Phuket Thailand is the most developed of the resort islands in the south of Thailand, one hour flight from Bangkok.
Good infrastructure, with many top-class hotels and restaurants, and tourist attractions both on land and at sea.
Koh Yao (and Koh Yao Noi) are two small islands located 45 minutes by speedboat east of Phuket in the Andaman Sea, real hide and chic chill-out islands, a total contrast to lively hedonistic Phuket. Actually, the combination of the two can be an interesting holiday.
Weatherwise
Generally at its best December to early May. The spring and summer months can see beach erosion, higher sea swells and rainfall.
Pleasures
The good beaches (seasonal) and water sports, some of the finest and most innovative hotels in the region, attractive easily accessible offshore islands, lively restaurant and nightlife scene if required, still many quieter coves and beaches, highly convenient air links from many of the regional cities (and Gulf) in addition to Bangkok.
Realities
Some of the islands are highly developed, particularly in the Patong area, with the excesses of mass tourism evident. This can also apply to several of the offshore islands where you seem to have a flotilla of boats throughout the day.
Spring and summer can be Red Flag and Long Face Season, despite the lower prices. ( it is also called Green season as you do get rain in heavy short bursts, so the plants grow quicker ).
During this period you can have high waves making swimming dangerous. Local lifeguards are as absent as they assume no one is crazy enough to want to swim!
Transfer Times
Transfer times vary from 30 to 50 minutes, depending on location of the hotel. Flying time from Bangkok 60 minutes. There are also direct connections to Singapore, KL, Hong Kong and Dubai.
Hotels & Resorts in Phuket & Koh Yao
“There’s no such thing as the best hotel, just the right one…”
Click for Booking Terms, Price Guides & Flight Information
All price guides are Per Person Sharing Double Room (Entry level), based on travel between May and/or June when prices are generally at their lowest and include promotional offers.
Supplements will probably apply at other times, particularly mid-summer in the Med, and for rooms and/or transfers arranged for single travellers.
For example, the Caribbean and Indian Ocean prices for winter can be approximately double the May – June level and about 50% more in Asia.
For the Mediterranean & Canary Islands, Caribbean, Arabia and the Indian Ocean (except Sri Lanka) price guides generally include airfare and transfers.
*For Sri Lanka and Far East we show a per person per night hotel guide, excluding air fare, as arrangements tend to be individually tailored multi-centre itineraries.
Please refer to Travel Advice on our home page or look at www.fco.gov.uk as the Foreign Office may have issued specific destination information on safety and terrorism.
Click for our CHIC Locations Booking Terms & Conditions PDF
