8 Activities To Add To Your Phuket, Thailand Group Trip Itinerary
The Thailand Hotties Takeover Made It Out Of The Group Chat
Sawasdee Krab, fellow beautiful people! Join me as I recap the amazing adventure of Jewel’s Twenty Fine birthday group trip to Phuket, Thailand. Last year May 2023 we celebrated the fabulous twenty-fifth birthday of my dear friend Jewel. From exciting interactions while swimming with the elephants to dancing the night away at Sugar Phuket. Our 13-day adventure in the Land of Smiles was a celebration of culture, friendship, and unforgettable moments.
In the year 2023 alone I traveled to 4 countries and had the hottest summer full of excitement and fun experiences. My friend Jewel sent out her birthday invitations for her group trip to Thailand back in November of 2022. To confirm and hold our spots we each had to pay a deposit of $200. If you decided last minute you no longer wanted to attend then you would forfeit your deposit. In which I thought was a very smart idea. The group chat originally started with I believe 13 or 14 people. But only 10 of us made it out of the chat. Bare in mind that we were splitting the cost based on the confirmed headcount and deposits paid. However, I would just like to add that if you know financially you are not in a position to afford a trip abroad before you say yes think about the expenses and how it will affect the planning process. Don’t be selfish and drop out 1 month or a few weeks before the trip. It’s inconsiderate and unfair to those who have already put money down.
I honestly commend Jewel because the trip was organized very well from the beginning. She went the extra mile to make sure each of us were accommodated and felt included in the planning process. She created a group chat with everyone who was invited and then informed us to download the app Plannet. This app is genius, it gives you the financial breakdown and itinerary all in one app. You can add your Airbnb to the itinerary, add time slots for each activity, see the cost of each restaurant and excursion, and also connect with locals via the app.
Be sure to download the app Plannet.io to curate the trip itinerary and keep track of the individual financial obligations in the app.
To: JFK > Germany (10 hour layover) > Singapore > Phuket, Thailand
From: Phuket, Thailand > Bangkok, Thailand > Abu Dhabi > JFK
We left JFK on May 9th in the evening and landed the next day at Frankfurt airport. Our 10 hour layover in Germany was super long but we made the best of it. We took a train ride into a local town shopping center, ate lunch and shopped around. It was my second time in Germany. My German is not the greatest and had a hard time navigating the train system. We eventually figured it out. Have you ever showered in the airport? It was quite the experience, think of showering in the gym or a spa, that is what it felt like. Frankfurt airport had the nap pods I wanted to try out because I was sooo sleepy but they all were booked.
As we touched down in Thailand, all I remember was that the air was thick and it was extremely HOT!! Our home for the trip, a luxurous villa booked via Air BnB, that sat high up on a hill and came with a scenic view of Phuket.
Check out our Phuket, thailand Itinerary below:
Ma Doo Bua Cafe
This restaurant is one of the top instagrammable places in Thailand. The aesthetic and overall tranquility is extremely aesthetically pleasing. For just 500 Baht and up, you can get drone photos and videos taken of you and share to your instagram. You are on a boat in the middle of an oasis of lily pads and a drone flies over your head, you have to be quick to strike a pose. The cafe offers meals as well, but in my opinion the food was not the best in comparison to the food we ate at other locations. I was honestly just there for the aesthetics and photo opps.
Big Buddha
Please note this is spiritual grounds, be respectful and be mindful of your outfit choice for this day. Cover up, dress modest, and wear flats or sneakers because you will be doing a lot of walking. The guards at the front will direct you to get a scarf for sale if you are not appropriately dressed. The Big Buddha offered panoramic views of Phuket and a sense of spiritual serenity. The intricate details of the statue, standing at 45 meters tall, were awe-inspiring. The surrounding temple grounds provided a peaceful retreat, allowing us to reflect on the beauty of Thai culture. This is a hot spot for tourists it does get crowded just be aware of your surroundings and enjoy the beauty the statue brings.
Swimming with the Elephants
After learning that the elephants are maltreated and we are not supposed to be on their backs, I was hesistant to go. I know there are sanctuaries that take care of their elephants, however we already booked the excursion to the swim with the elephants at the beach. The elephants are trained very well and the trainers will tell the elephants to splash you, smack your butt with their trunk, or give you a kiss. The area in the water where the “swimming” takes place, is not that sanitary becuase the same water you take pictures with the elephants is where the elephants deficate. I personally was not too fond of this excursion but the photos came out super cute. Bare in mid the walk down and up from the beach is long and if you are not in any condition to walk that long and far think twice before booking. Whew chile, it was hot and tiresome.
Tiger Kingdom Phuket
Our next adventure took us to the Tiger Kingdom in Phuket, where we shared ooohs and awwws at the baby cubs. From playful cubs to the adults tigers, interacting with these cats up close was both exhilarating and humbling. It was an experience that left me with a appreciation for wildlife. I was extremely nervous to take pictures with the tigers. Once I learned the tigers were sedated and the trainers are there to ensure you are okay, I calmed down. I enjoyed taking pictures with the tigers more than the elephants to be honest.
Yacht Day - Shades of Brown
Jewel celebrated her birthday on the Yacht with balloons and a chef. The theme was for everyone to wear bathing suits in shades of brown because her last name is Brown which was such a cute idea. Unfortunately on this day I was not feeling well at all. I was coming down with a cold due to the tropical weather and going in and out of the water. I got to take some really cute photos and even ride the jet ski. I recommend adding a yacht day to your birthday trip itinerary becuase it’s all about the experience. Popping champagne in the middle of the ocean is always a grand time!
Day Trip to Phi Phi Islands
We were originally supposed to spend 2 nights in Phi Phi Islands but changed the plan to take a day trip instead. We were greeted by coach bus driver that took us to the marina where the boats were docked to carry us to Phi Phi Islands. We took the fastest speed boat to the islands and the the waves were too much I was literally scared the entire time. When we arrived we went to Monkey Beach where the monkeys were scattered all over the beach. They were cute but the staff inormed us not to bring anything off of the boats on to the beack because the monkies will attack and some people did not listen. They brought their items onto the beach and of course there were a few tussles with the mokeys. LOL it was scary because they were small but vicous.
Maya Beach Club
We visited Maya Beach club on our first day of the trip where we had lunch. This beach club is cool and hip to Afrobeats. The drinks were so cute, we rented cabanas on the beach but the waves were crashing into the shore so strongly that the cabanas were getting wet. I took the cutest photos at the beach club that I never posted of course. But overall if you are looking for a fun daytime activity that is chill, check out this spot. We heard at night it is really live and I believe they star serving hookah after 5:00pm, however hookah or no hookah this beach club is great for photos and a lovely day at the beach.
Visit Patong Beach at night - Sugar Club Phuket (Afrobeats nights on Thursdays) for
We partied at Sugar nightclub from the very first night and each night we visited it was a vibe. We did visit another club on the strip but our favorite nightclub on the island was Sugar due to the Afrobeats they played. Being that we were a group of all Africans who listen to Afrobeats it was only right to enjoy a spot that catered music to us. The memories created on the dance floor and on the stage (iykyk) will be remembered for a lifetime.
Bonus: Ride a Tuk Tuk in Patong Beach to one of your destinations and get Henna Tattoos at the beach.
As our Thai adventure came to an end, I was sad to go but a time was had in this tropical paradise. Thailand had given us more than memories! I cannot wait to travel back and this time to Bangkok.
Sawadee Krap, Thailand! Your beauty, warmth, and hospitality will be eternally cherished in our hearts.
