7 Things To Know Before You Travel To Phuket
Phuket is known as one of the popular tourist spot in Thailand. It’s famous for their cheap accommodation, offshore islands, clear water beaches, and many more! But with lots of tourists, there comes many tourists traps you and I may not know of.
We visited Phuket in the mid of 2012, and we had lots of fun there in 4 days. We did quite a number of things, had lots of touring and exploring, and also realized some little traps here and there which we hope to share with you, to help you for your next trip.
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Contents
- 1 Phuket is not really a shopping haven
- 2 But Phuket is a haven for services!
- 3 There are more international food than thai food at Phuket!
- 4 Travel during non-rainy season
- 5 Book the right hotel
- 6 Book local tours in Phuket itself, not?in your home country, not even from Groupon!
- 7 Private Taxis of Phuket
Phuket is not really a shopping haven
But that’s what most Singaporeans or tourists will do anyway. The apparels here are quite affordable, and I’ve seen tourists buying bags of branded clothes, bags, pants, shorts, undies?etc. Ok, the ‘fake’ branded goods.
Though they are so cheap, I can say they are not durable. But anyway, it’s still cheap! However, I wouldn’t recommend this place to be where you would want to do bulk shopping, like buying dozens to clothes to bring back to your home country to sell, or sell them online.
The goods here are quite limited, not in the volume, but in the choices. After walking around few stalls, you’ll realize most goods come from the same supplier, as most stalls are selling almost the same goods.
There are also not many shopping malls around. The only one near where we stay is the Jungceylon Shopping Mall. It is more of an air-conditioned street market. More things to see, but more of the same things :P.
So if you wanna shop, do buy some funky ‘branded’ clothes for your own wear will do. Don’t bother bringing huge luggage over here to shop. If you want to do bulk shopping, then Bangkok is where you want to be at!
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But Phuket is a haven for services!
Yes. We don’t come here and buy lots of stuffs. But we spend a lot on their services! Massage, hairstyling, personal grooming, pedicure, manicure? you’ll find it more affordable than your home town. For us Singaporeans? Definitely!
As you may already know, Thailand is famous for massage. Same for Phuket, you can find massage parlor everywhere. Thai massage? Foot massage? Aroma massage? Oil massage? Hot stone massage? You want it, you have it.
When looking for a massage parlor, make sure it looks clean and air-conditioned too. Because you’ll be there for at least 1 hour.
As for us, when we’re at Phuket, we went to try out as many massage services as we can, as they are really affordable with tip-top professional service. We are glad we found 2 really good ones, and we even went back for 2nd time before we fly off.
Ladies, looking to get your nails polished? Get it done here also. Even at an affordable rate, their services are first class.
And when the ladies polish their nails, what do the guys do?
You can go for foot massage! Even better, they have Wifi for you to access. Let them knead your aching muscles, and you go and surf?Facebook!
And If you had enough of thai massage, you can try letting these small fishes massage you.
Will it be comfortable? Will it be itchy? Will I feel better?
Try it and you know!
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There are more international food than thai food at Phuket!
Thailand is famous for its thai cuisine, but I can say Phuket is not known so much for its food. You can still find thai food here and there, but don’t expect too much from it.
On the other hand, you’ll find more international cuisine that Thai food there. Japanese, Korean, Lebanese, Turkish, Persian, Chinese? you find more of those restaurants than Thai ones!
But, you can still find Thai food. You really have to take effort to find, because they are not that common on the streets. How ironic!
Here’s some thai food we tried, and kind of like it!
Pad Thai
Tom Yam
Green Curry
Thai Pancake?
If you’re starving from a day of tour and you want to have a satisfying meal, then thai food may not be enough for you. I recommend you to eat at this Sushi buffet at Jungceylon shopping mall.
All you can eat within 1 hour 15 minutes. They have this clock to time you. If you stay too long, you may get charged. But I can tell you, 30 minutes of constant eating may be enough for you.
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Travel during non-rainy season
When we book for our Phuket trip to be in June, we didn’t think much about weather forecast. After all, the last few times I’ve been to Thailand, there’s no rain. No Rain. Not even drizzle.
But when we were in Phuket, there’s no only rain, but constant rain for hours, from morning to night. You can imagine how much of our trip is be affected. Some roads had ponding, and cars couldn’t pass through easily.
The strong winds at sea almost forced us to abandon all our island hopping plans.
Luckily it was just 2 days of rain.
Hence, if you want to travel to Phuket, the best time is during December through March, where the weather isn’t so humid, and there’s cool breeze to keep you comfortable. Temperatures around 75F to 89F (24C to 32C).
The hottest time in Phuket would be from April to May, with temperatures ranking from 80F to 95 F (27C to 36C).
June, July, August tend to be the period where there’s heavy showers but sunshine in between (which is what we experienced!). September to October is then the rainy season.
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Book the right hotel
As Phuket is much a tourist haven, I see more tourists from all over the world along the streets than their local Thais. That’s why you’ll find really many hotels in Phuket.
With so many hotels there, you can get a relatively good hotel at a low price. For our trip, we stayed at Patong Terrace Beach Boutique Hotel. It’s not those kind of big hotels with huge lobby and swimming pool. But it’s a simple B&B (Bed & Breakfast) accommodation.
It’s only a 3-storey hotel sandwiched between shophouses. So it’s not obvious when you first see it.
For the price we pay for, I have to give 5 Star for it! We paid S$35 per night?via online booking, and we were very happy about it. It’s very convenient, as you’re footsteps from everything in Phuket. It’s right at the central where the buzz of Patong is.
Bangla Road, where all the bars, clubs and Tiger shows are, is just a junction away. The Patong Beach, Jungceylon Shopping Mall, and all the street stalls and night market are just around the hotel.
Why service is excellent? On our last day, we are supposed to have a one full day island tour, then depart for hotel at night. We have to check out early morning, and that means we won?t have a bathroom to bathe after our island tour. However, when we returned after the tour, the staff allowed us to do a wash-up in their lobby toilet, which is very much like 5 star toilet, and provide us with soap and towels.
I?ll never hesitate to book this hotel again. We chatted with the boss, who is also an angmoh (Caucasian) who moved here many years ago to start his hotel business. A friendly guy, and makes you feel welcomed.
Of course, there are many more hotels at Patong, but some are not located as convenient as they said they are. When booking online, they would describe themselves as ?close to all the buzz?, but some are really FAR away. We saw it ourselves when we pass by a hotel we originally thought of booking. Fortunately, we give that a miss, as it was nowhere near any buzz.
If you were to book a hotel there, check out their price at Agoda, Booking.com or other booking services, and read tourist reviews at Tripadvisor or somewhere else before finally booking them. Do ask your friends also.
For more accommodation options, you may check out this blog by HotelsCombined on Where to Stay in Phuket: The Complete Guide.
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Book local tours in Phuket itself, not?in your home country, not even from Groupon!
This is one of the important things I have learned from this trip. We know Phuket is famous for its island tours, where it will bring you to various island for sight-seeing or water activities. These 1 day island tours are very attractive too, and many tourists would love it.
Before our trip, we saw a Deal.com.sg deal for a 1 day island tour to 4 islands (Koh Phi Phi, Maya Island Bamboo Island & 1 more) via Speedboat and with lunch provided for $58/pax. This price is also after almost 50% discount from its original price. I did some research online to compare other island tour and their prices, and I conclude that this Deal.com.sg deal is a better deal.
So we bought it.
We went for the island tour and we were very happy with the whole tour, the fun, the tour guide etc. However, we also realized that we can go for this same trip at a much lower price! How we know? Just talk to the people (other tourists) on the speedboat. Everybody paid different price for the same tour. Of course, there are also people who will pay more than us.
So is that $58 deal a steal, or is it just a package with price jacked up by 200% then bring it down to call it a deal? Anyway, I?m thankful I learned something new! If I were to visit Phuket again, I won?t book any local tours online (online prices are jacked up too!) or in Singapore. You just have to go there(Phuket), and there are many local tour agencies for you to choose and you can pick the best tour at the best price you want.
And I have to share an encounter I have with a Canadian tourist on the same island tour as us.
He?s the one who told me that I paid to much for the same tour he bought. Thanks to him, or I?m still in the dark. He managed to buy the same tour package as me at half of what I pay. And as I said earlier, I was at first still happy when the salesperson gave me some discount which I thought I was not entitled for.
I paid $1800 Baht per pax and I thought I got a good deal, until?he told me he paid only $900 baht. Wow.
For that particular tour, we sat on a big boat, which is even cheaper. A tour with Speed boat will cost slightly more. So now you see, how much higher the salesperson there have jacked up the prices and paste them on the brochures. Imagine how many more more full body massage you can go with the money you save from bargaining.
And the funny thing is, this Canadian guy told me ?You?re from Asia! You should have bargained more!?
I don?t know about you, but I always heard people say westerners (ang moh) don?t like to bargain because it?s their culture they don?t like to bargain. And here I have an ang moh who can bargain much much better than me. And he even teach me how to bargain next time.
And you know what? We talked so much, but didn?t know each other?s name!
Update Jan 2017: My friends have updated me that although?you can book the island tours when you’re at Phuket itself, it is risky because there may not be slots or availability for you, and all island tours may be fully booked, leaving you empty-handed when you are there.
Hence, you can still try your luck to book your tours when you reach Phuket, or you can book your tours online and you can get guaranteed ?your seats in those island tours. Viator is a world famous local tour booking website and I can say your booking will be safe with them. (Afterall, you don’t want headaches when you are at Phuket. Like you, we just want all the fun!)
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Private Taxis of Phuket
Phuket is a place where you can’t find any public transport. To get out of the airport, you either rent a car, or get in a taxi. How about traveling from places to places in Phuket?
You can either hop into a TukTuk, or into a private taxi. If you’ve been to anywhere in Thailand, you’d have seen a TukTuk before, a vehicle which is driven by a bike in front, and ferry passengers at the back.
You can hop on one for an experience, but the TukTuk drivers, having seen too many tourists in Phuket, know how to rip you off!
What about a private car? I don’t think I saw any taxi there, but I saw many private ‘taxi’. In Phuket, it seems like anyone can become a taxi driver if you have a car. Just take a cardboard, write Taxi, put inside your car, and you have a taxi.
I was initially afraid of this type of ‘private taxi’ service, because I don’t know where they will bring me to. Will they drive me to my destination, or THEIR destination?
But because on our 2nd day tour of Phuket, we wanted to travel out of Patong area to Phuket Town and it was raining heavily. A (doorless) TukTuk won’t suffice because we would be drenched.
Then this ‘taxi’ uncle waved to me to get into his ‘taxi’. He quoted us his price, but I bargained with him until he rejected us. His face is kinda black. So I know I have gone too low. We told him we will find another ‘taxi’.
After 10-15 mins, there’s no other taxi in sight. Then we went back to him again and gave him our price (slightly higher than our previous low). He said okay, and off we go! And when we went with him, he didn’t hold the grudge that I just now tried to force his price drastically down. He just treats me like his new passenger.
In the end, he ended up being our driver for the whole of our trips. On his last day, we also took his car to the airport. We met him, but its his employee who is the driver. At that point, we realized he also hires other drivers to drive under him. Smart guy.
Hence, if you’d want to travel around Phuket, you can consider getting into a ‘private taxi’, know the driver, and engage him as your driver for the few days you are in Phuket. Because you give him business for that few days, you can negotiate with him a better rate.
Want an even better ride?
Try Uber in Phuket! Uber is a global app that allows?you to book private car drivers, just like normal taxis. Uber is everywhere, it is probably in your home country too. When you visit Phuket you can use it too!
Just login to the app and book your trip around Phuket. The Uber fees is likely to be a lot less than taxis or tuktuk there.
Downside? The number of Uber drivers there might be less than the taxis or tuktuk. Hence, demand is greater than supply. You might need a bit of luck to get hold of a Uber driver there.
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And so, those are the 7 things that you have to know before you travel to Phuket! Hope these tips help you enjoy your Phuket trip!
Of course, how can we end this post without sharing some of the island tours we went to?
There you go!
The big boats that bring us around.
At James Bond Island. James Bond had?this scene in his movie, and this island became famous overnight.
And then we have a?guide who brings photography to a whole new level.
And we alight the boat into canoes as we enter the caves.
And I think our boatman has an uncanny resemblance of Bruno Mars.
So we entered this cave, which they say has diamond crystals.
See any diamonds?
I think there is, but we can’t find any, so we paddle out.
As we paddle, we also saw some bird nest caves. That’s bird nests of swallows are harvested and sold to us humans as?delicacies.
Then the boat brought us to a small island with lots of monkeys. We don’t know what we’re supposed to do there. So we just keep feeding the monkeys.
And of course took pictures of them.
And their little ones.
We also get the chance to paddle our own canoes.
As part of the tour, we also tried snorkeling. We were brought to somewhere 3m deep. We dived in, and saw fishes swimming around us. To get the fish to swim to you? Dive in with some bread.
On the speedboat. Phi Phi Island.
That’s how clear the water is!
The bamboo island. This island has nothing, other than fantastically clean beaches. You can just lie there, let the waves hit you, and let yourself bake under the sun. That’s what we did anyway.
Want to find out more about Phuket? Here’s an article by my fellow traveller friend, Jan, on the Top 25 Things To Do In Phuket!
Bonus: The Famous Tourist Trap of Phuket
Since you’ve read till here, I thought I should share a little more about an unpleasant incident that happened to us in Phuket. Phuket is famous for its nightlife at the Patong area.
If you walk around, you will see clubs and bars open their doors wide, with scantily-clad ladies dancing on table tops. If you’re new to this, then it may be an eye-opener for you!
But that’s not all. Walking around, you will also see men and women peddling with menus, inviting you to “Ping Pong” shows. Ping Pong shows is famous in Thailand only. You can find them in Bangkok too.
But what exactly is a Ping Pong show? Playing table tennis balls? A magician show doing tricks with ping pong balls?
Nah.
By the way, here’s one menu you can find:
(Credit:?http://www.janelostinwanderlust.com/2015_07_01_archive.html)
Seen the menu? Yes, those shows are for adults only.
In every show, you will see ladies (or ladyboys) doing amazing tricks and stuns with their private part. You have to see it to believe the amazing things it can do: like lighting a cigarette, shooting an arrow and more.
How much for the show?
Look at the menu?- ‘Free Show Only Buy Drink’ only.
That was what we thought too! Just buy a drink, and you can enjoy the amazing show! Read on to find out what happened.
We told the man we are interested, and right away, he led us the way into the club.?The place where the real performance took place seems very discreet. We have to walk through a door, through?an empty room, and through another door, through an empty room, and a final door again.
We are not sure why this place is sooooo secretive that we have to walk so deep into the bar just to watch the show. Okay… maybe its an adult show, that’s why.?
And finally, we were inside the real bar with the Ping Pong Show. It’s kind of dark (as expected), with a few ladies (or ladyboys) on stage preparing for next show. There were a few Caucasians around us, probably visitors who are curious just like us.
We took our seats and waited for the next show.
And at this time, a waitress came over to show us the drinks menu.
Remember ‘Free Show Only Buy Drink’? We kind of expected that we have to pay for something. But what happens next SHOCK us.
We looked at the menu. The price list is crazy.
The?drinks listed on the menu range from 45 USD to 100 USD.
I re-examine the menu. It is 45 USD to 100 USD. Not Thai Baht!?
And guess what is the cheapest drink at 45 USD?
A glass of coke.
Wow… I didn’t expect I have to pay so much for a drink to watch a show which we’re just curious about.
That price is just too much for us to pay for. We tried to bargain..
“Can both of us share 1 glass of coke?”
They said No. 1 person has to buy a drink.
At that point, I did my math. I realized it is not worth it to pay so much (US$90 for both of us) for 2 glass of cokes, and ladyboys performing weird tricks with their p****. We rather pay US$90 for more sessions of thai massages.
So after about 7 mins of ‘negotiations’, we told the waitress we are leaving.
At that point of time, another waiter came over to?convince us to stay. He even said we can just buy 1 glass of coke. (I thought we can’t earlier?). But we insisted we want to leave. But both of them still tried to hold us back and keep convincing us ‘the show is about to start!’, and he will even give us discounts on the drinks.
We don’t feel comfortable staying any longer and somehow felt that they are trying to prevent us from leaving. Don’t forget, we are tourists, and we just walked through 3 doors to the bar. We are totally unfamiliar with that place!
That was when I stopped talking, and started walking out. The waiter continued to follow us on our way out and hope that we would change our minds and turn back. But after opening 3 doors and walking through 3 rooms, we are out of that bar.
Wow. What an ‘experience’!
We’re not sure about you. You may want to explore this when you’re in Phuket. Just be careful. At least, now you know the price of the coke you have to pay for the ‘Free’ show!
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Hey!
Thanks for your interesting post.
Almost bought the 1 day island hopping trip from deal.com.sg, but decided not to after looking through ur blog.
Can you advise where can we normally find this local tour agencies or any agency to recommend in Phuket?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Shun Qiang, you can get the tour at Phuket itself. You can get it in shopping malls, or the agencies along the road side. Don’t worry if their shops are run down. They are still running a business. In fact, you can bargain with them more, than buying from a Singapore agency. Have fun and enjoy Phuket!
Hi Marcus,
We will be traveling to thailand in June. we’ll stay there for 25 days.
how much money do you think we should take per person.
we are planning to go to singapore, thu pek, chian mai,bangkok, not counting the hotels and air trip
I really enjoyed reading your adventure, the ping pong one made me laugh
Hi Maricela, happy that you’re enjoying the article on ping pong show. Haha.. For your question, 25 days is quite long, and you’re traveling a few places. I can’t advise actually how much you’ll need. For the countries you’re going, I can forsee Singapore is the most expensive. The rest – Bangkok, Chiang Mai…etc, you probably need AT MOST $30-50 USD a day for food and fun. For Singapore, you’ll probably need about $50 – $80 USD a day. That’s my rough guess. You can bring your credit card along as they do accept Mastercards and Visa.
Nonetheless, enjoy your trip!
~Marcus 😀
Hi Marcus,
I am travelling to Phuket in July and after reading your blog I am kind of worry as I am doing a quick visit of two days only. Hoping the weather is not bad, I would like and advised on the Island tour? Did you do Phi Phi Island in conjunction with James Bone and the cave Island on the same day?
I loved your blog by the way, very entertaining and so helpful.
Hi Marcela, welcome! For the phuket island tours, yes, I did the Phi Phi, James Bond Island, and Cave island on the same day. It was part of the boat package that we had. I’m sure you can find similar island hopping packages there to. Have fun! ~Marcus
very well written! Cute way of saying things, keep writing travel articles
Hi Annette, thanks for dropping by. Sure, we will love to write more travel articles!
One thing that is noticable about the food that is displayed on this blog is that it looks tasty at the first sight itself. People would be tempted to taste them just by the look of it 🙂 .
There must be something wonderful about this place that attracts so many tourists each year.
Thanks for the compliments! I hope these food images will get you travel to Phuket to taste them. Enjoy!
Hello I am actually planning my trip to phuket soon maybe end of September -October a bit worry about raining season but will still go anyway. Really enjoyed the article thank you
Hey Elena, have fun! Sept-Oct maybe the rainy season. But don’t worry so much, there might still be some sun! And there’s many other things to do there when it rains too. Have fun in Phuket!
Hi Marcus! We’ll be traveling there on January and I’d like to ask a couple of questions 🙂
1. How much should it normally cost to take a private taxi? We’re 6 in the group and I think we’ll be needing 2 private taxis.
2. We’ll be staying for 4 days, any suggestion on the MUST-SEE destinations there?
3. How about the restaurants? Is there any good place near the hotel?
Sorry for the questions. Doing this research is already driving me nuts..and of course excited! :DD Thanks in advance!
Hi Regine,
Thanks for dropping by! I will try my best to answer you!
1. For the cost of the private taxi, i can’t give you an exact rate because it depends where you are going. To give you a ballpark figure, from our Phuket hotel (near Jung Ceylon) to the airport, it is 700 baht. And yes, you may need 2 taxis. Some tips, if you like the driver, get the contact of the driver and tell him that you will use his taxi again tomorrow, but only if he give a better rate!
2. MUST-SEE things!.. I can’t say I have tried all the things there. It depends on your interests? There are some things which are ‘Must See’ as claimed by tourist guides, but we’re not interested, like those cultural dances, ATV rides, or even Ping-Pong show. But we kind of enjoy ourselves in the island tours.
3. Restaurants wise, we’re sorry we didn’t know any good ones. Most restaurants are opened for tourists, so just be careful not to be ripped off. We eat quite simply there, just any food we can find. (it’s not a very foody place there)
I guess you must have done lots of research by now. Don’t worry too much, you will have lots of fun there. Enjoy!
Hi, if you don’t mind, do you still have the contact number of the private taxi guy you hired so I’ll just use his services in Phuket. if you could email me that would be great! Thanks!!
Hi Jia, sorry about it, but I lost the contact number of the taxi. Nevertheless, have a great time there!
Hi, i just wanna ask until what time are the agencies open? because we might be arriving a little late in Phuket, maybe around 9pm. Is there still a chance for us to book an island tour for the next day? Thanks in advance!
Hi,
Thank you for your tips! This was very helpful! You seem like a very kind person & I enjoyed reading about your trip!
Hi
We are going to Phuket for 3 nights can you tell me how can I plan my trip to Phuket. What all places can I see there. I have small kids along with me.
Thanks
Hi, which massage parlour would you recommend? Thanks 🙂
Hi Toro, we don’t have any preference. Most massage parlours are good 🙂
Hi Marcus,
We are arriving in Phuket around 10pm is it transpo accessible still? i mean do they have 24/7 transportation services? Would you know if there’s diving spot?
Great narration! Keep writing.. 🙂
Hi Joy! Yes, there is still transportation at 10pm. Phuket is lively at night 🙂
But for diving, I can’t advise you as I’m not a diver myself. I’m sure you will love diving in phuket because of the beautiful islands there! ~Marcus
Excellent writeup! We’re heading to Phuket soon and hope you could answer the following:
1. Do you pay tours through the tour agency or upon arrival to the actual tour?
2. How would you know if the agency is credible?
3. Are the prices firm if their posted on the actual tour websites?
You help is greatly appreciated!
Hi Crystin!
1. You can pay for the actual 1 day tour (like the 2 tours shown in the post) when you arrive at Phuket. If you buy through an agent in your country, it is possible too, but cost a lot more.
2. Honestly, I wouldn’t know if the agency is credible. Some agencies look shabby and run down, but they are in fact running a real business. If you deal with a real agency, you will get a proper receipt from your purchase.
3. Prices are not firm, even if posted on their actual tour websites. You can bargain with them. Like what I shared in the post, I paid almost double than the other traveler on the same trip. So yea, go ahead and bargain!
Enjoy yourself in Phuket!
Hi again Marcus! What is the difference between Phi Phi Island, Phang Nga Bay, and James Bond Island ? We?re leaving real soon and am trying to figure out what tour brings you under these beautiful caves in a kayak. When I research, these same names keep appearing and I don?t want to buy the wrong one. Thanks again!
Hi Crystin! The difference between the 3 islands is the things you can do there. For Phi Phi Island and Phang Nga Bay, you will tour the island while you’re in the boat, on the clear transparent water. For James Bond Island, the tour is to alight the boat and see that piece of tall island structure which is featured in James Bond movie.
For viewing the caves in a kayak, it will be the Phang Nga Bay tour. However, don’t worry so much on booking the wrong tour. The tours you find will cover these 3 places altogether in 1 day, because they are near each other. So just make sure these 3 places are in your 1 day tour, and you won’t go wrong. Enjoy yourselves! 🙂
~Marcus.
Hello,
Thank you for your article, it is really helpful! I have a question. All the tours that I am finding online have either Phi Phi or James Bond/Phang Nya. I am not coming across any which cover both in one day. Would you be able to guide on any which does both in 1 day? Thanks 🙂
Oh, the tours online may show only 1 to 2 islands, but I won’t recommend you to book your tour online. As I have shown, the prices you see online are a few times higher. It is better to book the tours when you’re in Phuket, and remember to slash the prices down for a good price! The tours I have been on, do cover at least 2-3 islands in 1 day. I hope this helps! ~Marcus
Hey Marcus, good to read very helpful tips which can help many people for their future travel plans.
However I had a doubt in mind, which I would like to ask.
While travelling should I carry Thai baht currency or US $ ?
What is better ?
I will be travelling from India.
Waiting for your reply.
Hi Nigel,
thanks for dropping by!
If you want to travel in Thailand, it will be best to travel with Thai Baht. You can carry USD with you as there are money changers. But to save you the trouble of finding a money changer, bring more Thai Baht with you.
Have a great trip!
~ Marcus
Hey man, thanks for this blog post!
Btw, how long is the trip for island hopping?
Is it from morning till evening?
Coz I need to catch a plane at night~
Hi Putra,
Thanks for dropping by! The island hopping trip is from morning till evening, about 5pm. Like us that day, we played for the whole day until evening and returned back to the hotel for a quick bath, before flying off at night.
To make your trip easier, try to book a cab for your airport transfer in the morning (or the day before), so you can go to the airport right away after your island hopping trip.
Have fun!
~Marcus
Hi Marcus
I will go to phuket on 12th December, 2017. My plane will reach at 11 PM. Then is it safe to go patong hotel by booking a car? Is there any risk on the road? can i book a phi phi island package after reaching patong i.e. at mid night?
Regards
Opu
Hello Opu! 11pm is quite late, but I think you can still get a car to patong hotel. Yes, it is quite safe, and there will always be transportation available. If you want, you can also try Grab or Uber, where you can book a taxi/car using the app.
Booking the package wise, i’m not sure if they are still opened that late. You have to really go and find. Have fun in Phuket!
Such an honest and informative post-thank you so much! We are going to Thailand on holiday in March and we can’t wait! Now we are better equipped thanks to your info!
Thanks for dropping by my blog. Have a great trip Melissa!
~ Marcus
Hello Marcus my wife and i are trevelling to Phuket in July. Just a few questions.
1. Can I book the island hopping tours in Phuket?
2. We are staying in Club Med Phuket heve you heard anything from it?
3. Is Club Med close to the city centre?
Hi Theann!
Thanks for leaving your comments!
1. Yes, you can book island hopping tours in Phuket itself. There will be many tour agencies selling different island hopping packages, but most of them are the same. If you want a good price, visit a few shops to get the best rates. And bargain for all the quotes!
2. I haven’t stayed in Club Med Phuket before, but I have friends who stayed there. Club Med is one of the best resort one can stay in. If you are there, they got you all covered for your holiday – accommodation, food, drinks, activities, fun, night life and more. You never have to worry what to do there. The people there are also friendly and will help you in anything you need. I’m sure you’ll have tons of fun, like what all my other friends have told me!
3. Club Med is not close to the centre. Club Med is near the Kata beach, and it is a private beach to the resort. Where I’ve been is near Patong Beach. If you’d want to go to the city centre, you can take a cab or tuk tuk from your resort. Club Med and make some transport arrangements for you.
Enjoy your holiday in Phuket! ~Marcus
Thank You for the time and effort contributing such invaluable resources as well as doing the ‘reception counter’ answering Qs LOL.
God bless you 🙂
Hey Eng Kiat! You’re welcome! If you have any questions about Phuket travel, feel free to drop them below as well!
Hi am travelling Phuket next week 2 weeks 26 th may weather looks awfull on accu weather is it rain everyday was hoping to get suntan also were staying in kee spa resort next to Banglor road chose there for pubs and bit nightlife just been told most of pubs might be closed due to it not being holiday season and read some islands are closed out of season is this true thankyou
Hi…just wondering if you know about travelling between Phuket & Krabi? Can we get a bus to get to this place?
Hi! Phuket and Krabi are 2 different islands apart in Thailand. You have to take a ferry or a speedboat, or a plane to travel between the 2 islands. A bus can’t do this 🙂
Hi Justina. We took a ferry to Krabi but a taxi from Krabi to Phuket airport. It is about a 2 hour drive.
I can’t believe I found your blog!!! Hahaha. Will have to ask you guys more about Phuket. What an interesting read 🙂
Hope you enjoy! Have fun in Phuket! ~ Marcus
Hi! Find your blog more helpful.
We had planned to travel phuket at the start of july. Is this month is good to travel?
Yes, it’s definitely a good month for Phuket! Enjoy and have lots of fun!! ~ Marcus
Great post,
Phuket is beautiful! Great place for diving and renting a boat to discover the amazing islands there!
Hi Joost, yes, Phuket is really beautiful, and i have lots of friends went their for diving! And if you can drive a boat, renting a boat to visit those amazing islands are highly recommended as well! Thanks for sharing! ~ marcus
Hi Marcus,
Thank you for sharing your tips/info. I have been to Singapore twice and loved it.
We will be on Holiday in Phuket in September and will definitely book our tours as recommended.
Kind Regards
South Africa
Hi Magda, thanks for dropping by! Hope Singapore treated you well during your visit here! Phuket will be fun in Sept! Do explore as much Phuket as you can. Hope my tips help you plan a fruitful and wonderful trip this holiday! ~Marcus
We are going to Bangkok and phuket for 6 nights in September.can 3 days be enough to explore it? what are the must see in Bangkok and phuket?
Little worried about the rain.
I wanna ask should I book the package from India or else there only ?
Hey Janaki, yes, 3 nights is good enough for Phuket if you’re there for the short trip. For 3 nights and 3 days, you can book 2 island tours. You can book in your homeland in India, but it will be expensive. Or you can book it at Phuket itself. Remember to bargain!! 🙂
Hi, i just wanna ask until what time are the agencies open? because we might be arriving a little late in Phuket, maybe around 8pm. Is there still a chance for us to book an island tour for the next day? Thanks in advance!
Hi! For the exact time of the agencies, we are not sure what time they open, but they do open till quite late I think. If you reach Phuket at 8pm, you may try to find some agencies. Some are opened until 10. If not, you can book the next morning, and visit the islands the next day after. 🙂 Marcus.
How is the Kamala beach resort to stay?
What do we have to be careful of?
Hi Rosemarie! We’re not sure of the Kamala Beach Resort as we’ve not been there before. Sorry, we can’t advise you on that. Have a good trip in Phuket!
Marcus, Joseph from Canada here. Loved your insite and details. Was wondering if you can give the time frames for all trips and destinations…how long it takes to get to and how long the stay or the activity. Thank you!
Hi Joseph! For the island trip, it is one day, from early morning like 8am to 5pm (before sun set). Depends on which tour you take, you will visit different islands. On some tours, they have lunch and simpe snacks provided on board the big boat, for some tours, they do book a restaurant where you can have buffet lunch there. When you hop between islands, the boat ride between can take like 30mins. The tours will let you stay about 45min to 1 hour on each island before departing. Hope it helps! ~ Marcus
I must say the Phuket looks great in your pictures. It seems your journey was wonderful in the lap of nature. Thanks for such a beautiful description of your journey. Even I felt the same way about Phuket. My brother and I went to Phuket last year. I must tell you the place is great to find a like minded soul. I will say there are some tremendous places to visit as you mentioned above in your article. During my stay I lived each and every moment in Phuket with the infinite beauty of this place. We went Phang Naga Bay, which was near to our hotel the Karma Royal Phuket. We enjoyed our trip to Chalong, Sirinat national park and many beautiful places of Phuket. Beside that we enjoyed pool party, spa, games at our hotel The karma Royal Phuket. Love your photos, especially the big boat. The water looks refresh and beautify. Thanks once again for your lovely trip.
Wow, thanks for sharing about your trip in Phuket, Phang Ngah Bay and more! And yes, I agree with you that it is a really beautiful place, and one that we wanted to visit again. And especially the clear water, that you thought you are swimming in pure natural spring water! ~ Marcus 😀
Hi marcus
I am planning to visit phuket in mid August
Is it a good season to b there. I have herd most of the island tours gt cancelled is their is rain.
Hi Ibx, yes, if there is rain in Phuket, the island tours will be canceled. Because the seas will be rough, and it is not safe for the boats (big or small) to travel out to sea. At this period, you can enjoy shopping or have some massage instead 🙂
dropping on 19th august n will be staying at deevana resort and spa for 4 days in phuket,any recommendation of what i can do while there….Thanks
Hi Johnny, We’ve not been there at Devana resort and spa, so sorry, I can’t recommend you anything. But for the other things to do in Phuket, you can refer to the things I shared above. You will have fun there!
Is Horizon Patong Beach Resort good?
Hi Sirhan, we haven’t been to Horizon Patong Beach Resort, hence we can’t advise on anything. but if any of our readers here have been there, feel free to chip in ya!
Hi guys,
with my boyfriend, we are planning holiday in Thailand, probably Phuket. I have checked the forum and a couple of traveler tips about what the best route to get there is from Europe. This guy youtube.com/watch?v=1RqRorQ0HMM says that it is a good idea to go via Moscow. Any experience? Also is it better to travel during the day or during the night? We only go for ten days, so I don’t want to be jetlagged half the time.
Thanks a lot.
Karla
Hi Karla! Great to hear that you and your boyfriend will be having a holiday in Thailand in Phuket! For the route from your country to Europe, i’m not very sure. But I’m sure you can find some direct flights or flights with 1 stopover at Bangkok, where its capital is. Phuket airport is a smaller one. For the day of travel, i guess for reaching a new place, it’s always good to reach latest by 3-4pm. So it is easier for you to navigate around.
Nonetheless, i’m sure you’ll have fun in Phuket!
Hi Marcus – Enjoyed reading your tips, pictures and sharing especially in the comments section. We are planning a short 4 days holiday to Phuket in end-Oct, is it a good time? Will the rainy season be a pain? BTW I enjoy snorkeling and would like your recommendation for a good place to snorkel. Heard Phi Phi is a nice place but no match to Perhentian or Redang Island in Malaysia(is this true?). We re looking to stay near Patong and are dicing about staying at R Mar Resort and Spa….any comment on this hotel?
Thank you in advance and hope to hear from you soon.
Hi Kumar! Great to hear that you’re going to have fun in Phuket too! For end-Oct, i guess it is still good, but just be aware that my friend who went to Phuket recently in early September, experience heavy rains and some flooded streets. Not an entirely pleasant experience, but nothing disastrous.
For snorkeling wise, I can’t advise you much cos I don’t snorkel myself. But you’re right, Phi Phi island is a nice place and it’s really popular with people who want to snorkel.
Staying near Patong is probably the best choice because all the action and activities are at that place along the streets and you can hang out late at night without worrying about transport.
For the hotel, I can’t comment because I haven’t been there.
Hope I help you with some tips here 🙂 ~Marcus
Hi Marcus,
Thank you for your amazing blog post. It is quite insightful and will probably assist in choices made once we reach Thailand.
We are going to Thailand this Dec (2016). Flying Cape Town to Bangkok where we will be staying 4 days. Thereafter, we will be flying to Phuket. This is where we finding it a bit tricky. We are able to book accommodation for Bangkok as we are there for 4 days. Questions – Should we book all our accommodation at one place in Phuket? Could we travel to the other islands and sleep/stay over there? Would they allow us with our suitcases on the boats? Are the day trips readily available all day during December? This would allow us to book accommodation on the other islands. Your advice would be highly appreciated.
Aneesa
Hi Anessa,
Thanks for dropping by the Phuket post! Bangkok is another awesome place in Thailand which I think you’ll enjoy a lot!
For your question…
1) Should we book all our accommodation at one place in Phuket?
Ans: Yes. Phuket is a big island itself, and it is where all the hotels, hostels, resorts are at. It is also where all the shopping, the bars, the drinking… all there.
2) Could we travel to the other islands and sleep/stay over there? Would they allow us with our suitcases on the boats?
Ans: Okay for this, you may need to know something. The island tours that I shared in the blog post, are small islands of interest. We went there to visit, for some pictures, and have no intention of staying. The day trips we book is purely a ‘day tour’, not a ‘one-way transport’. However, if you do plan to stay in the islands, like at Maya Bay, I guess you may need to book your own boat transport to the island, and not the day trip. And the day trip tours may not allow your suitcases, as some are speed boats with limited space.
3) Are the day trips readily available all day during December?
So if you do plan to have day trips of island hoppings, from one phuket island to another, yes, I can say you can book your trip easily. December is a peak season, but I guess the people are ready to receive you!
Hope these helps!
~Marcus
Hi.
Thank you for such a nice and honest blog. we are heading to Thailand in the coming week i.e. Friday. Our plan is to explore Phuket in 04 days. After that, we wish to visit Koh Samui. Can you please share if you know of travelling mode between Phuket and Koh Samui. Are there any train or ferry services available. In addition, any idea about Tiger Kingdom experience/Elephant Trekking. Thank you so much
Hi Beena,
You can take the ferry or a short flight from Phuket to Koh Samui. Ferry would be the preferred choice as you don’t have to deal with check-ins and all those security at the airport. For Tiger Kingdom/Elephant Trekking, I’m not sure as I don’t visit them. I prefer seeing animals in the wild, not locked up. Hehe. Hope you have fun in Phuket!
~Marcus
Hi Marcus,
Honestly, kudos for taking our time to write such genuine reviews and tips, they are really helpful to gauge phuket for first time travelers.
im planning to visit phuket in end of january 2017 with my wife. will be flying directly to phuket from India. Needed to ask
1. how far is phuket airport from the patong beach
2. is there any decent bus service from airport to our hotel at patong beach and at what cost.
3. we r planning to have a day trip to krabi islands, what should be the cost.
4. There is a famous show ive heard of The Phuket Fantasea. can u pls throw some light like how is it and how much it cost.
im sorry for being too objective but these are required to budget my trip.
Hi Siddharth!
Thanks for dropping by. I hope my blogpost do give you a glimpse into the wonderful holiday you will have at Phuket/Krabi!
1. Phuket airport to patong beach is about 30-50min ride.
2. Yes, you can take a shuttle service right outside the airport. When you exit the airport, there will be alot of drivers touting for their taxi service. If you want a private taxi driver, you can get their service, but remember to bargain hard and ask them to quote you the price before you accept. As you know, taxis are always tourists traps everywhere, so you have to make sure you don’t overpay. But if you take the shuttle, it will be a fixed price. You can buy a ticket at the counter outside the airport. However, it is a shared shuttle meaning you have to share the ride with other tourists. Your ride may take 1 hour. (but i forgot the cost. But is cheaper than taxi)
3. For trip to krabi islands, you can take a boat there. About 1 hour boat ride. Cost wise, you can check it out at the boat counter along the streets or shopping mall.
4. I didn’t heard of The Phuket Fantasea, sorry I can’t advise you on this. I’m sure you can check the cost by googling for it 🙂
~Marcus
thank u Marcus. u r a great help. will keep bothering u in future though.
Hey!
Thanks for your interesting post. It was very useful.
I want to ask you something else, is there any one day trips from Phuket to Singapore? I want to go to Singapore for 1 day or 2.
I appreciate your assistance
-Hisham
Hi Hisham, thanks for dropping by! For your question, Phuket and Singapore is quite far apart. Singapore is another country (where I stay) outside of Thailand. a flight from Phuket to Singapore takes about 2+ hours. If you do want to come to Singapore, sure, just book an air ticket yourself and you can fly to SG easily. I don’t think you need to book any tour for this trip to Singapore.
If you do come to Singapore, here are some of the best places to travel here: http://www.travelyourselftoday.com/best-of-singapore-tourist-attractions/
Enjoy ! ~Marcus
This is a really great article for tourists going to Phuket.
Ive been a few times myself and being from Australia i love the shopping there is its reallllly cheap!
I was curious about the “ping pong” shows but have heard about similar expereinces are the ones you had. We got dupped into going into the “ice Bar” which was pretty much a freezer with shots of vodka for $20USD! Plus the girls in there try to pressure and flirth with my boyfriend to buy them drinks!
Bangla road is not for the fainthearted!
Hi Samantha!
Thanks for dropping by! And thanks for sharing your experience with ‘ping pong’ shows too. I guess the girls are trained to flirt with your boyfriend, or any other men who walk into the bar. Haha… Other than Bangla road, hope you had a good time there!
~Marcus
P.S hey, you have a nice traveling blog too!
Hi marcus,
i am planning a trip to bangkok and thailand in Feb 1st week.
It will be a 76 day trip.
Can u suggest me whether i should spend 1-2 days in bangkok and
remaining 4 days in phuket?
Or should i spend all days in phuket.
What do u suggest?
Also, can u tell me about the beach activities.
What all to do and what all not to be done.
Thanks,
Saurabhs
Hi Saurabhs,
great to have you here. It’s amazing that you will be on the road for 76 days.
For bangkok, you can spend 3-4 days. Phuket, you can spend another 3-4 days. If you got more days, you can explore other parts of Thailand, like Hua Hin, Krabi, Chiang Mai, all which are popular too.
Hi Marcus, interesting article. I’m going to Phuket in August 2017 (very excited about this :-). Here are my questions:
– I’m going solo and potentially meet an old friend there. Is Phuket safe for women traveler?
– I will be staying for 4 nights, main interest in the islands hoping and food. I’d like to stay in beachfront accommodation with clean, quiet, swimmable beach. What is your recommendation between Karon, Kata, Rawai beach etc.?
– What is your recommendation for daily activities to cover 4 days? I will for sure buy daily/half day tour to the islands and tourist attraction and would like to spend some time for R&R too.. Not interested in the “ladyboys” shows.
Thanks,
Rebecca – Canada
Hi Rebecca! Thanks for dropping by!
1) I can say it’s quite safe, but again, it’s a foreign place, hence, do be careful not to walk alone at dark places at night. I can feel better security and police presence at Phuket as they want to protect the tourists there.
2) For beachfront swimmable beach, I can’t advise you much as I didn’t travel to the 3 beaches. Sorry about it!
3) For four days, those day tours to the beach are enough to keep you occupied for 1-2 days. There are also other activities in Phuket you can check out at the tour agencies, like ATV rides, or more adventurous activities. For the ladyboys shows, you can skip those, but you can still make a trip down Bangla street for some eye-opening experience!
Have fun! ~ Marcus
Hi Marcus
First of all kudos for your blog.
It will really help lot of travellers.
I would like to ask this, that we will be reaching around 10 pm to phuket, at that time can we get shared mini van service?? Or do we need to go by orivate taxi only to Patong area
You can still get a shared mini van service at the airport.
Hi Marcus,
Your write up is excellent..I have heard from friends that one can rent scooters in Phuket..Any idea on that? If yes what can be the daily rent and any recommended place from where we can hire it..
Hi Debs, for the rental of scooters in Phuket, I’m not really sure as I didn’t rent one myself. But I do have friends who rent cars instead. Enjoy your trip in Phuket!
Hi! Thank you for this it has really helped.
I would love to visit but I will admit I am a bit worried about the hotels, and where to stay. I am looking at travel packages online and boy they are so pricey! do you recommend booking such expensive packages or just staying at a regular hotel? Also, if you can kindly explain where did you book your flight? hotel? whats the most sunniest time to visit?
Hi Ginette, it’s great that you choose to visit Phuket! Let me help you with your questions:
1) Hotels
As mentioned in my blog post, I only spend SGD$35 per night for my hotel stay. That is about US$25 a night, which is really cheap. There are expensive 5-star hotels, but you don’t have to choose that. Hence, you have to see where you are staying, and what’s your budget. Staying anywhere around patong area is good!
2) Book Flight
I took budget airline over, from Singapore to Phuket airport. Return tickets for a person cost S$100+ if i remember correctly.
3) Sunniest time to visit? April to May. that will be the hottest time.
Enjoy Phuket!
~Marcus
Hi Marcus,
Thank you for a detailed trip itinerary.
We are group of 5 friends planning Phuket in the last week of December and we have booked the day trips online (didnt want to take risk of everytrip being full during that period and hence took advance booking).
As we know that we would be taken to different islands as part of the trips, do you know where we can keep the valuables such as camera when we go for snorkeling ?
Hi Shaheen!
5 friends traveling to Phuket! Wow, that’s a great number and I’m sure you guys will have lots of fun together! For the island tours, yes, you will hop around different islands on the same boat. Your tour guide will give you an ‘Ocean Pack’, which is a waterproof bag that you can put your valuables in, and then zip it, and you can carry it with you underwater if you want. If not, you can also leave it in the boat, and trust the guide to watch out for you. To be even safer, don’t bring so much valuables when you go for the tours. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Marcus
Amazing Post Marcus !!! You have unfolded the Phuket experience in a very simple yet very informative way!! Impressive write up.
We are leaving for Phuket in a weeks time. I was about to book my island tours online , but after reading your experience I feel booking the same in Phuket would be worthwhile and cheaper. The only fear is would the tours be overbooked during this time , I am sure there would be many such tour providers to accommodate everyone 🙂
We also heard that one has to be very careful about thefts in Thailand esp. in Bangkok and Phuket. What was your experience. Would it be advisable to carry our multi lens DSLR camera or should we stick to capturing memories through our mobile phones.
Also do you have any inputs on the rental cars- is it cheaper to rent a car than to hire a taxi for a days trip.
Hi Swapnil! Thanks for dropping by and I hope the tips help to make your trip to Phuket more enjoyable! For the issue on theft, so far I haven’t encounter any yet, either in Phuket or Bangkok. The people there are quite nice, but as a tourist, it is still better to becareful wherever we are overseas 🙂
For the DSLR, i do carry around when I’m overseas too. It’s okay to bring it along, but again, be careful. Hang it around with you at all times. Don’t leave it unattended. If you really need help from strangers to take photos, please be careful.
For the rental cars, I can’t advise as I didn’t rent any cars in Phuket. I can say it’s cheaper to hire a taxi. And right now, you can even try Uber app! Enjoy Phuket yea!
~ Marcus
Hello Marcus !
Great great advices my friend, can’t thank you enough !
I am looking forward to stay in phuket in a 4, 5 star resort ( just because its my honeymoon) i am bring USD with me, where is the best place to do exchanges ?
Some people are saying Krabi might be a little more romantic, but I can’t always take a day trip to the island and stay in Phuket ? what is your opinion please,
and Please, if you have any other tips to this newlywed couple let us know !
Sincerely .
Manny
Hi Manny!
Thanks for being here. I’ll try to help you as much as I can!
For exchanging USD, the better places to change are shopping centres. You can find them at JungCeylon shopping mall. Exchanging them at shopping malls is safer than exchanging them along the street.
Yes, Krabi is a more romantic as it is much quieter than Phuket. If you like nightlife, night market, drinking and dancing in pubs and bars, then Phuket is suitable for you. If you love quiet time along the beach, or in the resort swimming pool, gazing the stars at night with only your spouse, then Krabi might be more suitable. But you’re right, you can just take a 1 day trip to Krabi, while staying in Phuket 🙂
Bonus tip (not sure if it does help):
When you book hotels and resorts, do drop a message that you’re booking a stay because you’re on honeymoon, and hope the room can have some special design to welcome your wife. Some resort get the message and will grant you your wish and decorate your bedroom with rose petals and flowers before you arrive. That will give you wife a WOW.
Enjoy Phuket! ~Marcus
Nice post. Thank you! So did you go to the shopping center you have mentioned at the beginning of the blog? You mentioned that the fabrics are better and overall the quality of the products is a bit higher. But how are the prices? Is it still cheaper than Europe? Anyways looks like you really had a great time and I am really happy for you! 🙂
Hi Marusa, yes, I mentioned Jungceylon shopping centre at the start and yes, I visited there 3 times during my trip in Phuket, and it’s also because it’s the only major shopping centre there. Fabric wise, i’m not an expert, hence I can’t comment much, but generally, I’m happy with the fabric I bought 🙂 ~Marcus
HI Marcus,
Is it possible to cover North to South Beaches in a day. Can we hire Bike i heard its not safe and when return they ask for money coz we damage it etc.
Thanks
Sohit
Hi Sohit, yes you can try cover North and South Beaches in a day, but that would be a rush. For bike rental, i’m not very sure. If you’re afraid of the extra charges due to damage, you can get insurance first. 🙂 ~Marcus
Hi
Thank you so much for your blog.
I need help budgeting….
Breakfast is included, so how much per Day would you recommend I budget for Dinner and Day trips?
We are going for 7 Nights.
Kindly
Marelize
Hi Marelize, thanks for writing in! The total budget would really depend on what you are going to do there, where you stay, what to eat… In Phuket, or generally in Bangkok, it is quite affordable to live there. I would say $50USD a day is more than enough for basic expenses like food and transport. If you’re talking about holiday, then maybe budget it at $100USD a day. It will be more than enough to have tons of fun there. Enjoy!
Hi Marcus
Is there any Dictionary that we can use to know common language of Thai.
Hi Deepika, i’m sorry, I don’t know anything about Thai Dictionary. But don’t worry. You can get around quite easily with English 🙂
Do You Tip Taxi Drivers and how much
We didn’t tip them. But if you want, you can tip between 20-40 baht. it’s up to you, not compulsory.
I really like the many services offered in Phuket. I agree and agree that this place is a paradise to relax and be pampered with the various services offered. Sure, my favorite is the obvious massage, very enjoyable.
Great to hear that! Hope you had a great time at Phuket! ~Marcus
Really a handy post. I loved it. Thanks a lot bro.
hi, what a nice blog! can you tell m how much dud it cost you for james bond and maya bay trip?
Very nice blog about phuket, Very detailed and well made! Made me remember phuket if plan trip =) *thumb up*
Yes, i still love Phuket too! 😀
Hi Marcus,great write up…..we are going to Phuket March 2018.Where is the best place to exchange ZAR for bhat.We will be there for 7 days.I also want to buy perfume as I heard it is cheaper there and some clothes.Thanks ,stay blessed
Hi, Marcus,
You are great.
Your Phuket blog really gave us lot of ideals, thank you so much.
My family are going on next month and isn’t convenient if we stay 2 days in Patong and Phangnga, Phuket respectively ? We plan to stay 2 hotels in our 5D4N trip.
My 75 years old mum (healthy and manage to walk far) will join us and can you recommend any places is suitable for her ?
Thanks & have a great life ahead.
Ee Lin
Hi Haw, great to hear from you. Staying in 2 hotels is fine. For the trips for your mom, I can suggest the island hopping tour, but take the BIG BOAT (not the speed boat). The Big Boat is safe and more steady. For speed boat, even I, young man, also feel giddy after bumping for 30min ride. Have fun in Phuket! 😀 ~ Marcus
Marcus, Tqvm for your reply.
I think should not be a issue If we stay 2 nights at Phuket Town and 2 nights at Patong Beach, right ?
Any ideals or any suggestions activities to be done in Phuket Town ?
Double confirm, you went to Patong is in 2017, right ? One of the Phuket agent charge me 1700 bht for Phi Phi Island activity included lunch. Expensive, right ?
Once again, tq so much & have a great life ahead.
HAW & family
Hi Haw, 2 nights at Phuket Town and 2 nights at Patong Beach is okay. Is a good idea too. I only stayed a Patong Beach area, Since you stay both places, you can have different experience. For 1700 baht/pax for Phi Phi Island for a tour group, I can say it is quite ex. You can bargain down some more. As you are going with more people as a family, you can bargain more, they will give discount. If they don’t give, you can find a better deal with another tour agency there. Have fun!
Thank you so much, Marcus, your reply are valuable to us.
Have a great life ahead.
Hi Marcus,
I have a plan for Phuket from 15(Night) -18(Morning) December with my family. Please advice me where to stay and what to do. Please give me a good travel guide.
Hi Utpal, great that you’re visiting Phuket with your family! What I shared in my blog post above is a good guide for your holiday itinerary. What more exciting that Phuket has, which not many countries has, is its very nice islands. The island tours are a must-have in your itinerary. Have fun in Phuket! ~Marcus.
Hello to Traveller Marcus,
First of all Great work for the Phuket diaries Blog.
I am travelling with my wife to Phuket for 4 days and Bangkok for 3 days. I have few queries for my Travel.
1. Hows the 2 star hotel staying for? Want to save money for tour and adventure 🙂
2. Can you provide few agent name and number for Island tours?
3. Apart from Island tour, which are the beautiful beaches where tides are good.
4. What are the taxi fares from airport to patong town/Beach.
That all from my side.
Hi Kapil, great to hear from you!
1. Yes, the 2-Star hotel is awesome.
2. I don’t have the contact of the agent for the island tour. But there are many agents at Phuket where you can get the tour packages.
3. You can explore Patong Beach. It’s huge and clean. Tides are not big, so it’s safe.
4. Taxi fares, you have to check with the taxis when you’re there. I can’t advise you much here.
Enjoy Phuket! 🙂
Oh, you’ve done a good job to update your trip in Phuket. I’m really excited to read your post, but I feel that Phuket is too crowded and chaotic. I don’t like the bustling coastal towns like that. I prefer the tranquil ambiance in Phu Quoc Island of Vietnam and Lombok Island in Indonesia. Anyway, thanks for your post!
Thanks Tonkin! We’ll love to explore Vietnam next time! 😀
Wow great blog ….going in May looking forward on route from Kuala Lumpur 4 days……..
Hi Marcus,
In which area at Phuket shall I book hotel, from where I can easily get island tour packages conveniently?
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I’ve read through something like
this before. So great to discover another person with a few original thoughts on this issue.
Really.. thanks for starting this up. This site is something that’s needed on the internet, someone
with a bit of originality!
Hey your blog was very helpful.
Hi Kale
Thank you for the heads up. Will definitely use your contact during our visit in June.
thank you for this nice advises
im planning to go to phuket next November
i will be arriving at night ,,,
1- can i find and book a day trip to the 3 islands at early morning ,, if i can not ,, Can i go by my self to the pier ? and buy a tour at the morning /?
2- what or where is the best pier that i can take the speedy tour day to islands ? i will stay at patong.
yours
Bahaa
Hey Marcus. Thank you for sharing this. Phuket is one of our top favorite destinations in Thailand. If there’s any chance you are coming back and would like to write an article for the luxury travelers, we would be happy to accommodate you at one of our private villas on the island.
Hi Darrel, yes! I’ve been to Phuket almost every year, and surely, i’ll be at Phuket soon again! And I’ll definitely hit you up when i’m traveling again next time, and probably feature one of your private villas! ~Marcus
Kudos marcus and all friends thereafter for updates on Phuket.some simple queries
visa to be taken in advance or fine to get on arrival
besides Patong beach hotel any other reasonable clean place close to it within budget of same.
for vegetarians should we carry some MTR packets for dinner.Or any veggie restarants in that area.
Thanks
Yes, there are many restaurants in the area at Patong. Have fun!
Hi Marcus,
Thanks for the great insides of Phuket. It really helps me a lot. I am travelling to Phuket for 3 night short stay and i want to visit Phi Phi island with Maya bay and James bond island with Phang nga bay. Can i cover this with in a one full day trip? Also can you advice where to find a good agency to book a island tour? And do you have any rough idea regarding how much it will cost? Cuz this is my first trip.
Many Thanks
It is nice to read your blog, thanks
Phuket is a very nice place. It is famous for Beach Clubs, Wat Chalong and Phuket Temples, Island-Hopping, Similan Islands, Phi Phi Island and many more. Last year, I went to this place with my family during summer vacation.
Phuket is a big city in Thailand. It is a very famous place in the world. This city is famous for beach, island, hotel and luxury resorts. This place looks very beautiful and peaceful. Last year we visited this place with my old friends. This trip was very memorable for me.
Hi, I was planning a 4 day trip to Phuket. I want it to be a relaxing vacation. Can you advice me on hotels on the beach? Cause apart from going out on one island tour, I’m planning to relax the rest 3 days on the beach.
Hello,
Loved reading your post,
i’m travelling to phuket in June end, that’s almost July. can you tell me if i could get any scooter or private car on rent on self drive basis if i’m holding a international driving license?
Omg I loved this post! Thanks for sharing! I was reading the last review about the ping pong show as if I were reading a suspense novel. Im sure it wasnt funny at the time but It gave me a good laugh once you made it out. Truly appreciate the heads up! Im headed to Thailand in December with my 20 year old daughter. Btw, which tour did you take for the James Bond island? Thank you
Have a great time in Phuket! 🙂
I went to Phuket, Thailand and I can say it is one of the best. Traveling really can never go wrong, you just have to double check your pocket and budget properly. Thanks for sharing!
The ideal holiday destinations in phuket
I am a traveler and really want to be in Phuket one day. I want to taste the food, take photos of the beautiful scenery and enjoy the beach. Thanks for sharing great photos!
Hey Marcus! Nice your article about Phuket. I hope necessary to like this article for the traveler.