Joanna James
Thailand's largest island, Phuket has earned itself a glowing reputation as a top island destination, where hordes of yearning holidaymakers head to the Andaman Sea island every year in search of tropical island euphoria. Nevertheless, loading up on these tips could only make for a blissful getaway in Phuket.
The tropical island of Phuket is a full-on sunshine destination that one should have no doubt about. However, as most tropical destinations on planet earth, Phuket too sees a bit of rain every year and almost all holiday-seekers to the Thai island are so keen on giving this low-key wet season a wide berth. Anyone who's been to Phuket wouldn't disagree that a little rain on this sunshine island wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but if you are keen on avoiding the risk of the opening of the gates of heaven ruining your much-awaited tropical getaway, it is best that you keep your holiday plans away from September and October.
Upon touching base in Phuket, it may seem that the locals have a decent knowledge of English, but you would sooner or later realise that quite a many struggle to keep a conversation going. You can expect hotel staff to have at least a basic grasp of English, as they are most likely trained enough to be able to attend to the needs of hotel guests, but outside your hotel, knowing a little Thai could go a long way.
No trip to Thailand would be complete without getting a taste of the authentic local cuisine and the Thai island of Phuket is no exception. Steer clear of the gourmet buffet and treat yourself to an assortment of local dishes with the likes of Tom Yum Goong, Som Tam or Pad Kra Pao Moo and let your taste buds revel in the mouth-watering exotic flavours — an experience that's sure to unleash the foodie in you.
Despite Phuket's reputation of being a wild nightlife destination and a popular tourist hotspot, outside those touristy and entertainment areas, the culture in Phuket is rather laid-back. Therefore, it is key that you pay attention to your clothing and keep things a tad bit modest when venturing out to local neighbourhoods, especially temples and other places of worship and sacred sites.
Anyone who has quite a few tropical destinations under their belt knows that there's a set of essential items that is required on every tropical vacation, which could make or break your time away. Swimsuits, sunglasses, and enough sunscreen are must-haves as you'd probably spend most of your time on beaches, while holidaying at one of the finest beachfront Phuket luxury hotels the likes of Anantara Layan Phuket Resort. Mosquito repellent is another essential you just can't afford to forget.
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