There are beaches beyond Surin to the North of the Island, but Nai Yang and Mai Khao out near the airport are difficult to get to and offer nothing in the way of facilities. If you are looking for a place to walk for miles by the sea and not see another soul though, Mai Khao might fit the bill.

Coming south, the next beach along the Andaman coast is Bang Tao. Bang Tao is home to Laguna Phuket, one of the biggest resort complexes in Asia, and as such holds very little interest unless you are staying at the resort.

The first of the Phuket Island beaches of interest to visitors is really Surin, but it must be said that Surin is worth the little bit of effort it takes to get there; it's beautiful, and peaceful. One of Surin's immediately obvious charms is that there are no jet skis.

There are plenty of facilities, beach side bars and barbecues abound. Surin is quiet and relaxed though, whilst offering enough to keep most people content.

Still travelling south, next along the coast is the glittering mayhem of Patong. Patong beach will be some people's idea of Heaven on Earth, while others will shudder at the spectacle and head for the relative tranquillity of one, any, of the other beaches on the island. It's fair to say that Patong beach is not everyone's idea of paradise.

It is a nice beach though, and if you find yourself dipping a toe in the Andaman whilst taking an early morning stroll on Patong beach you will surely see the attraction; it's a lovely beach.

By lunchtime it will be packed with tourists gently baking in the sun, awash with vendors selling anything from massage to beer, and under siege from sea and sky with angrily buzzing jet skis bouncing through the waves and stealthily descending parachutists being towed behind boats occasionally dropping in uninvited to a beach party.

There's a lot of fun to be had on Patong beach, it's certainly a lively place, but if you don't play well with others then it might not be for you.

Karon may be a good compromise if the frenetic pace of Patong is too much but you are still looking for plenty of facilities. It's a very long and narrow beach, but never seems to get too crowded and is well served by vendors so you won't want for anything.

A little further South from Karon is Kata beach. Favoured by surfers and snorkellers, Kata is another lovely Andaman Sea beach. And just over the hill form Kata you find the equally attractive Kata Noi, a tiny beach but well worth seeking out.

Nai Harn is the last beach on the west coast of the Island of Phuket. It's another gorgeous spot and very popular with snorkellers. The Royal Phuket Yacht Club looks over Nai Harn and some of the best snorkelling on Phuket is to be found right there. Snorkelling gear can be rented on the beach.

Around the corner into Chalong Bay you find the slightly muddier waters of Rawai and Chalong itself. This side of the island is more about working than leisure beaches; there are lots of boats moored along here and the beach facilities themselves are few to none. Rawai has its charms, but the beach is not really one of them.

There are some excellent restaurants overlooking the bay so this side of the island is worth a trip. Chalong pier is where many of the outlying island trips and fishing trips depart from though, so it tends to be a very busy place.

The Island of Phuket spoils the visitor for choice when it comes to beaches, there are many tiny coves with slivers of pristine sand waiting to welcome those prepared to look a little beyond the regular tourist traps.

As with beaches anywhere in the world there are safety considerations for bathers. The main beaches on Phuket post warnings and use flags; visitors should heed such warnings. Conditions for swimmers can be particularly treacherous in the rainy season between May and October.