Phuket, Thailand

Regional Population: 89,072

Elevation: 10 meters

Time Zone: Asia/Bangkok

Local Currency: THB

Latitude: 7.8833333

Longitude: 98.4

Nearby Airports: HKT

Phuket, pronounced “Poo-get,” is Thailand’s largest island and also its second smallest province. It is about 30 miles in length, 13 miles at its widest, and is located in Southern Thailand, on the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline, suspended from the southern tip of Phang Nga Province by a pair of short road bridges.

Phuket enjoys great popularity as a travel destination. Most beaches are on the west coast, with Phuket Town to the southeast and the airport in the north. Phuket might not have the historical sites that Bangkok and Chiang Mai have, but people visit more for its pristine beaches, made even cleaner by the devastating tsunami in December 2004. The island has fully recovered from that disaster and is more beautiful than ever. Scuba diving, yachting, jet-skiing and parasailing are the most popular activities on the island. Most dive sites are off nearby islands, but distances are fairly short and there are dozens of dive shops and boats to cater to your needs, mostly based near Chalong Pier. The island also has a number of golf courses that would meet the approval of dedicated international players.