Getting to Phuket
Phuket is just over an hour flight from the mainland (Bangkok) and there are numerous flights going to the island every day for under US$100 each way. We chose to book two one way flights to ensure we got the flight times we liked, using both Air Asia and Bangkok Airlines. To our surprise, Bangkok Airlines served food on the 1 hour flight! Something you really don’t see traveling these days. We spent three nights in Phuket, more than enough time to see the important hot spots and enjoy the surrounding islands. Check here for your visa requirements.
Where to stay in Phuket
We stayed at BYD Lofts a boutique apartment hotel in the heart of Patong, walking distance to the beach and downtown area. The hotel also had a great restaurant on site with various food options with incredibly friendly and helpful staff.
Getting around
There are many tuk tuks on the island of Phuket which are the most economical way to get around. Each driver will give you a different price so be sure to negotiate. Rides within the city area should cost you US$5 or less.
Islands we visited
Before visiting Phuket I was under the impression that the beautiful picturesque beaches were located here on the main island. I was totally wrong! The beaches in Phuket are not what we see online or in calendars, the sand is not white and the water is not crystal clear. The islands that we all know are quite a journey away. Both islands we visited were at least a two hour bus ride and two hour boat ride away. This can be even longer if you get stuck in evening traffic on the way back.
We did not pre book any tours to the islands, we typically like to book tours when we arrive as they tend to be cheaper. I also like to take the opportunity to talk to the locals and ask where to visit and how to get there. Lucky for us, there was a tour operator nearby that we were able to book our trip to James Bond & Similian islands.
James Bond Island, Hong Island and Phang Nga Bay
After a two hour bus ride, we arrived at the dock to take a boat to James Bond Island. The boat holds about 40 people and has limited covering, be sure to board first or you will be stuck in the front without any shade. The heat is brutal and you are guaranteed to get sunburned sitting in the bow of the boat! Lather up with SPF50 sunscreen or more, you will need it.
The first part of our tour took us to Hong Island taking Kayaks through a few caves with a personal rower! The rower is free but will expect a tip so be sure to bring cash. The tour took us through a few caves to a small beach area jut a few minutes away that was murky and not the crystal clear blue waters I expected to see.
After the caves, we visited the infamous James Bond Island, nice but again disappointing as the water looked dirty and very brown. The island was also over run with tourist and crowded, just walking around was a traffic jam of people. The large crowds going through these islands is a problem that the Thai government has recognized and is is now limiting the number of travelers who visit. The many boats in the area have also caused pollution in the water and are also being regulated by the government. Aside from waiting in extremely longs lines, lunch on this tour was also awful, I would strongly suggest bringing your own food, everything they served was inedible.
Similian Islands
We opted for visiting the Similian islands vs the more popular Ko Phi Phi from a local recommendation, though I still recommend going to Ko Phi Phi if you have time, it does look beautiful! Getting to these islands took a really long time with another over two hour bus ride and two hour boat ride. Once again, be sure to get on the boat first to get a good seat in the shade. The boat on this tour was a lot smaller than the prior one holding only 10 people which I really liked. On this tour we finally saw the amazing scenery I expected passing by numerous small islands scattered within the bright blue ocean.
First stop was at Ba-Ngu island where we took a jump into the picturesque Indian Ocean. You’ll notice that floating is much easier here with the increased amount of salt in the water. Grab a life jacket from the boat to use as a floating device and enjoy the moment! The tour will take you around to a few islands where you can swim and sit on the beach. Lunch is also offered on this tour but once again was terrible, bring you own food. You can ask the hotel to prepare a small boxed lunch for you before going on the tour.
Things to Do in Phuket
Night Market
There are quite a few night markets in Phuket similar to the ones you can find in Bangkok. Always a great place to visit to taste local cuisine and purchase local items. The area can be a bit crowded but it is definitely an interesting place to visit.
Get a custom suit
Tailoring in Thailand is very cheap! Take the opportunity to get some custom shirts and jackets made at a great low price. They do take about 2-3 days to make so be sure to visit the local tailor when you arrive. We were lucky to find John, an amazing Tailor in Patong next door to our hotel.
Visit Freedom Beach
Just around the corner from Patong beach lies Freedom Beach. A quaint little cove tucked away from everything! Here’s where you can see colorful fish and swim in crystal clear water. You will have to take a long neck boat to get here which can be very pricey, try your best to negotiate with everyone!
Checkout Kata Beach
Just about a 15 minute Tuk Tuk drive from Patong is Kata Beach, an area with a lot of hotels and a small beach area. We took the opportunity to visit this beach in the evening to catch the sunset and found a great beach bar with cheap drinks and snacks.
Things we missed
There are a few key viewpoints that you can visit in Phuket as well as a large Buddah. Both are nice places to visit and easy to get to.
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