In this paradise each day is filled with great do-it-yourself activities or with organized sightseeing tours. We can talk about it forever, but here are the top attractions.

First-off we suggest arranging tours, especially tours which include boat travel once you are in Phuket. You can do this with your hotel's tour desk or with one of many agencies on the island. This way you are not committed to set time tables and can do your tours when the weather is good.

Organized tours like visiting Phi Phi islands which include snorkeling in iconic Maya Bay located on uninhabited Phi Phi Le, next to Phi Phi Don which feature the location's resorts is one of the most popular day trips you can and should do.

Boat tours in spectacular Phang Nga Bay and canoeing among its captivating cave formations, stopping at small scattered islands and amazing beaches is a must.

The kids will love the Phuket Fantasea, Thailand's Disneyland and adults should definitely invest one evening seeing the Simon Cabaret show. Elephant trekking around jungle clad hills is a great adventure as is horse riding on the beach. You can have our fill of snorkeling and scuba diving and there are some top notch golf courses. Water sports like jet skiing, para-sailing and kite boarding get the adrenaline going.

Booking beach resorts before understanding each area could be a mistake. Phuket has many beaches, all spectacular, but with different proximity to nightlife, shopping and restaurants. Some are secluded, some brimming with activity.

Think about your expectations. Would you spend more time at your resort utilizing its facilities, or will you be out and about, mingling in a cosmopolitan crowd. Then follow our tips to book accommodation on beaches best for you.

For quiet seclusion away from commercialism Mai Khao and Nai Yang are at the northern tip of the island's west coast. Both are pristine beaches partly due to their location within a protected national park and subsequent limited number of resorts. Here you are more likely to find 5 star hotels and less cheap accommodation. It is 45 minutes drive from the primary entertainment area of Patong and Karon and near the airport.

Going south 15 minutes is 8 km long Bangtao beach in Talang, less quiet than Mai Khao and Nai Yang, but still laid-back and 20 minutes from Patong. It is home to the Laguna resort complex featuring great hotels for families with kids, as well as Banyan Tree Resort & Spa's luxury private pool villas. Between Bangtao and Mai Khao yummy white sandy coves like Layan Beach is best for couples on honeymoon.

Heading further south, 10 minutes before arriving in Patong is Surin Beach and adjacent Pansea Bay. It is the most upscale area in Phuket featuring primarily luxury 5 star resorts. The area is tranquil with top notch restaurants and bars near enough for convenience, yet far enough to feel secluded.

Finally we arrive in Patong, the primary entertainment, shopping and nightlife hotspot. The beach is three kilometers long, Bangla Road's clubs tun the night into bright neon colours, the number of restaurants and bars are endless and it sees the largest collection of hotel accommodation offering anything from budget savvy deals to extravagant luxury.

A 10 minute drive over the hill is Karon Beach, a primary location with no lack of entertainment, restaurants, markets and nightlife venues. Here Centara Grand Beach Resort with its water park with slides for the kids is a big hit with families, as is its 4 star cousin namely Centara Karon.

Moments south of Karon is Kata, a great location for a romantic honeymoon. Many of its resorts are located directly on the soft sand with no separating road and, many like The Shore at Katathani offer private pools villas with amazing views. It is less busy than Karon, but definitely not too quiet. In fact, it is the best beach for just about any occasion.