Phuket: Where the Action is… and Not

I found Phuket to be a dichotomy in so many respects. It is action-packed + it is laid-back. It is eventful + it is relaxing. It is pristine + it is raw. It is quiet + it is loud. 

But one thing’s for sure, if it isn’t already you’ll want to add it to your Bucket List.

BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel and Apartments Phuket

Let’s start with our amazing hotel. I know, right? I have to give credit to my Roydio for most of these hotel bookings. He’s a master at research although I can hold my own in that department…

“…it has everything but the kitchen sink.”

This place has a balcony to enjoy the view of what is happening out on the street, it’s walking distance to the beach… so beautiful + it has everything but the kitchen sink.

Wait, it DOES have a kitchen sink! And a kitchen and a microwave oven, dishes, glasses, dishwasher, refrigerator stocked with water + drinks for two + even fresh fruit to welcome you. 

Again, what a find. BYD Lofts. Just make a note for when you go to Phuket. I’ve given you more details down below in my “tips.”

I don’t want to be remiss in giving a shout out to the staff here. They make you feel like kings + queens, greeting you with a refreshing drink + cool towel + escorting you to your room.
https://www.bydlofts.com

So I feel like I need to clear something up before I go any further.

“…I travel on my own dime…”

I am not one of those travel bloggers who gets paid to travel, stays in four and five star hotels and writes about it!  I wish! I travel on my own dime. And before you start thinking that I must be made of money staying in all of these amazing hotels, just know that my goal is to always get the most for my money. 

Most of the places I stay at are affordable, you can afford them too. And by doing your own (serious) research you too can find incredible deals. This particular trip to Southeast Asia we are celebrating a very special occasion so we did splurge a bit more than usual.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way let’s take first things first: unwind from my flight into town + then unpack. That’s not difficult to do with my packing cubes all ready to be laid out! Have you heard of them? Have you tried them? I swear by them + will never travel without them again. Once you experience packing cubes, you won’t either I promise. I’ve given you more details about them in my “tips” below.

You’re welcome!

Patong Beach

Hey, I’m in Phuket, I’ve got to see the beach. Let’s go! 

After leaving one destination for another + after everything it takes to get there it can be exhausting. There’s just something about a beautiful, serene beach at which to relax when you’re all wound up, right? And Patong Beach surely didn’t disappoint.

The only noise you’ll hear is vendors selling their handmade souvenirs + drinks + snacks. I would totally have gone for something but the water was calling my name. Well actually it was calling “Roydio!!” HA! And when the water calls him, he listens, then dives right in! 

Me, I am happy to just get some sand between my toes, relax, close my eyes + hear nothing. but. the. ocean. waves. rocking back + forth. Can you hear it?

Thai massage

I guess any trip to Thailand without getting a massage would just be wrong. So of course one is ordered up. Roydio volunteered for the job. HA! And I get to watch.

According to him, it is brutal. From my vantage point it doesn’t look brutal. But he insisted it is one of the best massages he’s ever had. I’ll take his word for it.

Bangla Road

If you’ve read anything on Phuket you know about Bangla Road. Again, walking distance from our place. How can I describe it? Well, let’s start with the fact that nearly every online reviewer seems to rate Bangla Road as either the #1 or #2 thing to do in Phuket.

“…it reminds me of the strip in Las Vegas.”

I’m going to reserve my comments + let you be the judge for yourself when you visit. Suffice it to say that it reminds me of the strip in Las Vegas. On Steroids. If you’ve ever been to Vegas you know what I’m talking about. But next to a beach. A dichotomy.

There are a lot of great places to eat in the little alleys off the main drag of this pedestrian-only street where I had dinner (NO I did not try the scorpions on a stick). 

When it gets dark everything turns… NEON. Check out the pics of Bangla Road at night. Lots of nightclubs + beer bars. And I’ll leave out the R- + X-rated stuff, k?

Did you see the tricked out tuk-tuk? They look like regular tuk-tuks during the day (remember the one you saw me riding in in Bangkok?), then at night all the neon lights come on + they turn into disco drivers. It’s a hoot!

Do I dare post a video of what Phuket is like after dark?

Tell you what, I’ll give you a taste of the environment at the “Beer Garden” where we had dinner.

The stage at the Beer Garden features several different acts. These fire dancers are cool. Then the go-go dancers + “other” things happen on that stage. But again, I’ll skip that part + leave you to discover all that for when you go. 

Before heading back I stopped to order + watch the making of their well-known ice cream rolls. It was really tasty, not sweet like American ice cream. Real yummy!

I then took the path along the beach back to the apartment. All in all it was a fun night. Tomorrow would start early…

Island Hopping Tour

This is my very favorite part of my time in Phuket:  an all-day speedboat trip to + around the Phi Phi Islands. We took off from the Royal Phuket Marina + had an amazing adventure on the water.

Let me just introduce you to the Phi Phi Islands, a small archipelago of 6 islands about a 45-minute speedboat ride from Phuket. The islands consist of classic tropical beaches, stunning rock formations + vivid turquoise waters filled with colorful marine life. A true tropical paradise. We visited two of the islands + made several stops.

Phi Phi Leh

Our first stop was the world famous Maya Bay on the uninhabited island of Phi Phi Leh. Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the movie “The Beach” which was filmed here in 2000. Maya Bay is the main beach on Phi Phi Leh, sheltered on three sides by 100-metre high limestone cliffs + greenery. We didn’t go ashore but believe me when I say it is absolutely breathtaking.

We also went to Loh Samah Bay + Pileh Lagoon to snorkel. 

We stopped at Viking Cave to check out where the Birds’ Nest producing swallows dwell. That was really interesting to see. These birds’ nests are used to make a Chinese soup + are one of the most expensive foods on the planet. I had no idea. I’ll bet you didn’t know about it either, did you?

I’d never see the Birds’ Nests prepared before so when I saw some in a store I made sure to take a picture for you. And here is a link where you can read more about why this food is so expensive and what it’s used for: https://bit.ly/2LnHizR

Phi Phi Don

Phi Phi Don is the largest + only inhabited of these islands but it has no roads. 

On this island is where you find Monkey Bay. We didn’t stop but “lingered” just long enough to see the monkeys in this rather steep limestone cliff, the vegetation of which offer the monkeys a comfortable place to dwell.

Then we went to snorkel the Great Coral Reef. This has to be my favorite part of this tour. The clear, warm water is just
Un. Believable.

After all the snorkeling it was time for lunch. They brought us to a private beach called Phi Phi Natural Resort to enjoy a wonderful lunch with our new friends from Russia, Australia + South Africa. We were the only Americans on this tour so we did our best to represent. The company was awesome + the lunch was quite good for “tour” food.

Bamboo Island

Almost shaped like a heart, this island is entirely surrounded by a strip of soft, white sand. We spent some time on the beach here just relaxing + soaking up that gorgeous sun. 

The day went by too quickly. We were all pretty tired when we got back to the Royal Phuket Marina. The guides were great, giving us just enough time at each stop. I would highly recommend this speedboat tour to the Phi Phi Islands.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. Or maybe someone can just drop me off on Phi Phi Don + I’ll just stay in the water all day. That might be the perfect day for me.

Our final night and morning

After a short nap at our apartment wouldn’t you know it we found ourselves back at Bangla Road. I have to admit the food was pretty delicious so a great reason to “tough through” another night of pamphlet-pushing, half-naked girls seeking the attention of anyone who would look their way. (Oh, did I leave those details out earlier?)

Dinner + a leisurely stroll past the seafood vendors was a perfecting ending to this incredible day.

In the morning we had breakfast at a cute little place around the corner. 

Do you see now why I said in my opening statement that Phuket is a dichotomy? It is action-packed + it is laid-back. It is eventful + it is relaxing. It is pristine + it is raw. It was quiet + it is loud. You can have it all or you can have nothing. But any way you have it put it on your bucket list. You won’t regret it.

Thailand has been an experience I’ll never forget. Hopefully one day I’ll get back there to explore more of the islands. I think I’d like to stay in Koh Phi Phi Don + spend my entire time there snorkeling + swimming + boating. I think that would be my ideal trip there…

Goodbye beautiful Phuket, I’ll surely be back to visit you again.

Tips just for you ::

1. I have two words for you. Packing Cubes. They are game-changers.  They save me so much time! I’m organized, at a moment’s notice I can find what I’m looking for + there is no unpacking them. Just unzip + lay them in the drawers. Done! You can find them online here.
2. BYD Lofts in Phuket is located at 5/28 Haad Patong, Patong, Kathu. They have several buildings located 5 minutes’ walking distance from the beach. Check them out: Click here!
3. Ping Pong is not a game in Phuket. It is big business. Consider yourself warned.

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