Phuket

Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations is also the ideal luxury holiday destination, what more could you ask for than a tropical beach, azure waters teeming with fish and colourful corals, a private villa with your own private pool and amazing cuisine? Known as the “Pearl of the Andaman”, Phuket is a beach holiday destination where you can enjoy the five-star treatment for a fraction of European prices. From fine-dining to five-star resorts, indulgent spa treatments will ensure that you feel pampered and cared during your stay. Phuket also has fascinating culture which stemmed from being a port situated on the trade routes between India and China, and Chinese influence can be found in the many historic buildings of the city centre. There is also a nearby jungle which once was inhabited by tribes until coal mining forced them to relocate. Phuket continues to have  indigenous sea gypsies…

These days Phuket is so full of tourists; there are markets and shops everywhere! There is certainly no shortage of places to go shopping in Phuket.  With it being Thailand, you are able to get a great bargain like a t-shirt for 100 baht ($3 AUD). Most of the markets are evening markets as it is far too hot to be out during the day, plus most tourists are on day tours or sitting by the pool or beach during the day sipping cocktails.. You can check out our guide on Where to Stay in Phuket here Plan your trip to Thailand Need data for your trip to France? We use Tep Wireless which offers unlimited data for $8 per day. Travelling King readers can get 10% off using the discount code TRAVELLINGKING on check out. Want to learn how to travel on a Budget? Check out our dedicated “Budget Conscious…

Phuket is a province situated in Southern Thailand and is also the gateway to the Andaman islands, Koh Phi Phi, Similan Islands, Koh Lipe and Koh Lanta are just a boat ride away. The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is a popular tourist destination for beach lovers as it boasts over 36 beaches, the name “Phuket” means “mountain jewel” in Thai because 70% of the island is covered by mountains. Getting to Phuket is easy as there are regular flights from Bangkok; alternative methods of transportation include minivan and bus for those on a tight budget. Being on the tourist trail you will find that many people speak English and that travelling in Thailand is generally very safe, also for female travellers. The thing to be most aware of is of being pickpocketed and buses and touristy areas are prime areas to be wary and vigilant. Tourists typically head to…

The first thing I noticed in Patong was the smell, Oh my goodness! We had clearly been blessed with fresh air in Rawai (where our hotel was based). Patong is the smelliest place I have ever been too! But don't worry you do get used to it fairly quickly along with the other "interesting things" around patong, lets take a look below: Plan your trip to Thailand Need data for your trip to France? We use Tep Wireless which offers unlimited data for $8 per day. Travelling King readers can get 10% off using the discount code TRAVELLINGKING on check out. Want to learn how to travel on a Budget? Check out our dedicated “Budget Conscious Travel Guide” Read more on Thailand:  Phuket or Krabi – Choosing the Perfect Destination for your Thailand Trip 9 Things You Must Do in Thailand Loy Krathong Festival Our top 10 hot tips on how…

Phuket is an awesome destination to visit as it allows you to take a few quick day trips to near by island like Phi Phi Island, located on the Western Andaman Sea coast. We booked through Viator website on their Phi Phi Island tour  (the reviews we read were fairly good!).  Phi Phi Island was made famous as the beach was used for "The Beach" movie which was filmed at the now very famous Maya Beach. The speed boat hopped onto had a total of 675 horsepower engines (3 x 225 horsepower engines), so we got over to Phi Phi Island fairly quickly. We were lucky, it was nice a sunny day and the ocean wasn't too rough. It took about 45-50mins to get to Phi Phi from Phuket (i cant remember the name of the port/jetty we left from) Plan your trip to Thailand Need data for your trip to France? We use Tep…

With more than 30 glorious beaches fringing its borders, Phuket is almost synonymous with a life of sun, sand and sea – a reason why the island is flocked by beach loving couples. Whether you want to sunbathe in isolation, pack a picnic, swim in crystal clear waters, witness stunning corals, pamper yourself with a beach massage or just escape the crowds, here are 9 of the best beaches in Phuket for couples. Plan your trip to Thailand Need data for your trip to France? We use Tep Wireless which offers unlimited data for $8 per day. Travelling King readers can get 10% off using the discount code TRAVELLINGKING on check out. Want to learn how to travel on a Budget? Check out our dedicated “Budget Conscious Travel Guide” Read more on Thailand: Things to do in Phuket– The Ultimate Guide for First Time Visitors Private Pool Villas in Phuket…

Loy Krathong is my one of my favourite festivals in Thailand (other than Songkran! The water massive fight festival, That I am yet to experience.. one day.. one day…). Loy Krathong is held every year on the night of the 12th lunar month (usually the end of November). Loy/Loi means 'to float', while krathong usually refers to the lotus-shaped container which floats on the water. A krathong is decorated with folded banana leaves, incense sticks, and a candle. We were told that if we put a stand of Hair or a clipping of your nail or a coin in with the Loy Krathong it will take away the negative or bad things in your life. Plan your trip to Thailand Need data for your trip to France? We use Tep Wireless which offers unlimited data for $8 per day. Travelling King readers can get 10% off using the discount code…

Haggling, bartering, bargaining call it whatever you want but it is a way of life in Thailand, the first rule of bartering is: never accept the first price you are offered, unless you are shopping in a shopping centre or store with clearly marked fixed prices. The same rules for bartering in Thailand will also work for barting in Bali as the market scene is very similar., keep these tips for haggling in mind and you will do fine! Now days we often get emails from fans and friends and family asking a lot of how to questions such as: How to barter in Thailand? How to haggle in Thailand? How to bargain in Thailand? How we do we get the best Phuket Tailor prices? How do we get the best price at the markets compared to the fixed priced shops? How do we know if we are getting taken for…