Eugene
The breakfasts are good and varied, there are 5 types of fruits, but the most simple (pineapple, banana, pamelo, papaya, watermelon, guava), mangosteen, rambutan and mango were not there, we bought them ourselves. On the beach, 1 mango is sold for 60 baht, in the store - 20-80 baht per kilogram, depending on the variety). Water on the beach is 60 baht a bottle, in the store from 5 to 20 baht per bottle, the same goes for coconut - it seems 60 on the beach, and somewhere on an excursion for 25-30 baht. In general, the locals exist at the expense of tourists. We had dinner at a cafe on the beach. Be careful, there are large portions, you can not calculate your strength-) They did a massage, it costs 400 or 500 baht, it’s nice, but it didn’t cause much enthusiasm
Nice room, we had an ocean view. The only small minus is that there is no hood in the bathroom, but this, apparently, is the way it is done in Asia.
For groceries, you can go to a small Lotus (supermarket) - 400 baht in both directions.
I chose from 2 hotels - Meridian and Dusit, for some reason I liked Dusit, I thought that we would walk around the territory of other hotels, yeah, no matter how. After the trip, I think that it was necessary to choose Meridian for one reason - it is close to Patong and at the same time it stands apart from other hotels. From us to Patong, a taxi costs 500 baht one way, and it used to be 600 baht back. It's a long way to go to shops and restaurants.
We went to shopping centers - what can I say, they sell all sorts of garbage, there is nothing to look at, only the legs get very tired from walking. Each shopping center has several branded stores, where you can choose something. But do not expect to find clothes for a man in size 54, they are not there... -( But there are many, many beautiful children's clothes at affordable prices. You should not go to the outlet, waste your time and effort: all unsold junk over the past 5 years has been brought there, apparently... In some outlet stores, there is a frank smell of second-hand goods.
Excursions.
A sightseeing tour of the island is weak, except that you can buy all sorts of souvenirs in one store and not bother more about this, which we did. Opposite the souvenir shop, they sell vkusnye fresh juices, especially delicious from mango!
Show Fantasy - 1800 baht per person, it will be interesting for children, boring for adults.
Pi-Pi - I liked the tour, very beautiful islands and landscapes. Our excursion was on a speedboat, we drove for an hour and a little, but the feeling is like on a truck on the road, all the time you jump on the spot =))
J. Bond Island - everything is super beautiful, caves, underground rivers, monkey coast, etc. , beautiful photos are obtained! This time we went on the usual "steamboat", though slowly. The guides were English speaking.
These 2 excursions were bought in tents right on the shore, bargained for 2 times cheaper than the originally declared cost. There were girls from Kata with us on the tour, their tours were even cheaper and they also bought on the shore. Of course, the tour operator has a Russian-speaking guide, but by and large he is not needed. As it turned out later, the organizer of excursions is one agency and it distributes excursions both in hotels and on the shore.
The host side of Ilves-tour did not distinguish itself for the better. At that time, if you remember, there were skirmishes in Bangkok and we asked to replace Bangkok with Phuket (at the reception we learned that it was possible to extend our room for 3 days and the girl herself offered to exchange tickets). To which our guide answered us that only a replacement with Pattaya is possible, or he will find out more and call back. Well, there hasn't been a call yet.
Of course, not without visiting Japanese restaurants, there are several of them in each shopping center. "Oishi" - works on an all-inclusive system, that is, you pay 500 baht per person and take whatever you want and sit at least all day. But it tastes better in restaurants like Fusion. Dinner for three adults 40-60 dollars, a lot of everything and delicious.
I did not like Bangkok, solid two-story roads. It's very hot there, 40 or more. Especially when you consider that on an excursion to the Royal Palace you need to wear trousers and T-shirts with sleeves - it’s just terribly hot...
In general, I really liked the rest, especially the warm and clean ocean, but so much has already been written about it, I will not repeat it.
Have a good rest!! !
About whether or not to take a car. I read a lot of opinions that it is difficult, etc. Of course, those who prefer mass excursions do not need this. For those who prefer freedom of movement, it’s definitely worth it, there is something to see on the island, the traffic is normal, even though they scare you on the Internet ...well, yes, right-hand drive is not such a problem, well, yes, left-hand traffic is the same in Cyprus left-sided . . you get used to it normally. Difficulties caused maps - and the scale is not sustained there, and it’s bad with landmarks, but fortunately the island is small, you won’t go far : )
So, the hotel - check-in is absolutely no problem, ocean view room - always slept with an open balcony to the sound of the sea.
Everything has already been written about the numbers, I will not repeat myself.
I note that if you have a kettle and the habit of having breakfast, it’s quite possible not to take breakfast - after a couple of days we stopped going to breakfast, we consumed coffee with fruit and bought cookies on the balcony.
The beach is wonderful, all epithets will be few. Stormy. For those who do not know how to handle waves, in such weather it is better not to go deeper than knee-deep into the sea (you can drown even at the initial waist-deep depth). Boards were sold on the beach, but the wave is not strong (“not dense”), the boards practically do not catch.
We went on a spree to Laguna and Sheraton, for comparison about them:
There are stalls along the beach line near the lagoon! That is, they simply cut off the hotel from the sea. It’s not clear why they did this to the guests: (It’s pointless to take a sea view there, because your balcony will overlook these benches. In the lagoon, the territory near the lagoon itself looks nice. In the Sheraton it’s beautiful, but far from the beach.
If you are with children who should not be allowed into the waves, and you yourself prefer the pool, then it is very good there.
Cafes - on both sides of the hotel, and to the lagoon, and to the Sheraton . . Tasty, on average, dinner for 1000 - 2000 with wine, depending on the restaurant, but we did not have a goal to save. If you take not seafood, which has a price per weight, but ready-made dishes, it will be much cheaper, and also tasty.
The store, of course, is more expensive than in the city, there is not far from the hotel - they have a pleasant drink from wines based on wine and mineral water "cooler", in bottles of 0.33, it's very good in the heat, I advise you to try shrimp and crab chips (who doesn't tried : ). Fruit on the beach - pineapple 40-50 baht, peeled, cut, given in a bag or on a plate, mango - 40 baht. Pineapples were not bought in the markets, and mangoes were 40 baht per kg. Their mangoes are amazing! (called honey, yellow in color). Not far from Bang Tao there is a Lotus store - only food.
It is better to take fruits in the markets (if you have a car, you will see them), in stores all sorts of lychee, mangosteen, etc. are unripe, and it is difficult to determine from the habit. In stores, if you are tired of restaurants, you can buy ready-made food, in particular, good and cheap sushi. just take the sauce separately, it is very small in the kit.
Coconuts (drink) - 20 baht everywhere on the island, I don’t remember on the beach.
Yes, who has not been to Thailand - they have a problem with the time of sale of alcohol, such as from 11 to 17 you can’t, or something like that (I don’t remember the exact time). But this rule does NOT seem to apply to Seven-elleven stores (a wide chain of minimarkets, if you need to ask where the store is, ask "seven-elleven? " and they will understand you & #61514;
Shopping is not Pattaya. In BigCi they collected a bunch of extremely cheap children's things, they didn’t like Lotus, they didn’t find a global souvenir shop. Souvenirs and silk robes found in the Ocean, well, little things near the temples.
Massage.
A few kilometers from the hotel (on the road from the highway to the lagoon) there is a village - there are shops, cafes, and massage parlors.
Don't get a massage on the beach, that's nonsense.
In the salons, Thai was 300 baht per hour, they do it well, they organize a transfer for you, that is, you need to get there 1 time, and then you will negotiate by phone.
I found a business card of the salon where I went: they seem to be open until 23. Dang Massage tel 076 - 270190.076 - 325436, mob 087 - 2723251.089-8729506
In Patong, salons are at every turn, they work until the last visitor.
I arrived in Phuket late in the evening, I was very tired (since 5 am on my feet in Bangkok in the heat). Due to some inaccuracies in the booking I was asked to wait. To be honest, I just lost my nerve and threw a tantrum (it should be fair to say that the hotel staff was not at fault for the delay). I was seated in the lobby and given juice. calmed down and after 10 minutes was taken to the room. Their restaurant was no longer working, so I ordered food in the room. They cook very well and quickly.
About room service. Cleaned 2 times a day (in the morning they prepare the room for bed, while putting orchids and notes with oriental wisdom on the bed, lighting candles in the bathroom). Fruit is brought every day.
The beach is nice, but in August the rainy season. And you can’t swim in the sea in Phuket - it’s stormy. With me, one man climbed - so then the rescuers got him. But the hotel has access to the lagoon, in which I swam.
A small elephant is often brought to the beach. In general, it's beautiful.
In short, I am very satisfied with the rest. At that moment, this is exactly what I needed - peace and solitude in a beautiful place.
For comparison: even the Sheraton in the same Laguna (and travel throughout the Laguna from any hotel located in it is free) did not make such an amazing impression as Dusit!
P. S. Fly to Thailand - do not take Transaero!
Crowding, TVs do not work, there are no headphones, alcohol has not been carried around the cabin for 10 hours of flight and is generally prohibited for consumption! I had to drink Cointreau bought in DUTY FREE from the neck almost under the chairs. A compatriot who dared to drink openly was handed over to the local police upon arrival in Bangkok.
After 5 minutes, the girl who settled us left the lobby, a machine-gun burst rang out - we froze)))... Then it got louder and louder, I ran out of the room and saw 5 meters from our room in another room being renovated, and after 10m another building is being built from the building and the noise is incredible....With a huge effort of our will, we still managed (wrote a claim through our guide) to be moved to another equivalent room on the 3rd floor overlooking the ocean in the other wing of the hotel, but it was already far from the water (but there was a view of the ocean))), but then we realized that it was even better, because. there is a lot of dampness near the ocean and everything in the room is wet from condensate, I can say for sure (in the first room we understood this! ) We were resettled only on the 2nd day, when another room was vacated !! ! but we were offended that they wanted to settle us near the construction site for the money that was paid for peace and quiet, etc. , you understand))) At every random knock, somewhere nearby, we twitched))), thinking that again workers begin to work)), but then listening and realizing that it was quiet))), we calmed down, but NERVES were spoiled. Of course, the rest of the 12 days we were crazy and drove around the hotels and beaches of Phuket, we also liked the beach on Kata Beach (sand, flat bottom), there is a good beach on Karon, but the bottom is with drops, every now and then you go and you are afraid to fall (although you were sober ))), in Patong the beaches are dirty and there are too many people - it's annoying!!!... I can describe a lot of other things, but I don't have time, I just wrote that in Dusit everything is not as beautiful as others write, in general, how lucky you are ! ! !
I wish you a pleasant stay, we rested from 15.08 to 28.08. 07 in the off season, because. didn't want winter
I would put - 5, but since we fought and proved our rights to an equivalent number, I put - 4 with a big minus!
If you are still thinking, feel free to take it - you will not be mistaken. Cleaning 2 times a day (and the second time - preparing the room "for bed": lighting candles in the bathroom, rubbing towels by the bed). Meals - BB, but very varied: in 12 days I didn’t get tired (unlike many Turkish hotels).
The service is top notch: everyone is kind and always ready to help.
The hotel has a SPA-center: a little expensive (approx. 160 dollars for a three-hour package), but the pleasure is guaranteed! Elite level service.
From Patong by taxi about 20 minutes, the price is approx. 10 dollars (and how you bargain there) : )