Earlier this month, after dropping off a family member at the airport, we drove to Nai Yang beach. That’s the beach right next to Phuket airport. During the dry season (November-April), when the northeastern monsoon (wind) prevails, planes land at HKT coming in from the west. If you’re at Nai Yang beach, they fly right over your heads. They touch down a few hundred meters further.

That beach is actually part of a very small national park. It’s publicly accessible, but nothing can be built there. The result is a very large strech of beach with no tourists. On Sunday and school holidays you may find a bunch of locals hanging out.