Patong night life has something of an interesting reputation. For many, the main attraction of nightlife in Patong is the Patong girls, who are as lively as they are prominent. No matter how people try to gloss over the nightclub scene in Patong, you only need to take a stroll through Soi Bangla to get an idea what the place is about.
There has been some speculation that the local government has been trying to make Patong more family friendly, but it's difficult to envisage such an outcome if you look at the current state of Patong. It's no secret that a lot of people base their entire trips to Phuket around the Patong girls. It's easy to be critical of the whole scene in Patong, but it is what it is and these people do what they have to do to stay afloat.
It hasn't always been like this, though. Twenty years ago, Patong was nothing but mud tracks and beach huts. As one of the first major attractions in Phuket, development in Patong soon took on a life of its own. First came the guesthouses and hostels, followed by the throngs of backpackers and then came the more high-end resorts. All the while, though, there have been the Patong girls.
Many people are unhappy with the direction that Patong has taken. There is no denying that overdevelopment has left Patong a cluttered, uneven mess that is really struggling to stamp its identity in Phuket. Most tourists end up at Patong simply because it's the most visited place on the island, which is usually a surefire sign of somewhere discerning travelers will try and avoid.
Speak to most visitors to Phuket and they will tell you tales of woe experienced in Patong, often after being scammed by the Patong girls. Tricksters are everywhere in Patong. The nature of the place is that it tends to suck dry unsuspecting tourists, so it's best to have your wits about you while in Patong.
Bottom line is that you should not trust anybody. Even leaving money unattended in a hotel safe is not, well, safe. Street hawkers are everywhere and you'll be asked hundreds of times if you want to buy a suit. Remember that Patong is not an ideal place for picking up bargains.
In short, Patong is a fun place where you can get into some wild situations. If you plan on staying in Patong, you should beware that public transport is practically non-existent, so unless you rent some sort of transport, you won't really be able to get around that easily, confining your trip to the charms of Patong. One of the easiest way to get around is to rent a motorbike, but take care while driving at night as there have been a number of attacks on foreigners driving around Phuket.
All these problems aside, Patong is a serious party zone. There are cheap drinks and late nights to be had, which can be a lot of fun if you're in the right frame of mind.
Find out all about Patong girls and more at the author's website, Phuket Vogue
