On March 25, 2016 we embarked on a 16 hours plus flight to Thailand precisely to Phuket. Since there weren’t direct flights to Phuket a two-stop ticket was our best choice in terms of time and budget. With the assistance of an experienced travel agent we booked our ticket on Qatar Airways, therefore our first stop was in Doha (Qatar) followed by a second short stop in Bangkok (Thailand). After a long and exhausting flight, we arrived to Phuket in the afternoon around 18:00. Jeed Lim (@jidapaxxsusie) was the name of the nice lady who welcomed us at the airport and showed us the way to our ride. We later discovered that she will be our helpful tour guide during our stay in Phuket.
This Post is part of a 7-day trip to some of Thailand’s best island destinations. Use the links at the end of the post for more insights about the day-to-day activities and destinations.
After a one-hour ride through Phuket’s main towns and into some of its narrow mountainous roads we got ourselves accustomed to driving on the left-hand side of the road. We reached “Karon Sea Sand Resort and Spa” in the evening while the sun was about to set over the Andaman Sea. During our drive to the hotel Jeed had introduced us to some of the best tours and cruises to take around the island and to other nearby islands. Although she had been trying to sell us some tours organized by the travel agency she worked for, she remained sweet and made sure not to be pushy. With her pleasant mood and smile she gained our trust. After little negotiation she gave us a fair price so we booked with her the “Phi-Phi Island tour” and “James Bond Island Tour” for the next couple of days that we were spending in Phuket.
Around 19:00 we reached our hotel. After making sure we had our hotel booking confirmed Jeed gave us her contact details and left us to get some rest. Although the hotel wasn’t directly on the beach but from the second floor we had a pleasant view of the horizon from behind the tall coconut trees that were scattered around the hotel premises. “Karon Sea Sand Resort and Spa” is 40 km from Phuket International Airport but it is less than a 15-minute drive from Patong Beach.
Should you know, Patong is the name of the most famous beach on Phuket Island. While you can find families and couples during the day, it mainly attracts party lovers during the night. With its bustling nightlife which includes literally hundreds of restaurants, beer bars, Go-Go Bars and of course night clubs, Patong can only be described as bold, crowded and loud. If you are searching to party hard, all you need to do is hit Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) at night. While Patong is known as a party zone, in contrary Karon beach, a 1-minute walk from “Karon Sea Sand Resort and Spa”, is for those searching for some peace of mind. This uncrowded beach features an incredibly long stretch of white sand and a full range of tourist facilities, dining and outdoor recreation. Karon Beach is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Phuket where beachgoers never feel crowded.
Obviously, we needed a shower and some rest. The room was spacious and it felt so comfortable that we were inclined to spend the rest of the night in bed. We resisted the temptation and we decided to discover what’s around the hotel. So, we walked to Patak road and walked the whole 3 km street back and forth and we had one of the most delicious dinner at “Red Onion Thai Restaurant”.
You might be wondering what made me describe it as the most delicious, right? If you are a seafood lover, you must try the lobster and calamari dishes. And guess what, it will only cost you around 20 USD. After a satisfying dinner we headed back to the hotel, but on our way we stumbled upon a pub (till this day I still don’t know its name) where a live band was playing some classic rock songs. For those who know me and know my taste in music, you would had guessed what happened next. We spend the whole night rocking that place while enjoying few Singha beers!
(Singha is Thailand’s most popular local beer. This pale lager beer is slightly more expensive than other local beer brands but still dirt cheap compared to the prices you’re probably used to back home)
Read more about our 7-day trip to 3 of the best island destinations in Thailand (Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Tao)
- Exploring Phuket
- Phuket Speedy Island Hopping
- Phuket Island Cruise
- Kho Samui: Simply Unforgettable
- Koh Samui and the “Treasure Island Map”
- A day Well Spent at Mu Koh Ang Thong National Park islands
- Koh Samui little sister island Kho Tao
- The True Essence of Kho Tao
- The “Risky” Journey Back Home
Checkout LawaynNext Facebook Page and Instagram for more photos. Use the Hashtag #LawaynNext for related travel posts.
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