Exploring the world is perhaps the most surreal gift one can give to oneself. Travel is always on my mind and we pack our bags as and when we get the chance, whether it is a trip for an entire week or a weekend getaway,
So, our next stop this time was Phuket – the most popular beach town of Thailand. Believe me, this place should be on your travel bucket list. It is gorgeous and crazy in one!
Are you thinking of going to this beautiful island for the first time? Then, this Phuket Travel Guide would surely come in handy.
Read on..
Why Did We Choose Phuket?
- We wanted to go on a 4-5 day holiday trip as we didn’t have much time at our disposal. So, had to pick something that is just a 3-4 hour flight trip from India.
- Secondly, we were also in a mood to go to a relaxed place which has a party vibe to it.
- Phuket is affordable (with 1 Thai Baht = 2.25 INR) and is home to one of the finest hotels and resorts.
- The best part is – Visa On Arrival. And, when we planned our trip, Thailand had waived off their Visa Fee. Icing on the cake, isn’t it?
So, we picked the most happening yet one of the closest countries to India – Phuket, Thailand.
Now..
Which is the best flight to Phuket from India?
Well, the answer for it depends upon a lot of things – your budget, convenient timings, direct flight and comfort.
Ask yourself your priority first and then scroll down to know your best option.
a) If you do not want to shell out much on your flight, then the right choice for you would be Air Asia. We chose this flight but the reason was not just the budget…
- First and foremost, it indeed is a budget flight
- As we were traveling from Jaipur, we got a direct flight from Jaipur to Bangkok
- It suited our timings.
- Lastly, almost all AirAsia Flights land at DMK airport (Don-Mueang International Airport), Bangkok, which is less crowded and a big plus for those who have opted for Visa on Arrival. Suvarnabhumi Airport is another airport at Bangkok which is their primary airport and is quite huge and to get a Visa there might take you a couple of hours.
But..at the same time, Airasia has its cons which made us regret our decision
- They do not give any Check-In Baggage Allowance. You can only carry a 7Kg Cabin Bag. For checked baggage, you have to pay and the minimum allowance that you can purchase is 20kgs.
- It is a budget flight, so it is not at all comfortable. And sitting in such a flight for more than 3 hours could be taxing for some and that too without any entertainment . It was quite difficult for us!
- Lastly, our flight was delayed and nothing in the world can be more frustrating than that.
b) So, now if you are looking for comfort, as well as direct flights from Jaipur or Delhi then, I would suggest you to go for Thai Airways/Thai Smile
Why?
- They have a direct flight from Jaipur to Bangkok (only we realized it later and then booked this flight for Bangkok – Phuket)
- They are super comfortable and you get to enjoy some great movies on their amazing entertainment unit
- They give free meals!
So, if budget is not your constraint, then you should definitely go for this flight. But, remember, this flight lands at Suvarnabhumi airport, so if you have another flight for Phuket to catch the same day, make sure there is enough gap.
Tip 1 – If your trip is solely about Phuket, then you can take a direct GoAir flight to Phuket from Delhi.
Tip 2 – Even if you do not, then stay in Bangkok for one day. Chill and shop there and then go to Phuket the next day. We did the same! All you need to do is add one more day to your itinerary.
Now, with flights sorted, the next thing that comes is where to stay.
Where should you stay in Phuket?
If you are traveling with friends, then the best pick for you would be Airbnb or else Phuket boasts of some really good hostels too.
And, if you are a couple like us, then I would suggest you book a hotel.
We booked Hotel Ramada at Patong Beach. Because, we wanted the best of both worlds – party+ beach. It is a kilometer or two away from Patong beach. Their services are impeccable and they have really good food options for Indians as well. Plus, they have a pool side bar!
Patong is the most happening zone of Phuket where the sun never sets and the party never stops. From Jungceylon Mall to the groovy Bangla street, you will find everything here. Majority of tourists stay at Patong for obvious reasons.
However, if you are just interested in relaxing by the beach and soaking the sun, then you can try several beach resorts at Kata Beach or Kamala Beach.
Now comes, what all you should definitely do in Phuket!
Phuket Travel Guide For 4 Days
Day 1 – Rent A Bike & Explore
The first thing that you need to do when you reach Phuket is rent a bike. Although there are bike rental kiosks in every corner of the city, most of them keep your passport in lieu of a bike. However, we were not at all keen to give our passport, so we explored a little and finally we found a place where we got the bike in exchange of a security deposit of around 3000 Thai Baht.
The per day rent of a bike would cost you around which is pretty nominal. Believe me, this mode of transportation is the most cost effective way to explore the beach town. You can also rent a car, if you want. But, if you want no hassles in parking, then a bike or scooty is the best bet.
After sorting the transportation matter, it was time to explore the beautiful Phuket. And, the first stop was indeed Patong beach.
Patong Beach
Patong is a beautiful & serene beach thronged by tourists. Undoubtedly it is the most crowded beach in the city, but it is certainly worth a visit.
Now, there is one thing you need to keep in mind when you plan to chill on the Patong beach.
There are no beach shacks or beach cafes at Patong where you can sit and enjoy the beautiful waves. Moreover, beach chairs are available but only on rent which is again around 200-250 Thai Baht for an hour or so and is only available till 5 or 6 PM. We didn’t know, so ended up renting the chairs. To save this unnecessary expense, carry your beach towel with you and just sunbathe by the sea.
Get Around The Market
The next thing we did was explore the beautiful market around Patong beach. It is lined with cafes and fish spas and you can even get some really good beach shopping options there. The fish spas there are quite good and you should definitely try it once.
More so, we also booked our trip to Phi Phi while getting around this market. While some people book it online before their trip, it is relatively cheaper when you book right from Phuket’s market. There are many agents who would guide you on what day trips you can take to make the most of Phuket. But as we had a time crunch, we only managed to take the Phi Phi Island Tour. Also, try and go to as many travel agent kiosks/shops as possible to get the best price.
Bangla Road
The real fun starts after 8 or 9 PM when the Bangla Road comes to life. Lined with pubs and bars with loud and throbbing music coming out of each one of them, this spot is the heartbeat of Phuket city. You can do bar hopping, enjoy the music, grab a few drinks and dance the night away. This road literally never sleeps and you can spend hours sitting at the beach or in a pub and enjoy your drinks and night to the fullest.
Day 2 – Tiger Kingdom, Go Kart & Shopping
Tiger Kingdom
The next day we planned to visit the most popular Tiger Kingdom in Phuket. It was indeed an experience of a kind as you get to spend time with the mighty tigers in the same space. It can be a bit scary though but definitely worth it.
Access into the Tiger Kingdom can be a tad pricey. We opted for the Medium Tiger and it was approximately 800-1000 Thai Baht per person for 15 minutes; the most expensive being the smallest tiger, i.e. the cub.
In those 15 minutes, we were taken to an enclosed space packed with 5-6 tigers & believe me these tigers in no way appeared medium. They were huge and kinda scary too. But, they are trained, so you can click pictures with them and there is a guide/trainer inside with you, so overall it is quite safe.
We stayed inside for 10 minutes and then just explored the place around as Tiger Kingdom is quite beautiful surrounded with lush greenery and you can spend a good amount of time simply enjoying it.
Go Kart-ing
The next activity that we didn’t plan but ended up having a lot of fun at was Go-Kart-ing. There is a Go Kart zone just adjacent to the Tiger Kingdom and it is indeed something worth trying. We spent a good one hour there, kart-racing and clicking pictures! Though it is a relatively smaller track, the fun and thrill is guaranteed..
Shop, shop & shop!
Whenever we hear about shopping from Thailand, the only name that comes to mind is Bangkok. But, Phuket surprised us with its awesome shopping options. For beach wear, you can hit the street market and get some really cool and hippie dresses, shorts and what not.
The other shopping spot is Jungceylon mall. And, believe me you can get some really quality stuff here and at unbelievable prices!! The stuff here is quite affordable, much to my surprise. From branded apparels to stylish ensembles, you can get the best of both worlds at this mall if you love shopping. Plus, you can find good cafes here as well where you can relax after hours of buying stuff.
Day 3 – Big Buddha & Beach Hopping
We reserved the next day for some sight-seeing and exploring the other parts of Phuket (apart from Patong area). And, the first spot was the Big Buddha. It is a place you must visit in Phuket- so serene, so calm and so beautiful..
The aura of Big Buddha would compel you to sit for hours and just take in the view and the tranquility surrounding this place. Moreover, we also enjoyed our ride to this spot from our hotel as Big Buddha is seated atop a hill. It is easily accessible by a two-wheeler though. There are certain things one needs to remember while visiting Big Buddha –
- Do not wear clothes that are too short or skimpy. There is a code of conduct you need to follow when you visit Big Buddha.
- Visit this place before sunset if you really want to enjoy the views and surroundings. It is a little far from the main Phuket or Patong area, so choose your time accordingly.
The next on our list was exploring the different beaches of Phuket. Needless to say, this island is a haven of breathtakingly beautiful beaches. On our way back from Big Buddha, we relaxed at two beautiful beaches, Kata Beach & Karon Beach.
I feel that Kata is one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket. With crystal water and cafes surrounding it, you can literally spend the whole day here sunbathing and relaxing.
Karon beach is the nearest beach to Kata and is perhaps one of the longest beaches in Phuket. It is comparatively less crowded than Kata beach, so if you are someone who likes to enjoy a quiet time by the beach, then Karon could be a perfect spot.
Day 4 – Phi-Phi Trip
Our last stop was a full day trip to the mesmerizing Phi Phi islands. As it is one of the most popular day trips when visiting Phuket, there are several websites from where you can book this tour. However, we booked this tour while exploring Phuket market, and it is indeed a better option. Why? Because you get different tour options to choose from and of course you can haggle for a better price.
So, the day trip to Phi Phi islands starts at around 8 AM where they pick you up from the hotel for the pier. There is a speed boat waiting for you at the pier which can take around 30-35 people along with a tour guide.
When we planned for Phi Phi, unfortunately Maya Bay was closed for tourists due to some environmental concerns. Our stops were :
- Phi Phi Don where we had lunch- You will not find many vegetarian options in their lunch spread, so make sure you bring some munchies with you if you are a vegetarian.
- Monkey Beach – This beach was an experience of a kind; this beach holds true to its name as you will find a lot of monkeys here. We didn’t stay here for long though; you cannot sit by the beach and relax here because of the monkeys.
- Khai Nai Island – It is simply amazing with its clean beach and pristine blue waters. We relaxed there for an hour or so before heading back to our hotel.
Apart from these three stops, we feasted our eyes on the gorgeous Viking Cave, Phi Phi Lay, Pileh Cove & several other small islands and bays from our speedboat. We also stopped mid-sea at one of these spots to enjoy snorkeling.
All in all, it was a day well spent where we enjoyed the amazing beauty of Thailand, its crystal blue seas & its hospitality.
After the day, the night was all about exploring some of the clubs or cafes lining the streets of Phuket. You can enjoy live music at almost every club there along with good food and drinks.
What To Eat?
There is no dearth of Indian restaurants in Phuket, so vegetarians will not have that much of a hard time looking for food options. If you are into sea food, then undoubtedly you will thoroughly enjoy the delicacies that Thailand offers. Do not forget to gorge on the pancakes that you can find at almost every corner of this island city, especially mango pancakes- you would not want to miss out on those.
Thailand is one country that offers you a different experience every time you visit it. And Phuket is one of its beautiful gems. There are several other islands in Thailand which are on my travel list. Do you have any suggestions? Let me know in the comments below.