After traveling to
Hong Kong and
Bali the travel bug kind of really bit me and my sister. So it wasn’t long before we planned our next big trip to the Asian Continent. Our trip was booked though STA Travel and one of the packages on offer was
Phuket and
Singapore. Here is a small run down of our experience in
Phuket.Phuket is one of the most sought after destinations in Thailand this makes it a bucket list destination for many, myself included. Famous for islands such as Khao Ping Kan aka James Bond Island and Maya Bay Island (made famous by the movie The Beach). Everyday day thousands of people take speed boats to these islands. Even so while visiting Khao Ping Kan or Maya Bay or any of the other islands like Phi Phi Islands (pronounced Pi Pi“) is one of the top things to do while you are in Phuket there are a whole lot of other things to do. So much so that seven days feels like a breeze.
A few things to know before you start exploring the island.
Currency
Thai Bhat current exchange rate
1 Thai Bhat
0.46 South African Rand
1 Thai Bhat
0.032 United States Dollar
Sim Cards and WiFi
You can buy a sim Card at the airport, there are various packages on offer so you can choose one which aligns with your budget. As for WiFi most hotels and restaurants offer “free WiFi” and you also don’t have beg waitresses or waiters for it.
Transport
To get around Phuket there are various options
i) Rent a scooter
If you can ride a scooter this is one of the best mode of transport for you.
ii) Phuket Tuk-Tuk
Depending on your budget and destination you can use the tuk-tuk’s. Personally I felt that they were a bit overpriced, so we decided not use them.
iii) Phuket Local Buses
This one of the best options especially if you are on a tight budget. They cost between 20 Baht and 40 Baht per trip depending on distance, and you can find them around Old Phuket Town, Karon Patong and Rawai.
iv) Phuket Smart Bus
The Phuket Smart Bus is also another option. The main route is Phuket Airport, Cherngtalay, Bangtao, Phuket Fantasea, Kamala, Patong Karon, Kata, and Rawai. It is always best to check their timetables online.
Accommodation
Whether you prefer to stay at a Hotel, hostel, resort or Airbnb, the choices are endless, and most people say that staying in Patong is better that staying in the other places like Kata and Old Phuket town, but I feel there is something for everyone everywhere. By the way if you would like to stay at an
AirBnb you can get R825 off your first booking
when first sign up here.Where we stayed
Kata Sea Breeze Resort
Kata Beach
Karon
Karon Beach
Old Phuket Town
Chalong Temple
Phuket Big Budhha
Wat Karon
Patong
Bangla Night Market
Kata Temple
Ko Phi Phi Islands
Karon Night Market
Central Festival Phuket
Highlights of all the places we visited were;
The Big Buddha which is situated on Nakkerd Hill and can be seen from Karon Chalong. Although it is still under construction there is a feeling of tranquility that you get when you on the premises. Besides the Big Buddha there is a smaller statue of the Buddha as well.
Old Phuket Town
There is a lot to see in Old Phuket Town, I recommend an entire day just to cover the basics. You can do a self guided walking tour of the city, marvel at the Street Art, and Colorful buildings,
Bangla Road
If you love the night life then you should not miss a visit to Bangla Road. There are all sorts Nightclubs with all sorts of activities. Some things you just have to see for yourself.
Phi Phi Islands
To get to Phi Phi Islands you have to book a day trip with a Travel Agent. There several agents situated in Kata, and sometimes they give you a discount if book as a group. Cost of the day trip is quoted at 1400 baht or more. The trip starts as early as 7am when you are picked up from the Hotel, and they take you to the pier where you take a boat ride to about Four Islands. They drop you off at your hotel at the end of the day.
I would definitely love to visit Phuket again, overall it was a great experience.
