Phuket has been on the majority of travelers’ lists and I can personally understand why. You are probably wondering, why is Phuket a popular tourist destination. I am here to let you in on all the juicy details of Phuket. Even though I was dragged there by a group of friends, it was one of the best holiday destinations.
While brewing my morning coffee, I received a notification. I had been added to a WhatsApp group. I rolled my eyes as I figured out the name of the group and yelled not this again. We all know that WhatsApp group trips rarely make it to their desired destinations.
However, this new WhatsApp group had two ladies who were let down by their other friends. I just happened to have been someone they could trust. And I know they had no reason to doubt that I would show up. I had been everywhere else in the world alone.
My first text to the group was “This trip better happen and we are flying with Emirates “, talk about diva tendencies. But I meant every word, if we were going to be in this WhatsApp group then we had to make things happen.
When we landed at Phuket International Airport, we immediately noticed our names from the drivers who had come to collect us from the airport. That was my first impression about Phuket, that it is such a well-organized tourist destination that you do not need to search for your driver!
Now, let’s explore the things that make Phuket a popular tourist destination.
Visa On Arrival
Everyone wants an easy trip to some place where they don’t need to have their privacy invaded like criminals, catch your sub Europe. Thailand’s visa on arrival makes life pretty much easy if you like planning things out of nowhere and just getting going. But of course, this may also be country dependent.
Friendly People
Thai people are some of the friendliest people you will meet. While we were just touring Phuket, we found their warmth to be a commendable quality. Though some do not speak English, you can absolutely tell through their smiles how welcoming they are.
I complained about feeling exhausted after a long flight, and one lady offered me a pineapple smoothie to treat the exhaustion. It actually worked and I ended up asking for the recipe which is just blending pineapple and ginger with a bit of water.
Affordable
My country’s currency performs well against other African countries at most but when I reached Phuket, it was a haven. The Rand is pretty much strong against the Thai Bhat (Thailand Currency) and that means we find most things at affordable rates.
But that is not all, Phuket has been rated among the cheapest destinations that one can travel to. Well, I can confirm this because, with just a little less than 5000 ZAR, you can spend an entire month at a hotel. That is absolutely something you cannot find in my home country.
Maybe you can only afford to stay for a week at a cheap hotel in Cape Town with this amount, which I doubt would be enough for five days.
Great Clubs
Bangla road is one of Phuket’s busiest streets with some really amazing clubs. What I found to be amazing about the clubs in Phuket is that if you are really not a club person, you might enjoy a little time out. A lot of clubs cater to non-drinkers by providing different games that you can play, I thought it was a cool concept.
I came back with some game boards after having a ball at one of the nightclubs playing with the locals. You will not spend a fortune to afford a couple of drinks on Bangla road as these come at a very affordable rate.
Safe
Voted amongst one of the best destinations for Solo travelers, Phuket is overall a safe destination with locals who do not make life unbearable. As a solo traveler, you are safe in Phuket, and the chances of meeting fellow solo travelers are incredibly high.
But it is obvious that you should practice caution, where you don’t leave your drinks unattended or leave your valuable belongings out in the open. This is just a safety measure you should always practice despite how safe a location may be.
Night Markets
If clubbing isn’t your thing, I have great news for you. Phuket has one of the most interesting night markets where you are treated to traditional local Thai food. What better way to get to know a country than tasting its cuisine?
Unique Cultural Sights
Thailand is well known for its temples. These form part of some of the cultural sights you can opt to explore while in Phuket. You can visit the Phuket Big Buddha, which was one that a group of friends and I visited.
All we did was just admire the temple and take pictures. We didn’t perform any religious practices. I know that other religions may feel some kind of way exploring other cultural or religious practices so it is important to get out of your head and be willing to learn about other practices.
Islands
Phuket is closer to some of the most beautiful islands. To best experience these amazing islands, it is best to book these trips before you arrive, that way you have your entire itinerary planned out. The majority of the tour rides will fetch you from your hotel, and then you will be driven to the harbor when you board a boat and ride along to the magical sights of Thailand’s beauty.
James Bond
Your most instaworthy moment of Phuket will come out of this island. James Bond Island stands majestic in the middle of the ocean.
Phiphi Island
On the day we were scheduled to head to Phiphi island, I opted for the mall. I guess it was a bit of some exhaustion that led to this. This is the main reason I am repeating this trip. I missed a tour of the beautiful Phiphi island. When my travel mates returned with beautiful pictures, I was just staring in sheer jealousy.
Thai Massages
While you would pay a fortune to get a Thai massage in your home country, it is not the case in Phuket. You blink and there is a Thai massage place on every corner at the cheapest rate. Yes, you can afford a Thai massage daily while in Phuket and this is something I recommend you do.
After all, we go on holiday to relax and unwind, and having a massage should be part of the deal. Just writing about this experience has influenced me to repeat yet another trip to Thailand. This time around I will spend a few days in Bangkok then head to Phuket.
Additional Things You Can Do in Phuket
Quad Biking
You can combine quad biking with sightseeing at the Big Buddha in Phuket. We visited the temple on our bikes and before that, we had done Elephant riding. I do regret this activity, as the elephants really looked exhausted.
As I have become older, I have no further plans to undergo the elephant riding activity out of my empathy for the animals.
Visit Coral Island
There is nothing magical about this Island. This is your rich living kind of day where you ride to the island in a speed boat, drink fancy cocktails, and lay your bum at the beach. Call it a relaxing day away from the crowds.
Go Shopping at Jungceylon Phuket
I know you think you don’t need a new bag, but go upstairs to the local stalls and shop for a bag. I ended up with really beautiful bags. They were of extra quality at just 500 Thai Baht, which is 250 ZAR. It’s been six years since I visited Phuket. You are absolutely right, I still have the bags and none of them has changed or lost their quality.
If you enjoyed reading this blog post, head over to read about Cape Town. You can decide if this is a place you would like to visit. But I promise you, Cape Town is a mini heaven that caters to every tourist’s desires.
Catch up on my latest travels on Instagram or if you would just like to ask me any question not covered in the blog, drop me a mail or a dm. You can also leave your comment in the comments section, I will respond as soon as I can.
