HKT - Phuket Patong Beach - IgoUgo Phuket Island Journal

HKT - Phuket Patong Beach

Overview

Phuket Patong Beach Photo - Phuket Island, Thailand

Quote:

Patong Beach is very beautiful and clean, and the water is blue. There are people constantly keeping the beach clean because the tourists wouldn't like it dirty, even though most of the time it's the tourists leaving the garbage. The Paradise Complex in Patong area is where all the gay events take place. There's also Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, which I haven't tried going to. Most of not all of these ladyboy variety shows on the whole wouldn't make it on Broadway, sometimes the lip synching isn't up to par nor the choreography on the whole is poor, but they do provide some entertainment, there's always the one exception.Quick Tips: Prepare by...Read More

Patong Beach is very beautiful and clean, and the water is blue. There are people constantly keeping the beach clean because the tourists wouldn't like it dirty, even though most of the time it's the tourists leaving the garbage. The Paradise Complex in Patong area is where all the gay events take place. There's also Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, which I haven't tried going to. Most of not all of these ladyboy variety shows on the whole wouldn't make it on Broadway, sometimes the lip synching isn't up to par nor the choreography on the whole is poor, but they do provide some entertainment, there's always the one exception.

Quick Tips:

Prepare by getting a yourself a copy of Lonely Planet Thailand or something comparable that you'll like and be comfortable reading. This would help enhance your experience than it would otherwise be. Pick up a copy of Sticky Rice for useful map of gay places.

Be sure to put sunscreen on if you're in the sun for any length of time. Don't bother with the heavily promoted Fantasea attraction, but feel free to waste your money. Get natural mosquito repellant roll on to prevent bites and treatment for the bites.

Resources: Dragoncastle.net Phuket, Dreaded Ned, MD Travel Health, Phuket, Gay Patong, Sticky Rice, Utopia-Asia

Best Way To Get Around:

Getting to Phuket is just one hour by air and is a lot easier to arrange than in the States or for those more adventurous to see the countryside by rail and boat, it's about eleven hours though the tracks are poorly maintained or by bus, then boat over to the island, finally by surface transportion. The cheapest route and the way most Thai would choose to travel by due to the costs. It's another 40 minutes by car or an hour by mini bus to Patong Beach, which we prearranged with our hotel for THB 500 each way. It's cheaper to arrange our own transportation with a mini bus from the airport to Patpong Beach for THB 150 but it doesn't leave till they have a full load. Along the way pulled over, shut the a/c off, opened the doors to encourage everyone to get out and into their office to have an opportunity to try and sell their travel services booking to hotels, tours to you. Afterwards, we got back onboard and continued to our destination. A return could be almost as cheap booking a mini bus back to the airport with any travel agent close to your hotel. Allow enough time to pre-book or with more than one person taking a taxi would be almost as cheap than a mini bus. Walking around here is doable. Bus service ia available to Phuket town until around 6pm, when people are coming back from town on the last bus. Getting a taxi is the other alternative. Renting motor scooters, a car with driver is optional. We booked a car with driver for half a day with a nearby travel agent for THB 1100 to take us around the island for the afternoon. Read Less

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Rendezvous Guest House

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Hotel

Rendezvous Guest House Photo - Phuket Island, Thailand

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Rendezvous Guest House is a small, boutique 13 room gay-friendly establishment that is clean and nice. Pick up from and drop off at the airport can be pre-arranged with the hotel for THB 500 each way. Our driver was waiting patiently for us when we arrived and return the first time. The next time, we arranged our own transportation from the airport for THB 150 per person for drop-off at the Paradise complex. For the return, you can pre-arrange mini bus THB 175-180 per person or take a taxi THB 400-500, depending what you can negotiate. The hotel manager-owner checked us in, and gave an orientation of the features of how the door lock works and the operation of the air-conditioner b...Read More

Rendezvous Guest House is a small, boutique 13 room gay-friendly establishment that is clean and nice. Pick up from and drop off at the airport can be pre-arranged with the hotel for THB 500 each way. Our driver was waiting patiently for us when we arrived and return the first time. The next time, we arranged our own transportation from the airport for THB 150 per person for drop-off at the Paradise complex. For the return, you can pre-arrange mini bus THB 175-180 per person or take a taxi THB 400-500, depending what you can negotiate.

The hotel manager-owner checked us in, and gave an orientation of the features of how the door lock works and the operation of the air-conditioner by remote control. The rooms are not numbered on the doors so we would have better privacy from the people off the streets, memorizing the location of your room is important. I wasn't paying attention when I was shown my room and couldn't get back in till I learned my location. My room came with a balcony with a table on my first stay, my next visit was a smaller less expensive room but still very roomy, TV, A/C is underpowered, small fridge mini bar, a six digit combination digital safe for your valuables - a nice feature, and a small lizard. I mentioned and pointed the small reptile in my room. Patrick, our manager said that is good because it eats the mosquitoes. The toilet has a hose attached with a spray nozzle at the end similar to those in the kitchen sink. Its purpose is to clean yourself externally, similar to the purpose of a bidet. I found this a very nice, useful feature -- one we should incorporate into our own toilet fixtures. The room could be up to 4 flights of stairs.

Courtesy beach towels are provided upon request for use at the beach.

Breakfast is available, but not included in the room rate. We had the buffet breakfast THB 120 with his croissant. The coffee he served was excellent, since he used an espresso machine. The front gate door locks at about 9:30pm, and reopen at 9am. Guests have access through their metal card issued upon arrival. To leave, press the white button near the door to unlock to leave.

Websites: Boontarika

Rendezvous

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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 13, 2003

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Liontchai

Hotel

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Liontchai is a guesthouse with ADSL Internet access. They offer ADSL to the public. I've only came here to use their Internet service and may consider staying here. I was quite satisfied, unlike at Connect and their WiFi service. You may be able to find a better rate by shopping around elsewhere, but this is inside the Paradise Complex with reliable and dependable service, at least the times I came to use it.

E-mail reservation@liontchai.com

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Liontchai
143/11, Raj-uthit Rd Soi 1 Paradise Complex
Patong Beach, Phuket Island

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Connect

Hotel

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Connect is a Swedish-owned 25-room guest house with a restaurant and WiFi, right next to James Dean bar. We came here for an American style breakfast, THB 120, which included two eggs, potatoes, sausage, tomato, toast (white or brown), juice, and coffee. The first time, the eggs requested sunny-side-up were done wrong; the second time, it was done right but they didn't have brown toast, only white even though the menu offered it. The service was good, the atmosphere, passable. Though it was open-air, the temperature and humidity was only bearable, and the food quality, acceptable,...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Connect
125/8-9 Rath-u-thit Rd, Paradise Complex
Patong Beach, Phuket Island

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James Dean Guesthouse

Hotel | "James Dean Guest House"

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James Dean Guest House requires a strong desire on your part to want to stay here. Their website email doesn't work. You can't check-in unless the bar is open in the afternoon. The entrance to your room is in an alley. There's motion sensors to automatically turn on the lights to the stairs, up the three flights. The room itself is a bit on the funky side. The air-conditioning is strong, there is a good-size mini fridge, the bathroom has no tub nor shower stall, but the bathroom itself serves as a shower which is okay. It's noisy 'till the bars close at 2am. Request a room with a balcony, if you want to overlook the street and ...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

James Dean Guesthouse
88/22 Phang Muang Sai Gor, Likit Plaza
Patong Beach, Phuket Island
086-9420957

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Simon Laundry & Guest House

Hotel | "Simon Laundry & Guest House"

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Simon Laundry and Guest House offers 1-day laundry service with the prices posted on the wall. They charge either by the piece; wash, iron, and fold; or by the kilo for wash and fold. We brought our laundry down there for the same time, next-day turn around. My jeans were heavy, so they advised me to be charged by the piece as that would be cheaper for me. They were right, the jeans weigh 1 kilo alone. The people are nice, friendly to do business with. I remember one of the women there from my last visit and she remembered me from about 5 years ago.

E-mail simon47phuket@hotmail.com

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 28, 2006

Simon Laundry & Guest House
143/16 Th Rat Uthit, Paradise Complex
Patong, Phuket Island
0 76340 981

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The Golden Kinaree Buffet Restaurant

Restaurant

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You may inquire about the dinner-only option of the Fantasea theme attraction from any travel agent near your hotel. A complimentary shuttle may be available. I went for both the show (not recommended) and the buffet (recommended). Buffet hours are from 6-8:30pm. The food at Kinaree was tasty and quite good, but you must queue up to purchase your ticket for the buffet dinner-only and enter through the theme park. It's a very large dining area and your ticket is assigned to a seating table. Drinks are an extra charge. The buffet included fresh fruit like watermelon, se...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on March 13, 2003

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Baan Kamnan Restaurant

Restaurant

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Baan Kamnan Restaurant is inside and behind Patong Bay Garden Resort. It's literally right against the sandy beach. I would sit there in the shaded area and order food and/or drinks. Their fruit shakes THB 80 use corn syrup as a sweetener. Chang beer THB 70/130, Pina Colada THB 150, soft drink THB 50, fruit juice THB 70. It's nice to go here with one other person or with a small group, plunk down your gear, go for a swim in the warm ocean, catch some sun, have some food and or drinks, relax, and enjoy yourself. There's an outdoor shower you may use to hose off the salt water by the swimming pool and change your cl...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on April 9, 2003

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Royal Paradise Hotel

Restaurant | "Royal Kitchen"

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The Kitchen is located on top of the Royal Paradise Hotel, inside the Paradise complex in Patpong Beach. Take the elevator up to the top, where the bar is located, and take the stairs up one flight to get to the restaurant. You could enjoy a nice view just having a drink or go up the stairs to the restaurant level to satisfy your palate. The service staff is pleasant, but their English is limited and service is a bit on the slow side. The atmosphere is very nice here. We ordered a bunch of dishes, as we consumed each one by one. Two of the dishes still hadn't arrived yet and we were already "full," or had enough of th...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Royal Paradise Hotel
135/23 Rat-U-Thit 200 Years Rd.
Phuket, Thailand 83150
+66 (76) 340 666

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Aqua Restaurant

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Restaurant

Quote:

The restaurant is located in the Paradise Complex near the Dolphin Fountain, and close by Connect and James Dean Bar. We were first going to The Flying Handbag, but stopped short when we observed that there were no customers dining and Aqua had customers right next to it. The place serves good food, has good service, the atmosphere is light, and the dining is open-air. There is no air-conditioning, so just sitting by the path of a blowing fan is the best way to cool off here. I personally didn't care for the deep fried tempura, it was too greasy and the batter was too thick—not traditional and not served with a tempura dipping sauce, but the owner said that is a very popular dish here. The...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Aqua Restaurant
27/17 Rath-U-Thit Rd.
Phuket, Thailand
+66 7634-6142

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Hole in the Wall

Restaurant

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Hole in the Wall serves British food with an Australian bent, along with Thai food. The steak and kidney pie, Pad Thai, and watermelon shake were all good. Open 8am to 2am.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 28, 2006

Hole in the Wall
Rat-U Thid Rd.
Phuket, Thailand

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Khwanta

Restaurant

Quote:

Khwanta Food & Drink is built of the edge of the beach near the end of a long road along the beach. We decided to stop here for food and drinks and used it as a base to go swimming from. The service, atmosphere, and food are all good, and the prices are better than at Patong Beach. Their watermelon shake was great. I'm not a big Thai food fan, but the Pad Thai was excellent with fresh ingredients and probably the best I've tasted on this trip.Use of the restroom was fine, but the sink to wash my hands had a long hose attached, so I used the nozzle spray attached to the toilet to wash my hands. The people working there are friendly and grateful for our business. Open during high season,...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 28, 2006

Khwanta
Hwy. 4031, Nai Ton Beach
Phuket, Thailand

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FantaSea

Attraction

Quote:

Fantasea, highly promoted by the travel agents, may be booked through any local travel agent near your hotel. A complimentary shuttle is provided for pick-up and drop-off at your hotel. Hours of the nighttime theme park are 5:30-11:30pm. Upon arriving at the site, queue up to purchase your ticket(s) for both dinner and show, dinner only, or show only. There are various attractions once inside on the way to the buffet (6-8:30pm). The food was quite good once you find your assigned seating area. It is well-organized. Photography and video recording are prohibited -- you may be sea...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on March 13, 2003

FantaSea
99 M3 Kamala Beach
Phuket, Thailand 83150
+66 (76) 385 000

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Moulin Rose

Attraction

Quote:

It's now called Moulin Rose, it used to be named the last time I visited here, Andaman Queen Cabaret, a variety show has a very good performance by various "katoys" or transgenders. Some look really beautiful. To get there, walk along Soi Bangla between Rat-U Thit Rd and Thaweewong Rd. When you see Soi Crocodile, turn in, at end of the street.Most of not all of these ladyboy variety shows on the whole wouldn't make it on Broadway, sometimes the lip synching isn't up to par nor the choreography on the whole is much good, but they do provide some entertainment, and there's always the exception.They performed several differe...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 19, 2003

Moulin Rose
11 Soi Crocodile, Bangla Rd.
Phuket, Thailand 83150
+66 (76) 294-224

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Crocodile

Attraction

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Now named Crocodile, used to be "A Go Go" the last time I visited here has some "katoys" or transgenders dancing on the tables in the evening/night. Some are quite beautiful and enticing to look at. Very entertaining if nothing else. You are invited and prompted to buy drinks for them if you're willing and take one or more back to your hotel if you wish by paying the penalty off fee THB 200 and THB 1000+ for each person for about an hour with that person. Discuss what you wish to do up front and agree on the fee and that the person understand and consent to what your interests and desires are before hand to avoid disappointment. I was invited by one or...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Crocodile
11 Soi Crocodile, Bangla Road
Patong Beach, Phuket Island 83150

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Thalang National Museum

Attraction | "Thalang National Museum & Heroines Monument"

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Thalang National Museum was built to commemorate the history of Thalang War, Phuket Province to honor these two courageous women Tha Thep Krasattri & Thao Si Sunthorn who dressed as men and acted fierce to make the Burmese think the Thai men are strong and helped Puket defend against the Burmese with 144,000 men grouped into nine armies attacked and overwhelmed Thailand. Admission THB 30, Tuesday-Saturday 0900-1630, closed on national holidays. The Heroines Monument dedicated to these two women is located west 100 meters away from the museum on intersecting Hwy 4027 & Hwy 402.

Phone: 076 311 426.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Thalang National Museum
Pa Khlok Rd.
Phuket, Thailand
+66 (76) 311025

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J & B Bar Boys

Attraction | "J & B Bar Boys"

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J & B Bar Boys is a gay bar. There, friendly guys will have you sit down and buy drinks... they offer massage, but if all you're interested in is a traditional typical Thai massage, there are other places that will do a very good massage for a lot less than the price they charge here. The drink prices here are decent, and a little less expensive than the other establishments with higher overhead and air-conditioning.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

J & B Bar Boys
Soi 2 Paradise Complex, Patong Beach
Phuket Island

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Superboys

Attraction

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Superboys is a men's bar where the boy's talent is only in their size and not much else, from what we saw. They displayed themselves and came to life when a customer would walk in, but when we indicated to pay for the drinks and talk they stopped performing until a new customer would walk in. This place has no appeal for us at all. Drinks are THB100.

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Superboys
Alley Off Sawadirak Road
Patong Beach, Phuket Island

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Jungle Boyz

Attraction

Quote:

Jungle Boyz is a quiet bar off a quiet road. Inside, there are sofas in the front, a bar in the back, and an open patio outside in the rear. The bartender was quite warm and friendly in an otherwise quiet and boring evening.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Jungle Boyz
5/13-15 Had Patong Rd, Aroonsom Square
Patong Beach, Phuket Island

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Mama San

Attraction

Quote:

Mama San is another one of those men's places with lady-boy shows and in-between guys in undergear with tag numbers on display. Most of, if not all, of these lady-boy variety shows on the whole wouldn't make it on Broadway, as sometimes the lip-synching isn't up to par and the choreography on the whole isn't much good, but they do provide some entertainment for a short while. The lady-boy show wasn't very good, nor were their lady boys all that great to look at.

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

Mama San
Rath-U-Thit Road, Paradise Complex, Patong Beach
Phuket Island 83150

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James Dean Bar

Attraction

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The James Dean Bar looks busy, filled with foreign middle-aged men (forang) all sitting/facing outward onto the street and waiting for something interesting to happen. When we passed by at night, the area is in full tilt. In the daytime when they're open, it's quiet and pleasant to sit and have a drink.

Phone +66.0.7634.4215

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

James Dean Bar

Phuket, Thailand
+66 (76) 344 215

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My Way

Attraction

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My Way has boys on display in underwear with numbered tags and a variety show with lady boys. Here is likely the largest and the "best" of the Paradise complex group available. The first show was at 10:30pm, the second show at midnight. The first show started 15 minutes late. Drinks are standard at THB 100.

There was an obnoxious customer sitting on a modular sofa in front of me who kept pushing the modular seat back against me. The staff loved him because of the money he spent buying lots of drinks for a group of people.

Telephone: 66 0 1978 4172

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on February 27, 2006

My Way
Soi 5 Paradise Complex, Patong Beach
Phuket Island, Thailand 83150
66 0 1978 4172

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C. U. Tonight

Attraction | "C.U. Tonight"

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C.U. Tonight has guys in shorts with numbered tags. There is a variety show with lady boys. Drinks are THB 100. The variety show was so-so.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on February 28, 2006

C. U. Tonight
Soi 5 Paradise Complex, Patong Beach
Kathu, Phuket Island

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Khao Phra Thaeo National Park

Attraction | "Khao Prapa Tao National Park"

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Khao Prapa Tao National Park allows visitors into a rain forest with Ton Sai Waterfall nearby, which was a bit of a hike. There was a manageable but difficult path to reach the waterfall. Bring a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated and have proper footwear for this. I suggest going with a group or at least another person.

Foreign visitors, THB 100.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on February 28, 2006

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park
20 Km from Phuket Town
Phuket, Thailand

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Nai Thon Beach

Hotel | "Nai Ton Beach"

Quote:

Nai Ton Beach is a beautiful stretch of beach, still relatively quiet and unspoiled with some beach chairs, not far from Phuket airport. There's some cafes to eat and drink along the beach. Private homes take in over-nighters or longer, and price depends on your negotiating skills since there are no guesthouses or hotels in the area. A day trip here would be nice. We hired a private car with a driver for half a day and stopped here for about an hour or so to enjoy the scenery, have some food and drink, and take a swim.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 28, 2006

Nai Thon Beach
Southern tip of Phuket near Phrom Thep Cape
Phuket, Thailand

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J & R Pharmacy

Attraction | "J & R Pharmacy"

Quote:

J & R Pharmacy doesn't look much different from the outside of many other pharmacies in the area. What makes this my preferred pharmacy, besides the obvious, the location in the Paradise Complex, the same as the hotel I'm staying in, are the people who run this particular pharmacy. The pharmacist is a funny character, and his wife is charming when he's not in the shop. They're warm, friendly, and easy to to business with. Get natural mosquito repellent to prevent bites and treatment for the bites.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 28, 2006

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Tesco

Attraction

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Tesco is a large hypermarket in a big-box store for your shopping needs of perishable and nonperishable goods under one gigantic roof top. Hours: 9am-11pm

Telephone: 076-254-888-912

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on February 28, 2006

Tesco
104 Moo 5, Charoemprakiat Ror 9 Rd.
Phuket, Thailand
+66 (76) 254 888

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HKT - Phuket Patong Beach