It was November 2013 when I embarked in a journey that forever changes my view about travel. Little did I know that this will open to various opportunities for me to see beautiful places, meet wonderful locals, strangers-turned-friends, and worthwhile experiences that will hone my attitudes and characteristics as an individual.
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| James Bond Island |
Promotional seat sales offered by major airlines are a huge factor that invites us commoners to book a ticket and discover new places. So when Air Asia announced the sale promo flights from Manila to Phuket, Thailand, I did not hesitate and booked as soon as I can before the seat lasts.
I love beaches and when it comes to beaches, I have high standard requirements, like it should have a huge expanse of sugary white sand surrounded by shades of palm trees, and can accommodate plenty of activities that a slouch like me would love ^^, and by the looks of it, Phuket ticks all the list.
My friends and relatives were somehow hesitant to encourage me to continue as the memories of killer Tsunami in 2004 still linger to everyone’s head. But based on what I researched, Phuket and nearby areas in the region hit by the tsunami were all fully recovered and are now back to business for some time already.
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| A cool place to chill at Koh Phi Phi Don |
Good thing is that Filipinos are not required to have a visa when visiting Thailand and are eligible to stay for up to 30 days. Being a newcomer in international travel, I opted to book a package tour. I researched extensively from several sites and blogs because I don’t want to undergo all the hassle when you will try Do-It-Yourself (DIY) style. I found
www.toursphuketthailand.com/ from Tripadvisor, and the reviews from its customers were quite impressive.
They have various packages available and I decided to book their 4 days 3 night budget tour for only 5,300 THB or P6,890. This includes 3 night hotel accommodation in Patong Bay Inn, roundtrip airport transfers, tours with breakfast and lunch. A cheap package indeed which caters to your basic travel needs. You can also choose another hotel and type of packages for different prices. This made me realize that it is no wonder that Thailand trump its neighbors especially Philippines when it comes to attracting Tourist arrivals is concerned. They have unmatched arrays of packages that satisfies all types of travelers - from sophisticated tourists to budget travelers in a very reasonable price tag.
1st Day – Phi Phi Island Tour
A van will pick you up from your hotel and drive you for less than an hour from Phuket downtown to Rassada Pier. From there, someone will give you a tiny sticker and put it around your chest or anywhere visible from your body, this sticker will serve as your gate pass to your designated boat or yacht.
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| Boat to Phi Phi Island |
Please note that Phi Phi Islands are located in another province and not in Phuket. Another 2 hours travel time through water in order to reach Koh Phi Phi in Krabi province (Koh means island in Thai). Along the way, you may enjoy the scenic places and the cool sea breeze.
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| View from the roof deck of the boat. |
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| Tour includes snorkeling at breathtaking Maya Bay, famous for "The Beach" movie starring Leonardo di Caprio. |
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| Gate entrance in Koh Phi Phi Don, the main island. |
Lunch buffet was served In Koh Phi Phi Don, the largest island in the area. Food was okay but it’s quite Indian for my taste. Lots of restaurant and shops can be found here.
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| Look who joined our lunch... a siamese cat! lol |
2nd Day – James Bond Island Tour
From less than an hour travel time to Ao Por pier from Phuket downtown, you will transfer to a long ferry boat and proceed to Phang Nga Bay National Park for another hour travel.
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| Canoeing at Koh Panak. |
There you will witness various karst limestone formations and lagoons in Koh Panak. We were able to enjoy canoeing and appreciate the nature up close and personal.
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| 007 Island |
James Bond Island is where some scenes of Roger Moore’s James Bond action flick were shots, hence the name of the place. This tour pretty highlights our adventure trip. Definitely do not miss it.
3rd Day – Phuket City Tour
Phuket Locals City sightseeing tours - this is the best way in exploring into the daily lives of Phuket local’s residences. This is an excellent opportunity for those who are interested in witnessing the authentic lifestyle of local people and having a real taste of Phuket island.
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| Overlooking view of Phuket in Rang Hill |
This tour includes picture taking in Karon Beach (a quieter beach compared to Patong), quick stopover to feed elephants, reach the highest point in Phuket (Rang Hill), experience Thailand’s architectural prowess in Chalong Temple, shop some souvenirs in Wang Talang.
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| Chalong Temple |
Overall, Phuket is a great place to visit especially if you are on a budget. The food is terrific with lots of options to choose from and the tour packages are of great value. I only spent roughly P15,000 for 4 days 3 nights stay in Phuket. Definitely highly recommended to everyone and will be back soon. :)
If you want to know how much did I spend all in all, I provided the breakdown of my travel expenses
here.
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