Laidback Holiday in Phuket

Phuket is a year-round destination, with the peak season from December to March and the rainy season is from May to October when you will experience rain showers and thunderstorms, although these do not last long so still a good time to visit.

Phuket is known for its party vibes but if you’re not into the party scene you shouldn’t let this put you off as there is so much more to this island which makes it a great holiday destination for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a lively holiday or just want to chill and relax you will find this in Phuket. There is also a great variety of accommodation from backpacker hostels to luxury hotels, Phuket suits all budgets.

This holiday was a laidback chilled holiday for myself and my husband, we stayed at three different hotels, so we could experience different regions of the island. Our hotels were the Since Phuket Luxury Hotel in Siray Bay, Paresa Hotel in Kamala and Six Senses Yao Nai in Phang Nga Province. This blog will cover our stay in Phuket and a separate blog will cover our stay at the Six Senses Yao Noi in the Phang Nga Province.

We started at Sinai Phuket luxury hotel, this is a small boutique hotel designed in a fishing village and is set on the hillside of Siray Bay. The individual villas are perched high on the hill, and all have spectacular views overlooking the Siray village, the Andaman Sea and the gorgeous coastlines of Phuket. The sunrise from the villa was the best sunrise I have seen from a hotel room, it was truly stunning and made even better by the call of the Cicadas. Each villa either has a private pool or a plunge pool and is beautifully decorated, although I personally felt the bathrooms are a little small for a luxury hotel.

We used this hotel as a base to explore Phuket and visit the Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary. We hired a driver for our tour of Phuket so we would have flexibility. We visited the main tourist attractions including the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong and Phuket Old Town. Due to COVID, these areas were very quiet, but it was good to see that a lot of shops, bars and restaurants were open for business.

The highlight of our trip was our day at the Elephant Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary takes care of domestic elephants that have either been mistreated, are sick or old, or the owners can no longer care for them. It was good to see how well they were taken care of. The only funds the sanctuary receive is from donations and tourists. There are limits on the number of tourists that can visit each day so there are no hordes of people surrounding the elephants. Our visit included preparing the food, and feeding and bathing the elephants.

Our next stay was at the Paresa Hotel Kamala beach this is a beautifully understated elegant hotel - a perfect wedding destination. The hotel is perched on the cliffside amid tropical forests, overlooking azure blue waters and a picturesque panorama of the sea.

We stayed in an Ocean pool suite which was very spacious with a beautiful large bathroom. Each suite or villa has a private infinity pool and a large terrace to take in the stunning views. The food and service at the Paresa were second to none. I loved the attention to detail, each guest is made to feel special from the moment you arrive. Each morning the General Manager greets each guest at their table at breakfast and has a little chat, for me this was a lovely touch.

Although the Paresa is a little remote, they offer a shuttle bus service to Kamala Beach many times during the day. They will also arrange tours and transport for you to get around.

Another highlight of our stay was playing a round of golf at the Red Mountain Golf Club, which is easy to reach from the Paresa Hotel. This is the most stunning golf course I have ever played and has some very challenging holes. This is a must for all golf lovers!

Tourism is starting to pick up again in Thailand, but it will be some time before the crowds return so if you want a more laidback holiday, whether this is relaxing on one of the many sandy beaches and coves, or doing a little island hopping to some of the most famous islands, this is the time to go.