Well here we are just starting our eleventh season at Seaside Cottages and Restaurant.
Since we first opened our resort at Mai Khao Beach way back in 2007, Phuket has transformed from a popular choice for backpackers into a top class holiday destination full of 5 star resorts and shopping malls with all the facilities that anyone could ever dream of.
Welcome to Phuket 2018
The island has retained some of it’s original charm, especially the old town and some of it’s national park areas with scenic views that cannot be compared with anywhere else in the world. It is also close to many other popular destinations where you can discover nature, a piece of unique Thai culture or uptempo resorts and beach clubs where the party never stops.
Phuket is also a great shopping destination with many top designer brands available at a brand new shopping complex close to town. Some great food is also widely available almost anywhere across Phuket. In addition to the unbeatable local food which is still very moderately priced, there are choices from every part of the world and most of exceptional quality.
The options available in Phuket are endless and this small island in Thailand is a great choice for any kind of holiday or special event.
Now in our eleventh year at Seaside Cottages and Restaurant
The last 10 years have been a great experience for us and we have catered for people from all walks of life and from many countries.
I have fond memories of our early days at the beach when starting a new business. We had no electricity, no official road and lived in the jungle, often in a tent, with our dogs and cats in the middle of nowhere.
It was a haven for backpackers and the first couple of years was a time when we were still learning the ropes.. We have met some great people along the way and many have become regular customers at Seaside Cottages and Restaurant.
A new arrival
However, times change and our son Matthew was born in 2012 who has been an important addition to our lives. When he was just 3 years old we were looking for a change in lifestyle and temporarily left the resort at Mai Khao to begin a new venture in Ireland. Unfortunately the business we had planned in Ireland was not so easy to accomplish and I spent the Summer of 2016 selling ice pops on street markets in West Cork just to make ends meet. The Irish weather was not ideal for that year and consequently, we returned to Phuket in September 2016. As Matthew was due to be starting school, I took a back seat in the business of running the resort and took over from my mother-in-law to concentrate on caring for our son.
School inevitably started for Matthew in 2017 and much of my time is now spent getting him to and from his place of study which is sometimes a 1 hour drive from our house, depending on traffic.
A new season with a new menu
When we returned from Ireland, Koy, once again took charge in the kitchen at Seaside Cottages and has been running the resort with a few members of staff ever since.
The menu has been changed a little to make the running of the restaurant a bit easier but still retains a good choice of some great local Thai and foreign dishes.
Sadly the bamboo huts which were once so popular with the backpackers had to be destroyed due to an infestation of termites and will not be replaced. We now have the two original round cottages and the four en-suite rooms which replaced the wooden huts in 2014.
Camping facilities are still available if you wish to bring your own tent.
Some things will never change
Mai Khao Beach itself is still one of the quietest in Phuket even though 2 hotels have been built since we first opened Seaside Cottages and Restaurant. This means that you might see the odd hotel guest coming to our resort for a break from the hotel environment. This in no way should affect your enjoyment of the peace and quiet which is still available here.
We have never promoted Mai Khao Beach as being pristine as a few travel agents and resort owners still continue to do. In low season there is a great deal of trash washed up onto the beach which apart from directly in front of the hotels and resorts is rarely dealt with. I personally used to collect around 10 kilos of plastic and other rubbish daily from an area of about 200 square meters at the front of our place. These days, I help with beach clean-ups around once/month with the kids at Matthew’s school. It’s never enough but every little helps.
The original plan that I had to provide economical accommodation in an otherwise overpriced destination is still in place. We hope that you enjoy our resort wheather you just pop in for a drink, a bite to eat or stay with us for a few days.
Sadly most of the pets are no longer with us and only one cat remains at the restaurant. He has been with us for about 9 years and his name is Ginger. We have another ginger tom cat called Mee Tung which one of our staff adopted while we were away. Unfortunately the two cats do not like each other so they must be kept separate.
Everything is under control
Koy and the staff have everything under control and these days and I am normally busy with other activities which include maintenance of this website. Consequently, I don’t get many opportunities to socialize with our guests as in the past. However, I am always nearby in case you find that you are in need of anything. I have lived in Phuket now for 15 years and happy to help with communication problems or anything in general. I know that being in an unfamiliar country can be a bit frustrating, especially when it’s hard for local people to understand.
I have tried to make this website about Seaside Cottages and Restaurant, both, informative and easy to navigate for our future guests. Here you can check weather in Phuket, currency exchange rates, book rooms at Seaside Cottages, tours, excursions & entertainment and even flights to and from anywhere in the world.
Please let me know of any suggestions that you may have in the comments section below or if you have been here before we would appreciate your review of Seaside Cottages and Restaurant.
