Phuket - The Tique Hotel

I like to seek out smaller boutique hotels when traveling. They are more personal, have more character, and usually offer much better value compared to the branded 4 or 5 star hotels. It pays to do your research before the trip to find the best accommodation for your money. I find that 2 of the best Internet Hotel Booking Sites in Asia are Agoda and AsiaRooms. The rates are usually quite similar, but Agoda has an edge in some great special offers. Both sites offer lots of information and pictures on the hotels and resorts, and very useful user reviews.

I found this small boutique hotel in Patong through Agoda. It is my favourite type of boutique hotel - small, modern, and fuss-free. The hotel design is contemporary and minimalist, but very well decorated with the owner's collection of antiques and artifacts.

The hotel is quite tiny - it only has 22 rooms in a 5 storey building. The lobby is small but functional. This is also where the breakfast is served on a communal table. On the roof top there is a plunge pool with great views of Patong Town.

The room is quite basic, but is has everything you need. It is also very big for a boutique accommodation. There is even a large flat screen TV.

The pool on the roof top with views of Patong Town.

I enjoyed my stay at The Tique. It is stylish and conveniently located, just 5 min walk to Patong Beach. The rate is around USD 70.00 a night inclusive of a simple breakfast and free Wifi. Highly recommended.

(A bit of update: Just found out this hotel has changed name to The Album Hotel. I thought Tique was a better name. Rates are still the same, but seems a bit difficult to book.)

Phuket - Patong Town

Patong Beach is the most popular destination on Phuket Island, so naturally Patong Town is where you find most of the accommodation and tourist attractions. The town itself is quite small - just 2 main streets running parallel to the beach and lots of smaller lanes in between. The Patong Beach Road is sort of like Kuta in Bali - with lots of small hotels and resorts, pubs, restaurants, shops, tattoo parlours, etc. Most things are quite cheap in Patong, but they are not necessarily the best quality.

During the day Patong Town is kind of quiet. You start to wonder where's everybody ? It only comes alive a night - when tourists come out looking for food and fun. The crowds generally come out around 7.00 p.m., and most places are open till midnight.

Patong Town during the day. Where's everyone ?

Patong Beach Road at night. There are lots of pubs and restaurants along this long stretch of road next to the beach, but be warned that they are mostly tourist traps and prices are quite steep ! I found the seafood pricing generally much higher compared to back home in Malaysia. However the quality of the food is generally very good.

Lots of small shops and street stalls for shopping. Mainly T-shirts, souvenirs and faked goods.

I don't find Patong Town particularly interesting. It is basically a base for exploring the rest of Phuket Island, and some of the smaller islands around.

Got Issues

I can't help interrupting my Phuket posts for this little aside. Have you heard the song "Issues" by British girl band The Saturdays ? Lately I've been hearing it on the radio everyday on the way to work. It's one of those songs which sound catchy at first, but gets annoying really fast. When it gets to the chorus, I always can't help making up my own lyrics for it. The original lyrics are :

Me and my heart we got Issues

Don’t know if I should hate your or miss you

Damn I wish that I could resist you

Cant decide if I should slap you or kiss you

Me and my heart we got issues (Issues, Issues)

We got issues (Issues, Issues)

Here's my version:

Here in my car I got tissues

If you sneeze I’m not gonna kiss you

Get yourself one of those tissues

And wipe that silly grin off or I’ll hit you

Here in my car I’ve got tissues (tissues, tissues)

We got tissues (tissues, tissues)

What do you think ? What's your version ?

Eating in Phuket - Floyd's Brasserie at Burasari

After visiting Phrom Thep Cape I made my way to Patong Beach where I had booked my accommodation. There are several ways to get to Patong Beach from Phuket Town. There is a shorter way which cuts across the island, or you can take the longer drive around the island. I decided to take the longer route as I wanted to enjoy the views.

The drive to Patong Beach is nice and scenic, though the road can get a bit small at some places. Good thing there wasn't much traffic. You pass through several small towns, and get glimpses of beaches along the way. It takes around half an hour to get to Patong Beach from Phrom Thep Cape. By the time I arrived it was late evening. Time for dinner !

I decided to go to Floyd's at Burasari, Celebrity Chef Keith Floyd's first outpost in Thailand. Keith Floyd is one of my favourite TV chefs, his colourful character and tongue-in-cheek approach always make very entertaining viewing. As he had passed away in September, about a week after my visit, this meal was like my personal last tribute to him.

Floyd's Brasserie is located in the Burasari Resort.

The man himself beckons at the entrance.

Inside the restaurant.

Keith Floyd always claimed he could cook Thai food better then the Thais, so I decided to try the Thai dishes. Having had quite a heavy lunch earlier, I just ordered 2 dishes - Thai Fish Cakes for appetizer and Whole Grilled Sea Bass with Thai Chili Sauce for main course.

The meal started with some bread, olive oil and sun-dried tomato spread. The spread was really good - packed full of flavours.

The Fish Cakes were really nice - crunchy, savoury, spicy. You can taste chunks of prawns and squid inside the fish cakes, beside the fish paste.

The Grilled See Bass was quite big for one person. The crispy golden brown fish was topped with a generous serving of Thai chili sauce and garnish The fish was a bit overcooked, with the meat slightly dried out. The sauce however, was very good - a nice balance of sweet, spicy and sour.

The restaurant itself is quite nice and cosy. I could imagine if Floyd was around, he would be floating around from table to table, a wine glass in one hand and cigar in the other. The food is not spectacular, but flavourful. I would go back to try some of their other dishes.

Phuket - Phrom Thep Cape

After leaving the Evason Resort, I made my way to Phrom Thep Cape - reputedly the most scenic spot in Phuket to watch the sunset. The Cape is at the southern-most tip of Phuket island, and takes around 20 minutes drive time from Phuket Town.

When I arrived there were not too many people around, this being the low season. I like visiting during low season to avoid the large crowds which can sometimes spoil a travel experience.

The Cape is definitely scenic, but I am not sure about the "most scenic" moniker. I think there are other spots in Phuket with nicer views. There is a lighthouse at a plaza which is the main viewing platform. There is also a monument of Prince Jumborn, who was the 28th son of King Rama IV. He became a naval cadet in England at the age of 13, and later returned to Thailand and built the first naval base in Phuket.

The lighthouse at the main viewing platform.

The Monument of Prince Jumborn.

At the plaza there is also this interesting elephant shrine. Many devotees had left offerings of elephant statues at the shrine.

There are some small shops selling souvenirs near the car park. Prices are quite reasonable.