What's the best way to find affordable tours in Phuket?

I recommend checking out travel deal websites like Travelata, which often feature discounted tours for 2-person groups.

Where should I stay in Phuket for a budget-friendly experience?

I highly recommend exploring the Kata and Karon beach areas, which offer a range of affordable accommodations and dining options.

What's the best way to get around Phuket?

Taxis and tuk-tuks are widely available, but be sure to negotiate the fare beforehand to avoid getting ripped off.

Can I find affordable food in Phuket?

Yes, you can find delicious and affordable meals at the night market, local restaurants, and street food stalls.

What's the best time to visit Phuket?

The best time to visit Phuket is during the dry season, from December to April, when the weather is cooler and drier.

Can I find English speakers in Phuket?

While some locals may not speak English, many hotels, restaurants, and tour operators offer English-speaking staff to help with communication.

What's the best way to stay safe in Phuket?

Be sure to take normal precautions to stay safe, such as avoiding walking alone at night and keeping an eye on your belongings.

Can I find shopping options in Phuket?

Yes, you can find a range of shopping options, from local markets to high-end malls, depending on your budget and preferences.

Phuket 2-Person Tour Review: Affordable Bliss in Thailand

Hello everyone!

I recently embarked on a spontaneous trip to Thailand, which was my second international adventure after visiting Turkey.

At first, we were planning to head to Egypt or Dubai, but Thailand wasn't even on our radar because it was way too expensive – a long flight and steep prices.

However, deep down, I really wanted to visit Thailand, so I kept an eye on travel deals on websites like Travelata, hoping to spot a discounted tour.

And that's exactly what happened. While browsing for 2-week trips, I came across a few options in the 150,000-ruble range for 10 nights in the Mai Khao area.

I was about to book it, but a young guy I was traveling with talked me out of it after reading the reviews. It turned out that all the action was happening in the Kata and Karon beach areas, while Mai Khao was just a beach with planes taking off and a few other locations.

A few days later, a tour for 147,000 rubles for two people with a flight, accommodation, and transfer popped up, and we immediately booked it.

At first, I was thrilled, but then I got worried when I saw the small print at the bottom of the tour – 'without window.' Panic set in – how could we have a room without a window?

We decided to pay extra on the spot for a better room.

By the way, we went in early April, from the 4th to the 14th. It was the end of the season, and friends who went after the 14th told us they encountered strong rain showers.

We were lucky with the weather – it was perfect.

We had a great flight, which was only 10 hours long. The in-flight meal service was excellent, with multiple servings, so the flight wasn't as exhausting as I expected.

After arriving, we were picked up by a transfer service, which was a plus, as taking a taxi would have been much more expensive.

Traveling around Phuket can be a real challenge, especially on a scooter – it's scary, and there's no clear rules.

Waiting for taxis can take a long time and they're pricey too. We rarely saw buses, and the tuk-tuks were just as expensive as taxis.

So, we mostly walked or took taxis.

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They dropped us off at the hotel, which was the Must Sea Hotel Kata. At the reception, we asked if they had any rooms with a balcony or a window, but unfortunately, all the rooms in that category were taken.

When we got to the room, it wasn't as bad as we thought. The room had a window, but it looked out into a well, and other rooms also had windows that faced inwards.

It wasn't a storage room with no window – it just had windows that looked into the well. But, to be honest, there wasn't much natural light.

It didn't ruin our vacation, though, because we only used the hotel to sleep.

We spent most of our time exploring, swimming, going on excursions, and shopping.

The hotel was pretty basic, and we didn't expect anything fancy.

There was no real territory, just a rooftop pool that we didn't use.

They did offer breakfast, but we didn't take it – we just grabbed something from 7-Eleven or a cafe instead.

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The hotel met our expectations – they did a daily cleaning, provided bottled water, tea, coffee, and even a kettle.

The room was great, with a surf-themed decor. The bed was comfy, there was a TV, a shower, and a safe.

We're not picky, so it was perfect for us (after this, we went to Turkey, and it was noticeably worse).

The hotel's location is amazing – there's a big market nearby with plenty of food options, massage parlors, street food, Kata Beach, and even Caron Beach a bit further away.

We stumbled upon this cafe, Kwong, while exploring the island. You can find it on Yandex maps.

The tom yum soup with seafood was a steal at just 70 baht (around 200 rubles), and we also got a plate of pad thai.

This family-run cafe has been around for ages, and the quality speaks for itself.

We compared prices with the market near our hotel, and this place offered better value for money.

If you're looking for affordable options on Phuket, these are some of the best places to visit on an excursion.

Phromthep Cape and the surrounding area (Lighthouse, temple) – it's all within walking distance, we used Google Maps to find itWe headed to the southernmost point, right to the edge of the cape, and down to the water. But it was physically tough and a bit scary, so I'd recommend sticking to the marked paths on Google Maps.

The views are still stunning.

On the same trip, we visited Yanui Beach and Nai Harn Beach.

The underwater scenery at Yanui was incredible, with huge sea urchins and, according to other reviews, some pretty unusual fish that you won't find at other beaches.

Be sure to bring a mask and snorkeling gear, as the sea floor is rocky.

For 100 baht, you can rent a kayak and paddle over to the nearby island.

Nai Harn is a beautiful beach with a bit of variety.

Viewpoint Karon

Viewpoint near Windmill

Southernmost point, Phromthep Cape 2. Phuket Town and the old year, shopping malls

We took a taxi, as public transport was a bit of a challenge.

We strolled around the town center, but it wasn't exactly inspiring.

The shopping mall wasn't much better – we didn't end up buying anything.

You'll find some high-end brands like Versace and mass market stores like Uniqlo.

3. We climbed up to the Big Buddha on our own – it's free.

But I wouldn't recommend it to people who aren't in great physical shape.

Now that I've been to the jungles, I get it – they're not as harmless as I thought.

The bushes, the scrublands, and the wildlife like monkeys and the mosquitoes that carry dengue fever.

I wouldn't repeat the experience if I had the chance.

The view from the top is stunning, but Big Buddha is closed due to landslides.

You can only see it from the back, but the scale is breathtaking.

There are monkeys roaming around, stealing food and drinks, so be careful.

On the way up, we passed by swings that you can find on Yandex maps too.

There are guided tours available, but I'm not sure if I'd go back for that.

After the hike to the Buddha, I was feeling pretty rough

4. Visiting Patong on our own was cool, but we stumbled upon a festival where everyone was splashing water everywhere, and we couldn't fully enjoy the place.

We also missed the ping pong show.

5. The paid island tour to Maya Bay, Phi Phi, and Bounty was a real highlight of our trip.

I paid 2,200 baht for it, but when I checked the prices now, it's more like 3,000 baht.

We got picked up at 5 am by taxi and taken to the ferry, where we boarded a speedboat to head to Maya Bay.

There were a lot of people, but we still managed to get some great photos.

The scenery is just breathtaking – the white sand, the blue water, and the natural rock formations.

Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to swim, but we could wade in up to our knees.

Watching the videos, I'm still not sure if I believe we actually saw that beauty.

The next stop was Phi Phi Island.

We wish we had stayed overnight to explore the island and see the nightlife, but we only had a few hours.

If we go back, we'll take a transfer to Phi Phi and rent a place to stay there.

I stopped by Bamboo Island next.

The weather really took a turn, and it started pouring rain.

But that didn't stop me from getting in the water – the underwater world is truly amazing.

I saw a small shark, sea urchins... it was exhilarating.

After that, we were exhausted, so we headed back home.

We went for a walk, got massages, and had dinner at the market.

I'm not gonna lie, the massages were a bit of a mixed bag.

It was cheap, but not exactly professional.

Just a nice, relaxing massage.

It wasn't really our thing.

The days leading up to our departure were pretty chill – we didn't go anywhere.

We just hung out by the pool, soaked up some sun, drank mango smoothies, and had coconut ice cream.

Kata Beach

So, what did we eat on Phuket?We had breakfast rolls, sandwiches, and cold coffee for 300 baht for the two of us.

We had dinner at the market near our hotel and at Kwong cafe – their prices were super low and I really liked it.

Dinner at kwong cafe Let's talk about sun protection – I learned the hard way that buying a good SPF is crucial.I even picked one up in Thailand, the Banana Boat one with the orange packaging.

We ended up buying a regular one in Russia, but it didn't do the trick and we still got burned.

The Banana Boat we bought in a local Thai store saved our entire trip.

Now, about the money.

We spent $500, and after returning, we got back $50.

For 10 days, we spent $450 on food, transportation, and excursions.

We headed out to the beach early in the morning to catch the sunrise.

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The return journey was just as great, with amazing food and a smooth flight.

But what really surprised me was the impact this trip had on me.

I came back feeling refreshed, with a new perspective, and even got a promotion at work.

I'm not sure why, but it was like a switch had been flipped.

We'd been to Turkey and Sochi before, but there was something about Thailand that just clicked.