Thailand with Anna: Marketing Manager - STA Travel

Anna flew off to Thailand for an 8 day break - visiting Bangkok and Phuket for some city shopping and beach chillaxing time.

Highlights:
The Chatu Chak markets in Bangkok were definitely a high point of my trip. Only open during the weekends they are good enough to structure your flights around to make sure you don't miss them! Spread out over 15 hectares, my one piece of advice is if you see it and like it, buy it 'cause you'll never find it again!

Of course a trip to Thailand is also not complete without a bit of pampering. We found this tiny little salon called Aug 27 in Kata Beach that did the most amazing massages for about $15NZD for an hour! Bliss.

Lowlights:
While fun to start with, bartering at the markets can get pretty tiresome. My advice is always keep a smile on your face and don't be afraid to just walk away - if one seller doesn't offer it to you at the price you want, its likely someone else will, especially later at night as the prices seem to drop compared to the morning.

Tips:
Bring sunscreen from home. We ran out and had to buy some dodgy local stuff and got absolutely fried in the sun! Not great when you're hoping to get a relaxing massage every day!

Be safe and always drink bottled water, even for brushing your teeth.

Anna recommends this trip for:
Anyone, Thailand can be whatever you want it to be. For Phuket specifically, if you're looking for something relaxing then Kata Beach is great for couples and groups of mates. If you want a bit more action, Patong has a busy nightlife, Thai boxing and plenty of street markets.

Total holiday cost:
Return flights to Thailand - $1000
Accommodation at Kata Beach Resort (4 nights, 5* resort) - $600 for 2 people
Extra shopping, food and drinks approx $30-40 NZD per day (including the massage!)

Score out of 10
9/10....Fantastic short getaway to live like a king on a student's wage.

Check out Anna's pics in the photo albums section of this blog!