Phuket – December 2006

December 14, 2006 SF

Back from our Gold Coast holiday, we chanced upon a promotion by budget airline, Tiger Airways. Return ticket to Phuket costs SGD 0.88 and under SGD 50 after taxes. Since rebuilding in Phuket is completed after the 2004 tsunami, it is a good time to finally visit Phuket. We have not flown with a budget airline before and this promotion seemed too good to pass. So we grabbed tickets for a short break in December.

We decided to stay in Patong Beach and booked our accommodation at Banthai Beach Resort and Spa. What we did not expect was the good news that came our way in September. I was expecting Ashley! We were in a dilemma whether to proceed with the trip, but with the encouragement of my gynaecologist, we decided to go ahead but take things easy.

The long awaited day arrived and we made our way to the Changi Airport’s Budget Terminal. As the name suggests, this spartan terminal is a total misfit tucked away in a discreet corner of super modern Changi Airport. What struck me most of the non existence of air conditioning in the terminal and it sure made us felt like budget travellers. This was acceptable to us till we reached the boarding gate. There was already a long line awaiting boarding even though it would not be till an hour later. Since we did not have dedicated seat assignment, we quickly joined in the queue as we needed to be seated together. Our ordeal ended when we were given priority boarding since we were travelling with Jarod and what a relief it was!

The flight was only about 90 minutes and we reached Phuket International Airport in no time. We took a taxi and headed towards Banthai for our 3 night stay. We were greeted with a welcome drink at the lobby. The room was rather large with a comfortable king-sized bed and the balcony faces the swimming pool.

The weather was scorching hot in Phuket. Each time we tried going out, we could not last more than an hour before retreating to our air conditioned room. Jarod had lots of fun swimming at the hotel pool. There was a pool bar and Jarod loved to order drinks and enjoyed sipping away at the pool bar. There were ground floor rooms with step down Jacuzzi and direct access to the swimming pool. Nice! We would get one of those room should we return to Phuket.

We hired a taxi to take us to Patong Go Kart Speedway. Even though Jarod could only drive the kid kart, the karts here are very much faster than the ones he tried in Gold Coast. He went round after round enjoying the adrenaline rush. There is no circuit for leisure kid karting in Singapore then. We returned again the next day for Jarod to fulfill his driving passion.

Besides the go-karting and relaxing at the resort, we did not do much. There isn’t much to shop for either. Our only other indulgence was FOOD! We frequented this seafood restaurant along Patong Beach and ordered a feast enough for 8. The waitress innocently asked when the rest of our party were arriving! We loved the freshly steamed Red Grouper, Calamari and Thai Fish Cake.