|
Phuket
Shopping
 Shopping
Overviews
Asia’s bargain haven, Thailand has a lot to offer in quenching
a true blue shopper’s thirst be it high-end shopping of branded
clothing and accessories line, to electronics, to native and local
products, to food and fruits preserves, to jewelries, gems, stones,
silvers and gold, to different kinds of fashion, even home decors,
handicrafts, art collections, religious icons, and specialized items,
night markets, bargains, sale madness, shopping mall frills and thrills,
and even just window shopping. Anywhere you go in the country,
you can always spy a perfect shopping spot most especially in Bangkok,
the center of Thailand, where the streets are mostly lined with various
kinds of on-sale commodities. A shopaholic brand and quality conscious
fashionista are bound to be seen along the corridors of plush shopping
areas such as Siam Paragon, World Trade Center, Siam Discovery, and
Central Chidlom. On the other hand, value-for-money budget conscious
shoppers may cruise along the numerous the streets of Chatujak market,
Siam Square, Pratunam, and Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Technology savvies
may update themselves on the latest electronic devises that are sold
on very reasonable prices at places like the Phantip Plaza or the
IT Centers. International travelers may splurge themselves with tax-free
local and branded products at the World Trade Center and other Duty-Free
shops. These are but a taste of Thailand shopping in Bangkok but apart
from it, there can also be Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai as among
the best places for a shopper’s euphoria.
Shopping
in Phuket
While Phuket lacks the variety and sheer volume
of handicrafts and other local goods seen in Northern Thailand and
Bangkok, there are still some great buys to be had here. Shopping
in Phuket offers silks and cottons, ready-to-wear and custom made
clothing, batiks, leather goods, jewellery; ceramics and antiques
are among the more popular items. And due to the boom of upscale property
developments on the island, there's also a fabulous range of home
décor products and furniture.
Several markets in Phuket exist at various locations, adding to the
charm of shopping in Phuket; some are permanent, others operate in
the mornings and evenings according to Thai tradition and then there
are there are markets specifically catering to tourists, sporting
mainly souvenirs and handicrafts; these can be found in most the tourist
centres.
Phuket
City
and vicinity is host to a wide range of shops,
from handicraft and antique stores, to the hyper markets of Big C
and Tesco-Lotus on the bypass road, to department stores selling brand
name clothing, to furniture and homeware stores selling everything
from knick-knacks to custom-made rattan living room sets. Shopping
in Phuket city is surprisingly good and worth the trip away from the
beach areas.
The downtown historical district known
as ‘Old Phuket’ is worth exploring for shopping, not only
for its unique boutiques and great deals, but also to see some fine
examples of Sino-Portuguese architecture. Thalang, Dibuk, Phang Nga,
Yaowarat and Krabi roads are particularly charming, as life here among
the locals seems to go on much as it did generations ago. There are
some great little restaurants – Thai cuisine, noodle shops,
roti stands and more - in the area, too.
A market called Chatuchak Phuket, named after the gigantic bazaar
in Bangkok, is open every weekend along Phang Nga Rd, just east of
the long-haul bus terminal. Shopping here offers is a wide range of
cheap clothing, shoes, handicrafts, jewellery, and local food.
Patong
shopping in Patong Beach is a frenzied Phuket
shopping experience, as the bulk of it is done through the bewildering
number of street vendors that line all the main roads.
By day things are quiet, but by nightfall
the sidewalks are full of shoppers browsing the displays of clothes,
souvenirs, accessories, paintings, luggage, leather items, and all
sorts of little gadgets that dazzle the senses with flashing laser
lights or bleeping noises. Fake brand name goods and pirated CDs and
software are usually on offer, except when there's a periodic crackdown
on the practice.
The main night market in Phuket runs
along the beach road and into the small soi (lanes) running back from
the beach, providing more convenient shopping. There's another market
in front of the Paradise Complex on Rat-U-Thit Rd that runs two to
three nights a week in high season, usually Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays. There are two Ocean department stores – one on the
beach road and another on Bangla Rd – and plenty of small grocery
stores, 7-11s and pharmacies.
Bang
Tao, Surin
other notable Phuket areas for shopping are
Bang Tao and Surin beaches. Both of these areas cater to the villa
property market, and as such have a surprisingly good range of upscale
boutiques and furniture stores.
Several antique and home furnishing
shops are located just outside the Laguna Phuket resort complex, while
within Laguna is a shopping centre called Canal Village, which has
high-end giftware, silks, spa products and home décor shops
including Jim Thompson. At Surin, on the main road just north of the
beach is the Surin Plaza, with boutiques and fine dining options.
An open-air market in Bang Tao, opposite the Cherng Talay police station,
is a lively and very local shopping area, with all sorts of cheap
items for sale including t-shirts and other clothing.
What to Buy
Phuket has a great variety of Thai handicrafts, some of which come
from other parts of Thailand and some which are regional specialities.
Intricate filigree leather pictures, items made from coconuts and
sea shells, bronze and lacquerware and ceramics are just some of the
items produced. Some have been created by craftsmen whose skills have
been handed down for generations while others are produced in factories
using the latest in advanced technology and quality control. You really
need to see for yourself...
Ceramics
The makers of Thailand's distinctive Celadon
ceramics use a centuries-old technique to create beautiful works in
jade green, brown or cobalt blue. Bowls, tiles, teapots, vases and
other items can be found in boutiques attached to major hotels and
department stores. A local company, Ceramics of Phuket,  produces
original ceramics made from Phuket clay in absolutely stunning designs.
Many of their ceramics are made to order and you'll find their products
on the tables and in the rooms of Phuket's top resorts and restaurants.
Their showroom is 5 minutes outside of Phuket City on the road to
Kathu (Vichitsongkram Rd).
Benjarong is another ceramic style unique
to Thailand, usually formed into a round pot with a lid with rich
colours and intricate patterns. More modern styles of this craft,
which was once exclusively for the use of the Royal family, are found
on plates, cups or ornamental pieces. Most souvenir and houseware
shops have Benjarong items for sale.
For large earthenware jars, pottery and other ceramics including the
blue and white Chinese styles, check out some of the garden shops
or department stores around the island.
Lacquerware
A specialty of northern Thailand, neighbouring Burma, and now Vietnam,
a wide range of contemporary and antique lacquerware can be bought
in shops on Phuket Island. You can find the distinctive gold and black
household objects such as trinket boxes, trays and chopsticks originate
from Chiang Mai, Thailand (Try Andaman Trade Centre on Srisoontorn
Rd, Thalang, Tel: 076 272 304).
Some shops also carry the antique matte red cylinder picnic boxes
and covers inlaid with black and/or green detail that are characteristic
of Burma's lacquerware industry. More recently, the creatively coloured
and decorated trays, bowls and homeware originating from Vietnam have
also become available in Phuket - all of these items make an ideal,
lightweight collector's item or gift.
Shopping by Location
Not sure where to shop? Looking for a bargain? See what's on offer
at each of Phuket's major shopping locations. Patong Beach
- Phuket City - Bang Tao Beach -
Kamala/Surin
Patong Beach transforms into a large night bazaar every evening, when
all the main roads become clogged with stalls selling handicrafts,
silk scarves, sarongs and a variety of beach clothes, leisure wear,
leather goods and luggage, CDs, computer games and electronic gadgets
and toys.
It's chaotic but fun if you approach it with the right attitude --
just remember that bargaining yields the best results when done lightheartedly
and with a smile. Most of the shopping here is aimed at the tourist
market, so prices are a bit higher than they are in Phuket City.
The main night market stretches all the way down the beach
road and into small secondary soi (lanes) on all nights of the week.
In front of the Paradise Complex, another market sets up 2-3 nights
a week, in high season, usually Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Lots
of stuff aimed at the teenage market - recycled jeans, funky shoes
and clothes, but also Thai sweets, orchids, ornaments and hair accessories.
Set-up time is usually around 6-7pm until late and remember to bargain!
Shopping by Type
From a hectic night bazaar to the cool comfort of a modern department
store, shopping in Phuket is more than a way to buy things - it is
an experience. A rundown of the markets, shops and retail centres
of Phuket. Department Stores - Upmarket retail
centres - Superstores - Furniture
Stores - Street Shopping/Open Markets -
Fresh Markets
Department stores
- Central Festival, bypass rd, Phuket City
- Robinsons, Tilok-U-Thit 1 Rd, Phuket City
- Ocean Shopping Mall, Tilok-U-Thit 1 Rd, Phuket
City
- Phuket Shopping Centre, Rassada Rd, Phuket City
- Ocean Plaza, Thaweewong Rd, Patong
- Ocean Plaza Bangla, Bangla Rd, Patong
Shopping Tips & FAQs
Get the most out of your shopping experience. A guide to the pitfalls
and pleasures of shopping in Phuket. Bargaining - Smile - Beware of
Touts - Export Restrictions - Gems and Jewellery Advisory - Packing
and Shipping Services - Tax Refund
Partner Sites
www.phukethoteltour.com
| www.phuket-hotels-links.com
| www.hotel-phuket.org
| www.1phuket.com
| www.patong-hotels.net
| www.katakaronhotel.com
| www.phuket-map.net |
|
