Patong is one of those places people either love or hate. The biggest beach on Phuket Island and Thailand's premier beach resort, Patong combines a long strip of pristine sand with a beachfront cluster of raging bars, wild nightclubs and wall-to-wall shopping. Some visitors revel in the combination of idyllic surf and exuberant nightlife while others feel the evening scene is too frenetic, thus taking away from the relaxation of a holiday. Phuket Island is large enough to allow visitors to enjoy a few evenings experiencing Patong's nightlife and spend the rest of their time on other beaches around the island.