Around Phuket, Thailand in a WEEK.

Work. Travel. Repeat has been my mantra for 2019.

I had been longing for a vacation since a very long time and visiting Thailand for that 'much needed break' was the best decision. It was a week long staycation far away from the hustle and bustle. I was much aware of the paradise I was heading to, until I actually saw it for myself.

For me, travelling to a destination is not merely just about partying, shopping or chilling. To me, its about exploration, knowing new people, learning about their culture and gathering as much of memories as I can. 

I decided to stay in Phuket which is a beautiful city in Thailand. Fortunately the resort I was staying at was connected to a shopping mall where my friends and I would hang out after a long touristy day. There were small pop-ups for tourists like me which offered various tours in and around the city. We booked two of the tours- The Islands Tour and The City Tour. I would highly recommend booking these tour packages to anyone visiting Phuket, the guides are very friendly and helpful throughout.

Old Phuket Town

Rasta Café, Old Phuket

The next day, we began with our first tour to the islands- they took us on a luxury speed boat to 4 islands in a day. The most beautiful was Phi Phi Islands of course. They stopped at the island and trained us for snorkeling which was an experience in itself. To swim freely in the ocean was one things I struck off of my bucket list on this vacation. At another stop, we jumped off our boat into the shallow side of the sea. Sounds exciting right?! It sure was!! It took us almost 10 hours to explore all of the 4 islands, we even witnessed the sun setting over the sea and it was such an overwhelming experience.

The Millennium Resort, Patong

The next day, we had signed up for a city tour where they took us to the famous temples and old Phuket town. We visited the Big Buddha Temple and Chalong Temple which are the most important Buddhist Temples. Amazing architecture and beautiful colours, it was a total scenic beauty. From The Big Buddha Temple we could see the city and sea all clear. My next stop was Old Phuket Town- which was an another world in itself. Vintage cafés, clear short roads, old-school boutiques, we could find everything there! 

Wat Chalong Temple

Throughout my journey, I met a few people from different countries and cultures and it was so fascinating to get to know them and about their stories. It was truly an experience for my lifetime and I would always cherish it.

Let's talk about some more information that I feel might help you if you're planing a visit soon.

Full Moon Brewery 

How to reach the destination?

Phuket is well connected to most major cities around the world. Mine was a direct flight from New Delhi. Phuket is a short flight away from Bangkok if you're visiting that as well and the airport is really well-equipped. You will find everything from wifi to snack bars here and tempting duty free shops. Visa for Thailand can be obtained on arrival at Bangkok, Phuket or Koh Samui airport. The time I visited, the Visa on arrival was free of cost otherwise it would usually cost you around 2,000 Thai Baht.

Phi Phi Island

What to pack?

Pack all of your light fashionable clothes for them photos but don't go overweight, haha! It's usually hot all of the time but a little pleasant in the evening comparatively. Pack your bikinis, swimsuits and shorts for the beautiful beaches and easy-flow dresses for the city exploration. Most importantly you will need clothes that cover your knees and elbows in order to visit some of the magnificent Thai temples in Phuket. 

The Big Buddha Temple

You would find such bunches of metal leaves hanging at the Big Buddha Temple. People from all over the world visit the shrine and write their wishes on this piece in all different languages, totally fascinating!

Where to stay in Phuket?

I chose to stay at The Millennium and I'll tell you why it was the perfect choice. The resort is adjoined to a shopping mall and another mall which is almost 50 steps away! Also, to the night food market and club walk through. 

Patong Beach, Jungceylon Shopping Centre, 7 Eleven (departmental store) and Royal Paradise Night Market are just a 5-minute walk away from this beautiful resort.
I was so happy to have been associated with them for this travel story, the staff was truly helpful and they do have an Indian food menu at their restaurant so it gets really convenient for Indian travellers who'd prefer this cuisine instead of the Thai food.

 

More to do:

• The Night Market nearby is a lively street packed with shops, restaurants, and cafés. It comes alive in the evening and is the ideal place to grab a drink or two. It is also home to a couple of nice eateries including Joe's Downstairs etc. But both eateries and shops here tend to be overpriced for what they offer. If you’re hungry and have a car or scooter on you, we’d suggest driving just outside by Patong Beach for much more reasonable and tastier options.  
• Of course you cannot leave Phuket without visiting some of its stunning temples. There are dozens of temples – small and big – but I highly suggest visiting the incredible Big Buddha and the expansive Was Chalong. Both temples are about 30 minutes to each other and it is easy to spend half a day just admiring the intricate architecture, swooning over the colourful details, and photographing the huge murals.
• You have to visit Old Phuket town!! You'll find such amazing cafés and restaurants and boutiques, you name it!! Plus, it's so beautiful and vintage that you'd never wanna leave. The buildings are painted in pastel shades and bright tones which is a scenic architecture view in itself.
• If you plan on visiting the shopping malls, Central Patong mall, Central Phuket mall and The King's are your best options. You can hop onto this free shuttle ride from one Central mall to another, now isn't this amazing?!
• You can cover almost all of the Phuket islands in 2 days if you have time on your hand. Book these tours and you're sorted!!

That's pretty much all! Everything you need to know to plan an epic trip to Phuket. If you have any questions and I'll try and help you out, reach out to me on my Instagram @RubySupergirl