Thailand

A Thai Getaway – Phuket and Bangkok

May, 2019

Thailand has something in store for everyone, from budget travelers to the ones who wish to experience luxury. A family trip or a bachelor’s party, a laid back vacation or one filled with adrenaline rushes, clear beaches and lush green highlands – this country has got it all covered.

With so much to do, I had been saving a trip to Thailand for a longer vacation, till a point I could not wait anymore. This blog details how you can plan a short trip to Phuket, Krabi and Bangkok.

Must Do's

Plan your sunsets when in Phuket

Phuket is touristy, period. It has a lot to offer but people mostly stick to the Patong area. I witnessed the most magical sunsets of the trip here and would definitely recommend reserving a day for exploring the town. Just rent a scooter and plan a route.

Kata beach and Karon beach are not far away from Patong beach but are way less crowded and clean. The picture on the left is of the sunset at Karon beach and that pink color is not edited!! The Promthep Cape is a viewpoint at the southern most part of Phuket and is another spot for great sunset views.

Attend a Full Moon Party

I am not much of a party person, especially while traveling but I must mention the Full Moon Party. Full Moon (or the Half Moon, Quarter Moon, Black Moon) parties are organized on beaches at multiple islands across Thailand. I attended the Full Moon Party at Paradise Beach, Phuket and if I have to describe it in a word, it would be – CRAZY!!

Entry passes are available over the counter across the town and also online. A basic package would cost around 1100 Thai Baht. The parties are loud, have fireworks, neon paints and loads of drunk people. Attend one only if you can gel into this vibe. Oh, I must mention, the ‘buckets’ in which alcohol is served are deadly! You need to be very careful about your valuables and refrain from entering the ocean.

Experience the Street Life

Thailand comes to life at night and the streets are the best place to experience it. Bangla Road in Phuket and Khaosan Road in Bangkok are probably the most famous and crowded but also worth a visit. Bangla Road has ping pong shows, discotheques and bars with live music to offer. You will either love this street or hate it. In Bangkok, I stayed around Sukhumvit and every other street would completely transform by the night. There are lanes full of food and shops that you must add to your Thai experience.

Visit Islands around Phuket

Phuket’s archipelago has everything you need for a perfect vacation and fortunately you can find multiple day trips from Phuket which make it super easy to hop between islands. You can read more about my day trip from Phuket here.

Explore the cultural side in Bangkok

Thailand has a very rich culture but you can easily miss this amidst the beautiful beaches and busy night life. Make room to visit at least one culturally significant place when you are in Bangkok and I am sure you will admire the architecture and learn a lot about this country. You can choose from Wat Arun, Temple of Emerald Buddha, The Grand Palace and many more.

Other things to do

Boxing is the national sport of Thailand. You can spend time watching professional boxers battle it out at the Patong boxing stadium.

Another important element of the Thai culture are the Thai massages. Now, ‘massage’ in Thailand can have multiple meanings. Make sure what you want and where you go are in sync.

You can also watch a cabaret show. Simon Cabaret is one of the most famous ones and it is difficult to describe the grandeur of the costumes and sets in words. It is performed by the ultra glamorous ladyboy dancers.

Bangkok is a very popular shopping destination. You can find trendy clothes and accessories in a budget. Spend some time exploring the Platinum Fashion Mall and Siam Discovery Centre.

Where to Stay

The location you decide to stay impacts your overall trip much more than anything else. On a short trip like this one, it becomes all the more important to get it right. I am listing the areas I stayed at along with some alternative options.

Phuket – I chose to stay at Patong. While I would love to stay at a place which is more quiet and laid back, staying at Patong makes everything very convenient. It is easy to hire a scooter, book day trips, ferry tickets and passes for everything you plan to visit. Also, if you plan to party until late in the night, I would highly recommend staying in Patong as everything is at a walking distance.

I stayed at Hotel Casa Jip. This one is a basic, neat and clean budget guest house.

Krabi – You can choose between Ao Nang Beach and Railay Beach as areas to stay at. Keep in mind that you need a short boat ride to reach Railay Beach.

I stayed at Hotel Phra Nang Inn by Vacation Village and this place is totally worth the tariff. The property is located right at the beach and the rooms are spacious, clean and well-maintained.

Bangkok – Sukhumvit and Silom are ideal to stay at in Bangkok. In these areas, you would be at a walking distance from the famous shopping malls, night streets and well connected to other parts of the city.

I stayed at the Baiyoke Sky Hotel. The highlight of this stay was a room on the 74th floor with panoramic views of the city. The hotel is great in terms of location but it is a rather old construction.

Food

There is no better way to know a country than trying the food it has to offer. Thailand is your place if you love experimenting with food. I’ll just let the pictures do the talking here!!

Sample Itinerary

DAY 1 – Get an early morning flight to Phuket. Once you settle in, rent a scooter and explore the town. You can buy passes for all the activities during your stay in Phuket. Visit Karon and Kata beaches, Big Buddha, try some new cafes, watch a cabaret show, visit the Bangla Street , etc.

DAY 2 – Leave early for a day trip from Phuket. Rest for a while in the evening and then attend the Full Moon Party.

DAY 3 – After a rather sleepless night, catch an early morning ferry to Phi Phi Islands. Spend a relaxed day by the beach and head to Krabi in the evening. If you have followed this itinerary, most likely you would be sleep deprived by now, treat yourself with a nice stay and a Thai massage.

Do spend a night at Phi Phi Islands if you have more time at hand. They are located midway between Phuket and Krabi and you can chose to return back to either of these towns.

DAY 4 and 5 – Fly to Bangkok from Krabi. Explore Bangkok for the next two days.

Things to keep in mind

Thailand is infamous for its tourist scams. Be very careful with your belongings and do not indulge in anything illegal, it could be a scam.
Bangkok has a huge traffic problem so it would be helpful to know about metro routes.
Install Grab. Grab is an app to book cabs and you must have it while traveling in South East Asia.

Budget

The entire trip cost around 45,000 INR. Here is a high level breakdown of major expenses –

Flights – I had to board three flights for the itinerary mentioned above and it cost me around 15,000 INR
Stay – I stayed for two nights in Phuket and one each in Krabi and Bangkok. This cost around 6,000 INR per person on a twin sharing basis. It is very easy to cut down in this category if you are on a strict budget.
Activities – Simon Cabaret show (1,100 INR), day trip to James Bond Island (4,000 INR), Full Moon Party (2,700 INR), Ferry tickets from Phuket to Krabi via Phi Phi Island (1,500 INR)
Miscellaneous – Other expenses include food, renting a scooter, local transport and also some shopping!

Best time to visit

Weather in Thailand is tropical and humid all round the year. November to April are considered the peak season while rest of the year has more rains and less tourists.