tezza
hippy
Posts: 79

#1 Posted: 12/4/2008 - 18:58


Poseidon is a flashpacker/lower midrange place about 5-6km south of the main Khao Lak township built on a headland overlooking a small estuary - across which is a big expanse of beach leading abt 8km to Thap Lamu which is the port for the Similans trips.
All of Poseidon’s old bungalows were at least 10m over the estuary, but the lower ones were cleaned up by the tsunami and replaced by better quality ones on the higher side of the path from restaurant to beach. Note there are a few family type ones sleeping 4 or more - not all that common in the Andaman. The bungalows also extend further towards the ocean beach so that from last bungalow to sand is only about 2 minutes. Poseidon is the only place at this nice beach although 10 minutes walk north gets you to the attractive beach where Merlin and a number of other high end places are located.
The old restaurant was a wonderful place, right down OVER the estuary on piers. It got destroyed (no-one hurt) - the new restaurant is way up top, arguably with an even better outlook north than before.
Prices here are maybe 30-50% higher than many budget restaurants, still very good value by western standards.
Poseidon picked me up at Phuket airport - the 1 hour trip cost 1200baht. My bungalow was one of the cheaper 800baht fan jobs (with bathroom). At first glance it looked a bit spartan, but it was spotless, in good condition, cosy with sufficient room for 2 and their gear but no more, a comfy queen bed and big not too hard pillows, good screens on windows and doors, quiet fan, toilet paper+soap+towels, clothes rack and moderate shelf space, good lights including reading light at bed-head, good water pressure, quiet (no roads nearby, few long tails except one local fisherman who came down the creek at 5am!), nice balcony except mine #17 was one of the few cheapies on the inland side of the path without panoramic views (although there were partial views of the bay). No problems, 100m got me to the restaurant for my viewing time. Which is where I headed as soon as I stored my bag on arrival - the estuary and that looooong beach leading up to the cape past Thap Lamu sure looked nice in the moonlight, particulary after the first-for-the-trip Chang or four.
BTW - Poseidon is a popular place not least because of its overnight Similan snorkelling trips and is heavily booked - one place I would not risk a walk-in. It is Swedish-Thai owned and has a large proportion of Swedish visitors. Staff are friendly and efficient.