Phuket During Songkran is Great. Review on Phuket

My wife & I went to Phuket recently & had a great time. I was under the impression that it would be over commercialized since everyone we know has already been there, but it was very contrary to my impressions. We were in Phuket for 5 days, which was a week off from work. We went during 2nd week of May 2006.

Here are some tips I think y ou all might find useful:

(1) The best time to go to Phuket is during in the Thai New Year.... ''Songkran''. It coincides with our 'Shankaranti' & is a very interactive festival. People throw water over each other & everyone (especially tourists) play along. It is not vandalistic or aggressive like Holi can be in the North, & is played very sportingly with everyone. Most people buy water guns & shoot. In Phuket, Soi Bagla, the bars across the street have water wars that are lots of fun & local as well as foreigners take part. It is really an unforgettable experience....... You will meet & befreind a lot of other tourisits that day. Just plastic wrap your mobiles & wallets,,,, You are going to get drenched.

(2) The boat trips are fun, but if you are a young and adventurous couple, you MUST try scuba diving. All the instructors are German / Scandinavian, they are all very well trained and offer PADI (scuba diving authority world wide) courses at really reasonable rates. It is an experience you will never forget. I have tried scuba diving in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) & America..... I must say that this is by far the cheapest place to get a licence. First time for the wifey & she really had a ball.

(3) If you are a party animal then stay on Patong Beach, if not then Karon & Kata beaches had cheaper resorts with better & less crowded sea access. We stayed in a boutique hotel in Patong called 'Bura Sari' very cute place & I recommend it.

Hope you all have a good time.