Please share your suggestions (Phuket)

Mt wife will be renting an Apt in Phuket in Jan Protected content a month. We are retired and looking to relax before joining a 31 day SE Asia tour. We have lived on and off in South America, but this is our first visit to SE Asia. We want to be on the beach but in an area where we can sample the local life.

I would very much appreciate any suggestion as to where in Phuket might be a good site to consider.

Thanks so much,
Jim