PHUKET THAILAND
Sep 9
Travel Diary
The one thing that struck me upon arrival to Phuket, Thailand was the beautiful people. I have been to many places but Phuket has introduced me to the most welcoming of them all. Such warm smiles, so many helpful directions and just overall so willing to help in any way that they can.
WYNDHAM GRAND PHUKET
I arrived in Phuket rather late in the evening after a very long 2 days of travel from Ohio to Minneapolis to Seaul and then Thailand. Upon arriving at Wyndham Grand Phuket it’s hard to take your eyes of the beautiful architecture and the beautiful landscaping surrounding each villa. Despite the incredible surroundings, sleep was on my mind, and sleep (in the most magnificent villa ever) is what I got. Before calling it a night, I made sure to leave curtains open so I could see the turquoise light from the pool all night – it was very calming. I also knew I’d be gasping at the view as soon as we woke up in the morning since we couldn’t get a clear view since we arrived late.
The first day of our trip was all about relaxing. I had many plans for my 8 day trip. With each day starting out with a trip to the gym followed by breakfast at the hotel with a beautiful view. Breakfast was great as the hotel buffet at Latitude 98 had amazing options including the traditional Thai breakfast as well as international options. I enjoyed sitting on the terrace and just enjoying the amazing weather and beautiful view of the beach.
Breakfast was often followed by a relaxing dip in our private pool while we decided what we would be doing for the rest of our day. This became our time to just unwind and enjoy the property and all of its amenities. I tried and enjoyed everything from floating around in a pool floaty to enjoying a floating breakfast for two to an afternoon tea in the hotel’s Tabtim Cafe. It was truly an experience like none other. My incredible vacation in Phuket would without a doubt not be possible without my amazing stay at Wyndham Grand Phuket.
Among the attractions near by this stunning resort are Patong Beach, Elephant Sanctuary, Tiger Kingdom and Jungcelong Shopping Mall as well as many many restaurant options.
Phi Phi Islands Day Trip
I’ve heard a lot of amazing things about Phi Phi island so naturally, I wanted to see it for myself. We booked our day trip with Vitamin Sea Tours through our hotel and I’m so glad we did as we had such a fantastic experience. Our guide Milan was so much fun to listen to as he put such a funny spin on all of his storytelling during our journey to Phi Phi island.
We were picked up at 9am at our hotel and driven for about 40 minutes to the Marina where the boat would leave. There was a group of 10 of us which was nice and intimate and we were on a rather luxurious speed boat. The day trip to Phi Phi island lasts about 8 hours. During this 8 hour experience, we did the following:
Relaxed and Snorkeled on Bamboo Island
Sightseeing wild monkeys on Monkey Beach.
Enjoyed international Buffet lunch on Phi Phi Island
Discovered viking cave and swam in emerald waters of Pileh Lagoon surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs.
Visited the famous Maya Bay where “The Beach” movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed.
One thing that we did think of doing while on Phi Phi Island that we unfortunately didn’t get to do was spending the night on the island. There are a lot of beautiful hotels on the island but we unfortunately didn’t find this out until we got there and by then we couldn’t find vacancy where we wanted to stay. If you have a little bit of extra time and money while in Phuket it’s definitely worthwhile. Not only is it nice to get out of busy and bustling Phuket, but it’s also wonderful to experience parts of this world that are still relatively untouched and pristine.
James Island Day Trip
The James Bond Island tour includes a cruise through Phang Nga Bay – about 25 kilometers north-east of Phuket. Admire stunningly beautiful rocky cliffs rising dramatically out of the sea. As the second-most popular tour experience in PHuket, the day trip experience was very similar to the Phi Phi day trip in so many ways and also just as breathtaking. During this 8 hour day trip which was also provided by Vitamin Sea Tours, you will stop and take part in:
Relaxed on Khai Island with snorkeling session
Scenic sea canoeing trip at Hong Island
Enjoying buffet lunch on the Muslim island of Koh Panyee Island
Sightseeing at James Bond Island
Discovering the fauna & flora at Panak Island Mangrove/Joan’s Cave Tour
Sunbathed at Pair Island
Fun fact, we almost got left behind in Koh Panyee (Muslim Island) becasue we ventured off and lost track of time while shopping lol! It was so much fun walking around in this maze like floating island which consisted of shops and very intricate homes. On the bright side, I managed to pick up gifts for all 6 people on my list…which was awesome.
Overall, my trip to Phuket was a DREAM. I couldn’t have picked a better place to celebrate my 7 year wedding anniversary. It had the perfect mix of every memorable vacation I’ve ever been on. Beautiful beaches, amazing food, ample amount of relaxation and some really memorable nightlife experiences.
SHOP THE POST
My Travel Essentials in Phuket:
Sunscreen
Swimsuit
Waterproof phone cover
My Insider Travel Tips:
Skip the taxi and jump in a tuk tuk…it’s often cheaper and gets to your destination faster.
Opt for street food when possible. You will be surprised at the amazing/fresh options.
Coconuts are a great way to stay hydrated throughout the day.
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