Phuket

Phuket is Thailand's largest and best-known island, linked to the mainland by a bridge and served by an international airport with seasonal direct flights from Riyadh and Jeddah. Its west coast is a string of beaches such as Kata, Karon and Surin, and its hillsides hold luxury resorts with private pool villas suited to families and couples.

The island is the natural base for life on the water: diving and snorkelling on the reefs, and boat trips to Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, or to the Phi Phi islands and Maya Bay.

Old Phuket Town has streets of colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, the best known on Thalang Road, with cafés and craft shops. Days often end at Promthep Cape on the island's southern tip, one of the finest sunset views in Thailand.

Phuket has a sizeable Muslim community, mosques in most towns and plenty of halal restaurants. The best season is November to April, when the sea is calm and the skies clear.