Phuket

Phuket's wide variety of shopping options will thrill shopaholics. Explore bustling open air markets and street stalls to find handcrafted souvenirs, or escape the heat in a luxury shopping centre (or two!).

For something a bit different, Nui Cowboy (463 Th Patak) offers shoppers custom-made leather jackets, bags, belts and more, while Metal Art (Th Rat Uthit) showcases robotic sculptures and homewars made from scrap-metal car parts. /p>

Inspired by flavours from India, Indonesia and Malaysia, to name just a few, Thai cuisine is as delicious as it is varied. 

Don't miss out on a visit to Phuket's many food markets, where you'll be able to buy everything from fresh fruit to hot barbequed seafood with sticky rice. But make sure you also check out Phuket's increasingly respectable upscale dining scene - pay a visit to French-inspired Breeze (228 Moo 7, Paklok, Cape Yamu), where you'll find the 'best brunch on the island', according to some. If you're inclined to try as much food as you can whilst you're in Phuket, Blue Elephant (96 Krabi Road, Tambon Talad Neua, Muang) offers diners 'a little of everything' with their set menu - and even the chance to have cooking lessons to allow you to recreate what you've eaten when you're back at home!

April

Water Festival

Thailand's annual Water Festival is literally a giant water fight, where visitors are invited to join the locals and get soaked. A chance to cool down during one of the hottest times of the year, no one is safe from a soaking as water balloons, hoses, buckets and water guns are used in abandon. Whilst the festival takes place all over Thailand to celebrate the Lunar New Year, in Phuket a colourful parade takes place before the traditional release of birds and fish. 

April

Gay Pride Festival

Phuket's Gay Pride Festival is considered to be the best in Thailand - or maybe even in Southeat Asia. Join in with revellers for the four-day party, which comprises of beauty contests, floats, volleyball tournaments and cruises to nearby islands. 

September-October

Vegetarian Festival

This event marks the beginning of 'Taoist Lent', where devout followers abstain from consuming meat, meat products and alcohol. Devotees make their way down the streets with their cheeks pierced with knives, swords, and all manners of objects, as the deafening sound of firecrackers fills the air. You'll have to see it to believe it. 

Phuket’s natural beauty offers spectacular views from any hotel, so even if you’re planning to keep costs low, you’re guaranteed a five-star landscape in the morning. However, if you’d rather splash out you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck as Phuket is very reasonably priced. Those in search of ultimate luxury should consider the Splash Beach Resort which boasts an idyllic location on Mai Khao beach and top-class facilities – including its own waterpark.