Travel Guide - Phuket, Thailand
Thailand is now open to International tourists under the “Sandbox Program".
Entry Requirements:
Thailand Pass QR Code (apply for a Thailand Pass 7 days prior to departure)
Covid-19 vaccine certificate
Pre-departure PCR Test (no more than 72 hours before)
Pre-booked and prepaid Covid-19 Tests to be taken on Day 1 (on arrival at the airport) and Day 5
Health insurance that covers at least 20,000 USD
Stay in a SHA Extra + Accommodation
Hotels:
During our stay, we stayed in 3 different hotels which were SHA Extra Plus:
Discovered by shipwrecked explorers hundreds of years ago, Coconut Island has retained its sense of mystery and adventure. You can enjoy privacy by staying in a pool villa and being surrounded in nature, only hearing the sound of birds. There are 2 swimming pools, including slides so you can get your adrenaline rush. The sea is calm and you can enjoy activities such as kayaking. This resort is perfect if you’re looking for somewhere secluded, but if you want to explore the city more and do more activities, you’d need to take a boat ride for 15 mins, that only comes every hour and costs 100 Thai Baht each way.
Perched upon the hillside with a spectacular panoramic view in Kata, The Yama Hotel invites you to get away from it all in style. There is an outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, and spa.
Kata Beach is only a 5 mins drive and Big Buddha is a 10 mins drive. The Yama is the perfect hotel to enjoy the most incredible sunsets.
Katathani is a beachfront hotel and spa located on the beautiful Kata Noi Bay, Phuket. There are 6 swimming pools, 3 jacuzzis and a mini water slide.
In terms of location, it is the best. There are many nice restaurants and shops nearby. Kata Noi is an exclusive beach with high waves and you can even enjoy surfing here. It is only 5 mins away from Kata Beach, which has a vibrant atmosphere with live music in the evenings and food stalls.
Activities:
There is so much to discover in Phuket from Big Buddha, to the Buzzy atmosphere of Bangla Road, Old Town, and the Sunday Night market…
Big Buddha
Big Buddha is the 3rd tallest statue in Thailand made of concrete and covered with Burmese white marble. It was a surreal and peaceful experience. We went there during sunset and there were monks praying in front of Big Buddha. There were also some monkeys being cheeky and playing next to the Gold Buddha.
Bangla Road, Patong Beach
Experience Phuket’s buzzing nightlife with bars, nightclubs and street foods. When we arrived on the street, we were approached by Promoters Girls who insisted we go watch a Ping Pong Show, as it is famous in Thailand. We went to watch it, got drinks for 700 Thai Baht each (as it covers the cost of entry) and saw women doing a Ping Pong Show (not quite the ping pong show you’d imagine). We felt quite uncomfortable watching, so decided to leave after 15 mins, but at least we now know what it is. Then, we went to play games at an arcade and finished with some street food, which were delicious.
Old Town Phuket
Old Town Phuket is a colourful street with many restaurants, edgy coffee shops, boutiques, bars and massage parlours. We had Pad Thai and Jasmine Iced tea at a restaurant, which was delicious. The Pad Thai was way more spicy than the Pad Thai we get in England. We went to a Matcha and Croissant shop called Hand Phuket and I had the best Matcha Iced Tea, which was very refreshing. We shopped some souvenirs and went to Sansabai for a Thai Massage. A Thai Massage is quite different to a normal massage - you are fully clothed and no oil is applied. The masseuse presses on you quite hard and twists your body. It was quite painful, so I am not sure whether I’d try that again.
Thalang Road, Sunday Night Market
The Sunday Night Market opens at 4pm on Sundays. You can enjoy live music and performances, shop and eat local dishes. We’ve witnessed Hip Hop street dancers performing and I ate the best coconut ice cream with peanuts and jelly in a coconut shell. It was simply delicious!
Excursions:
Our favourite part of the trip was going on excursions. The scenery was breathtaking and you get to meet people from all over the world.
James Bond Island
Phang Nag Bay is known as James Bond Island because it appeared in 1974 in James Bond: The Man with the Golden Gun. The boat ride was around 60 minutes from the pier. We did some canoe before and then, stopped here. The view and scenery was breathtaking.
Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi has beautiful turquoise waters, clear sand beaches and colourful marine life. I truly enjoyed swimming in Koh Phi Phi, the water was warm and clear. I’ve also done snorkelling and was swimming in the middle of thousands of colourful yellow and grey fish, which was an unforgettable experience.
Maya Bay
Maya Bay just re-opened and is one of the most beautiful beaches you’ll ever see. The sand was so clear and soft. It was made famous by the movie “The Beach” in 2000 starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Maya Bay has been quiet for so long that I even managed to spot some baby sharks swimming.