Air tickets : S$159 per pax return tickets via JetStar
Departs from Singapore on 27 Mar Fri morning 8.25am, lands in Phuket 9.20am (local time)
Departs from Phuket on 29 Mar Sun afternoon 12.40pm, lands in Singapore 3.35pm (local time)
Accommodation : The Senses Resort Patong Beach
Booked via Agoda, Deluxe sea view with breakfast, twin sharing. After Ciitibank discount, total price was S$295. Per pax S$147.50
Review : (1) Location - Not exactly right smack in the heart of bustling Patong but Jungceylon was well within walking distance. The road leading to Jungceylon was well lined with shops, for the 2 of us female travellers, we felt that the walk was safe and there was certainly no fear of dangers lurking in dark alleys. The resort is no where near the beach and our room only had a distant view of the beach.
(2) Room - Clean, bright and spacious. For the price paid, it was certainly good value. Do note that the resort does not provide toothbrush and toothpaste.The period when we visited was really hot and since the resort only provides one key card per room, whenever we left the room and plucked the key card out, the air-conditioning will stop. So each time we returned to the room, it was warm and stuffy.
(3) Breakfast spread was very limited. Fortunately we only stayed there for 3 days as 2 days of breakfast eating the same spread was getting really boring.
Airport transfer : PhuketConnectTransfers.com
THB1,500 for 2-way transfer from airport to resort and resort to airport via sedan
THB1,000 for 2-way transfer from resort to weekend night market and back to resort
Massage : Sovrana Spa, located right opposite Jungceylon
THB1,000 for 2 hr session comprising of body scrub, aromatheraphy massage, foot massage and complimentary herbal tea.
Seafood dinner with sea view : Laimai Courtyard Restaurant
THB2,050 for
4 fresh oysters
Baked mussels
Pizza
2 jumbo prawns (fresh, price by weight)
2 non-alcoholic beverages
Here is briefly how our Phuket trip went -
Day 1. Arrive at resort, drop-off luggage and went for massage.
Grocery shopping at Big C
Lunch before heading back to resort for a rest.
Dinner and explored Jungceylon/Patong area
Day 2. Breakfast followed by a short rest before lazing by the pool.
Private taxi picked us up at 4pm to head to weekend market.
Shopping and dinner at weekend market
Private taxi fetched us at 9pm to head back to resort
Day 3. Breakfast and packing before airport transfer picked us up at 10am.
Showing posts with label Phuket sightseeing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phuket sightseeing. Show all posts
Sunday, 29 March 2015
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Phuket trip Apr'14 - Shopping!
Shopping -
(1) Phuket town weekend night market
This is a large scale local market, you can find everything ranging from food, clothes, souvenirs, accessories, DVDs, temporary tattoo services. First & foremost food, on day 2 we only had breakfast in the hotel before embarking on our city tour at 11am, as your can imagine when we got to the weekend market round 5pm we were famished. But much to our delight there were just SOOOO many stalls in the weekend market selling food.
Some of the food we had -
Grilled squid (THB40 ~S$1.60),
Fresh mango (THB25 ~S$1),
Tom Yum Goong + Thai friend rice + a can of lemon tea (THB185 ~S$7.50),
Huge sausage on a stick (THB20 ~S$0.80)
Fishcake on a stick (THB20 ~S$0.80)
Orange ice blended (THB20 ~S$0.80)
Iced orange tea (THB20 ~S$0.80)
A slice of chocolate crepe cake (THB60 ~S$2.40)
Spicy fishcakes
Mussels omelette
Chicken satay
Fried chicken wing
Mango salad
The shopping was also quite unbeatable, shorts going at THB100 ~S$4, tops also going at THB100 ~S$4. The weekend night market is pretty huge, you could easily spend 4-5hrs there, shopping & filling your tummy at the same time. Day 3 after checking out the walking street in Phuket town, we made our way back to the weekend night market because we really couldn't get enough of mainly the food & partly the shopping!
(1) Phuket town weekend night market
This is a large scale local market, you can find everything ranging from food, clothes, souvenirs, accessories, DVDs, temporary tattoo services. First & foremost food, on day 2 we only had breakfast in the hotel before embarking on our city tour at 11am, as your can imagine when we got to the weekend market round 5pm we were famished. But much to our delight there were just SOOOO many stalls in the weekend market selling food.
Some of the food we had -
Grilled squid (THB40 ~S$1.60),
Fresh mango (THB25 ~S$1),
Tom Yum Goong + Thai friend rice + a can of lemon tea (THB185 ~S$7.50),
Huge sausage on a stick (THB20 ~S$0.80)
Fishcake on a stick (THB20 ~S$0.80)
Orange ice blended (THB20 ~S$0.80)
Iced orange tea (THB20 ~S$0.80)
A slice of chocolate crepe cake (THB60 ~S$2.40)
Spicy fishcakes
Mussels omelette
Chicken satay
Fried chicken wing
Mango salad
The shopping was also quite unbeatable, shorts going at THB100 ~S$4, tops also going at THB100 ~S$4. The weekend night market is pretty huge, you could easily spend 4-5hrs there, shopping & filling your tummy at the same time. Day 3 after checking out the walking street in Phuket town, we made our way back to the weekend night market because we really couldn't get enough of mainly the food & partly the shopping!
Phuket trip Apr'14 - Shopping!
(2) Phuket town Sunday walking street
Sunday after checking out, our first destination was to the Sunday walking street. As the name implies, this shopping street only operates on Sundays. This is reason why tourists intending to visit Phuket should go on weekends as this is when the weekend market & also Sunday walking street opens for business. Personally I felt this walking street was not a must-go unless you have plenty of time to spare on your itinerary because the stretch of street was not long & hence only a handful of shops available.
Sunday after checking out, our first destination was to the Sunday walking street. As the name implies, this shopping street only operates on Sundays. This is reason why tourists intending to visit Phuket should go on weekends as this is when the weekend market & also Sunday walking street opens for business. Personally I felt this walking street was not a must-go unless you have plenty of time to spare on your itinerary because the stretch of street was not long & hence only a handful of shops available.
Saturday, 19 April 2014
Phuket Trip Apr'14 - Airport transfer & city day tour
Airport Transfer
After some research online, I am glad I went with Phuket Connect Transfers. Single trip from airport to resort costs us THB800 (other sites have given higher quotes) & the duration fmo airport to resort took round 1 hour.
Day 1 of our trip - Our flight landed at 10.10am local time but the immigration queue took aeons to clear, we only exited the terminal at 11am. Fortunately the driver did not forsake us. I certainly heaved a huge sigh of relief when I still saw him waiting patiently outside the airport holding up my name on a cardboard. Best part about booking with Phuket Connect Transfers is you only pay the driver after he has sent you to your destination. I believe there are other sites which require pre-payment with credit card. I certainly do not want to risk paying only to have the driver do a no-show.
On our last day, we again hired the same company for a half day service. 4 hours for THB1,700 (~ S$68) & the final drop-off at Phuket airport. It is critical to mention in your request for quotations that you require drop-off at the airport because the location of the airport is pretty far off & requires considerable travelling time. This is an important factor for planning your itineraries, definitely wouldn't want to miss your flight!
Email: info@phuketconnecttransfers.com
Web: www.phuketconnecttransfers.com
Phuket Sightseeing & City Tour
Day 2 of our trip - Why not just kick back relax & engage a tour guide & driver to bring us round the city? Besides its the first time my other half is in Phuket. Private tour for 2 THB2,000 (~$80) & extra charge for the remote location of our resort THB200 (~$8). Well, like what the guide says, Avista Faraway.
Attractions visited -
Karon Viewpoint
Phuket Big Buddha
Wat Chalong
Cashew Nut Factory
Gem Factory
Of course the cashew nut & gem factory were not places we wanted to visit but it was part of the tour as part of the local tourism board's effort to promote their local industries. Don't worry, there is no hardselling, just take a walk around & you are free to go. We did buy a few cans of cashew nut as they are pretty tasty! Each can for THB199 (~ S$8). Comes in various flavours, we bought Tom Yum, BBQ & Wasabi.
Much of the time was spent on the bus, driving round scenic routes. We requested for drop-off at the weekend night market at the end of the tour but as you would have guessed it, the tour guide persuaded us to do a Thai massage at this shady massage place . Don't be mistaken, the place is not some "lup sup" or inappropriate business, it is a legitimate massage parlour just that it would be equivalent to the foot reflexology joints we find here in Singapore. 1hr Thai massage for 2 pax, THB800 (~S$32). Before the driver & guide left, we were negotiating on price for transportation on our 3rd day. THB2,000 for 4hrs (tour guide & driver) & final drop-off at airport, in the end we didn't engage her as prices were too steep!
As we were short of Thai Baht, we made a stopover (or rather WALKED) at Central Mall which was a 15mins walk away (& also along the way to our final destination the weekend market), we exchanged our monies at Thai Military Bank (TMB) on the 2nd floor of the mall. Rates were comparable to Singapore money changers. Central Mall also offers free WiFi for tourists, just register at the Information Counter with your passport.
The tour guide convinced us that the weekend night market was well within walking distance from the massage parlour, boy oh boy, we walked for a great distance under the sweltering sun before arriving at our destination! More details on the night market in next post!
Email: info@PhuketHotDeals.com
Web: PhuketHotDeals.com
After some research online, I am glad I went with Phuket Connect Transfers. Single trip from airport to resort costs us THB800 (other sites have given higher quotes) & the duration fmo airport to resort took round 1 hour.
Day 1 of our trip - Our flight landed at 10.10am local time but the immigration queue took aeons to clear, we only exited the terminal at 11am. Fortunately the driver did not forsake us. I certainly heaved a huge sigh of relief when I still saw him waiting patiently outside the airport holding up my name on a cardboard. Best part about booking with Phuket Connect Transfers is you only pay the driver after he has sent you to your destination. I believe there are other sites which require pre-payment with credit card. I certainly do not want to risk paying only to have the driver do a no-show.
On our last day, we again hired the same company for a half day service. 4 hours for THB1,700 (~ S$68) & the final drop-off at Phuket airport. It is critical to mention in your request for quotations that you require drop-off at the airport because the location of the airport is pretty far off & requires considerable travelling time. This is an important factor for planning your itineraries, definitely wouldn't want to miss your flight!
Email: info@phuketconnecttransfers.com
Web: www.phuketconnecttransfers.com
Phuket Sightseeing & City Tour
Day 2 of our trip - Why not just kick back relax & engage a tour guide & driver to bring us round the city? Besides its the first time my other half is in Phuket. Private tour for 2 THB2,000 (~$80) & extra charge for the remote location of our resort THB200 (~$8). Well, like what the guide says, Avista Faraway.
Attractions visited -
Karon Viewpoint
Phuket Big Buddha
Wat Chalong
Cashew Nut Factory
Gem Factory
Of course the cashew nut & gem factory were not places we wanted to visit but it was part of the tour as part of the local tourism board's effort to promote their local industries. Don't worry, there is no hardselling, just take a walk around & you are free to go. We did buy a few cans of cashew nut as they are pretty tasty! Each can for THB199 (~ S$8). Comes in various flavours, we bought Tom Yum, BBQ & Wasabi.
Much of the time was spent on the bus, driving round scenic routes. We requested for drop-off at the weekend night market at the end of the tour but as you would have guessed it, the tour guide persuaded us to do a Thai massage at this shady massage place . Don't be mistaken, the place is not some "lup sup" or inappropriate business, it is a legitimate massage parlour just that it would be equivalent to the foot reflexology joints we find here in Singapore. 1hr Thai massage for 2 pax, THB800 (~S$32). Before the driver & guide left, we were negotiating on price for transportation on our 3rd day. THB2,000 for 4hrs (tour guide & driver) & final drop-off at airport, in the end we didn't engage her as prices were too steep!
As we were short of Thai Baht, we made a stopover (or rather WALKED) at Central Mall which was a 15mins walk away (& also along the way to our final destination the weekend market), we exchanged our monies at Thai Military Bank (TMB) on the 2nd floor of the mall. Rates were comparable to Singapore money changers. Central Mall also offers free WiFi for tourists, just register at the Information Counter with your passport.
The tour guide convinced us that the weekend night market was well within walking distance from the massage parlour, boy oh boy, we walked for a great distance under the sweltering sun before arriving at our destination! More details on the night market in next post!
Email: info@PhuketHotDeals.com
Web: PhuketHotDeals.com
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