Kata beach - what can I expect?

Hi

My wife and I have gotten some cheap tickets to Thailand in November and we have decided to go to Phuket. We went there many years ago (as you can see from this early trip report http://gardkarlsen.com/thailand.htm ) but after that we have only checked out other places in Thailand. This time we have decided to stay at a place called Avista (http://www.avistaphuket.com/) located between Kata and Karon beach. We got it pretty cheap but I guess it can backfire as the place is due to open on November 1st and we are going there in mid-November ;-) - I hope that they are done with all the construction when we arrive there. I was also a bit surprised to see that the hotel offered the room for about 5000 Baht but when I check Agoda I could get the same room for 3000 Baht. So I sent an e-mail to the hotel that I would like to book directly if they could give me similar prices to Agoda. But they just sent me an e-mail back with the official price list with original prices so I just booked with Agoda and got the room for 3000 Baht including breakfast and taxes ;-)

But back to my question: what can I expect from Kata beach? Is it easy to get to the other beaches? How much is a taxi to Patong beach? Any good restaurants in Kata beach? The weather should be fairly decent in November right? Is the hotel location a good location? Any info is appriciated :-)

Regards

Gard

http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Kata beach - what can I expect?

Hi Gard,Loved your 1998 report...Always more interesting to read from another era and the prices have certainly changed since then....

I can recommend a good barbecue restaurant/bar in Kata.It is called the ';TUBE'; restaurant.For more details go to phuketsurf.com and click on tube....

The barby is only on Friday nights and costs 199 baht/person all-u-can-eat...

Fabulous food....We went there 3 Fridays in a row...!!....And for drinks after the barby,go to The Ska bar on Kata Beach....Fantastic location and great vibes...!!

As for transport,my girlfriend and I rented a scooter...We are both experienced motorcyclists....I will not recommend renting and riding a scooter if you are a novice....However,we found it the best and cheapest way to get to all the beaches....Scooter rentals average 200 baht per 24 hours and 100 baht to fill an empty tank....

You can check to see if your hotel provides a free shuttle to and from Patong.

Kata beach - what can I expect?

Hi

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, it is strange looking back on the trip report from 1998 :-) If you look at my homepage there are several trip reports from other trips to Thailand. Thanks for the tips by the way - maybe we should look into renting a scooter. I driver a Harley here at home so I%26#39;m pretty used to driving around on two wheels :-)

Regards

Gard

Kata is a nice resort, with a decent beach. lots of transport options like songtaews, but I would avoid tuktuk as they are charging outrageous prices.

As for scooter rental - you need an international driver permit valid for motorcycles, and make sure you get good insurance and helmets. Hire shops will tell you anything to get your business so be careful. Thailand has the highest accident rate in Asia for motorcycle injuries and fatalities, and riding a Harley at home is no comparison to riding a scooter in Phuket.

Unfortunately Gard, it is not your riding competence which is the issue. Rather it is the inexperienced idiots on bikes who are absolutely clueless who pose the threat. Walk along the beach road from Karon to Kata and it is quite likely you will see an incident or near miss.

We really liked ';Natalies'; - food was great, and the service incredible - one night we noticed the lanterns people light and send off into the sky - asked the staff about them, and they arranged to buy some for us the following night. We ran out of cigarettes (i know, shame on me), and they ran to the nearest store to buy us some! The cocktails are awesome, and if you like, the staff will hang out with you and chat. We liked it so much, its the only place we ate (lunch and dinner) for three days!

Once upon a time, Kata must have been the incarnation of a tropical paradise. The area is really beautiful with green hills, a perfect white beach and clear sea. Now it is nothing but a typical impersonal and crowded tanning machine with rows and rows of sunbeds, noisy sea toys, narrow streets and heavy traffic. The huge Club Med is blocking the seaview and entrance from the town, and occupies the entire central area along the beach. There are many good places to eat, but you can only find seaview restaurants and beach entrance at each end of the beach.

Sorry for being negative. I know that many of you love Kata. But we expected it to be something else, and got fairly disappointed.

Yes Imagion....Kata was once a natural jewel in a tropical paradise as was Kuta in Bali,Waikiki on Oahu,and even Patong in 1980.....

But who are we to stand in the way of progress.....??.....

Good or bad....We can make decisions to go elsewhere in this wonderful world we live in....!!....

I think the Club Med is good as the road is lined with huge trees and Club Med has been designed not to stand out. If it was not for Club Med Kata might look like Patong Beach and that would horrific.

Kata still has a laid back beach resort town to me and has just enough night life and amenities with out going overboard.

Although sadly there is a Starbucks and way to many 7-11%26#39;s.

If you are comfortable on a motorbike then that will give you freedom, with a risk of course. The driving is horrific too but it certainly makes it easier and cheaper to get around as a motorbike will cost you less then $10 US a day. A trip in a tuk tuk just about anywhere, one way, will cost you the same. I have drive on a motorbike here for 8 years.

Kata is great and has everything you need.. even a Scandinavian biker bar! (In Kata Center. Not sure of the name but not hard to find).

Lots of great restaurants. Cheap Thai food: Red Chair on Kok Tanode Road, in the middle of the road. NOt a touristy area, about 5 min from your hotel and lots of local Thai%26#39;s eating there. Cheap Thai food restaurants on the beach too, Kata Mama. Free BBQ at the Ska ba directly on the south end of Kata Beach r on Friday night and a fire spinning show.

Lots of Scandies patronize Two Chefs, there are 2 in Kata,

http://www.twochefs-phuket.com/en/home.aspx

for Italian Capaninas is not to be missed.

I also work for a few restaurants and a hotel in Kata:

Mom Tri%26#39;s Oasis Spring Tapas Bar has a live Jazz band and a great beachfront restaurant for Mediterranean food. www.momtriphuket.com

A lot of the guests at our hotel also love Euro Deli, on the NOrth side of Kata near Dino Park.

For Coffee shops i would not support starbucks as there are more independent ones. Coffee Lovers in Kata Center is owned by a lovely Thai woman, there are Andaman Coffees and my favorite is Summer Coffee House next to The Boathouse with a sort of secret rooftop terrace.

Hopes this helps ! and let us know how it is at Avista!

Thanks a lot for the feedbacks so far :-)

Regards

Gard