Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
A350OZ wrote:Not sure why St Maarten is so famous for it and Phuket is not?
AirIndia wrote:also IIRC there are not many high end resorts close to the airport.
Zetor wrote:I think that is what I was most surprised by SXM was how much gaps were in between arrivals. Of course I should have known looking at a the timetable, but it significantly less than I was expecting.From the traffic point of view Phuket is far better, especially because of widebodies. In 2016, SXM got Air France 343 every day, KLM 747 3x week, 2x week Air Caraibes and TUI and on weekends A332 of American Airlines. ... But nothing can beat that atmosphere at Maho Beach with all these people waiting for a 747.
AirIndia wrote:It cud be that the Maho beach n SXM is one of the few beaches opn the island and thus sees a lot of traffic while Phuket has many beach options with resorts all over the island as well as north into Khao Lak. So there arent many tourists going to the beach near the airport.... also IIRC there are not many high end resorts close to the airport.
SuseJ772 wrote:That being said, you can’t beat the KLM 747 so low. Great experience.
HELyes wrote:I stayed in Nayang next to HKT in December 2017. I like the area, peaceful and a nice big beach, easy plane spotting close by. Was perfect for a couple of days.
Nayang Beach, for plane spotting you turn right from here, 10 min walk on the beach.
P.S A good new HKT plane spotting video: https://youtu.be/TJmXlPJFZH8
AirAfreak wrote:
Where did you stay while at Nayang? Is this an area you recommend for both accommodations and convenient access to airplane spotting at HKT? I’ve only traveled to Kata Noi and enjoyed the peaceful environment there during the week I spent towards the end of the monsoon season.
AirIndia wrote:A350OZ wrote:Not sure why St Maarten is so famous for it and Phuket is not?
It cud be that the Maho beach n SXM is one of the few beaches opn the island and thus sees a lot of traffic
HELyes wrote:AirAfreak wrote:
Where did you stay while at Nayang? Is this an area you recommend for both accommodations and convenient access to airplane spotting at HKT? I’ve only traveled to Kata Noi and enjoyed the peaceful environment there during the week I spent towards the end of the monsoon season.
I stayed in a simple, nice hotel called Phuket Airport Sonwa Resort. I ended in Nayang quite accidentally, I just needed a hotel close to the airport for a couple of days. Nayang is a small place but it has some high end hotels too. There are some restaurants and other small services close to the beach. For the nearest 7/11 you have to walk a bit, towards to the airport.
I am not a active spotter myself but I noticed a place on the beach under the landing path where spotters gathered, next to the runway shown on the video I linked. There are better spots closer to the action but it seems you are easily shooed away.
Phuket Airport Sonwa Resort
debonair wrote:Why always the same discussion about these two places? Why not JSI for a difference?