Phuket Paradise

After busy Bangkok streets, Phuket was the perfect relaxation spot! Just about an hour flight away from Bangkok!

I stayed at the Novatel Kamala Beach hotel. The hotel is steps away from the beautiful Kamala beach. Extremely affordable, this hotel provides a HUGE complimentary breakfast, and also has an incredible pool (with a swim up bar). I also must mention the Thai massage in the spa is AMAZING. I've never been so relaxed and I long to have another!

While in Phuket, the hotel was extremely helpful and accommodating for all my needs, including helping find cheap taxis and tuk tuks. On upon arriving in Phuket my group and I took about an hour to get ready before heading out to Tiger Kingdom. Here, we were allowed to pet tigers and take pictures with them. Though this was an impulse decision, and it was very thrilling, I am not sure I would spend my money at a place like this again. The experience was incredible (and frightening) but I couldn't stop feeling that these tigers should not have been raised to live in cages. They are beautiful incredible animals that need more space to run.

The next few days were spent relaxing by the pool or on the beach, we also found a bunch of local restaurants and bars just about a mile walk down the beach. Eating local is a great way to better understand the culture, and save some MONEY$$.

Of course you cannot visit Phuket without going to

Phi Phi Island!! The tour we took made a few stops at different islands; however, I wish we spent more time on Phi Phi Island. The water is so vibrant and the sand is so soft. This is the ultimate paradise. Our tour also brought us to Monkey Beach. I enjoyed this stop because we stayed on the boat and saw the WILD monkeys and how they live! We did not touch them, as they may have diseases, but the tour guide left juice at the end of the boat and the monkey

jumped down and drank it! Be careful of where you see monkeys in Thailand, many are chained up :(.

The Last stop I made in Phuket was the city of Patong. There is so much shopping, markets, restaurants, etc. They even have a big shopping mall! I stopped here to pick up some more souvenirs. Patong was crowded and fun, although I am glad I did not stay here for the entire trip. I feel that the Kamala beach was more of a 'getaway'.

Phuket is a beautiful beach destination and I definitely hope I get a chance to return one day. Of course if going to Thailand I recommend giving yourself a lot of time to travel to different places, but make Phuket one of them!

CLICK HERE to read about my trip to BANGKOK