It was only 15 months ago that I took a trip to explore the mystical world of Phuket, Thailand. I booked this vacation for my 34th birthday and til this day it is a vacation that I can NOT stop talking about.
Thailand, by far was one of the BEST vacations I've ever been on. The people, the hospitality, the resort I stayed in, the accommodations, everything about the culture was just warm and inviting.
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People always ask me if I would ever go back and the answer is absolutely! In a heartbeat without thinking twice. My first visit to Thailand was on September 14th, 2019 and I stayed at the Holiday Inn Mai Khao Beach Resort
Beach front, all inclusive resort that offered several amenities. Like assistance with booking tours around the island, an onsite restaurant, a convenience store and a dedicated spa area and services. It had everything I wanted in a hotel to keep me comfortable.
My room was amazing. I had a standard queen room that included a private bathroom with a massive walk in shower and rainfall shower head. The floor was made of natural stone giving it a gritty, but smooth texture on my feet. Being in the shower was like having your feet scrubbed during a pedicure. It was the best feeling ever.
I also had a walk out pool on my private patio. That's what made me book this hotel. After seeing the pictures of the sliding glass wall with entry directly into your own personal pool area- I was sold! I didn't care about anything else on the resort! LOL!!
View the video I made of my room:
I did so much during my week long vacation. I laid with tigers, rode elephants, fed monkeys, ate crickets and still had room left for dessert! Oh and the food was great too. Yes, I am a try-er. If I'm out somewhere and something looks interesting to me, I'll give a try. The worst thing that could happen is I don't like it. In which case, I won't do it again, lol!!
If you're thinking of traveling to Asia, I would definitely recommend putting Thailand on the list! I was originally going to Chiang Mai in Thailand, but changed my mind at the last minute to Phuket. And I don't regret it one bit. I got the experience of a lifetime with memories that I'll never forget.
In fact, I enjoyed Thailand so much that it was even on my list of places to go this year before the pandemic hit. I was scheduled to travel to Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Cancun for 2020. I was crushed when I found out I wouldn't be able to see any of those places. It's still a gut punch til this day. This will be the first time in 5 years that I haven't traveled internationally, but given the current state of the world, I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I know y'all are probably thinking about what I said about eating those crickets. Or maybe you aren't but I'm going to tell you anyway.
First off, they were dead, not alive. They were deep fried and seasoned with some type of seasoning. They were crunchy and tasted like potato chips. If you had your eyes closed and someone put one in your mouth, you wouldn't know the difference. lol!!
But honestly, they didn't have a particular taste. It was like chewing on a piece of rice cake. No guts, no juices, no squirming-- so that helped me process it better knowing what I was putting in my mouth.
I can never run out of good things to say about Thailand. It made my 20th country, including my first time on the continent of Asia. It was a loooong flight! If I recall correctly I took me just over a day to get there, including a 4-5 hour layover in China.
The best way to manage long flights varies from person to person. For me, if I know my flight is 8+ hours, I like to book overnight flights. I'm not a night person so I'm bound to fall asleep on the plane.
I make sure I have movies or games downloaded to my device along with a couple of good short books to read on my kindle. I also never go anywhere without my headphones. Headphones are an absolute MUST on flights! I also typically drink a couple glasses of wine before boarding my flight. This helps me to relax and settle down. Even for an experienced traveler like myself, I still get anxious before and during flights. So to help ease my mind and nerves, wine to the rescue!
Good thing about drinking wine before my flight is that I'm usually asleep before the plane even takes off! And by the time I wake up there's only so many hours left on the flight. From there I manage by reading or watching movies.
The best way to get maximum comfort on a flight if you're not traveling first class is to reserve a seat in the exit row. It gives you that extra bit of leg room and you can even recline a bit without disturbing the person behind you. The thing about exit rows are people rarely book those seats because no one wants to sit next to the door on the plane. They're generally the least expensive seats on the flight yet they offer the most flexibility.
You can't go wrong if you're thinking of traveling to this part of the world. Even if you don't participate in the things I did, there are still dozens of other things to do while you're there. Pick a hotel and go! You won't be disappointed.
The language barrier that many people fear when it comes to international travel is almost non-existent at the resorts. Everyone speaks English well enough to carry on a conversation. From management to hotel and restaurant staff, the workers on your resort are there to accommodate YOU!
While there on my birthday, some of the hotel staff did a small, private dinner on the beach for me. It included my very own private chef who made a 5 course meal and a birthday cake! It was certainly a birthday to remember.
Thailand is a definite passport stamp that one must have as a traveler. I've never met anyone who has traveled there and didn't like it. With so many smaller islands and pockets to explore throughout the country, you won't be limited on things to do and see when you get there.
With both land and sea activities, there's something for everyone to enjoy. If you're a traveler or if you're just curious about Thailand, it's highly recommended that you visit before it's all said and done!
Oh-- about the video of me with tigers! You can see it here:
Click here for more recommendations on things to do in Thailand!
Whelp, until next time friends.... I can talk about my experience in Phuket all day! But I won't. I'll save some for next time!
Stay safe and encourage others to live their best lives, fearlessly!
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XOXO, yours truly... (that's not me jumping)