Love it or hate it – Patong is Phuket’s playground. People flock to Patong for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s the beach – although the beach in Patong is definitely nothing to get excited about. For others, it’s the nightlife, which is definitely something worth getting excited about. Patong is overdeveloped, it’s noisy and it’s full of people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time there.

Without wanting to make too many sweeping generalizations, Patong is the favored destination of single, Western males. Some travel alone while others might go with friends. Remember: Patong is a playground. The nightlife in Patong is about as interesting as you will find on the island. However, the scene is developing.

For a long time, if you mentioned nightlife in Patong to most people, they’d have immediately thought of go-go bars and bar girls. All of that still exists, but the nightlife scene in Patong is now a lot more diverse than it used to be.

Patong now has dance clubs and salsa bars, jazz clubs and trendy hangouts. There is, though, still no escaping the fact that Patong has far too many beer bars. If having Thai bar girls flaunt themselves in front of you is what you’re after then Soi Bangla will be like a little slice of heaven.

With regards to the beach in Patong, it may have been a scenic area before, but it’s now full of parasols and sun loungers and people trying to get you to rent jet-skis. Other annoyances include people selling ice creams, people offering massages and people trying to draw henna tattoos while you’re sunbathing.

If you’re a foodie then Patong will provide you with a few surprises. Although the food can be expensive, just take a walk along the street and you’ll see just how many great restaurants there are in the area. All tastes are catered to, although there are perhaps a few too many Italian restaurants.

One gripe about Patong is the tuk-tuk drivers. Half of them are honest folk just trying to make a living, but the other half are scoundrels who should be given a wide berth. There have been numerous cases of tuk-tuk drivers becoming very aggressive with people who park in “tuk-tuk zones”, which really don’t exist. The tuk-tuk drivers in Patong have a monopoly over public transport because every time the authorities try and do something about the situation, the tuk-tuk drivers block the streets with their vehicles.

Overall, Patong is a great party destination with an average beach and lots of beautiful Thai women. Heaven or hell? You decide.

Where are you headed to this holiday season? Are you looking for sun and sand once again or are you ready to be charmed by the surreal landscape that basks in historical glory? Then Crete, situated in the heart of Greece is the place to head to. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and one of the most picturesque ones as well. The island has some amazing sights which are pure visual grandeur. The mountainous terrain, the caves, the pristine beaches and legends like the Theseus and the Minotaur are some of the typical Cretean highlights. If you are headed to Crete this year, then it is recommended that you plan out your accommodation well in advance. Though there are all kinds of hotels which cater to all kinds of tourists, you can book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Some Hotels

• The Santa Marina beach resort is a 4 star resort and is located on the most scenic region of West Crete. This quaint little town of Aghia Marina is just 8kms away from Chania. The highlight of the hotel is the twin complexes that are connected by an underground tunnel. The landscaped garden, the view of the sea and the best and most advanced amenities like a spa, pool, tennis courts etc are available to you.

• If you can afford the luxury, then Crete Solaris is the place to head to. Set against the foothills of mount Dikti, several luxury apartments overlook the Malia Bay. Traditional island style apartments will give you every comfort that you can dream of.

• Located at just 2 kms from the little fishing town of Panormo is the Crete Marine Hotel. From the tourist who wants to have a quiet serene holiday to the adventure loving water sports enthusiast, the hotel has something on offer for everyone.