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Traveling to Phi Phi Island, the one from the movie “The Beach”

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Traveling to Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi Island (in Thai: หมู่เกาะพีพี) is an archipelago of six islands, the largest of which are Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh, located in the southern part of Thailand, in the Andaman Sea.

Having been chosen as the location of the Leonardo di Caprio film “The Beach”, Phi Phi Island (even though there are two islands, they are written in the singular) has become a popular destination for international tourists since 2000.

Even though it is possible to visit all six islands, when talking about Phi Phi Island you’re mainly talking about Phi Phi Don, the only inhabited island. The smaller Phi Phi Leh, instead is mainly an afternoon boat tour, where you can admire Maya Bay, the bay where the majority of the scenes from The Beach were filmed.

Phi Phi Don covers some 30 square kilometers. Phi Phi Leh measures just a little more than 6 square kilometers, and besides its beautiful beaches you can also visit caves like Viking Cave, located to the northeast.

The best season for visiting Phi Phi Island is from November to the end of March, since there are few rainy days and the weather is dry. During the high season you can swim at practically all the beaches on Phi Phi Don; but when the monsoons arrive the waves are very high, and not being protected, swimming can become dangerous. [Read more…]

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The Best Hotels in Phuket

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Phuket is the biggest and one of the most famous islands in Thailand and a top touristic destination. Here you’ll find the review of some of the best hotels in Phuket City, Patong and close to the Phuket Airport, the hotels chosen in this article are suitable for any kind of budget, form the best luxury hotels to the best cheap hotels or hostels.

If your looking for general tips on booking hotels in Thailand click here to read our guide.

Reviews of Luxury (5 star) hotels in Phuket City

The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket


The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket is located close to the Phuket City and houses 257 contemporary rooms, equipped with modern amenities and well-fitted ensuite bathrooms. The hotel features beautiful outdoor pools with infinity edges overlooking the gorgeous sea. The hotel is perfect for families, couples, and even business travellers as it not only offers child friendly services, family rooms, kid’s pool for guests with kids but also a business center and 5 meeting rooms. It also features a poolside bar and restaurants serving international cuisines. The fully-serviced spa, motorized and non motorized water sports, a fitness center are the ways to relax at the resort. Some of the lows are that the Wi-Fi is provided only in the public areas while it is chargeable in rooms and their shuttle service is also chargeable. It is a good hotel when looking for a relaxing and secluded accommodation away from Phuket’s liveliness as it takes about 40 minutes to reach the Phuket City Center from the hotel by car. The hotel’s staff is courteous and speaks English, Filipino, Korean, and Japanese in addition to Thai.

[Read more…]

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Travel to Phuket, Thailand’s biggest island

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Traveling to Phuket

Despite having its prefix Koh removed (in Thai: island), Phuket is Thailand’s biggest island, connected to the mainland (Phang Nga province) thanks to a 700 meter long bridge. Before the construction of the Sarasin Bridge,the only way (besides by air!) to reach the mainland, was the ferry.

After the construction of the Sarasin Bridge in 1967, the Thai tourism authority in 2011 was forced to build a second bridge, the Thepkasattri Bridge, due to the imposing increase of vehicles headed toward the island. Today the Sarasin bridge is resigned to a simplistic touristic role; platforms were built to allow tourists to photograph the sunrise or sunset looking directly over the Andaman Sea.

With its 570 square kilometers, and almost four hundred thousand inhabitants, the island of Phuket attracts more than 11 million tourists a year, thanks to its renovated international airport.

The island is predominantly mountainous, with its highest peak (Mai Thao Sip Song) reaching 529 meters above sea level. Excluding the 70% of territory covered by mountains, the remaining 30% is covered by rice paddies, bamboo and coconut plantations, and the park Khao Phra Thaeo.

This forest is the only remaining protected area on the island, with a surface area of 22 square kilometers composed of three hills with a maximum height of 422 meters. [Read more…]