Phuket: Southern Thailand Island Hopping begins!

After one week in Cambodia (Phnom Penh and Siem Reap), we headed back to Thailand - simply because we can’t get enough! We were eager to explore the country's southern "island" paradise, which is arguably the main reason millions of travellers flock here every year.

Our plan: Three nights each in Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Krabi.

First Stop: Phuket

Arriving at Phuket International Airport, we were greeted by a massive queue at immigration. It took over an hour to clear—a surprisingly inefficient system compared to the automated gates we saw in Siem Reap! For such a world-class destination, the entry process was definitely a bit of a hassle.

Once we finally survived and made it to the arrivals, we met up with Matt’s best friend, Olly - joining us for this leg of the trip for few days. Since our flights landed around the same time, we shared a Grab taxi to our hotel. After an hour of battling Phuket’s infamous traffic, we finally reached our home base: Kata Beach.

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island—roughly the size of Singapore—and is connected to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge. It’s a land of contrasts:

• Patong: The wild, neon-lit heart of the island, famous for its nightlife.

• Old Phuket Town: Known for its colorful Sino-Portuguese architecture and trendy cafes.

• Kata Beach: Our choice! We picked Kata because it's significantly quieter than Patong and with a loooong soft white sand beaches. That's my vibe lol

  
  

By the time we dropped our bags, it was nearly 9:30 PM. We were starving, so we headed straight for the best place to find food at that hour: Kata Night Market. There is truly no better "welcome back" to Thailand than Pad Thai &beer (i.e. our new comfort food)

As you can imagine, the first day in Phuket was all about the "chill on the beach" —the exact part of this sabbatical I’ve been waiting for. We spent the day lounging at Kata Beach. It’s incredibly family-friendly and cozy, though the water is surprisingly shallow; you practically have to walk half a km out just to get deep enough to swim!

After a quick break at a coffee shop to catch up with the blog (my new WFH habit) —we hopped over to the nearby Kata Noi Beach. It turned out to be the ultimate sunset spot. We did exactly what we had to do: grabbed drinks from a beach cafe and watched the horizon turn gold. It was the perfect golden hour—a far cry from the gray skies of London! I could honestly do this forever.

On a side note, I’m not a massive beer drinker (partly due to a mild yeast intolerance), and wine is usually my go-to booze. However, if you’re traveling on a budget like me, Asia can be a reality check for wine drinkers! Because of high import taxes, a decent glass can be really expensive. So instead, I’ve started opting for a small, light beer on these occasions—unless the cocktail prices aren't too crazy. Singha and Chang (mostly light lagers) have been my favorites so far. They’re crisp, refreshing, and much kinder to the wallet!

After sunset, we headed back to get ready for a big night out! Having our friend with us was the perfect nudge; usually, as a couple, we can’t be bothered with late-night clubbing, but "when in Phuket," right?

We took a taxi to Patong Beach, the island’s party hub. It was a 40-minute taxi ride from Kata on an early evening rush hour traffic. We started with dinner at a local spot, sharing a Thai-style garlic and pepper crispy fish and a grilled whole fish. The seafood in Southern Thailand is on another level!

Next, we made the "compulsory" pilgrimage to Bangla Road. It was pure madness: neon lights, packed crowds, and people shouting while thrusting leaflets for "adult shows" into our faces. To soak it all in without being stepped on, we found a terrace bar to watch the chaos from above.

After some very millennial "due diligence"—scanning reviews and comparing Google ratings to make sure we didn't get scammed—we had our "When in Patong" moment and headed into a strip club 'Suzy Wong’s', apparently is one of the most famous spots. Entry is free as long as you buy a drink, so, being the "cheapies" we are, we ordered the most affordable beers on the menu. After spending about 20 mins tucked in a corner, sipping our drinks and watching the scene (you can probably guess what it's like), we got kicked out once our drinks are finished - then we left Bangla Road without a second thought!

It was almost 1:30 am by that time (waaaaay past my usual bedtime)... but then, something magical happened! As we walked toward the coast, we heard a DJ playing Tarkan (the iconic Turkish singer and my absolute favorite!). I immediately dragged the group onto the sand to join the party. Dancing on the sand to the best Turkish songs?! Highlight of Patong to me!

After a bit more wandering and one last drink, we finally called it a night. By the time we hit our beds back in Kata, it was 3:00 AM... a true sabbatical success! Our first big night out was officially—and successfully—completed.

Our final day in Phuket started—expectedly—a little late. After a much-needed hangover brunch and a final quick dip at Kata Beach, we decided to visit Phuket Old Town and headed out early (~5pm) to beat the notorious traffic and it was worth it. Old Town has a completely different soul compared to the beach hubs. It's architecture, pastel-colored shophouses, and vibrant murals are incredibly charming. Walking through the "artistry" streets just before sunset was the perfect way to watch the light change over the historic buildings.

For dinner, we found a Michelin-starred gem and had one of the best meals of the trip: coconut curry with crab and rice noodles.. After dinner, we wandered around looking for a spot for a nightcap, but weirdly, every single bar was closed. It felt like a ghost town—very strange for the heart of Phuket! So we decided to head back to Kata, hoping our local haunts would be open. We found a rooftop restaurant and were just about to order when the waitress delivered the news: no alcohol allowed. As it turns out, we had hit a country-wide ban due to the national elections that weekend! It all clicked—the closed bars in Old Town weren't a mystery; they were just following the law. We were officially unlucky. Still, we made the most of it with some tea mocktails and toasted to our final night on the island!

Next stop: Koh Phi Phi!

Wrapping up Phuket:

Local recommendations:

• Breakfast or Lunch: Lalanta Cafe, Mun Prao's Restaurant (breakfast buffet)

• Dinner: Siam Thai Restaurant, Raya, Kata Walking Street Night Market

• Coffee: Surf Step, Aram Coffee

• Drinks: Sunlique Gastrobar

• Hotel: Kata Inn Guesthouse (Poshtel)