Our Spring Break in Phuket, and Why It’s Your Next Destination!
Words & Pictures by Beckham Lawre
Who doesn’t love beaches?
Being a teenager, I for one wouldn’t miss a chance to hit the beach over spring break and bring back a golden tan as a souvenir.
Luckily, not only did our family’s 2018 spring break destination have plenty of beautiful beaches and sunny weather, it had so much more to offer!
The 40 Pound Shopping Sprees
Of course, shopping is always on my list of things to do at any destination.
To the relief of my dad (and his wallet) prices in Thailand are famously cheap. You can find brands like Gucci, Nike, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, and Rolex for thrift store prices.
I picked up a pair of Chanel earrings for about 50 cents! In total, my family of five purchased what would have been the equivalent of a couple hundred dollars in the states for only sixty (just over 40 pounds).
The Incredible Culture
Just around every corner there’s a shrine, stacked with food offerings and red Fanta (yes, red Fanta), and for every handful of shrines, there’s a wat – an intricate and sacred Buddhist temple.
Our family had the opportunity to visit one of these wats and experience true Thai culture ourselves. You haven’t truly visited Thailand until you’ve visited one of these marvelously ornate wats.
Hardly Any Language Barrier
Our family has traveled to places where the language barrier was just too big to get over. Phuket was not one of those places. Pretty much everyone spoke English, and if they didn’t they would find you someone who did. We were able to stay in Thailand for a week without knowing a lick of the Thai language, and got along just fine!
Not only that, but the Thai people are some of the friendliest you’ll ever meet. As one of our scuba-diving guides advised us: “If you smile at these people, they’ll do anything for you.” They’re happy to help out tourists, just so long as you’re kind to them.
The Gorgeous Resorts by the Beach
Our family has had the opportunity to stay at dozens of beach resorts all over the world – from the Dominican Republic, to California, to Mexico, to Aruba, but the Marriott Beach Club resort in Phuket was by far my favorite.
Our 2-bed, 2-bath, half kitchen room was only a ten-minute walk from the beach, a five minute walk from two pools, a six minute walk from a swim-in bar, and next door to an activity club/gym. There were also plenty of places to eat at the resort and a miniature shopping mall just down the road.
The Unique Cuisine
There’s a reason there are Thai food restaurants all over the world. Thai food is delicious!
If you love Thai food back home, you’ll absolutely love the real thing in Thailand.
Here’s a few tips – for spice lovers:
If you see something on the menu written in Thai characters, you’d better believe it’s spicy. They don’t write those dishes in English because they think tourists can’t handle the heat. And for those who don’t like spice: you can ask your server to prepare the dish without spice. 9/10 times it works. But spicy or not, there’s no mistaking it, you can’t get better Thai food than in Thailand.
The Amazing Beaches
Phuket and its surrounding islands are home to dozens of gorgeous beaches, with miles of sand as soft as confectioner’s sugar and water as electric blue as turquoise gems.
Some of the most popular beaches are tucked away in the corners of the Phi Phi islands, about a 45-minute boat ride from Patong beach.
Not only is the water as warm as bath water, but the towering tropical cliffs and dense jungles bordering each beach are absolutely breathtaking!
It’s really easy to find a cheap private tour to take you out on a day tour of the Phi Phi islands, so when you’re planning your trip to Phuket, make sure to leave a day open for exploring them (and pack lots of sunscreen)!
The Fantastic Scuba Diving and Snorkeling
Whether you’re a scuba fanatic or a beach bum, the underwater scenery in Phuket will take your breath away. There are hundreds of types of fish native to Phuket and its surrounding islands.
One can easily spot moray eels, stingrays, scorpion fish, and even sea turtles on any dive or snorkeling adventure.
One of the most magical experiences was swimming through a cloud of a thousand or more silver schooling fish!
The Unforgettable Experience
There truly is a certain type of magic Phuket holds.
You won’t soon forget the amazing adventures you went on and the dear friends you made in Thailand.
So when you’re deciding where to go for your next vacation, don’t forget to add Phuket to the list! You’ll have a tan for a few weeks, but the memories for a lifetime…
And if you just need one more reason to settle your decision to visit Phuket – I didn’t see a single spider the entire time I was there!
Continue to Follow Beckman on Instagram & Twitter: