I learned and experienced a lot during my first trip to Thailand! I couldn't wait to start writing about my experience in Phuket and address the elephant in the room...😁🐘
My time in Phuket started off great! I decided to settle in at one of the more popular beach towns in Phuket called Patong (about a 5o minute taxi ride from the airport). My hotel room had swim up access to the pool, centrally located off the beach and close to many restaurants and stores.
Going to visit Big Buddha is a must. The view from the top is incredible!
I set up a cooking lesson to learn to cook some typical Thai dishes. The instructor took a group of us to the local market to pick up all the foods and spices needed. Everything came out great!
If getting manicures, pedicures, or massages are your thing...you will have no shortage of options to choose from in Patong. For example...you can get a body scrub, shower, and oil massage for 2 hours for 900 baht! That adds up to $24.55 USD! You can't be those prices with a baseball bat!
Last but certainly not least, I had an amazing experience visiting the Elephant Sanctuary in Phuket. I signed up for the grand VIP experience that included private access to the elephants to pet, feed, walk, and bathe one of the elephants...a once in a life time opportunity!
Additional Note: I packed in a lot of activities during my 4 day adventure in Phuket...but the ironic thing is, there were so many things I did not get a chance to do! I didn't get a chance to take in a Muay Tai fight, do any water activities on the beach, visit the other surrounding beaches or islands, go to the Tiger Sanctuary, or take in infamous night life I heard so much about in Patong! It really wasn't an issue of time when it came down to getting out at night, but after all the running around and fun I had during the day...by the the time nightfall came I was exhausted!😂😴
Looking back at it all, I could have easily spent a week in Patong and would have been thoroughly entertained! When I started planning my trip to Southeast Asia and initially wanted to go to Bali at first, but decided Phuket was the affordable and more logical option for this itinerary. I say all of that to say, Phuket might have been my 2nd option, but it ended up being one of the best travel experiences I have ever had in my life...and certainly plan on returning again in the future!🐘✈️
