Joanna James
Thailand has long been popular as a cut-price holiday destination in Southeast Asia. However, its premiere leisure island, Phuket, is no holiday destination that you can enjoy on a shoestring budget. Stock up on these tips to help stretch your holiday dollar for a fantastic tropical getaway.
Your tight budget never has to dash the hopes of the foodie in you as the street vendors of Phuket awaits you with assortments of mouth-watering Thai dishes. Steer clear of fine dining restaurants and their western food palates and make your way to the vibrant streets of Phuket town to gorge on local food like a king for next to nothing. Not only will you be able to cut back on costs, but will also get to indulge in authentic Thai cuisine like a true local instead of the watered-down dishes for foreigners.
Thanks to the cheap and cheerful Phuket local markets, your inner shopaholic can have some hope of squeezing in a little retail therapy into your cramped budget. As the darkness descends upon you, refresh yourself after a day of revelling in the glories of Phuket, and head to the lively and colourful streets to kick off your shopping spree without the tropical heat. Stroll through the bustling markets and stock up on loads of low-cost clothes, handicrafts, electronics and souvenirs to take back home. One thing that almost never happens at these markets is paying the asking price. So work on your haggling skills before you hit the streets as it's time you put them to use.
Premiere holiday destinations such as Patong, Kata and Karon beaches are home to some of the most high-end resorts in Phuket. However, they are no match for a capped budget. Traverse a little further away, and you are bound to find plenty of fine hotels, such as Avani+ Mai Khao Phuket Suites & Villas, that offer a good bang for your buck.
Traversing through Phuket in taxis and rental cars will have your precious buck taken away from you in no time. Therefore, a wise and economical transportation choice is to rent a scooter. Aside from saving you a good deal of your holiday dollars, you will also get to enjoy the freedom of exploring the stunning island on your own.
The low season in Phuket is when the island sees its rainy days. While it's likely that your day might be interrupted with a few hours of rain, the impressively low prices you get to enjoy make the low season totally worth it. The rain in Thailand falls in heavy bouts, which lasts for only about 2-3 hours. So even if the skies weren't bright and shining, you'd still have the rest of the day to enjoy for yourself.
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