All of us need a short getaway. Especially if it’s escaping to a beautiful place like Phuket.
Before you come up with excuses like: a) there is no time b) a holiday is too expensive or c) we have no time to plan for it — please continue to read this post.
The beautiful thing about budget airlines is that they make traveling so affordable. A two-way ticket to Phuket only costs S$140 (if you book early, it’s probably much cheaper), and in this modern world, booking an air-ticket online is really as simple as getting a movie ticket.
I’ve taken cruises to Phuket before, but these were usually one day trips and I never got to see much of the place. But I’m sure that most people who have been to Phuket would have heard of Patong Beach and Phuket town.
If you are telling me that you have no time to plan for a proper holiday, listen up. The choice of accommodation for this trip was only decided when we were at the airport waiting to check-in, and we just randomly chose a hotel while surfing on the ipad. How cool is that?
The one room apartment at Laguna Holiday Club Resort (3000 THB/S$140 per night) has a living room, kitchen and bedroom.
Laguna Holiday Club Phuket Resort is great! There’s free WIFI connection in the lobby, the staff are friendly, the place is spacious and it comes with a very beautiful and relaxing pool, but the only downside is that there’s only one restaurant in the hotel.
Fortunately, Laguna Phuket is a holiday paradise of deluxe hotels and villas which includes: Banyan Tree Phuket, Sheraton Grande Laguna, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Laguna Beach Resort, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort And Villas, Best Western Allamanda Laguna Phuket and Laguna Holiday Club Resort. There are free shutter services that transport guests to the other hotels, and with 30 restaurants in the area, dining really isn’t a problem.
We hopped over to Sheraton Grande Laguna, which was just opposite of Laguna Holiday Club. Entering the resort, we were greeted by an elongated walkway to the main lobby area. Big is an understatement to describe the Sheraton Grande – the resort is massive! We literally got lost while searching for the Beach restaurant Gekko and ended up at the Poolside restaurant as we were too hungry!
I thought it’s rather weird to order Italian pasta since we should be having Thai food in Phuket. But my partner was craving for it and we decided to get the Spaghetti Bolognese (340THB/S$16). The portion was huge with lots of minced meat, but it tasted pretty ordinary. On the other hand, we thoroughly enjoyed the deep-fried spring roll (190THB/S$9) with the tangy sweet sauce.
This was the only plate of Phad Thai (340THB/$16) that we had throughout the trip, and it was a shame that it wasn’t up to the mark. To be fair, I preferred the dry and light version of the Phad Thai that I had by the street-side. You know what – this is the perfect excuse for me to come back soon!
Poolside Restaurant
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket
All day dining: 10.30am – 9pm.
Wood-fired pizzas, light meals, snacks and refreshments.
Visiting Phuket without going to Patong Beach and Phuket Town
I know, you are sitting over at your side thinking: “Is he mad? How can anyone go to Phuket without visiting Patong Beach and Phuket town?” When the resort had so many facilities and there were 7 resorts under Laguna Phuket, we didn’t want to leave the Bang Tao area.
Cafe Loma is an all day dining cafe in Laguna Beach Resort which was the perfect place for us since we were looking for lunch at 3pm. Having pizza with coke and margarita by the poolside – this was simplicity at it’s best.
Cafe Loma
Laguna Beach Resort
323 Moo 2 Srisoonthorn road
Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket
Sadly, the trip was really much too short. But I’m already planning for the next trip since it’s so affordable to fly to the nearby countries. Our last meal on Phuket was a simple Thai dinner at Rim Talay restaurant. With a magnificent view overlooking the lagoon, we had Red Curry and Tom Yum Goong as we bid farewell to Phuket.
Rim Talay
Laguna Beach Resort
323 Moo 2 Srisoonthorn road
Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket
You know you want a short getaway, and I’m telling you that everyone deserves a holiday. Book the tickets and escape somewhere with your loved one, now!
Laguna Holiday Club Resort Phuket
61 Moo 4 Srisoontorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
10 Lagoona Phuket Choeng Thale, Tha Lang, Phuket
Laguna Beach Resort Phuket
323 Moo2 Srisoontorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket
I am very fond of Phuket, having visited it seven times in a space of 18 months (I know, I am a little crazy that way). My trips were usually roaring round the island on a rented motorbike, eating by the roadside, drinking with the locals, sleeping at run-of-the-mill guesthouses. Nothing fancy, but it is exactly that why I liked the island. Here’s the latest set of blog posts of my last trip to Phuket in 2008.
Glad that you enjoyed Phuket (despite whatever that happened while you were away). I wish I am still in Singapore, else I will definitely do what you did.
Nice! I love phuket too! Patong is one of my fav beach to go and the food are very nice and cheap!
BTW, is this a sponsored post?
wow.this is a great post and im definitely going there on my next trip. and with regards to the bullshit nonsense news about you,do not take it to heart. people are just feeling bitter that you have a great food blog ( which i tune into everyday) and are spouting rubbish ! still an ardent fan of yours and i believe that many out there are your fans too! JIA YOU (:
P.S i do hope you will try some food from the Margaret Drive hawker centre before they close down next year!the guo tie and clay pot chicken rice( close on tues)on the 2nd level are ULTIMATE YUMMY! Both stores are open in the evening! you wont regret it
The pool looks so inviting! I wanna be there right now!
Tough to describe what about Phuket or Thailand that makes us wanna relax and chill out for no reason, don’t you think so? I honestly want to zoom there, Right Now!
Lovely pics as usual.
This post was pretty timely for me, I’m planning a trip with the kids somewhere in the vicinity and Phuket is one option. Not sure how family friendly it is though!
Hi ladyironchef, Phuket is really a nice place! I hope to be able to head there myself by the end of this year too!
It never fails to make me feel relaxed just by looking at the pictures! 
Btw, I hope i’m not being too rude to ask..but do you have any suggestions on where I can bring my partner to for our 4th year anniversary? Any suggestions?
I took it for granted that one day I get a chance to visit Phuket, but now that I live in Europe, it seems more challenging to do so. Thanks for updating us. Phuket is indeed beautiful.
And chin up Brad
Wonderful post.
That’s the spirit, keep on blogging!!!
You r getting better n better.
razlan: wow you are really crazy, 7 times in 18 months? wow! haha but i can totally see myself doing that since airfares are so affordable right now.
Jantingtong: Hello there. You should go back again soon, we love the place! Anyway, if it’s an advertorial or sponsored post, i will usually start with the disclaimer “Advertorial” at the start or the post, or end with a note that this is a sponsored/invited review.
HL: They are closing already? OH NO! i used to go there often when i was a kid, haven been back for very long.
Yvonne: I just want to laze by the pool all day long! You know, don’t think so much. Just buy yrself a ticket and fly over, right now!
Daphne: We were deciding between Phuket and Bali but in the end we chose the former because the flight was earlier! lol Most of the hotels and resorts should be quite kids-friendly, have fun there : )
Dawn: YES YES you should! find a long weekend and book the tickets! 3D2N should be more than enough! Why don’t you drop me an email at [email protected] and let me know your budget, the type of cuisine you like, and I can give u some suggestions from there?
Lianne: Can i come over and visit you? HAHAHA
Lyd: thank you for yr kind words, stay hungry and eat up!
@ Brad – Yes, I was crazy. I totally ditched Bangkok for Phuket. And is it time for you to use Disqus for threaded comments?
I am so envious that you managed to do this. But I’ve never actually thought of budget airlines and now I am very curious about how to find one. Please tell me? I want to do something like this sometime soon.
No prob Brad, my pleasure. You know where to find me
Did you book the hotel through a 3rd party website or go straight to the hotel itself?
I like this post,Phuket are amazing place,beach,food…everything look amazing!!!
razlan: hahah thanks for the suggestion, i’m comfortable with the current format : )
Eli: heh will reply you in email!
Lianne: Thanks!
Alicia: We went straight to the hotel from the airport. It will be advisable to book it online, but it’s more adventurous to do it our way :p
nita: thank you, do take a trip to Phuket for a short getaway : )
Thanks for a great article I really enjoyed reading it.
Laguna Phuket resort is very nice clean and the people are friendly. VERY nice hotel with helpful staff.
The Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort & Spa (formerly Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket where you had your meal pool side and part of the laguna hotel complex)has been closed for renovations and upgrade for the past few months. The upgrade was to the tune of several hundred million Thai Baht. This resort will be open to welcome guests from early December 2011 and promises to be something quite spectacular. With this in mind one can of course expect the food to be gastronomical. Maybe it is time for you for another trip to Phuket, test the food and take some snaps.
Nice resort and all food look delicious!!
Thanks for good story. It’s awesome and make me wanna go too!!!
I would want to visit Phuket someday.