Why We Loved Phuket (inc. PADI course) – Adventures Across Borders

Why we loved Phuket!

(inc. PADI course)

Summary

When most people think about Thailand, they either think of Bangkok, Chang Mai, Chiang Rai, or Phuket. Some people say to skip it; it’s too touristy, or only if you enjoy the nightlife. Of course, others highly recommend it. We started out on a backpacking trip in Phuket and spent 7 nights there (including a 3-day PADI scuba diving course) and are glad we did so.

Quick Read...

If you would prefer to read a shortened version of this blog, which is a general itinerary plan on how you can spend 7 days in Phuket, click below!

Go To Itinerary Post ➜

However, if you are looking into different activities and want more information, then keep reading.

Itinerary Overview

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Planning Cheat Sheet

Do your PADI course in Phuket

Do not solely rely on 12GO

Taxi Apps

Full Itinerary of Phuket

Day 1 - Airport ➜ Hotel

Day 1: The flight arrived at Phuket International Airport (HKT) at 10am. We then followed the sign to the bus terminal. On the way, we passed a shop and bought a can of Pringles for 90 baht; at the time, we thought that was decent compared to UK prices. A few days later we bought a can for 30 baht in a Lotus shop, and we got told to stop comparing prices to back home and compare to how much in THB – this comes naturally after being there for a week. When we arrived at the bus terminal, the next one for us was at 11am, so we only had to wait around 15 minutes. The bus cost us 100 baht each and took us all the way to Rawai Beach. From there, we had to get a Grab to Nai Harn, where we stayed. We got to the hotel at 3pm. As soon as we went into the room, the air conditioning was already on, so we threw our bags on the floor and sprawled out on the bed after travelling for 24 hours by that point. After we settled, we got our swimwear on and had a walk down to the beach and went for a quick swim. Then we went back to the room, showered, went out for some food, and then got some rest! We spent a total of £70, including the £13 for the hotel.

Day 2 - Big Buddha Hike

Day 2: Got a mixed fruit platter from a stall by the beach for 100 baht; it was surprisingly filling, and then got a Grab for 207 baht to the start of the Big Buddha Trail around 10am. The roads on the way there were very up and down; it’s like a rollercoaster! 5 minutes into the hike, we were already sweating. It just got steeper and steeper. You can either get a taxi all the way up, walk via the road (which takes longer), or cut through the jungle. We took the jungle route; it took about an hour total walking time. Through the jungle, we didn’t see any monkeys or snakes; we saw 2 lizards and lots of butterflies. This was our experience; you may encounter them yourself, so be cautious, as the monkeys can bite. We did, however, see a monkey when we reached the Big Buddha.
We hiked for 44 minutes and stopped at the Rabbit Cafe, which was absolutely necessary. We had never sweat so much in our lives; we were literally dripping. The hike is NOT for the weak. At the cafe we had an iced coffee and an iced peach tea. This cost us a total of 140 baht; we also got some free little biscuits each. The cafe did actually have rabbits, you could feed them or take photos for 100 baht (if I remember the price correctly). We opted not to; we only said hi.

When you reach the Big Buddha, you must cover up your shoulders and knees; however, if you forget, they do have a stall where they lend you a sarong, and you can return it when you leave. There are a few things to see at the top, including a viewpoint and a monk blessing, which you can participate in for 100 baht. The Big Buddha is definitely worth visiting if you are able to; we are glad we went. We did not want to do the walk back down, though, especially with having no lunch yet. So on our way back down the road, around 10 minutes from the Big Buddha, we stopped in a cafe for some food, which cost us 340 baht, including drinks. We then ordered a Grab back to our hotel for 262 baht. From the hotel shop we bought some water for 45 baht, and we went out for dinner for 330 baht. We both had noodle soup, no drinks. In total, it worked out as £36, plus £13 for hotel.

Day 3 - PADI 1

Day 3: Day 1 of our PADI course. We have a separate blog about the course, so I will not go into detail here. But we did our course with AQUA ONE Dive. We highly recommend this company for diving!
We did our confined dives in a local pool in Rawai. On the way to the pool we stopped to get some snacks and mineral water, which cost 291 baht. We also got some electrolyte sachets from the pharmacy, which is necessary considering how hot it is and exercising, but they only cost 10 baht per sachet, and we bought 10. Lunch at the pool was quite nice; it cost 240 baht for 2x shrimp fried rice.
The diving took up the majority of the day, so when we went back to the hotel, we showered and went out to a local restaurant for some food. We got 2 portions of pasta and no drinks. This cost us 345 baht.

Day 4 - PADI 2, 7/11, Mosquitos

Day 4: Also a diving day, breakfast and lunch were included in our dive trip, but we bought a Pepsi for 16 baht for some sugar. Got back around dinner time, but we were so tired from the diving! Therefore, we opted to take a 10-minute walk to 7-Eleven. They have seats in there, and microwaves to heat up the meal you choose! We also decided to get a pot noodle each for tomorrow, as we knew we would be too tired again. This all cost 179 baht, and it was actually really nice. We had 1 Korean-style chicken and rice and 1 creamy shrimp spaghetti. On the way back to the hotel, we went to the pharmacy for a bite cream; the mosquitos in Thailand are NOT the same as the ones in Europe. I never really get bitten in Europe, but I’ve been eaten alive here. The cream was 65 baht.

Day 5 - PADI 3

Day 5: Final dive course day. Again, breakfast and lunch were included. We also had already bought dinner, so no money on food for this day! Didn’t do anything else special either. In the evening, we browsed hotels for Phuket Town and transport, as we would be leaving in the morning. We booked a private hostel room with a shared bathroom at RYB Hostel via Booking.com. This cost £27 for 2 nights. We decided to get the Blue Songthaew bus that goes straight from Nai Harn to Phuket Town (which didn’t go to plan – more info on Day 6).

Day 6 - Nai Harn ➜ Phuket Town, Sunday Market

Day 6: We went to the same fruit stall as day 2 but this time requested a tub of mango and a tub of mixed watermelon and guava. This cost 220 baht; we did not realise how much fruit it would be. I swear there were at least 3 mangos. We couldn’t finish it. Then we headed to the “bus stop” to find out that there are no set bus stops. How are you supposed to find the bus? We asked two locals, and they pointed down the road; it could’ve meant right there or 10 minutes down the road. So we waited, and waited. No bus showed; we waited for an hour, and the bus was supposed to be every 30 minutes. So, we decided to get a Grab; it only cost 294 baht, and the bus would’ve cost 100/150 each, so not a massive difference. As the taxi arrived, we noticed the bus (which was actually a truck – the famous songthaew, we soon learned) parked next to us in a car park, waiting for someone to ask. The driver was napping in the back. Next time, we will open our eyes a bit more!
We arrived in Phuket Town around 12pm, and check-in wasn’t until 2pm, but we made our way to the hostel anyway, and we were allowed to check in early, free of charge, as it was not busy. We chilled for an hour in the air conditioning and then got some lunch from 7-Eleven for 110 baht. We arrived on a Sunday, and the Walking Street Night Market is open from 4pm every Sunday. So, we tried to kill some time before we could go, but I was absolutely dying for the toilet, so we had to suck it up and pay the price for an expensive drink so we could use the bathroom. Honestly, good decision. We went to Cafe Delight; the staff were so friendly, and the drinks were very nice. I wanted the Thai tea, but it was sold out, so I got a vanilla frappe without coffee, with caramel syrup, and Lydia got an iced latte. This cost 263 for both.
The market was nice, mostly food stalls, but it was very busy and very hot. We were there for about an hour; we spent 240 for two cheese quesadillas (because we were too scared of food poisoning to try the meat). From the market, we got, 3 handkerchiefs for 100 baht (which we though were bandanas, but unfortunately they’re too small); a small claw clip with shells and starfish (not real of course) glued on, for 80 baht, it is really pretty; and some lychee tea for 50 baht which was so nice and refreshing.
We also decided to buy a swim top and shorts each because the wetsuits for diving were not at all enjoyable to put on and off. The water was 31 degrees Celsius anyway, so you don’t really need one.

Day 7 - Phi Phi Islands

Day 7: We booked on a dive trip to Phi Phi. We found out that some of the dive sites they only do from Phuket anyway, so we changed our plans of staying on the Phi Phi Islands and doing it as a day trip diving. We’re not party people, so it didn’t really bother us, and Maya Bay is protected; you can’t eat, drink, or even swim in the water there. On a boat, you can stop at Maya Bay and do all of the above, so for us new divers, it was a no-brainer for us. The trip cost 4,500 baht each, which sounds expensive, as it is around £110 each. However, that included 3 meals, unlimited drinks and snacks, 3 separate dives which are 50 minutes each, a dive master, the boat trip, and hiring all your scuba gear. When you put it like that, it’s really not that bad, and it really is a stunning part of the world, let me tell you; do not pass up the opportunity to see it. Whether you stay there or visit on a boat, it’s definitely worth your time (in my and many others’ opinions). There is a national park fee of 600 baht per person (not included in any trip usually), but it is a protected area, and it goes to the maintenance of the national park. During our visit, there was a blacktip reef shark nursery at Maya Bay, which you obviously cannot go in. The money goes to things like that, so although £15pp seems quite steep for Thailand, it’s for a good cause. And on the boat, we met some great people from all over the world; it was an amazing day. Our dive sites were Shark Bay (Koh Bida Nok), Shark Point, and Turtle Rock. We saw blacktip reef sharks, lobsters, turtles, snakes, lionfish, barracuda, and so much more. I would easily give it 10/10.
We did spend 203 baht for a taxi to the pier and 210 to get back. We wanted to get the public bus, but they stop at 6pm, and we got back to the pier at 6:30pm. And the bus wouldn’t have gotten us there in time in the morning. On the way back we got some flavoured bread for breakfast in the morning, which cost 37 baht.

Day 8 - Mini Van, Stomach Bug...

Day 8: Transport day! This was the day that we left Phuket. We had to wake up at 5am, as the minivan left the bus terminal at 06:40am. This was our first time getting a minivan booked via 12Go. The app said we must arrive 30 minutes early, as the van can leave up to 30 mins before the scheduled departure time. We were only a 12-minute walk, but with our bags, it felt like a lot longer. We got to the bus station at 06:15am, ate the bread, and waited. The driver was there the whole time but did not turn the car on until the set departure time, and we were the only ones that early. We booked one minivan to Phang Nga and one from Phang Nga to Khao Sok, which was our next destination. I am very glad we got 2, because 30 minutes into the first ride, I got extremely sick… I do not get travel sick and have never thrown up in a car before. I either ate something, or it was just my body getting used to the bacteria. Whatever it was, it was NOT nice.

That was all we did in Phuket; even if we didn’t do the dive course, we still would’ve enjoyed our time in Phuket. The beaches were crystal clear, the people were friendly, and where we stayed in Nai Harn was not busy at all, and it was like a ghost town at night. We prefer the quieter places, so it worked out well for us. Phuket Town was definitely more lively, with lots of bars and people around, so if you’re into that kind of thing, then definitely go there.

Transport

We mostly used Grab to get around, as in Nai Harn, the public buses are limited until you get to Rawai and further. You can choose to pay for the fare in cash with the driver. There is a Blue Songthaew bus that goes straight from Nai Harn to Phuket town. These are more difficult to navigate, as they do not have set stops. You flag down the moving truck on its usual route. However, in low season and in more of the quiet areas, their schedule is not very frequent, and not many people use them as public transport, so you will most likely get charged taxi prices.

For the longer transfers, I looked on 12Go first but it was showing no routes available. So I put in the same locations onto Rome2Rio, and it came up with the option to get the bus to Phang Nga and change for another bus to Khao Sok. So, I returned to the 12Go app and searched for the journeys separately. This time it showed, but you can book multiple journeys in one payment, so I booked both together.
Later we found out there was a direct bus to Khao Sok from the side of a public bus. Not all the information you need is on Google like you think nowadays! Sometimes you’re better off booking it at the bus station and asking locals.

There is a public bus that runs hourly from the airport. There are a few different routes, including Rawai, Phuket Town, Kata, Karon, etc. A standard ticket is 170 baht in high season and 100 in low season. This bus can also be used to get around Phuket.

Accomodation

We stayed at On the Rock Resort, which cost £65 for 5 nights – private room, private bathroom, sea view. I call that a bargain.

We booked this via Booking.com. The hotel is situated a 5-minute walk from Nai Harn Beach; you get a private mini bungalow (a room with a bed in it) with a private bathroom. Each room comes with A/C and a fridge. It is the more budget option to The Nai Harn next door, but it is definitely enough. The Nai Harn is a luxury 5-star hotel, costing over £100 per night.

Nai Harn is the perfect area to escape from the crowds and enjoy a stunning beach whilst still being close enough to enjoy all the fun activities in Phuket.

For Phuket Town:

We booked a private hostel room, with shared bathroom at RYB Hostel via Booking.com. This cost £27 for 2 nights. The room included 2 twin beds and A/C. When we went in April, it was very empty so it was basically a private bathroom. There were 2 showers and 3 toilet cubicles, along with 2 sinks. Body soap and shampoo were provided in the showers for free; a shared kitchen area is also available. There is also a resident cat, but don’t worry, he is not allowed in the areas with bedrooms!

Food

We like to eat in places that are really close to where we are staying. So these options may only be suitable if you are staying in Nai Harn.

Breakfast: Whilst in Nai Harn, we got fruit every day from a stall directly opposite the beach. It was the first stall on the left. I don’t remember the name, unfortunately. In Phuket town, we literally got some bread from 7/11, and that was all. On Phi Phi day we had breakfast included on the boat.

Lunch: Either 7/11, included on the dive boat, or a cafe on the premises of the activity we were doing that day. We didn’t go anywhere specific.

Dinner: Every day in Nai Harn, we ate on the same street opposite the beach and tried the different restaurants. There were only 3 to choose from, and they all had good food.

We ate at Mama Seafood and Jasmine Restaurant and spent no more than 350 baht for 2 people.

In Phuket Town, we got 2 cheese quesadillas from the Sunday Market for 240 baht, but there were so many food stalls to choose from. Some are cheaper, some are more expensive, but all are reasonable.

Final Thoughts

After staying on Phuket, Koh Samui and Koh Tao, our favourite was definitely Phuket. Koh Samui was nice, but the beaches weren’t as impressive as Phuket. Koh Tao has stunning beaches, but it was too busy for us. It is a very small island, and during our visit it felt quite crowded due to the number of tourists.

Maybe we have a biased opinion because Phuket was our very first experience of Thailand, but the south of the island is very peaceful, clean, and there are lots of activity options. We visited in April, so it was a lot quieter, as it’s not peak tourist season.

Thank you for reading! I hope this helps plan your trip of a lifetime.