Do not leave your travel arrangements for the nth hour when you plan a trip to Phuket island resort. You will not be able to get good deals with travel guides or from recommended local communities.  Research and filter the search and look for good Phuket hotels and holiday villas on the island.

The resorts in Phuket range from quiet to noisy. Opt for the quiet holiday villas, or resorts that are situated on the East coast and neighboring islands that lie between Phuket and Krabi, or if you prefer the livelier types of resorts, you can select anyone that lies on the west coast. Some of the exclusive holiday resorts and villas in Phuket can be found on the east coast near Phang Nga Bay National Park and the surrounding islets.

World-class five star hotels are available on the beach in Phuket, which offer great service and facilities. For visitors, who wish to explore the various types of exotic foods, several isolated islets around Phuket offer great varieties and comfortable stays. Families can avail of large holiday villas which can be rented for a couple of months.

The white sandy beaches are a great attraction for tourists who arrive in hordes to Phuket. Various gold courses and diving spots are available for those who wish to partake of interesting activities. The limestone cliffs rise tall in Phang Nga Bay and people go there just to view the spectacular karst formations. The James Bond Island, where the movie, “The Man with a Golden Gun’ was shot, is also a tourist spot.  One can view the various rock formations and the famous pinnacle. The Sea Gypsy Island is comprised of a big rock and the entire village is built over the water, with stilts, that is a great tourist attraction. Apart from these, there are many temples, museums and natural national parks for people to enjoy.

The elite and rich generally enjoy Phuket holidays as they find the attractions and food fascinating. However, people who are on a budget can also choose accommodation where they do not have to pay more than $250 per day for four members. You can expect to spend about THB 35,000 or roughly $1,143 per night if you can stretch your budget and have a great holiday.

Coconut Island is a village where one can purchase a villa for private ownership so many investors and foreign businessmen can own their own house and enjoy their Phuket holidays. Make sure you get good deals to ensure that your holidays to Thailand are hassle free and you have a great time.

The party island – Koh Phangnan
Famous for its Full Moon parties, Koh Phangnan is a Mecca for party-loving souls. A massive 10,000-20,0000 people paint their bodies with colourful UV paint and descend on Had Rin Nok beach each month to dance to international and Thai DJs until the sun rises. During the day, the white sand beaches and calm turquoise waters are a great place to recover from the night before and prepare for the next night’s party!

The ecological island – Koh Lao Ling
This tiny island has just one resort and it is fairly basic – tents on the beach, no air conditioning, shared bathrooms and cold showers. However, this ecological approach means that the island stays as beautiful as it always was and guests are rewarded for not being offered five-star luxury with an incredible back-to-nature experience. You may be sleeping in a tent but you will be right on the beach, the waves lapping just metres from you, with shade provided by a naturally growing forest. Rates are fantastically cheap and include board, three meals and the use of kayaks and snorkelling gear.

The barefoot luxury island – Koh Kood
200 miles southeast of bustling Bangkok, in the Gulf of Thailand, lies the small island of Koh Kood, home to less than 2,000 people, a smattering of coconut plantations and a few sleepy fishing villages. OK, Koh Kood has budget accommodation too but it does luxury so well, it deserves a spot on this list. Take the Soneva Kiri, whose enormous villas are surrounded by lush jungle, pristine beaches and fantastic snorkelling potential over the stunning coral gardens. Personal butlers, an outdoor cinema to watch films under the stars, an incredible observatory from which you can gaze at Saturn’s rings, and 24/7 chocolate and ice cream bars make this resort truly luxurious.

The getting-away-from-it-all island – Koh Adang
Accessible only via longtail boat, Thailand’s remote Koh Adang offers a holiday in splendid isolation. Perfect especially in peak season when most of Thailand’s beaches are packed with holiday-makers, this pristine island near Koh Lipe in the Andaman Sea boasts spectacular waterfalls, lush jungle, pure white sand beaches and incredible coral. Part of a protected marine national park, infrastructure is limited but simple huts and tents can be hired overnight.

Cost and Budgeting in Phuket
Phuket is more expensive than most of the rest of Thailand, with the island covered with expensive resorts, hotels, and restaurants. While it is still possible for a backpacker to visit Phuket, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make it on a shoestring budget. One can get by on $30-$35/day, but street food, limited activities, and less than favorable accommodations will be the norm. It is more realistic to set aside at least $50/day for Phuket, more if you plan on eating on out or enjoying the activities that Phuket has to offer.

Things to Do in Phuket
It’s no secret that the beaches are what draws a record number of visitors to Phuket each year. The west coast of the island is where the beaches are, ranging from popular, crowded and expensive to secluded and peaceful:

Ao Band Thao: home to mega resorts and a picturesque 8km long crescent shaped, white sand beach
Hat Kamala: one of the prettiest beaches and hardest hit by the tsunami. There are newer resorts on Kamala that can provide a good deal
Patong: the largest resort beach that is most popular and most crowded. If you’re looking for nightlife, look no further than Patong, sometimes described as next Pattaya. Take that for what it’s worth.
Hat Nai Thon/Hat Nai Yang: quiet and secluded on the northwestern coast of the island in Sirinat National Park. Lost of space and quiet, especially during the week.
Hat Surin and Pansea Beach: described as “the next big thing” in Phuket. Some top end resorts mixed in with other, more affordable options. Getting more and more crowded.
Kata Beach: busy, clean, beach with lots of tourists. Good for surfing and nightlife. If you want to sleep, stay at nearby Karon beach, just a short cab ride from Kata.
Karon: second most developed beach behind Patong. Developing rapidly, but still has a sense of isolation. Not far from Kata Beach, which has more of a nightlife.
Nai Ham: one of the least crowded and least developed beaches that is located on the southern end of the island.
Kalim Beach: Small beaches just north of Patong
There are also dozens of small islands between Phuket and Krabi. Ko Bon, Ko Hae, Ko Lon, Ko Mai Thon, Ko Maphrao, Ko Racha, Ko Sue, and Ko Yao are among them.

If scuba diving is your passion, then Phuket is the place for you. Phuket has the largest diving center in Thailand. Most dive sites are off islands close to Phuket, and distances are fairly short. Racha Yai is the most popular dive site in the Phuket because of its sloping rocky reefs and its multitude of solid coral forests. There is an exciting wreck about 25-35 meters down in Ter Bay. Racha Noi, south of Racha Yai, is a haven for experienced divers. The currents are stronger and the depths are greater. Phuket also has good snorkeling locations located off many of the most popular beaches.
You can also take part in many other activities on any of Phuket’s beaches. Surfing, swimming, sailing and yachting, windsurfing, and deep sea fishing are just a sampling of the activities available to tourists visiting Phuket. Rent kayaks on any of Phuket’s main beaches and paddle out to sea. If you want to get out for some exercise, get away from the beaches for a while to experience day hikes to several waterfalls located on the island. If you want to vary your activities, you can always check out the Phuket Aquariam in Cape Panawa, FantaSea, also known as the Disney Land of Southeast Asia, the butterfly farm, and the Chalong Temple.

Weather: The climate in Phuket is tropical with consistent average temperatures. Highs average highs of 29-33C (84-91F) and lows of 23-26C (73-79F). Rainy season is May-October and dry season runs November-April.

Cost and Budgeting for Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is more expensive than most of the rest of Thailand, with the island covered with expensive resorts, hotels, and restaurants. While it is still possible for a backpacker to visit Koh Phi Phi, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make it on a shoestring budget. One can get by on $30-$35/day, but street food, limited activities, and less than favorable accommodations will be the norm. It is more realistic to set aside at least $50/day, more if you plan on eating out or enjoying activities like diving.

Things to Do in Koh Phi Phi
Hiking: Hike up to the Viewpoint, which is a very steep walk that takes only about 15-20 minutes, depending on your fitness level. Once at the top, you are rewarded with a breathtaking view of the entire island. It’s particularly spectacular at dawn or sunset. You can also hike to Monkey Beach (it also accessible by renting a canoe or chartering a longtail boat). The monkeys can sometimes be aggressive, so use caution and never feed them.
Beaches: Yao Beach offers travelers fantastic views, scenery and coral reefs. If snorkeling or diving is your thing, this is a great place to visit. This small beach is packed with places to stay and can seem over developed. You can reach Yao Beach by walking from Ton Sai, or you can take a long-tail boat.

• You can walk to Lanti Beach from Yao Beach, and it is very similar with its great scenery and coral reefs.
• If you’re looking for solitude, there aren’t many more places on Koh Phi Phi to find it, but Hin Khao Beach is extremely quiet and can only be reached on foot.
• Ao Ton Sai in Ton Sai Bay is the place to go for action. It offers many restaurants, bars, hotels and guesthouses. Most travelers stay at Ton Sai Bay because it is convenient. It isn’t the most beautiful place on Phi Phi, but it is still quite impressive.
• Phi Phi Leh is the second largest of the Phi Phi Islands and is pristine and beautiful. You are not allowed to stay overnight. The Phaya Naak Cave and its prehistoric paintings are a main attraction here, but Maya Bay is why most tourists come to Phi Phi Leh. It has arguably Phi Phi’s most picturesque beach and was where the movie The Beach was filmed in 1998.

Diving: Phi Phi Leh is a fabulous place for divers, but it’s not the place for beginners. Experienced divers will find a multitude of marine life in the bay.

• Ko Pida Nok and nearby Ko Pida Nai both have an abundance of coral and are home to a variety of marine life like leopard sharks, turtles and moray eels. They are both very popular dive spots.
• Wang Long is well known for its vast system of underwater caves. Only experienced divers should go here.
• Perhaps the most popular dive site in the region is King Cruiser Wreck. It has remnants of a passenger ship that sunk in 1997 after it hit the Anemone reef, which is unique dive site in itself. It has a massive limestone pinnacle and is well-known for its variety of sea anemones and attracts huge schools of fish like tropicals, snappers, grouper, and larger game-fish like tuna and barracuda. You may be lucky enough to see the occasional leopard shark.
• Lohsamah Bay is popular for night-time divers with a sandy bottom that has oysters and clams. There is also a fifteen meter deep canyon that is wide enough for single file swimming.

Weather in Koh Phi Phi
Weather in Koh Phi Phi is tropical with only two seasons. The hot season runs from January to April, and the rainy season goes from May to December. Temperatures are steady during the year and average about 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 89.6°F). Annual rainfall averages 2568.5mm.

Cost and Budgeting for the Gili Islands
Indonesia is a cheap destination and the Gili Islands are no exception. You can stay on the Gili Islands for around 20 USD per day. A budget of about 30-40 USD per day will allow you more comfort as well as lots of diving. While the diving is inexpensive, multiple dive trips can add up so be sure to budget for that. There is one ATM on Gili Trawangan. Credit cards are accepted at the more upscale shops as well as all dive shops. Some will also arrange credit card advances but the fee is usually 7-10%.

Thing to do on the Gili Islands
Scuba Diving- The Gili islands are famous for their world class dive sites, with an impressive assorrtment of sea creatures, coral, and plant life, such as green and hawksbill turtles, manta rays, and bumphead parrotfish. Visibility is commonly in the 15-20m range. However, due to the exposed position of the Gilis, keep in mind currents can be quite strong and drift diving is the norm.
Snorkeling- You can rent masks and fins on the beach and you can swim right off shore. For trips to the reef, the dive shops arrange snorkeling trips. A daily snorkeling program usually involves a 10AM departure and 4PM return that includes a few spots around the three islands and a long lunch break.
Surfing- The surfing on the Gili Island is also amazing and Gili Trawangan has a fast right wind that can create huge waves with the right conditions. The best waves are during high tide. The underlying reef can be sharp so make sure you cover your skin.
Relax- If none of these activities suit your fancy, just relax. There isn’t much to do here and you can enjoy a cheap and somewhat unspoiled tropical paradise.

Gili Islands Weather
The Gilis are drier and hotter than nearby Lombok. The evenings are cool and refreshing and air-con is often not needed. The rainy season lasts from November to April. The islands lies just south of the equator and has a tropical monsoon climate with two seasons: wet (October to March) and dry (May to September). The temperature here is usually around 34 C.

Cost and Budgeting for the Maldives
The Maldives are not a cheap place for a vacation. It’s a luxury holiday destination. Aside from the capital of Mahe, there are no hotels here- just expensive resorts. A typical week stay at a mid-range resort will run about US$2,000 per couple. Some of the cheaper resorts will be around US$75 per person per day in the low season. However, a double room typically will cost at least US$100 per day. Diving costs vary from resort to resort but expect to pay US$350 for ten dives. You should budget another US$40 per day for activities if you want to do more than just relax on a beach. On the resorts, you don’t need any cash as everything is simply charged to your room. Tipping is generally discouraged in the Maldives as resorts simply add a 10% service charge to your bill.

Things to do in The Maldives
Learn to Scuba Dive/Snorkel- The Maldives have some of the world’s finest dive locations. Around all the islands are amazing reefs where you can see a plethora of fish. There are three great places to go: Fish Head, with its steep sides supporting sea fans, fish, and beautiful coral. Banana Reef, another great dive site and a great place to snorkel. Maldive Victory, a cargo ship that sank in 1981 and provides a home for abundant new coral, sponges, and schools of fish.
Pamper Yourself- These all inclusive resorts feature wonderful spas, health centers, tennis courts, and kitchens. Order some top class cuisine, pamper yourself in the spa, get a massage, or some good exercise. You are in paradise- treat yourself!
Beach Activities- There are a number of beach activities to do from parasailing to kayaking to jet skiing. These trips can be arranged by your resort.
Eat with the Locals- Male has some excellent restaurants where you can try the local food. It’s a good change from the resort food and will give you an appreciation for the culture. The food is typically Muslim and uses a lot of spices and fish as the majority of the population here is Muslim

Maldives Weather
The Maldives have two monsoon seasons: one occurs during December to April and the other during June to August. The wet season in the Maldives goes from mid-May to November. The best time to vacation in the Maldives is during the dry season from December to April. The temperature varies from place to place but, generally, the islands are around the mid-30 C during the day.

Cost and Budgeting for Bali
A vacation to Bali won’t cost you that much money as the country it is part of (Indonesia) is very cheap. For those backpacking, US$20 a day is enough to survive on while still having some fun. For those looking for nicer quarters and more activities, you will need US$40-50 per day. After that, the sky’s the limit. Bali has an amazing range of accommodation from the US$3 a night guesthouses to luxury hotels costing thousands per night. Bali, in addition, is packed with things to do, so if you’re planning on doing more than just sitting on a beach, you’ll find that the majority of luxury Bali hotels offer a range of activities – from snorkeling and diving to horse riding and trekking through the jungle.

Thing to do on Bali
Go Shopping-Bali has great shopping and local art. There are fine textiles, designer fashions, customized jewelry, exquisite art, handicrafts, and furniture.  Bali is Home to innumerable galleries and private studios where quality works of arts by Balinese masters and aspiring artists are available for sale.
Go Hiking- There are a lot of mountains and hills in Bali that make for great hiking. You can traverse rice terraces and tropical jungles that make for a great alternative to the beach.
Relax in a hot spring-There are several hot springs on Bali and they are a great way to relax your body after hard day in the sun, surf, or hiking in the jungle.
Pamper yourself at a spa- Bali is paradise for spa lovers and all sorts of treatments are widely available, but the Balinese lulur body scrub with herbs and spices is particularly popular. There’s no better way to pamper your body and soul than with the magical touches of spa treatments. Find out for yourself why some of Bali’s spas have been voted the world’s best.
Get married- Balinese weddings are now very popular as they can be done a lot cheaper than traditional weddings. Full wedding services are widely available in Bali and there are about ten wedding chapels in Bali. They cost about a fourth of what they would in the West.
Scuba dive/Snorkel- Bali is surrounded by extensive coral reefs and has many amazing dive sites. There are a few wrecks around the islands too. If diving if not your thing, you can always snorkel.
Learn to surf- Bali is a surfer’s paradise with some of the best waves in the world.
People flock to the beaches to hang ten. The southern coast around Kuta and Nusa Dua are the primary places to learn how to surf. Beginners will find the gentle waves on Kuta. It’s easy to find teachers- you’ll find surf instructors lounging around the beach.
Visit Pura Ulun Danu Bratan- Located in the northern part of the island, this important Hindu-Buddhist temple was founded in the 17th century and is actually built on small islands. It’s a very popular destination for tourists on the island
Eat Well- Bali spoils their visitors for choice. There is great local and international restuarants all over the island. Whatever your culinary needs, Bali has it.

Bali Weather
Bali has a tropical climate which is hot all year. There are dry and wet seasons – dry from April to October and Wet from October to March – but it can rain at any time of year and even during the wet season rain is likely to pass quickly. The best time to go to Bali is April-October during the dry season on the island as November-March is the rainy season in Bali.