THEGUIDE
phuket
128
FAHTHAI
1 _
WHAT WE
RECOMMEND
Phuket has more than 35
amazing beaches to stretch
out on, but unfortunately
most of them are filled with
other tourists who had
exactly the same idea. To
escape the masses and
discover a different side
of Phuket, head to Ao San
close to Naiharn.
2 _
KNOW THE
NUMBER
500,000 – the amount
in baht that was lost in
January this year by an
Italian tourist and then
returned by a taxi driver.
3 _
SPA SCENTS
Love the scented oil used
in your hotel massage or
the soap in the shower?
It's quite possible that
both came from this
homegrown success
story, which makes 100%
natural spa products
packaged in recycled
materials, all of them
handmade in Thailand.
(lemongrasshouse.com)
COUNTRY
CODE
+66
EXCHANGE
RATE
THB30 = US$1
FREQUENCY
8 flights per day
from Bangkok; 1
flight per day to
Pattaya; 5 flights
per day to Samui
STELLAR SAND
2013 was a
record-breaking
year for foreign
tourism in Phuket
C A S T A W A Y
Top 3
insider
travel tips
Rest Your Head
INDIGO PEARL
Taking its name from the
“Pearl of the Andaman”, as
Phuket is often called, Indigo
Pearl is a resort once visited,
never forgotten. The unusual
industrial look – by Bensley
Design Studios (see page 40)
– was inspired by the history
of the site, a former tin mine.
Highlights include the “Nest“
treatment – delivered up in
the trees at the remarkable
Coqoon spa – the sumptuous
Thai food served at Black
Ginger, the relaxed Tongkah Tin
Syndicate snooker bar and Dirty
Monstera, which serves “high
spirits on the industrial edge”.
(indigo-pearl.com)
Top Tables
KOPITIAM BY WILAI
This Phuket Town institution is
decidedly old school, and not
in a retro, ’80s hip-hop kind
of way. Rather, it serves up
traditional Peranakan dishes
(a blend of Chinese, Thai and
Malay) in a setting that lives and
breathes history.
(facebook.com/
kopitiambywilai)
Bottoms Up
SABAI CORNER
Though it serves up a solid
range of Thai and Western
classics, the real reason to
come to Sabai Corner is the
unforgettable sunset views. Get
here by 5pm to snag one of the
much-coveted terrace tables.
(sabaicorner.com)
NIKKI BEACH PHUKET
Just when you thought Phuket
couldn’t accommodate any
more beach clubs, here comes
one of the largest to date.
Lording it over the northern end
of remote Layan beach, this
sprawling venue is the global
chain’s 10th outlet worldwide
and its second in Thailand.
(nikkibeach.com/phuket)
Treat Yourself
BEACH BOOTCAMP
Improve your fitness while
cleaning the beach at the
bootcamp organised by trainer
Krix Luther.
(krixluther.com)
Phuket
TEXT: SIMON OSTHEIMER
