My beautiful partner and I just completed one of the most wonderful trips...and this has been to Phuket (Thailand)....mecca of nightlife. Any of you who would like to break free from routine life and would love to spend time with your partner...this is a place to go. It also sizzles up your romantic life too ;) For honeymooners...consider this place as one of the option.
My partner and I plan at least one outing once a year where we spend time away from our stressful jobs. We always wanted to visit this for a long time. This time we planned to go to Phuket at the very last minute leaving us little time to plan...but somehow everything went as we expected and we came back smiling ear to ear. For those aspiring to go there, we are detailing here as much as we can so that you guys can make note of the smallest points that are worth noting which you don't find anywhere else on the net. If you have any more questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we will be more than happy to help you out. Let us start!!
Where is Phuket?
To help you get an idea where is this tiny miny place, we have pasted a google map for your reference...see that red bubble...that's the place. It is very well connected with various places around the world and at least with nearby places like Malaysia and Singapore. If you do not have direct flights, try flying to Malaysia, Bangkok or Singapore. You will definitely find connecting BUDGET airlines from these places to take you to Phuket. Various budget airlines that can be explored are Air Asia, Tiger airways and Jet star.
Visa?
You don't have to worry about visa formalities as it is having Visa on Arrival for a small fee of 1500 Thai Bhats! (local currency).You would need to carry two passport size photographs for applying for Visa on arrival. Once you land at the airport, you will be able to spot Visa on arrival terminal. You will be required to fill up a form and paste your photograph on it. You will then submit the form along with your passport at a booth to the authorities.They will verify and grant you visa within 5 minutes. That's it! You will then proceed to immigration counter and will be done in 2 mins.
Please refer to the document to check if your country appears on the list of countries applicable for visa on arrival or not:
http://www.thaiembassy.se/minmapp/filer/pdf-pages/Visa/visaarrival11.pdf
Currency?
This place can be a little expensive depending upon the time of the year you choose to go. Peak season would typically be from Dec to April. Obviously due to heavy rush, the things tend to be expensive. Local currency used in Phuket is "Thai Bhat". Whatever amount that we are going to mention in this travelog is for the peak season, you may get lower rates during the off peak season. You need not worry about how much cash you should convert before the trip. This place has exchange counters at every nook and corner. There are ATM machines as well . We were told that you can use them to withdraw money in Thai Bhats as and when required.
Mobile phone simcard?
Once you are done with the immigration formalities, keep walking towards the exit. On the way, you will find a booth that sells free sim. Note that you will only get a sim here, you will have to "Top up" your sim for the talk time elsewhere..may be from shop near your hotels....and there are many shops where you can get this done. Try to find out some 7-Eleven shop and they will do it for you. Please note that all the cell phone numbers begin with a zero.
You want to read below posts for more:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293920-i5037-k6250768-Which_SIM_card_to_purchase_in_Phuket-Phuket.html
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293915-i3686-k6222502-Sim_Chips_Smartphones_iPhones_and_Tablets_in_Thailand-Thailand.html
Local transport?
Once you are done with your immigration, you will come out in a room where you will see private taxi operators for hotel transfer. Please do not take these ones as they tend to be expensive. Instead, come out of the airport and turn right out of the exit. You will find booths for hiring metered taxis. You can hire one of these taxis instead. These taxis may charge you anything between 700-800 bhats for hotel transfer.
Other usual means of local commuting is to find a "Tuk Tuk" which is smaller version of car/taxis and cheaper one too. Please do not hesitate to negotiate the rates. It has a capacity of seating around 6 persons. It is fun.
There are also motorbike taxis! Though we have not tried it but we saw many people using these ones.
Hotels?
We visited during New Year time and wanted to pick up a decent hotel somewhere above a budget hotel and something below a 4 or 5 star hotel. We shotlisted couple of them and finally selected Palmyra hotel near to the (in)famous Bangla road and walking distance to Patong beach. The hotel was economical enough to have spent 3-4 days and was decent one. During New Year, every hotel charged us extra 150SGD (mandatory) for New Years eve dinner..this was a complete waste :( We will post the photos that we took in Part-2 of the travelog.
Safety?
DO NOT WORRY at all. We felt that this place is safest even when we roamed early morning at 2 or 3 AM. No one ..either local or tourist would intimidate or try to harass you even at odd hours. So feel free to roam about without any fear. The people are friendly and helpful at any time during the day. So no fear...just enjoy to the fullest.
Where is Phuket?
To help you get an idea where is this tiny miny place, we have pasted a google map for your reference...see that red bubble...that's the place. It is very well connected with various places around the world and at least with nearby places like Malaysia and Singapore. If you do not have direct flights, try flying to Malaysia, Bangkok or Singapore. You will definitely find connecting BUDGET airlines from these places to take you to Phuket. Various budget airlines that can be explored are Air Asia, Tiger airways and Jet star.
Visa?
You don't have to worry about visa formalities as it is having Visa on Arrival for a small fee of 1500 Thai Bhats! (local currency).You would need to carry two passport size photographs for applying for Visa on arrival. Once you land at the airport, you will be able to spot Visa on arrival terminal. You will be required to fill up a form and paste your photograph on it. You will then submit the form along with your passport at a booth to the authorities.They will verify and grant you visa within 5 minutes. That's it! You will then proceed to immigration counter and will be done in 2 mins.
Please refer to the document to check if your country appears on the list of countries applicable for visa on arrival or not:
http://www.thaiembassy.se/minmapp/filer/pdf-pages/Visa/visaarrival11.pdf
Currency?
This place can be a little expensive depending upon the time of the year you choose to go. Peak season would typically be from Dec to April. Obviously due to heavy rush, the things tend to be expensive. Local currency used in Phuket is "Thai Bhat". Whatever amount that we are going to mention in this travelog is for the peak season, you may get lower rates during the off peak season. You need not worry about how much cash you should convert before the trip. This place has exchange counters at every nook and corner. There are ATM machines as well . We were told that you can use them to withdraw money in Thai Bhats as and when required.
Mobile phone simcard?
Once you are done with the immigration formalities, keep walking towards the exit. On the way, you will find a booth that sells free sim. Note that you will only get a sim here, you will have to "Top up" your sim for the talk time elsewhere..may be from shop near your hotels....and there are many shops where you can get this done. Try to find out some 7-Eleven shop and they will do it for you. Please note that all the cell phone numbers begin with a zero.
You want to read below posts for more:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293920-i5037-k6250768-Which_SIM_card_to_purchase_in_Phuket-Phuket.html
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293915-i3686-k6222502-Sim_Chips_Smartphones_iPhones_and_Tablets_in_Thailand-Thailand.html
Local transport?
Once you are done with your immigration, you will come out in a room where you will see private taxi operators for hotel transfer. Please do not take these ones as they tend to be expensive. Instead, come out of the airport and turn right out of the exit. You will find booths for hiring metered taxis. You can hire one of these taxis instead. These taxis may charge you anything between 700-800 bhats for hotel transfer.
Other usual means of local commuting is to find a "Tuk Tuk" which is smaller version of car/taxis and cheaper one too. Please do not hesitate to negotiate the rates. It has a capacity of seating around 6 persons. It is fun.
There are also motorbike taxis! Though we have not tried it but we saw many people using these ones.
Hotels?
We visited during New Year time and wanted to pick up a decent hotel somewhere above a budget hotel and something below a 4 or 5 star hotel. We shotlisted couple of them and finally selected Palmyra hotel near to the (in)famous Bangla road and walking distance to Patong beach. The hotel was economical enough to have spent 3-4 days and was decent one. During New Year, every hotel charged us extra 150SGD (mandatory) for New Years eve dinner..this was a complete waste :( We will post the photos that we took in Part-2 of the travelog.
Safety?
DO NOT WORRY at all. We felt that this place is safest even when we roamed early morning at 2 or 3 AM. No one ..either local or tourist would intimidate or try to harass you even at odd hours. So feel free to roam about without any fear. The people are friendly and helpful at any time during the day. So no fear...just enjoy to the fullest.
