Soccer-playing staff of Mom Tri’s Boathouse hotel get a very special ending to their annual tournament: a visit by Thai national team manager and former Man U hero Bryan Robson.

In Phuket, there is just one place to play lawn bowls – the Kamala Lawn Bowling Club. It’s a leisurely way to pass a pleasant afternoon.

The five-star Indigo Pearl Resort at Nai Yang Beach has launched its first “eco-tour” package, inviting guests to “give back to the community” during their vacation.

Air Bagan, Myanmar’s largest independent airline in terms of the number of aircraft, is to begin flights between the capital of Myanmar, Yangon, and Phuket.

In a promotion that might just be interpreted as a swipe at discount airlines such as AirAsia and its own sibling airline, Nok Air, Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced hefty discounts for passengers flying between Bangkok and Phuket anytime from now until March 31 next year.

AirAsia is giving its load factors a bit of a goosing by offering a 20 percent cut in all fares, across the board. The discount, the airline says, applies to bookings made between now and next Sunday (September 19) for flights made between Monday (September 20) and November 15.

When it begins to pour with rain in Phuket and then sunbirds fly back to their homes in the west or north, hoteliers’ hopes turn fondly to those of us who live here. “How about a weekend away from the housework?” they ask. “Or how about a special deal at our restaurants?”

Phuket has scored a number of useful hits in the sixth Smart Travel Asia poll. The Hong Kong-based online travel magazine (run by writer Vijay “He’s Everywhere” Verghese), asks visitors to rank a variety of business hotels, luxury resorts, spas, destinations, business cities, shopping spots, airlines and airports.

Both Phuket Town and Patong have their fair share of art galleries, and there’s a scattering of art shops in other parts of Phuket, especially in areas where there are plenty of expensive homes such as Surin Beach and Cherng Talay.

The girls – er, sorry, the women – of the Women’s Willpower Group are at it again, creating a new sexy calendar for charity. Exclusive Phuket Observer pictures.