Phuket: The Pearl of the Andaman

There’s little doubt that holidaymakers are heading further and further off the beaten track in search of excitement and adventure. Whilst the likes of Spain, France and Portugal are still very popular amongst travellers, the whole notion of what’s possible has changed and a tourist is now just as likely to investigate holidays in Thailand as they are a two week break in the south of Spain.




Indeed, accessibility is the key to global travel and with more and more airlines offering affordable flights to exotic, faraway places, it does seem to make more sense to spend a little more money getting somewhere, then saving a great deal of money when you’re there.




Thailand is an affordable paradise for anyone from the Western world and once the flight has been secured, even budget travellers will be surprised at how much bang they get for their hard-earned bucks.




Thailand has a population of sixty million people and, unlike its neighbouring areas Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Malaysia and Cambodia, the country has always been an independent nation and has never been colonised by a foreign body. And naturally, Thais are very proud people.

From the Indian Ocean in the west all the way down to the southernmost tip of Malaysia in the east, the Andaman Sea stretches past miles upon miles of white, sandy beaches. And its crystal clear waters that surround Phuket Island has quite aptly earned it the moniker ‘The Pearl of the Andaman’ – now Thailand’s most popular beach destination by a long way.




If you’re love for the beach is limited to one or two days, then you won’t be disappointed you ventured to Phuket.




For starters, there’s the Phuket FantaSea show, with trapeze artists, performing elephants and pyrotechnics - you’ll definitely not encounter anything like it anywhere else on Earth.




And if you’re into live fighting, you can go watch a live Muay Thai contest, where two super-fit fighters pit their wits against each other. The sport is gaining popularity across the world, and what better place to experience it first-hand than at Saphan Hin Stadium in Phuket City?




Furthermore, if you want to sample a bit more of the local way of life, head down to Old Phuket Town where you’ll encounter funky shops and some awesome bars and restaurants – the heart of Phuket’s provincial capital is sure to surprise and delight you in equal measures.




As one of the top tourist destinations in the whole of Thailand, Phuket hotels are always in great demand, but with research and planning you’ll find something to suit your budget...no matter how low your budget may be!