Over the years, I’ve hit — and had fun — at countless party destinations. Don’t get me wrong, when you have 51 weeks of work a year and but one week off to go wild, being at a location with an ample supply of bars, booze and broads is pivotal. However sometimes when traveling with the family or in search of beauty and culture, traveling beyond the party is a necessity. Here is the HoliDaze guide on how to escape the Phuket party scene and ensure a refreshing trip.
Nowadays so many popular tourist destinations are synonymous with partying, unfortunately. Bali, Indonesia. Cancun, Mexico. Vang Vieng, Laos. Phuket, Thailand. But each one offers so much more. Even though Phuket has a party reputation, that doesn’t mean drinking is the only thing to do on the island.
Escape The Phuket Party Scene:
Step 1. See the right sights.
Pub crawl through Phuket Town? Why, when bars can be found in nearly any city in the world? Opt instead for culture. Go visit a few of the nearby wat (temples) or volunteer at one of the many animal foundations scattered around the island. The Soi Dog Foundation and Gibbon Rehabilitation Project are doing amazing things to improve the situations of animals living on the island, and both have temporary volunteer positions around all year.
Step 2. Come in. Get lost.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that sometimes you just have to ditch the guidebook in order to truly appreciate the unexpected. Motorcycles are ridiculously easy to come by in Phuket and as soon as I did the whole island opened up to me. Just pack a bag for the day and head off into the horizon. You never know where you are going to end up but at least the island isn’t so big that you will get lost to the point of needing a search party to retrieve you. You can also take part in one of the local tours offered.
Step 3. Swim in the water, not amongst crowds of tourists.
Being an island, Phuket has no shortage of beaches. However Phuket also has no shortage of tourists, which means that the most convenient beaches are also the most populated.
For the picture-perfect beaches that will give you an iconic shot worthy of using on your Facebook page for years to come, visit my favorite sandy destination in Phuket: Haad Sai Kaew Beach. It is an ideal combination of untouched sand alongside a few small but delicious thatched roof restaurants, one that will you will be dreaming about long after leaving Phuket.
Step 4. Stay at a nice resort.
Sometimes the hassle of planning a busy trip and seeing all the best of a location is too much to be bothered with. Luckily if this should happen to you, rest easy knowing that there is no shortage of magnificent Phuket hotels eager to cater to your every whim. The private resorts contain some of the most spotless beaches on the island. Rather than having to acquire transportation and make the trek up north, it is possible to find a nice resort in town that has a pristine beach.
