Unbeknownst to me, and  a lot o people, Phuket is where Russians love to go vacation. You’ll see a lot of signs in Cyrillic (Russian) in addition to Thai, with English being the third preferred language. I found the food in Phuket to be average compared to central and northern Thailand. When you’re coming down south, focus on the beautiful beaches, island hopping partying and less about the food. Make sure you’re staying on Patong Beach (western side of the island) and not Phuket town.

Things to See:

Patong Beach

The Big Buddha

Take a trip to Phang Nga Bay. It’s unbelievably beautiful and the location of a scene in the James Bond Movie The Man with the Golden Gun. 

Restaurants:

Baan RimJoe’s Downstairs
Blue Elephant
Sizzle Rooftop
Sam’s Steaks & Grill

Bars:

Walk along Bangla Road. That is the main strip where all the bars are.

Illuzion Discotheque

If you feel like spicing things up, go to Paradise Beach on the other side of the island where they have big concerts and festivals on the beach.

Rooftop Bars:

Baba Nest

Lodging:

Araya Beach Hotel
Slumber Party Hostel