My jbr

Returned from 2 weeks in fantastic Phuket last week and can%26#39;t wait to go back.

I want to start by saying thankyou to everyone who provided information regarding Phuket through Trip Advisor, it helped heaps. Unfortunately we travelled with another family who had different information to mine though and we ended up doing what they thought was best.

I have never met a friendlier people than the Thai%26#39;s, they are so helpful and always smiling - If only some of the tourists we saw could learn from them!

The weather was good, it rained each day bar a few but only for approx half an hour and even when it did rain it didn%26#39;t stop what you were doing (We didn%26#39;t even get out of the pool)

Shopping was good, I%26#39;m not much of a barterer so got the price down to what I was willing to pay but know I could have got cheaper.

O Top Markets were great (Better than the Beach Rd) You have almost everything there all in the one location. We used the price guide as per Cathy and Gary%26#39;s page so paid the normal 150 bt for t shirts, 250 bt for boardies etc

We went to Kittys for DVD%26#39;s and bought heaps but the guy there advised all the very new releases weren%26#39;t good quality. A lot of people in the streets ask whether you want DVD%26#39;s and one day asked about the quality of new releases and was shown on their tv how good they were so bought new releases there (Everywhere 60 bt)

We went to Phi Phi by speedboat and Phang Nga via an operator named Siam Sea Canoe, these were the best days we had and highly recommend the company - book through the tour kiosks in the street which are far cheaper than through the hotels. We also went to Fantasea and Simons Cabaret which were also great nights out.

As mentioned, the family we went with had some ideas and found a driver for a day who took us to his places to see so didn%26#39;t get to Baan Cha but his elephant trek etc - We did see some good sites and things like a snake show but we endured a monkey show that I wanted to walk out of.

Bangla Rd was great after dark, a real eye opener and watching the AFL at a bar with 150 people was fantastic.

The kids wouldn%26#39;t experiment too much with eating out but we found the Islander Bar was a standout as far as meals.

As far as fast food goes we found Burger King very expensive compared to Aust but McDonalds was around the same price as Aust.

Overall we had a great time, I hope this helps anyone planning a trip but let me know if anyone wants any further information.

Roger

My jbr

Welcome back Roger

Thanks for the great JBR. As soon as I got back from my first visit to Phuket l started planning the next trip there. Phuket is just a beautiful place isnt it.

Glad you and your family had a good holiday

Murf

My jbr

Hi Roger,

Great report !

I can%26#39;t wait for my next trip either:

Phuket/Pattaya golf tour May/June 2008.

Regards

Niko

Hi Roger

Glad you enjoyed your trip, at least next time you guys will be able to travel with first hand knowledge. Happy planning.

Lee

Thanks for writing your JBR. We, like you can%26#39;t wait to go back too!!

Sounds like you all had a great time. The good thing there is still so many great things to do and see next time.

cheers

Jubby

Thanks Roger for your JBR.

We have 5 more sleeps until we go and am so excited.............

Like you, I have gathered so much information from these forums that I%26#39;m sure my luggage will be overweight before I start, due to all the hints I have printed out.

Where was it that you purchased your %26#39;New Releases%26#39; DVD%26#39;s?

Thanks and regards.

Bev

Isn%26#39;t it difficult travelling with another family.

We travelled with my husbands best friend and his family. They were scared to try anything whre as we are up for ';almost'; anything.

Great friends at home but very different when you are away. Beware.

glad you had a nice trip but as i have mentioned on this forum hundreds of time there is no genuine OTOP market in phuket.

that market uses the OTOP acronym to get tourists in to buy things that are mostly either fake or produced cheaply in indonesia and/or china. OTOP, which is a govenment initiative, has never had or endorsed this project in market form. it does have official OTOP display shops/factories that are used for potential buyers of products for export.

OTOP producers all have individual shops scattered throughout the country which are loacted in tambons (villages) where they can be purchased. alternatively the government has a series of shops called Naya Phrand which sell genuine OTOP products.

once a year there is a major OTOP exhibition/sale of goods in bangkok and i can assure you that ';OTOP phuket'; is not recognised by OTOP as sellers of genuine OTOP products.

it%26#39;s basically another scam, but a popular one for the mass tourist .

bkk3

What difference does it make to the people that go there to buy copy brands? If people see a sign stating OTOP, then that is probably what they are looking for, to try %26amp; get the best value for the money they are spending, not what the true meaning of the acronym is.

To Roger, thanks yet again for posting your trip report, I%26#39;m sure many other people will find the info most useful.

Lee

Hi Roger, thank you for taking the time to write your JBR, Cathy%26#39;s price guide is great isn%26#39;t it ? It%26#39;s helped alot of people......

Thanks again and so glad you had a great time.

Rene

Hi Bev

The place I bought the new release DVD%26#39;s was a little towards Bangla Rd from O Top Markets (Or as I have since been advised isn%26#39;t exactly O Top Markets)

It is just 2 lines of stalls like a small market area (About 12 stalls in total) on the same side as O Top.

As mentioned though there are heaps of places that will sell them to you and if you ask about the quality of new releases they will offer to show you.

I hope you have as good a time as we did on your holiday.

Roger