Living on a budget-shoestring in Phuket

A little bit about Phuket

The island of Phuket is known as the Pearl of the Andaman Sea because of it beautiful pearl like shape. It was originally famous for tin mining and rubber, Chinese coolies arrived at the island in the 17th and 18th Century to work on the mines and there is still a hint of Chinese influence here today which can be found in some of the old town’s architecture and Island’s food. The main beach areas include Patong beach and Karon Beach and as ever, these beautiful palm fringed beaches of squeaky white sands that stretch for miles serve as a wonderful reminder of the natural beauty that Phuket so rightly claims.


Discount Phuket Thailand? What about the hotels?

As for the shoestring guides, Phuket, Thailand is no exception to these, there are good guides for the nigh-on destitute traveler who wants to spend the least amount of money and still live relatively well in a reasonable hotel. Easily done, let’s first look at some of the rules to shoestring travelling in Phuket.
1. Choose the off-season, which would be around May; the start of the rainy season. And decide on a cheap airline to get you there. (This of course does not guarantee the usual airline safety, but it will get you there-eventually.)
2. Check out the internet for all budget and discount hotels in the Phuket area, you will be surprised by how many websites are available.
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3. When you arrive at Phuket airport, you’ll notice one of the great things that will surprise you about Thailand (compared with other countries) that is the availability of cheap budget transport to anywhere or any hotel you want to go. It is all well organized, from bicycle rickshaws, to discount limousine taxis although my personal favourite and thrill is the motorbike taxi. (They don’t ride that fast and you have the handles on the back to hold onto- no helmet necessary).
4. After you have found your budget hotel and booked in for a few nights as a trial run. You will find it easy to change hotels if you don’t like where you are. Next on the agenda of shoestring travelling is budget food.
5. You will find cheaper and better food if you keep away from the main hotel and tourist drag. Most touristy places offer lower service and mediocre food for a higher price. The ones off the main streets will be trying that much harder to get business, hence a better product. The ideal good restaurant would be one which is slightly secluded but not completely empty. The old rule of “if there are no customers, there’ll be no turnover”. Is one worth thinking about.
6. Souvenir buying: as with restaurants and food, you will get a better bargain if you choose somewhere off the main tourist centers. However, the less customers around anyway, the better the bargaining power. Don’t be afraid to offer what you think it’s worth, then walking off if they don’t accept. I usually use the old “flash the cash to seal the deal” trick-it works every time.

The rainy season in Phuket does happen to be the low season here, but don’t discount this. You will be pleasantly surprised by how good the weather gets-lots of sun and the occasional storm and rain shower which actually makes up for everything by creating beautiful scenic landscapes of the Phuket mountains and seas for wonderful camera fodder.
If you are tired of living on a shoestring there is always a night or two at the Horizon Karon Beach Resort and Spa hotel located at the southern end of the beach and just a two minute walk from the famed Kata beach. The resort hotel is surrounded by lush green vegetation and nature and is set on over 16,000 sqm. of green park land. Still relatively undeveloped, Karon Beach and the resort hotel is your own “private paradise”. This hotel offers discounts for the budget traveler and shops and restaurants are also within easy walking distance for all you need.