A little about Phuket from Wikipedia... Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand. 70% of the island is covered by forest. The western coast has several sandy beaches, while on the east coast beaches are more often muddy. One of the most popular tourist areas on Phuket is Patong Beach on the central western coast, perhaps owing to the easy access to its wide and long beach. Most of Phuket's nightlife and its cheap shopping is located in Patong, and the area has become increasingly developed. Patong means "the forest filled with banana leaves" in Thai. Other popular beaches are located south of Patong. In a counterclockwise direction these include Karon Beach , Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach , and around the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Beach and Bang Tao Beach. These areas are generally much less developed than Patong, and sought out by individuals, families and other groups with a preference for more relaxed and less