Phuket for two

After many years of holidays in the Caribbean, here we are finally deciding to move our itinerary east. And we want to do it towards a super touristy destination like Thailand, with a fixed stop in Phuket. The chosen period, as every time, is between March and April, when winter and its cold have reached their peak. The classic reputation of this island sometimes comes before, unjustly, all the other aspects that should instead be praised more loudly, but we weren't interested in the classic urban legends, which after all aren't very different from other places we've visited. What we always look for on a trip is getting in touch with the local people, understanding their way of living life, in total respect for their customs and traditions (...and we assure you that the famous Water Festival, or Thai New Year, is an example), and that's what we did this time too, despite only two weeks.

One thing must be said, and it confirms what you read and hear: when you're in Thailand, no matter where, you are truly in the "Land of Smiles". We don't consider ourselves qualified to suggest how to find the cheapest flight or the best accommodation, but we can easily assure you that a trip like this really leaves you something inside, not least the wish to return to get to know this reality even better, this way of facing life, with respect and dignity towards everyone and everything, and to discover, even on an island like Phuket, those corners of paradise, untouched by mass tourism, that still exist. Here too, if you want to see with different eyes, you can find the true Thai soul, made of simple things, warmth, friendliness and....smiles.

After these small but dutiful personal considerations, let's get to the essentials and, I hope, useful things for anyone thinking of going to Phuket. FLIGHT: the choice of flight, after various options, fell on the Thai flag carrier. Ticket price in line with other carriers (about 1000 euros per person with 3 transfers) but service, comfort and punctuality decidedly better and, given the almost 11 hours of flight, that's no small thing. Something not to overlook, hoping never to need it, is the refund of the ticket down to the last cent even for a cancellation on the day of departure (with a simple medical certificate). ACCOMMODATION: we ruled out Patong to avoid staying awake until 4 in the morning and opted for a hotel, under Italian management, at Karon Beach found online (an excellent choice in terms of price, quality of service and friendliness of the whole staff).

GETTING AROUND: during the day without a shadow of a doubt the scooter. The island isn't big, all the beaches are easily reachable..... just watch out for driving on the left, you have to get the hang of it. A service not to overlook is that our hotel also rented out scooters, so we avoided the classic bureaucratic hassle (our licence is valid and the helmet is compulsory for the rider only). Riding around by scooter lets you appreciate stunning scenic corners, stop in little villages or hidden beaches, or, as happened to us, pull over to let some elephants pass or to feed a piece of bread to a curious little monkey. For getting around at night it's better to rely on the many tuk tuks; they know the whole island, they're available 24 hours a day and they don't cost much.

BEACHES: from a natural point of view they're all wonderful, even Patong despite it being undoubtedly the most crowded. Our favourite is Ya Nui Beach, just before the picturesque fishing village of Rawai. The beach isn't big, so it's little frequented, and at a certain hour of the late afternoon you can find yourself there alone. A special mention also goes to Freedom Beach, a Phuket beach reachable only by sea with their typical boats, but it's truly worth it. For the better-known islands you're spoiled for choice; there are tourist offices that organise tours daily, the important thing is to always haggle over the price. A very pleasant thing you find on all the beaches are the gazebos of the famous Thai massages..... a genuine cure-all; you rediscover a psycho-physical wellbeing you've never felt before and its benefits last over time and continue even after the holiday is over.

ENTERTAINMENT: everything you could want on the whole island....but Patong is unique. Perhaps other people will disagree with me but, personally, I must acknowledge that both in Patong and in many other more or less touristy areas of the island, we had the impression that crime (or rather petty crime) is almost non-existent. This feeling is absolutely pleasant for anyone who, like us, at least in that little parenthesis called holiday, wants to forget the various daily problems and the stress that accompanies us for much of life. FOOD: undoubtedly it's subjective; their typical cuisine may please some and not others. For us it's extraordinary; in any case no one dies of hunger, you find everything from pizza to pasta, meat, fish (...and what fish!!), vegetables, everything and more. PRICES: almost ridiculous (1 Euro = about 48 Baht).

The funny thing is that sometimes you find yourself haggling over cents.....and in the end, when you realise, you even leave a tip. In any case the art of haggling is one of their customs and so, besides being sometimes amusing, it should be respected. At this point the only thing I still feel like adding is to budget, at least once in your life, for a trip to this beautiful land, caressed by a crystal-clear sea, embraced by a lush and wonderful nature and enlivened by a unique population that, despite all the problems that may beset it, still knows how to welcome you with a SMILE. Happy travels to everyone.