Sunday, October 13, 2013

Reviews - Chris from Australia

Gents,

Just a very brief note to express, once again, our gratitude for the tours and activities that you and Tee arranged for our recent trip to Phuket with the kids.

Both the Kerr’s and our family thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  The kids loved Tee (I think both Karen and Liz did as well), his friendly out going personality typifies what we expect each and every time we contact you for help.  Tee really made our ½ day island tour very special by taking the time to explain to us, amongst all of the activities we did that day, the significance, intricacies and lifestyle of the Monks at Wat Chalong, then topped off the experience by having us make an offering and to getting blessed by a Monk.  The kids are still talking about it.  He put up with a lot that day (and the previous day when we had to reschedule due to the kids getting ill), especially being able to find the Phong Phang Seafood restaurant from my poor description of how to get there!

The over night stay at the P.P. Erawan Palms Resort was the highlight of the trip for us.  The accommodation, ferry trip on the Royal Jet Cruiser, pick up and return to Katathani was brilliant.  Tee spent a lot of time arranging this trip (not sure whether he did this direct or via yourselves) and we will be eternally grateful for his efforts.

Our diving day to Racha Yai didn’t quite go to plan (no one can control the weather) however Riccardo and crew did a fantastic job of getting Karen and the kids comfortable, and getting Peter and myself in the water.  I’ll never want to dive Thailand again unless it’s on MV Sai Mai……what a great vessel.  Seriously, Riccardo really looked after the needs of those who were suffering from sea sickness whilst trying to get a couple of decent dives in.

Lastly our night at FantaSea was a great night.  The kids loved it.  The Mums loved it!  I’m afraid I’ve done it again, forgotten the name of the driver, but he was a delight, a very funny and entertaining man.

We will of course have absolutely no hesitation in recommending your services to any of our friends or colleagues travelling to Thailand.

Anyway, thanks again, all of you have helped us have a brilliant holiday.

Chris


Friday, October 11, 2013

Phuket weather 9 and 10 October 2013

Last two days deserve a mention because weather was really good.

On the 9th we saw some more rain but definitely today was a great day with blue sky, no wind and a hot sun. Phuket is getting busy as the good season coming close and a lot of people enjoyed the beaches and sea today.
Patong Beach - Thailand
Patong Beach on 10 October 2013

specially good for those that arrived this week. remember that swimming is still dangerous off  West Coast. This will stay until wind changes direction blowing from North East and bringing dry and fresh air to Phuket. Normally between mid October and first week of November.
Patong Beach - Phuket
Sunset at Patong Beach on 10 October 2013

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Phuket Weather 7 and 8 October 2013

Yesterday was better than previous days. During afternoon even a bit of Sun. But overall was a cloudy and rainy day. In Phuket Town show keep going and now the Phuket Vegetarian Festival really kicked in with parades and most important events all around the island.
Phuket Town - Jui Tui Junction
Jui Tui Junction - Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2013


Yes this despite rain that today started falling down again. Strong wind and big waves left boats with no choices and they stayed ashore. Situation should improve from the 10th with more Sun and less wind.
Patong Beach  - Phuket
Jet skies sty on sand - Patong Beach 8 October

Phuket Weather 8 October 2013
Patong beach - 8 October 2013

However is nothing strange for October. Remember to check your pick up time for your Phuket airport transfers for departure flights. The Parades, events and floods create traffic jams and get to airport can be difficult, taking a very long time. We suggest to always plan your pick up at hotel at least three hours before flight departure time for Phuket airport transfers.

Tomorrow will be time for Ta Ruea Shrine near Heroin Monument for their Parade and traffic will be slow and jammed in the morning.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Phuket weather 4 to 6 October 2013 - Phuket vegetarian festival

After three days of really heavy rain this evening seems more quiet so activities for most important event in Phuket Island can go ahead.

On 4th October the Phuket Vegetarian Festival as officially started and during the night at the Shrines "lantern Poles" where raised to show the way to Emperor Gods that have descended to Earth. Firecrackers and fireworks lighted the dark sky, despite the rain.
Phuket Vegetarian festival - Ban bang Niaw Shire
Ban Bang Niaw Shrine - Phuket Town

During next nine days there will be processions and activities all around the island. The tradition says that people should purify their bodies and minds during this time. Food will be vegan, also some flavors such as onions and garlic are forbidden.

Some couple will even sleep in different houses to rejoin only on 14 October. That night will mark the end of Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Until then no alcohol and no smoking for those that adhere to the festival.

Everyone will ask other around "will you eat Je?". "Je" (the e sound like in wet) means follow the Chinese tradition and for nine days eat only vegan food, no alcohol, no smoking. Purify your body and your mind.

Can also decide to just do it for just last even, five or three days of the festival that will see many of Phuket resident busy all day looking for the vegan food offered on the streets and in the restaurants.

Phuket vegetarian festival   - vegan food in Phuket
Food stalls in Phuket Town 5th October 2013

Around Phuket predominant color will be Yellow and red, many houses from Chinese descendants will be open to people to pray and give offers to Gods. Will be a lot of people wearing white to gain a better state of purification.
Phuket vegetarian festival
Chinese Tradinotial altar in Phuket Town

Side of this also are famous the parades that everyday, starting from the 7th, ill go from the Shrines into Phuket Town. Those elected and been possessed by the many spirits that have come down will perform during the parades with sharp objects passing through their cheeks.

And those in trance will bless and give fortune to the thousand believer and standers.

Nobody will mind if rain or hot, dry or flooded streets will wait for them.
Phuket vegetarian festival
Chinese Gods

The festival doesn't have fix dates need to check the lunar calendar this year it starts with new Moon on 4th October.

For more information and the schedule of Phuket Vegetarian Festival 


Seaview Patong Hotel - Patong holiday packages

The Seaview Patong hotel is  just a few metres from the beach in the quiet southern part of Patong Beach and all the rooms look out over the Andaman Sea.

Though the hotel is in the quiet part of Patong Beach it is still only a few minutes walk from the centre of Patong's nightlife, Soi Bangla.

This location of this hotel is ideal central location for all the tours around Phuket as well as to Phi Phi, Phang Nga, the Similan Islands and Khaosok


  • A very family friendly resort right on Patong beach.
  • Simply cross the road to get to the beach. 
  • The  Swimming pool has a childrens section and there is also a kids club, fitness centre and Spa on site
  • Wifi is available throughout the hotel


A quiet beach front resort very close to the heart of Patong.

Enjoy your holidays at The Seaview Patong Hotel starting from
3,750 Thai Baht per person
Three days two nights

Inclusive of private return airport transfer (Phuket Airport), two nights accommodation in twin or double sharing Superior Room with breakfast, tax and insurance

Single supplement 3,750 Thai Baht

For information and booking don't hesitate to ask Easy Day Thailand team


How to get there - from Phuket airport you take the main highway south towards the centre of the highway, then following the signs for the beaches turn onto the bypass road. At the big Tesco Lotus intersection turn right following the sign "Patong Beach", then keep going straight for about 8 Km and over the hill to reach Patong. At the bottom of the hill turn right and then turn left into the first road past the Mosque (Rathuthit 200 Pi Road).  Continue all the way to the end of this road and then turn right on to Prachanukhro Rd heading towards the beach and then turn left on to Thaweewong road the hotel is about 300 metres along the road on the left side.
Seaview Patong Hotel
2 Taweewong Road, Patong Beach
Phuket 83150 Thailand
For more information about Phuket see our travel guide


If you have been at this hotel please leave your comment

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Phuket Weather 1st to 3rd October 2013

This should be last month of rain and monsoon. Its is the traditional school holidays in Thailand because heavy rain is expected so better reduce activities and traffic.

That the good news here in Phuket at least it is easy go around, when roads are free from water.

So must say nothing special despite the amount of water falling from sky is sometime impressive. Showers can last for one or two hours with very heavy rain.

Nice blue sky and sunny weather change in few hours into dark clouds and heavy rain. As we have in first three days of October in Phuket.  On the 1ts was a good day with some rain in the morning, can see from Phuket fishing park picture down here. A nice and relaxing activities during holiday, definitely something different and fun.
Phuket fishing park
Phuket Fishing Park on 1st October 2013

Then on second October was a beautiful day with a bit of wind some clouds but almost sun shining all day.

During the night heavy rain started and keep going all day, so the river we use a reference was clearly showing the amount of water was falling from sky.
Phuket waterfall
Kathu Waterfall river - 2nd October 2013

Kathu Waterfall - Phuket
Kathu Waterfall river - 2nd October 2013

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Doing It Your Way - Phuket private tours

There are many different tours to Phang Nga and Phang Nga Bay: White water rafting, Elephant trekking, visiting waterfalls, Sea Canoeing and sightseeing by longtail boat or speedboat. But one thing these tours all have in common is a rigid schedule and itinerary to allow them to transport all the guests from activity to activity in the available time. This is fine, especially as the prices are often very reasonable but it can sometimes detract from the experience, especially if you have someone in the tour group being difficult or unpleasant.

What we have found living here is that it isn't so much the quantity that makes for a great day out but the quality. What you don't want is to be squeezed into the last seat on a boat or bus, spend ages in the bus picking up and dropping off everyone , made to leave a sight before you've really properly seen it or worst of all made to rush a meal.
Kapong Thailand
If like can follow the group

So how do you avoid these problems? That's an easy one!

Do It Yourself

But you don't know the sights, you don't have transport and you don't speak the language.
How can I do it myself!?!
Hot springs in Kapong - Thailand
Or try to get lost in a beautiful place

Another easy one: Let us at Easy Day Thailand Do It Your Way

We provide what you need:
Transport - Our luxury mini-van with driver
Local knowledge and language skills – our English speaking Thai tour guide

You decide on the exact itinerary, our guide will offer some advice and suggest places to go based on your likes and dislikes.
Khao Sok River - Thailand
make your holiday a great experience

The schedule is not just flexible – it is non-existent, you have no time to be at a particular place, if you have seen all you want to see of a place – move on, if you want to stay and take some more pictures – stay.

Our guide will do their best to avoid the crowds created by other tours and as the tour is so flexible the order in which you see things can be changed on the fly to adapt to the crowds on that particular day.

This is what tourism should be, seeing what you want to see in your own time and taking home fond memories of a truly magnificent place

Are you planning your vacation now or are you already here in Thailand? Perhaps enjoying some time relaxing in Phuket. You want something different, you want to see another part of this beautiful country, but not sure where or how to set it all up. Well we here at Easy DayThailand  can help you design a custom tour.
Racha Yai Island - Thailand
Beautiful place at the right time

So if you are serious about your next or this vacation being a memorable one for the whole family do not hesitate to contact us here at Easy Day Thailand to arrange a customised private tour for you.

We currently run regular private tours to Phang Nga, Khao Sok , sightseeing on Phuket Island.

We also run private day trips,overnight trips and Sunset dinner cruises on our snorkelling/diving boat the MV Sai Mai.
 
Phuket sunset cruise and dinner
Unique experience with MV Sai mai

And if you like to learn how to cook Thai Food try our very special private cooking class in Phuket

Coming soon: Private speedboat day trips on Easy Day's very own speedboat
Easy Day Thailand - Phuket
The team makes your holidays great

Your satisfaction and happiness is our business. Kap Khum Krap for your support

Phuket Weather September 2013

Not much to say this month, we were expecting rain and clouds but at the it was quiet "dry".

More storms and heavy showers because of tropical storms on the South China sea rather then constantly raining and heavy rains, During past year many times in September we saw floods and rivers growing bigger. This disappointed those affected but it is also true that need the rain now o build up Phuket island water reserve.

The Bang Wad Dam and Reservoir in Kathu is now almost full but need more to be sure thee will be enough water during the dry winter.
Bang Wad Dam and Reservoir

Another unusual thing was the strong wind, in September usually wind is weak and this why sky can be cover of clouds for days. This time meteorological events were more violent with strong wind and high waves.

Tomorrow is October last month of raining period lets see what Mother Nature will decide to do.

If like to have a look on what happen in September in Phuket here below the weather reports.

Phuket weather 28 to 30 September 2013

September closed with storms and rain, actually rain should be normal during this months but this year wasn't much as expected.

We stared the month keeping an eye on the Kathu Waterfall river, normally in September this small river swallows and its level increase up to three meters deep. This year he stayed at same low level. almost as in dry season.
Kathu Waterfall - Phuket
The river is still at low level

Last weekend anyway there were heavy showers and wind was strong with rain and big waves at sea, this because the Tropical Storm Wutip that is now flooding with heavy rain North East and central Thailand.
Kathu Hills - Phuket
The sky this morning in Kathu

Situation in Phuket should go back to weak wind and almost calm seas in a couple of days.

Now we will see if October will bring some more rain, as we need it to be sure no water shortage will happen in January or February.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Phuket Holiday Packages

Selected Phuket Holiday Packages featured by Easy Day Thailand. Our packages cover small and big hotels, budget options to 5 star resorts all over Phuket Island.

Patong Beach packages

Karon Beach packages 

Rawai Beach packages

Phuket Town packages

Phuket Airport packages


More about our hotels including prices you find on EasyDayPhuket.com