It’s the go-to holiday digs of Thailand, crawling with tourists pretty much all year. And why not? There are broad sweeps of sandy beaches lined with palms and drenched in sunshine – Surin, Karon and Nal Yang being the top-touristed ones – with street-food vendors selling coconuts, grilled corn on the cob and whatnot right on the beach. But for the full-on, head over to Patong on the west shore, a chaotic pocket with streets choked with bars and seedy dives where you can join beer-bingeing young Australian party-goers, and tiny stores and street markets where you can pick up inexpensive, knockoff brandname watches and designer clothing, and maybe even snag a cheap silk scarf or souvenir sandalwood elephant or, get this, a fake Mona Lisa to take back home with you! No kidding!