Glossary of shopping on Phuket
Most people come to Phuket for the sun and fun, with shopping being furthest from their minds – and rightly so. Although Phuket is probably the last place in Thailand you should shop for Thai souvenirs and handicrafts, there are still plenty of places to find them for those last-minute gifts before you head home.
If you are in search of handicrafts and unique Thai goods, as well as knock-off t-shirts, handbags and DVDs, the best place to shop is Patong beach. Here, you will find a slew of stalls just across the road from the beach, and stretching down into alleyways. These stalls are interspersed with tailor shops where you can have good suits, skirts and dresses made to fit for a fraction of what they would cost you in the West. Bargaining is the key to a successful shopping experience in this area, and while most stalls are open in the day, you might find it more relaxing to shop at night. This area is also filled with plenty of restaurants where you can have a rest in between bargaining.
If you’re looking for art and antiques, there are many shops at the entrance to the Laguna resort complex in Surin. In Phuket City, you’ll find the main Soul of Asia outlet, which features some unique pieces from around Southeast Asia.
Contemporary items and high-tech goods are found in the malls, with the most popular place being Central Festival. This is an excellent place to shop for clothes and shoes in Western sizes, and you’ll find the selection to be as modern and appealing as malls in Bangkok. There are even winter clothes featured during the low season as many tourists stock up before heading home. Central is also home to the SFX Cinema, showing new releases in English almost the same time as they come out in the West. There is a large selection of food here, with an inexpensive food court as well as a choice of restaurants on the third floor, and other restaurants and food outlets on the first floor. A TOPS grocery store is also located on the first floor.
Jungceylon shopping center in Patong is expected to be larger than Central Festival once open late in 2006, and will include two hotels as well. Robinson Department Store in Phuket City is where local Thais shop. It is much smaller but does offer some good bargains. A new movie theatre has recently been built next door. Ocean Shopping Plaza in Patong is another small shopping mall.
Near to Central Festival are Big C and Lotus, where you can value items and groceries. Additionally, Big C has a basement level with a food court and many shops selling mobile phones. The top floor in Big C has some Thai souvenirs and handmade furniture for sale. Both Big C and Lotus have stalls selling Thai souvenirs, wood carvings, games and more. You may find the souvenirs to be cheaper than those at Patong. Also in the area is Index shopping mall, where you can browse a large selection of furniture and home appliances. The Oishi Japanese buffet on the ground floor is highly recommended for a lunch stop.
However, to truly appreciate Thailand, you ought to spend a time at one of the traditional markets. The best is the weekend market in Phuket City, down a street near to Central Festival. It opens in the evening starting around 16:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. Here, you’ll find Thai foods, clothes, jewellery, mobile phones, toys, home wares, shoes, and other cheap knickknacks. It’s the biggest market on the island, so anyone should be able to point you in the right direction. The later it gets the more claustrophobic you may feel.
There is an OTOP (One Tambon, One Product) outlet at Kata beach and another one on Bypass road selling local crafts. These are good places to stroll around for Thai handicrafts and unique gifts at fair prices. Some of the items include woodworks, ornaments, jewellery, art and home décor items.
