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 and 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 and drinks for two and 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 and queens, greeting you with a refreshing drink and cool towel and escorting you to your room. Click here to check out BYD Lofts Boutique Hotel.

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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and drinks and 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 and hear nothing. but. the. ocean. waves. rocking back and 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 and 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 and beer bars. And I’ll leave out the R- and 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 and 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 and “other” things happen on that stage. But again, I’ll skip that part and leave you to discover all that for yourself. 

Before heading back I stopped to order and 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 and around the Phi Phi Islands. We took off from the Royal Phuket Marina and 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 and vivid turquoise waters filled with colorful marine life. A true tropical paradise. We visited two of the islands and 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 and greenery. We didn’t go ashore but believe me when I say it is absolutely breathtaking.

We also went to Loh Samah Bay and 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 and 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. Click here to read more about why this food is so expensive and what it’s used for.

Phi Phi Don

Phi Phi Don is the largest and 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 and South Africa. We were the only Americans on this tour so we did our best to represent. The company was awesome and 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 and 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 and 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?) Ugh.

Dinner and 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 and it is laid-back. It is eventful and it is relaxing. It is pristine and it is raw. It was quiet and 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 and spend my entire time there snorkeling and swimming and 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 and there is no unpacking them. Just unzip and 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.

You may also like ::

How to See Bangkok in 3 Days

Why Not Have Your Destination Birthday in Bali

My Favorite Travel Products :: Top 50

The post Phuket: Where the Action is… and Not appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

I’ve created a list of things you might want to pay attention to before you visit Barcelona. Not to say that they are all things to avoid, rather things that you should know that will make your stay so much more enjoyable.

1. Don’t expect to see a bullfight

As of January 2012 the ruling by the Catalan government banned bullfighting in Barcelona + the Catalonia region came into effect citing that they saw it as animal torture. Four years later a Spanish court voted to overturn Catalonia’s bullfighting ban.

Despite the ban being lifted, the bullfights have not returned.

There is only one remaining bullfighting arena remaining in Barcelona, La Monumental. But it is now home to a museum (Musea Tauri) about bullfighting.

The nearest active bullfighting arena near Barcelona is about 200 miles away in Zaragoza.

2. Don’t think you’ll be allowed to smoke just anywhere

In most areas in Europe smoking is still very popular. However, as of January 2011 in Barcelona tobacco consumption is prohibited in all public buildings + on public transport, including taxis. You can’t smoke at workplaces, railway stations, bars, restaurants or nightclubs. It’s also not allowed on hospital grounds, health centers + schools. Previous rules such as separate smoking areas in restaurants or free choice in bars no longer exist.

Up until the ban Spain + Barcelona had a reputation whereby the smoking in pubs + bars was so heavy that you couldn’t see your hand in front of your eyes + that the smoking bans were consistently ignored. But this is definitely not true for Barcelona. Even the majority of smokers were actually in favor of the strict law. Recent polls show that about 70% of the people in Barcelona are now non-smokers.

3. Don’t plan on going to a nightclub before midnight

Lunchtime in Spain doesn’t hit it’s peak until 1:30-3:30pm. Dinner is usually around 8:30-10:30pm. So you can see that it wouldn’t make sense for nighttime adventures at the bars + clubs to start earlier than closer to midnight. Right? But what if I told you that it doesn’t really get into full swing until about 2am? Well, that is exactly what you can expect. 

Barcelona has a well-deserved reputation for having some of the best nightlife in Europe, from greasy dive bars to high-class beachfront clubs + pretty much everything in between. Clubs are almost always busy until the bars close their doors at 6 a.m.

Tip: Although Barcelona is pretty laid back in their dress code for nightlife, leave your shorts + flip flops at home. As a matter of fact the only other item looked down on is tennis shoes. Anything else goes.

4. Don’t think you’re smarter than pickpockets

After having an absolutely fabulous time in Barcelona we had an unfortunate occurrence during our stay. And although this is definitely an amazing city to which I hope to return it has one flaw that can’t + shouldn’t be overlooked: Barcelona has been coined with the title “Pickpocket Capital of the World.” Unbeknownst to us before our visit, unfortunately. Let me confirm: this is not just a rumor.

So here’s what happened. Roydio went out late on our last night in town to buy some water at the store which was about a block away from where we were staying. As he was walking back to our hotel which was located in a dark alley less than a block off the main promenade, he was approached by a guy trying to get him to come to a nightclub. When told no several times, the guy kicked his leg between Roydio’s legs. Thinking it was strange Roydio turned around ready for an altercation, then kept walking.

About a minute later another guy came up behind him + asked “is this your phone?” And it certainly was! Apparently guy #1 had used the “kick between the legs” method of pickpocketing to kick Roydio’s phone out of his pocket maybe thinking it was a wallet! Wow! Apparently Roydio’s broken phone was of no use to the pickpocket so he must have just dropped it on the street – at least that’s what we figured happened. 

To this day we still aren’t really sure. All we know is that you cannot carry things in your pockets at all because they have found creative ways to rob you.

Tip: keep your money, phone, etc. in a jacket or vest with inside pockets or wear a money belt under your clothes that is not visible to pickpockets. If they don’t see an opportunity they will leave you alone.

 5. Don’t wear your swim suit in the street

Barcelona has a pleasant Mediterranean climate year round + is particularly warm + sunny from May through October. With a large stretch of beach not far from the city center it’s as much a beach town as it is a cultural mecca. However, unlike some other vacation hotspots, don’t stroll the streets in a bikini or swimming trunks even if you’re heading to the seaside. You might be able to get away with it on the beachfront promenade but cover-up elsewhere. It’s not just considered tasteless + inappropriate, it’s actually illegal. You can be fined 100 to 200EU if you are caught walking around in skimpy beachwear. Even men wandering bare-chested in shorts is not acceptable.

 6. Don’t choose the wrong airport

Europe’s budget airlines are infamous for flying to airports that are nowhere near the actual cities for which they advertise. For example Ryanair describes both Girona + Reus as Barcelona airports even though they are a long way from the city proper. Expect to spend at least an hour getting to the center from either of these airports.

BCN is the airport you want. It is closest to Barcelona’s city center.

7. Screaming after quiet hours — they will pour water on you

Being loud after quiet hours (around 10-11pm), is a major faux pas + violating this rule has consequences. You know why locals always keep a carton of eggs handy? Because they throw them at people who are being too loud! Throwing water down from balconies is another popular punishment for loud visitors. It’s really just about being considerate of the people who live here. Not everyone in Barcelona is a tourist without early morning commitments.

8. Don’t think Barcelona is like the rest of Spain

Barcelona is known as the capital of Catalonia + Madrid is the capital of Spain. Even though Catalonia is part of the Spanish nation it is a distinct region that has its own customs that make it unique.

Catalonia is one of a few regions in Spain that has its own language apart from Castilian Spanish. Catalan is a romance language closer to French + Italian than Spanish or Portuguese.

Catalonian food is also different from the typical Spanish cuisine + most known for its specialties such as butifarra (a cinnamon pork sausage), fideuas (a type of noodle) + calcots (spring onions).

Tip: Try to learn a few Catalon phrases. Bon dia = good morning, perdo = excuse me, sisplau = please. The locals will really appreciate that you are aware of the region’s uniqueness + that they speak their own language. Try this Kindle edition app of the English-Catalonian phrase book

9. Don’t try to see it all

Don’t try to see all of even the most important sites in Barcelona in one visit. There are people who have lived here for years + are still exploring new sides of the city. I’ve been in Barcelona twice + haven’t even come close to seeing most of the places Barcelona is known for.

I would recommend that you plan to see one major attraction for each day of your visit. Slow down enough to have a local beer + do some people watching, take in the atmosphere. Savor the local cuisine (I’ll cover that in more detail in my Beginner’s Guide to the Best Food in Barcelona post). Try to just enjoy being here because the best part of the city is the city itself. Immerse yourself in the culture. Barcelona is a truly amazing place.

Barcelona is a great city filled with history + culture + fun! But you will enjoy it much more by considering the things I’ve mentioned above. You don’t need to necessarily blend in with the locals but you certainly don’t want to upset their way of life.

My next post will go more into detail regarding the food. Because this is definitely a subject that deserves a post all its own. Bon profit!

Click here to check out everything Barcelona has to offer + use it to book tickets, restaurant reservations, tours, etc. Goooooooaaaaaal!

The post 9 Don’t Do’s in Barcelona appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.

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.

You may also like ::

How to See Bangkok in 3 Days

Why Not Have Your Destination Birthday in Bali

The post Phuket: Where the Action is… and Not appeared first on Where in the World is Louise?.