1.Preparation before departure
Let’s talk about visas first. It’s not difficult to get a tourist visa to Phuket now. You can find a reliable travel agency to apply for it, or apply for an e-visa online. Prepare your passport, photos, etc., fill in the form and upload it as required.
Then there is currency. You must exchange some Thai baht. The exchange rate may be better if you exchange it at a domestic bank, but don’t exchange too much. Many places in Phuket accept credit cards, and some stores even accept Alipay and WeChat. If you exchange it in Phuket, there are exchange points everywhere at the airport and downtown, but the exchange rate may be a bit disadvantageous.
There is also time. Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate. From November to April of the following year is the dry season. The weather is good and the sea water is clear. It is the best time to travel. We have to pick a good time to go so that we can have fun.
You have to bring everything with you. Bring a few more clothes in summer. Phuket is hot all year round. Bring a thin coat. Some air-conditioned rooms will be cold. Sun protection products are essential, including high-factor sunscreen, sun protection clothing, sunglasses, and sun hats. Don’t get sunburned when the sun is strong there. By the way, you must also bring a waterproof bag to protect your phone when playing water sports.
2.First arrival in Phuket
After getting off the plane, there are several ways to get from the airport to the city. The airport bus is cheap, but it stops at many stations and takes some time. If you want to go faster, just take a taxi and negotiate the price with the driver. If there are many people traveling together, carpooling is also quite cost-effective.
When you arrive at the hotel, take a good rest first to adjust to the jet lag. There are many hotel options in Phuket, from luxury resorts to affordable homestays. When checking in, remember to check the room facilities and find the front desk to solve any problems as soon as possible.
3.Active time at Patong Beach
Patong Beach is one of the most lively beaches in Phuket. As soon as you arrive at the beach, all kinds of water activities are available. If you like excitement, surfing is definitely not to be missed. The feeling of speeding on the crest of the wave is so cool. If you don’t know how to surf, there are coaches to teach you, and you can get started quickly.
Diving is also super fun. Put on your equipment and dive into the sea, it’s like entering another world. Colorful coral reefs and various small fish swimming around you make you feel like an ocean elf.
If you don’t want to be too hard, a motorboat is also good. It’s very relaxing to speed on the sea and splash a lot of water.
When you are tired, there are many snack stalls and restaurants on the beach. Have a Thai fried rice noodle, which is sour and spicy and especially appetizing. There are also grilled seafood, which is very fresh and sprinkled with lemon juice. The taste is amazing.
At night, Patong’s nightlife has just begun. The bar street is brightly lit and the music is deafening. Find an open-air bar, order a cocktail, sway to the music, and feel the warm atmosphere.
4.Island hopping: Exploring Coral Island and Emperor Island
When you come to Phuket, island hopping is a must. I booked a one-day tour package on Fliggy, which is convenient and worry-free. In the morning, the travel company will send a car to the hotel to pick you up and take you directly to the pier. Then you can take a cruise and set off.
First, go to Coral Island, which is simply a paradise for water sports. In addition to the water sports mentioned above, you can also play underwater walking. Wearing a space helmet-like equipment, walk slowly on the seabed, surrounded by beautiful corals and small fish, it seems that you can touch them with your hands, which is super magical.
At noon, have a buffet lunch on the island. Although it is not particularly exquisite, it can fill your stomach and the variety is quite rich.
In the afternoon, go to Emperor Island. The water of Emperor Island is clearer, the beach is more delicate, and it is soft to step on. There are many places on the island suitable for snorkeling. You don’t have to walk too far. You can see many marine life in the shallow water.
When you are tired of playing on the island, find a lounge chair to lie down, blow the sea breeze, bask in the sun, and enjoy this leisurely time. In the evening, take a cruise back to Phuket, and the day’s island hopping is over. Although it is a bit tiring, it is very happy.
5.The colorful style of Phuket Town
If you want to go to Phuket Town, you can take a Songthaew. Songthaews are like our buses. They stop when you wave. Tell the driver where you want to go and he will tell you how much it costs.
The architecture of Phuket Town is very distinctive. The Sino-Portuguese style buildings are lined on both sides of the street. The colors are bright and the photos are especially good. There are many specialty shops on the street, selling various handicrafts and souvenirs. You can stroll slowly and pick some you like to take back.
If you catch the Sunday night market, it will be lively. The whole street is full of stalls, with food, drinks, toys, and things to use. The fragrance of various snacks permeates the air, making people unable to help but eat all the way. The prices here are also very affordable, and you can bargain when buying things.
Speaking of food, there is a restaurant in Phuket Town that has delicious green curry chicken. The chicken is tender and the curry is rich. With fragrant rice, you can eat several bowls. There is also a dessert shop with coconut ice cream, full of coconut flavor, sprinkled with some coconut shreds, and the taste is super rich.
6.Encounter Chalong Temple and Phuket Big Buddha
Chalong Temple is the largest temple in Phuket, with a unique architectural style and full of religious solemnity. When you go in to visit, remember to dress appropriately, not shorts or short skirts, and respect local religious customs. The Buddha statues in the temple are beautifully carved, and there are many exquisite murals on the walls, telling the story of Buddhism. Here, you can feel a peaceful and peaceful atmosphere, which makes people’s hearts get a moment of peace.
From Chalong Temple, you can go to Phuket Big Buddha. Phuket Big Buddha is built on the top of the mountain. The scenery is beautiful on the way up. When I got to the top of the mountain and saw the Buddha, I was really shocked. The Buddha is very tall and shining in the sun. Standing at the foot of the Buddha, overlooking the entire Phuket Island, the scenery is simply amazing, with mountains and seas in full view, making people can’t help but sigh at the ingenuity of nature and human wisdom.
7.Phuket on the tip of your tongue
There are so many delicacies in Phuket. Let’s talk about Tom Yum Goong first. This is Thailand’s signature dish. It has a sour and spicy taste, rich spice flavor, and contains fresh shrimps, mushrooms and other ingredients. When you take a bite, all kinds of flavors spread in your mouth, which is particularly appetizing.
You can’t miss the green curry chicken. The taste of green curry is relatively mild, but it is also very distinctive. The chicken is stewed very well and it is super delicious with rice.
Pineapple fried rice is also very popular. Fresh pineapples are used as containers and filled with fried rice. The rice contains shrimps, ham, pineapple cubes, etc. The taste is sweet and delicious, with both the fragrance of pineapples and the softness of rice.
There is also mango sticky rice, which is a perfect dessert. The sweet mango, paired with soft and sticky rice, and then drizzled with some coconut milk, has a rich taste, sweet but not greasy, and you will want to eat it again.
I recommend you to go to some local small restaurants, such as those near Banzaan Seafood Market, where the seafood is fresh and the price is affordable. There are also some night markets, such as the Sunday night market in Phuket Town mentioned above, where you can taste all kinds of authentic snacks.
8.Shopping and leisure time
For shopping, Jungceylon Shopping Center is a good choice. There are shops of various brands, from international brands to local specialty brands. There are also supermarkets where you can buy some local snacks and dried fruits to take back.
If you want to buy duty-free goods, you can’t miss the King Power Duty Free Shop. Register for membership online in advance and enjoy some discounts. In the duty-free shop, there are cosmetics, skin care products, tobacco, alcohol, bags, etc., and the prices are much cheaper than domestic counters.
After playing for so many days, it’s time to relax. You must experience Thai massage. There are massage shops in every street and alley. Lying on the massage bed, the masseur uses professional techniques to help you relax your muscles all over your body. After the massage, you feel light and tired.
9.Preparation before leaving the island and return
The day before leaving the island, remember to pack your luggage and check if you have left anything behind. Confirm the check-out time with the hotel in advance. If the flight is late, see if you can apply for a late check-out.
Arrange the return transportation in advance. If you go to the airport, you can choose to book the airport shuttle service in advance, or take the airport bus or taxi like when you came.
This trip to Phuket is really rewarding. From the bustling beaches to the quiet temples, from the exciting water activities to the delicious local food, Phuket is like a treasure island, and every place brings surprises. I hope everyone can come here and start their own dream journey.
