Surin Beach, Thalang

My girlfriend and I stayed at Surin Beach Resort from February 2 to February 9 2006 and we cannot speak more highly of this hotel. We both agreed that Surin Beach Resort was the best resort we have ever stayed in and feel compelled to give it a good review. Before we booked our accommodation we read some good and some bad reviews of Surin Beach Resort. Of most concern were the bad reports of a foul smell coming from a neighbouring paddock containing either buffalo or poultry. I can say that we did not experience any such smell, however, there is a paddock containing farm animals 500 metres away, which only added to the feeling of being in rural Thailand. The resort facilities are first class and faultless. I have experienced accommodation with other hotels where you view fabulous photos of the hotel but are devastatingly disappointed when you arrive to find the hotel looks nothing like the photos. We did not experience this at Surin Beach Resort, the grounds are immaculate and the resort resembles a paradise. The pictures we viewed on the website and other review sites are exactly what the resort and rooms look like. The staff at the resort are all of Thai background, with the exception of about a handful of Scandinavian staff who seemed to be the managers of the resort (they also operated the kids club). All the staff were effective at communicating to us in English and we were able to have a conversation with every staff member we approached. But around Phuket and Thailand we did find occasions when we needed to use some Thai. Any traveller can get by on knowing only two phrases; �No� and �Thank You�. �No� in Thai is: �My Ao� (means �no� or �I don�t need� in a polite manner). Thank You in Thai for Women is: �Kop Kun Ka� and for Men is: �Kop Kun Krap� Surin Beach as a town is beautiful. It is very small, very realistic and quiet. However, what ever you would find in Patong you would find in Surin Beach, but just not as many. And if you want to go to Patong that�s not a problem either, as it is only 7 minutes away (300 baht by tuk tuk). They say that Surin Beach is where the locals come to relax and go to the beach, and now I can see why. Everywhere else in Phuket is jam packed with tourists and has lost its touch with traditional Thailand. The actual beach itself is the best I�ve ever seen, with aqua water and white sand and no one harassing you like when on Patong beach. Michael and Chantelle Must do�s while at Surin Beach Resort! *Make sure to have a Thai massage everyday (only 300 Baht). *The resort pool is fantastic; everyone has to try the slide at least once. *Alcohol is dirt cheap in Thailand, so drink up. The bar staff at Surin Beach Resort are very entertaining to watch, I recommend a �Heart of the Andaman� cocktail at the pool bar. *The seafood is fresh from the sea, try the prawns, some are as big as lobsters. *Be sure to see James Bond Island on a Phang Na province tour.