Phuket Day 1

Phuket Day 1 has a backstory. It started with a suitcase and a heart full of excitement. 

We were FINALLY going on our honeymoon. BUT. But. We weren’t JUST going on our honeymoon.

We were about to step into a week where time would slow down, the skies would change colour, and the waves would dance – making our hearts dance. (Mind playing – Meri kaali activa da, ek din khadd gya handle fadd ke…”)

Haha… Can’t even tell you how many times this song was played at my wedding. Phew!

Insight – “Finally” because we were actually supposed to fly earlier, but my husband’s passport had some expiry issues. At the time, it felt like a hiccup. But now?

Now it feels like the universe gently rearranged things for us.

Because the dates we originally planned ended up clashing with the earthquake that shook parts of Thailand. Call it a coincidence. Call it grace. But I call it a little whisper from the universe saying, “I will only give you the best – people, experiences, everything.” And rightly so! 🙏

✍️ Travel Tip: If you’re flying internationally from India, always double-check the passport expiry date. Most countries (including Thailand) require at least 6 months of validity from your date of travel.

WHY Should You Read This Blog?

I’m not an influencer. Just a girl who went to a different country and wants to pass the learnings on to you. In this blog, I’ll show you –

• Where we stayed
• What we spent
• What you should avoid
• What you should absolutely not miss
• Packing checklist
• 5D-6N Phuket itinerary
• Accommodation insights
• Transportation insights
• Restaurant Options As A Vegetarian
• and more.

You can let me know if you need to know more, and I’ll include the same. 🙂

Flying To Phuket – Journey Details 

We left home on 15 April 2025 at 10:30 PM.

It wasn’t until we walked through the airport gates, dragging our 4 suitcases (started with 1, ended up with 4, haha) that the reality of it all started sinking in. 

Before that, I remember sitting in the cab, looking outside, not speaking much, just smiling. Smiling because…

…this wasn’t just a holiday. This was MY HONEYMOON – a vacation where I had always wanted to flaunt my chooda (red-coloured bangles).

Pre-Boarding | Snacking Ritual

With time to spare after the security check, we indulged in snacking, a ritual my husband swears by every time he travels.

It brought back memories of our dating days when he’d call me from the airport, McAloo or Sub in hand, sharing the details of his day. Some rituals are worth keeping, so we sat down and made a little memory right there. 🙂

Boarding

Boarding was smooth.

We walked through that long glass jet bridge – always a little cold, always a little magical. The kind where you feel like you’re walking into a portal. Harry Potter feels, hehe. And just like that, we stepped onto the plane.

Post-Boarding | In-Flight Poha Delights

I mostly slept during the flight, tucked into the window seat that my husband got me. 

Ah, the beauty of having someone take care of you! The child in me has its dancing shoes on and is twirling non-stop, not because getting the window seat is something extraordinary. It’s just someone saying, “I know you like window seats, let me book it for you!” And this. THIS. This is extra-double-layered-nutella-ordinary. 

Still blushing while writing. And I know this moment will make me blush when I read it years down the line. Core memory, touchwood. 🧿

Also, my ears usually throw a tantrum mid-air, but this time, they were oddly cooperative. Thank you, body. Thank you so much! 🙏

But with ears working well, they could hear my stomach growling. So we ordered poha. 

And I don’t know if it was hunger or the joy in my heart, but that humble poha felt fancy. It felt like…like blessings wrapped in a foil paper. I don’t know if that makes sense, but we were practically having blessings as our meal. That’s the best I can explain in words.

Though truth be told, I had packed enough snacks to survive a week. But they were all stashed in the cabin bag, and pulling that out mid-flight was a task. 

Amount Spent – Rs 500

✍️ Flight Hack: Many budget airlines flying to Phuket from India (like Air India, Indigo, AirAsia, or Scoot) don’t include meals unless pre-booked. So if you’re a picky eater or need Jain/vegetarian options, either pack your own snacks or pre-book. Ours was Indigo.

India-Phuket Flight Cost

We spent Rs 68,000 (for 2 Pax) on Delhi-Phuket flights, which comes down to Rs 34,000 per person. And approximately Rs 17,000 per person for one-way.

Approximate Breakdown –

• Delhi to Phuket Flight Price – Rs 34,000 (for 2 Pax), Rs 17,000 (for 1 Pax)
• Phuket to Mumbai Flight Price – Rs 34,000 (for 2 Pax), Rs 17,000 (for 1 Pax)

It was a last-minute flight booking, thanks to the passport-expiry issue. Hence, a little overpriced.

As per 2025, one can get an India to Phuket one-way flight for 12k to 15k. The same is true for the Phuket to India flight price, costing somewhere around 24k to 30k per person (round trip).

Of course, things like direct or connecting flights, when you book, how early you book, and which city you’re flying from/to all make a big difference.

Ours was a combination of a connecting flight (Delhi to Kolkata to Phuket) and a direct flight (Phuket to Mumbai).

Amount Spent on Flights – Rs 68,000

Arrival in Phuket Day 1: A Beautiful & Blessed Welcome

As we landed, Phuket greeted us with a drizzle – soft like fur, gentle like a peck on the cheek by a baby, and peaceful like a prayer.

It felt like a grandma’s hug from the island – sloppy, sagging, lopsided, but ABSOLUTELY PURE. Bursting with joy.

I don’t know how to express it, but it was a MAGICAL feeling that wrapped me in a stillness I could melt into. And I did melt a little. Maybe more than a little. Also melted in his arms. :))

The “Le Lo Naaaaaaa” Fun 

One thing my husband and I still think about and laugh a lot over is how the Thai women were selling SIM Cards at the airport saying, “SIM le lo. SIM le lo. Le Lo Naaaaaaaa” in their thin voices. Sheer fun! We imitate them a lot.

✍️ Airport Tip: Right after immigration and baggage claim, you’ll find multiple counters selling SIM cards. Go with AIS or DTAC for good tourist plans – around 300-500 Baht for 7–10 days with unlimited data. But yes, bargain a lot. It helps.

With smiles that held big laughs, we walked towards arrivals on the lookout for a board with my husband’s name. *Pratyaksh Dutt*

Found it. And also the car. Cool, clean, and quiet. 

I slid into the backseat and, before I knew it, I dozed off.

About an hour later, we arrived at our hotel, Andamantra.

The Villa Surprise at Andamantra

Upon arrival, we realised the resort was massive, so much so that it required shuttle services to take people to their respective villas. 

We reached the reception first. And then, after check-in, were told we’d be staying in the villa section, further inside.

We were also guided that their 24*7 shuttle service will take us there. So when it came along, we hopped on, luggage loaded, and were driven through winding lanes lined with palm trees and manicured gardens. And then… our villa.

I wish I could explain what that first glimpse felt like. But words may fall short.

The villa opened into a private pool, and beyond it was… The bed. The beach. The sea. The sky. All in one frame. It was like every Instagram dreamscape had quietly stitched itself together just for us.

I’ll write a detailed blog about the villa itself because, trust me, it deserves its own space. But for now, just know this: it was the kind of place that makes you stand still, take a deep breath, and say thank you to the universe.

✍️ Accommodation Insight: If you’re booking Andamantra, opt for the sea-facing villas — slightly more expensive but worth every penny. Most of them come with private pools and insane sunset views.

Villa Cost – Rs 20,000 per night. We stayed here for a night before shifting to a sea-facing delux room.

Pizza, Power Naps, and Currency Conundrums

We made a few reels, explored the room, admired the bathroom (because yes, even the bathroom looked like a spa), and then hunger struck.

We ordered pizza. It wasn’t wow. But we were too tired to care. After a few slices, we crashed. Soft pillows. Heavy eyes. Grateful hearts.

Amount spent on food – 900 Baht i.e. Rs 2,357

Later, we realised we hadn’t exchanged enough currency. Pratyaksh stepped out to get that sorted and here… a little mistake, a little lesson. For us. For you all. I’ll cover the money exchange story in another blog, along with how we managed our budget. Until then, let’s carry on…

✍️ Money Tip: Always carry at least 3000–4000 Baht in cash on arrival for airport expenses, SIM cards, food, and initial transfers. Avoid exchanging all your money at Indian airports — the rates are poor. Phuket’s exchange counters in Patong offer much better value, but avoid that as well. Use cards. I’ll tell you why in this blog that I’m yet to write.

Evening settled in. And with it came our first pool dip.

The water was welcoming. The sky above was lilac and soft. We floated, laughed, splashed a bit, and then just sat by the edge, feet in water, eyes on the horizon. It was romantic, yes, of course, 100%. But also… peaceful. Like we had nowhere else to be.

And I ABSOLUTELY LOVE slow days. No itinerary. No agenda. No to-do lists. Just being. Just feeling… the taste of life, sip after sip. As it comes. Wow. The giddy feeling I have while writing this! I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. I LOVEEEEEEEEE ITTTTTT. ❤️

Phuket Day 1 Night Adventures

Dinner Scenes At Amritsr Restaurant – Punjab in Phuket

By midnight, hunger returned. We called the shuttle, and just opposite our hotel stood the restaurant named – Amritsr. Yes, Punjab in Phuket. And we are Punjabis. We take a little of Punjab everywhere we go. Yay!

And, and, and… Punjabis need good Indian food no matter where they are. Mandatory. 

I’ll take another moment to share how beautiful the location of this restaurant is. It’s just next to the beach. Almost like Pisco By The Beach In Goa. Can’t decide which one is better.

Amount Spent – 700 Baht i.e. Rs 1,833.

Tuk-Tuk Ride and Bangla Road

Post-dinner, we strolled around. No destination. No agenda. Just walking. Hand-in-hand.

And then…

Then came the music. DHINCHAK. Dhinchak. Dhin.

A heavily-decorated tuk-tuk with neon lights was rolling by, blasting party music as if in a nightclub. 

I don’t know what came over us, but we waved, got in, and literally within a split second, we were riding through Phuket, dancing in a tuk-tuk like two happy hippies. 

The driver asked if he should take us to a market nearby. We said yes, not knowing where we’d land. Just knew that it was a 200 Baht ride.

He dropped us at Bangla Road. And that story? I’ll leave it for another blog. For now, let’s just say: it was wild (people who know-know), weird (again people who know-know), and wonderfully alive (obviously, haha). 

Amount spent on Tuk-Tuk – 200 Baht i.e. Rs 524.

The Beach Wishes, Waves & Whispers

Then, we found ourselves drawn towards the famous Patong Beach.

Insight: Bangla Road and Patong Beach are just steps apart.

About the Patong Beach… It wasn’t just beautiful. It was be-yoooooooo-tiful. The kind of beautiful that makes you pause mid-way and just… stare.

The sand was soft. The waves were giggly. And I could hear my heart dancing. Perfect.

We bought a sky lantern. I wasn’t in the favour, but my be-yooooo-tiful human insisted. And so, so glad that he did. One of the best memories.

Also, I don’t know what it is about lanterns, but the moment you let go, it feels like you’ve sent a dream up to the stars. Like it’ll be heard. And fulfilled. Tathastu.

With this, because I know what emotions dreams are built of, I really, really hope we all have ours fulfilled. And we are GENUINELY happy (and peaceful) after having it fulfilled. 🙂

And right after that, we lit a cracker, something the locals say is a way to celebrate love, life, and new beginnings.

Once done, we just stood there, holding each other, thinking, this is the kind of moment you think about when you’re old.

And here I am, writing it so I can think about it. While I’m young, guysss. Very young. 18 + some years. Hehe.

Amount spent on sky lantern – 150 Baht i.e. Rs 392.
Amount spent on firecrackers – 150 Baht i.e. Rs 392.

The Tuk-Tuk Tussle

Once we had consumed enough beach vibes, we hopped into another tuk-tuk to get back to our villa.

Agreed on 200 Baht. But when we reached back, he asked for 300. Classic tourist trap!

I laughed. Pratyaksh laughed. The tuk-tuk driver didn’t. So we paid. Had to. Otherwise, he was trying to make a scene out of it. And we had our own scenes to create, *wink wink* so we just paid. 😉

Amount spent on Tuk-Tuk – 300 Baht i.e. Rs 785.

✍️ Local Insight: These party tuk-tuks are iconic in Phuket. Always agree on a fare before hopping in. Rates vary between 200–400 Baht depending on the distance.

Total Spendings on Day 1

• Food Spending – 1600 Baht i.e. Rs 4,191
• Tuk Tuk Spending – 500 Baht i.e. Rs 1,310
• Fun Spending (Fire crackers + Sky lantern) – 300 Baht i.e. Rs 785

Total – 2400 Baht i.e. Rs 6,286.
Excluding flight price and villa cost.

Reflections: Phuket Day 1

As I lay in bed that night, I couldn’t believe it was still Day 1 in Phuket.

So much had happened. So many firsts. So many stories already.

And as sleep finally wrapped me in its arms, all I felt was gratitude.
For the rain. For the poha. For the pool. For him – my lovely man!

Phuket Day 1 was nothing short of poetry. And magic moments.