Phuket Island Thailand-Mai Khao Beaches nightlife, restaurants, hotels, shopping

Mai Khao Beach nightlife, restaurants, hotels, shopping

Mai Khao- This beach is north of the airport and stretches for a healthy 11 km distance. Up until recently there were no hotels here and the beach was quite deserted. To get to Mai Khao, take the main road out of the airport and head towards Phang nga bay. From here you will see signs directing you to turn left off of route 402, the main road off the island. Your dining choices in Mai Khao are pretty limited to the hotel restaurants unless you keep driving almost all the way to the Sarasin bride and eat along the roadside next to the beach where some local Thai vendors have set up. Use extreme caution when swimming between May and October due to very strong rip tides.

Places to stay in Mai Khao- The JW Marriott was the first major hotel to build up in this area, and now there are a number of new up scale hotels here which include the Holiday Inn Mai Khao, Mai Khao Dream, the Anantara Hotel, and the Renaissance Resort and Spa.
Places to eat in Mai Khao- Your dining choices in Mai Khao are pretty limited to the hotel restaurants unless you keep driving almost all the way to the Sarasin bride and eat along the roadside next to the beach where some local Thai vendors have set up. There are some very nice Thai and European restaurants in these hotels, but due to them being 5 star and not having much competition, be prepared to pay a premium.

Nightlife in Mai Khao- If you want to find nightlife in Mai Khao, you have two choices. Create your own nightlife, or go somewhere else. People stay at the Mai Khao hotels for two reasons, peace, quiet and isolation, or because they didn’t do their homework before they came. Guests do not stay in Mai Khao for the nightlife!

Shopping in Mai Khao- Shopping in Mai Khao is limited to the overpriced souvenir shops that the various hotels offer. If you really want to do some shopping, you’ll need to go somewhere else.

Nai Yang- By the airport

Nai Thon- Lots of private villas

Layan- Upscale in the North of Phuket

Laguna/Bangtao- Huge Phuket resort

Surin- Nice beach, dangerous in low season

Laem Singh- Small stunning beach

Kamala- Relatively quiet,Muslim community

Nakalay- Rocky small beach

Kalim- Next to Patong, good surfing beach during high tide

Patong- Dirty water, great nightlife

Paradise Beach/Tri Trang-Hidden gem of a beach, close to Patong

Relax Bay/Le Meredien-Beautiful bay in front of Le Meredien

Karon- Squeaky clean beach

Kata- A mini Patong without the ugly buildings

Kata Noi-Kata Thani dominates this beach

Nui- Do't go here, locals charge you for access

Nai Harn- Great beach, lots of yachts in high season

Ya Nui- Super small, good snorkeling

Rawai- Not a nice beach, but lots of good seafood restaurants

Chalong- On the bay, don't swim here, but great food and vistas!

Cape Panwa- Isolated and quiet

Phuket Town- Terrible beach, but popular with locals at Sapan Hin

Ao Por/Cape Yamu- Best left unless you have a yacht at the marina