Popular Topics
Trip Report
Adventures in Thailand
2 weeks of exploring Phuket island and its surroundings.
+ 13
AsiaThailand14 days / March 2019
Highs & Lows
The surrounding islands are a must!
Avoid tours at peak times as they can be very crowded.
Itinerary Overview
Phuket is a tropical gem with many places to explore and multiple attractions. The highlight was how welcoming and warm the locals were with tourists.
Getting around is easy as most hotels or Airbnbs will arrange a pick up or there are many local buses that will take you to places for a fraction of the price.
One of the cheapest places I have ever visited with as little as £2 pounds being able to pay for a full meal for two and drinks.
We stayed in old Phuket town and Patong beach which blended both quiet city break and party beach house. Also having agencies in almost every corner of the island offering various day trips made it very easy to book and explore the island even deeper.
Phuket is definitely the destination in Thailand if you are looking for a quieter, better scenery and island vibe.
Old Phuket Town Relaxation and old town exploration
8+Arriving at the airport we had arranged a taxi for pick up with the Airbnb. We quickly realised that we shouldn’t have as it looked very easy and safe to just take a minibus that was just outside the airport!
Arriving at the Airbnb, which was a hotel, we got many tips on what to do and how to get around which was mostly by foot.
There are numerous agencies all over the town advertising day trips or walking tours. Without meaning to we managed to find out that the first price they offer you is not even close to how low they are willing to go as we honestly did not want to commit to anything that day and kept saying no, they just kept decreasing it more and more.
In terms of dining, we ate breakfast at the hotel which was included in the price. Lunch was mostly things we would buy from the convenience stores, go for the cheese toasties they are unreal! Dinner was mostly street markets or restaurants. Pad Thai was one of my favourite dishes which I got almost everywhere as I knew I couldn’t go wrong.
We eventually booked our day trips to Phi Phi islands and Krabi which were one of the most tropical and mesmerising places I have ever been.
Patong Beach Water sports and beach time
2+Taking a local bus from Old Phuket town to Patong beach was a little bit confusing but we still managed at the end and it was extremely cheap.
By asking locals about our Airbnb, which was a hotel again, we managed to find our way there. We mostly stayed around that area, chilled at the beach and did a couple of water sports which were really fun.
The hotel was located right opposite the beach with an amazing rooftop view. It included a gym and breakfast which was incredible considering how cheap it was.
At nights we visited the the Patong beach street which was filled with tourists, bars and a wild nightlife. The vibe was extremely different to Old town and we were very happy that you could experience both in the same island.
Most bars would try to lure you in by offering a free drink, however we went to the same one every time we decided to go for a drink, the New York live music bar, which was incredible. There was a band that was performing every night, mostly rock or indie rock songs which I would highly recommend visiting.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
I would have stayed longer!Anything go wrong during the trip?
We didn’t find out about the cheese tosties you could get from local shops sooner, which were the best snack ever!Restaurant recommendations?
Many street markets but restaurants as well. I would recommend to explore the area you are staying in first and then choose accordingly. Be careful of stools that have been sitting in the sun all day!Tips you would give a friend?
Speak to locals and get advice on what to explore, everyone is very willing to help.Packing tips?
Light clothes, if you are visiting a temple dress appropriately by covering, however you can get extra covering at the temples before entering as well!Transportation Tips?
Buses are safe to travel with, just ask around! The island is very cheap if you would prefer to get a taxi!Any surprises?
Locals were extremely welcoming and warm and they also spoke English in most places we visited!Booking details?
Airbnb was an easy way to find a place to stay, however there are also many hostels available.
Lodging
Patong Signature Boutique Hotel