Bang Tao / Laguna

The luxury area with expensive restaurants, nice beaches, and high safety. Good if you want upscale and can pay for it. No budget options, not much local atmosphere. Safe with fancy nightlife, not party scene.

Bang Tao is the luxury area. International hotel chains around the Laguna complex, expensive villas along 6 kilometers of beach. Michelin-recognized restaurants, designer shops at Porto de Phuket and Boat Avenue, beach clubs that look like Ibiza. Rich tourists, expats, and families who can pay the high prices. Eating alone at nice restaurants is normal, professional service, everyone speaks English. Beach is nice and less crowded than Patong or Kata because it's mostly luxury resorts. Very safe with resort security, good lighting, and the wealthy atmosphere keeps petty crime down. Everything costs more - meals, transportation, all priced for luxury travelers. Nightlife is rooftop bars and beach clubs with sunset cocktails, not party clubs. Very spread out, you need rides even for short distances. No walkable village feel like Kata or energy like Patong. Good if you want to spend money on luxury and safety. Overkill if you're backpacking or want budget authentic Thai stuff. You'll meet other travelers but they're staying in resorts, not hostels.