Phuket Review 4D3N 29th Oct- 1st Nov 2006

Travelled with Sunny Holiday Tour Agent - http://www.sunnyholidays.com.sg/

Pls note that u may not find the package online, so do pop by their branch in Bugis Junction.

4 Days 3 nights (added 1 more night from standard package of 3 days 2 night) - $574.00
(Just the pkg with airport tax and fuel surcharges inclusive)


The plane landed in Phuket airport , the only airport in Phuket for commercialized planes like silkair. Ride from the airport to resort is about 1 hour. But becos there's a half day phuket town tour, and depending on whether u spend time buying stuffs or taking the animal rides/shows during the tour, u will only reach the resort at around 1-2pm or even later.



Resort/ Tour Package include :

1) Airport Pickup to and back to resort (1st day and last day)
2) Half Day Phuket town Tour (Tour guide and driver inclusive- covering their local produce like silver, food items, wood, temple tour, elephant rides/shows)

Note: Animal shows/ rides are optional- not free

3)Welcome drinks and cold Towel (very thoughtful as weather is hot- After half day tour in Phuket town)
4)Daily Buffet Breakfast (good spread of mixture of western and Thai food)


Phuket- Patong Beach

If it’s ur first time there, do stay in Patong beach where most activities like pubs, supermarkets, pasar malams are based. Unless U want to stay Banyan Tree that area (cannot remember the beach’s name) that I find it more ulu and thus u need a transport to travel out especially for cheaper tour agencies and food.

Patong Beach has got v clear waters that u can see little schools of fishes and palm-sized crabs dancing in the water. Sand is white, soft and powdery unlike Krabi (just see my review on Krabi) .


Sun Bathing on Patong Beach

Cost 50 (off peak) -100 (peak) baht per chair for as long as u like! Remeber to bring your beach towel to cover the chair before u lie down.


Jet Ski-ing on Patong Beach

Half hour at 700baht for one person on one jet ski (some may qoute u 1000 baht, pls remember to bargain)

Half hour at 1000 baht for 2 person on one jet ski


Banthai Resort and Spa – Highly recommended for couples and close friends

Stayed there for 4 days 3 nights. Got the room with Pool access and Jacuzzi. The Jacuzzi (for 2 person) is a personal one cos the switch to turn on is just outside the room and v v private.

We were given a welcome drink (something like rose water-sweet) and a cold towel which I tot was really nice. Staff were mostly friendly and approachable.

Room is v well furnished and comfortable. You get toothbrush, toothpaste, sewing kit, cotton buds, washing detergent, shower caps, face towels, towels, kimono, beach/pool towels, free slippers (u can bring home), conditioner shampoo, bath foam and Soap.

Room were presented to us with flowers/leaves romatically arranged on the bed and the bathtub filled with red rose petals…

Every night when we were away, a “good night” tag with an orchid are placed on our pillows to make us feel at home. Very thoughtful.

Location of this resort is v v convenient to watsons, starbucks, macs, subway, central ocean shopping mall, and most importantly the beach is just across the road. This resort is also conveniently located near many restaurants and pubs.

One thing to note is that remember to choose rooms that are away from the main entrance as it can get a little noisier at night with all the bands playing outside at the pubs especially “The Port” (a pub that belongs to Banthai with great band- songs played and sung are really good)














Spa at Baan Laimai Spa

We find Banthai Spa rather expensive so we visited the Baan Laimai Spa (open from 9am - 9pm) just down the road (1min walk – quite hidden away , next to a place with lotsa paintings, u won’t miss it as it is huge) towards starbucks along Patong beach. Most spas have happy hour charges between 10am to 2pm. Charges are about 30-40% lower than usual. This spa provides packages (2 hours) that are only 1550 baht during happy hours ( Usual price is about 1950 baht) . V reasonable. They even allow u to use couple room if needed. In the couple room that I used, there was a private sauna and a Jacuzzi (a bath tub for couple use). Spa Therapists were experienced and approachable (Pls note that their English is limited so u have got to be clear to ask for what u need e.g softer, harder, how long, what to do … etc)

We were given a choice of 3 packages. Relaxation Pkg, Rejuvenating Pkg, Detoxifying pkg. All packages includes Sauna (15mins), Jacuzzi (30mins) and massage (choose from any 3, Swedish (Medium), Aromatherapy (soft), or Sports massage (hard) . The massage maybe different and u can mix and choose which one u like from the 3.

While in the sauna they provide a glass of cold water and cold peppermint towel which I thought it was refreshing. And at the end of the treatments, they give u a glass of warm ginger tea. Overall I give this spa and their services 8/10.

Given 4 days to spare, Day 1 city tour consists of their island’s produce like cashew nuts, pork floss rolls, durian chips, tapioca chips, seasoned seafood like prawns, baby crabs, pearls, etc. I did not buy any thing as I thought it was rather expensive. In fact it was true as it was much cheaper in the Central Festival Phuket – “The market place” Supermarket (Central Plaza Phuket is a 30 mins ride at 300 baht via tut tuk-ang mo likes it /taxi – prefers this one, somewhere in the phuket town), or even Central Ocean Supermarket.










Tours- Phi Phi Island Hopping- Simon Cabaret show

Phi Phi Island tour at 1000baht per pax. Simon cabaret at 550baht (VIP seats are closer to stage at 550baht (fr 600), Normal seats at 500Baht which I thought it’s actually not too far back and the advantage is that U get to see them close up or even get kissed on VIP seats!). Booked both tours from tour agency just outside of resort. Turn left into a street after the ZEN restaurant. It’s located on the right hand side of the street and shares a shop front with a watch shop. This shop is manned by a local lady (I find that she looked more like an Indian as she’s rather tanned- she speaks rather good English though) . Try to bargain. As a guide a full day tour shouldn’t cost more than 1000baht, half day should be more than 700-800baht (it’s not half price for half day, mind u) .All tours are inclusive of hotel pickups and back




Phi Phi Island-snorkeling

Remember to wear a pair of slippers, wear ur swim suit/trunk inside, have your beach towel to dry yourself after a snorkel. Also u may want to bring a sarong along to keep yourself wrapped in between snorkeling trips and lunch. Be ready to get really wet.

A mini passenger picked us up from Banthai Resort and joined others at about 815am. Headed straight to the boat terminal where the speed boat is waiting. There are many many other tourists there. About 30 ppl went up to boat.


There were 2 snorkeling spots. The boat will stop somewhere near Phi Phi Island called Koh Phi Phi Don (many fishes, some corals, v clear greenish bluish water). And on another island called Khai Nai Island.

At the spot around Phi Phi Island (Koh Phi Phi Don) somewhere near a cliff (after the viking cave visit - u can find bird nest there), the boat will stop and let u go down (about 5 metres deep). It’s actually v v safe as there are so many ppl doing snorkeling there. If u cannot swim well like me (I am only a beginner swimmer), Pls go down with ur life jacket at all times. Any snorkeling trips with life jacket is relatively safe as it keeps ur head up above the water and also keeps ur body floating while u look down at fishes or corals on the surface. Not much kicking to get around cos the place is small. I had approx an hour’s of fun there. Really nice.. lot of fishes like e colorful parrot fishes and some mushroom shaped corals.

The last stop as I had mentioned before was Khai Nai Island. It’s just a small island. Takes u about 5 mins to walk round the island. There are so many diving spots around it (very shallow). U can see sea urchins (be careful not to go near them) and many other fishes. These fishes even come really ear the shoreline that u do not even need to go down that deep. The depth that u can see them is about half way up my shin.. sometimes they would just nibble at ur skin if u keep really still (just be careful of the parrot fish as they will give a nasty bite!).












More Pics:


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Snorkeling equipments

Before u actually board the boat, they will actually ask u if u needed to rent fins (‘flippers’) for ur feet that cost about less than 300baht (sorry cannot remember exact price- but price is pretty standard. I didn’t opt for the fins cos I do not need speed and depth as I am just a beginner .. hahah .. but true enough, there was no need for fins during the snorkeling trips.

The equipments they provide are quite new compared to the ones I used in Bali. The only disadvantage is that they do not provide masks with corrective lenses for short sighted ppl like me  . Going to buy one when I am home. In fact at home it will only cost me about $100 to make one really good one. A quick note that if u are thinking of getting one here. always get 50 degrees lower. So if u are a 450, get a 400 will be good enough.

Something to add to the snorkeling trip:

There were free flow of drinks, biscuits and fruits in betweens. Really have to go even if u are only a beginner swimmer cos u just need to 'float' with ur life jacket. If U are short sighted and cannot see fishes far away, what I did was to grab hold of bread thown in by the ppl floating on the surface there and release bit by bit infront of my eyes.. this will attract the fishes towards u and it's really make it more fun!! - TIP: Buy bread before u go for the snorkeling trips and remember to keep some for the Khai Nai Island!

Food

In fact I find the seafood there really expensive. So we did not try the sea food except the delicious tom yam soup. Went to several restaurants to eat. Will recommend some here which I thought is really value for money good food.

Sam’s Steak and Grill at Holiday Inn Resort

Spent 2571.75 baht (Approx $50 SGD per person) , 2 persons on:

2 coconut drinks 150baht
1 ice tea 85baht
1 Starter dish for 2 person (includes crabmeat wontan etc) 485baht
1 lobster bisque 190baht – Simply the best for the price
1 Beef Wellington steak for 2 person 1275baht

Beef steak is one of the best I have tried comparing from most of the restaurants like Black Angus, Hogs Breathe, etc.

5 stars service and ambience that u can only get in Raffles Hotel or Saint Pierre. Great for couples looking for a nice and romantic place for fine dining.

The SWEET Restaurant – Patong Beach

This restaurant serves both Thai and western food at really low price. Value for money.
Located at one of the street (right hand side) with lots of massage shops (Adjacent to the beach). Has got a huge red sign facing the beach and u wouldn’t miss it.

Sorry cannot remember which direction liao.

LAIR LAY TONG Restaurant – Taweeewong Road, Patong Beach, Highly recommended!

Serves Thai food and Sea food.

Located in street on a left turning just after the ZEN Restaurant (same street as the tour agency I recommended). Very easy to recognize. Just look for a restaurant with yellow walls and yellow with white ‘sun/rain shades” just outside the restaurant. It quite well hidden as I almost missed it. See the food I ordered below … hee hee









FUJI Restaurant in Phuket Central/Festival Plaza in Phuket town

Nice and cheap Japanese food compared to SG. All at 30-40% cheaper. Had 2 Sashimi sets, 2 watermelon Juice (v sweet must try), Egg sashimi, tempura at just about $40 SGD

Other snacks to buy home for family and friends includes

1) Durian chips (see brand in pic below- v v nice not much durian smell but simply delicious and highly recommended!)
2) Banana Chips
3) Fruits like guava (I bought from the road side fruit vendor guava that’s packed in 2s with really smooth skin and it tasted exactly like a cross between apple and guava.. surprising not sold in supermarket! The packaging has got 2 chinese word like fa1 cai2 or something. Priced at 40 Baht each and I can tell u that it’s really really really sweet!!!!)
4) Rose apple
5) pork rolls
6) pork floss
7) Cashew nuts (they are famous for it but expensive)

Krabi Trip Nov 26th-29th 2006

Hi !

Just came back from Krabi on Wed, 29th Nov . Just wanna share my trip there with u … enjoy!

Tiger Airways

Took Tiger airways. Paid about $200 per person. Budget terminal is not too bad a terminal cos it’s no frills (unlike T1 or T2, there’s no need to walk to the gates for boarding- quite far away sometimes) . Also, boarding procedures are done a lot faster than in T1 or T2. No queues also when checking in as I took the earliest flight at 830am.

There are plenty of seats on the plane even though it is the peak season. Some passengers even lie down ‘horizontal’ on the seat to sleep! Now u can see what I mean … haha . Leg room is alright even for my boyfriend at 1.74m - just take the front seats (first few rows are really alright, but not the back rows) Regarding food and beverages on the flight, you can bring mineral water on board as food like soft drinks and sandwiches are expensive. One bottle of mineral water is good enough as after all the journey to Ao nang beach from the airport is only about 30mins ride. After that, u can pig in on whatever you want! – Banana Pancake with nutella .. Yummy!!

Anyway, it was a 1hr 40mins flight and we left on time and were earlier than expected when we arrived at Krabi. The flight back was also v v punctual and arrival was earlier as expected! Overall, I find tiger airways a great way to fly!


Arrival at Krabi Airport

Krabi airport terminal is very very new and clean. It opened on the same day as our Budget terminal. Just 2 floors, not many shops there except some car rental shops etc. According to a guide we happened to talk to, there will be more shops opening in the near future.


Transport to Phra Nang Inn (Ao nang beach) from airport and back

We arranged for a transport (by Phra nang Inn) to pick us up at the airport and paid 500baht for the trip to Phra nang Inn at Ao nang beach. On the last day we actually bargained with a taxi driver on the street at 450 baht to take us back to the airport. U can easily find the taxi rates and drivers along the road.




Phra Nang Inn

Booked this resort style hotel via www.latestays.com . According to my boyfriend, he said this website offers the best rates for hotels in Thailand. So, u might want to have a look at this website when booking hotels. One good thing about having to book hotels online is that u can have a good idea about the actual cost of the hotel and compare rates during peak and off-peak seasons.

This place is not recommended for couples who are looking for somewhere comfortable and romantic. The rooms in the coconut wings are awful. Why? Cos the conditions of the beds and the furnitures are old and badly maintained. Looks like ten thousand ppl have already used the room before u. Bed linens are not clean (u can see shoe prints on it!) and have mouldy smell. Floor mat is torn and tattered. Face towels, bath towels are old and look very used.

The other wing called the betelnut wing (Just cross the road) has got rooms one class up from the coconut wing. The rooms are better renovated and cosy. Still the towels, bed linens and in-door slippers (the slippers are used over and over again by the guests!) are still not up to my expectations.

One thing that I have to give it to them is that the place is cosy and v v v v v convenient. I have no doubt about it’s locality. It’s v near many food places like Bernie’s Place (will write a review later) and of cos the beach.









Ao Nang Beach

I was expecting beautiful waters but as I had mentioned before, Ao nang beach is too polluted. There are so many long tail boats at the shorelines and water at the shoreline is not clear at all. Even if u walk all the way out to about 20 metres from the shoreline, water is still v cloudy. In Phuket , Patong beach is more beautiful and water there is v v clear. Most of the time, u can see little fishes and white crabs (harmless little things) at the shoreline. Very relaxing sight. Just a bit disappointed with Ao nang Beach at Krabi.
Sand on Ao nang beach is also not as powdery and white as Patong beach (Phuket). Still, Overall, Ao nang has got nicer beach than Singapore’s. Just see the pictures. Last picture here is the most picture perfect and is my favourite shot.











Massage

Spas in krabi are bit more expensive so I would recommend just the normal oil or thai massages above cos the rates are really low. Cheap massages can be found at little huts ( some big concrete/ wooden ones and some are really huts - just walk towards Ao Nang Villa Resort). Oil massages (Gentle massages with oil rubbed on u, I even fell asleep half way thru!) and Thai massages (deep massages with lots of tugging and pulling at joints)are only 200 bahts per hour. Pedicure and manicures are not recommended as they are not so professional. I got my pedicure done and the old lady in her sixties did a bad job cos she cannot see properly and does not know the right technique to do properly. I give it to her as she’s v old already. Nail colours are also v v limited. It cost me 100 baht for the pedicure (25 mins). Most huts give fruits like banana and pineapple after a service.







Food

Bernie’s Place

See link for location of Bernie's Place:

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Walk pass Phra Nang Inn (U can see the words with brownish tiled wall) and up the hill away from the beach. At 220 baht for buffet per person, u can have charcoal BBQ chicken, pork, beef, kebab, fries, spaghettis, Pad Thai, Fried rice, mashed potatoes, salads, etc . Very value for money. You can eat all you can.









Lavinia Pizza

According to my research online before this trip, some one recommended this Italian restaurant to dine in. The food is actually good. I liked the mushroom soup a lot. But the waiters in the restaurant were rude and the service is v poor. The waiters are more enthusiastic to serve Caucasians than Asians. For those who wants to try, it’s located along the beach where lots of restaurants are. It’s pretty crowded and u will be able to notice it.







Roast Chicken and duck at Ao Nang Grand Inn

Even locals buy from this place. It’s sold in a cart like place just outside Ao Nang Grand Inn . It’s something like what u buy from cold storage roasted/BBQ item section. The chicken looks exactly the same but only bigger. This chicken taste really nice and juicy and has very little fats. 2 of us ordered 1 whole chicken and 2 plates of rice and it cost us about 200 baht (cannot really remember the exact price but I can remember that it’s really cheap and good) . The boss who served us surprisingly spoke v v good english!





Outdoor food place (near La Playa, next to a super market)

This food place is popular with locals and tourists. This is an open area with about 8-10 food stalls. Food is something like ‘zhi cha’ that we eat in coffee shops. I tried from one of them and the food is MSG-laden and awfully cooked. Not recommended as food is not even on par with our own coffee shop ‘zhi cha’ . Maybe u might want to try other stalls cos I may not be in luck to try to right stall. Saw some Singaporeans there as well, so maybe it’s not that bad after all.




Japanese man food place ( it’s a v v small food place just up the hill on the way to Bernie’s Place , away from the beach)

This Japanese guy comes to Krabi every few months to cook. He is the main cook and together with a young boy and his mum (maybe?) , they stir up really good tasting traditional thai food. I just simply love his Tom Yam soup. Also, the food is really value for money! To think that this store ‘pops’ out from nowhere as it’s located next to a ‘wall with bushes’ , equipped with just a mini kitchen, a simple table for their loyal customers, a small tent for rainy days. Amazing isn’t it?













Pancakes

There are so may carts selling pancakes especially at night. There’s one cart just outside Blue Mango Restaurant ( don’t know whether it will be there still, just see the pics) , I would recommend as they are v v generous with the ingredients and makes really great tasting pancakes! They are crispy and v similar to our local plain pratas. Highly recommended pancakes are : Banana with chocolate, and banana with nutella (my favourite!) . Just 20 baht for one!









Fruit shakes – Banana, mango, etc

Scattered everywhere, so many that I have no favorite or recommended stores. Banana Shake is my fav! Just 20 baht!





Alan Travel (Located on the opposite side of the road where there’s less shopping/shops, has got a red shop front with ‘Alan Travel’ on it)

Booked 4 Island tour and Hong Island Tour at Alan Travel ( u find a plump dark lady with her 8-9 years old son) as they offer the best rates. Paid 800 baht for the 4 island tour by Speed boat (the cheapest after enquiring at more than 10 agencies) and 1200 baht for Hong Islands by speed Boat. I would recommend traveling by speed boat rather than long-tail boat as the weather there is v v v hot. I wouldn’t want to suffer under the hot sun and travel slowly from one island/place to another. The Long tail boat travels v v much slower than Speed boat. If u choose to travel by long tail boat, the price is about half of speed boat.


4 Island Tours

First all let me clarify that this is NOT a 4 island tour. ‘4’ means a cluster of 4 small rock formations which u will see during the island hopping tour. U will not see four islands. This tour is mainly taking u around Tup island, chicken island and Poda island.

Tup island connects to Chicken island via a sand bar. Tup island offers a pretty nice place for snorkeling. U can see blue damsels, nemos … really pretty stuffs. This place has v nice and powdery beaches. Snorkeling equipment is provided and u can request to use if u want to snorkel first although they will bring u somewhere else to snorkel later.

Poda Island is a v small pretty island like Tup island and we had packed lunch there (most tourists are given packed lunch as there are no restaurants on the island) Snorkeled there also.

Overall enjoyed the 4 island tour and the snorkeling part of the tour. Comparatively, I still think that Phi Phi Island tour from Phuket ( I went in 3 weeks ago in early November) is the nicest.

Phuket tour packages are better as they provide lunch with many thai dishes at local phi phi island restaurant. Drinks like coke, pepsi, sprite, etc are provided (unlike this one which only provide mineral water). Service experienced was also better.

Pick up points for speed boats in Krabi are much nearer compared to Phuket (30 mins). Just about 10-15 mins ride away.






























Hong Island Tour

This tour took us to a small island first with white powdery beach. This beach is unique as it has got many many starfishes! Did a fair bit of snorkeling there but must becareful of the sea urchins near by. Just wear your sport sandals like how I wore my teva sandals and my boyfriend with his orange crocs .




Finally, arrived at Hong island for packed Lunch (not nice- really worst than our mixed veg and rice). A few monitor lizards on the island. This island is beautiful as well and has a pretty large lagoon with pretty fishes like tiger fishes and parrot fishes in it shallow water (see last few pics). Just bring bread if u have any. Did a snorkeling there too v v nice place as well. Water is turquoise but visibility is rather poor- and not as clear as Phi Phi Island.

Realised that places with sea urchins are places with nice snorkeling spots. SO just be careful. Sun block is v v v important as u WILL get SUNBURNT. Which I almost did. Skin gets really painful and irritable.

Sometimes u may feel that something like a needle prick on your skin, it’s actually harmless ‘invisible’ sea weed in the sea water (explained by my tour guide) . Just a while and it’s gone. Very bearable kind of pain.


























Snorkeling

It’s v safe to snorkel with your life jacket on in deep waters. Mind u, I cannot swim v well but still able to enjoy snorkeling v v v much. Just becareful of the strong currents and huge/ tall corals and rocks (no sandals or crocs) . In shallow waters like about 1.4 meters deep, do try wearing sandals cos the corals maybe sharp (saw someone cut by one actually) and also the Sea Urchins are to be wary of. Try stay near your partner if possible. I held hand with my boyfriend and swam side-by-side with him so it’s easier to ‘signal’ to him if I see a new sea creature. It’s much more fun this way and u will feel safer


Kayaking (Just walk towards the huts with massages I mentioned earlier as it is at the end of the beach)

150 baht for 1 hour. I think 1 hour is more than enough cos it’s v tiring. It’s worth to do kayaking at Ao Nang as u can pop by other beaches next to it. It’s a very safe sport. Just need proper coordination between u and your partner. At some point near a huge rock formation near by, u can even see those little yellow fishes (suggestion: bring some bread along) . The person who rents out the kayak to u also will lend u a dry bag to put your belongings. I do not do much sports activities but find kayaking relaxing and did not suffer from much aching shoulders. It’s a nice to do activity just don’t try to hard and over do it.




Shopping in Krabi @ Ao Nang Beach

Nothing much to shop. U have the usual stuffs.. see pics




Krabi Town

You can go Krabi town by taking the Ao Nang Beach ‘Bus’. It actually looks like a pickup truck with 2 rows of seats behind. Cost just 40 baht per person one way for a half an hour ride to the town. U can see the ‘bus’ moving slowly down the road and u can just flag it down. Pay only after u alight. Locals also take e same type of transport to town. Town has got nothing much except a small shopping mall called Vogue beside KFC. Many automobile shops selling bikes (just S$250! ). Nothing much to buy in my opinion. The pickup point to go back to Ao Nang Beach is just outside 7 Eleven.