This is the second trip in the Sunny land of smiles – Thailand. All previous travel was through tour operators, but the lure of self-relaxation did not give us peace. Start with tickets for flights. Looking at the "promoted" search engines (such as aliases , Skyscanner!...) plane tickets, after 2 weeks of monitoring of price changes came to the conclusion that travelling alone is advantageous during the conduct of the airlines shares. And Singapore airlines during the month of January spend his next action on the direction of flights from Moscow to the countries of South Asia. Without delay buy tickets for flights of this airline (rated 2015. Singapore airlines took the second place in the world ranking). Next is hotel booking. The last trip we rested on the beach (singing Sands), and this time we decided to visit Kata beach.
The hotel, picked up closer to the sea, but not very expensive (price-quality). After considering about a dozen options to "Kate" and after talking with the hotel managers through email, the choice fell on the hotel CHANALAI GARDEN RESORT (and with a choice was not wrong, but more on that later). When booking a hotel room has a sea view (although all rooms with Windows directed to the sea, but only on the upper floors of buildings with sea and beach). After talking with the hotel Manager by e-mail, has made 100% payment of the room. And there only buy health insurance for travel.
Much did not understand this question, and the choice on the Internet is very large, bought insurance from the FAC (that the insurance company insure tourists leading Russian tour operators "Biblioglobus", "TEZ-tour", etc.). Flight. The long-awaited March 14. Flew regular flights from Domodedovo. The registration took place in advance on the Internet (I installed it on the iPhone app from Singapore airlines), is very comfortable and seats on the plane were chosen. Flight delayed by only 5 minutes!!! The plane was a Boeing 777-312er, the distance between seats in economy class is 81 cm – chic. Yes, and the plane is not "our Charter junk". As usually prepared for the long flights (gadgets, games, books), but nothing prepared not useful - on the plane "Singaporeans" not only are TVs with the news-premieres of various films, but and computer mini-games (a compact multiple control on the wired remote-joystick).
And my son has had a long naval battle, and the wife reviewed a few movies, novelties . The flight attendants and stewards – the pride of Singapore airlines, all as on selection - with the beauty contest. Communication in the English language. During the flight, the flight attendants handed out wet towels, disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste. In flight meals : dinner, Breakfast, fruit desserts and even ice cream, not to mention the drinks – NOW THAT's SERVICE!!! As a result, we have not noticed, how was the flight and sleep normally did not happen. Landed in Singapore.
Transplant on a plane to Phuket was 50 minutes. On the internal bus to Changi airport, we moved from terminal 3 to terminal 2 (about 10-15 minutes), no passport control (moving in the transit area). Luggage we didn't get any, because were recorded from Domodedovo to Phuket. On the flight to Phuket, we were also registered in advance on the Internet with a choice of seats in the aircraft. The departure time! Flying Singapore airlines is a pleasure, perhaps, after them will be very hard for us to fly charters. During the flight filled, we handed out the immigration arrival card in Thailand. And here we get our Luggage, go out from Phuket airport and Phuket swallowing hot air going to the cab. Was to get the mini-bass (250 baht per person). I "googled" all options and for us this was the most ...
To the hotel drove for about a half hour. And at 11: 00 we are at the hotel. Check in at 15: 00. Try a refreshing welcome drink from the hotel, leaving the suitcase on the Desk and dressed, we went to explore the area. Hotel. Check in was no problem – brought your booking paid by cheque, a passport, a credit card with which you paid (this is mandatory). Deposit at registration did not take. Russian-speaking staff in the hotel are no – communication in English. Room got in the farthest (from the road) and a high case - No. 4.
The hotel is on the mountain and building "steps". Registration of guests at the bottom, just above the dining room , two buildings, swimming pools, above three, and then our body. The territory is very green for this terrain (some rocks), clean and well appointed. On the way from reception to our room used two elevators (4 floors each), i.e., a walk of about 20m – lift 4et. walk about 60 meters lift 4 FL. walk 15 meters and our room. This road passed several times a day. First unusual, and then even fun (no excessive slackness). So, if You have severe shortness of breath, or You have small kids in strollers - highly recommended! The area is not really designed for families with strollers. But the hotel very much! The room we had in the upper housing, the view from the balcony is simply stunning! Every morning we woke up and saw the sea, the beach, Poo island (Koh Poo) - just super!!!
We even thought that advertising on the hotel website, which presents the number of rooms, a room with a sea view – our room. When you check in the room was stranded elephants out of towels and lay Orchid. The beds are just huge, cold and hot water without interruption, the air conditioning in the room noise is not very much (we have something to compare), TV 42” with three Russian television channels. Toiletries (soap, shampoo, gel, lotion) they were all in abundance. Beach towels were changed on demand (at least every day). Drinking bottles of water brought each day 500 ml per person, while room cleaning. Every day I leave a tip of 10-15 baht for cleaning the room. Daily we were given two free cans of drink (beer, Cola, Cola – your choice) - such action was in the hotel. Photos of hotel services and stated on the hotel website are true. The pools at the hotel – three: two adults and one child.
Around one of the pools, a children's room. Despite the large number of tourists and those wishing to swim in the pool – the water is clean. Not too often, but a lot of times we visited the pool. In adults the pools has a bar. The Breakfast buffet, however, as in most hotels of this class. Walk at 8: 30 - people less. A variety of dishes to choose from: scrambled eggs, Toshiki, sausage, bacon, porridge, potatoes, cereal, fresh cucumbers, small tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, bananas, pineapples, watermelons, mango, three kinds of juice, tea, coffee, various pastries, etc. Anyway, hungry we were never. If the hotel has "sold out" for tourists and all the tourists come to eat in the dining room, not enough space and have to wait! (this is a fact).
The food is fresh, no complaints there. Wi-fi is really free, even in the room. Measured the speed of 9.5 Mbps and 5 Mbps - the transfer --- for Skype, Viber, FaseTime – abound (tested and enjoyed himself, because the local SIM card I didn't buy). The voltage of 220 volt outlets in Russia. Vacationers most Europeans (Germans, French, Italians, Russians), but Chinese enough. Next to the hotel (even higher in the mountain) is still under construction, but we are not particularly bothered. RESULT. With the choice of hotel we were not mistaken: convenient location (next to two stunning beaches close to the center of Kata), no noise, check-in, room, service, food, service and departure – all on top!!! Rest. To Kata beach to walk 2-3 minutes to cross the road, go down the alley and you're on one of the best beaches of Phuket - Kata. The beach is about 1.5 km away. the beach is gently sloping, very convenient for a relaxing holiday with children. There is a shadow from trees on the coastal beach line is just great !!! On Kata beach, with two loungers and one umbrella local Thais sell for 300 baht a day. But we are not every day to buy, there were days when just lying on towels in the shade under the palm trees, and it was quite comfortable.
Took masks and snorkels for snorkeling. Have snorkle with the left edge of Kata beach, along the big rocks (near the hotel Elisabeth Villas).
The water on the shoreline was sometimes very clear ( visibility up to 7-10m). Saw a lot of colorful fish. But if you swim out along the rocks to the floating pier of the hotel Impiana Private Villas Kata Noi, you can see the Moray eel, she lives there in a crevice between the stones. We floated there without fins from the beach, 35-40 minutes. To Kata Noi beach, from our hotel, to go 12-15 minutes. You must first up the hill, then down steep concrete steps down to the beach. On the Kata Noi beach is much less crowded. The length two times smaller (600-700 meters). But almost no shade from trees on the coastal beach zone and there are Thais with umbrellas and sunbeds. The descent into the water, much cooler than in kata (7-10 meters and have shoulders). The water at Kata Noi beach seemed a little more transparent than Kata beach.
But we ended up spending the entire holiday on Kata beach (to go closer and most importantly, there is the shadow of the trees, because at noon without shade is almost impossible !!!). With the weather very lucky: the sun every day, day temperature 33 to 36 degrees, the water temperature in the sea 29-30 degrees – what could be better !!! Every day smeared sunscreen with protection 50, and I still managed to fry. The most interesting – burned, when I was all day in the shade! The burn was treated yogurt, panthenol, aloe Vera cream. Went on a tour to Tachai Koh Tachai) and the Similan Islands. Bought through the Internet. Phoned the call, came to the Manager, paid for the tour. At 6: 00 am on the appointed day we came with a minibus. Went to the North of Phuket to the boat pier departure of the boat is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. Even drove across the bridge that connects the mainland with the Islands of Phuket. There, on the pier, had Breakfast (Breakfast and lunch included in tour price). The island Tachai sailed on the catamaran for about two hours. Tachai is a beautiful island with white sand, turquoise colored water, but people (tourists) just a lot - all photographed. The island is uninhabited.
The beach is about 800 meters of fine white sand in the middle of the island, the rest of the stones (but beautiful).
On the island Tachai was an hour and a half, then swam to the Similan Islands. Sailed for about an hour. Dropped us off at island No. 8, where is the famous rock-Parus.
Immediately had lunch. Then went up the path up to the rock for a private photo session. Tourists are more (hundreds!), and on the way up to the rock on the narrow path created tubes (Chinese - well, very slow). Swim there almost nowhere, i.e., in the place of landing zone tourists with a boat at the bottom of the rocks and corals. About two hours ( with lunch) we spent at this wonderful beautiful island.
Further, the snorkeling (near the neighbouring Islands). Masks and snorkels to tourists, but we had our own. Time for snorkeling 35-40 minutes - very little. Colourful fish more than on Kata beach, but the coral is poor. Saw a large Moray eel, but the turtles could not see.
After snorkeling swam home. The road home took the catamaran 1 hour and 45 minutes, on a minibus for about two hours. In the end, was at the hotel at about 8 PM. Excursion liked, guide, sailors, catamaran sailing, island – all perfectly (petty incidents do not count), but the crowd of tourists on these Islands is something! I think everyone wants to see this natural wonder of the world! Still in the process of our holiday we visited two uninhabited Islands on a wooden boat with the Thais. At Kata beach there are wooden boats, and local Thais they carry to nearby Islands. We agreed with them (half in English, half was drawing on the sand) to visit one island, where they conduct photo sessions (weddings, etc.) and near the second island – snorkeling. Time: 9 am to 16-00 (need to go back to the beach, but before). Sailed to the first island about 40 minutes towards the South of Phuket island. The island was called Bon.
Very beautiful and untouched nature, just for photos! Swim in it is not very comfortable – there is 30 metres from the shore a strong current is dangerous. But we nafotkal" from the heart. And swam to snorket to another island – the Isle of Man. And here was a pleasant surprise. Arriving at the snorkeling location ( little Bay Islands), our Thais took the bread in his hands and began to feed the fish. But we do not understand. Half an hour swim under water quite a lot of colorful fish, beautiful corals, saw a Moray eel.
Swam up to our boat, and then again, our Thais began to feed the fish. And here began the real SHOW. Fish (about the size of an adult palm) was already waiting for food, and when under water hold out my hands palms up (even without bread), fish just "attack" your palm in search of food. We began to feed the fish. They gathered there, not one hundred !!! The spectacle is simply breathtaking !!!
Fed until you ran out of bread. The road home took half an hour. This "tour" we were just thrilled because we were practically untouched by man places, well, fish still have! Dinner went to the various cafes in the centre of Kata during evening walks.
For dinner, spent from 250 to 500 baht per person (depending on our whims). Ate mostly seafood (squid, fish, shrimp, etc.) and fruit. In many cafes even have a menu in Russian language, but we did not go, eat where a lot of people. Currency exchange offices at every corner, but the courses are different. The best rate of exchange was in the centre of Kata 1$ - 34,86 baht, and an average of$ 1 - 34,32 34,76 up to bat. Well, as usual in Thailand denominations below $ 50 are cheaper. Night in the center of Kata terrible crush of tourists – like a big hive, someone is simply walking, someone eating, someone goes shopping, generally "local calm tusnya". Visited the local market on kata. It is located on the street Patak (Patak), about half a kilometer from the shoreline. Exact coordinates: 7.824971, 98.301543. By the way, it can be reached by municipal bus blue. He departs from the southern end of Kata beach, passing along its waterfront and is taxing on the street Patak. The market works two days a week – Monday and Thursday. The product begins to spread hours from 11-12, but it is better to come back after 14 hours, by this time come for all retailers, all the goods laid out. Near the hotel The Beach Boutique House. I entered the coordinates of the market map application in iPhone and we walked slowly for 30-40 minutes from our hotel.
The market sells food, fruits, vegetables, clothes, Souvenirs. The prices are slightly cheaper than in small shops in kata, and more choice. So 10 magnets given for 270 baht bunch of bananas – 20 baht, small pack of grapes 35 baht, clothes you get a discount of almost two times, only need to bargain is a market. Before leaving we booked and paid for a taxi to the airport (had to pay extra to the standard fare of 1200 baht and another 200 baht for the early call) and checked in at the airline flight on the Internet. On the day of departure, which began early in the morning, we handed in our room, took a pre-booked Breakfast, said goodbye to the polite and smiling staff, got into caused by a taxi to the airport and drove on towards new adventures!
The result: We did not expect that a second holiday in Phuket can be as rich, interesting and wonderful than the first time. Despite the fact that we love to visit new places and countries, I think that again we will return to this wonderful country of smile and sun – THAILAND!!!