Driving and travelling around Phuket with 5,000 baht

Thawatchai Prommai
8 min read

“Phuket” is the most famous city in Thailand, an island that is located far south. The place is full of lives, attractions, foods and cultures – especially the beach and the ocean with colorful coral reefs under the water. Welcome for tourists to explore and experience. Thailand has been ranked as a country with different beautiful beaches which attract all the travellers around the world to come. So in this article, we will introduce you to Phuket city and its charming vibe, which makes tourists fall in love (or some even decide to permanently stay here!) Let’s get started by booking a flight first.

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First day in Phuket

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After landing and arriving in Phuket, safe and sound with the cheap flight that you book, you would need your own vehicle to go to other places. Of course it’s such a burden and confusing if you need to rent some car in the Phuket Airport. Traveloka can solve the problem! Not only it provides the flight booking services, there are car rental services as well within Traveloka website and application. On top of that, you can book a driver with a car! No more studying the Thai’s driving rules or confused with right-handed driving. So just sit back and enjoy your trip in the back seat with a chauffeur at your service. An all in one app that you should not miss!

Following landing and getting your rented car, we should go check-in the hotel and drop off your belongings. Then we moved to Mor Mudong restaurant – one of the most well-known places to eat in Phuket (also got recommended in Michelin Guide 2019!) It is notable for its local southern Thai food, a must place to go when we arrive here in Phuket.

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Credit: Facebook//ร้านหมอมูดง ภูเก็ต

It doesn’t take long to drive from the airport to this restaurant, just put the location in your google map. The place is decorated with simplicity and down to earth style – showing its originality and taste of their food. It’s southern of Thailand so we will order popular southern Thai food! There are Yellow curry, Stir-fried Malindjo Leaves with Egg, Tumeric Fried Fish and Fish Sause Fried Pork Belly – it’s time to dig in. Taste these pleasant, yummy local foods and you will be ready for the trip in Phuket!

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Another hot spot and exotic experience is Mai Khao Beach. The beach that is famous for taking a picture of deep blue sea and sky with an airplane, floating and ready to land on a runway in Phuket Airport. You will get a chance to see an airplane flying closely because the beach is located next to the airport and runway. So ready your camera and take one of the coolest shots that you cannot do anywhere else!

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Phuket at dusk is something you should not miss. We drive to the cape with familiar scenery that you might have seen in the postcard before – Promthep Cape. The most famous spot to watch the sun set in Thailand. This landmark is usually crowded with both tourists and photographers, when the sky turns into vanilla and everyone is absorbed in the beauty of the sky, the sea and the setting sun. End the day with the enchanting surrounding.

Second day of Phuket Trip

Time to hit the beach! Blue sea and clear sky await us at Ko Phi Phi (island). but before that we should fill our stomach with delicious and fresh breakfast. We head to Roti Chao Fah, the famous dessert but somehow here in Phuket has become one of the breakfasts dishes. The restaurant serves Fried Egg Roti with Chicken Red Curry. Give it a try and you will not be regretting it!

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In case that some Roti might not be enough for you, another recommended food here in Phuket is the crispy and hot fried chickens – southern style! Forget the usual fried chickens in those franchise restaurants and meet the juicy inside yet crunchy outside fried chicken. Eat those wings and drums with sticky rice and we are sure that you will be full of energy until lunch.

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And now, it’s really time to go to Ko Phi Phi this time. Book a one-day trip diving tour and hop to different islands such as Phi Phi, Mai Thon, Viking Cave and Maya Bay. It is going to be a long and tiring day -- yet exciting and fun.

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After booking the tour and boarding the ship, our first destination island is Mai Thon. It is a place to dive and watch a school of fish swimming around the coral reefs. It usually takes about 30 minutes before we go to the next.

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Get on the boat after diving in the ocean and head to Viking Cave, the big and beautiful cave with crystal water. This cave is also one of the places that house the birds’ nests – by harvesting the nests make it a profitable action for locals.

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The next highlighted place of today that our tour guide takes us – Phi Phi Islands. Lots of tourists are visiting the islands, relaxing under the tree, bathing under the sun. Walking along the white sand beach, listening to the ocean and forget the city life for a while. Also, take a long walk and up on the view point, enjoy the scenery of Phi Phi islands.

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The sun is rising and now it’s noon. We take a break and have lunch that the tour guide provided, before heading to the next destination – Maya Bay. Tourists are mostly stunned by the beautiful view, surrounded by three cliffs on the sides. The place has become super popular after the launch of ‘The Beach’ movie. Make it a destination that every tourist visiting Thailand wants to go.

Scouting the beach and the bay as you like, but remember to put your trash in a bin and do not destroy or harm nature. As this bay is in the Nature Reserve Zone and everyone should follow the rules – help protect the environment!

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After a long day of diving and visiting the beaches, head back to the hotel and go find something to eat at Phuket Walking Street. The night walking street that is crowded in the locals, the tourists and the street food. Enjoy eating and do not forget to buy some souvenirs along the way.

Last day in Phuket

Sadly, the trip has come to an end. The last day here in Phuket, we will go check out the famous Dim Sum restaurant – A must go place called ‘Chokchai Dim Sum’. Not only the taste of their Dim Sum is decent, but also the special dipping sauce to eat together. Good dishes with reasonable prices and lots of choice for you. A breakfast that you will enjoy.

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Credit: Facebook//โชคชัยติ่มซำภูเก็ต

Sightseeing the old city town of Phuket is also an interesting activity. The SinoPortuguese style buildings with more than a hundred years old. Because Phuket was once a port city with many foreigners, they inspired many cultures including the style of Phuket building. Explore and promenade the town and visit another landmark which is the clock tower of Phuket city.

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Walk along the city and you will find this Café -- RYN – Authentic Tea & Slow Drop Coffee. A popular and most recommended café for Tea (Green tea and Matcha). Those who love to quality green tea beverages are a must. They both serve iced and hot, cool you down on a hot day of Phuket with Iced Matcha Latte or feel the authenticity with Hot Matcha in a Japanese cup. You can order some cakes or sweets with your drinks as well.

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Credit: //RYN – Authentic Tea & Slow Drop Coffee

Relax in a modern style café and sip the tea with ease of mind. Before ready to take a cheap flight back to Bangkok.

That’s it for a 5,000-baht Phuket trip with a rental car. A worthwhile trip full of attractions – both nature and city trips. Avoid all the chaos of the big city and escape to the beach instead! Book a flight and start traveling with us.

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