The Beaches in Phuket, Thailand
Scouting out the best beaches in Phuket, Thailand
Exploring the Beaches in Phuket
Flying From Siem Reap to Phuket
There was an air of excitement on the plane as we approached Phuket, Thailand. The like-minded sun-seekers in the seats around us were leaning towards the windows, spotting the beaches and islets below, with wide grins on their faces. We were no different.
When booking our hotel, we chose an airport pickup. Our friendly driver was waiting outside the terminal with a sign displaying our names. The vast differences between Cambodia and Vietnam were immediately visible on the drive across the island to the southern end of Phuket.
Our favourite Phuket activity was Scooter rides to and from the many beaches
Summed up in one short sentence, this part of Thailand is more affluent with fancy cars, a well-maintained highway network, brand-name stores, and, much to my surprise, hardly any countryside to admire on the hour-long drive.
Staying Near Rawai Beach
I am grateful that we did our research on where to stay and which areas to avoid in Phuket. The south end of the island is quaint and cozy compared to the rather touristy Patong Beach on the west coast of the mid-island. We spent six nights at the Le Piman Resort in Rawai and paid $62.00 per night, including breakfast.
Our budget didn't allow for a beachfront property, but we enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere and amenities at Le Piman, including a wonderful pool and a cozy dining area. The private bungalow-style units were comfortable and had a small kitchen area.
We prepared smaller snacks in the kitchen, but for the most part, we ate at the on-site restaurant. The staff was friendly and helpful—a big shout-out to the front desk manager and chef.
The pool area at Le Piman Resort in Phuket Thailand. A nice option for a morning swim or to hang out with a book after a long day at the beach.
Phuket Scooter Rental
We rented a scooter at Le Piman, but you have many options for rentals across Phuket. No matter where you stay, a rental place will be nearby. The scooter was a lot of fun and gave us a tremendous sense of freedom.
As I wrote in an Instagram post from Cát Bà Island, riding a scooter makes you feel eighteen all over again and for a brief moment navigating the curvy roads and viewing the beaches from the viewpoints gave me a rush I would compare to the times in our early twenties when we would drive around British Columbia from ski resort to ski resort spotting the ski runs from the road.
Despite our adventurous reputation, we visited our favorite French bistro, Chez Nous, five out of our six days on the island, for the best coffees and baguette sandwiches.
Our favourite Phuket Boulangerie, Chez Nous
Our Favorite Beaches in Phuket
It was wonderful to have the scooter as it allowed us to explore a new beach almost every day. Rawai Beach was only a few minutes away. We would go to Rawai beach in the evening, taking in the atmosphere, and enjoying a seafood dinner one night.
Our favorite beaches, Kata Beach and Karon Beach, had the greenest, warmest, and cleanest water and waves, which knocked us both over a couple of times.
We scootered up to visit Patong Beach, a very popular choice in Phuket, but the area was too touristy for us. Patong Beach was a disappointment with huge crowds and somewhat murky water.
These waves will knock you over :)
A Break From Photography
Needing a break from constantly looking for scenes to photograph, I left my camera in the hotel safe for almost the entire time we were in Phuket.
I traveled light and relied on my iPhone to get the job done. The one time I did take out the camera was for a sunset walk at Rawai Beach. After sunset, the kids went out to play. It was low tide, and the game was: let's pretend we were fishermen.
Check out the post from our next stop:
Rawai Beach at Dusk, Phuket, Thailand
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