Wasn't Phukett pretty much wiped out by the tsunami?
No, its in great shape, a handfull of hotels not operating, and what was destroyed in the tourist areas is mostly rebuilt. It wasn't a situation like Aceh, in Phuket the water didn't sweep the island, only a few hundred yards. North of Phuket, off the island got hit real bad, that is where most of the deaths occurred.
I drove to nearly every beach on the island and all around, its in great shape, the water and beaches are better than they were before. Phi Phi island is in bad shape, but there are hotels up and running there as well.