Yanui Beach

Small is the whole point here. This is a compact cove on Phuket's southern tip, sitting between Nai Harn and Promthep Cape, and it works precisely because it never had room to become anything bigger. Trees come right down to the sand, so there's real shade, which matters more than people think when you're planning a full day at a beach in Phuket.

Good for families and good for snorkeling. The water is clear close in and usually calm enough for nervous swimmers, and you can rent snorkeling gear and kayaks on the sand itself. There are a few vendors and basic facilities, nothing more. If you want loungers in rows and a beach club soundtrack, go elsewhere and you'll both be happier.

Come between November and April, when the sea settles and visibility is at its best. Outside those months the waves pick up noticeably. Get there early in the morning, before the Promthep Cape crowd stops off on the way past, and you'll have your pick of the shaded spots.