sprawling along the beach and up a small hill. Breakfast choice a bit limited, but very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.






Friendship Beach Resort and Atmanjai Wellness SPA - SHA plus: Fitness, yoga and healthy eating programs. Reviewers on tripadvisor.com are very satisfied.









Back to overview and next street:
Good morning old Phuket: History and Overview